I Became the Strongest With The Failure Frame 02

by ---

  [………]

  [That’s also the reason why! The reason why I remember your face well in my memory! Even that already ripe part of yours, that pathetic excuse of a pair of breasts! I remember it all! It’s useless to deny it, you know!? You’re that fallen Princess Knight who had turned into a pathetic fugitive!]

  [Excuse me, but did you get the wrong person?]

  The slender macho grinned.

  [If that’s so, can you show us your ears?]

  The slender macho proudly pointed at the woman’s hood.

  [………]

  [The Elven Race have sharp ears that are different from humans! Well, your ears can’t be seen from that loose hood your wearing! Yes! It’s obvious that you’re trying to hide something! It’s clearer than white!]

  Certainly, her hood is quite loose.

  It’d be no wonder if you’re hiding your long ears there.

  [Everyone here knows there are rarely any Elves that were wandering around here! No! There haven’t been any sightings of them in the Urza Kingdom at all! But– However– What if–! What if it’s the fugitive of her own country that has been talked about recently! That fugitive is a High Elf! Fuhahaha! You’re a fool in thinking that you could deceive me! Those sharp ears of yours is the very evidence that you are Seras Ashrain!]

  The slender macho’s hand is about to reach out towards the woman’s hood.

  [You’re quite naive in thinking you could deceive me! Naive naive naive! Naiiivveee—!]

  Gabaaahh!

  Her hood has been removed.

  The woman’s concealed head is exposed.

  [See that~!? The identity of the Princess Knight was revealed by this me— The “Flash”, Monk Dorogetti! Look at this, everyone! These sharp ears~! And also, her exceptional beauty! If you can see her face even once, her face would be burned into your memory that I doubt you could—]

  The slender macho’s face stiffens.

  [—ever forget it… Eh? Eh!? What the!?]

  The woman’s ears were clearly human’s.

  They’re not sharp at all.

  [………]

  Well, it’s as I thought.

  She’s that woman that I had asked things about in the forest.

  She revealed her face when most of my questions were answered.

  That is indeed the woman that I had met in the forest.

  Did that woman also come to Mills because of this recruitment?

  The slender macho’s face turned pale.

  [Im- Impossible!? Moreover—]

  The slender macho stared hard at the woman’s face.

  [It’s d- different!? Her face is different!]

  The woman sighed.

  [Like I said, I’m asking you if you got the wrong person. My name isn’t Seras Ashrain. My name is Mist Barkas.]

  The woman indifferently said with her clear voice.

  [Have you had enough now?]

  Chapter 50

  Dragon Eye Sakazuki

  [T- That’s… impossible…]

  The shaken slender macho tried to reach out his trembling hand.

  He’s trying to touch the woman’s ear.

  Pashi~!

  The woman slapped his hand away.

  The woman looked at the slender macho filled with rebuke.

  Her eyes were glaring at him.

  [Who gave you the right to touch me?]

  [That’s… a lie… I’m not mistaken. Everything’s a lie…]

  Even though he was confident that he had exposed the fugitive…

  He also brought the attention of a large crowd.

  In the end, he got the wrong person.

  Depending on where you look at it, it looks very embarrassing…

  [I- If you’re not Seras Ashrain—]

  The slender macho lost his composure and pointed at the woman.

  [W- Why are you in Mills!? The reason why you traveled all the way to this place, huh!? I- If you can’t say it properly, t- then you must have been lying~! You’re downright lying, woman!]

  Did he get ashamed that much that he got confused?

  Even the question that the slender macho had asked has become incoherent.

  When you are in this place, you will understand why she would come to Mills.

  But, the woman still answered him directly.

  [I stopped by Mills to earn some money for my travelling expenses. The purpose of my journey is—]

  Rustle rustle~

  The woman took out a veil from her pocket.

  The slender macho’s eyes widened as if he understood what she means to say.

  [That veil is—]

  Was there something special about that veil?

  [That’s right. I’m travelling to Jonato Principality.]

  Jonato Principality.

  It’s the name of a country that I heard at the tavern last night.

  I think that’s the place where it’s famous for the powerful “Annihilation Monks”.

  [You may have know this already, but this veil is the symbol of those who should respond to the call of the saint. All of us, The Sacred, are to travel west and gather in the sanctuary.]

  The Sacred.

  It’s another term that I’m unfamiliar with.

  However, I can imagine that it must have been the name of a group or an organization.

  [Did you understand what I said? On my way to Jonato, I heard that there’s a request for raiding some ruin and I stopped by to earn money for my travel expenses.]

  [ugghhh…]

  The slender macho couldn’t say anything in response.

  The surroundings started to get bustling again.

  [You started to make a ruckus, just to end up being mistaken…]

  [I thought it was the rumored Princess Knight for a moment.]

