Tenkomori: The Homecoming Club Conquers Another World
Chapter 171

Chapter 171. Prologue - The Search Begins

In the northwestern part of Selene's center lies an upscale residential district.

This area is said to retain traces of the era when Alphus Cartilard secluded himself, with buildings dating back seven hundred years standing in rows, including government offices.

On the outskirts of this district stood a large, two-story mansion. Though its exterior was no different from the surrounding homes, it exuded an oddly oppressive atmosphere. Anyone who heard the owner's name would nod in understanding.

Inside this mansion's second floor, behind tightly shut windows, a sound echoed.

Displeased footsteps approached the window before it was flung open carelessly.

Squinting against the morning sunlight was the towering figure of Tarvit Sablova.

Though never particularly cheerful, his irritability had been especially noticeable lately. Those who knew him even slightly could easily guess the reason: the fall of Reedwald and Alter's disappearance.

He wasn't the only one. Since then, Ted and the others had lost their composure.

Though they maintained a facade of calm, minor mistakes in combat had become frequent. Tarvit did his best to accompany them, but he feared someone would eventually lose their life.

Compounded by the issue of Alter, it only fueled his frustration.

Tarvit stretched as if to rally himself, then stomped downstairs.

In the dining room, his grandfather, Kinel Sablova, was already sipping plain tea with empty dishes before him.

After freshening up, Tarvit sat down and reached for the breakfast a servant brought.

"Any new information?"

"None."

Kinel answered without changing his expression. Tarvit tore into a piece of bread before tossing the rest onto his plate.

Unnoticed by Tarvit, Kinel furrowed his brows as the younger man mentally reviewed what they knew.

Reedwald's swift fall was due to the betrayal of three knights promoted from squires.

The lord and his wife were assassinated before the battle, and their eldest son died in combat.

The three traitors later collaborated with Baromat, though one of them seemed to have already died.

The cause was unknown, but even stranger was the disappearance of the lord's family's bodies.

Among Viscount Braslad's affiliates was Henriette's father, Viscount Tordis. Had they reclaimed the bodies, it wouldn't be surprising—but why keep it quiet? A betrayal bordering on assassination should have been met with grand funerals and fierce condemnation—standard practice for nobles.

Yet there was no movement.

Kinel and Tarvit sensed Alter's hand in this and began preparing to return to Selene. The grandfather planned countermeasures, while the grandson placed his hopes on Ted and the others.

But Alter never appeared, nor were there any reports of him surfacing in other cities.

Tarvit regretted telling Ted and the others.

Until then, they had barely restrained themselves, but the greater their hope, the deeper Ted's disappointment. A breakdown seemed imminent.

(Marking time is the hardest part. Maybe we should just go search for him already…)

Even as he thought this, Tarvit felt uneasy.

Ted and his group were skilled but critically inexperienced.

Gathering intel in enemy territory left no room for error, and without a proper scout, even their journey's safety was uncertain.

Besides, if many nobles were already searching yet found no trace of Alter, Ted's group might return empty-handed—or worse, be killed by Baromat's forces.

Tarvit stopped eating, only to realize he was tapping the table with his fingers.

Whether annoyed by this or not, Kinel set his glass down loudly, snapping Tarvit back to reality.

"Sorry…"

"There's another matter."

Instead of scolding him, Kinel changed the subject.

"Emily's father is making noise. Claims he has rights if her 'master' is dead."

"Father—that guy? No way! Emily isn't a slave!"

Tarvit slammed the table.

Kinel steadied his shaking glass and nodded in agreement.

"True. According to the merchant guild's records, she repaid her debt and was freed the same day she was bought as a slave."

"Then—"

"Men like him don't listen to reason. He might've restrained himself before, but now there's no one to hold him back."

Tarvit nearly hit the table again but stopped himself.

Kinel watched him silently before continuing.

"We made a promise. We're monitoring him, but we can't spare the manpower forever."

"Can't we do something? He's gotta be breaking some laws."

"Only minor offenses. We'll act when he crosses the line."

What if we hired Emily ourselves?—Tarvit almost said it but swallowed the words.

Kinel would refuse outright.

If Emily's father wouldn't listen to reason, Kinel wouldn't bend for sentiment. Not out of cruelty, but because Selene's laws and stability came first.

The city's peace relied on turning away refugees. Otherwise, the economy would collapse, and public order would deteriorate. As the guard captain, Kinel's principles were unshakable.

With the conversation clearly over, Kinel stood.

Tarvit could only watch his grandfather's back in silence.

◇◇◇◇

Before meeting Alter, Tarvit had been invincible.

Sure, he couldn't beat Kinel or other seasoned fighters, but among Lapnas Academy's students—or even in a head-on fight with an orc—he'd always won.

Then, overconfident, he recklessly explored during a field exercise, encountering a four-armed fiend, Dokor. He endangered his classmates before having his pride shattered by Dokor—and later, Alter.

At the martial arts tournament, he fought with renewed determination, only to lose to Alter again.

