Chapter 69 : Chapter 69

Chapter 69: This is a Scam (2)

Artier and Gerard, who had arrived in Crotan, joined the rest of the party.

Unlike the open inn in Tutol, where an entire wall was blown out, the inn they had reserved was stuffy, with walls on all four sides.

“This is better. It would be troublesome if he noticed.”

Tersion said so and immediately took off her mask.

It seemed she had been quite suffocated.

“So the opponent is a mage, and that's why you're having trouble secretly gathering information.”

Gerard, who had heard the whole story, fell into thought.

“Alarm magic, trap magic, and on top of that, acceleration magic for escaping... It's certain that this one is the real deal.”

It was on a different level from Roston, who just took his subordinate colleagues with him.

“The guy is a mage, so he can distinguish the waves of mana. So we got caught a few times, and after that, it got a bit annoying.”

“He's probably a mage affiliated with the Sage's Tower. A fellow mage might not know, but it's hard for ordinary people to escape detection.”

“Then what if Gerard moves with Collie?”

I asked, but Gerard shook his head.

“It's not impossible, but didn't you say the other side has also recognized Collie's existence? They would have prepared for a magic battle.”

The opponent was not an individual.

Since he was likely under the protection of an unknown organization, it was forbidden to approach him too lightly.

“We're not fools either.”

Tersion flipped her hair back and said.

“We even thought about secretly putting him to sleep with a sleeping poison, or luring him somewhere else. It's a bit annoying, but we even tried to seduce him.”

“....”

“But that bastard, he's annoyingly thorough. Collie found out that even if his path is blocked, the guy will go around the castle once rather than leave the crowd.”

“Did you try seducing him?”

“Even if you're the party leader, if you ask any more questions, I'll turn you into a pulp.”

“Yes.”

I obediently shut my mouth.

“There's no answer. I was starting to think that the only way left was to see blood.”

After finishing her words, Tersion sat down in a chair and began to polish her arrowheads.

And for a while, silence fell in the room.

“...If we consider a case that the opponent wouldn't think of right now.”

A moment later, the person who broke the silence was Collie.

“It's you and Master, Gerard.”

“Us?”

“The two of you haven't met Roston yet. So your mana waves won't be identified. If you mix in with the crowd and pass by, you can approach Roston most easily from here.”

“That's true.”

In fact, this was something anyone could figure out.

“The problem is after approaching. Even if we can approach easily, it doesn't change the fact that he has hidden himself among numerous alarm magics and a crowd. Then the problem from Tutol will just repeat itself.”

“Either we become criminals, or we commit a perfect crime....”

“Yes. And we only have one chance, two at most. After that, Roston will remember our mana waves as well.”

Hearing Gerard's words, I fell into thought.

But it was still a difficult problem.

‘A frontal assault on a mage is a suicidal act....’

Mages were often said to be late bloomers.

As time passed, they could build their walls more and more sturdily. A mage who had finished all preparations was even called an impregnable fortress.

So, breaking through the measures Roston had set up right now didn't seem like a very good idea.

“What's this Roston's daily routine like? Is there no place to intervene?”

“Did you say you enticed him with alcohol over there? But unfortunately, there's nothing at all. It's a repetition of going from home to the guard post, and then back home. Even at the guard post, he's always cooped up in the building except when he's on patrol.”

“What the....”

“You don't believe it, do you? But it's true. I asked the people around, and they said he's been like that ever since he became a guard captain.”

The first time is hard, but the second time should be easy.

I smacked my lips with a sense of regret.

“Does that mean he never deviates from his set schedule?”

Just then, the contemplating Gerard muttered to himself.

“It's a pity we can't get help from the Sage’s Tower at times like this....”

“Yes?”

What does that mean?

When I asked back, Gerard answered obediently.

“Mages affiliated with the Sage’s Tower have a rule that they must respond immediately if they are summoned by the Sage’s Tower. If we could have used this, we might have been able to catch Roston easily.”

“Why can't we get help?”

“That's because of the rule that the Sage’s Tower does not directly intervene in political conflicts.”

To prevent the Empire from making the Sage’s Tower a scapegoat in a political struggle, the Emperor of the Empire had forbidden the Sage’s Tower from acting for a specific group.

The conspiracy that I and the party were trying to uncover was also a kind of internal strife happening in the Empire, so the Sage’s Tower could not step in.

“They can't stop an individual mage from stepping in, but it can't be done under the name of the Sage’s Tower.”

“...Does that mean an individual can get involved?”

“What do you mean?”

When Gerard asked, I slowly raised the corner of my mouth.

“I can lure him in.”

“How?”

“It's simple.”

I said what had come to my mind.

After the whole story was over, the party couldn't hide their surprised expressions.

“Our little brother, your head surprisingly works quite well for schemes, huh?”

