Chapter 36 – Illusion

000

Ruba goes through the danger zone of the living forest with Perdia.

Hiding their presence, the two move across the top of the tree and occasionally look down at the monsters passing by.

Considering their strength, it was hardly an environment in which people could live.

“Does a mansion really exist in a place like this?”

“Yes. I don’t know you, an outsider, but the story of the abandoned mansion in the forest is quite famous in this city.”

When Ruba speaks suspiciously, Ferdia replies without looking back.

Her attire was black, clingy, unlike when she went out or in the clinic.

It was the clothes she wore as her assassin.

She thought that there was no way a magic swordsman could dominate an ordinary nurse.

She must have been an assassin.

Ruba had no choice but to stick her tongue out into Cleon’s resourcefulness.

If she doesn’t even watch out for herself.

When Ruba had such thoughts, Ferdia told Ruba.

“I was a little surprised. As an assassin, you followed my movements without difficulty.”

“That’s because… Me too. I’ve been trained to operate as an assassin.”

Ferdia nods her head as if she understands Rubera’s words.

Eventually, the two pass through Layla’s barrier that distorts space and land in the mansion’s garden.

Upon seeing the Gortian Mansion, Ruba couldn’t help but be surprised by her honest impression.

I thought it was quite old and on the verge of collapsing because it was a mansion that was supposed to be left in a forest like this.

In reality, it was larger and more luxurious than the mansion the Marquis Hughes currently resides in the city.

“To live without permission in a mansion like this…”

“I’m just using it because it has no owner. Originally, Cleon-sama was planning to leave this place in the near future.”

At those words, Ruba looked back at Ferdia.

“I’m asking right now. Do you know anything about the Marquis’ backdoor dealings?”

Then Ruba shut her mouth for a moment, then shook her head.

“I knew that the Marquis was involved in dirty work. But in that matter, he did not trust others and only tried to solve it on his own.”

“…A vicious villain. It would be perfect for decapitation.”

When Ferdia spoke quietly, Ruba silently agreed.

“Why did Cleon bring me here?”

“The pattern has something to do with magic, so perhaps Layla can help you.”

Ruba looked at her own pattern for a moment at her words.

“Lyla Flamewatch. Are you the head of the academy?”

“I heard that.”

Ferdia nodded her head, and Ruba covered the back of her own hand with a slightly relieved look on her face.

“Then I can hope for it.

“Yes. It seems that Cleon-sama recognizes Lyla-sama’s skill as well. Of course, she doesn’t show it at all on the outside.”

Ruba thought, ‘I guess so.’

The academy is a treasure trove of knowledge that only the best talents on the continent can enter.

And even in such a place, the ones with the best grades in each department are the geniuses called ‘Senior’.

Layla is the head of the first department called ‘Magical Studies’, which is said to be the largest department of such an academy.

That means the bar was great.

The moment the two are about to enter the mansion.

Quadang! The front door opens with a groan and someone jumps out.

The one who appeared with the cute clothes she was wearing half damaged.

It was ‘Lutei Sions’, characterized by pink hair.

“Wait! Luti! Let me investigate a little more!”

“No! While saying that, I opened the scales again…!”

And a red-haired wizard who jumps out in a messy outfit while chasing Luti from behind.

Lyla Flamewatch.

She holds a piece of pink scales in her hand.

Her face is flushed red from excitement and she is breathing heavily.

“…”

Seeing that, Lubera slightly frowned.

Ferdia only smiled bitterly as if she was in trouble.

001

An adventurer’s guild crowded with people.

Rumors had already circulated within the guild that there was a woman who stopped Eustes, who was attracting attention from everyone.

While away for a while, Cleon felt that the eyes were focused on him.

Among them, he was worried that there might be a person with good intuition who would notice his true identity.

Cleon intended to get along with Eustes and find out about his father through him.

Of course, from his attitude earlier, he knew roughly what the Marquis Hughes thought of his son.

It was better than starting with nothing and nothing.

For that purpose, I thought it would be possible to play with the immature aristocrat’s son.

But it was beyond imagination. This fool.

“I see. If you have skills like ours, I don’t think there will be any problem even if you take on an A-rank request.”

“I’m sorry, Master Yustes. A-class requests are only available to parties that have adventurers who have been recognized as active in the guild to some extent.”

Eustes is trying to accept the request with an arrogant expression.

However, the staff explained the rules of the guild with a troubled expression.

Eustes gets his shit-chewed expression again.

He glanced at Leona next to her and cleared her throat as he straightened her clothes.

“Wait. Have you forgotten what I said earlier?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“… He said he needed at least two more.”

Eustes nodded with an ‘Aha!’ As if he had completely forgotten about it.

“No. But if you have skills like Leona’s, I feel like we can go anywhere just the two of us.”

