第１８１２堀：表向きは意外と賑やかな町 (Part2)
She bears a striking resemblance to Blade of Roday. No, they aren't blood-related, but their personalities are cut from the same cloth. Or perhaps it’s the other way around—maybe Blade is the one who takes after Kishua.
While we were musing on this, the receptionist returned, accompanied by another woman.
"Thank you for waiting. This is Alca."
"Thank you."
"Not at all. Please, take your time."
As Sia offered her thanks, the receptionist retreated into the back. She didn't seem to harbor even a shred of suspicion toward us.
"Um, where exactly did you say you knew Kishua and the others from?"
Alca sat at the reception desk, looking perplexed but willing to engage. It seemed less like she was suspicious of us and more like she simply couldn't recall us.
"Oh, don't be like that! We trained together, remember?" Kishua said with a laugh.
"That’s right. There were so few women back then, it was hard to forget," Sia added, chiming in with a bright, audible laugh. As she spoke, she quickly scribbled something onto a small scrap of paper and held it up.
*Do not react. Keep up the small talk. We were sent on a request from the Grand Master. You’re the one who sent the letter, aren't you?*
Alca’s eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't make a sound.
"Ah, yes. That time. You’ve certainly improved your skills since then."
"We sure have."
"I was taking on some requests in a nearby town and heard that Alca had come out this way."
"We thought we’d come by and see if we could meet up."
As we chatted, we continued writing on the paper.
*It’s difficult to talk here. Is there somewhere else we can go?*
"I see. Thank you for going to such lengths. I’d love to catch up, but I’m on duty right now. How about after I finish work this evening? There’s a tavern I’d recommend."
"Oh, that sounds great. We haven't been in town long, so we’d appreciate the tip."
"Yes. We’ll come back this evening, then."
"Right. Good luck with the rest of your shift."
With that, we concluded our conversation. I quickly burned the scrap of paper to erase the evidence, and we stood up to leave the Adventurer’s Guild.
After wandering through the town for a while to ensure we weren't being followed, we ducked into a random shop, ordered some light snacks, and began to talk.
"That contact went easier than I expected."
"You’re as reckless as ever."
"I was surprised, but the result was good."
"True. And it doesn't look like anyone is suspicious of us right now, either."
Kishua glanced toward the shop entrance as she spoke. There were no pursuers, and certainly no one eavesdropping on our conversation.
"Sorry to keep you waiting! Here is your ham and salad bread-wrap."
A cute clerk brought over our snacks. It was, for all intents and purposes, a sandwich. Or, well, a "bread-wrap," to be precise. I heard from Yuki that the name came from a certain Earl of Sandwich who invented it. It’s surprising, but these kinds of things happen often enough.
"Oh, this is actually pretty good."
"Yes, the salt in the ham is just right."
"The rest is lightly seasoned, so the balance is perfect."
It was a rare treat to find something truly delicious. Outside of Weed, most places don't have many seasonings, so the food tends to be bland. Even salt is a luxury item of sorts. I suppose this just goes to show how much of Weed’s supplies are circulating out here.
"So, shall we look around town until evening?"
"I suppose so. But shouldn't we find an inn first? It’s surprisingly crowded."
"Good point. We’re going to be staying here for a while, and the Grand Master will be joining us later, so we’ll need the space."
It’s a bit of a distance, but we’ve set up a gate, so the Grand Master can come whenever we call. It’s far, but if the old man gets serious, he’s on par with us—that grandfather is a monster.
"Well, it’s fortunate that the townspeople seem lively and at peace."
"There’s no doubt they don't feel any sense of unease."
"……And that’s exactly why it’s so strange."
What did Alca know that prompted her to send that message? Was there some unimaginable trouble lurking here, just as Yuki and the Grand Master had suggested? A trouble that threatened to swallow this entire town?
I pondered these things as I ate my sandwich. The town seems to be maintaining its peace. But then, where is the problem actually festering? Investigating that is going to be the hardest part of all.