Chapter 153.2
…The soldier I can understand, but is a kid who lived in the forest for three years really that suspicious? I mean wasn’t the crystal blue?
Sponsored Content
Just when is this going to end? …Hmm?
Suddenly, I heard approaching footsteps stop just before the door .
“Hey, I’m going in . Oh!” [Hyuzu]
“Ah!?” [Ryouma]
The person who entered was Hyuzu-san .
One of the guards of the duke’s family . He is part of the reason why I left the forest .
“Ryouma! It’s been a while!” [Hyuzu]
“Long time no see!” [Ryouma]
“Glad you didn’t forget and called me . Just leave everything to me now . ” [Hyuzu]
When we parted, he told me that if I just mentioned his name at the office of the guards that he’d come . Looks like that was true .
I sure wasn’t expecting him to just barge in during questioning, though…
While I was thinking that, the man questioning us spoke .
“Hyuzu, what are you doing?” [Guard]
“Yo, Swanson! I see you’re the same as ever . ” [Hyuzu]
Sponsored Content
“If you know, then get out! I’m in the middle of work right now! Hey! Give that back!” [Swanson]
Hyuzu-san took the paper the man was filling out and glanced through it .
“Ah, Swanson… So this is what you were worried about . Don’t worry . He’s not lying . I can guarantee for him . Remember that time during spring when I almost died?” [Hyuzu]
“I heard you were done in while escorting the duke . ” [Swanson]
“The one who saved me then was this guy . ” [Hyuzu]
“Still… Three years in the forest…” [Swanson]
“His situation is a bit complicated, but it’s not like he’s working for some bandit or something . Besides, the master himself can vouch for him . For now, just let him through . He really did come here to greet the duke . Although it’s more like he was invited as a guest . ” [Hyuzu]
“…Alright . Don’t forget his bounty for the bandits . ” [Swanson]
…That felt kind of forceful, but at least we’re free now .
“Thank you very much, Hyuzu-san . ” [Ryouma]
“Leave the talk for later . Hurry up and go before that guy changes his mind . Don’t forget your bounty reward . ” [Hyuzu]
“Ah, yes . …This bag of coins is yours, Fei-san . ” [Ryouma]
“Can you store it in your dimension magic, Boss? It’s extra luggage and I have enough coin on me for the time being . ” [Fei]
“Alright . I’ll store it in my dimension magic for now . ” [Ryouma]
Sponsored Content
Without time to spare for courtesies, we quickly left the office of the guards .
When we got out, the sun had already set and stars were twinkling in the night sky .
“You sure found yourself in a mess . ” [Hyuzu]
Hyuzu-san laughed as if he were just holding himself back earlier .
“Indeed… But he was just doing his job too, so…” [Ryouma]
“Well, it helps a lot if you see it that way . He’s not a bad guy . Although he has a tendency to pry at the slightest hint of suspicion and is really persistent… He’s also caught a lot of criminals that couldn’t be found out with just the use of the crystals . ” [Hyuzu]
Hyuzu-san praised the man who took us in for questioning, but I was more interested in the ‘criminals that can’t be found with just the use of the crystals’ . You could actually fool those things?
“It’s not really fooling them as much as those crystal balls weren’t originally made to identify criminals . They can’t actually reveal all the crimes a person has committed . ” [Hyuzu]
Apparently, the church made those crystal . They were originally made to find out if a believer has violated a precept .
“Murder, rape, kidnapping, theft, injury… Actions like those go against the teaching of the gods, and those crystal balls can tell if you’ve committed them . But from the perspective of the law, there are crimes outside of the teachings of the gods too . For example, smuggling . Carrying goods that are forbidden from being traded is a crime . But prohibiting dangerous stuff like that is a rule that humans came up with later . The crystals don’t respond to them . ” [Hyuzu]
So it had that sort of weakness .
Still, just being able to identify a portion of the heavy crimes is plenty helpful . It’s also a deterrent .
By the way, we’ve been walking for a while now, but where exactly are we headed?
When I asked him, he suddenly stopped .
“Sorry, sorry . I was in such a hurry to get out that I wasn’t really thinking . Where do you want to go?” [Hyuzu]
Oh, yeah . This guy has always been a little clumsy, hasn’t he? Well, he’s a good person, anyhow .
Seeing as didn’t have any particular destination in mind…
“Would you happen to know an inn with the odd name of ‘I Love Horses’? I’m supposed to meet up with a person from the Morgan Company there . We plan to visit the duke’s family afterwards . ” [Ryouma]
“Oh! I know that place! That’s the inn of the old man fond of horse racing… He loves them so much he named his inn after his love for them . You better not say anything about horses to him or you’ll never hear the end of it . ” [Hyuzu]
Looks like he knows him well . He looks happy .
He knew the path like the back of his hand . In fact, he knew the way so well that he moved quickly even in the narrow alleys .
Along the way…
“Oh! Hyuzu!” [Man 1]
“What are you doing at a time like this~?” [Man 3]
“Work! I’m in the middle of one right now!” [Hyuzu]
“Work? So what are you doing walking at a place like this?” [Man 1]
“Aren’t you free? Let’s drink!” [Man 2]
“Hyuzu-san, won’t you have a drink with us~?” [Man 3]
“We’ll give you some service . ” [Woman]
“Ah… I’m happy you invited me, but I have to send this guy off . I’ll drop by later . ” [Hyuzu]
“Could it be? Is that your illegitimate son!?” [Man 1]
“What was that!? Who’s the mother!?” [Man 2]
“He’s not mine!” [Hyuzu]
“Ha ha ha ha!! Of course not! He doesn’t look like you at all!” [Man 1]
“He looks too smart to be your own!” [Man 2]
“He looks too good to be yours!” [Man 3]
“No way Hyuzu can father a kid like that!” [Man 4]
“What did you say, you drunks!?” [Hyuzu]
“Oh, if it isn’t Hyuzu-san . Please drop by our store again next time . I’ll serve you some tea . ” [Old Woman]
“Oh, it’s the old woman from the general store . I’ll go next time, so make sure to serve some cake too . ” [Hyuzu]
“Ok . But the cake will cost you . ” [Old Woman]
As we went on our way, a lot of people called out to Hyuzu-san . He seemed to be on good terms with every one of them .