While throwing Orbas’ head on the floor, Hifumi surveyed the men in the room.
「 The first question. Who are you fellows and are all members here? Oh, if I sense a lie, it’s time to kill. Well then, you. 」
Hifumi pointed his katana at the nearest guy.
「 M-Me? ……. We are called “Hidden Serpent”. All it’s members are here. 」
Resigned, the nominated man answered obediently.
「 Then, next. You people, in the Marquis’ employ, was attacking me in the daytime the order of the Marquis? 」
Looking Hifumi in the eye, he began to talk while trembling.
「 Rather than employed, we are allowed to use this place for occasionally undertaking errands for the Marquis. We do not set foot into the Marquis’ home… This should have been a request from the Marquis, the leader said so. 」
On hearing the answer, Pajou fleetingly glanced at Hifumi.
「 …. Certainly, regarding nobles’ residences, leaving aside on-the-spot inspections, yield no clear evidence. 」
Pajou said with a sigh mixed in. To think that there might be criminals who have similarly been given shelter, it was depressing.
「 And the last question. Are there troops in the Marquis’ mansion? Does anyone here know? 」
One person timidly raised his hand.
「 On answering, will I be spared? 」
「 I am asking the questions. 」
「 Uu…. There were many soldiers on duty in the mansion, on patrol and so on, but it seems that they don’t enter the third floor where the Marquis is. Recently, rumours of a magician being hired have been circulating. 」
「 A magician huh…. 」
Receiving Hifumi’s permission, the members of Hidden Serpent ran away at full speed.
Pajou shifted her gaze to the criminals fleeing from the shelter.
「 Your job is intelligence, not criminal law enforcement. Spend time arresting them, the Marquis will be able to escape. 」
「 Though that is so….. 」
Hifumi went out, Pajou reluctantly followed.
「 I’m getting drowsy, so bothersome. 」
Hifumi murmured, looked up at the side wall of the mansion, and using his fingers, climbed up smoothly via the few irregularities in the stonework.
Watching the figure dressed in a hakama ascend the wall speedily, Pajou could do nothing but watch bitterly. In the blink of an eye, Hifumi reached the third floor, skillfully opening the wooden window with one hand, he leapt inside.
After a little while, a rope that usually binds curtains descended from the open window.
「 In this dress, I should climb? 」 (Pajou)
「 No, just grab it. 」
Pajou gripped the rope tilting her head in confusion, and was instantly launched upwards.
「 ~~~~~~~! 」(Pajou)
Unable to let out any words, Pajou was caught inside the room.
「 Well then, this seems to be an office-like room. 」
Looking around the room which had a large, stately desk and an elegant bookshelf, Hifumi muttered.
「 Next door, there is the presence of one person. The presence on this floor……No, near the stairs is an unusual stagnating presence. Possibly, in the next room is the Marquis. The guy on the stairs is most probably the magician from the rumors. 」
Pajou did not doubt Hifumi’s words any more.
「 Well then, search for your achievements. 」
「 Haa? 」
Relying on the dim light of a wax candle, Pajou confirmed documents one after the other.
Hifumi, who could not read the characters was rummaging around the desk.
「 No problem with the documents…. huh? 」
A certain bookshelf, its depth seemed unnaturally inadequate.
「 What’s wrong? 」
Calling out to Hifumi, Pajou explained the irregularity.
Without hesitating, Hifumi threw away all the documents on the racks to the floor and peeled off the rear boards with a sound like tape being pulled off. A bunch of documents spilled out from a hidden compartment.
Picking them up, Pajou quickly looked them over and said with a shaking voice,
「 This…. an account book containing records of secret trades with our neighbouring country, Vichy…. 」
「 Oh, there’s your achievement. 」
Far from an achievement, if things don’t go well, the Marquis may bump her off, Pajou shivered. No matter what happens, if unable to safely return to the castle, her life may be forfeit.
