TFLA 09

Chapter : 9 “I’ve been imprisoned again!”

Good day. I am Violia Niko Fortesia.

Today marks one month since I became an adventurer. In other words, it has been a month and a half since I escaped from prison.

And as for me—I’ve already become the guild’s top earner!

In this past month, I have completed over fifty requests. In short, I’ve been finishing more than one job per day. Naturally, this is an astonishing pace.

Because, of course, completing requests cannot be done just anywhere in town. One must go outside the city, sometimes traveling as far as two days away by horse. Even including travel time, I still achieved “over fifty requests in a single month.” Well? Quite impressive, isn’t it?

By the way, all of the requests I completed were monster exterminations. I’m far more suited to offense than defense. In other words, I cannot be bothered with guarding nobles.

…If there had been any sightings of dragons, I would have immediately gone to hunt them. Unfortunately, there are no dragon-class monsters around. Instead, however, I did manage to take down a fair number of ogres, giants, and liches.

At the adventurers’ guild, you get paid simply by submitting proof of a monster’s death. And if you sell the materials on the black market, they fetch an even higher price. What a profitable business!

…Also, I’ve done my fair share of helping people.

If I found a party on the verge of annihilation after picking a fight with a monster far beyond their ability, I rushed in and killed it for them. If there were disputes inside the guild, I mediated them. If an injured adventurer couldn’t move, I carried them back on my horse. And if any adventurer was harassing guild staff with petty complaints, I would punch them and throw them outside the guild. Yes, indeed.

…I am not a saint, but I am not a fool who attacks just anyone either.

And besides, kindness tends to return kindness. The same goes for malice returning malice.

“Plant what you can while you have time to plant it.” That is the Fortesia family motto.

Even if there is no immediate harvest planned, one should always sow seeds of goodwill. After all, if you wait until you need to grow them, it will already be too late.

And so, every day, a mysterious adventurer in a full-face helmet—who clears multiple Rank 1 and Rank 2 requests alone—has become a popular figure in the guild.

That is me, Violia Niko Fortesia… now going by the name Aile Canone!

I have become quite the celebrity within the guild!

And at the same time… one request had disappeared from the guild’s board.

It was the bounty request for “Violia Niko Fortesia.”

…Someone in the guild or among the adventurers must have realized my identity. But rather than exposing it, they must have chosen to bury it in the dark.

After all, I am far too profitable to lose from the guild’s perspective! Ohohoho!

“Orc King’s head… I-I have confirmed it. This is your reward…”

The guild’s “commission skimmer girl” has finally learned to behave. She now properly pays the full reward. Ohohoho.

“Thank you. By the way, do you have any new requests? Preferably Rank 2 or higher.”

“T-there are some here…”

On the bulletin board, several new requests were posted. I casually picked up a few of them.

With a spatial bag, I can take multiple requests at once. Monster heads and materials can all be carried freely—it is simply delightful!

“Oh, Aile Canone-dono! You were here!”

While browsing requests, someone called out to me.

“Oh my, Guild Master. Good day to you.”

“Yes, yes. And you seem well as always. I hear you recently defeated a lich in a single day?”

“The latest one was an Orc King, actually. I just submitted it.”

“What! You completed that request that had been stuck for a month? Remarkable!”

I smiled and straightened my posture. I do not bother with unnecessary modesty. If you make others believe you are useful, you can receive more leniency. It is better to proudly present oneself without crossing into unpleasant arrogance.

“Ever since you joined our guild, our performance has skyrocketed! The safety of the surrounding Elzemarin region has improved tremendously! Truly, truly thank you!”

“Think nothing of it. This is the duty of those with power.”

Saying that casually, I quickly selected my next requests. Tomorrow I shall hunt a wyvern, a runner lizard, and a “Dodomemurasaki slime”—a luxurious three-course set! I’ll even use wyvern meat for dinner! Wyvern meat is lighter than true dragon flesh, but still like richly flavored chicken. Not bad at all.

“Well then, Guild Master. Farewell. I shall return in a day or two with completed requests.”

“Oh! How reliable! Please continue to support us! At this rate, we may surpass the royal capital’s guild in performance! Hahaha!”

He was all smiles, thinking only about guild performance and his own salary. How pleasant for him. At this rate, I may as well become firmly established here. As long as things remain stable, this will be very easy to manage.

That very day, I set out—and by the next day, I had already hunted the wyvern.

