Chapter 123
Translator: Kell Editor: Weasalopes
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Unken’s Secret
「Wait, Pond? The town in Ponsonia? Guildmaster?」
Alice’s gaze went back and forth between Unken and Hikaru . Hikaru couldn’t be mistaken as he checked the man’s Soul Board . There couldn’t be anyone else with the same name who had the exact same stats .
「So you’re from Ponsonia . 」Unken asked Hikaru, feeling tension all over his body .
Hikaru himself deepened his voice a bit so he wouldn’t get exposed .
「Who knows? It doesn’t matter where I’m from, does it?」
「How much do you know?」
「All I know is that the blockhead right there snuck into Margrave Grugschilt’s mansion, got busted, and ran all the way here . 」
「………」
Unken scowled at Alice . She turned pale, looking at Hikaru as if to say “This isn’t what we planned!”
「I just want to know why you, a Ponsonian guildmaster, are working for the Empire . 」
「Why do you want to know that?」
Various theories were probably being formed in Unken’s head right now as to who this boy was . But there should be plenty of people who knew he worked as a guildmaster in Pond . When it came to information, Hikaru had the overwhelming advantage .
「I’m just curious . 」
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「You’re taking a risk just to satisfy your curiosity? Good one . 」
「I don’t think there’s any risks involved at all . You two don’t stand a chance against me . 」
「I like your confidence, but are you sure there’s only two of us here?」
Hikaru knew right away that Unken was bluffing . His Mana Detection told him there was no one else around . Although he wouldn’t be able to detect those with three or more points on Mana Obfuscation or those who had special magic items that blocked detection Skills . But even Unken only had two points on his .
「I am . 」
「How ridiculous . 」
「I’ll know if reinforcements arrive too . 」
Unken clicked his tongue . 「He has Detection, huh?」he muttered . Most people knew about Detection Skills .
「You shouldn’t rely on your job classes . This isn’t a place for kids . Go home . 」
「I’m not leaving until you answer my question . I’m sure anyone would be curious why the man who killed the Tyrant is working for the Empire . 」
Various emotions showed on Unken’s face . Hikaru simply baited him, but it seemed to be true . Jill guessed right . Fifty years ago, Emperor Balzard—who was known as a tyrant—planned to invade other nations, Ponsonia included . But he was assassinated . And by whom, nobody knew .
「What?! Master Keikai killed the Emperor?! What do you me—」
Unken swung his dagger towards his disciple standing beside him, Alice . The attack was spontaneous, but his movements were clean and sharp . But right before his blade could slit Alice’s neck, sparks flew . A stone that Hikaru hurled hit the dagger’s grip, and the weapon dropped to Unken’s feet .
「Wha…?」Alice stood there, dumbfounded . Her mind couldn’t keep up with the sudden turn of events .
「What are you just standing there for?! Get away from him! He almost killed you!」
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「Wh-What…? Master… why?」
「Because you learned a top-secret information!」
Unken quietly reached for his dagger . He was serious . He really wanted to kill Alice .
Was it really that bad if someone found out? Of course, it’s not something you can talk about openly . But did he really have to kill his student for it? Without even hesitating a bit? Hikaru couldn’t tell .
「Don’t move, Unken . 」Hikaru aimed his revolver loaded with a bullet containing dark magic . 「If you pick that up, you’re dead . 」
「I haven’t seen that weapon before . But it seems you’re serious . 」
Unken most likely realized from Hikaru’s aura that it wasn’t just a threat . The old man had four points on Instinct as well . He pulled his fingers away from the dagger and showed his empty hands to Hikaru .
「Get away from him, stupid spy . 」
「B-But…!」
「Just move! Quick!」
「Okay!」
Hikaru would’ve killed Alice earlier if he deemed her dangerous . And now he was trying to save her . The whole situation was too ridiculous to even be funny .
「Haha . You’re a nice boy . I see . So you led him here, Alice . 」
「N-N-No, I didn’t!」
Alice stood ten meters away, but Hikaru could clearly see her panicking . If he could, he’d tell her to quit being a spy . She was too easy to read, definitely not fit for this line of work .
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「Well, it doesn’t matter . What do you want, kid?」
「I told you . I just want an answer to my question . 」
「You’re a man of few wants . Though I suppose wanting to learn the truth is being greedy . 」
「So will you answer my question or not?」
「Very well . Alice . 」
「Yes, Sir!」Alice straightened up .
「If you learn about what I’m going to say, you will either spend the rest of your life working for the Empire, or be chased until you die . Are you fine with that?」
「Of course not!」
「Then go . Forget about what the boy said just now, and I will forget it as well . 」
「I already forgot everything! Nothing happened today!」
Alice turned her back on them and ran as fast as she could . She disappeared into the darkness in no time at all . With his Mana Detection, Hikaru could tell she took the shortest direction to get away as far as possible, without hesitating for a moment .
「She’s done in this type of work . 」
「Yeah, right . You just tried to kill her . 」
「How’d you stop me earlier? Don’t tell me you just threw that stone on the spur of the moment . That would be a superhuman feat . 」
That’s exactly what he did . Though Hikaru couldn’t tell him he had ten points on Throwing, of course .
「Forget about me . Let’s hear the truth right now . 」
「No need to be in such a hurry, Hikaru . 」
「…Wha?」
Hikaru was caught off-guard after Unken called his name .
「Haha . That was a bad move . You shouldn’t let your discomposure show . When you’re fighting and your life’s on the line, it could lead to a fatal mistake . 」
Hikaru didn’t want Unken to correctly identify him . The old man might’ve baited him too . His four points on Instinct could have played a huge part . Still he mentioned his name right at the offset .
「A kid with this much skill? You’re the only one that came to mind . Take it as a compliment . 」
「Why, thank you . 」
「You were able to kill the Red-horned Rabbit so efficiently because of your ability to conceal your presence and your Detection . 」
「No one’s stupid enough to show their cards . 」
「I taught you how to dissect, didn’t I?」
「That was your job as the guildmaster . 」
「You really never run out of things to say…」Unken muttered . 「Whatever . I’m no longer Pond’s guildmaster . 」
「Really?」
「I resigned . From now on, I’m working full-time for the Empire . If you really want to know, I’ll tell you… How I killed Emperor Balzard, a relative of mine . 」