Vol 3: Chapter 15
「Too late… It’s strange that I haven’t heard from her even after two days.」
「Too late… It’s strange that I haven’t received any deposits even after two days.」
I and Muge-san said in unison.
We were currently in Muge-san’s company’s warehouse, allowed to lodge here for the time being. We slept on an extremely simple bed made of iron pipes covered with straw, but from an adventurer’s point of view, just having a bed is more than enough. There was also a door, which can be locked, so it was perfectly satisfactory.
Though, there are times when I miss the bed at Earl Sillys residence.
「Um… Reiji-kun is waiting for Lulusha-san to contact, and Muge-san is waiting for the money from selling the automaton?」
「「Yes.」」
We said in unison again.
Only Muge-san, Mimino-san, and I were in the room.
Dante-san and Non-san went out to hang out in the city since there was no labyrinth capture, and Zerry-san was sleeping in the next room. Apparently, she went to a gambling den in the Empire last night, but… according to Muge-san, there are no gambling spots in the Empire.
Well, one thing I know for sure… wherever she went, it wasn’t a decent place.
Anyway,
「I understand that reporting on the labyrinth capture and arranging for the treatment of the injured can take time, but it’s already the third day. Hmm, did she forget?」
「Come on〜 I doubt that. We are her lifesavers, after all. I don’t think that’s something that can be forgotten.」Mimino-san said.
「Muge-san. Is there a way to contact the Labyrinth Capture Division?」
「Yes, of course there is. Shall we go?」
「I’d love to.」
I understand that Lulusha-san might be busy, but I came all this way for her. I want to meet and talk to her as soon as possible.
「What about you, Muge-san? Would you like to go to the company that purchased the automaton?」
「Labyrinth Management Bureau– Ah, it’s the organization that manages the Labyrinth Capture Division. After I guide you to that building, I can go to the company myself.」
「But 1,000 imperial gold coins are so large that they might not be able to pay right away, isn’t it?」
「Not at all〜. The company that won the bid is an up-and-coming company with explosive growth, so there’s no way they don’t have the money! The fact that they accompanied Capture Division 4 instead of 1 is also a part of their strategy.」
「What do you mean?」
「I shall explain as we walk there. Time is money, time is money.」
Muge-san stood up after drinking a glass of water.
So there is a saying of “time is money” in this world too.
According to Muge-san, long-established stores and large companies wanted to accompany the Capture Divisions 1 to 3, and the Division 4 led by Lulusha-san, who is half human, was not so popular. Conversely, there were few rivals in Division 4, so it is highly possible that you can secure a rare automaton if found.
「In fact, 1000 gold coins might even be cheap for the automaton that we found.」Muge-san said, matter-of-factly.
「Ah, Muge-san? I feel like maybe that company isn’t going to pay?」
「The Rororo Company?」
What a name!
「There were other merchants there at the time. If they don’t pay, it will tarnish their company name. So you don’t have to worry about that.」
「I see…」
「Oh, the Labyrinth Management Bureau is over there.」
We left Neko-chan behind and walked down the road.
The sunlight was strong. All the Lev people were wearing light-colored hoods such as white and silver to reflect the sunlight.
The blackish building we arrived at was plain square-shaped with a “government office” feel to it.
There was a signboard which read “Labyrinth Management Bureau” at the front entrance.
「Then I’ll be heading off to the Rororo Company. If you’re inquired for an ID, please give them my name.」
「Thank you.」
Muge-san then left while waving his hand.
I entered the Labyrinth Management Bureau with Mimino-san. The inside of the building felt cool, perhaps because it was under shade, or maybe they have something like an air conditioner.
Equipped with a protector, a baton on the waist, and a metal short spear in their right hands, two guards approached us, but when I conveyed that I wanted to meet Lulusha-san and that she promised to make some time to see me, the two exchanged glances with each other.
「I’ll check it above, so please wait over there.」
The lobby was too small to be called a guest lobby. We were pointed to a space where chairs for 10 people were placed. It was a truly tasteless place with no decorative plants or paintings, almost like a detention center.
The light outside shone through the window. You can see the Lev people passing by without being in a rush.
Lev people sure work really well. Their walking speed is quite fast, and they work from morning till night. There is no gambling den is what Muge-san said, perhaps because it is due to Lev people’s nature.
「Hey, Reiji-kun. Is it okay that I came along with you to meet Lulusha-san?」
Mimino-san asked me, as I was thinking that the guards sure were taking their time.
「No problem at all. Lulusha-san is just the granddaughter of my benefactor.」
「Eh!? I-Is that so?」
「Ah… I haven’t talked about that?」
Come to think of it, I haven’t talked about it at all. I mean, everyone in Silver Balance is so kind that they don’t want to ask me about the time when I was in the mine. That’s why I haven’t had the chance to talk about old man Hinga… No, no, no, wait. Which means, everyone came with me all the way here, with no questions asked, just because I said I wanted to meet a person named Lulusha?
(Just how kind are these people…)
I’m an idiot. Even though they all trust me so much… I was simply focused on the joy of becoming a member of Silver Balance and the joy of traveling with everyone again.
…I’ll talk to Dante-san and Non-san too when they return.
「When I was in the mine, there was a person who taught me a lot about this world. Lulusha-san is the granddaughter of that person.」
「Is that so… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snoop–」
「No, no, Mimino-san, I don’t think of it as snooping. I don’t have good memories of when I was in the mine, but if I hadn’t gone there, I would have died.」
If I hadn’t sold myself, my own parents would have killed me. Just for the reason that my hair is black and my eye is black.
Mimino-san was taken aback, but I tried to sound cheerful.
「It’s all in the past now. Now that I’m happily going on adventures with Mimino-san and the others, I have no more troubles.」I said.
Then I talked about old man Hinga. The various things I learned from him at the mine. Mimino-san was surprised when I talked about medicinal herbs, saying, “He was such a knowledgeable man?” Even from the viewpoint of an expert halfling herbalist Mimino-san, old man Hinga’s knowledge seems to have been outstanding.
I was talking while having forgotten the time, but—I suddenly heard a strange sound and stopped talking.
「Hmm, what’s wrong, Reiji-kun? By the way, aren’t the guards taking too long?」
「Mimino-san.」
I understood even without my enhanced hearing—that no one was walking outside.
The passersby outside the window were no longer there.
And no one was going in or out of this building.
As I strained my ears, I heard a few faint metal rubbing sounds.
「It seems that this building is surrounded by an armed group. I don’t want to think about it, but the likelihood that we are their aim is high.」
What’s going on? I just came to see Lulusha-san!
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