Chapter 66: The Hidden Truth
The main entrance door opened. The adventurers, who casually turned their eyes toward the visitors, were unable to move their gazes.
Two women held their gazes.
One was Rin, who looked dignified and yet somehow bewitching, and the other was Shizuru, whose slender arms and legs, though slightly less glamorous, exuded a s*x appeal.
Ren, who was between them, walked straight inside the building without seeming to pay any attention to his surroundings. Seeing this, most of the adventurers turned their gazes away, but there were a few exceptions among them. They were new adventurers who had never heard of Silver Wolf. Two of them approached Ren.
"Kid, I envy you having flowers in both hands."
"…………"
"However, I feel that these flowers seem a little too good for a child."
"…………"
"How about it? Can you lend them to us? We won't hurt you."
"…………"
"Don't be scared, why don't you say something!?"
A faint smile appears on the faces of the yelling men. They perceive Ren's silence as a sign of fear. Of course not.
"Are you talking to me by any chance?"
With a dubious face, Ren asks the men a question.
"……What did you say?"
"Is it wrong?"
"Who else could it be but you?"
The men are puzzled by Ren's reaction. They don't understand why Ren would ask such a question.
"Isn't there? Kai and Sai are also here."
"Kai and Sai?"
"The kids in the back. You said kid, right?"
Rin and Shizuru aren't the only ones with Ren. He had brought a number of children with him.
"Aren't you a child too!?"
The man finally realizes that he's being made a fool of, and raises his voice.
"That's why I asked. Are you talking to me?"
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Hey, are you underestimating us?"
Hearing the laughter from the surroundings, the men use rough words to avoid being underestimated. It's also completely useless. Ren keeps a cool face.
"I'm serious. If you have something to say, I wish you would speak more clearly."
"...Give me the woman"
The man spoke frankly as Ren told him to.
"Who are you talking about? If you include Ai and Mai, there are four of them."
"Ai and Mai?"
"There are girls behind me. Can't you see them?"
"These two people, one with silver hair and one with black hair!"
The man's angry voice drew more laughter from those around him. It was no longer a chuckle. Some adventurers were even holding their stomachs and laughing. Despite these reactions, Ren's attitude remained the same.
"...Why do I have to do that?"
"We're going to take good care of them."
"Take good care... meaning you want their bodies?"
"What else could it be?"
"I see...... you're going to hurt my stuff?"
"What?"
The atmosphere disappeared in an instant, and anger erupted from Ren's body. Intense anger that even a foolish adventurer can feel, one could call it murderous intent.
The laughter around suddenly stopped.
"So you guys are my enemies?"
"……You"
"I'm asking if you are my enemies."
"What if we are?"
This adventurer does not understand. This is not the time for such confirmation. There is nothing more he can say than "No".
"Silver Wolf! Long time no see!"
"...Old man, huh?"
The one who saved the foolish adventurer was Langer, an adventurer whom Ren also knew. Seeing Ren's reaction to his voice, an air of relief spread through the surrounding area.
"Don't call me old man! I'm still young!"
"I'm taking them now"
"No, it's over. Don't make fun of the stupid newcomer. You've been here four years. You're Rank C, right?"
"Rank C!?"
The adventurer who had been involved with Ren shouted in surprise. The rank itself is not low, but it is not surprising. He was surprised that an adventurer of Ren's age, in his fourth year, would be ranked C.
"So what?"
"No, it's nothing. Then, excuse me."
The men who finally realized that they had made a mistake with the other party tried to escape from the place.
"I haven't heard your answer yet"
"...A-an ally"
"I don't recognize you as my ally though. Are you my enemy or not?"
"Of course not."
"Good then. Never again――"
Without listening to Ren's words to the end, the adventurers ran outside to escape. Seeing that back, Ren was astonished.
"Hear what people have to say to the end."
"Yes"
Next to him, Shizuru nodded.
