Chapter 192 – Return Home at Dusk

As we were tying up the remaining members one after another and leaving them scattered in the courtyard, Randolph seemed to regain consciousness.

After glaring at me with hostile eyes, he made a subtle expression. He must have realized his magic had been sealed.

“You… bastard…”

Randolph glared at me as if he wanted to curse me to death.

“I just want to confirm one thing. About Sheila’s parents. What you said earlier wasn’t a lie, was it? Were there any other perpetrators?”

“So that’s why you kept me alive? What a softhearted fool.”

Randolph smirked. Since we had captured his subordinates alive as well, we could uncover everything about the slave trading and drug-related matters. But regarding the Thieves Guild connections, especially concerning the former Guild Master, we had no choice but to hear it from him.

Interrogation through Magical Inquisition would be difficult considering Sheila’s position within the Thieves Guild.

“Yeah, there were others involved back then. If you want to find out who they are, you can’t just hand me over, right?”

Randolph seemed to be calculating this—but I had anticipated he would try to prolong his life with such smooth talk. Did he really think I would let him get away with such a dirty survival strategy?

“Fortok. What do you think?”

“…He’s not lying.”

Fortok the Carbuncle, who had been hiding in my pocket, squirmed before answering in a small voice like that. When we set out, he had offered to cooperate.

“That’s what he says. I have nothing more to ask you.”

“Huh?”

Randolph made a foolish expression—but the next moment, Sheila struck his neck with the hilt of her Pearl Sword, knocking him unconscious again.

“…Well, since he can’t resist anymore. From here on out, whoever we leave it to will probably be the same… but considering Theodore’s position, I’ll leave it to him.”

When our eyes met, Sheila said that.

Whoever we leave it to. If we hand him over to the country, he’ll be judged, and if we hand him over to the Thieves Guild, they’ll settle the score.

“…Understood. Let’s hurry with the rest of the cleanup.”

“Mm.”

Although the underground had been secured, we still needed to dispose of the Slugthrow tails.

The people who had been imprisoned underground were waiting quietly in the courtyard, knowing they could escape. Though they looked somewhat uneasy since they were surrounded by stone walls—many were holding hands with relieved expressions. Elves, Dwarves. And there were even some with the appearance of Monsters.

“Is that—the drug?”

Grace asked.

“Seems like it. Just from looking at it, I can’t tell what it is.”

In my hand was a mass of sap, translucent green.

It had a texture like amber turned into a vivid green. From what I saw of the underground experimental facilities, they seemed to process it here, turning it into powder before use.

But… in this state, it at least doesn’t look like a drug’s raw material. It would probably slip past surveillance easily. If they brought it to the location in this state and powdered it at the selling place, it would be difficult to identify as the same thing, wouldn’t it?

We kept just one Slugthrow plant from underground as evidence to submit.

“What about the rest?”

“Petrify all of them.”

I went around casting Petrification magic on the Slugthrow tails. We needed to make sure they couldn’t be used. Burning them would work too, but I’m worried the smoke might be dangerous.

“What will you do after this?”

“Since we’ve done something this large-scale. The soldiers are supposed to come rushing in.”

That way, the imprisoned people would be found and those guys would be captured. As for the disposal of the Slugthrow tails—I guess we’ll pass the baton to King Melvin.

Dexter… didn’t seem to be here, but that guy will probably be pursued by both the authorities and the Thieves Guild from now on.

After removing the stone walls and waiting for the soldiers to storm in, we withdrew… but my reunion with Dexter came surprisingly soon.

I went to take Miriam back to her shop, but Sheila said she heard voices in the alley behind the store, so when I peeked around back… there were Dexter and his group, and Isabella and her group.

Well, um. It looked like people who appeared to be Isabella’s companions were restraining Dexter and his group…

“…Who’s there? Come on out.”

Isabella seemed to have noticed our presence and called out like that. When I showed myself, she made a somewhat puzzled expression.

“M-Miriam! A-And even the Ambassador!? P-Please tell them it’s a misunderstanding! These guys have got the wrong idea! I just… yeah. I just came to make amends…!”

When Dexter recognized us, he said that. Miriam and I exchanged looks. What in the world is going on?

“…What’s the situation here?”

“Well, you see. We didn’t expect to meet you guys here either…”

Isabella shrugged her shoulders. Perhaps understanding that I was acquainted with Isabella, Dexter’s expression turned to despair.

Isabella wasn’t wearing the dress she had on when we met in the west district, but rather leather equipment that looked easy to move in. This might be Isabella’s Thieves Guild-style equipment.

