It was a chase of winds, a collective breeze that came back and forth. A morning hour that would seem to be peaceful.
It was the back of the Tavern, an open area that was still undeveloped with trees that decorated it.
I, Juri Heavenstone failed to follow that party last night.
"I could have sworn I followed them right after... or am I just..."
Bad at directions. Yes. I lost myself when I was following the party.
I've already forgotten where the Lord's Mansion is and I could barely find my way back into the inn without asking for directions.
"This will be tedious."
I was sitting right outside the tavern, only laying my head down on the table as I held the empty cup beside me.
There were no special events happening yet, and I was getting bored of myself hiding.
There were a lot of new things in this town that I'd never seen in the kingdom.
The buildings were well done, they were all on par with those bricks that the Saint Level Earth Magic users would cut to build the castle walls.
Not to mention the food and the furniture were something new as well.
Maybe this town is normal as that guy had said. Maybe I should go back report to them.
"This is troublesome!"
"—?!"
As a figure behind me passes by, I heard the same voice and felt the same presence of that guy, Grantt.
I turned to only see him rushing inside the tavern as he paced through with two hands opening the doors.
I had to follow through, it seemed like an urgent matter from the way he spoke.
"Old Man Jay! The guys you referred to me—"
"So they were the real deal, huh?"
I had to sit on a chair near the countertop of the tavern to hear their conversation properly.
From the volume of their voices, it seems like they don't care even if the others hear it.
How brazen of this redhead.
It was the red-head who asked the question, cut away by the old man bartender wiping away on his glasses once again.
He always does that, and when he stops, somehow everybody inside of the tavern knows that something is wrong.
"Yes. I've sent Marcus to fetch them but, he didn't come back last night."
Just as Grantt said that Old Man Jay stopped wiping the brim of the glass.
It was just a few nights of staying here, but I already know how his gestures work.
"..."
There were a few glances to the side and the customers. It was a surreal pause that suddenly happened as all of the chatter goes mute.
I already know how this one goes.
Old Man Jay would place down the glass he was cleaning, tapping it once on the table.
'From hearon, every outsider should leave.'
Without dialogue, it was delivered.
The adventurers and travelers were forced out by the others who were assets of Old Ma Jay, closing the tavern for now as the others were left, including me.
He performs another tap with the glass, pouring ice before the diluted wine.
'Everything that is said will now no longer escape this place.'
Like a gag order, it was a non-magical oath that only relied on trust.
I've only been here for a few days but the old man had already trusted me. I don't exactly know what gives, but this might be just something that I needed.
"Is this fine?"
Grantt asks Old Man Jay as he gestured his hands out to the remaining people. It seems like he was concerned about something.
I should keep a low profile before he notices me—
"Councilor Juri, word of advice."
"Yes, what is i—"
I have screwed myself up just now. Why did I respond to that!?
"You don't have to hide. You've been observing me a lot that I can't breathe."
What? He already knew?! Then Old Man Jay might have—?!
"No. He didn't say anything to me. Your mana is different from the others."
Grantt nonchalantly said. What does he mean by different? No one can differentiate mana easily without being exposed to such an absurd amount of it... unless?!
"Not to mention that you made much of a show last time that I had to look after you all the while you observed me."
"..."
To think that I was the one being observed instead, was just beyond what I had thought. I couldn't be more surprised but if that is true, then I am nothing but just a fly to him.
"Heck. With capability like that, what do you even need me for?"
"Marcus, my retainer was taken away. I sent him out to being that Hero's party back to me but he didn't come back since yesterday."
His words carry a heavy burden, before slamming his fist into the countertop.
This anger was not directed at me but he was well aware that I was there beside him.
"Tell me, is this the Kingdom's actions towards me?"
He suddenly asked as a large figure formed from behind him. I couldn't move nor speak.
I was just overwhelmed by that mysterious thing that came after his intimidation, a massive form of power that was almost in part with the heroes.
"Young Lord, please do keep your calm here. I'm sure she has no idea of whatsoever the Hero's party is doing, isn't that right, Miss Juri?"
I was saved by Old Man Jay's voice, halting Grantt from even stepping another meter closer to me with his overwhelming mana.
I was about to vomit but I stood my ground and gulped it back again. I had to appear strong or I'll die with my pride.
"Y-Yes. The Kingdom had been disconnected from the heroes since the war against Khan. They decided to become neutral, and ultimately heroes of all."
Everything I just said was true.
The Heroes had long lost their close connection to the Kingdom.
One of them was Gladysius Ultima who was caught up in an unfortunate accident regarding the destruction of a village in a war against Khan.
The others were left to be forgotten, over shined by the popularity of that single hero.
Only a few remember the name of the other heroes that now serves the world whilst hiding their identity.
