Seeker 167

Test

Chapter 167. Invasion

"Wha...!? W-Why are you guys here!?"

The first to react was, of course, the boss. 

He hurriedly grabbed his large sword and assumed a defensive posture.

However, it was too late. 

I closed the distance to him faster than he could ready himself, with a skill-infused power in my right hand holding the spear, and unleashed it.

"──[Three Strikes]!"

With a clanging sound, my spear pierced through the boss's torso, breaking through his chainmail. 

I then prepared my shield for a counterattack, but...

"Yo-you idiots... Gah...!"

The boss rolled his eyes and collapsed on the spot. 

He fell to the ground and remained motionless.

I guess I took him down in a single strike. 

I couldn't do that before, but my level has increased, and my weapon has ranked up. That might explain it.

I'll make sure to confirm whether he's unconscious or not. 

It seems he's not just feigning.

"W-Who are you guys... guh..."

On the other hand, Goldo let out a frog-like groan and fell. 

Kazane-san quickly approached and struck his neck with a knife, rendering him unconscious.

"Honestly, I'm so irritated that I want to kill him. But for now, this should suffice."

Kazane-san had the cold, calculated eyes of an assassin as she looked down at the fallen Gordo. Angry Fūne-san was terrifying. I think I would cry if she directed that look at me.

Meanwhile, the captive Eslyn-san looked at us with bewildered eyes.

"Huh...? W-Why are you all here?"

She murmured and eventually tears welled up in her eyes. 

Kazane-san-san used a short dagger to cut the chains restraining Eslyn-san and set her free.

"We were asked by Eslyn-san's servants. They were all crying, saying, '[Miss is...!]' even the big guys were begging. Right, Daichi-kun?"

"Haha, I can't say they were begging, but they were certainly in a frenzy."

"I-I see... They're all so big and imposing... sniff... But... I'm glad... I was so scared..."

Eslyn-san either felt relieved or overwhelmed because she started crying right there. 

Kazane-sanne-san gently embraced her and patted her head.

While I watched with a warm feeling, I took out a rope from my [Item Box] and began tying up the boss and Goldo. 

The mission was, of course, completed the moment we found Eslyn-san.

───────────────────────

Special Mission Completed: "Find the missing female merchant Eslyn!"

All party members gain 15,000 experience points!

Musou Daichi level up to 34!

Kodachi Kazane level up to 35!

Yuzuki Hotaru level up to 35!

Current Experience Points:

Musou Daichi... 24,5444/26,7563 (Next Level: 2,2119)

Kodachi Kazane... 26,1056/26,7563 (Next Level: 6,507)

Yuzuki Hotaru... 26,8441/30,3707 (Next Level: 35,266)

───────────────────────

From a mission perspective, we could have turned back once we found her. 

There wasn't any clear reason for that choice, though.

＊＊＊

Afterward, we left the mansion and contacted the Lord and Aria-san, who were waiting nearby. 

In response, the Lord mobilized his private army and conducted a surprise raid and house search at Goldo's mansion. 

This house search was, of course, a predetermined outcome. 

They naturally found the underground prison used for human trafficking, and both Goldo and the boss were arrested.

The Lord has the jurisdiction for criminal trials to maintain peace in the city. 

If the Lord took unreasonable actions and didn't get the results, the influential figures in the city might push back against the Lord's position.

However, if the Lord had circumstantial and testimonial evidence, things would be different. 

Once the Lord gets the results, the Lord's aggressive investigation will be justified in the name of justice and peacekeeping, including our unauthorized entry.

Human trafficking is a severe crime at the national level. In the trial held the same day, Gordo argued the Lord's illegal actions and other injustices, but no other influential figures supported him anymore. The verdict for Gordo and the boss was the death penalty.

Compared to the trials we know, it seemed to lack human rights and fairness, but it appeared necessary to maintain peace with limited resources. 

In any case, that's not something we can comment on.

What's important to us is that due to this incident and trial, our departure date for the Dwarf Great City, Dagmahar, was delayed by one day. 

We had no choice but to spend the remaining time of that day resting.

And then, the next morning.

It's 90 days left until our return to the original world. 

We met Eslyn-san and her group in the central square and left the city.

For about 10 days, we had been operating from this city as our base, but now it was finally time to move on. 

As I passed through the city gate and walked along the highway, I suddenly turned around.

In my thoughts were the kind gatekeeper of the city, the innkeeper, the receptionist at the Adventurer's Guild, Aria-san, and the Lord, among others.

"─I'll be back."

Such words slipped out of my mouth unexpectedly, and I chuckled at myself.

"Daichi-kun, something wrong?"

"Senpai, what are you spacing out for? You're falling behind!"

"Oh, sorry. I'm coming now."

Kazane-san and Yumizuki were already ahead, called out to me, so I jogged to catch up with them.

Today marks the beginning of a new adventure journey once again.