第１５６２堀：混乱の果て (Part2)
"So, they didn't go so far as to block access to the upper floors. I suppose they possessed at least that much reason."
In the worst cases, there are fools who would literally tear a shop apart.
"However, Yuki, Kiyu, looking at the state of things, it’s doubtful the Guild Master’s office remains unscathed."
We were already walking down the hallway on the third floor, and as expected, this level had been ransacked as well. It’s a classic trope, after all—the most valuable items in these types of establishments are always hidden either at the very top or deep underground.
Yuki responded to my observation with a nod of agreement.
"True. It’d be a bit naive to think the Guild Master’s room would be the only place left untouched."
"Indeed. But, I hear there’s an interception mechanism in place, so let’s pray it held."
"An interception mechanism? That’s the first I’ve heard of it. Have you heard of such a thing, Riel?"
"No. I’ve accompanied Yuki-sama to meet with the Adventurer Guild Master in his office several times, but the door never appeared to be anything so heavily fortified."
"Exactly my point."
I, too, have visited Rock’s office on numerous occasions. After all, in addition to acting as Yuki’s bodyguard, I am also deployed for special duties within the police force. We are, for the most part, a unit with the freedom to act as needed—typically mobilized for difficult cases or when facing particularly formidable foes.
Setting that aside, I’ve been there, and I never noticed any conspicuous defensive features.
"Ah, well, it’s more of a retrofitted addition. They’ve enchanted the door and installed various magic tools."
"To deter looters, then?"
"That’s the idea. Though, it’s also designed with large-scale monster stampedes or direct assaults in mind."
"I see. Well, I can’t say how effective the defense is, but I suppose it’s better than nothing."
"That’s the spirit. The Adventurer Guild, at the very least, wants to ensure their critical information and items are recovered intact."
"Like a vault, then?"
"Precisely. That’s a good way to put it, Riel. It’s as if the entire room is a vault. Ah, we’ve arrived."
Kiyu stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed on a dark, spreading stain on the floor. A pool of blood. Given the volume, was it a fatal wound? Had his companions dragged him away?
I examined the pool more closely. I could see the drag marks leading away from the door, and the faint traces of where someone had attempted some form of emergency treatment before the trail vanished.
"A more dangerous vault than I anticipated."
"Well, it is an interception mechanism. They don't want thieves coming back a second or third time, so it’s designed with that in mind."
I see. Mere intimidation or physical durability might not stop someone from trying again, but if the cost of entry is this high, they’ll likely abandon the attempt. It seems calibrated to inflict damage without necessarily resulting in a corpse. The hallway was a mess, but there was no stench of death. If a body had been left here, even years later, the smell would have been foul enough to be unmistakable.
But, that is neither here nor there.
"Hmm. How do we open a door with that mechanism active? Surely we aren't expected to force it? Though, if you tell me to, I shall."
A door of this caliber wouldn't stop us. It isn't even worth defending. A bit of distance and a specialized strike from each of us would blow the thing to pieces.
"No, please, wait. I happen to have the key to disarm the mechanism."
"You have such a thing?"
"I do. It’s something the Guild prepared specifically to protect its information."
"Now that you mention it, that makes sense."
It wasn't a personal installation, so it stands to reason that a master key would exist.
"That said, I can’t guarantee it will work perfectly, so please be careful. Especially you, Riel—I’m leaving the protection of my brother to you."
"Yes! Leave it to me!"
Oh, he phrased that well. He managed to turn "you're a liability" into "please do your best as a bodyguard." Yuki seemed to catch on, too, as he moved to a safe distance alongside Riel.
I stepped into the gap, ready to intercept whatever might emerge.
"Proceed."
"Understood. Here goes."
Kiyu reached for the doorknob. Now, let us see what comes out.
Japan is often cited as a place of rare order. In times of chaos, looting like this is common in other nations—what they call "looting during a fire." In an emergency, such things are inevitable.
And what, I wonder, did the Guild leave behind?