217 Episode 217 "Rita and Letizia, the Fate of an Inescapable (Never Escaped) Aristocrat".txt (1/2)

Rita, Letitia's point of view...

A few days before Nagi's encounter with the Maouyoroi, Rita and Leticia had arrived in the Commercial City Metekal.

Rita and Leticia had arrived at the 'Commercial City Metekal'.

'......su, there's a huge crowd,'

...... I've never seen the boulevard so crowded before, either: ......

After passing through the castle gates, Leticia and Rita were overwhelmed by the overflowing waves of people.

The main street of Metekal is full of people. This is because, as the name of the commercial city implies, there are a large number of shops lined up.

But now Metekal is several times more crowded than usual.

It's as if it's a festival, and people are so crowded that it's impossible to walk straight through. You can't even recognize the location of the shops on the street, hidden from view by the people. It was as if I had wandered into an unknown town.

'Rita-san. Whoa, where are you!

Don't go to ......, but don't go to ......, Letitia...

Here, here. Give me your hand. Come on, come on.

Leticia stretched out her arm and managed to grab Rita's hand.

You're going to be able to get the best out of it.

I'm sure you'll be able to find it.

Letitia is breathing heavily.

'I don't know ....... There are so many people smelling like people, it's messing with my head.'

Rita's hood is pulled over her eyes. This is because it temporarily blocks out human voices and noise.

Otherwise, she felt like she was going to get drunk from the waves of people.

Beastmen are sensitive to sound and atmosphere. When there were so many people around, they would be overwhelmed by the overflowing atmosphere. If I didn't shut off my senses to some extent, I was going to get a headache.

Letitia. Why, isn't there a way out of this?

Oh, I do. Miss Rita. Over here. I managed to get through the crowd and...

Goodbye. Goodbye.

Rita suddenly has an idea.

We're trying to escape from the flood of people.

In other words, we are on the run. And that means...

Well then, invoke 'The Great Escape'!

Can you use it now?

Letitia, come on!　A few steps and you're right!　Follow me!

You can use it?　How convenient!

The two of them managed to escape to a less crowded pathway with the help of their cheat skills.

''...... What was that about? That crowd is .......

Letitia put her hand on the stone wall and sighed.

'I heard there were a lot of ...... people here, but I didn't think it would be as good as this.'

Rita is slumped against the wall of the house, her back against the wall.

The crowds on the main street show no signs of diminishing.

For Rita and Leticia, who have been traveling through a region with few people so far, getting through that main street is as high as a high-level dungeon. To be honest, I don't want to go back.

''What's going on? Totally.

I hope it's just an event.

Letitia wiped the sweat off her forehead.

'I honestly feel like going home like this.

If it's just a festival, I'd be happy to just pompom back to Ilgafa.

Rita mumbles with a disgusted look on her face.

But I know that's not going to happen.

It is the mission of Rita and Leticia to investigate the reason why people are gathered in the commercial city of Metekal. You can't leave without completing your mission, even though it was Leticia's wish to come alone.

''If you want to gather information, it's either the marketplace or the Adventurer's Guild, but ...... this town's guild is the organization that took over that 'nobleman's guild', right?'''

'I don't want to go near it. Besides, the guild was on the main road. You'll have a hard time getting close to it.

Why don't we go after dark and the streets are less crowded?

But first, ...... I have an idea.

After catching her breath, Leticia turned to Rita and told her.

'There's a merchant here in Metecal who knows me.

Are you the toolmaker who hid Aine before ......?

Yes. I know my mother and I trust her. We'll talk to him there first.

At Leticia's words, Rita nodded.

Before, when the 'Commoner's Guild' was crushed by the nobles, there was someone who hid Aine, who had nowhere to go. It was an acquaintance of Leticia's, who didn't mind being spotted by the nobles and lending us a warehouse.

I can trust that person. If he was a merchant, he would have information about the town.

Rita and Leticia began to move at a short run.

They chose a path and headed for their destination. 'Commercial City Metekal' is the town where Leticia's family home is located. She's been running around since she was little. Once we turn onto the trails, it's not hard to avoid the main streets.

Leticia will lead the way, Rita will follow behind her and...

They arrived at their destination in ten minutes.

Letitia's friend, a toolmaker.

A martial arts tournament?

'Yes. The people who come to town are the adventurers who participate in it, and the people who come to watch the tournament.

The small merchant answered Leticia's question.

This is a tool shop in the commercial city of Metekal. At the back of the shop is the parlor.