「 Ah, not the fellow next door, but the guy near the stairs is coming here. Be quiet for a minute. 」
To Hifumi nonchalantly saying that, Pajou started to panic.
「 Wh-What do we do? 」
「 Calm down. First, see what kind of guy he is. 」
The door slowly opened, and a man wearing a black robe with a hood covering his eyes entered.
「 …… A thief? 」
An extremely hoarse voice rang out.
「 So you’re the magician that was employed. 」
On seeing Hifumi speak, the magician quickly drew a knife from his robe and pointed it at Hifumi and Pajou.
「 ……… 」
The magician chanted something in a low voice, and an invisible blade of wind flew forward.
「 Auuu! 」 (Pajou)
Unlike Hifumi, Pajou was struck by it on the shoulder and losing her balance, fell.
「 You dodged it?… 」
「 M-Magic dagger…. A magician from the Horant country, why is it! 」
To Pajou’s words, the magician laughed under his hood at her holding her shoulder and taking some distance.
「 Ho~, you know our country’s magic tool quite well. Though you’ve got the appearance of a prostitute, are you a dog of Orsongrande? 」
While the magician was speaking, Hifumi drew near.
「 Nuu! 」
Hifumi’s thrust met a sudden gust of wind.
That violent gust of wind blew up the documents scattered on the floor, the pen on the desk flew up, and the chair was knocked over.
The candle fell, the documents on the desk began to burn.
「 Hmm, magic can also be used like this huh. 」
The fire was spreading, watching the unworried Hifumi admire wind magic, the magician was secretly in a cold sweat.
According to the plan, the gust of wind should have blown away the sword, and without the sword…
However, Hifumi adjusted his katana according to the direction of the wind while receiving it, neutralizing it. In spite of seeing such magic for the first time, such marvellous flexibility.
While the magician thought that even if he wins, he would not come out of this unscathed, a new person entered.
It was Marquis Raghlain from the next room.
「 Strauss, what is this situation! …… You! 」
The moment the Marquis saw Hifumi’s face, he tried to shout something, a gust of wind hit the Marquis’ back. This was the act of the magician Strauss.
Calmly knocking down the Marquis who was thrown at him, Hifumi returned his gaze towards Strauss, but he had already run away. His speed points to magic being used for movement.
「 …..He ran away huh… 」
The fire was already spreading from the desk to the documents scattered on the floor.
「 Pajou, do you have the documents? 」
「 Ee, they’re all right…….. Hey! 」
When Pajou looked up after stopping the blood from her wound by tearing off a piece of her dress, a shocking scene met her eyes.
Hifumi threw the fainted Marquis out of the window they came in from.
「 Don’t worry. He’s not dead yet. 」
Hurriedly going to the window and looking, Pajou saw the Marquis’s figure in a tangle of thick shrubbery. One leg was bent in a weird direction, but he seemed to be alive.
「 Well then, leave. 」
「 J-Jump down? 」
Seeing Pajou hesitating while looking out the window, Hifumi clicked his tongue.
「 No other way. Hold onto the documents tightly. 」
「 Eeh? Wai-, IYAAA~~~~~! 」
Grabbing and holding her sideways under his arm, Hifumi immediately jumped out of the window.
* * *
Kaishi = Piece of paper often used in Tea Ceremonies.
Chapter 9: Weapon Of Choice
After waiting for Origa to finish crying, Kasha slowly spoke.
「 Something like sleeping together….. Why did you say such a thing? 」
「 ….. I’m sorry for worrying you. At any cost, I thought that I had to attract … 」
Wiping away her tears, Origa gradually began to speak.
「 The affair that cheated us and turned us into debt-slaves.. 」
「 Ah, I’ll never forget! The merchant of Vichy…. Beirevura. If I see him, I will absolutely kill him! 」
Resentment welling up, Kasha gnashed her teeth and growled, now Origa calmed her down.
