Vol 6 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Chapter 3: Fallen Guardian

1

It was unofficial, but in Rod Lab, people of the saroups known as divisions or departments

For instance, chefs like Mikakage would experi the li But on top of clean and plentiful water, ingredients and fuel, they needed a kitchen, ovens, heaters, fridges, all sorts of knives, different containers, molds, and equipment like blenders

In the end, the value of a guild lay in utilizing large facilities like this that were hard for a single Adventurer to own The facilities belonged to the guild so they were not for their personal use, but being able to use such top-class equip a small membershi+p fee was a steal And recently, their membershi+p fees aived because of the profits they brought in fro Center

There were dozens of kitchens with varying sizes and facilities in Rod Lab, used by 70-oddfor kitchens and booking of equipment, the members had to communicate with each other

”Allie~!”

The late afternoon showed a tint of orange as the sunlight hours before evening basked the room A casual youth appeared

The plant fairy Allie was frightened by the sudden visitor, her tiny body ju Allie

Wearing a fancy 3-layer shi+rt, this Cleric with bad taste in fashi+on was Aoe and also a chef He was another ourmet department

Allie, who had a potato in each hand, was spooked, and started to struggle by waving her hands around

”Aomori, don't bully Allie”

”I'ht, Allie?”

With the height of a kindergarten child, the fairy wearing the sairl was scared of strangers; in Mikakage's eyes, Aomori was like the terrible uncle anted to cuddle his niece but ended up bullying her Allie's eyes, under the chef hat that was si to tear up

”Aomori!”

Mikakage threatened Ao his usual phrase, ”Don't call o

Allie ran off with the potatoes and hid behind Mikakage, hugging her legs

”Anything to eat?”

Ao the question that shouldn't coe pointed cal happy sounds of 'wah' as he filled his plates

Mikakage ignored Ao potatoes with her knife After peeling one, the cute Allie would hand her another The petite Allie stood on her personal stool The i on the kitchen table was very cute

Allie was a fairy su tie did not dispel her, Allie would stay by her side forever Mikakage treated her tiny fa her days eating and sleeping with her The chef clothing and hat on Allie were the sa departe's request

Mikakage spent the chaotic time after the Catastrophe with her tiny faoods-ferrying helper Myconid and the lullaby singer Orches If they weren't with her, Mikakage would have definitely fallen into depression Mikakage was glad that she was a Druid

”Ere only diverted the attention of her ears towards him

”What dish is this?”

He was probably asking about as in the pot

(I ree tried to recall the answer

”Eagle beak beans with flute Horn Buffalo stew Added salt, pepper, butter, and several spices”

”I see I don't understand”

Aoed

It was useless for hi after all

So the subclass of Chef, but Mikakage saw herself as a confectioner, not a chef She did kno tointo a pot and heated it up Pressure cookers were so wonderful, you just needed to add ingredients and spices and then war that could pass off as food Mikakage thought this was a great invention and loved using it

”Speaking of which… Cheese”

”Hmmm?”

Aoe was asking for cheese again, and he iot Yeah, it's done' He took out so that looked like misshaped tofu from the ice bucket beside him

Mikakage received it and sniffed it It was cheese

With this, the number of pastries she could make would increase Cheese roll? Or basic cheese cakes? Or serve it with pudding? Since she was going to do it, Mikakage wanted to surprise everyone

”Thanks”

”Yeah”

Aomori replied between sips of water He was not a normal chef either

He changed his subclass to Brewer, redients, a weirdo that didn't make food himself But that was to be expected

If you wanted toCenter and opening a stall would be a better option Or if you wanted to rab a share of thefunding fro systereat business opportunity

This was Rod Lab, where weirdos working on new inventions congregated

In a sense, Mikakage and Aomori were the same

”Making soain?”

”Yeah”

Mikakage carefully placed potatoes inside the oven and sprinkled sugar on it, answering half-heartedly Coredients like potatoes were always different Like the redients had ar to redients, so she had to be careful in her cooking

”A door gift?”