Rita and Leticia sit on the chairs in the front, while the merchant man sits on the chair at the back.

The merchant looked at Leticia with calm eyes, as if he were looking at his grandchildren.

I'm glad to see you. I'm glad to hear that Leticia is depending on you.

I'm sorry to be so abrupt.

Of course, Your Majesty. I've always been indebted to Lady Letitia's mother, sir.

Not to mention ...... for my father.

.......... in confidence. I understand, sir.

The merchant put a finger to his lips and smiled.

Rita puffed her chest out, ho-hum.

Leticia had said that this merchant was an acquaintance of her mother's. She said he was her, her late mother's childhood friend, and that she could trust him. That's probably why they could meet secretly like this, or hide Aine, who had nowhere to go.

(Somehow, I have a feeling that Letitia-sama is like Nagi in this regard. She has friends here and there that she can trust, and she takes good care of them.)

...... Did you have something weird in mind, Rita?

No, no, no.

You can go to .......

Letitia turned to the merchant.

So, can you start at the beginning, please?　What's going on in this town?

That would be ...... where Earl Rigilta gave up his quest for the magic sword and set out on a journey the other day.

The merchant straightened his posture and looked at Rita and Letitia.

'The lady has gone on a journey with the young lady. He is no longer in town.'

...... I see.

At the merchant's words, Rita and Letitia looked at each other.

After the incident of the ”Common People's Guild”, Nagi and the others who were about to leave the town were pursued by Count Rigilta.

He fought them off and said, 'If you want the magic sword so badly, look for it until you find it. Aine is the one who signed a ”contract” with Aine and her friends, saying, ”If you want the magic sword so badly, look for it until you find it and forget about them.

The fact that he gave up the search means that he forgot about Aine.

After that, a new Adventurer's Guild was established in Metekal.

The merchant said.

''That calmed me down for a while, but ...... recently a rumor (rumor) started circulating that 'the demon king will come across the sea'.

I believe such a rumor has existed for some time, though?

Yes. But this time, the royal family has officially taken up the fight against the Demon King.

”The royal family?

''Officially, a nobleman was asked by the royal family to organize a martial arts tournament. It was announced that they would hold a martial arts tournament in order to recruit brave men to fight against the Demon King when he comes. There are a number of bills on the main street of the town. The schedule of the martial arts tournament and the procedures to participate in it.

”...... such a thing,

''I know it's frightening. If there are royalty and nobility involved, then the information about the Demon King's arrival is accurate.

The merchant said and nodded.

But Rita and Letitia were thinking differently.

(...... That's odd. The royal family summons Nagi and the other ”visitors” in order to counter the demon king. (Why do you need to gather all the people of this world and hold a martial arts tournament?

(...... I doubt there's even a demon king in the first place. The holy sword was used to kill the dragon, and every incident that has ever smacked of a demon king has involved a nobleman and a visitor. ......)

Rita and Leticia look at each other.

A martial arts tournament, held on the premise that the demon king is present.

To the two of them, that itself was an extraordinary situation.

”Do you know what kind of rumors (rumors) about the Demon King?

As far as I can tell, the figure was pretty specific.

......,

Yes. As I recall, the ...... demon king wears jet black armor.

It's a common occurrence in stories.

In addition, the demon king's horse was clothed in armor and rode on a jet black chariot. The horse's name is Death and Disintegration. It is said that the demon king bears the power of a demon dragon and will come to destroy all humans. ......

The merchant's shoulders shook as if he was frightened by the words he had just uttered.

Rita and Leticia also felt a chill.

This was the first time they had been told so specifically about the appearance of the Demon King. The fact that it came from a king or a nobleman had heavy implications.

Because if they were wrong, their credibility would be ruined.

...... That rumor (rumor), I'm curious about it.

If you're interested, I can show you where to find the sign.

The merchant said.

'There aren't many people in the warehouse district. Let the shopkeeper show you around.'

Led by a tool shop clerk, Rita and Leticia came to the warehouse district.

This place is at the edge of the street and there are few people here.

There was only a large brick building and empty wagons parked there.

In the center of the building stood a wooden billboard.

The wooden board was covered with parchment, and at the bottom was the signature of the 'Original Heroic Guild' in red.

''Here are the application requirements for the martial arts competition.''

The 'Original Guild of the Brave' ...... is suspicious in name only.

Leticia and Rita were reading the guide to the Martial Arts Tournament written on parchment.

Long. And detailed.

Three sheets of parchment were filled with a wide range of sentences and notes.