Tenkomori: The Homecoming Club Conquers Another World
Chapter 177

Chapter 177. Guard Duty 2

The next day around noon, I placed a water pouch on Cliff's exhausted chest and went to put away the wooden sword.

It hadn't been long since Gino brought the wooden sword along with breakfast.

He chatted with us until we finished eating but declined to train, citing work, then left carrying the empty dishes.

He could've left the chores to the staff. The fact that Gino went out of his way to come here must mean he had another purpose. Yesterday was about assessing my abilities, and today was likely a personality check.

I doubt Ruben or Orienne ordered this. Since we're fighting alongside the guards, it's probably Derek or Gino's own idea.

After propping the wooden sword against the wall and shouldering my backpack, I left the warehouse.

Seeing me like that, Cliff, still lying down, looked up.

"You heading out?"

If I'm lucky, they should have prepared an ice-attribute magic stone for me.

Cliff didn't seem interested in coming along, so I set off alone.

Keeping an eye out for Miranda, Tess, and suspicious men, I stepped onto the main street and casually glanced back at the Lamlon Trading Company.

Orienne, who should've been on the fourth floor, was now on the third.

According to Gino, last night, some trading company was infiltrated from the roof.

Not only were valuables stolen, but an employee who noticed was killed. Upon hearing this, Ruben immediately moved the protection target—Orienne—to the third floor.

The decision was undeniably late. Even I had considered that route, so their sudden panic now was unnatural. Gino didn't say anything, but I suspected the attack was imminent.

Moving Orienne to the third floor was likely to create an opening.

The reason they didn't choose it initially was because it's harder to defend than the fourth floor. I don't know the building's layout, but the walkway is quite close. Plus, while the fourth-floor windows were small, the third-floor ones were large enough to easily pass through.

They took the risk because prolonging the situation would only put them at a disadvantage.

The reinforced defenses had left the attackers struggling. Ruben might seem to have the upper hand, but that's not entirely true. The attackers hold the initiative, so they can't let their guard down. Derek and the others must be under immense strain. If this continues, cracks will eventually appear.

And then, here I am, strolling in like nothing's wrong.

The Lamlon Trading Company's combat power has temporarily increased, making this the perfect opportunity to repel the attackers.

Ruben made his move, using the theft as an excuse to lay bait. For all I know, the robbery might've been fabricated.

Well, it's all speculation, but it should have some impact.

Even if the attackers suspect it's bait, the timing is undeniably favorable.

Shifting my gaze back, I headed to Dudley's shop, staying alert for suspicious men and surveillance.

Walking down the main street under the midday sun felt refreshing after so long indoors, though the scenery wasn't exactly pleasant.

Brothels stood out, and slave traders' carriages were everywhere. Countless slaves were being transported to slave markets or other regions.

Even though I'm employed by the Lamlon Trading Company, it's a stark reminder of what kind of town this is.

As I walked, lost in mixed feelings, the familiar shop came into view.

The owner, as usual, glared at me before silently pulling out a small wooden box.

Inside were magic stones from an Orslizard, a Zeerow, and ten Leak Rabbits.

I'd seen an Orslizard three years ago during Phil's search, when the Sword of Deep Silence was fighting one. They're rare even in Reedwald, but Zeerows and Leak Rabbits are even rarer.

Zeerows are fox-like monsters with straw-like mouths, and Leak Rabbits are rabbit monsters that attack in swarms. Both are native to the northern part of the Hazael Unified Kingdom.

Dudley gave the same explanation, so I feigned surprise.

"A Zeerow and Leak Rabbits? Never seen those before. Imported from Hazael?"

"No, they migrated south due to the cold wave. They're easy to obtain now, but they'll disappear from the market soon."

Even here, the cold wave's effects are felt. I wish it'd stop, but this time, I'm grateful.

I activated [Magic Tool Creation] and examined the stones.

Leak Rabbits are rare, but in Hazael, they're as cheap as goblins. Their potential effects are limited, and individually, they're unlikely to become magic tools. Using other stones as catalysts might improve the odds, but at a glance, none—including the Orslizard and Zeerow—seem capable of [Icefrost].