”Yeah”

”Take me with you”

”No”

Mikakage rejected hiarine Ao out about the 'all-girl' tea parties, he had brought this up dozens of ti of which,idly was a very precious thing

It was irreplaceable

Mikakage realized several things after co to this world

One of which was how valuable her time with friends was There were no televisions, cell phones, one Describing them as entertaine didn't think so No, all the Adventurers probably thought that was so too

When the Catastrophe first occurred, the city was lifeless Even with an iy could not be described as living Living should be a happy and beautiful thing, there was a need for things to soothe both your body and soul

(Like cakes, or friends to share your cakes with)

Thinking carefully, Mikakage felt that the ti with friends after school was the best time of her life

Mikakage re to a fast food restaurant and ordering a 100 yen milkshake after club activities She would erew dark Back then, she thought this was so that would always be there and such days would never end After rew apart froh she spent her tie learned the i to this world

Mikakage was a bit introverted by nature, but she had Allie now Her tiny partner that was even ether with Allie, she would beco that she had to take the initiative to greet others for Allie's sake She wanted to protect Allie froth to keep calm before a world-class beauty like Raynesia But the truth behind her calmness was that she knew about the careless side of the princess

The pastries Allie liked were loved by everyone

Making new pastries for her friends was the biggest joy for Mikakage and the focus of her daily life Fortunately, shein recipe reports to live co every day fully after the Catastrophe

Although the new findings froourmet depart fruit Even though they had to survey in lots of places, it was interesting once they got used to it

”Really, is that gathering so important?”

Mikakage pondered about Aomori's bashful question Of course it was important

Making pastries

Sharing them with everyone

Chatting about all sorts of things

There was nothing that was more important Men alanted sos needed to be done sloith adequate heat and ti

Mikakage wore big oven mitts and took the freshly baked crea it to Aomori for hiasped happily, but this was just a test, not good enough for the tea party participants It was a bit better than testing poison, so it was fine to give it to Aomori

”Yeah, it is i more important”

”Huh? More important than your relationshi+p with me?”

”That sort of thing is worse than burnt jam”

Aonored him and cleaned up the kitchen appliances

Even if Aomori complained, he would still finish the potatoes, and the shy but caring Allie would console him2

Raynesia was surprised when she learned the youngRaynesia knew this important person, but she didn't expect him to visit her or anyone ever

When aristocrats visited, they would provide notice several days or even months in advance For better or worse, Raynesia and her staff had gotten used to unexpected guests after living in the Water Maple Consulate in Akiba for a while

It was the same this time, Raynesia received the report after the visitor entered the drawing room

With Elissa's help, Raynesia groo man was from 'this side', but he was not a noble More i in Akiba, so there was no need to dress up too formally Because of this, Raynesia opted to wear a slender one-piece dress with long sleeves

The pink snowy dress was a gift from Maryele of Crescent Moon Alliance It was less pro the clothes she received, and Raynesia liked this dress a lot

Seeing Raynesia rush over, the guest stood up to receive her

”You look as wonderful as ever, Raynesia-sama”

The youth bowed his head politely His na in Akiba

”Sorry for the wait”

Raynesia returned the greeting

While waiting for Elissa to prepare the tea, there was an uncomfortable silence

Raynesia didn't know this youngshe kneas that he was the young leader of the Kunie clan The Kunie clan had a unique place ast the People of the Land, they were an influential force in Yamato

Yahly split into 5 domains

In the barren north was the Ezzo E nation, the Ninetails Dominion; the fallen state that was overrun with monsters, the Fourland Dukedom; the successor of the Westelande dynasty, Holy Eue of Freedom Cities Eastal that included Maiharandfather, situated in eastern Yamato

The 5 doold and its denoold, known collectively as gold Not only Ya the same currency

The currency that had been in use since ancient times The Kunie were the clan that controlled all the banks around the globe

Inheriting several technologies of the ancient Alv, they carried out long distance trades without relying on the intercity transport gates By applying this technology, the Kunie were able to operate banks around the world

But they were not a banking clan

Their duty was the ic techniques

Although they were best known for running the bank, the Kunie were also in charge of the ue of Freedoic barriers had ancient round to power the defenses of the city It prevented anyand also powered the Moveable Aruards

Apart froainst the aristocratic system in the Holy Empire Westelande, all the cities in Yamato were supported by the Kunie clan

With their heavy responsibilities, they were in a sense much more important than the noble farandfather told her everything he knew about the Kunie clan

But the Kunie clan did not seek fame and power since ancient tined duties, and didn't bother with anything else other then finishi+ng their task That was the impression the aristocrats of Eastal had of them

They were shrouded inhard to maintain the operation of this world This was how normal People of the Land and Raynesia saw them

”Please have some tea”That was all she knew Raynesia didn't knohat to talk about, so she started by offering hireen tea she had purchased recently

Kinjo took a sip with his eyes squinting slightly

Elissa had said that he was a younghim face-to-face, that was the only way to describe hi this h-collar tuxedo, she was unable to tell his age

He was definitely older than Raynesia, but how old was he compared to that monster warrior Krusty? The s, but the veins on his hands seee seemed so indefinite

”I arave iize for”

Kinjo put the cup back on the table with a serious face

”May I ask what the issue is?”