「 Fuu….. sorry Origa. I could not endure it on remembering. 」
「 It’s all right. I feel the same way. 」
In the past, when Origa and Kasha were adventurers, they had accepted an escort commission from a trader called Beirevura, who cheated them into owing a large amount of money. Though they tried desperately to repay it, Origa suffered from an injury, became unable to earn, and they were subsequently made debt-slaves.
「 But it is not possible to take revenge now that we are slaves. 」
Excitement subsiding, Kasha quieted down. Origa placed her hand on Kasha;s shoulder and clearly said,
「 I have not given up on revenge. 」
Different from usual, the intense emotion-laden words made Kasha look at Origa.
「 Hifumi san….. Master is powerful. The fight earlier today, and if master’s story is true, called as a hero from a different world, the Knights in the castle….. Moreover, making an enemy of elites of the royalty.. 」
「 But, our enemies, whether master will help or not…. 」
「 Therefore, I will persist in making master’s feelings turn towards me. 」
The reason for Origa’s strange aggressiveness today, Kasha finally understood.
「 So that is the reason….. I’m sorry Origa, I didn’t notice your resolution in facing master. 」
「 It’s all right. I too did not consult with Kasha either under pressure. When master quickly refused, after I cried, I became calm for a moment. 」
Abruptly smiling, Origa said slightly ashamedly.
「 Besides…. Master isn’t bad I think…. The bought items also, now don’t feel too bad. 」(TN: This sentence has a possible double meaning. She says “it doesn’t feel so bad”, where ‘it’ can be the master or the items. I think. )
「 Ee…….? 」
「 Now then, it’s late, let’s sleep soon. 」
They stood up, and Origa crawled into the opposite bed.
Origa’s explosive statement for some reason made Kasha go *dokidoki*, and she did not sleep easily.
Marquis Raghlain was carried to the street of the hotel, then Hifumi entrusted everything to Pajou and quickly went back to his room and slept. Incidentally, since the main entrance was locked and bolted, he climbed in from the window he had left from.
The next morning, Hifumi woke up before sunrise, tended to his katana, finished his daily routine of stretches, and then sat in seiza and meditated.
Come to think of it, exactly one day ago I met those Gods.
Since then, various things have come about. Freed from the restraints of killing people, able to practice techniques to the extreme. Hifumi thought he was truly blessed, living as a martial artist in the modern age was quite hard.
It may be possible in a country at war, but in peaceful modern society, martial arts equalled violence. It was frowned upon for any martial artist to use techniques. Moreover, in case of death, they were blamed.
Such a situation was indeed very vexing.
Suddenly, a knocking sound was heard.
「 Master, breakfast is ready. 」
Origa’s humble voice reached the other side of the door.
「 Got it. Go on to the dining room before me. 」
「 Certainly. We will wait. 」
It’s not particularly necessary to wait though, Hifumi thought as he adjusted his hakama and looked at his attire. He was still wearing his martial arts dougi and hakama from yesterday.
「 I should look for a clothes shop, get the same thing made. 」
Somehow, Hifumi did not want to wear the clothes from this world.
Finishing breakfast, for the time being Hifumi paid the hotel fees for the day, and took Origa and Kasha to town again.
「 We’ll go to the guild today. If there is time, I want to go to a clothes shop. As for the Adventurer’s Guild can anyone register? 」
「 Yes. Though the registration fee is 5 silver coins, as long as there is no criminal record…. 」
「 Well, it’s all right then. 」
The matter in the castle is treated as legitimate self-defense.
With Kasha as the guide, Hifumi was observing the town. As usual, the signboards could not be read, the literacy reate does not seem to be high. The signboards also had symbols and paintings carved in an easy-to-understand way.
Be that as it may, I should quickly learn the characters to avoid problems in the future. Is there a bookstore here?
On the way to the guild, there was no bookstore.