  [Well, her face was different from the portrait in the Mercenary Guild.]

  [Now that you say it, why would a fugitive that was being chased by Bakuos even come to a place that has many people?]

  [That monk really had become someone stupid at the speed of a “Flash”.]

  The slender macho began trembling.

  Hate began swirling on his eyes.

  [This disgrace… This humiliation… you, I won’t forgive you… You would always look like such a beautiful woman… You better remember this… Mist Barkas…!]

  The slender macho withdrew into the corner of the plaza as she pointed at the woman.

  That looks like an unjustified resentment though…

  […………]

  That woman’s face was in my field of vision when she was about to put on her hood.

  It seems that the woman had also caught sight of me.

  [He got the wrong person, huh…]

  At that time, one mercenary raised his voice.

  [Oh, they finally arrived~!]

  A carriage made its away towards the plaza.

  The men and women surrounding those who are riding the carriage had hardened expression on their faces.

  All of them were armed.

  It seems that they were their escorts.

  The carriage then stops.

  A muscular man alighted from the carriage.

  The man then promptly went up towards the stage.

  The surrounding mercenaries gathered around the stage.

  [Everyone, I’m glad that you’ve gathered in here! I think there are a lot of people who know this already, but let me introduce myself again! I’m Creed Harclay! I’m most commonly known as the Dilettante, Marquis Harclay!]

  That’s the first time I heard of him.

  That’s why, thank you for introducing yourself.

  [Actually, a new floor has been just discovered at the Mills Ruins that is under my jurisdiction! My request for everyone in here was to explore the newly found floor! However, this request doesn’t provide any advanced payment for you! But, I’ll buy any treasures you bring back as high a
s possible! I am also open for any negotiations on the purchase price! That would be my compensation for this request!]

  The marquis continued on with his explanations.

  It seems that you’re also free to obtain materials from the corpses of monsters.

  He also said that they could also purchase the materials that you had harvested.

  That means…

  I could also take home the Skeleton King bonemeal that I would be able to harvest.

  When going in and out of the ruins, it seems that our luggage will be checked.

  Are the treasures that were sleeping deep within the ruins the belongings of this marquis who has the jurisdiction of this place?

  [And there would also be a special reward that will be given to those who acquires the treasure called the “Dragon Eye Sakazuki” that sleeps somewhere in Mills Ruins! The reward is 300 gold coins!]

  The mercenaries caused a ruckus.

  [Isn’t the reward higher than before?]

  [He must really want to obtain it while he’s still alive.]

  [300 gold coins huh… That’s amazing…]

  It looks like that’s a lot of money.

  One of the escorts goes up to the stage as directed by the marquis.

  The escort unfurled a parchment and showed everyone the contents.

  There’s a sketch of what should be what the Dragon Eye Sakazuki drawn on the parchment.

  The marquis explained that it was a treasure that was hidden a long time ago.

  By the way, it seems that it isn’t a magic tool at all.

  It seems to be just a rare article.

  [It’s my dream to have a good drink in this sakazuki! I’m sure it feels like I’m a king who had conquered the ancients when I’m drinking in this cup!]

  Laughter rippled around the plaza.

  Most of them were courtesy laughs though.

  The air in the surrounding the plaza look like they just want the marquis to get it over already.

  The marquis smiled and instructed his escorts as if he had perceived the mercenaries’ thoughts.

  The escorts briskly moved.

  The registration for those who want to participate has begun.

  I line up along with them.

  Some of the mercenaries had already completed the registration process.

  They presented something that looks like a card.

  Perhaps those who presented them were members of the Mercenary Guild.

  Nonetheless, non-guild members only mentioned their names.

  I thought they would draw a portrait of those who aren’t members, but it seems they weren’t going to do that.

  The ones who were raiding the Mills Ruins were checked when they were entering and exiting the ruins.

  It’s a management system in which they prevent treasures from being taken away.

  I don’t care that much though since what I’m after from this place were the monster materials.

  The entrance of the ruins seems to be just beyond the plaza.

  Some groups had already went to the ruins after registering.

  I decided to go back to town first thoughf and prepare for things I need to bring.

  On the way back towards the city, I noticed that woman walking back to the city too.

  That woman is walking in front of me.

  She’s called Mist Markas, right?

  My pace became faster.

  As we pass each other, our lines of sight met each other.

  I tried to just pass by quietly…

  [Umm…]

  …But the woman called out to me.

  I feel a bit disinclined on ignoring her now that she called me.

  Well, there must be some things that the woman wants to ask.

  I stopped walking.

  Though I became worried for a moment about what to say to her in return.

  ………

  That’s right…

  It’s already too late for me to talk to her with a polite tone now anyway.

  [It seems that your destination was Mills too, huh…]

  I’m talking to her as if I never realized that she was going here before.

