For now, we head outside the noisy trading post.
There is a possibility that the enemy has hidden a message here. If we can find it, we might be able to find the slave traders’ base or the date and time of their next trade. The corner where the three of us hid was only a few dozen meters away from the trading post. But there were far fewer people around. This made it easier to hold a strategy meeting.
Mia-san was the first to speak, leaning her back against the wall.
“So basically, it’s a message engraved with magic, right?”
She crossed her arms, shaking the chains.
“Is that even possible?”
“Yes, research is being done for it. For example, unlike regular letters, the message won’t appear unless the sender knows a ‘password’ and there are various ways to devise it. Right now, the most promising idea is―”
Felix-san looked at me.
“It’s about engraving messages into magic stones. It’s still in the research phase back in the kingdom, but… it’s possible the slaver traders have already learned to use it.”
Mia-san added.
I recalled the faint glow I’d detected with my magic sense.
“Uhm… the object was about the size of an egg.”
“Then a magic stone seems most likely.”
Mia-san concluded. She ran a hand through her red hair, gripping it in thought.
“Should we bring Safi?”
I asked.
Safi, the blacksmith, had gone ahead to the temple to prepare—setting up her tools, sharpening stones, and all the other gear she might need to assist us later.
Mia-san shook her head.
“Not yet. It’s too soon for that. First, we need to get our hands on that message.”
Felix-san, who’s standing beside us, touched his chin thoughtfully. His eyes narrowed, glinting like needles. Of the three of us, he’d spent the most time chasing slaver traders. He knew their tricks, their habits, and their trails better than anyone.
“I can’t say for certain.… But if the message really is engraved on a magic stone, then it’s very likely they’re using the trading system of the merchants’ guild to exchange it.”
He glanced between us, then continued.
“The adventurer’s token I explained earlier was originally designed to help busy merchants trade with adventurers. When you present it, the guild hands over the requested item on the merchant’s behalf. And if that item happens to contain a magic stone with a hidden message—”
Mia-san snapped her fingers. Snap.
“—Then no one would think twice about it, because the recipient is an adventurer.”
Felix nodded.
“Exactly. They’re using the guild’s system to avoid the risk of meeting face-to-face.”
Even though it was the enemy’s trick, I couldn’t help but be impressed.
It felt strange, knowing that monsters are using human systems to communicate.
“There’s a clever mind behind this. Whether it’s a monster or a human working with them, I couldn’t say.”
I thought for a moment. Knowledge like this—how to twist systems and rules to your advantage—was also a kind of power.
“Felix-san, does that mean the merchants won’t hand over the magic stone without the token?”
He gave a single, short nod.
“That should be the case.”
If the token really worked like a voucher, then it was hard to imagine there being more than one of the same kind.
Felix-san opened both hands and showed them to me.
“The river bandits didn’t seem to have it either. Unless they threw it away, it’s likely they hadn’t received the token yet.”
Mia-san curled her lips.
“What a roundabout way to do things.”
Felix gave a wry smile.
“And thanks to that, we’re the ones left to deal with the trouble.”
I swallowed hard. Thinking about it, the slaver traders had always been one step ahead of us. But now, finally, we were starting to trace the movements of the people who had attacked me—and Lu.
It was only the faintest lead, but still… it’s a start.
Felix-san went on, his tone calm but deliberate.
“From my experience, there’s probably an accomplice inside the trading company as well. It’s a well-crafted system, but they’d still want a capable person on the inside—someone that will handle unexpected problems. Well, a maintenance worker, I should say.”
“Then that means we’ll need to be extra careful.”
Mia-san muttered. Felix-san glanced at me, a small, reassuring smile tugging at his lips.
“That’s right. This is also a good opportunity to capture this ally. I’d rather capture them than let them get away with it.”
I took a deep breath.
I closed my eyes and tried to process the situation.
“We don’t have a voucher that will grant us the magic stones. So, one option would be to use the name of a warrior group and force them to show us the warehouse—but if we do that…”
“The accomplice would interfere.”
Felix-san finished my words.
Mia-san scratched her red hair. After tilting her head several times, her eyes became glazed.
“Then.…. Aren’t we completely cornered?”
“In truth, if we make a fuss, their accomplice in the trading post will be alerted. If they destroy the magic stone with the message and then go into hiding, we’ll be back to square one.”
After Felix-san finished speaking, everyone fell silent.
It was at that moment that the gold coins began to vibrate.
『We heard you, Rion.』
After Solana’s voice was heard, the gods all spoke.
『Ha! So it’s a battle of wits now, eh?』
『It’s getting interesting too!』
『Everyone, stay cautious.』
Then, among the chatter, a refreshingly calm voice rose above the rest.
It was Uru, the God of Hunting.
『Scouts and vanguards always find creative ways to communicate. Tell me, how do you think a hunter handles this kind of situation? When the prey’s holed up and refuses to come out?』
For a moment, I could almost see him—his brown hair tousled, his grin sharp as a blade.
『He sets the hounds loose!』
That was the hint given to me.
The image flashed through my mind: a rabbit startled by barking dogs, bolting from a hidden burrow through a different exit.
“Ah…!”
I voiced the thought as it came to me.
And this time, both Mia-san and Felix-san snapped their fingers in agreement.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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