“After our conversation, some things didn’t add up, so I did some investigating, and it seemed Dexter was gathering his old comrades and making moves. Since he was trying to break into this house with weapons prepared… I figured I might as well drag him out and ask him about various things.”

…So he was trying to ambush Miriam at her shop. And from the content of the questions I asked her, Isabella must have suspected something and was trying to find Dexter to question him.

Certainly… for intimidating someone to get information, this might be a convenient situation for Isabella, but Dexter himself must have missed my raid by a narrow margin…

“Sis. This guy had this on him.”

“Ah! That’s!”

“Hmm?”

When Isabella checked the contents of the bag, she frowned.

“You probably know what that is, don’t you?”

A leather bag was tossed over to me. When I opened it, inside were plant seeds.

…They’re Slugthrow tail seeds. So this guy took them out.

“This is evidence. May we take custody of this?”

“Well, sure, I guess.”

Overhearing our exchange, Dexter shouted.

“Y-You bastards! Don’t think you can get away with doing this to me! Just wait until Randolph hears about this…!”

“Ah, we already took care of that guy earlier.”

“—Huh?”

Dexter made a foolish expression. Since he was busy here, he probably didn’t know about the commotion in the west district. Even when told, he didn’t seem to comprehend.

Still, what was he planning to do with those seeds he took out?

Randolph seemed to have been quite careful about concealment… he shouldn’t have allowed such careless removal. If he was waiting to ambush Miriam with the seeds, and he knew my identity too…

“…You weren’t planning to kidnap Miriam-san and flee Termwills, were you? And you dare bring up Randolph’s name?”

When I said this to Dexter, the color visibly drained from his face. Both Isabella and Miriam looked exasperated.

I’ll confirm it properly later, but I probably don’t even need to ask Fortok about the truth.

If you investigate Miriam’s movements, you could probably trace my identity and the shop purchase. That means you could deduce that the Otherworld Ambassador was trying to open a shop.

If I become the backer, even if the Thieves Guild is behind it, they won’t be able to make a move from now on. So even if he caused trouble, if he fled abroad, my identity wouldn’t matter.

Still, he’s beyond redemption, or what should I say. He betrayed Randolph, who had taken him under his wing, and planned to take just the money and seeds to start over in a new land. The reason he’s so well-prepared might be because he already had a plan to escape abroad and become independent.

Well. The problem is… what to do with this guy…

“…About you taking down Randolph”

Isabella asked.

“It’s true. It’s caused quite a commotion in the west district.”

“Is that so… Then I’ll hand Dexter over to you.”

“Is that alright?”

There should be some kind of score-settling, right? Well, if we’re talking about that, Randolph too.

“Though I’ve already incurred a big debt from you. I need to return at least some of what I owe. We’re just good citizens who caught some petty thieves and handed them over.”

Isabella shook her head while running her hand through her hair.

“Honestly, if Randolph’s been taken down, we have too much to do to bother with small fry.”

“Understood. We’ll take custody of these guys.”

Even if he’s not Sheila’s direct enemy, he was an indirect cause. I glanced at Sheila, but she shrugged and shook her head.

I see. Then let’s finish this quickly. I contacted Mercedes with the communication device. There shouldn’t be any problem treating this guy as one of Randolph’s accomplices.

“…You said I should take advantage of the situation, but a debt is still a debt. I might come by again sometime to properly express my gratitude.”

“Understood.”

Isabella probably doesn’t know that Randolph was the enemy of the former Guild Master… but the information might reach her eventually. Due to my position, I need to draw a line, but if it’s separate from Guild matters, I don’t mind. Besides, that conversation concerns Sheila too.

Isabella and her group quickly tied up Dexter and the others with rope before leaving.

“Well then, shall we head back after handing these guys over?”

Sheila nodded.

“…My, my. It’s been quite eventful, but I’ll work hard to open my shop soon too.”

“That’s right. Let’s make it a good shop.”

I made a promise to meet Miriam again.

After handing Dexter and his group over to the Knight Order that had rushed to the scene, we finally began our journey home.

It was already twilight. The sky was red.

“…I’m tired. I want to soak in the bath.”

Sheila looked up at the sunset and narrowed her eyes. Maybe she wanted some time alone.

Yeah. After she uses that time to sort out her feelings, let’s all spend some time together, slowly and peacefully.

Irmhild took Sheila’s hand.

“Let’s go home, Sheila-chan.”

“…Mm. Irmhild. I want to hear you play the lute again.”

“Okay. Anytime.”

Like that, the two of them exchanged smiles.

“Everyone… thank you for helping me.”

Then Sheila bowed her head to us. Both I and everyone else quietly smiled and nodded.