「 We arrived…. what’s wrong? 」 (Kasha)
「 It doesn’t seem that there are shops selling books here. 」 (Hifumi)
「 Books! Only nobles or scholars read them. 」
The conversation would shock a bibliophile, just how low was the literacy rate? There seems to be no habit of reading for normal citizens.
Haa, with the literacy rate this low, books can be seen as high-quality goods, and the chances of libraries existing is very low. A great method of information-gathering is gone.
Pulling himself together, Hifumi stepped into the guild.
Unlike in novels, the bar and room is not combined as one.
There were some counters in the back, tables for meeting were lined up along the left-side wall. The notices were placed on a board on the right-side wall.
Several groups seated on the tables, looked curiously at the unfamiliar face leading two women.
「 The back counter, that treated as the reception. 」 (Origa)
Approaching the counter Origa indicated Hifumi spoke to the woman sitting behind the counter.
「 Have a minute? 」
「 Yes. What can I help you with? 」
The young woman who had long red, eye-catching hair answered with a smile.
「 I want to register as a newcomer….. How is that done? 」
「 Our registration document was taken from us, when we became slaves I don’t think we get the same treatment as adventurers. 」
To Kasha’s words while shaking her head, the guild became noisy. Kasha having become a slave, seemed to be shocking in its own way.
「 Kasha is a slave… is it? 」
「 Origa too, has become a slave from an adventurer? 」
Hearing that Origa too was a slave, the surroundings became even noisier. A man was staring at Hifumi with a bitter gaze. Origa seems to be popular.
Of course, Hifumi was unconcerned with such gazes.
「 Err… Once registered as an adventurer, the registration card can be reissued. Since the slaves are doing the jobs, the owner has to pay a charge. One gold coin is necessary for reissue. A new registration is 5 silver coins. 」
What do you want to do? On being asked this by the staff, Hifumi thought it was inconvenient without identification papers.
「 Ah, whatever, do not worry about the money. Reissue for t
wo. 」
Though Hifumi one-sidedly decided it, Kasha and Origa’s expressions softened. Watching them, the men’s gazes became those full of jealousy.
The few female adventurers repeatedly glanced at him, somehow rumours about him started getting inflated.
「 Then, please fill out this form. 」
「 Aa, I will fill it. Is master’s name as Hifumi-sama agreeable? 」(Origa)
Hearing Origa call him ‘master’, as expected was slightly gloomy, thought Hifumi.
「 Full name is Hifumi Touno. 」
「 To have a family name, was master a noble? 」
「 In my hometown, generally everyone had a family name. 」
「 Fuun.. 」
While filling in the age and weapons used (the name ‘katana’ did not exist, so it was written as ‘sword’), a large man drew near to Hifumi.
「 Oh, with those thin arms, you are not fit to be an adventurer. That stick-like thin sword? Such a thing, can it won’t even kill a goblin. 」
Even though it was said with a heavy intimidating air, Hifumi completely ignored the man.
「 You two are younger than me? I thought Kasha was older than me. Though I did not hear your ages when I bought you two. 」
「 You mean to say I look old?! 」(Kasha)
「 Your build seemed as though you were 17. Origa is 16? Because she is smaller, I thought she was younger. 」
「 Uuu… 」
The large man was disregarded, Kasha and Origa’s attention was on Hifumi.
Seemingly unable to endure it, the man’s face was flushed and grabbed the hilt of a huge sword corresponding to his huge body.
「 You bastard, don’t ignore me! 」
Ignoring the man yet again, Hifumi turned towards the smiling staff member. Kasha and Origa seemed to know her too, her name was Hera.
「 I want to confirm something. 」
「 Yes, what is it? 」
「 What happens if I kill someone who pulls out their weapon and assaults me? 」
「 Err… 」
Asked as such, Hera reflexively looked at the large man, and returning her gaze to Hifumi answered in a fluster.
「 With regards to weapons, it is not a crime if used in self-defence, the guild does not particularly question it either…. 」
Summoned Slaughterer - Book 1 Page 7