”According to reports from the Guard room, a Moveable Armor has been stolen”

”Eh?”

”The thief is a guard, one of the Kunie clan”

Raynesia didn't think of herself as a dull person, but she really didn't understand these words this time

She could feel the blood draining from her body

The revelation made her dizzy and and her vision turn black

Moveable Aracies of the Alv, a special suit of arest difference froic from an external source which enhanced the abilities of the user

The combat power of the People of the Land was low in this world Not just Adventurers, they couldn't even fend off mid-level monsters The People of the Land could only survive in this world because of several helpful elements

One of them was the Ancients that were the heroes of the People of the Land, another was the Adventurers roa huic barrier that protected the major cities

Lastly were the guards equipped with Moveable Armor

People of the Land ere enhanced by the power of the Moveable Arh it was limited to within the city, they had the power to teleport and send criuards used this ability to maintain order in the city

But there was a lie The Moveable Aric just in standby mode could only be activated on the streets

”That is correct Moveable Aric supply froround, the user won't be able to ic supply wavelength is unique to each city, it will just be a heap of junk once you take it away from Akiba”

Kinjo continued explaining to the stunned Raynesia

”In suh it becomes junk once you take it away from the city, it is still terribly powerful within the city limits”

The power of the Moveable Arh adjustment Its poas beyond level 100 on the streets of Akiba This poas necessary to keep errant and violent Adventurers in line, so being more powerful than Adventurers ithin expectations

That Raynesia was able to take up the post in Akiba as a wo security for her The official reason Raynesia ca to the Adventurers for aid in the war of Sand Leaf without the League's permission The reason why the defenseless Raynesia roup was because her grandfather already took into account the existence of the guards

But this powerful backing had leaked, which raised several other points

”Could it be the Murderer is”

Facing the question of the pale Raynesia, Kinjo nodded

”Correct, the actions of this criminal are linked with the Kunie clan It is a shame, but that is the truth”

This was like a nightmare to Raynesia

The Kunie clan, or rather the guards going out of line was unacceptable This was soht of for hundreds of years

But this explained several mysteries

That's why the guard system of Akiba was unable to detect the ainst the Adventurers and the People of the Land, so it wouldn't detect anything frouard were not a crime, but an enforcement of security

That meant the murder cases would never be detected

The cri the Moveable Armor had power that outmatched the Adventurers Raynesia who had no experience in battles didn't understand how much more powerful he was compared to Adventurers, but there had already been news of several victi to him

Most i involved in this raised two major concerns

First, this clan penetrated deeply into their daily lives, an existence just like the air they breathed Be it the security of the streets with the guards or the global banking network, these systems were rooted deeply in both People of the Land and Adventurer societies Their safety and convenience formed the foundation of the societies in this world

But wouldn't it be scary if this foundation were to crack? Without specialized education, Raynesia was unable to iine how disastrous it would beco

The other ih it was by the Kunie clan, a Person of the Land killed Adventurers

Adventurers were totally different froh their appearance was sianish battles repeatedly, Adventurers could advance their strength by leaps and bounds Just one high-level Adventurer could rival a band of a hundred knights made up of People of the Land

Right now, the Adventurers in Akiba were protecting Raynesia and supporting her But weren't their actions influenced by the weakness of Raynesia and the others? Even if that were not everything, Raynesia kneas a part of the reason

If this reason was gone, the relationshi+p between the Adventurers and the People of the Land ht fall out of balance

(Why is this happening)

Raynesia's mind was full of remorse and sadness

She couldn't describe it any other way Why did this happen after she assumed the post here, was it because she made that speech? Why did this have to happen? The Kunie clan that had made no mistakes in hundreds of years just had to pick this moment when Raynesia was in Akiba to screw up, it was really incomprehensible

”This happened because of our ies”

”Er you can do about this?”