Humbled, Tarvit grew—both as a warrior and a person.

That's why the current situation grated on him.

Only a select few could intervene in international conflicts.

The old Tarvit would've charged in, but now he knew his limits.

Returning to his room, he slung his dual greatswords over his back and left the mansion, dragging his frustration with him.

Pedestrians hastily cleared the path for the scowling giant.

Unnoticed, Tarvit headed for the Castle of Sorrow.

He used to visit only in his free time, but lately, he'd been going often—ostensibly to monitor Ted's group, but in truth, he couldn't bear the weight alone.

Leaving the residential area, he entered a district lined with upscale inns and eateries.

Further on, Selene's trademark bustle intensified until he reached the main street.

As he turned toward the north gate, his gaze landed on a girl across the street.

Tarvit smoothed his expression and jogged over.

"Hey, heading to the garden?"

"Ah, good morning! Today's my day off, so I'm buying bread for breakfast."

Lily smiled, lifting her basket at the sudden appearance of the giant.

Though he'd just eaten, the warm, toasty aroma stirred his appetite again.

Suppressing the urge to peek inside, Tarvit fell into step beside her.

"Any progress?"

He'd returned early yesterday and hadn't seen Lily.

His question held a sliver of hope, but she shook her head quietly.

"The Academy Head hasn't…"

"Yeah, figures. If that old man knew, mine would too. What about that lecturer?"

"I asked him yesterday when he visited the garden, but…"

Lily's voice trailed off, but she'd missed something.

Despite his beloved disciple's disappearance, Rackendale wasn't as haggard as expected. Only the Academy Head seemed aware, and his demeanor suggested Alter was alive.

But he wasn't the type to divulge secrets, and even if he did, the council's options were limited. For Selene's sake, staying uninvolved was best.

Sympathizing with Lily's distress, the Academy Head didn't press Rackendale further.

Amid their tangled thoughts, the two walked down the main street.

As the north gate drew nearer, Tarvit's gaze landed on another girl ahead.

She appeared around his age, with black hair tied back and a light step.

The sight jogged his memory, and before he knew it, he'd blocked her path.

The girl instantly distanced herself, poised for action—until she looked up and recognition flashed across her face.

"You're…"

"You're the girl from the tournament, right?"

She seemed to know Tarvit too, quickly straightening her posture and bowing.

"It's an honor to meet you, Lord Tarvit."

"You're… Harriet, right?"

"Yes! I'm honored you remember my name."

Tarvit studied her, unsure why he'd stopped her.

To clarify, he asked:

"That outfit—you became an adventurer?"

"Yes! I registered before the tournament. Right now, I'm under Mr. Hayden's Gites."

"Your fighting style wasn't a warrior's. Are you a scout?"

"I am, but…"

Harriet nodded, perplexed, as Tarvit rapid-fired questions: What jobs had she taken? Where had she traveled?

Based in Selene, Gites mainly escorted merchant caravans. She'd been to Filsatch, northern Ilkenek, and even the conflict zones of Wolbar and Taklaz.

"Are you a full Gites member?"

"No, I just reached E-rank. Gites is D-rank upper—I'm not fit to join yet. Still in training."

Though humble, her bearing betrayed no weakness.

Tarvit sensed her competence.

(A scout alone won't solve everything, but it's better than nothing. And there's Emily's issue too. If we're moving, now's the time—while Gramps has men watching.)

Quickly organizing his thoughts, Tarvit spoke up.

"Know the Castle of Sorrow? Ted's the leader of a group there."

"The adventurer mutual aid club, right?"

"Yeah. Got time? I'd like you to meet them."

Harriet tilted her head curiously.

She'd heard of the odd group young adventurers had formed, but Gites was often away from Selene, so she didn't know details.

"Um… As I mentioned, I'm under Hayden-san's care. I'm not really interested in…"

"Not recruiting. Just what I said. Alter's old home is nearby—they use it as a base. Won't take long."

The casual mention of Alter's name changed Harriet's expression instantly.

◇◇◇◇

The trio headed north along the main street before turning into an alley.

The buildings grew shabbier, soon resembling a slum.

No place for a noble's child to live. Had Tarvit not been guiding her—or had she not been accompanied by a harmless-looking girl—Harriet would've turned back immediately.

As they progressed, children's cheers grew louder.

Harriet picked out angry shouts mixed in, and soon, Tarvit and Lily noticed too.

The cheerful voices came from behind a large building, the yelling from inside.

Tarvit sighed theatrically and pushed the door open.

"That's why we're—"

"How many times must I say it? What can you do? Reedwald's enemy territory now—how do you plan to search?"

Ted and Ismira were arguing.

At the table sat Gemma, Nailz, and Yonas of Ranain. From the kitchen, Deana watched worriedly. Ismira's comrades—Everlasting Harvest's Zeret, Balden, and Korpas—were nowhere in sight.

Gemma and Yonas eyed the unfamiliar girl curiously, but Tarvit ignored them, ushering Harriet in before plopping onto a bench.

