I was able to meet up with Bron immediately.
Count Pugyaru’s butler was with him so he told me the latest information.
Umu.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have to shrug my shoulders because he had been discovered.
And there were too few clues.
On top of that, it is possible that they have been moved to another place using the teleportation gate…..
「We have to expect the worst but the patriarch is not incompetent either. Especially when it comes to self-preservation, you can trust him in that aspect.」
He said he can be trusted in self preservation…
「Even if it is kidnapping, he can negotiate with the kidnappers and stay safe.」
So that’s what you mean.
「The others are already taking care of the other ends of the teleportation gates so we only need to search around the City of Shashaato. Thank you very much for your cooperation.」
Okay, then, let’s move now.
Also, I don’t think there’s a point in acting together.
I think it would be better if we spread out and search in small groups.
「Ah, that’s true but there’s a possibility that the patriarch won’t come out without our people.」
He won’t come out?
「If he’s hiding from a crisis, even if a stranger calls out to him, the patriarch won’t come out.」
Right, I see.
「My apologies but please allow someone from our family to accompany you.」
I think it’s the other way around. It is us who’ll accompany you.
I have to say something.
Or maybe not. I don’t want to be handed the command of the search.
I’m not a professional searcher or anything.
In any case, we divided the high elves and lizardmen who accompanied us into several groups and started searching.
I’m with Dors, Doraim, Gucci, Bron, and the butler.
What’s this…..
Aren’t we too many….shouldn’t we break up?
I asked Bron but he told me to give up since this is already the optimal squad.
「Those who should be kept an eye on and those who’ll keep an eye should be put together in one group.」
Is that so?
So, are you saying we have to keep an eye on Dors and Doraim?
……
Just to confirm, I’m not the one you’re referring to when you said “someone to keep an eye on”, right?
「Village chief is the only one who can suppress Dors-san and Doraim-san.」
Right.
Let’s start searching.
-0-
Count Pugyaru’s people have already decided on the search area and they are searching widely and thinly.
So, we are free to search as we please.
Though I don’t like the sound of that “free”.
We are currently in front of Big Roof Shashaato.
In other words, we are almost at the center of the City of Shashaato.
Where should we even start? East? West? North? South?
「There was an event in the south of the city this afternoon. The south has a lot of suspicious people. Especially in the southeast, there’s even a campground for people who are not citizens of this city. Let’s look there.」
Gucci insisted so strongly and Bron agreed.
However, Dors disagreed.
「Northwest」
Dors’ opinion was supported by Doraim.
「My radishes are saying northwest too.」
Don’t use radishes to ventriloquize, Doraim.
It will make it harder to eat.
So, what’s the basis of Dors and Doraim in going northwest?
Don’t tell me you use radish to tell your fortune.
「Uh….」
Dors thought a moment before answering my question.
「There is a devil who serves dragons over there. And she’s with some others too.」
Hnn?
Ah, really?
「Just because they are serving us doesn’t mean they are always around us.」
What do you mean?
「They’re in this city too. According to someone’s report, there’s something happening in the northwest of the city. He said someone has set up a suspicious barrier outside the city. Then, there’s suddenly someone missing. Doesn’t that sound fishy?」
Certainly.
So, based on that information, you proposed to go northwest?
…..
Can’t you just say something like that from the start?
Someone’s life is at stake.
Hmm….?
No no.
Dors and Doraim are mighty dragons.
However, that doesn’t mean that they treat someone else’s life lightly.
So, why did they withhold the information?
Does that mean that Count Pugyaru is safe?
Dors and Doraim are not telling me even though I’m already pleading with my eyes.
Let’s just hope he’s okay.
And now, we know where we are going!
Northwest!
Bron, is that okay?
Good.
Butler-san?
Good.
Gucci, why do you have the “it’s the end of the world” look?
No, we don’t know if Count Pugyaru is definitely in the northwest so we can go our separate ways.
「No no, please let me stay by your side.」
I don’t mind but….
「Ah, Gucci. I’ll give you the task of guiding those who’ll follow us.」
Before I answered, Dors told that to Gucci.
Gucci had a look of resignation on his face.
Then, he took Bron’s hand and asked him to do something.
What was that?
-0-
We only have to go in a straight line until we arrive at a suspicious place.
…..
I don’t see any suspicious place at all.
I left the direction of travel to Dors.
Then, the butler’s complexion suddenly changed.
「Thank you very much. We have found the patriarch. My apologies but I’ll move ahead.」
The butler bowed to us and then, ran off at a great speed.
I wondered if it was okay to go in the direction the butler was sprinting to.
We followed him and the butler came back carrying an unconscious man.
「As you can see, the patriarch is safe.」
As you can see?
It looks like he has fainted.
「Don’t worry. This is one of the patriarch’s self-defense technique, pretending to be hit.」
So, he’s conscious?
「No, it’s a dangerous technique that no one should try half-heartedly, he really fainted. The way he’s acting, he won’t wake up for a few days. I’ll take the patriarch to a safe place during that time.」
I see.
Yeah, get him to a safe place.
We also need to contact all those people who are looking for him.
「Leave contacting them to me. By the way, can I trouble you with something? There are people over there who seems to be the ringleader of this matter, can I trouble you to hear the situation from them?」
Ringleader?
「I only want to know why they kidnap the patriarch.」
Ah, yeah.
I want to know that too.
However, they are people who even kidnapped Count Pugyaru.
Aren’t they dangerous?
No, even if I’m with Dors and Doraim, it’s better to stay away from dangerous places….
「Village chief, it’s okay. Prada’s there.」
I’m a little surprised with what Doraim said.
Could it be that it was Prada who kidnapped Count Pugyaru?
「I don’t know so let’s ask her about the situation. It’s not dangerous.」
Ah, really?
Since Doraim said so, let’s go.
Let’s hear from her.
I told that to the butler and decided to move on.
However, will they stay at that place?
They should be running away already, right?
-0-
No, they’re not.
There were three women at the scene.
I know two of them, Prada and Hermes.
And a stranger…..
「M-my name is Beton.」
The frightened Beton greeted Dors and Doraim.
Now, let’s hear what’s going on.
Ah, yes, from what I heard, Prada and Hermes did not do anything wrong.
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