Chapter 266 - Chapter 265: The Fool Who Came to See a Fool
The second month of wind, the first week, the day of the earth.
News of the repulsion of the Gronoir Empire's second invasion spread to the capital in the blink of an eye, and every day was a festive celebration.
Mika's operation against the [Divine Wrath] is being kept as a top military secret.
However, the story of Mika running around the battlefield after the battle and rescuing injured soldiers spread from his own mouth and the mouths of witnesses to the people of Sarbengeal.
The incident of the Apostle running around the capital during the attack on the capital is still fresh in everyone's memory.
"The Kingdom is protected by the "Messengers of the Gods [Apostles]"".
Yes, along with this new legend, Mika's name was spoken, and during toasts, shouting "To the Apostle!" or "To the 'Messengers of the Gods [Apostles]'!" became popular throughout the kingdom.
Mika, who had no idea about such a trend, returned to the capital and was immediately summoned to a bar in District 4 via Lebrantes.
Summoned not to the shabby house in District 3 but to a bar in District 4, Mika listened to the master Yusubart across the counter.
"Another assassination request [job] came?"
"Yes."
Mika sat on a stool and heard the details from Yusubart.
"I came to buy information from the Information Broker Guild [us]. And, while following them, I also showed my face at the Assassin Guild [here]."
Lebrantes, who was sipping tree wine next to Mika, muttered.
Yusubart poured sake into a shot glass and smiled.
"They are not people of the underworld [this side]. They are complete amateurs. They said, 'We want you to kill the 'Dispeller' and the Apostle, the two of them'."
"Huh?"
Mika instinctively looked at Lebrantes.
He was supposed to have come to buy information from the Information Broker, so why was the request made this way?
Seeing Mika's surprised face, Lebrantes raised one eyebrow.
"They came to the Information Broker's window [window] saying, 'Give me information on the 'Dispeller' and the Apostle, the two of them'. When we said, 'It will take some time', they paid a down payment and came straight to this bar [here]."
"They must be in a great hurry, or they should have just waited quietly for the Information Broker's information. Instead, they came to request an assassination [job] right away."
Saying that, Yusubart drank the shot glass.
However, something felt slightly off.
"They are amateurs, right? How did they know that this bar [here] was the window?"
"I don't know about that. After all, they wouldn't talk."
"..................Huh?"
Mika's face went slack.
They wouldn't talk.
"Did you catch them!?"
"Yes, we let them swim for a few days, but they didn't make much of a move."
"We checked the Information Broker Guild [this side] too, but we couldn't trace the back. We thought we might as well just catch them."
It seems Yusubart and Lebrantes decided to choose the policy of asking directly through consultation.
They even checked the luggage at the inn, but nothing came out.
There wasn't even a forged document showing who they were or their identity.
"We didn't know when you would return, and the capital was just attacked. So we decided to squeeze them before they did anything bad."
Mika couldn't consult with them while he was at the battlefield.
So, as a safety measure, it seems they decided to catch him quickly.
"Ah, by the way, I consulted with Yaroibarov too. In fact, it was Yaroibarov who started saying, 'Catch him quickly'."
Mika collapsed onto the counter.
Yaroibarov sometimes thinks with his muscles.
Well, in this case, it might be the correct answer.
"What will you do? Shall we try interrogating him? He's downstairs [below]?"
Yusubart smiled with cold eyes and asked Mika, who was still collapsed.
That's why it's not the shabby house in District 3 [always], but the bar [here] in District 4.
Mika hesitated as he was.
Then, he slowly raised his body.
Since Lebrantes shouldn't see it, only Mika was led by Yusubart.
At the back of the backstage, there were stairs hidden like that.
There were men with gloomy, dark eyes in the backstage, looking very gloomy, but surely they were all those who made assassination their profession.
Yusubart usually hides such shady parts well, but these people here looked exactly like that.
Suddenly, he remembered the thin man who seemed to be B-rank during the Cleiria kidnapping incident.
Going down the stairs, it was a warehouse.
There was a hidden room further inside the warehouse, and in that room, the man in question was chained.
His hands were tied to two chains embedded in the wall, and now he was bowing his head weakly.
Following Yusubart entering the room, Mika also entered.
He slightly wrinkled his nose at the pungent smell.
The man was in tatters.
His clothes were torn, and his whole body was covered in blood.
"Is he treated?"
"Only enough so he doesn't die."
It seems they are using Recovery potions [Potion] appropriately so he doesn't die easily.
It's terrible, but well, Mika can't talk about others either.
He had even cut a hole in his stomach for interrogation because he had [Heal].
In terms of extremism, Mika might be the more extreme one.