Raynesia probed hopefully

Although she could sense it before probing, she still asked anyway

”I am terribly sorry Raynesia-sama The moveic supply But the defensive ic barrier in the city will also be lost To reactivate it, it would take 10 years That is all I have to say”

Themonsters that must not be deactivated

The fact that thispower to the Murderer hit Raynesia hard3Akatsuki was in the waiting roo a meek expression

She was not doing it because it was cold or because there was nothing else to do

How much of it was an accident and how much was this the sche thanks to her Tracker subclass, Akatsuki was able to hear every word in the drawing room next door

Fro Akatsuki could settle alone Only a ade or DDD could handle this It th of the Round Table Council Without question, this was a major crisis for AkibaAkatsuki could not pretend she did not hear anything

The princess that was as beautiful as theabout how to convey this to the Adventurers Having heard about the Murderer before Raynesia made any moves had major repercussions

So Akatsuki decided to ht be too rash The reason probably lay in the sense of duty to her lord Since shi+roe willed it, she had to see Raynesia's face at the very least That was all Right now, Akatsuki did not have any strength to meddle with the affairs of others

She walked silently to the balcony froure was just like a shadoith her low-profile clothes Leaping to the balcony of theacross a tatami for the superhuman Adventurers

In the shade of thefras, on the other side of the bubble-like lace curtain was Raynesia The youngRaynesia alone to bury her face in a cushi+on

(How strange,) Akatsuki thought absently

Raynesia was always so gentle, bright, keeping her back straight, a beautiful young lady who made others envious Her pretty silver hair, slender neck, and proper ave her an air different from Adventurers Their difference was not because of Raynesia's beautiful silver locks and her slender neck, but because of her politethe charirl Raynesia was

But the Raynesia right noas leaning forward deflated, with her face buried in a cushi+on supported by her hands It was not like Raynesia to act this way

”I can't”

She heard these words through the glass

The soft voice was like the chime of a bell, but her helplessness and troubles were obvious

”I really can't”

Raynesia was shaken, her silver hair was shaking like a waterfall

” Why, why nohy me?”

Raynesia see smaller

After a long sigh, Raynesia becairl

”Why can't things go right”

Akatsuki nodded while standing on the veranda in the winter sun She understood this feeling

There were so s you could do ere so limited It made you remorseful and frustrated

”Isn't there any other way?Can't they just close an eye? Can't they just let o?”

Akatsuki hoped so too

Who didn't?

But it acco

Akatsuki thought everyone had been betrayed before Not all of your wishes would co you achieved, soed only to you, would one day fade away and slip frorasp

Because she was too insignificant, she wondered so in the first place Maybe the s

”What should I do?”

Raynesia as forced into a corner asked herself, so Akatsuki replied

”Discuss this with someone from the council?”

”Wouldn't this turn into a conflict with the Adventurers?”

”But the facts will be known sooner or later But it is difficult to convey this tactfully”

Slipping in through the barely opened , Akatsuki stood before Raynesia without disturbing the curtains

She felt a sense of nostalgia She had seen her lord assu since that day The one before her was not the black-haired lord, but a silver-haired princess

”Guess I have to inform them”

”I'm not sure myself”

”Why isn't the ht now He always shows up when I don't want him to, but he's not here when I need him”

”Krusty-dono is heading towards the goblin's castle of 'Seven Falls'”

”I know Even if you say that Ah, that's not what I want to talk about”

””

”That's not what Iup and faced Akatsuki The lips she was biting on were tre, she tried to maintain her co red

”Eh, ah, ermm”

She sat down properly in a hurry, straightening her back in front of the standing Akatsuki Because Akatsuki was petite in size, their eyes were at about the saazed doards unco the princess

Akatsuki hadn't planned to eavesdrop or intrude like this

”Eh, eh so did you hear everything” Facing the probing eyes of Raynesia, Akatsuki nodded Raynesia gave up and said with a voice growing softer ”is that so”

Tiradually between the two dumbstruck ladies

Akatsuki was out of ideas, so she took out the red bean bun she had purchased for lunch froirls sat side by side on the couchon the 2 halves of the bun in silence

”The Murderer is a Person of the Land?”

Akatsuki asked and Raynesia answered Akatsuki's question slowly

”Yeah That's right the Kunie clan who guards this city had a Moveable Armor stolen Because this Moveable Aruards, it possesses immense battle capabilities and won't alert the authorities when going into combat I am really sorry”

”Why?”

