"So, you've been asked to report a sighting of an Abyss walker in this area: ....... This is a very troubling situation. ......

Are we in trouble?


　Me and Noelia's voices were humming.


''Yes, as you can see, this place doesn't have a protective wall, so the damage we received from Abyss Walkers during the great attack twenty years ago was enormous. That's why the inhabitants are very concerned about it, just like the demons.


　It's true that this city has not built a barrier to prevent it from being holed up after the rebellion, so the damage must have been enormous during the great raid, which is said to have flooded the city with overwhelming numbers.


　Hearing Gidion's words, I felt the depth of the claw marks left by the great raid on this land.


''So, if they reported seeing Abyss Walkers, the Adventurer's Guild would voluntarily conduct a search for them. ...... Since Lord Gile of Radcliffe House became the lord of this land, we haven't been able to get any permission from the lord's authority to conduct any searches related to Abyss Walkers, as it's a waste of time and money. Even if I asked him to let us do it voluntarily, he wouldn't approve it.


　On the way to Invahannes, Susana told me that an ordinary adventurer's guild is an organization that is independent of the lord, unlike the Ygghanotes.

　However, even though it is an independent organization, there are various ties that make it difficult for them to completely ignore the lord's intentions, apparently.


　On the other hand, the lord also seems to find it difficult to ignore the will of the adventurer's guild, which has a great deal of authority in the town, in terms of managing the territory.

　It is said that it is normal for both parties to respect each other's intentions, and it seems that a one-sided attitude on the part of the lord, as Gidion says, is a rare occurrence.


''The lord won't give you permission to search?


　I couldn't believe it, so I asked Gidion to check with him.


'Yes, as far as Abyssal Walkers are concerned, the kingdom has strict instructions for the landed gentry, but they won't give us permission.


　Gidion nodded at my question with a troubled look on his face.


　If it was any other issue, the lord might refuse to do so, but I didn't understand the point of not giving him permission to search even if I reported the matter of Abyss Walker.

　The king's capital is the one where many nobles have forgotten about the great raid and are loosening up, but the more remote the frontier is, the more this kind of problem is--


　Thinking up to that point, I remembered that the lord of this land was Jair, the Knight Commander of the Kingsguard.


　I think Alfine had said that Gile was the one who was the Knight Commander of the Kingsguard, but he was also the one who, along with his father's vizier, forcefully appealed to the king to reduce the size of the army against Abyss Walkers.

　If that Gile became the lord, would it be reasonable to say that spending money and manpower on Abyss Walkers was a waste of time?


I couldn't leave the residents to search for Abyss Walker, who they are worried about, and I also threw the matter to the vigilante group that is in charge of maintaining security, but it was rejected by them saying 'it's not our jurisdiction'. ...... We were at a loss for words.


　So the current situation is that no one is working on the search for the Abyss Walkers that were reportedly found in Invahannes.

　And I guess the vigilante group is also ignoring the story that was brought up by the Adventurer's Guild in consideration of the lord's intentions.


''Then where did the story come from about Arnold's allegedly heard statement of 'misjudging a young adventurer' at the guild's general meeting six months ago?''


　Noelia, who had been listening to Gidion's story, had asked him about the exchange at the General Assembly.


　From what Arnold told me, though, his words at the table where the Abyssal Walker sightings were reported, the reports of discoveries in other cities also changed to a trend of 'misplaced young adventurers'.

　From what I've just heard, there seems to be no search, so Gidion's statement is completely uncorroborated.


''That was--''


　Gidion's gaze swims at the question from Noelia.


'I presume that it was your lord's intention, or that the deputy asked you to say so directly.


　Susana, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, was speaking for Gidion.


''Huh, it's just as that lady said. I can't help but hide it, so I'm going to say it, but before I attended the general meeting, the deputies nailed me to say so if Abyss Walker was on the agenda.


