Chapter 71
A request to escort someone as Shaft was delivered to me by Maltsan . I had a hunch that it was impossible to turn the request down when I heard .
“No need to worry about me, but I will stop getting in touch with you if you turn this down . ”
Maltsan said . As one of the prominent merchants within the capital, and one with the right to purchase the goods from the harvest festival; there was no way a mercenary like me couldn’t take the request . Still, I was worried about this request, even if she had put it up . Maltsan said the client wasn’t the duke himself, but the third daughter- Lapitiricsama – I believe .
Lapitiricsama… Or should I call her Lari-san? She was a friend of mine who had walked through the, now destroyed, Emerald Demon Labyrinth with me . If she was the daughter of some unknown aristocrat, I’d only mind Maltsan . But she wasn’t a stranger at all .
“Understood . For now, let’s listen to the story about Shaft as we go . Two days later, I’ll go to the company as Shaft . Please convey the message to the Lord . ”
“Certainly . Please, do all of the preparations here . ”
Maltsan bowed his head deeply as he spoke . I figured I’d listen to the story, and mostly refuse, depending on the situation . As I’ve decided, I’d return to the inn for the night .
The next day, I departed from the Fort City of Barga as Schwartz, spent a day walking to the south . When dawn came, I returned to Barga as Shaft . Even though it was early in the morning, I returned to the Marida Company . As it came into my sight, I saw some people on a wagon delivering goods to the warehouse . And as they were unloading, a guard came around the wagon .
“Ah! It’s Shaft!”
If you raise your voice and shout “Ah!” like that, guards around you will draw their swords, you know . The one who saw me was the silver-haired fox beastmen, Silvara .
“It’s alright, he’s a guest of the company’s chairman . ”
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The one who calmed the guards was her golden-haired sister, Alm .
“Looks like you’ve been doing well as an escort, huh?”
“It’s all thanks to you . ”
“Yep, thanks to you, I can live like this . ”
“Fu, while you’re at it, I’ve just unlocked the door . Leaving that aside, is Maltsan here? I came because I heard he called for me . ”
“Wait for a bit, please! Nee-san, I’ll call the leader in a second . ”
Amongst the guards guarding the company’s wagon, only Alm and Silvara knew of Shaft . The rest had no idea who he was . After a while, the Branch Manager, Bill-san appeared from the store . I hadn’t told him about switching from Schwartz to Shaft, but I may get the opportunity to tell him .
“Please, come inside . I’ve been waiting for you . ”
Bill-san backed away slightly from how intimidating the Tactical Kevlar Mask I wore was . It’d be best if I told him about it soon…
“Good morning, Shaft-sama . I’ve been expecting you . ”
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“I’m sorry since it’s early in the morning . But would it be alright for the Branch manager to come with me?”
“Eh? M-Me?”
Bill-san, who was normally gentle and calm, showed confusion I’ve never seen to my question . Maltsan seemed to have caught the intention of my proposal and moved aside . Bill-san sat in front of me timidly . Maltsan smiled… This person was enjoying the situation, wasn’t he?
My map and sound sensor displayed that no one was outside the room . After I confirmed that no one would hear our conversation, I removed the mask .
“Sch-Schwartz-san?!”
“Bill, tone it down . This thing about Shaft-sama is also Schwartz-san’s secret that you cannot tell anymore . ”
“Good morning, Bill-san . I’m keeping this a secret for a variety of reasons . Thinking of the future though, I think it’d be best for Bill-san to know too . And that you’d follow along . ”
“Is that so? What’s the magic tool do you use to change your voice? Now I get why the Chairman fully trusted Shaft . ”
“Yes . Not only did I change the mask, but also the voice . ”
To get my voice back, I needed to change the communication setting in the TSS . It didn’t take much to get used to, I think .
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“No information about Schwartz-sama Shaft-sama may be published . Either way, I don’t believe you’d just spill it out . ”
Upon saying so, Bill-san promised he wouldn’t reveal what I’ve said . After that, Bill-san went to Lord Barga’s home to report beforehand . I couldn’t resist the castle suddenly . I had Maltsan check on things around the duke . I also checked whether or not there were any taboos and a few other things .
Bill-san returned and told me it’d be best to go around noon . Meanwhile, Maltsan and I decided to spend the time before that to confirm the job .
As our appointment came closer, Maltsan and I stayed at Bardage castle, the white building at the center of the citadel city . Bardage Castle composed of a large castle at the site’s center, and four spires around it . Several one-story buildings were also on the premises . After informing the guards at the game of my appointment, and confirming my ID, I went inside .
We left the carriage with Bill-san as we went inside under the sentinel’s guidance . The duke was said to be in the middle of his duties, so we were taken to his office . I strengthened my wariness with my black mask . The guard guided us, and from behind, I could feel another two join us . My sensors caught a voice saying “Please, come in” from the office . When prompted by the guard, Malta and I went in by ourselves .
“Excuse me, I’m Malta from Marida Company . ”
“I’m Shaft from the Mercenary Guild . ”
The office was wider than I had expected . There was an office desk and bookcase to the front . To the side, there were two sofas facing each other with a table in between . A space for visitors . Those who were already sitting on the sofa was a man, in his prime, and Lapitricsama; the Third Daughter of Duke Barga .
Lapitricsama didn’t wear her priest-like robes from when I met her at the Emerald Demon Labyrinth . Now, she wore a long yellow dress that matched her short blonde bob hair instead . The man next to her was the Duke . In his mid-forties, you could see his brown hair mixed with a few white hairs . When I entered, I could feel him gauging me with his mustache and thin, sharp eyes .
Was that an escort knight behind the sofa? A young man with a face that vaguely resembled the duke stood there . His armor, full silver plate mail shaped like the other knights in the western part of Barga . However, the design was painted with blue lines . I could infer that this meant he was higher than regular knights .
“I’ve been troubling you, Malta . And you’re the black-masked Shaft, right? Well, please sit down for now and discuss the matter, shall we?”
“Yes, if you’ll excuse me . ”
Duke Barga was a man with a surprisingly gentle demeanor; completely different from what I thought he’d be like . Since I’d been offered a seat, I thought it’d be better for me to sit and listen .
“You, could you please take off your mask in front of his Excellency?”
The knight standing behind the two called out to me .
“I’m sorry . Because I have a scar left on my face, it’s not something worth exposing, especially in front of Lapitricsama . ”
“No worries, since it’s Lari-sama, you need not worry . Just take off the mask and show us your face . ”
This knight- did he just call Lapritica by her nickname in front of the duke? Was it because of his high status?… Or were they perhaps related? I noticed Maltsan had become restless now . Certainly, this development was as expected . According to nobles’ way of thinking, it seems these high-ranked people wouldn’t continue with my mask on .
For this reason, I- -put my hands on the mask, and took it off .