GILF Hunter

Chapter 443: 443 That Person Back Then

Rin and Ian walked side by side through a quiet street in Labyrinth.

The streets of Labyrinth were usually crowded with people everywhere, but an exception to that rule was the Southern District, where the two were currently walking.

In the Southern District, home to mansions and high-end shopping areas, the number of mercenaries and pedestrians decreased sharply the further inside one went.

Instead, only wealthy-looking patrons and some high-level mercenaries from top-tier groups were occasionally seen.

And... over the past few days, the number of knights had rapidly increased and begun to stand out significantly.

Rin glanced back at a knight who had just passed them and spoke to Ian.

’The number of knights has increased tremendously.... Could it be because of that person?’

’It seems so. They brought quite a lot of knights with them this time.’

Paladins bearing the mark of the temple were roaming the streets.

Watching them, Rin let out a sigh as if she had recalled what happened at the temple a few days ago.

’Phew... I never expected to get caught like that. Can all priests see erosion like that?’

’It was likely because she’s a high priest. Normally, you’d have to look closely at someone to tell.’

’I shouldn’t go anywhere near the temple from now on.’

Having been caught and taken to the temple once, and having struggled immensely to get out of there, Rin shook her head vigorously.

She hadn’t gone near the temple to begin with, but this incident completely killed any desire to get involved with them.

Ian also glanced at the knights who kept catching his eye as they walked. Rin looked at the knights too and asked Ian.

’Does a high priest usually bring this many knights along? She was a more incredible person than I thought...’

’I don’t know the temple’s internal affairs precisely either... but I don’t think they’d use this many knights just for an escort.’

She wasn’t a Saintess, and such a large number of personnel for a high priest’s escort seemed excessive.

For this many knights to enter the city, there must have been extensive prior negotiations. No matter if it was the temple, they wouldn’t have been able to bring this many knights into the city without a reason.

It was clearly a sign that an event requiring this many knights at once was about to occur.

’There must be a reason why so many knights came... it feels like something is about to happen.’

’Surely not another Behemoth appearing...?’

’The possibility of those appearing back-to-back is... almost zero.’

’...So there IS a possibility?’

For now, there was very little that could be known just by what was visible.

Ian decided to investigate the reason for Frenda’s visit in more detail later.

First, he had to focus on the matter at hand.

Arriving at his destination, Ian looked up at Leona’s mansion before him.

＊ ＊ ＊

Lucia was smiling from the seat across from Ian.

One of the city council members and a highly favored candidate for the next mayor.

Ian didn’t have much intention of getting heavily involved in the mayoral election, but somehow they had ended up in a close cooperative relationship.

’This is the first time we’ve met like this to talk separately.’

’...I believe we exchanged greetings once at a party before?’

’Yes. Is Miss Airi doing well too? I’d love to meet her again sometime...’

Lucia said with a gentle smile.

Until now, their relationship had been one of communicating indirectly through Leona.

That wasn’t for any special reason; it was just that such a level of relationship was sufficient until now.

To Lucia, Ian was just one of countless collaborators.

To Ian, Lucia was just a client who made work easier by accommodating his tricky conditions.

The fact that such a person wanted to meet Ian directly meant she had come to consider him a closer and more important connection...

But it also meant that a more difficult conversation was likely to take place.

Ian could roughly guess why Lucia wanted to meet him.

With the mayoral election not far off, what she wanted was ultimately related to that.

’The election isn’t far off now, is it? I’ve heard your victory is likely.’

’It looks that way on the surface.’

Ian spoke first, but Lucia shook her head slightly as if that wasn’t necessarily the case.

Simply looking at the current situation, her victory seemed assured, but in reality, the circumstances were a bit different.

’To be honest, it’s hard to say it’s an overwhelming lead.’

’...I spoke with the current mayor, and I heard he was giving up on this election.’

’He said that, but he can’t be trusted. He’s the kind of man who will flip his words and strike from behind the moment he sees an opening...’

Lucia somehow seemed to harbor a strong ill-will toward the current mayor.

Well, even setting aside Lucia’s personal feelings about the mayor, the current situation was not as stable as it appeared on the surface.

So to speak, it was a castle built on sand.

