**Side: Prim**
After leaving the Crafter’s Guild, we met up with Meena, Flam, Raus, and Rebecca. We decided to invite Ed and Marina too, so we stopped by the Albert Workshop.
Though we’d only just begun developing the alloy, it seemed like mixing metals wouldn’t take long based on what I heard. Plus, I wanted to hear about it, so we headed over.
We actually tried to invite Richard and Talos too, but they told us to deepen our bonds with fellow youths and refused.
So, I plan to bring them some good sake later.
We headed to a restaurant called “Exotic Capital,” famous in Feel. It was opened by a guest who married into the Amister Royal Family decades ago. Not only does it have a main branch in the Royal Capital, but it also has branches all over Amister.
Nowadays, the cuisine is enjoyed throughout Amister, and even the entire Helios Orb, but I hear it only became easily accessible a few decades ago. Guests often recreated dishes from their own worlds, but initially, they used expensive ingredients and seasonings, so only royalty and nobles could afford to eat them.
However, Exotic Capital was established by the guest who married into the Amister Royal Family, who worked hard to make good food affordable and accessible to ordinary people. Securing a stable supply of ingredients and seasonings was difficult enough, but the guest managed to solve this by proposing the cultivation of vegetables and seasonings not only in the Royal Capital but also in the provinces, creating regional brands. They also secured ingredients by partnering with the Hunter’s Guild to obtain large quantities of monster meat, which is easier to procure.
Their efforts and culinary skills were recognized by the Crafter’s Guild, and I believe they became an O-rank Crafter. Furthermore, their achievements didn’t stop there; they also dedicated themselves to establishing the Healer’s Guild, which is now present in Amister’s friendly nations, and they should have become an O-rank Healer as well.
“Um… is it really okay for us to go into a place like this?”
The reason we stopped in front of the restaurant was that the three from Prada Village were stunned by Exotic Capital and stood there in a daze. Exotic Capital is a large establishment, but it’s not a high-end restaurant, and the prices are reasonable, so there’s no need to be shy. Besides, Yamato is treating us.
“Don’t worry about it. Let’s go inside quickly,” Ed replied. I wanted to question why Ed answered, but I agreed with going inside quickly. Flam seemed to have given up his hesitation and finally started moving to enter the shop. Up until then, things were fine.
“There they are! That’s them!”
But I never expected Hunters to swarm us at a time like this.
“Ugh! Why are the Hunters here of all places!?”
“You got the notice from old man Linus, didn’t you? Saches Trennel was dismissed as Hunter’s Master, handed over to Amister, and sentenced to death after investigation. The Hunters who followed him are equally guilty, and the Order’s Guild is moving to apprehend them. Right, Meena?”
“Yes. However, not all of them can move, so I believe they intended to request a special commission from Yamato and Prim.”
Ah, so they’ve made it public. It was sooner than I expected, but given that, it makes sense. They’re probably just resenting us with their selfish logic, but I have no intention of getting involved with such nonsense.
“Ed, isn’t that the Dark Knights?”
“It is. Are they still alive?”
Ed and Marina seem to know them. I wonder what they did to deserve this.
“It’s them. The idiots who barged into our shop and complained that our swords were defective because of nicks.”
“Ah, I remember you mentioning that.”
While I understood completely, Flam and the others still seemed incredulous. But that’s natural. I had never heard of Hunters acting like that before coming to Feel.
“There might be some, but people don’t usually do things like that. More importantly, we’re surrounded, what do we do?”
You’re right. And they’re even holding weapons. The Dark Knights, if I recall, were comparable in number to the Cerberus Fang, weren’t they? But I don’t think there were any High Class evolved Hunters among them. They seemed like a group that could only rely on sheer numbers.
“Shut up! Don’t think you can win against this many people just because you’re G-rank!”
“Why do we have to be falsely accused! This is all your fault!”
It was exactly as I expected, and I could only be exasperated. They should reflect on their own actions. I have no time to waste listening, so let’s end this quickly.
“Eh?”
Using Physicalling, I accelerated instantly, kicked the man and woman in front of me, and soared into the air with momentum. I landed on the head of the man at my landing spot, spun, and delivered a kick, throwing the man below me with force.
Yamato used Shock Coat, stunning the enemies opposite me before knocking them unconscious. It was over in a flash.
“We were about to have a pleasant meal, and you ruined it.”
“Indeed. I suppose the ranch should be fine since the Order’s Guild will be watching over it, but at this rate, it seems like annoying idiots will keep coming endlessly until the purification is complete.”
I agree. In that case, it’s best to put everyone staying here at the Silver Ore Inn tonight for their safety.
“I’m seeing you fight for the first time, and it’s incredible. The Dark Knights, a large raid of 26 people, and you took them all down in just a few seconds.”
“And Yamato didn’t even move an inch. What kind of precision is that with magic?”
Ed and Marina are astonished, but Meena, Flam, and the others look confused about what happened. Well, look at Yamato, not me. I understand their feelings. I’ve never heard of anyone knocking everyone unconscious without moving an inch.
