Chapter 101: Imperfect combustion (1/2)

Chapter 101: Imperfect combustion

Another request here. If anyone is willing to translate the POV chapters in the original web, that would be great. The POV chapters are the ones like the Ema and Tsukuyomi chapters where the view point is from someone different but in the same timeline.

I really only want to concentrate on the main story right now, so if anyone is willing, please email me at [email protected]

Normally, Lime would have returned before the store’s opening to clean, but he has yet to come back.

Not only that, last night in the area where he was supposed to be, I found traces of a fight.

Even though Akua and Eris came back as if nothing happened. Could it be he was the only one that went to that dangerous place? But I didn’t receive such a report.

I confirmed Rona-san’s movements with Shiki, but it seems that last night there was no movements from her.

“Lime-san said that he would visit the merchant guild later and after that return here though” (Eris)

“There were no orders of killing enemies and the fight looks unnatural. That person would first run. And then tail it” (Akua)

I have never given such an order before, Akua. Also, I don’t have any intent to retort to your words anymore. It would be another story if they are thinking about doing war, but the Forest Onis are basically moving as an investigation corp. The site of the fight where Lime seems to have disappeared, is certainly on the way to the merchant guild where Lime and the two had separated. Even if he were suddenly attacked, he isn’t so weak as to be defeated so easily. He would clash blades while trying to run away, then tail the enemy and report to me. That person is capable of that.

In that case, it is hard to believe it but, there’s the possibility that it was an opponent that didn’t let him escape. Was there someone so capable that recently entered this land? If it’s the pattern where a merchant employed them exclusively, then it wouldn’t be strange that adventurers enter this town.

Leaving the store to the dwarfs, we were at the second floor gathered up. We can only stay like this when we have urgent business. We can’t have the dwarfs attending the store by themselves after all. I will have Akua and Eris return soon. In any case, if Lime was captured or defeated, then with the ability of these two, the chances of them being defeated as well is high.

I think it is better for Shiki and me to be the ones mobilizing.

That I can still stay calm even when Lime is in danger is, not because he is a hyuman and I don’t care, but because after seeing the remains of the battle site, Shiki said that he is probably alive. Of course, I don’t intend to just blindly believe that and search carefree. I intend to save him as fast as possible. Even if he didn’t die in the battle, it doesn’t mean that he is still okay. Just that, since he was kidnapped, it must mean that person has some sort of objective, so we should have time.

“Raidou-sama, it seems that we have probably been had” (Shiki)

“… There were no movements from Rona-san right?” (Makoto)

“Yeah. But this situation matches with the story I heard before about the thought transmission jamming and the ring that suppresses blessings. A strange flow of power. It seems like he wasn’t allowed to establish contact. This kind of technique, I think only demons can use it” (Shiki)

“Ah, that. So there are remains of it being used. There are a number of people who have infiltrated this lands aside from Rona-san and she used those hidden cards to pick a fight with us?” (Makoto)

“I think there’s that possibility. If it’s her, she would be able to do things like that while having a handshake” (Shiki)

“… Is there anything else that can tell us his location?” (Makoto)

“I have found the magic power of a person of interest. The Academy’s librarian, Eva. For some reason, the magic power of her was in the scene” (Shiki)

Eva-san. It is certainly a person I didn’t expect. That isn’t a place a librarian like her would be walking in the middle of the night.

We are somewhat acquainted. But since the time I met her, she has only shown me her front as a librarian and Ruria’s sister. In times it even feels unnatural. It looked like she was fond of rumors though.

I didn’t really feel any doubts of her. If there were any doubts, it would be when I first met her…

“Eva-san huh. I don’t think she would be able to catch Lime off guard, but if she was unrelated to the case and was killed because of her curiosity, then it would be pitiful” (Makoto)

In the first place, that girl who likes to silently read books, has a strange attachment to rumors. But those kind of girls were in my high school as well. The type that has her antenna up the whole time. The type that would definitely get dragged into something in time.

In the current state where we haven’t shown a single one of our cards, I honestly don’t feel like Rona-san would make a move though…

“As expected, it isn’t a situation where we can come to a conclusion yet. I also can’t help but think that this is the work of demons. Let’s have Akua and Eris return to the store while Raidou-sama and I try returning to the scene” (Shiki)

“… You are right. Let’s try going to the Academy’s abandoned section” (Makoto)

When Shiki proposed that idea, the phrase “scene hundred times” surfaced in my mind. Looking for traces of the culprit.

The place where Lime disappeared, is in a street that extended from the Academy grounds to the Merchant Guild. The section was originally unused and it was a street with almost no uses, so the popularity of it was practically nil.

But he was investigating the inside of the Academy grounds. The popular abandoned building that is no longer used. Correctly speaking, an area that has been scheduled for redevelopment and is prohibited the entry. If we are going to be investigating, that is the place to go to.

“For now, let’s begin from the actual spot. We might be able to find something new” (Makoto)

“Understood. In that case, Akua and Eris return to the store. We will probably be late, so if there’s any visitor, hear their business and tell them we will contact them at a later time” (Shiki)

“Have a safe trip”

Send off by the two employees, Shiki and I left to search for our disappeared comrade.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

“… Are you okay, Ne-chan?”

“I don’t want to hear that from someone who just woke up. I am okay for now though”

“I am glad to hear that. And, can you please tell me the current situation?”

“I was planning on releasing you who was defeated by that person. But a different group came after and I was treated as a comrade of yours. And, that’s how it turned out like this. It is probably already morning. Unreported absence. Please give me a break”

“Ah, you were a librarian right? If I remember correctly, you said your name was Eva-san? Well, don’t get so worried about being absent from work once or twice”

“…”

“I-I messed up huh. To have been defeated, how pathetic. I don’t have my katana either. I can’t face Sis and Boss now”

“… Wait” (Eva)

“An?”