“To be honest, you sound like a lunatic. In a good way.”

“Of course, it's not a perfect plan.”

Collie said.

“To be honest, it's not without its hitches. I'm especially not sure if the Sage’s Tower will turn a blind eye to this.”

“As Gerard said, the Sage’s Tower doesn't get involved in political fights, right? So it should be fine.”

“You know very well that's not the problem....”

I naturally avoided Collie's gaze as he smiled awkwardly.

“Whatever.”

“I'm not responsible if you get disciplined later.”

“I'll take care of it then. Gerard, please go to the Sage’s Tower with Collie. How much do you think the fee will be?”

“About 5 gold coins should be enough to be sure.”

I opened my inventory, took out a gold coin, and handed it to Gerard.

‘As expected of the Sage’s Tower. The prices are no joke.’

It was a little sad when the shiny gold coin left, but money that comes easily also leaves easily.

“Jeina and Bow, please go to the nearby forest and either catch or chase away the wild animals.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Haaa... you weren't listening, were you?”

Tersion, as if this were her chance, started to pick on Jeina relentlessly.

“He's telling us to clear the area. Imagine we've caught him, and a single beast suddenly rushes in. If the guy escapes with something like a short-distance teleport, we're done for right away.”

“Ugh, I get it! Stop nagging. Are you my dad or something?”

“What do I care how many dads you have.”

“Th-this, are you crazy?!”

The two of them immediately started a chase and disappeared in an instant.

Jeina would probably lose.

Tersion, with Wind Gale, was almost at the level of flying.

“Then shall we begin?”

I, left alone, fiddled with my fists and spread out a map of the city.

“I may not be good at other things, but I'm confident in this kind of thing.”

His eyes, as he examined the map, were no longer those of a mercenary.

The gaze of someone attempting a strategy.

He had returned to being a gamer.

***

The next day came.

Rustle....

To live in Crotan meant that even the sound of falling leaves rustling could be heard clearly.

Even in the bustling market, the sound of footsteps was louder than the voices of the people.

Is this really a town where people live?

This is what this city is like. It hasn't been noisy for three days.

I, who was hiding my body with the Camouflage Veil, was at a loss for words at the absurd silence.

It is said that this castle, due to its location, was often invaded by flying-type monsters in the past. So it is said that it became a habit for everyone to be quiet so as not to miss the sound of flapping wings.

This is too quiet. It's not good.

What do you mean.

Many people will hear our conversation.

Of course, the majority were meaningless commoners.

But what they were about to do now was a scam.

And it was better if not many people heard about a scam.

Isn't there anything we can do about it? The moment we send people elsewhere, Roston will notice.

It's not like there's no way.

Yes?

No matter how quiet they are, they're still people in the end.

I chuckled and took something out of my inventory.

As soon as Collie confirmed what it was, he was startled and took a few steps back, and the well-maintained Camouflage Veil almost came undone.

A-are you crazy?! Why are you suddenly taking that out?

Because I wanted a reaction like yours?

What I took out was none other than Fermented Beans.

I, who was smiling wickedly in an unfitting way, took a handful of it and scattered it on the ground.

“Eww, what's that smell...?”

The effect was immediate.

As a foul smell suddenly started to emanate from the center of the market, people frowned and began to look for the source of the smell.

They soon realized the existence of the beans scattered on the ground and started to curse and clean them up.

“Who on earth threw food waste on the ground!”

While saying things like this.

People don't know good taste.

You're the strange one, Master. Do you really not know?

I tried my best to ignore Collie's sharp gaze and sent a communication to the others.

Bow, how is it?

The forest is clean. Don't worry and just bring him over.

Got it. Gerard?

I'm on my way there now. I'll arrive at your location in 30 seconds.

At those words, I chuckled and checked my appearance.

Today, he was wearing a robe, not armor.

Even the scabbard that had been hanging from his side was not visible today.

How do I look, Collie?

Do you want flattering words? Or do you want advice based on reality?

What's the point of the former if the plan has to succeed? Tell me the latter.

To look like a mage, it would be better if your back was slightly stooped. They spend most of their day sitting at a desk and only looking at books.

At Collie's words, I immediately stooped my back a little and held my staff firmly.

The red robe shone in the sunlight, and the jewel attached to the collar sparkled.

There he is.

At Collie's words, I looked at the man approaching from a distance.

He was wearing the same robe as me and Collie, but of a slightly different color.

Gerard, put illusion magic on my robe.

Understood.

Gerard jumped down from the roof and landed behind me.

Then he opened his Grimoire and brought his hand to my robe, and the color of my robe changed to the exact same color as the one Roston was wearing.

“Hoo.”

Now all preparations were complete.

As I was taking a deep breath, the moment Roston passed by, I walked out of the Camouflage Veil.

“Low-grade mage Roston. Is that correct?”

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