“Considering that, let’s go inside. Let’s go in for now.”
“Yes.”
Yamato intends to announce that they are guests. I agree it’s good for Meena, Ed, and Marina, but Flam and the others have only just reunited and aren’t that close. Although I want to say that, my intuition tells me that these three will be involved for a long time, and I should build a good relationship with Flam in particular. So, if Yamato thinks it’s okay, I won’t object.
“Don’t move!”
However, the moment Yamato and I entered Exotic Capital, Flam was suddenly grabbed, and a sword was pressed to his neck. It wasn’t that we were careless, but it was foolish to think they wouldn’t still be here…
“It’s you again. I heard the Hunters of Feel were the least problematic.”
Indeed, the man holding Flam hostage is the leader of White Beak, a mid-sized raid. They’re one of the few raids that occasionally accept requests to hunt monsters. They’re generally reliable among the current Hunters because their responses are businesslike and they rarely cause problems. However, I’ve also heard they’re close to other raids and are under the umbrella of Patriot Pride, Saches Trennel’s escorts, so it’s likely they were the ones handling communication outside the city.
“Shut up. Do you have any idea what will happen to Retisencia because of you? Now that Amister has an excuse for war, Retisencia will be in turmoil. In that case, the first to die will be the defenseless common people!”
That’s completely irrelevant. Frankly, it’s entirely Retisencia’s fault. To arbitrarily cause trouble in other countries and then get angry when it becomes inconvenient is a level that makes you question their mental structure.
However, with Flam being held hostage, I can’t afford to move carelessly. I have no choice but to rely on Yamato. Yamato is glaring at the man holding Flam hostage, without hiding their anger or killing intent.
“So, what are you going to do with us?”
“What else? We’ll enslave you two and make you work until you die for Retisencia. We even brought the magical tools for that. Oh, and if you move, this one dies?”
It was as expected. If they could enslave us, they probably calculated that the damage would be far less than the potential damage from a war with Amister. Yamato can defeat Catastrophe Species alone, and more importantly, possesses knowledge and skills from their time as a guest. If they knew Yamato’s true identity, it’s natural for Retisencia to think this way. They probably don’t know Yamato is a guest yet, so they’re simply seeking Yamato’s strength, which makes them foolish.
“I see, so that’s the Forced Enslavement Magical Tool used in Retisencia. I’ll take that.”
“You, what are you…!”
White Beak was instantly frozen by Yamato’s Cold Prison and became immobile. They didn’t kill them, did they?
“Big sister!”
“Flam, are you okay?”
“Huh? Ah, y-yes… Thank you very much!”
I saw a glimmer in Flam’s eyes, likely from the fear, but it’s only natural for us to help since it’s our fault. It’s understandable to cry after being held hostage and threatened with a sword twice in one day.
Still, Engraving Magic is convenient, isn’t it? I wonder if I should consider thinking about whether I can do something similar?
“That’s… amazing… to freeze the raid called White Beak in an instant…”
“Be grateful that I didn’t shatter them into pieces. There’s no value in letting these scumbags live anymore.”
Considering their previous actions and the trouble they caused us, it’s understandable that Yamato would be angry, especially after Flam was taken hostage.
“But why didn’t you notice White Beak?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. No matter how bad their behavior, you can’t just be caught walking down the street. Besides, White Beak has a decent reputation, and they appeared to be returning from a request. I never expected them to take Flam hostage as they brushed past.”
I feel truly sorry about this. It was a situation that could have been prevented if either Yamato or I had been the last to enter the shop. We were completely caught off guard. In fact, we had heard from the Hunter’s Guild that White Beak was out of town on a request. Also, their armor was dirty and scratched, and they looked tired, so we let our guard down upon seeing that.
“It was entirely our mistake. I’m sorry, Flam.”
“N-no, I’m the one who should apologize for causing you trouble.”
I don’t know what Flam is thinking, but we don’t feel that way at all. It’s our fault, so we’re the ones who should be apologizing. I’m truly sorry.
“Stop apologizing and let’s go in. I’m hungry.”
“That’s right. You two will have to explain things to the Order’s Guild, so we’ll go ahead.”
Ed and Marina are truly unreserved. I understand they’re hungry, but surely they can’t just leave the situation like this.
“I’ll handle this and explain to the Order’s Guild. Prim, you go on ahead. It’s partly so Flam can calm down, but Raus and Rebecca must be hungry too.”
Indeed, Flam is still trembling slightly, and his sister Rebecca is even crying, so it would be best to let them calm down inside.
“I will explain the situation to the Order’s Guild with Yamato. I am an I-rank member of the Order’s Guild, so it is my duty.”
Meena’s reasoning is also valid, so I decided to take Flam and the others into Exotic Capital. It seems Ed and Marina have already spread the word, and as we entered, the staff and customers spoke to us with concern, but this isn’t necessarily bad.