As always, a single shot from my bow. Ahh, ranged weapons are truly wonderful.

By sunset, I also took down a “runner”—a bizarre, oversized bird-or-lizard-like monster. Then I camped in the open field, butchered the wyvern, and killed a Dodomemurasaki slime that had been drawn in by the smell of blood.

Thus, my dinner became a luxurious “Wyvern and Runner Roast with Dodomemurasaki Jelly.”

…If I had to comment on the taste alone, the slime was unnecessary. Still, I ate it.

The next morning, I returned to the guild after successfully completing three requests.

I could have gone to the back alley first to sell wyvern skin, claws, fangs, and bones… but on such a refreshing morning, there is no need to go somewhere so gloomy.

Thinking that, I pushed open the guild door carrying proof of my hunts—heads of wyverns and runners, and cores of slimes.

…And immediately sensed something strange.

A tense, prickling atmosphere different from usual.

When I looked around—

“…Geh.”

An unladylike sound escaped my mouth. But I could not help it.

Because there were royal soldiers in the lobby.

My instincts screamed danger. I immediately turned to leave—

“Not so fast.”

There were soldiers outside as well!

Damn it! I am surrounded! They had apparently been lying in wait outside the guild!

Inside the guild, surrounded by soldiers, I was now in an absolute crisis.

I needed an escape route… but there were too many of them.

My ideal battle situation is: a single biological target, and me striking first. In such a case, I can guarantee a kill.

However, when there are multiple opponents, things become difficult. I would prefer to create chaos like when I escaped prison and slip away.

And if the enemy were non-living constructs—golems or alchemical creatures—that would be worst of all. Depending on their strength, I would rather not fight at all.

So, in short…

This situation is unfavorable for me.

Multiple living enemies, clearly targeting me. This is practically checkmate.

But why now?

It has been nearly two months since I escaped from the royal prison. Why come for me only now?

My question was soon answered.

“Is that the person reported as ‘Aile Canone’?”

“Yes, that’s her.”

From the back of the guild, a soldier and the guild’s skimming receptionist girl appeared!

“Remove your helmet.”

The soldier ordered coldly. I briefly considered kicking him where it hurts, but I had no confidence I would survive afterward.

“Very well.”

I removed my helmet.

Naturally, my identity as Violia Niko Fortesia was revealed.

“So it really was the Fortesia daughter!”

The soldier grinned.

“After all this time running away!”

And then he punched me.

I understand he is happy, but I cannot forgive this.

I allowed one hit. The second I dodged. By the third, other soldiers restrained him.

“Eh? So she’s really that bad of a person?”

“Yes. She is a criminal who attempted to assassinate the prince, insulted the king and nobles, escaped prison, aided an escape, and falsified identity. There are more charges too.”

Some were even missing. But I did not bother correcting them.

“So that’s how it is… I only reported her because I thought she was cheating on requests…”

The receptionist girl muttered innocently.

The soldier replied:

“It is well known that the Fortesia family are violent barbarians. We came to investigate reports of such behavior—and found the culprit.”

They really are saying whatever they want.

And then—

“Thank you for your report.”

The soldier thanked her.

She glanced at me and smirked.

I see. She thinks she did something “right.”

But the world is not that simple.

Even those who claim justice will tolerate evil if it benefits them.

“Then we will take her. Any objections?”

No one in the guild spoke up.

Not the adventurers I helped. Not the staff I spoke with. Not even the Guild Master.

…As expected.

I do not blame them. A single favor is not enough to risk everything.

And I never paid enough bribes to guarantee loyalty. That is my own choice.

The guild would suffer greatly losing me—but suffering even more if they protected a criminal.

So they choose silence.

“Good grief! Serves you right!”

The receptionist laughed.

She has no idea what she has done.

She may have earned a reward—but she has also destabilized her entire workplace.

Well. She will learn eventually.

“Violia Niko Fortesia! You brute! Be grateful. Your crimes will be paid for with your blood and head! First, crawl into the prison like the filthy pig you are!”

The soldier laughed as he struck me again.

How irritating. Truly.

“…Fine. I’d rather not, but…”

I weighed the situation.

Fighting here is too dangerous.

So I made my decision.

“I’m in a good mood today! I’ll go quietly to prison!”

I am absolutely not in a good mood.

But I have no choice but to comply.

So irritating! So irritating! Grrrr!