Cleon quickly withdrew his hand from Eustes, who grabbed his hand her with a greasy voice.

Cultivate patience with the thought that it would be better if it wasn’t for work.

“Listen carefully. Adventure is not child’s play. No matter how strong a person is, there are countless difficulties encountered in the quest.”

Cleon cools down and explains to Eustes.

He’s still a troubled human being if he dies, so we have to keep him alive.

“But I heard that some magic swordsman who belonged to this guild carried out several requests by himself…”

“That’s… He’s strange. He can play several roles by himself. I’m sure your servant did the same?”

“Lubera? Hmm… That guy stuck by my side and didn’t fall off.”

Eustes rests his chin for a moment and recalls his actions with Ruba.

When you step forward, pull the nape of your neck.

If you encounter an enemy and try to swing your sword, Rubera will slash it the next moment.

It was common practice to avoid an enemy attack by kicking oneself with a drop kick.

“…Now that I think about it. Did he really think of me as his master?”

Of course not.

“Well… Whatever it is. The ideal party is to have a large number of people with a good balance between the front and rear.”

“Then, since Leona and I will stand in the front, you’re saying we need two adventurers to assist us in the back?”

Cleon nodded at Eustes’ words.

… Although I’m a little uncomfortable about this guy standing in front.

“Neither you nor I can use magic, so it would be nice to have a caster in the back row… And a healer would be needed.”

“Wizards and priests…”

Eustes frowns at the story of being a priest.

“…Why is that face like that?”

“No. I don’t have very good memories of being a priest.”

Could it be something in the past?

Thinking that it might be related to the Marquis, Cleon decided to dig a little deeper here.

“Yes? What happened?”

“No… It’s a story related to my family. My mother and…”

Eustes said that and turned his head.

Apparently, Cleon is still too far to open up.

No, it seemed that he did not fully trust Leona.

“…Well, if you want to be active as an adventurer, you have to overcome that.”

That’s why Cleon gives a rough encouraging word.

When Eustes heard that, he nodded his head while worrying a little.

“If you want to find a party member, the best thing to do is to ask at the information desk. There, they will introduce you to adventurers who do not have a party of the same level as you.”

“…? Wasn’t being an adventurer something you paid to hire?”

Eustes speaks as if Cleon’s words are strange.

Once again Cleon understood how ignorant this man was.

002

In the end, all they could save was a priest who had just become an adventurer.

Magicians were in such a serious talent shortage that no one dared to join Eustes’ party.

The priest who joined this time was also a woman who had gone through field training at the apprentice level.

“Thank you very much. Eustes-sama. Leona-sama.”

Her name is Tio.

Like Quon, he is a clergy member belonging to the Holy Spirit’s Protection Church.

In many ways, he was a different person from Quon.

First, long blue hair that seemed to cover her eyes. It seemed to be quite long on the back.

The white nun’s uniform that covered her entire body completely concealed the curves of her body.

Other than that, an ordinary cleric with nothing special to say.

When I heard the story, it seemed like it was the first time that I was leaving the city with a request.

“…”

Eustes seemed to be displeased with Tio and kept his legs crossed.

Looking at Tio, ignoring Eustes, Cleon spoke as kindly as possible.

“Please take good care of this side. Mr. Tio. I have some experience, but Eustes, like you, is completely new to adventure.”

“No! I’m a veteran who went through the danger zone yesterday!”

“You didn’t do anything.”

Cleon wished Eustes to shut up.

In fact, besides Tio, there were several priests who hadn’t formed a party yet.

This is because the church encourages priests to actively become adventurers by training to save people in crisis situations.

Therefore, unlike wizards who put their energy into research.

Even clerics who use healing spells that are considered difficult compared to normal magic.

There is a certain level of supply.

However, the impression of Eustes formed within the guild in a day or two was below the worst.

No matter how merciful a clergyman was, he probably wanted to avoid entering Eustes’s party.

The only one Only Tio, who doesn’t care about rumors or people’s personality, came to the party.

That’s why, if I missed Tio, I didn’t know if I’d be able to meet someone like her again.

“Don’t worry. Leona-sama looked pretty troubled.”

Did you understand Cleon’s heart?

Although Tio couldn’t see his eyes, he spoke to Cleon in a kind tone.

Then Cleon sighed and looked at Eustes.

“Come on. Say good-bye to you too.”

“What?!

Cleon’s eyes sharpen.

Unspoken pressure.

Eustes must have been terrified by that gaze… He made a noise and turned his head to Tio.

“…Please take good care of me. Commoner.”

“Whoops. Please take good care of Mr. Eustes.”

Where did the manners go?

Perhaps, Ruba intervened in this aspect and coordinated it.

Rather than educating Eustes and making him do it.

Because she just needs to finish it neatly.

But Cleon had no intention of going that far.

