by Ainana Hiro
The peaceful afternoon I enjoyed yesterday completely changed.
Well then, the afternoon series, troubles arc will begin...
◇
A little distance away from the street stalls, there's a Parion temple.
In the east street, there are only street stalls in the main street.
There are some people gathered in front of the temple.
"I wonder what happen?"
"Let's check it for a bit."
Zena-san rushes over there. Seeing this quick change of pace, she's really a soldier.
Zena-san asks what happen to the the big priestess' attendant from yesterday.
Zena-san is flapping her hand it around. She seems to be grateful about something.
I wonder what they're talking about?
When I got closer as I walked I only heard the latter half of the story.
By the way, the conversation that I've heard,
"...then how about the Garleon temple on the east street. The temple there also has military contact so medical treatment shouldn't be a problem. It's on east street but you're accompanied by a man so strange fellows probably won't approach you."
"Yes, even like this, I'm a magician soldier. I'd beat playboys who try to pick me up no matter how many of them come."
From Zena-san, it seem that the priestess are in the middle of meeting with envoys from the royal capital temple. Moreover, since the priestess are only able to use magic for healing injury, light poison and illness, we're forced to go to the other referred temple.
...He's just passing the buck!!
◇
In the end, we're going to the Garleon temple on the east street.
It's not like I'm dissatisfied you know?
Even if I got used to it, walking the European-style city together with a plainly cute girl like this, it's quite enjoyable!
Along the way, about 100 meter away, a public park is there.
I thought that it was just a lawn with weeds, but it's cut short and in the square, some old couples carrying baby are resting, and around 10 young people are practicing martial arts.
"Zena-san, what kind of training is in military?"
I want to hear it somehow.
"That's right~, I think it's the same training as soldiers everywhere, but for magic soldiers it's concerning preservation of magic power. We take care to maintain the state where we can use magic at its best."
Variation in training huh?
Certainly, MP-less magicians are useless.
"Magic soldiers and magicians each assigned different roles in accordance with their element. I can only speak from the viewpoint of military, but except for fire element, we don't usually use other elements for attacking."
Certainly something like torturing by fire is certainly suitable for attack. But you can also use it to heat bath you know?
"As for my wind, it's used for protection from arrows, <
That remind me, Zena-san's goal was to fly through the sky isn't it?
"If you manage to fly, then it'd be nice to have a date in the sky~"
I was joking, but Zena-san turns red to her neck and says "P, please leave it to me" while fumbling her words.
It's cute, but I'm worried if she's ever going to be deceived by a bad man~
◇
In the shades of the roadside trees several cats are curling around. Come to think of it, this is the first time I've seen wild cats since I come here.
"That cat is cute~."
Zena-san looks like she'll run there if left alone.
I'm of cat's faction too, that's why I can't let cats' afternoon nap to be disturbed!!
So I bring up this talk.
"That remind me, there are no wild dogs in this city."
"There's a rumor that wild dogs, if seen, will become meals for the people of the slum..."
"It's a lie, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's a lie.
But a rumor like that do exist, it seems that ripe gabo fruits eaten with dog are quite addicting. So, ever since that fruit began to be consumed, wild dogs disappeared."
Gabo fruits appear again. Have some restrain!
People catching sights of hunters going to the meat processing plant in the east street with their dog partners seems to be the root of that rumor.
◇
"Punishment for the demon's kin! Receive blessing by striking the demon with these holy stoooones!"
Halfway into the east street, we're hearing a faint voice verging on falsetto like it's coming from an old man. There are also voices of a lot of people.
On the square from the alley turn, there's a fat middle-aged man priest standing in an expensive looking pedestal.
With bloodshot eyes, bubbles fly from his mouth.
"O people with virtue! Do you remember the divine punishment also known as Star Fall from the other day!"
"""Oooo!"""
"""We remember!"""
"""Oooooo!"""
Isn't about half of the shouting people are faking it?
"Furthermore! FurtherMORE! Yesterday, the Earl's castle had been hit by an attack of the demon lord's executive!"
"""Oh Gods!"""
"""Please save us, hero-sama!!"""
"""Oooooo!"""
Shouting is a good way to relieve stress huh.
"This is a sign of the dimming of the god's divine protection! Acquire blessings! O people with virtue! Those who gain blessings will be protected from disaster!"
"""Priest-sama! Please save us!!"""
