A Good Idea
When we returned to Belle’s mansion, we were told that her father was waiting in the office, so after changing clothes, Belle and I headed there together.
Knock knock knock. “Excuse me, it’s Belle. Joan is here as well.”
“Come in.”
Inside Belle’s father’s office, heavy armor and a well-worn axe were displayed. I was told it was because in his younger days, when he had been part of a party, Belle’s father had served as the tank.
As soon as Belle sat down on the sofa, she began explaining to her father what we had just heard at the Adventurers’ Guild.
Bang! “What!? That fool Don actually said such a thing!?”
Belle’s father slammed his desk in anger.
“Yes. It was far too rude to Joan.”
“Well… but perhaps the Guildmaster was only thinking of the Burst Guild—”
“Joan!! Even if that were true, it was still outrageous! And that old man—looking all harmless—neither reported to you, Father, nor anyone else, and instead tried to drag Joan into negotiations on his own! Unforgivable!!”
Belle… usually so quiet, but when you get angry, you’re scary. Old man, huh… well, not exactly wrong.
“Now, now, calm down, Belle. Young Lady Joan, I truly apologize.”
“No, please, raise your head… Well, I did name a pretty outrageous reward amount myself.”
“Oh? May I hear how much?”
“Four large platinum coins, including hazard pay and scolding pay. And three small platinum coins for each culprit caught.”
“Four large platinum coins… wahahaha! I see, I see. To Don, of all people—the notorious penny-pincher… heheheh. Oh dear, no, I can’t… hahaha.”
“Father, please, calm down!”
“Ah, forgive me. Just imagining that man’s shocked face—Ahahaha.”
“Honestly~! … Oh, Joan? That business in the Lampail domain you mentioned to that old man—what was it?”
“Ah, that…”
Ignoring Belle’s “old man,” I explained the incident right after my adventurer registration—the one involving adventurers from the royal capital and a human trafficking group.
“……”
Belle and her father were struck speechless that I had played the decoy role in that case.
“… As expected of House Lampail. That principle and action of showing no mercy to criminals is truly worthy of respect. And even your familiars would do whatever they could for their master, Young Lady Joan.”
“Ahh, how I would’ve loved to witness the gallant figure of House Lampail with my own eyes~.”
… Yeah. Rather than shock at me being bait, their respect for my family went up.
“Ahaha…”
“In any case, we can’t let this matter slide. We must deal with it quickly. Let’s gather everyone.”
In the reception room, Belle, myself, the Belle family, my brother Jean, Zoey, Sarah, Zack, and the captain of the private guards, Gyle, assembled.
When Belle’s father explained the misconduct of the royal capital adventurers and the Guildmaster’s blunder, both Hans and Gyle looked ready to storm the guild on the spot.
“Hans, Gyle, calm yourselves! First we must decide how to handle these adventurers.”
“Without proof, they’ll just deny it. Damn it!” Hans was visibly seething.
“And even if we go after them, they likely won’t slip up in front of us…”
“Indeed, as Gyle says. Their targets are supposedly rookies and women…”
“Father!! I’ll be the decoy!!”
““Belle!?””
“But…”
Belle’s father and Hans were taken aback. Her father stared at her with a troubled expression.
Belle… we probably can’t be the bait this time.
“Belle, may I?”
“Joan?”
“You do realize what those royal capital adventurers are doing?”
“Yes, extortion and harassment.”
“Right. But look at us—do we fit that? We were chatting casually with the Guildmaster; no way we look like rookies. And do you think anyone’s going to lust after a flat-chested ten-year-old?”
“Flat… ah! … No, I suppose not.”
The men all averted their eyes at our exchange.
“… I’m sorry, Father…”
“No, Belle, your willingness means a lot. And Young Lady Joan, forgive us as well…”
In the end, it was decided that Sarah and Zoey would serve as bait. Starting tomorrow, they would frequent the Adventurers’ Guild until the royal capital adventurers took notice.
“Aww, I thought I’d be useful this time too…”
“Belle, it can’t be helped.”
Later, while Belle sulked with her head down on the table, I sat with her, Pearl, and Rosso having tea out on the terrace. That’s when Belle’s mother and Lady Isabella arrived.
“My, my. What’s this, Belle? Have you lost your backbone?”
“Ah, Mother. I’m sorry.”
“I just heard from your brother. Joan, forgive me. That idiot Don apparently said something terribly rude to you.”
“It’s fine. …Lady Isabella, are you familiar with the Guildmaster?”
“Familiar? He’s a childhood friend. Back then, he was pale and skinny and always got bullied. My brother and I often had to rescue him. Before he became an adventurer, he trained here with our guards.”
““Is that so?””
Even Belle was surprised, same as me.
“And what has you so downcast, Belle?”
“Because… I wanted to be the female adventurer bait. But it turns out I don’t have enough… womanly charm yet…”
“”Ah~””
Both Belle’s mother and Lady Isabella nodded in understanding.
“I wanted to help too…”
“Oh? Then why not help?”
“Aunt?”
“The royal capital adventurers target rookies as well, don’t they? Just become a rookie adventurer.”
“But we might’ve been seen chatting with the Guildmaster, so they may not believe I’m a rookie…”
“That’s fine. I have a good idea. Wait here a moment.”
Saying that, Lady Isabella left the terrace.
“What do you think Aunt’s good idea is?”
“No clue.”
“Hehe I think I know… but it’s a secret. Haha.”
While Belle and I puzzled over it, Belle’s mother only smiled serenely over her tea.
What do you think about this chapter?