However, Yusubart and the others are professionals, so they must be conducting torture that maximizes pain.
(Even so, if he won't talk...)
It would be useless even if an amateur like Mika did it.
That said...
"Ice Javelin [Ice Javelin]."
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?"
He fired about ten thin "Ice Javelins" into his hands, arms, legs, and stomach.
He immediately used [Heal], then fired the "Ice Javelins" again.
He repeated such things several times.
Yusubart watched Mika like that without changing his expression at all.
They had tortured him thoroughly, but it seems this man didn't say his name or where he came from at all.
It seems he didn't use a false name or lie, but just remained silent.
Normally, unless someone is highly trained, they would talk.
Even if not, they would tell a lie to escape the pain.
Confessing as told is a classic of wrongful conviction.
Yet, this man didn't say anything.
He was supposed to be a complete amateur, but he seems to have endured the pain like someone who had been trained quite a bit.
The man became like a hedgehog with countless "Ice Javelins".
Of course, if he fired "Ice Javelins" into his chest or head, he would die in one shot, so only parts that wouldn't be fatal.
Since he used [Heal] while the "Ice Javelins" were stuck in him, even in this state, the man could not die.
...No, if the timing of [Heal] was good, maybe he wouldn't die even if shot in the head?
(Should I try making a "Zero [Pe]n Head?)
A group of perverted mages seeking ultimate pleasure and reaching ultimate masochism floated in his mind.
It would be bad if he woke up to that [・]s[・]o[・]n[・]chi by mistake thinking it was torture, so maybe I'll skip it this time.
While Mika was thinking such things, he noticed the man's lips moving slightly.
Mika silently manifested "Big Ear [Big Ear]".
As sound, it was barely pronounced.
He managed to pick up a voice that seemed like air leaking by increasing the output of "Big Ear [Big Ear]".
"............God.........guide......us............."
It seems he is asking the gods for salvation.
He was trying to kill people, yet he can be so shameless, and he admires it.
"............Save us...............surely, we.........the Oracle........."
Hearing that mutter, Mika's eyes widened.
But he silently continued listening.
"............Church.........His Majesty the Emperor...............please the world.........the world of the gods........."
He had been silently listening to the content he muttered for a while, but then he sent magic power into the "Ice Javelins" stuck in the man and pulled them all out at once.
"Guaah...!"
And so, he cast [Heal] on the man.
The wounds were healed, but the man, looking exhausted, glared at Mika.
"............Brainwashing even a child like this.........there is no choice but to destroy.........Purification and salvation are too late for this filthy country........."
A little strength returned to the man's mutter.
Even so, without "Big Ear [Big Ear]", he wouldn't have been able to hear it.
Mika stared straight back at the man.
(Even looking at me, do you think I'm just a brainwashed child? It seems he really came to request an assassination without any proper preliminary knowledge.)
Mika crossed his arms and put his hand to his chin, thinking.
He wished for the death of the "Dispeller" and the Apostle, but he didn't seem to hold a grudge against Mika personally.
What is this guy?
(He is tainted with thoughts leaning towards the Empire ideologically. Or rather, he is soaked in it. ......A fanatic?)
Did just a crazy person among the Empire's people go on a rampage?
Even so, it feels strange that he included not only the Apostle but also the "Dispeller" as an assassination target.
If he didn't recognize the Church of Light in the Kingdom of Ektrem, then I can understand if he didn't recognize this Apostle who appeared recently.
However, the "Dispeller" has nothing to do with the Church of Light.
(...No, is there no such thing?)
The Church's argument that they disapprove of pretending to be the lost [God's Miracle] is the reason for Mika's attempted murder.
But I don't understand the reason for targeting him so precisely.
If they destroy the Kingdom of Ektrem, both the "Dispeller" and the Apostle would be eliminated.
Was it necessary to assassinate them first?
Why?
(Did they judge it as an obstacle to the invasion?)
Would a single citizen judge such a thing and go out of their way to infiltrate an enemy country?
Thinking about it that way, it's certain he must have been ordered by someone.
An agent from the Empire.
But a complete amateur.
I don't understand the meaning.
(He had confidence that he wouldn't talk. So they sent him?)
Since they sent such an amateur, the sender probably didn't think they would succeed.
Sending an agent, feeling indifferent whether they succeeded or failed.
A sloppy thought that as long as he doesn't talk, there's no problem.
(...Is this a gamble with room to spare?)
It would be best if it went well, but even if it failed, there would be no problem.
This man's life was used for that level of play.
As a discarded piece that didn't care even if he was killed.
(............No, maybe. This is.......)