"... But do you have information about that Hero and his current party?"
He asked me another question again. This feels like an interrogation rather than me helping him.
I'm helpless in this kind of territory, I must say that it's my defeat.
I shouldn't doubt a Lord that is currently concerned about his retainer. His eyes look like he's prepared to kill.
But I don't want to just give him what he wants for free. This is my time to test him.
"More or less. Even if you do gather info about the Hero, what will you even do against an entity blessed by the gods?"
His eyes only narrow themselves as I spoke, as if he was thinking of a response with his finger holding his chin.
"I'll fight him if I have to."
He answered in a way of necessity, in a way he was confident he can do so.
That just proves that he was unnecessarily evil just like the residents had said he was.
He was like an innocent tyrant, working his town to the brim for their good as well.
It was accounted for that the Kingdom didn't spare to help a small rotting town like Hellsburg before and thus, they were left to their own.
"They were last seen going out of town to the north."
Old Man Jay then started to give out information about them. That was something I didn't know as I've lost them twice now.
"They were hard to track visually. They had a mage with them capable of Dark Magic. Illusions and Hypnosis alike are their specialties."
Grantt and Old Man Jay were exchanging information as there were pieces of coins placed on the tabletop.
I couldn't understand but they were moving the coins around in some kind of pattern.
"If they headed north, then Marcus could have encountered them less than a half-hour later, which would be then here."
Grantt pointed somewhere, but just as began to notice it, the odd patterns on the tabletop were no mere decoration.
It was the current map of Hellsburg.
"If Marcus was taken by them, they should still be here, waiting."
He added, gesturing a small circle to a perimeter of what seems to be a forest. It was where Grantt had been sending out laborers to gather wood and replant them.
"Then, there must be some laborers there that had seen them. We can ask them!"
I suggested, looking over as I joined their conversation. This was none of my business, but I couldn't just turn a blind eye.
"Asking them is useless. If Old Man Jay's eyes couldn't track them visually on the ground, they won't be able to notice them. The laborers weren't trained for that."
He began to bite his thumb as if regretful of something. He was looking away but he didn't hide his face away from us.
"I've delayed producing military power since I thought that Marcus and the others would be sufficient."
Despite the power he held, he was naive when it comes to such aspects. He looked like he was a pacifist at that one moment, avoiding anything that was related to the military.
Even from when we entered the town through the gates, there were no guards but I could feel eyes piercing from every direction.
I could tell from the way he looked. It was because I was like him before.
He burdened everything on himself and relied on so few of his capable servants.
He didn't let the others get a chance at protecting their land. He was keeping potential soldiers from doing so.
It's annoying. It's frustrating. He was careless on that one part.
"It's without a doubt that a town will need something that will protect them! Soldiers and guards alike are jobs that will be taken by only the brave!"
I suddenly shouted out of concern. No one must be too complacent with the responsibility of protecting their land and people.
"Do you think that you can do everything by yourself?!"
Grantt Maximilian failed to see that neglecting military power would risk innocent lives. It was just a miracle that he wasn't targeted by those people yet.
"...I know. I'm..." he replied timidly.
I immediately covered up my mouth as I realized what I had just done. I was carried away by my own emotions.
"She's right, young Lord. You don't have to burden yourself with almost everything. Let the people of Hellsburg serve you properly."
Old Man Jay backed me up with a few words, convincing the already contemplating man who was swallowed by his principles.
"..."
He was shut in silence. This maybe was just a bad idea as we were all just talking about his retainer. However...
"I'll just do that after we get Marcus back."
He stood straight back up, gathering his fist to slam it slightly at the top of the countertop.
He was always doing that for some reason, I just don't understand why.
"Will you go out yourself?"
I asked, but if he said yes, I would be greatly disappointed. Leaving his town when he is the only leading power is just irresponsible.
"No. I sent out a servant good at tracking down people."
I was sure that his maids were just as more than capable just like Marcus but the others were said to be working on the improvement of the livelihood of the residents here.
"I can set out myself and assist that person if you would allow me."
"No, that's not needed."
I offered him my help but his eyes didn't trust me. It was expected but shouldn't he be desperate for any kind of help right now?
"What? If you want you can have one of your servants with me."
If I can also remember, there was this other maid that had seemed to be always with Grantt.
"What about that maid that is always with you, Lord Grantt? I think her name was Meredith."
"It's Lilith."
Suddenly, there was a voice from behind me.
It was a woman's voice and I felt a sharp gaze from behind.
I slowly turned around with cold sweat around my face.
"Oh... Nice meeting you, Lilith."
She stared daggers right at me.
I, Juri Heavenstome had definitely offended a fellow woman out of my clumsiness.