Published: August 15, 2025
Today, two chapters are posted simultaneously.
This is the second chapter.
Having entrusted the shop to Mr. Calm, I headed straight to Mr. Serge’s store.
When I arrived...
“...”
The wooden walls of the warm-feeling shop bore large scorch marks from an arson attack, and in front of the store stood tough-looking men with stern expressions.
It’s been over half a year since I came to Gimul Town, but I’ve never seen such a tense atmosphere before.
When I first arrived, this town was much warmer and more peaceful.
Seeing this building like this made me feel a bit lonely, or rather, sad...
“Excuse me, do you have business here?”
“! Y-yes.”
One of the stern-faced men from earlier spoke to me, snapping me back to reality.
...I must have been a bit dazed.
“I’m someone who has been well taken care of by the head of the association here, but I’ve been away from town lately. When I returned, I heard about the arson damage... I came without an appointment.”
After explaining my situation, the man who spoke looked at his comrades standing in front of the entrance. One of the men, apparently his ally, nodded once and entered the shop.
“We will confirm, so please wait a moment.”
“Thank you.”
■ ■ ■
A few minutes later,
I was led into the usual reception room.
After a short wait, Mr. Serge appeared, looking somewhat tired but otherwise well.
“Lord Ryoma, it’s been a while since we parted at the Duke’s household.”
“Long time no see. It seems something serious happened, but I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Thank you for your concern. But as you can see, I’m fine. We’ve also strengthened security.”
“Ah, I saw them outside. They looked rough, but they were polite.”
“Those are mercenaries called in from the Royal Capital. Although mercenaries tend to have a rough image, when they are top-notch, they are often courteous and well-mannered.
Unlike adventurers, who need to handle people, magical beasts, and various other challenges, mercenaries specialize in ‘handling human-related issues.’ It’s natural that they don’t cause discomfort to clients or their surroundings when guarding or escorting. If necessary and trusted, they sometimes even negotiate with enemies.”
I see... So in this world, high-level mercenaries also serve as negotiators.
“...Indeed, such people are necessary in the current situation of this town.”
“Unfortunately, yes. There has been an increase not only in the arson at my store but also in fights and thefts throughout town. Do you know the cause?”
“I heard that there’s been a huge influx of workers, and many unemployed workers are flooding the town. But can security really deteriorate so suddenly?”
“Of course, the government offices and the Guild are taking measures like closing worker recruitment, but stopping the flood of workers is difficult as more keep coming. Some people even pose as agents who arrange jobs in Gimul, collecting referral fees and abandoning people just before arrival. There are reports of scams and kidnappings using such tricks, so it’s currently hard to manage.
Though not widely spoken about... this situation seems deliberate, with several nobles pulling the strings behind the scenes.”
“!! That means...?”
“Most likely, it’s harassment targeting the Duke’s household, the lords of the territory. The reason is unknown, but it’s a foolish act. I’ve helped a bit, so I know Lord Reinhardt is already taking action to cut off the source of the turmoil.”
“Is that so?”
“The town is quite chaotic now, but it should calm down soon. Until then, it’s a matter of being cautious and patient.”
“That’s good to hear.”
If things are already progressing this far, all I need to do is strengthen defenses and wait for the situation to settle...
“By the way, Lord Ryoma, I heard you brought something today?”
“Oh! That’s right. As I mentioned before, I went to Fatma Territory on an adventurer’s job, and I was lucky to make some good connections, so I’ve been dabbling a bit as a traveling merchant. I’d like you to see the goods I procured, as well as some new products.”