"You're the one who should be talking to them. I mean, why do you look so happy?"
"Because Ren says, hurt my woman."
"...My stuff."
Ren corrects the subtle difference.
"That's what it means."
It does not pass through Shizuru.
"...It's about Rin. It's not about you."
"It's about the two of us. That's what you said."
It didn't work either. Shizuru's smile never disappears.
"Are you going to stand on the same line as Rin?"
"I know exactly. Rin-san is Ren's fiancé. I am... what is it?"
"You are nothing"
"That's terrible. Anyway, Rin-san can stand up for herself properly. It's the relationship between the lawful wife and the concubine."
"Who's the concubine!?"
"For example."
For some reason, the two were completely in sync.
As for Rin, who was looking at the two of them like that... she was desperately trying to endure her smile.
"Rin?"
"Eh? Yes, what is it?"
"Is something funny?"
"No."
"But your face"
"Rin-san is happy because Ren didn’t deny that Rin-san is your fiancé."
Shizuru explains Rin's feelings instead.
"Shizuru……"
Rin's cold gaze pierced Shizuru, who said something unnecessary.
"……I'm sorry"
The relationship between Rin and Shizuru has also solidified considerably.
"Ren, I’m hungry."
The impatient children complained.
"Yes, that's right. We came here for rice."
"Mai, it's not. We're here to eat. Well, let's go up to the cafeteria."
"Finally."
When they finally get to eat, the children run up the stairs to the cafeteria. Ren and the others followed them up the stairs. Unfortunately, they needed a little more time to eat their meal.
As they ascended to the second floor, Jin appeared blocking their way.
"It's been a long time."
"Who?"
"What!?"
"Just kidding. What do you want?"
He tried to tease him, but Jin's discomfort didn't disappear. If that's the case, he'd like to finish his business as soon as possible.
"Why, 一are you together?"
"Why is it that people who get involved with me don't have enough words?"
Even though he wanted to end it quickly, Jin firmly caught his sarcasm.
"…Why are you with Shizuru?"
"I wish you could have said that from the beginning. Why? Because she's following me."
"Hey!?"
Shizuru complained about what Ren said.
"It's true."
"……That's right, but"
As soon as Ren glared at her, Shizuru showed a dissatisfied face, but spoke words of approval. Seeing the friendly exchange between the two, Jin's expression hardened even more.
"Why do you allow it?"
"Why are you asking me that?"
"Don't fool around. Don't you know what that woman did?"
"...Troublesome. Rin, can you go ahead and feed the children?"
"Yes. Would you like to order something Ren-sama?"
"I want to do that, but… later."
After thinking for a moment, Ren stopped asking for an order. Ren wanted to end the conversation immediately, but he knew from his past experience that it wouldn't.
"Okay. What about you? Are you going to eat?"
"...Rin-san, your attitude has changed too much."
"Because of you, time is wasted. Reflect a little."
"I already do. I'm sorry."
"That's fine. You can order later, okay?
"Yes"
Rather than a regular wife and a concubine, they were more like a senior and a junior. This was the perfect distance between them.
When Rin turned to the children, Ren opened his mouth.
"So?"
"Let's sit down and talk."
"I don't want to"
Ren refuses without hesitation. If he sits down, the already long conversation becomes even longer.
"...We're in the way here"
"You're the one who's bothering me, though?"
"Anyway, I want to hear what you have to say. I'd like to talk to you anyway."
"...Haa"
Despite his best efforts to show that he does not like it, Ren has no choice but to take a seat at the table indicated by Jin. Looking around, Ren sighs heavily once again.
At the table were Riko and the other Class C hero candidates who were working with Jin. It was as if it was confirmed that the conversation was going to be even longer.
"Ren, it’s been a while."
"Hasegawa-san, huh? Long time no see."
"…………"
Ren's reply was a casual refusal to call her by her first name. Manami, knowing this, was unable to speak to him any longer. It was the same for the others.