”Eh?”

”Why was it stolen? Who stole it?”

”The culprit is still unknown Whether the Moveable Ar operated by the defector of the Kunie clan is uncertain Hisplace are also unknown”

”I think he is hiding in the sewers”

”Sewers?”

Akatsuki expressed her thoughts

”From what I have heard, he won't hide outside Akiba If that were the case, the only place that has not been searched and is inconspicuous will be the sewers”

According to Raynesia, the Murderer had obtained the strength of a guard

Although Akatsuki was stunned for a rasped several important points

The combat prowess of the Murderer was probably over 100 and closer to Level 110 The Level 90 Adventurers wouldn't be able to match up to him

At the sa the powers of the Moveable Armor He would lose his power once he left the city Considering all this, his hiding places were limited

But capturing him would be next to impossible

In order to suppress the criuards had the ability to teleport It was a useful skill when punishi+ng PK actions, but it was also the perfect escape mechanism in the hands of the Murderer

He could escape safely even when surrounded by a raid group

”Is that so”

Akatsuki looked at the girl in front of her

The highest noble in Yahter of clan Corwen

The legendary renowned beauty of Eastal

The bridge between the People of the Land and Adventurers, the driving force behind the victorious Sand Leaf war

The ”Bewitching Princess of the Silver Moon”

The girl in front of her was known by so many names, but looked so normal

She looirl you could find anywhere Akatsuki felt that Raynesia looked at her in the same way

”Troubled?”

”Very troubled”

The two of them chatted casually, filled with their personal issues Akatsuki could see herself when she looked at this beautiful silver princess

Akatsuki's lord instructed

Protect the People of the Land's princess, Raynesia

Akatsuki interpreted this as an escort mission But she could feel that was not what shi+roe meant

(What does my lord want to protect)

If the objective was to protect the safety of the princess, was there a need to attend the tea parties? If she just wanted to protect herself, was there anythese parties? What was she ? Did Maryele and Henrietta already know the truebehind this?

Akatsuki wanted to tell Raynesia 'It can't be helped'

TooIt was too much for her to handle and still realize her wishes All this could not be helped Akatsuki lacked the capability to create miracles with her hands Apart from 'It can't be helped', she didn't have any words to console Raynesia

She could add another sentence 'You tried hard' to console Raynesia

Akatsuki had seen her in action during the conference of the lords She also heard shi+roe's high praise for the princess She had been protecting her on the side all this while, that's why she could say 'You tried hard'

But did she have the right to say this? As the daughter of aristocrats, the representative of the People of the Land This girl as shouldering a burden heavier than any of the 11 guild masters of the Round Table Council Akatsuki wondered if she should say that

After thinking this far, Akatsuki bore soirl in front of her That's why she came here daily to protect her up close

Even though she was searching madly for more powerful combat abilities, even if she found it hard to return to her own guild house, Akatsuki cared about Raynesia

”I will go take a look”

Akatsuki stood up

The opponent she was looking for was a Person of the Land Since he had a unique teleporting device, there was another way to find hi the day and watched the entire city by night He would probably teleport to somewhere the Adventurers could not enter and observe them from the dark

”Eh?”

”I will accomplish my mission Because I have seen how hard you tried”

Raynesia did not touch anything when she reached out her hand

Akatsuki who had obtained a hint had moved out for the streets of Akiba from the open4

10 pairs of eyes stared at the flashes of silver

The colliding blades left flashes of light like one in the next instance

They crossed each other's paths as if they were arranged beforehand, clashi+ng into each other The echoes sounded closer to crystals being cut instead of the noise of steel clashi+ng on steel as they opposed each other

Watched over by Nazuna and her co to the death with the Murderer

Soujirou wielded his katana so sive off any air of threat But Nazuna knew that Soujirou's every strike brought unavoidable fear to his foes It only looked gentle because of how gracefully he swung the blade Soujirou could even perceive the evasion path of his opponent before swinging his katana, his every bloas deadly

The Murderer used the strange gauntlets on his hands and feet to guard against that Soujirou's attacks

This was not normal swordsmanshi+p It was akin to the instinctive actions of a feral beast as he fought with a glee that ca other humans

Before the sparks even faded, the Murderer counterattacked from his off-balance position

Unlike Soujirou, there were no techniques to his offense, just taking wild and powerful swings