Jack of All Trades, Party of None

“Alright then, shall we gear up for dungeon exploration again today? Will, are you changing the team assignments today?”

After finishing breakfast and stepping outside together, Hank, the mage, asked.

“No changes for a while. I’ve said many times that constantly switching members is inefficient.”

There are seven of us currently operating.

I could pair up with Lucre, but dungeon exploration goes more smoothly with groups of three and four.

So, the seven of us are split into two teams and we alternate members every few weeks for dungeon explorations.

The last member change was just last week.

So despite saying there would be no changes for a while, as soon as Lucre and I ended up in separate groups, I’ve been asked almost daily if we’re going to change teams.

“No, no, this concerns our leader, Will-sama’s motivation. So here—”

“I’m about ready to punch you…!”

“Oh, scary.”

This kind of banter as we head to the dungeon has become our recent daily routine.

But that routine was shattered in the next moment.

As we were walking through the city, a massive explosion suddenly rang out.

“What was that!?”

Turning our heads towards the sound, we saw a building collapsing with a huge plume of smoke rising.

It seemed the explosion had occurred at the territory army’s outpost.

Even if it was due to mishandling fire, a blast of this scale isn’t something to laugh off. — No time for denial now!

“Lucre!”

Given the scale of the explosion, whether it was magic or sorcery, it almost certainly involved the use of mana.

If so, Lucre’s supernatural ability, Mana Tracking, could pinpoint the caster.

“I’m already searching! ———!”

Just after Lucre responded to my call from behind, she let out a silent scream.

Turning around immediately to see her, I spotted an unfamiliar man.

(Who is that!? I didn’t notice him even though he got so close.)

The man had shining, silky golden hair and blue eyes, and though lightly dressed, it was clear at a glance he was of noble status.

He pressed the tip of a sword against Lucre’s neck.

“—Don’t move.”

Just as all of us recognized the blonde man, he spoke.

“You are explorers of the ‘silver rabbits of the night sky,’ right? If you don’t resist, we won’t harm you. But if you do, I’ll first behead this woman.”

“……….”

With Lucre taken hostage, we couldn’t act rashly.

Showing by our actions that we had no intention to resist, the man spoke again.

“Let’s move to another place first.”

◇

Unable to counterattack, we followed the man’s lead to a somewhat open area in a less crowded district.

“...Is this good?”

The man lowered the sword tip from Lucre’s neck and even stored it away in his storage magical tool.

What on earth is he thinking?

While pondering his actions, the man turned to us and said,

“You will stay quietly here until this matter is resolved.”

“‘Until this matter is resolved’ means until the battle outside is over… right?”

Since the explosion at the territory army’s outpost, battle sounds had been audible from outside the city.

Presumably, this man’s comrades are fighting the soldiers.

“That’s right. We have no intention of harming civilians. The same goes for you explorers.”

Judging by his attire, he’s not just some bandit.

No, now is not the time to look away.

This man is almost certainly from the empire, and very likely connected to the royal family.

His hair color, eye color, and clothing match all the characteristics of the royal family I know.

If the enemy is the empire and they’re fighting the territory army outside, this amounts to an invasion.

We are explorers; even if we’re not good at fighting people, we’re better at rough work than ordinary civilians.

In this situation, a royal family member approaching us alone knowing we are ‘silver rabbits of the night sky’ explorers — there’s only one person I know fits that description.

“...Understood. I promise not to interfere with this matter.”

“H-Hey, Will—”