Ren didn't give up on ending the conversation quickly.
"Let's continue where we left off. Don't you know what Shizuru did?"
"I know, but there are so many, I don't know which one you're talking about."
"Killing Kazuki"
"The one who killed her was another hero candidate. I don’t know who gave her the fatal blow. Kazuki's body was in no condition to be recognized."
Shizuru doesn't have offensive magic. Since she doesn't have the means to attack, she shouldn't have been able to inflict even the slightest wound on Kazuki, let alone a fatal wound.
"It was Shizuru who triggered her death."
"Actually, she made one of the triggers. There are other people who made the trigger."
Whether it was the monastery side that used the child for the attack or the church that instigated the hero candidates, there are many people who caused Kazuki's death.
"Don't quibble"
"Because it’s a fact. If you want, let's list the triggers one by one, shall we?"
"Even so, Shizuru is the worst."
"That's your subjective opinion, isn't it? If you say otherwise, can you prove it logically?"
"That's……"
Jin was at a loss for words at Ren's request. There is no way he can explain it the way Ren says. He has no basis for his argument to satisfy his own feelings, as Ren said.
"Why are you protecting that woman?"
Riko complained instead of the stuttering Jin. It's like the relationship between Yuya and Shizuru in the past.
"I'm not protecting her. I'm just asking him to clarify the facts."
"That's called quibbles. That woman killed Kazuki with malice. Whatever else it is, it's a fact."
"So what?"
"So what!?"
Riko raises her voice at Ren's question. Riko, more than Jin, is trying to judge things based on her own feelings and convenience. She is irritated by Ren's unwillingness to admit it.
"I have no idea what you guys want to do. Even if that's true, what do you want to do? Do you want to kill this woman, saying that you are avenging Kazuki?"
"Yes, I want to do that."
"Then do it!"
"Ah!"
Roughly grabbing Shizuru's head, Ren held it down on the table.
"This woman will not resist. Feel free to kill her."
Just as Ren said, Shizuru remained motionless with her head on the table.
"......Do you really think I'm going to back down from something like this?"
Riko doesn't know that this is a slip of the tongue. The fact that he had tried to be rough with Shizuru was Ren's intention to make her back off.
Ren's merciless attack begins against Riko, who refuses to do so.
"Yeah, I think so. You're a woman who just talks and doesn't do anything."
"What's that?"
"I'm tired of being asked one-sidedly, so let me ask you a question as well."
"What?"
"What did you do when Kazuki was being treated badly by them?"
"...I was trying my best to find out how it happened."
Riko answers Ren's question while frowning. She worried because she doesn't understand Ren's intentions when she hears this.
"What were the results of that?"
"I didn't know. Kazuki didn't say anything."
"That's a lie."
"It's not a lie"
"Mita-kun"
"…………"
Akira, who was suddenly called, couldn't react to the unexpected. With Ren's gaze, he finally realized that he was called.
"Ah, me?"
"Yes. How did Kazuki get into that mess?"
"…It’s my fault. They abused me and threatened Kazuki."
With a mixed expression of regret and sorrow, Akira said that he was the cause. He was listening to Ren, and thought. He said that he was also one of the triggers who killed Kazuki.
"Exactly. Now, who did you hear that from, Mita-kun?"
"It's Riko."
"Yes, that's right. Kanda-san knew the cause. You did your research, didn't you?"
"That's a lie."
Riko denies Ren's question. With a slightly pale face, Ren makes people around realize that Riko's words are lies.
"It's not me. It's what Mita-kun said."
"I found out later."
"That's a lie, isn't it? Kanda-san knew long before."
"How do you know?"
"I understand. Because I was aware of a great deal of what was going on in the academy at that time. Do I need to explain this as well?"
The guild asked him to escort them. All of them here know that Ren had been doing that.
Riko's face grew paler.
"……So?"
"I also know that Kanda-san was threatened by them."