"""Oooooo!"""
"""Blessings!!!"""
Such cheap people.
"Acquires blessing! Do you understand people! Blessings!"
"""Blessings!!!"""
"""Oooooo!"""
"""Please teach us!"""
This town's people would be easily deceived by fraudulent calls or shady pyramid scheme.
"Look at those fellows!"
The fat priest point at the back of the square.
"Those fellows are demi-human, the washout of the demon, no, the kin of the demon lord! Give divine punishment to those fellows and receive blessings!"
"""Oooooo!"""
"""KILL!!!"""
Oi oi agitator.
"Wait! People of virtue! Murder is prohibited by the law of the kingdom. Wait!"
"""What should we do, priest-sama!!"""
"""KILL!!!"""
"""Oooooo!"""
There are a lot of people who are just clamoring.
"Killing is prohibited! With these holy stones hit the demon's kin and receive blessings."
"""Priest-sama!"""
"""Give us the stones~!"""
""Oooooo!"""
I look at the direction the fat priest points to. 3 beastkin girls are there.
"But it's not free! Receive the blessings using your own money!!"
"""Oooooo!"""
"""Blessings!!!"""
Dog, Cat, and Lizard beastkin girls are huddling together.
"The holy stones are 1 copper coin each! For this special occasion, you can get 6 stones for one big copper coin!"
Ah, the voices from the people stop. What a calculating populace~
"What's wrong! Pious men and women! There's a limit on these holy stones! Those who receive blessings are those who act fast!"
"""We'll buy it!"""
"""Please sell it to me!!!"""
"""Oooooo!"""
They sure are weak with limited edition.
"Buy it from my disciples here! Line up! If you don't properly line up, you won't get the blessings!"
"""Oooooo!"""
"""Line up!"""
Fat priest, did you just use mind manipulation magic?
People who have bought the holy stones unrese
rvedly throw it at the beast girls. They don't hesitate there.
Eh~~~? Are you serious?
"I cannot watch this!"
Zena-san pushes her way through the crowds running to the fat priest's place.
I was taken aback and late to respond.
"""Kill the demi-human!!"""
"""Oooooo!"""
"""Punishment for the demon kin!!!"""
The people are heating up and sporadically hit the beast kin girls with the stones.
The lizard girl are protecting the smaller dog and cat girls.
Now then, it's easy to interrupt this from the front, but if the same thing happen again later then there is no meaning to it.
Detailed information from the AR come up like usual when I look at the beast kin girls.
This is!
I quickly chew through the information I've found.
Then, it should be somewhere.
There!
I investigate the guy's information and is convinced.
With this, I should manage somehow!
I whip my gray brain cells to explore the best solution...
2-6. Arguments and the Extermination of the Hidden Evildoer Afternoon
* * *
Satou's here. "In any ages, agitators never disappear.", such phrase exist, but let alone in ages, even in different world they don't disappear.
Well then, let's settle this.
Adding another page to the history of Seryuu city...
◇
Staring at the 3 beast kin girls, I found the name of the master of the girls.
It's not the name of the fat priest.
Then, where is the master of the girls?
Thinking the possibilities, either the master is not here, or he can't go against the fat priest... or he's a partner of the fat priest.
Right now, since we can't find the information with just AR, I use the special ability of All Map Exploration.
I search the name of the master.
There, on the edge of the square. It's a small man with fox-like eyes, grinning at the commotion in the square while sitting atop of a wooden box.
I inspect the information displayed on the AR.
The small man's name is Uusu. 39 years old. His skills are [Fraud],[Persuasion] and [Intimidation]. Owned slaves are [Cat kin],[Dog kin],[Lizard kin]。
....Hmm? Do slaves only display their kin's type with no name?
No, those kind of things don't matter.
I need more information.
It's still not enough.
Affiliation [Seryu City, Lower Class Citizen]. Guild [Brown Rat].
This is it, guild [Brown Rat]. Begin Search!
Members are 52 people. Including the 10 people in this square. Excluding Uusu and the bodyguard-like big man behind him, 8 men are fake demonstrators in the square.
I mark all people, including the one not present in this place.
Now then, let's begin the action!
>[Inference Skill Acquired]
>[Behind the Scene Skill Acquired]
...But the beast kin girls are probably very shaken with those abuses. I had overlooked an important information. I can't turn back the time, but right now, if I delay the first step the result might be different...