Mika silently turned his back to the man and left the room as he was.
Yusubart followed Mika and left the room.
He returned to the bar as he was.
"Oh, how was it?"
Lebrantes, who was drinking alone, put a nut in his mouth and swallowed it.
Then, he drank the glass.
"As expected, it's no use. He doesn't say anything."
When Yusubart entered behind the counter, he shrugged his shoulders.
Mika sat on the stool and thought with a serious face.
Then, he looked at Yusubart.
"How many people can you move from this very moment?"
When Mika asked that, Yusubart's eyes widened.
Then, he made a very serious face.
It seems he couldn't answer.
"You don't have to say it. I just want to confirm if there is a means to tail someone."
"Tail? Who? Are you letting that guy go?"
Lebrantes turned a surprised face toward Mika.
"You don't think they seriously succeeded by sending such an amateur, do you? Besides, he knew about this bar unnaturally. There must be someone who guided or led him."
"Yes, that's right. We also considered that possibility."
Yusubart nodded.
"So, why do you think they used such a discarded piece?"
"A discarded piece?"
Lebrantes frowned and made a suspicious face.
Mika pierced Yusubart with a sharp gaze as if glaring at him.
"They were lured. There must be someone watching this place. If they accept the job straightforwardly, that's fine. But if the discarded piece is caught, watching the movements here will reveal the connection. If it goes well, the 'Dispeller' or the Apostle might be hooked."
""!？""
It seems to be a strategy to find the fool who came to see the fool who was caught.
There is a [Skill] called [Detect Presence], but is there a [Skill] that makes presence thin?
If there is, they could monitor even a super dangerous target like the window of the Assassin Guild.
Mika couldn't help but sigh.
"There is a high possibility that my existence has already been revealed to them. A child came to such a bar with Lebrantes. They surely listed it as a candidate for the 'Dispeller' or the Apostle. It's too unnatural for a guest."
When Mika said that, Lebrantes clicked his tongue.
Yusubart bowed his head as if sorry.
"I'm sorry. I brought unnecessary danger to the 'Dispeller'. It's my fault."
Mika smiled at Yusubart.
"Well, I also flew around normally showing my face during the attack the other day. Rather, that's good proof that my existence wasn't transmitted as unified information even then."
Otherwise, it wouldn't be a request for the two of them, the "Dispeller" and the Apostle.
It is the best proof that they only have fragmented information.
I wonder why information gathering was so slow, but perhaps an organization in charge of intelligence became non-functional for some reason.
"It's okay. There's probably still a chance to recover."
"Recovery, opportunity?"
Mika nodded firmly.
"Surely, the enemy's agents aren't that many. At most, one guide. At most three to four people. There might be someone trying to urgently report the information to the homeland. But there must be someone trying to gather more information."
"............If we chase those watching agents and wipe them all out........."
Yusubart muttered with eyes that made even Mika feel cold.
"Intercept [Intercept] the information before it reaches the homeland. From now on, I will act as bait and walk around District 3. Follow the person attached to me and prevent the information from reaching the homeland."
When Mika said that, Yusubart and Lebrantes nodded.
It seems the professional spirit ignited to clean up their own blunder.
"I want to confirm one thing. Is the homeland the Gronoir Empire? Did they send that guy?"
"Yes, his ideology was soaked deep. Only people from the Empire would call the Kingdom of Ektrem a 'filthy country'. He also talked about the 'Oracle'."
When Mika said that, Yusubart's eyes widened.
He looked like he was asking when he told such a story.
"Anyway, we can't waste time. Move immediately."
When Mika said that, Yusubart immediately went into the backstage.
He will probably give orders to the people in the back.
"Ume."
Mika was eating popcorn-like snacks sold at a stall in District 3.
It's more like jumbo corn than popcorn?
It seems if you fry some unknown flower fruit, it turns out like this.
If you sprinkle sugar on it, it becomes a snack, and if you add a little spice salt, it becomes a drink accompaniment.
"I'm eating this for the first time."
"Is that so? In the southern region, everyone from adults to children loves it."
A nice Cafeteria Lady [Cafeteria Lady] was happily watching Mika munching.
It seems to be a standard in the southern region.
"My birthplace is also in the south, technically. But I've never seen it."
The Limpēre domain is on the far southeast, so it should be included in the south category.
"Oh, you're from the south?"
"Yes. Ah... but it was a village with nothing."
In fact, there were no snacks.
Rather, it's possible that only the Noisheim family didn't have such snacks.
Well, we were poor.
Because of the debt.
Mika chatted aimlessly and wandered around District 3.
"Unme."
And so, he bought and ate things he saw.