  [Are you also here for that recruitment?]

  […Well yeah. That was quite a misfortune you have met earlier.]

  [That’s not much of a problem, you know?]

  [That so? Nevertheless, I think you should still be careful.]

  [What are you talking about?]

  [That guy who wanted to cause problems earlier. I’ve only seen it from the back, but his red face looks full of anger and hatred.]

  The woman frowned as she looks quite troubled.

  [I get angry at people too sometimes. It’s just I would try solving things as peaceful as possible but… I can’t do that all the time. And now, I’d prefer for everyone to just not approach me. It would then be easier for me if I want to stay away from others.]

  [You have quite the twisted personality, you know?]

  The woman smiled.

  [That might be so. Well then, I’ll be departing—]

  [I know that you intentionally avoid interacting with people.]

  The woman who was about to leave stopped.

  Her eyes turned cautious.

  [I felt that you were the same though.]

  [I have a little request because you’re like that.]

  [A request? What is it?]

  [I will also be entering the Mills Ruins soon. However, I still have to go get all the tools I’m needing in there… What I’m trying to say is, I’m a beginner.]

  [Ah, so that’s why…]

  She must have guessed it already.

  [So you were not familiar with the prices of the tools, huh. Do you want advice on buying things so that you wouldn’t be overcharged?]

  Her head knew what I want fast.

  [If you’re going to put it simply, that’s right. I’m going to pay for the advice that you’d provide me.]

  I would just get tired from trying to tell whether the shopkeepers were trying to overcharge me or not.

  If I can borrow the wisdom of those who were already familiar with the prices, I will be able to skip through various things.

  It will also be a good opportunity for me to know the market price of things.

  I stared at the woman.

  [?]

  I think I can trust this woman for the time being.

  If I were fooled by her— Well, I guess it can’t be helped?

  I would just think that my intuition and judgement of people were not good enough and I would give up on that.

  [That’s right… Well, I honestly need some money for my travel expenses so this should be a good idea for me to earn some money, right?]

  [Then, is the negotiation completed?]

  [That’s right. Please leave it to me. If it were just me negotiating alone, we would just need fewer effort to get the work done.]

  [Okay. I will trust you. I’ll be relying on you then. Well then, let’s quickly—]

  I stopped my feet.

  That’s because the woman offered her hand towards me.

  [I’m Mist Barkas.]

  [I’m Hati Skoll.]

  I held her hand with my own.

  White hands.

  Delicate skin.

  Her fingers were quite thin.

  [……………]

  Is this the hand of someone who had held a weapon?

  I thought that it would have some blisters on it.

  Hmm?

  The woman had a complicated expression on her face.

  …Ah, I see.

  I remembered that this woman is quite sensitive to lies.

  [It’s a false name.]

  [Eh?]

  [You understand what I mean, right? You’re the same as me after all. I’ve also used this name for the inn. Besides, there’s no meaning for either of us to tell our true names. Am I wrong?]

/>   The woman smiled.

  [Yeah, that’s right.]

  Chapter 51

  The Negotiator, Mist

  After successfully negotiating with her, Mist and I entered the main street together.

  We’ve only spoken a few words with each other.

  But, there is no problem.

  I have only asked her for help on shopping.

  This is just a temporary contractual relationship.

  She knows about it too.

  That’s what I thought, but…

  [Where is Hati-dono’s inn?]

  She’s trying to open up a conversation.

  [………]

  There’s no reason for me not to answer.

  I answered the name of the inn I’m staying at.

  [Ah, so we were staying in the same inn?]

  We’re staying in the same inn?

  I don’t think I’ve seen her face there before…

  Did we just not come across each other?

  [With the money I have right now, I don’t see any reason to go towards those cheap inns.]

  The woman laughed.

  [I also can’t find a single room in those inns. I can’t sleep without being in a single room.]

  [When did that happen?]

  [Eh? Umm— That’s been always the case for a very long time.]

  I feel that her reply is just hastily constructed just now.

  It seems that she may also have another reason.

  There must be something that makes it difficult for her to share a room with others.

  Just like me who wants to hide Pigimaru.

  However, I don’t intend to pursue any more.

  The woman points towards the signboard of the tool shop with her finger.

  [If you’re finding tools for raiding ruins and traveling, it would be better to get them on this shop.]

  I am about to enter the store.

  However, Mist didn’t move.

  She looks like she’s pondering about something.

  [I’m sorry, can you wait for a while? I have to go check some things.]

  Mist then went to the back of the store.

  After just a while, she came back.

  [Sorry for the wait.]

  [What did you check out?]

  [I rechecked whether this is indeed the store. However— I don’t feel comfortable with this store, or rather, I think this store may be conducting some sneaky deals. However, Hati-dono entrusted the negotiating to me. I must thoroughly fulfill my duty.]