As expected, it's harder to create when deviating from the main system.

I decided to inspect each one more carefully.

Theoretically, unique spells or innate skills can also be used for creation.

Just as stats are calculated based on abilities, spells and skills are results-first. They mimic preexisting natural phenomena or combine multiple phenomena to recreate effects.

It might seem mysterious, but it's not so different from researchers or inventors in my past life. The phenomena existed all along—people just didn't know about them.

Thus, the more recently developed a spell or skill, the rarer its manifestation.

[Icefrost] falls into that category, making it hard to find.

I sifted through countless phenomena, eliminating unnecessary effects and picking up even the faintest possibilities.

Finally, I found something resembling it in a Leak Rabbit's stone.

That said, it's a tightrope walk. Alone, it'd likely fail.

After considering combinations, I realized releasing the Orslizard and Zeerow stones might boost the success rate.

I separated the three stones and asked Dudley:

"How much?"

"Fifteen gold for the Orslizard, seven for the Zeerow, and one for the Leak Rabbit."

"Twenty-three gold total."

I only had eleven. Gathering materials might help, but I wasn't allowed outside.

Borrowing from Cliff is iffy—that's reserved for purchases if no attack happens. Thirty gold might not even cover Tess's share. Given Cliff's feelings, I can't ask.

Besides, ten gold is roughly equivalent to a million yen in my past life. Not exactly pocket change.

Should I give up for now?

I could buy just the Leak Rabbit stone and return after the job.

Even if the Orslizard and Zeerow stones sell, I'd still have the base Leak Rabbit. I could calmly explore substitutes or order ice-attribute stones from Hazael if needed.

But—it's still luck-dependent. If there's a chance right in front of me, I'd rather seize it.

I asked Dudley to wait four days, but he told me to settle for what I could afford. Undeterred, I offered to pay with the job's reward, prompting an exaggerated sigh.

"I already did you a favor gathering these. Making others wait hurts my credibility. If you're that desperate, negotiate with them yourself."

His rebuttal left me speechless.

Guess I'll have to sell something.

The Gale Scimitar is off the table, but the Slash-Reinforced Knife ([Slash Reinforcement 2]) could fetch five to seven gold. Adding a healing potion might—no, losing recovery options is too risky, especially now.

Time to rethink.

Dudley already helped. Asking more is greedy.

So, his benefit matters too.

After some thought, I placed the knife on the counter.

"I'll leave this as collateral. If I'm not back in four days, sell it. In return, I'll buy all the stones by the deadline."

Dudley raised an eyebrow.

"How short are you?"

"Eleven gold."

"That's high even for upper D-rank rewards. Can you really pay?"

"It's a… complicated job. The reward is exceptional. Even if I fail, I'll cover the difference with materials."

After I insisted, Dudley crossed his arms and pondered.

Not a bad offer. Even a skilled merchant like him can't conjure stock from thin air. The fact he gathered this many means inventory is piled up. Plus, buyers for magic stones are limited. They'll sell eventually, but not necessarily all in four days.

Soon, Dudley drew the knife from its sheath, inspected the blade, and nodded.

"Fine. I'll wait four days. Earn it by then."

◇◇◇◇

Blending into the backstreet crowds, I headed back to Lamlon.

Even without options, things got messier. If the job fails, how much will I owe?

Over a hundred gold for Miranda and Tess, thirty-two for the stones…

Still, I can't misprioritize.

The stones aren't essential, but they're important for future work. If needed, I might prioritize them over Ruben's job.

I sidestepped an oncoming carriage.

Countless presences filled its cargo bed.

As it passed, Tess's face flashed in my mind.

She's probably working tirelessly to ease Miranda's burden.

If possible—I'd like to save them both.

Returning to the backstreets, I refocused on the job.

No denying I'm being jerked around.

Not knowing the protection target's location makes it hard to feel like I'm guarding anything.

Plus, the job's success hinges on Ruben's decisions. That's why I added the no-liability clause, but I never expected it to be this frustrating.

Success: Repel the attackers before the target is taken.

Failure: The target is taken.

Simple, excluding the "where" part.

The main catch is Orienne, the decoy.