Harriet sat hesitantly, subtly observing the scene.

Before her, a heated argument; outside, laughter. A stark contrast, but older voices mingled with the children's—someone must've been minding them.

As Harriet pondered this, Tarvit noticed two figures outside: Elliot and Nils.

He addressed the other Ranain member.

"Your friends are out there. Not joining them?"

"Me, babysit? You kidding?"

Yonas snorted, waving a dismissive hand.

Harriet blinked at the exchange but turned her attention to the arguing pair.

"Is this about Reedwald?"

"That's the gist. Lately, it's worse."

Tarvit's weary reply was interrupted as Lily emerged from the kitchen with tea for them.

"I'll go outside too, then."

"I'll help!"

The moment Lily spoke, Yonas sprang up eagerly.

Harriet gaped at the whiplash-inducing shift.

"That's him. Always been like that."

Tarvit sighed again, reaching for his tea.

He silently watched the argument until, at a stalemate, Ted finally noticed their guest.

"You're…?"

"Pardon the intrusion. Harriet, F-rank."

Ted thought for a moment before recalling the tournament girl.

"I'm Ted. Right, you became an adventurer."

"Yes. Currently under Mr. Hayden's care."

"Hayden?"

"Gites' leader. They're high D-rank—almost C-rank. You should at least know the strong ones."

Ismira's blunt interjection came as Deana handed her tea.

"So, business with someone?"

"No, not exactly…"

Harriet glanced at Tarvit, and Ismira's expression tightened.

"No."

"What's wrong with an intro? Luckily, Harriet's not a Gites member. She's help."

"Wait, I never said—"

"Not wrong, though. Didn't you get an offer?"

Ismira's pointed remark silenced Harriet.

Hayden had subtly invited her—out of kindness, she thought, but the truth was opposite. Gites wanted a skilled scout. His half-hearted approach stemmed from reluctance to recruit a minor.

Unaware of this, Ted and Gemma exchanged looks.

Nailz chimed in:

"Probably 'cause Harriet's a scout. Good enough for a high D-rank party."

As the implication sank in, Ted's face lit up.

"So you'll help us search!?"

"No."

Ismira cut Harriet off before she could reply.

"She's more experienced than you and can ensure safe travel. But she's not used to human foes, and a bunch of kids'll just get taken lightly."

"If Tarvit's with us—"

"I can't go."

This time, Tarvit interrupted, shaking his head apologetically.

"I'm a councilman's grandson. Wandering Baromat territory's risky—could give them an excuse to involve Selene. But I'm not against searching. The danger's just in Reedwald. Gathering intel shouldn't be too risky."

"You really think they're that lax?"

Ismira countered, though without much force.

With only Selene's intel, gauging Baromat's deployed strength was impossible.

Tarvit chose his words carefully.

"Unrelated, but… something's off."

"Off? Kinel Sablova said that?"

"Yeah. Didn't give details, and it's not urgent, but…"

Uncharacteristically hesitant, Tarvit's vagueness made Ted's group suspect Selene might become a battlefield.

Ted, having lived through Viscount Taklaz's pillaging, shuddered slightly—but also doubted.

Selene housed countless mages and the Magic Guild's headquarters. Its walls were lined with golems. Attacking here would be sheer folly.

Tarvit emphasized he wasn't sure before casually scanning the room.

His gaze paused briefly at the back.

A tiny gesture, unnoticed even by Nailz—except Ismira, who narrowed her eyes.

Kinel Sablova had warned them deliberately.

If it didn't concern Tarvit, that left only Emily.

Ismira pieced it together instantly but still didn't nod.

Even with Harriet's help, most problems remained unsolved.

Instead, Ismira declared:

"We'll go."

The sudden statement stunned everyone.

Shock gave way to mental images of the two bandit-like men.

They'd based themselves in Selene to avoid clashing with authorities. If they headed to Reedwald, the consequences were unimaginable.

Ted ventured timidly:

"But… those two…"

"I'll handle it. They're already out running."

Ismira wearily looked into the distance.

Left unsupervised, Zeret and Balden would bolt in absurd directions. Lately, she'd had Korpas monitor them, feeding false intel to keep them patrolling Selene's outskirts. Fighting monsters kept them somewhat contained, but this too had limits.

Turning to Harriet, Ismira mouthed an apology.

"Sorry to drag you into this. But we'd appreciate your help. We're short on scouts too."

"I—"

Harriet waved her hands but smiled.

"Meeting everyone has lifted my spirits. This is selfish, but… Alter-sama is my mentor and goal. I'd love to help."

"Then it's settled. I'll talk to Hayden too—directly's faster."

As Ismira shook Harriet's hand, Ted watched with mixed feelings.

He'd intended to search himself, but now Everlasting Harvest and Harriet had taken the role.

Still, he understood Ismira's earlier objections.

They were sorely unprepared for enemy territory. He'd held back and argued precisely because, deep down, he knew that.

Two months had passed since Reedwald's fall.

Now, the Castle of Sorrow was finally moving to search for the missing Alter.