　Gidion stopped his scurrying eyes and dropped his gaze to his hand and let out a sigh.


　It's as if he doesn't want it to be on the agenda in the Adventurer's Guild.

　Should I see this as a reason for the stagnation of my own argument vs. Abyss Walker's army reduction?


　Touching the information I got from Gidion, a lot of thoughts were going through my mind.

　However, I can't just leave them without searching for them, just in case.


　That thing is a monster that can take on hundreds of skilled knights with two of them.

　I don't know how strong the vigilantes are, but if even one of them were to wander around, the city without its protective walls could suffer a catastrophe.


'I see. I appreciate your honesty. Then, as long as we're searching on our own, there's no problem at all, is that correct?

Huh?


　An expression of 'I don't understand what you're saying for a moment' appeared on Gidion's face.

　So I'll bite back and explain it again.


''So, would there be a problem if there is someone searching for Abyss Walkers on their own without going through this Invahannes Adventurer's Guild?''

'...... Oh, oh!　So that's it!　No, as long as it's a private search of your own accord, we won't get involved, so feel free to do what you want. Besides, it looks like the Abyss Walker sightings that I had in my possession have been lost to the wind.


　Gidion, who understood what I meant, deliberately dropped the paper material on his office desk onto the floor.


　The guildmaster in this city is a man who can talk.


　I pick up the document that fell on the floor and bow to Gidion without saying a word.


''Flick-sama, since that one will be a 'hobby', why don't you take on some of the projects that seem to be troubling you here with me, as a thank you to the guild master?


　Quickly, Noelia had offered the most effective thank you to Gidion.

　Every adventurer's guild has several requests that have been turned into bad cases that adventurers don't want to take because they don't want to.

　She's saying that she's going to accomplish them in return for a thank you.

　I thought it was a very adventurer-like way to thank her.


'Oh, that's great. I'd like to thank you for your help. Gidion-dono, if there are any requests left that are in trouble other than this 'hobby' case, we'll take care of them for you.


　Gidion's face lit up as soon as he said he was going to take a request that had turned into a bad case.


''Is it true?　I've been receiving a lot of troubling requests to capture warhorses from the deputy director. I've tried many times to capture them, but I keep failing ....... I've been pestered by the deputy, but an adventurer came back to say that he failed to capture them yesterday as well.


　When I heard the word "warhorse", I was reminded of that huge horse I met on the street.


　The adventurers had been trying to capture that guy, right?

　Could it be that horse that Gidion is talking about?


　I was curious, so I said to Gidion about the characteristics of that huge horse.


"Don't tell me that warhorse is a huge horse with a black body and a red mane like a chaotic horse?

'Oh!　That's it, that's it!　The guy was originally a member of the Order of the Kingsguard's branch office, but he seems to have escaped, and a request for his capture has been circulating ...... If you can resolve the request, I'd appreciate it if you could resolve the request so I can get my face on it.


　Gidion was looking at me in a reserved manner.


　It seems that he has some kind of connection with that huge horse.

　Gidion seems to be in trouble, and if we talk to that guy in good faith, I have a feeling that if we talk to him in good faith, he will catch us once to ensure the safety of the herd.

　Maybe he'll escape again after that, though.


''I think I can accept that request once, is that okay with you?　Maybe he's going to break out again.

''I won't accept a second request either. That request was also tricked and forcibly twisted by the deputy-sama, and rest assured that the next time you escape, I'll prod you that it's the work of a vigilante or the Knights of the Kingsguard.


　Gidion also seemed to be upset that the request in question was imposed on him, so he assured me that he wouldn't take it next time.


　If that's the case, I'm sure he'll take me up on my offer if I let him talk it over with.


　I thought so and decided to accept the request to capture the giant horse.


Then we'll take care of that request. It may take some time to convince that guy, but I'll definitely bring him back.

What's the persuasion?


　There was a questioning look on Gidion's face, but he decided not to elaborate.