A relationship where she just needs to stick around enough to get information out of this guy.

She has no intention of being fooled.

“Anyway. With this, the party has a healing station, so can we start the request?”

At Eustes’ urging, Cleon pondered for a while.

In my opinion, one more person.

As I said before, if possible, I had to have a caster.

I thought for a second about calling Lila.

No matter how you think about it, it’s a loss of balance.

Besides, it didn’t seem like Lila would suit this guy’s personality.

“…Yes. There’s nothing you can do about clinging to something you don’t have.”

Cleon sighed and stood up.

And Eustes followed suit, saying something like ‘Finally!’

Tio also quietly smiled and followed them.

“…Wait. Are you still recruiting?”

Then, a voice grabbed the three of them.

When Cleon turns his head, there is

There was Iona Chevalier, dressed in light.

003

Four people walking inside a dark dungeon.

Since he was still advancing through the first layer, Cleon decided that it would be okay to send Eustes, who had a low level, to the front.

I sent him to the avant-garde alone, slipped to the back, and joined Iona.

“…Why did you follow me?”

“Because you can’t leave the job to yourself.”

Two people talking in low voices.

Tio was away for a while to assist Eustes in case of an unexpected situation.

“More than that. It suits you well. That look.”

“…I’m not happy.”

“If you’re good at disguises, why not join the Royal Intelligence Service?”

When Iona talks with a small smile, Cleon sighs and turns her head away.

“Are you kidding?”

“I know.”

Cleon’s face was more disliked than disinterested.

Looking at such Cleon, Iona becomes a little sullen and seduces Cleon.

“You can learn quite a lot when you join the intelligence agency. Father… You can work with your master.”

“The former is so, but the latter is no benefit at all.”

If you enter there, you will become a subordinate of Talchek.

Cleon couldn’t bear to feel goosebumps all over his body at the thought of that.

“Is that so? My father always talked about you in a good way.”

“…Talcheck me?”

Cleon opens his eyes in surprise.

Iona continued talking, recalling what had happened before.

“Yes. Among the children he taught, there was a child who had the least talent but tried the most…”

“…I don’t think that’s a compliment.”

Although Cleon thought that he was stupid for expecting even for a moment.

Iona said with a smile.

“No. My father said that he was like me in that way.”

“…”

“For that person, the most important thing in the world is himself.”

Iona stopped talking there and looked into Cleon’s face as if he was thinking about something.

“If someone like that says you resemble yourself, doesn’t that mean they recognize you to some extent?”

“…So? What is Talchek himself doing now?”

Cleon deliberately changed the topic, as if he was embarrassed.

Seeing Cleon like that, Iona laughed softly and continued the conversation.

“Your father is in contact with the Marquis Hughes. It must be that he intends to excavate information from him.”

“With the Marquis… ? Is it okay?”

“You know how to deal with people as your father is also a member of the intelligence agency.

At that, Cleon nodded.

– In the meantime. Eustes glanced back as if he was concerned about Leona and Iona talking behind him.

Then, each time, Tio, who was standing in the middle, would make eye contact.

Tio shows a smile through his mouth.

Eustes didn’t see anything like that.

Just initially planned.

[A strategy to plan the future by going on an adventure with Leona and making her a prisoner of his love while showing off his cool side]

There was only resentment at what had been ruined.

Of course, even the stupidest Eustes admits that there is some truth in what Leona is saying.

But it didn’t make sense that it would take such power to get into such an unremarkable place.

It is also cost inefficient.

So. Show her your strength this time.

How far can we go with just the two of us?

`Click-`

Moment. Eustes stops at the sound echoing beneath his feet.

Tio and Cleon heard the sound from the front. And if even Iona stopped.

Eustes saw that the footrest he had stepped on was unnaturally lowered.

“… Leona?”

“Now, wait! Stay still! Keep your foot!”

“Whoaaaaagh!”

Eustes jumps in terror.

And the next moment.

A trap in the dungeon is activated and a dimensional door is opened.

Demons protruding from the dimensional portal connected to the deep.

Green-skinned humanoid monsters with some armed intelligence.

Its body is slightly larger than that of a human, and its protruding belly and foul-smelling appearance make it frown.

“Kuh… ! Orcs on the 3rd floor… !”

“It’s a terrible trap to kill beginners. Today’s dungeon must be in a bad mood.”

Iona quietly jokes with Cleon.

Cleon quickly moves to Eustes’ side, and Iona forms a formation as if to surround Tio.

“I told you not to step out!”

“Mi-sorry! But…!”

“Okay, prepare for battle! These guys can do anything with your equipment!”

When Cleon grabs his outstretched hand and gets up from his seat.

Eustes somehow maintained his posture while dragging the mithril greatsword on his back on the ground.

“Now… The quest begins!”