With a series of negative events for the mayor, Lucia’s side, which held the opposite position, had risen through reflective benefits.

To put it another way, the situation could be reversed at any time by just one or two contrary incidents.

’Trust in the current mayor has eroded, so we’ve merely received support as the opposition. We haven’t actually shown anything ourselves yet.’

’Then... does that mean now is the time to show it?’

’Yes. We need to directly show the citizens that we aren’t just talk, but a truly trustworthy presence.’

And the one who had to take on that task... would be Ian.

’In that sense, I have a commission I’d like to propose.’

’For your sake?’

’For your sake. If there’s a common benefit, can’t we cooperate at any time?’

Lucia placed several documents on the table. They were the labyrinth exploration records Ian had been sending.

Among them, what Lucia focused on was the place called the Abyss, which Ian had been steadily investigating.

The cause of the invasion anomalies that had recently begun to occur.

It could also be called the reason why citizens felt uneasy about the city’s safety and had come to demand more definitive preventive measures.

Ian wanted to prevent damage from this. And so did Lucia, and the residents of this city.

’Surely, you can explore that place called the Abyss and take measures so that monsters cannot come outside? Just like with other sources in the labyrinth.’

’...Yes. It’s possible.’

While sharing labyrinth information, he had certainly sent such details.

Until now, no one had explored the Abyss, but since Ian was the first to bring information about it and all that information was true, the rest of the details were being accepted as established fact.

So, it was about time for such an opinion to emerge.

Ian nodded at Lucia’s question. However, his opinion was negative.

’It is possible, but it will be difficult. It won’t be as easy as blocking them at the city. It’s a losing game.’

Of course, that depended on the situation.

Conversely, there were types of monsters that HAD to be dealt with inside the labyrinth. Monsters specialized for sieges or large-scale battles could cause tremendous damage to the city during an invasion.

It was better to fight such monsters inside the labyrinth, and that was also a way to reduce damage to the city.

Of course, Ian couldn’t handle such a thing alone.

Lucia nodded as if she understood that and spoke.

’Naturally, I don’t intend to dump everything on you, Leader Ian. I plan to provide as much support as I can. In that sense, I have someone I’d like to introduce to you today.’

’An introduction?’

’We aren’t the only ones who can take this situation as an opportunity.’

...Is she thinking of introducing another mercenary group to enter the Abyss with him?

While Ian was making such a guess, Lucia checked the time and glanced toward the window.

’It’s about time they arrived...’

Right then, someone knocked on the door. It seemed she had made an appointment for them at around the same time to introduce them to Ian.

A moment later, the door opened...

A priest with pink hair, wearing priest’s robes and bearing the mark of a high priest, entered the room.

’Ah...’

’You...!’

The new guest who met Ian’s gaze was a face he already knew.

It was Frenda, the high priest he had met at the temple not long ago.

’That high priest from back then...’

’You wicked leader...!’

The gazes of Ian, Rin, and Frenda simultaneously turned toward Lucia.

’Surely the person you wanted to introduce is... Miss Frenda?’

’Surely the person you wanted to introduce to me is... Leader Ian!’

’Oh my, did you two already know each other?’

Lucia looked at their reaction and tilted her head with a puzzled face.

Setting aside the reason for how Ian knew Frenda, who had just recently visited Labyrinth... Frenda’s reaction was incomprehensible.

’Wicked leader...? The welfare of the Ian Mercenary Group is famous for being the best within the same rank. Could it be a misunderstanding?’

’Don’t be deceived by outward appearances!’

Frenda, standing beside Lucia, shook her head in denial and spoke while looking at Ian with a wary expression.

’Making a member wield a demonic sword and driving them into battle without any countermeasures... even though he knows exactly what will happen! His usual appearance must be a disguise!’

Frenda pointed at Ian and shouted.

Ian shook his head with a face that said it was a misunderstanding and calmly made an excuse.

’It’s a misunderstanding. I’ve taken as much action as possible so that Rin doesn’t suffer damage.’

’Then tell me what kind of action it is!’

’...’

’You can’t say it, can you! Because there’s no such method!’

’...’

Rin and Ian silently avoided Frenda’s gaze.

...Rather than explaining that, it was better to just let her think he was an ordinary wicked leader; that treatment might actually be better.