Gino ordered me to protect her, and her ex-B-rank value is high. Losing her would deal a major blow to Lamlon.

Even if I'm not liable, they might call it a failure over her. I should treat her as the real deal, not just a decoy.

After organizing my thoughts, I subtly glanced back.

Speaking of—what's their deal?

Three men have been tailing me. The intense stares suggest it's not just coincidence. They're D or F-rank, with gear and abilities typical of low-tier adventurers. Allies of that suspicious guy?

Slowing my pace, they quickened theirs.

"Hey, beastman."

Wary, I turned to see the lead man flash an adventurer card.

"D-rank Tarnis. Your name?"

"What's this about? Why ask?"

"We're hunting an escaped slave. You fit the description."

Of all the—

Don't complicate things further.

Suppressing a sigh, I showed my card.

"I'm an adventurer too."

"Anyone can fake those."

"Stolen, maybe?"

"That gear too. Let's have a chat."

As they rambled, they surrounded me.

Annoyingly, they're almost right—but Yunek escaped over two months ago. No way he's lingering in Sylvek. Not that arguing would help. They're clearly fishing for trouble.

I took a shallow breath and rested a hand on the Gale Scimitar.

"I showed my card. If that's not enough, try forcing me."

The men froze.

At least they're D-rank. My stance and aura likely tipped them off I'm not an amateur.

Bystanders sensed the tension and scattered.

The trio stayed wary but didn't back down.

They already knew I wasn't Yunek. This was just a shakedown—or worse, an attempt to enslave me for profit.

This town's as dangerous as ever, but beastmen in the empire are treated like this. The methods differ, but Wolba's adventurers were the same.

In that case—injuring them is a bad idea.

The guards would likely take their side. Best if no one's hurt and it's as if nothing happened. Maybe [Martial Arts] alone will suffice.

As I moved my hand from the scimitar, one man smirked—until a familiar figure appeared behind him.

Two men rounded the corner, frowning at the scene.

"What's going on?"

"Just got back from shopping."

At my reply, Derek shot Tarnis a sharp look.

"Derek of Lamlon Trading. This one's under our employ. If you have business, talk to me."

"Oh… didn't know that. Thought he was an escaped slave…"

As Tarnis shrank back, Derek jerked his chin.

"Then stop interfering with our work."

"R-right. Sorry for bothering him."

After apologizing, the men fled.

The tension eased, and the crowd returned.

Once they were gone, Derek turned to me.

"You didn't mention us?"

"That type wouldn't believe me either way."

"Their opinions don't matter. Picking fights is hostility toward us. Don't forget your position. Temporary or not, you're part of Lamlon now."

He's right. I should've led with that.

Even if they doubted, the slave traders' connections would've given pause.

Bad habit, hiding things. I went out of my way to re-register in Velk, so as long as I don't stand out too much, it should be fine.

I apologized, and we walked back together.

Derek and Gino had been gathering intel. The attackers' hideout was still unknown, and Gino complained about the guards.

Apparently, they've been bribed heavily—exact sums unclear.

Changing the subject, I asked:

"By the way, those guys said something odd. About an escaped slave…"

"Ah, so that's why they bothered you."

Gino nodded in understanding.

"Three months ago, a slave escaped during transport. They're probably Kelmer Trading's lackeys."

"I don't get it—three months of searching? Was the slave that valuable?"

Derek shook his head at my question.

"The price wasn't the issue. It was whose slave it was. The runaway belonged to Viscount Fasden. Kelmer Trading was in an uproar."

"Right. They even put out a guild-wide alert."

Gino added:

"But they should've given up by now. It was a kid, outside the walls—probably dead. Those guys just wanted an excuse to hassle you."

"Beastmen are easy targets. Don't wander town alone."

Derek drove the point home.

We discussed the search's progress until we reached Lamlon and parted ways.

Cliff was napping, so I quietly set down my things and sat on a crate.

So Kelmer Trading bought Yunek.

If they haven't lost Viscount Fasden's trust, they're likely still acting on his orders.

The Azure Thunder I saw near Zisero—if they were hunting beastmen, Kelmer might've hired them.

At least I've got a small souvenir story now.