He expanded his magic range to twenty meters and roughly checked the surrounding situation.
Of course, the tailors were watching Mika by going in and out of the edge of the twenty-meter range.
Without the magic range, Mika wouldn't have noticed this tailing.
And so, the person attaching such a tailer.
They are far away from Mika, completely uncatchable, but the Assassin Guild and the Information Broker Guild are jointly monitoring the tailer from a distance.
But regardless of that, Mika was enjoying buying snacks for the first time in a while.
If possible, I'd like to invite everyone from the Leventein Group to walk around eating, but I can't do that while leading a tailer.
As Mika was walking, an old woman from the front stared at Mika.
When Mika's eyes met hers, she moved her gaze sideways.
At the end of the old woman's gaze, there was a stall selling juice.
Mika approached that stall.
"One, please."
"Okay, 1.5 million Rats."
Wow, nostalgic, hey.
When I was a kid, in a shopping street shop, there were guys who always added "million" to the amount.
This world also had such a culture.
"Two gold coins is fine?"
"There's no good reason! What is this, hey. Monk, do you have such a huge amount of money!?"
"There's no way. Here, 150 Rats."
"O, okay. Thanks as always."
Ah, I should have paid 200 Rats.
Then I could have heard the set phrase "Return of 500,000 Rats".
Failure, failure.
Mika took the cup of juice handed to him and drank it down right there.
Hmm... did I eat too much sweet stuff?
I didn't feel the sweetness of the fruit juice much.
Casually, he switched the cup from his right hand to his left hand.
Then, he quickly glanced at the small paper handed along with the cup left in his right hand.
"OK"
Only that was written on the paper.
While drinking the juice in the cup, Mika crumpled the paper in his right hand.
Then, he held the cup from above with his right hand and put the crumpled paper inside.
"Thank you for the meal."
"Okay. Come again."
Replying lightly with his hand to the guy's voice when returning the cup, Mika returned to the inn.
The next day, Lebrantes and Yusubart came to the inn to report.
"We secured the information. This time, it wasn't a success."
Yes, Lebrantes bowed his head.
It seems Mika's tailers were two, but there was another agent.
That agent was writing a report in a cheap inn where he was hiding.
The three of them watched the bar in District 4, and when Mika appeared, they judged him as too out of place and suspicious.
One returned to the hiding place first, created a report on appearance, etc., and the two continued monitoring to find supporting information.
"He talked well."
When Mika asked that, Yusubart explained with an apologetic face.
"This time it was our blunder, so we made them talk with all our might. Not everyone has such iron will. If one talks, there's a way to handle the rest."
It seems they are still verifying the information now, but for now, it seems there is no lie.
"They entered the kingdom recently, and it seems there are no other agents connected to them."
These agents seem to have belonged to other organizations before.
Investigation reached that organization, and the top disappeared.
The agents who escaped seem to have returned to their main profession after that.
"Another organization? Main profession?"
When Mika asked that, Lebrantes made a grim face.
"These guys are deacons and monks of the Church of the Gronoir Empire. The other organization they belonged to before seems to have conducted intelligence activities for the Trade Union. Naturally, it was an organization aimed at working in the kingdom."
Wow, it seems the agents this time were doing various works in the kingdom under a man named Aquu.
The organization was destroyed, they fled back to the Gronoir Empire, and spent their days quietly in churches and monasteries.
However, they were ordered to assassinate this "Dispeller" by someone who knew their previous activities.
"Who is the one who gave that order?"
When Mika asked, Yusubart shook his head.
"He is a priest of a regional Great Cathedral. That's where they fled back to. Probably, this guy was just ordered and doesn't know the source of the order."
Hearing that, Mika made a bored face.
"............Are they alive now?"
"............They are alive."
It seems they made them talk with quite severe interrogation.
"Information connected to Aquu might be useful. Let them speak and report to the Fifth Knights Order."
Since the Trade Union has already investigated them long ago, it might be known information.
Aquu's physical characteristics, etc., have already been conveyed to us via the Trade Union.
But if there is information not yet known, it might be useful.
"Shall we ask Sir Ozendorwa from our side?"
Lebrantes asked if it's better to hand them over alive.
"Is that so? Then ask. Yusubart-san, don't kill them until you confirm that the Fifth Knights Order doesn't need them."
"Understood. However, handing them over in that state..."
It seems they really made them talk with severe interrogation.
"Understood. I'll go cast [Heal]... By the way, how much did you torture them?"
From the side being targeted, no matter how much they torture, they absolutely want them to talk...
Haa... I don't want to see it.
Thinking such things, Mika headed for the bar.