◇
Zena-san arrives before the fat priest.
"Pleas stop this inhuman conduct!"
"What's this little girl! Are you an ally of the demon?"
Before one become aware, his followers have disappeared. Moreover, since he can't refute back, the agitators' butt in for him.
"""Allies of the demon are demons too!"""
"""Ooooooo!"""
In the space of the time Zena-san gained, first I have to do something about the fakers in the crowd.
"Please do not be deceived! Does Zaikuon temple intend to break the law of the kingdom!"
"What's wrong with beating the demon with holy stones?"
What a disengaged conversation. No, the priest understand, he's just shifting the point.
I activate [Spy] and slip into the crowd. While moving through the crowd, I also activate [Evasion] and [Fighting].
"""Oooooo!"""
"That's right! Let's throw stones at that little girl!!!"
"""Oooooo!"""
Zena-san use <
Now then, while they're still dumbfounded let's put this crowd into order. Even for Zena-san, if a lot people rush together it would be dangerous.
I move beside the (Brown Rat) man who's still trying to incite stone throwing. I wonder if it's the effect of the skill, I was able to choose what kind of attack to neutralize him, and even while being hidden to the surrounding doing it.
I neutralize the (Brown Rat) man with just one attack. And just like that, I throw him to the alley. Because time is precious, I don't have time to restrain him.
>[Abduction Skill Acquired]
>[Assassination Skill Acquired]
Abduction skill seems to be usable, I raise it to maximum. I don't take the Assassination skill. I won't take it you know?
In the center of the square, a priest with different clothing is helping Zena-san. It's a blue-collar worker handsome middle-aged man.
"Equating demi-human with demon, rather than Zaikuon temple, Isn't it just you who say such thing?"
"Hum, the philanthropist priest from the Garleon temple huh? If you like beasts that much then after this beating, use them as you like, from the front, the back, whichever."
Uwa, he's the worst sexual harasser. Zena-san is turning red... or not. Did she not understand the meaning. Par exellence.
"Kill the demi-human!"
""Oooooo!!""
"Punishment for the demon!"
I'll leave the dispute on the stage to Zena-san and her reinforcement, and proceed to exterminate the harmful pests (Brown Rat) here. I successfully knock 2, 3 people unconscious and leave them on a suitable alley. Sake bottles are falling around nearby but I don't have time to spare.
"Do you understand! If you keep fueling anxiety on people, it could end up in revolt! Zaikuon temple will be blamed as the mastermind behind it!"
"Foolish lizard who borrows the skin of dragon! Don't kill the demon you say? Aren't you the traitor here!"
"Kill the demon!!"
""Oooooo!""
"Maybe that little girl is a demon in disguise?!"
The extermination is half complete. The crowd's shouting has become considerably less too... There's a particular guy with an awfully loud voice. Though he doesn't seem to be a part of Brown Rat. Let's mark him for now. Let's get in contact after the extermination is complete.
"Everyone from the east street! Everyone else is also anxious just like you! But that's not an excuse to torture the weak like cowards!"
"Did you hear that everyone! Garleon temple deem you as evils! He said that everyone here, eager to receiving blessings, as evils!"
"Kill the demon!!"
""Oooooo!""
"You damn fake priest!"
Good, only 2 more remaining.
I bring them down and roll them to the alley.
Before I set up the stages with Uusu, I got into contact with the loud-voice-kun to prepare for the event.
>[Conspiracy Skill Acquired]
"Please stop this already. No matter how many of you throw the stones, I will prevent it!"
"You bastard, do you intend to interfere this holy conduct! Foolish one who goes against God!"
The fat priest shout to the point bubbles fly from his mouth, but people who support him are sparse. Even those voices are disappearing 1 by 1 now.
I tap on the shoulder of Uusu.
"It's your turn now."
"Wh, who are you bastard! Oi, Banze! Crush this bastard!"
While surprised, Uusu ordered the big man behind. But he fell into confusion when he look back and couldn't find the man from earlier
.
"Banze? Where's that halfwit gone to!"
"That big man (Banze) has gone somewhere with a woman."
In truth, he's currently fainted in the alley though.
I twist the arm of Uusu and take him along up to the stage.
"Everyone, please disband here. If you keep this up, the army will really come! If you are anxious then go to the temple, I'll listen to your worries no matter how much!"