“Why do you know my name? And even my job” (Eva)

“Ah. I am Lime Latte. An employee of Kuzunoha Company. You are an acquaintance of Raidou-sama right? In that case, I know at least your face. As an employee” (Lime)

While making a light self-introduction, my eyes finished grasping the surroundings. A prison. And judging from the confined air, this is underground. There’s a sour smell and I can feel the presence of small beings all around the place. There’s probably bugs crawling around. The persons in here are me and the librarian woman. This is the woman that Boss asked to investigate just in case. For now, I don’t have any definitive proofs, but based on my intuition, this woman is planning something. I also don’t know the reason why she was in such a place yesterday. It is at least not a route where people walk at night. She is trying to hide her uneasiness by maintaining a calm face, but she isn’t that composed. It seems like this woman is weak to bugs. And yet, she is just clearing her ears and even when she feels their presence, she isn’t distracted. I can’t see disgust either. I can tell that she is quite uneasy on the inside.

I check my whole body. The katana that was more important than my life and most of my equipment has been confiscated. Deciding that I should get them back at all cost, I confirm the equipment that is still fine. It seems like a number of items that the dwarf bros made for me are okay.

So they didn’t see it as dangerous huh. Or maybe they just considered them ornaments. But I can’t call the ones who took my equipment as ill-prepared. Even I wouldn’t find them dangerous in the past after all. The magic power is being concealed to the very limit and it isn’t like I was hiding them or anything.

The bangle in my right wrist. This is actually a weapon the dwarfs made. I voiced the small phrase that serves as a key.

A faint and inconspicuous light wraps around the bangle and my right arm. In an instant, weight is felt in my hand. A sword materialized in my right hand.

“?! That is?!” (Eva)

“Shh… Don’t talk so loud” (Lime)

I can understand her surprise. But I want her to at least think about the current situation. Right now, our interests should match. The interest of escaping from here that is.

“You, it is a lie that you are an employee right?” (Eva)

She must have felt something from my swinging gesture. The librarian looks at me with eyes of doubt. Yareyare, compared to that wicked man who captured Ne-san, I don’t amount to much though. My winning ratio against Mondo has begun looking better recently. After this incident is over, I must train myself again.

“Employees of my level are all around in Kuzunoha Company. Let me ask just in case but, Eva-san, you want to escape right?” (Lime)

N? Weird. She is wavering? What does that mean? Is it possible that this woman is related to the people that incarcerated me here? If it is an internal fight, then the story would be different but…

“… This place is the Academy’s abandoned section. The bunch that are making this as their base… are quite the organization” (Eva)

“Heh~, those words hold more strength than mere speculation. You, what are you trying to say?” (Lime)

“I mean that there are people inside the Academy cooperating as well. Even if I escape from here, I am just a mere librarian. The situation wouldn’t really change” (Eva)

Even though your life is most likely in danger, you really say quite the composed things. Well, it is certainly true that there are suspicious people roaming around inside the Rotsgard Academy. Internal cooperation is probably necessary after all. Well, from now on we will be making clear which ones are in that side. I will do that while I get my katana back.

“What you say is true. In just a few days later, they may catch you again” (Lime)

“Also, you were defeated by that person. And it was completely one sided even from my untrained eyes. Not only could you not defeat that person, you couldn’t even escape. Right?” (Eva)

You poke where it hurts. Certainly. I noticed that I couldn’t escape, so I clenched my teeth and fought, and was defeated. It wasn’t a half-baked strength that would let me say that I could beat that person if I fight next time. Just like when I was defeated by Sis and Boss, I felt despair.

That brat was a bit older than Boss. Probably the same age as Shiki-san? But having so much power, that person should be famous, and yet, I haven’t heard anything about this.

“Just like you say, if that thing is there, it is over. But relax. That person is not here. I have also played some cards of my own. My actions stem from a possibility of success” (Lime)

I am not someone that just gets defeated and lets it go. If there’s something I can currently do, I will struggle. That’s something the present me has decided. Currently, that bastard is not around this area. To get into action, this situation is convenient.

“Even if I believe in that, it doesn’t mean the danger I carry will change. If you are telling me you will save me from here, I wish you could take the trouble of sweeping out the guys that are making the Academy their nest as well” (Eva)

She makes quite the unlikable eyes. Eyes as if appraising you. I can’t help but think that this librarian Eva has too many discrepancies. Is this her real self? In that case, to be in a place where so many people gather… She at least doesn’t give me the impression of a librarian. This woman, is she hiding her position as a noble, or is she a fallen noble? Somewhere around these two options maybe?

In that case, her name is probably fake as well. Boss really has a troublesome acquaintance. This kind of things are what Tomoe-nesan likes, so taking care of it immediately might be a bad idea. She is also an acquaintance of Boss, so it makes it even more complicated.

“Take the trouble huh. Well, I do plan on showing them my gratitude. What merits are there to go to such lengths?” (Lime)

Even if I have quit being an adventurer, I don’t like doing things for free. Right now I am someone that’s working under a company. If I am going to do work, I should get a reward or in the future it will become troublesome.

“… If your background is truly that of a personnel of Kuzunoha Company, I can provide beneficial information for your master. And if you really crush the organization that is extending its hand to the Academy…” (Eva)

This organization huh. This woman, she definitely knows something about this bunch. Boss would get angry, so I will probably have to ask Shiki-san to peek inside her head a bit in secret. I don’t know her connection, but I can see that she knows enough to fear them.

This is definitely the bunch Boss asked to investigate. There’s no way a simple librarian would know about such an inhyuman bunch. Eva huh. At this rate, it feels like I will have to investigate in detail her little sister Ruria as well.