"...What are you talking about? I don't know."
"No matter how much you looked into it, Kanda-san couldn't find the reason, so you made up your mind and went to listen to them."
Even if Riko feigned ignorance, Ren ignores it and continues talking. At this point, Ren's verbal attacks won't end until he puts an end to it.
"I didn't do anything like that."
Riko's face loosened slightly because Ren told a story that was different from the truth, but that is just Ren playing with her.
"I know. I just thought it would be better if you were."
"…………"
"In fact, it's like this. The guys who were bothered by Kanda-san, who was probing them in various ways, decided to threaten Kanda-san. If you want them to stop messing around with Kazuki, you have to take her place."
"...T-that's nonsense."
Even if she denies it with a trembling voice, it's like confirming that Ren's story is true.
"I will refrain from explaining how you answered that. It's clear that they were preying on Kazuki right up to the end."
"You're lying! You're trying to trick me by saying nonsense!?"
"I have no reason to do that"
"Then, show me the evidence. There's no way, though."
"That's what I demanded earlier. There is no proof. All the men who could have been witnesses have been killed."
"See."
Riko, who seems relieved that there is no evidence, does not realize the meaning of Ren's words. It was Jin who noticed it.
"Wait a minute. What do you mean they were killed?"
"I mean literally. With that response, it's not you guys, right?"
"……Of course."
Kariya and the others were the only ones who could be witnesses. Jin was surprised to learn that they had been killed.
"I thought the resentment was that deep because they were involved with Kazuki."
"Yeah, I deeply resent them. That's why I'm deeply resentful of Shizuru."
"If it were me, I wouldn't forgive those guys. I'll make those guys who hurt Kazuki pay for their crimes. I will make sure they get what they deserve for their sins."
"…………"
Ren's words interrupted Jin's words. Jin wasn't so stupid that he didn't realize the hidden meaning behind those words.
"Incidentally, I am in the process of making this woman pay for it to the fullest. Can you stay out of my way?"
"In the way..."
"If you want me to deal with you, I'll do it after I'm done with this one."
"...What do you mean?"
Even though he had a bad feeling about it, Jin said the question. He knew he would regret it.
"Someone who resented me for abandoning Kazuki. If that's the case, then the person who sold out her friend for her own self-preservation deserves to be resented too."
"…………"
Declared to hold a grudge head-on, Riko froze under Ren's cold stare.
"That means you also abandoned the person who was right in front of you and didn't even try to help her or stop it."
"…………"
Jin, who was next to be stared at, was unable to meet Ren's gaze, and had no choice but to look down.
"Isn't it bad for those who pretended to be friends and were relieved that sparks didn't fall on them and turned a blind eye?"
"…………"
And Manami, Kou, and Akira were also looking down and unable to raise their heads. The words of criticism filled with bloodlust pierced Jin's chest.
"Let me tell you, Kazuki was the one and only human to me. No one else can replace her, and I don't want that. My resentment runs far deeper than yours."
For Jin and Riko, Ren's words are also bitterly ironic. It is also a warning from Ren.
"...Jin, let's go."
"But"
"This man is just talking and doing things to his own convenience. It's no use going along with such a farce."
Riko says the following, putting herself on the shelf for twisting the truth for her own convenience.
"I'm the one who has to deal with this. If that's how you feel, why don't you get the hell out of here?"
"Yes, I will. Let's go!"
Riko, who was threatened by Ren and acted tough, is probably a bigger deal than he thought. Even if it's only because of the strength of her desire not to lose what she has obtained.
Manami, who had remained at the table until the end with a look of wanting to say something, reluctantly left when she realized that Ren would not listen to her.
The remaining Ren and Shizuru didn't immediately leave their seats and remained there. For Ren, it's just to calm himself down a bit.
"...You didn't say anything"
"I thought it would be better to leave it to Ren. Besides, I don't have the right to say anything."
"I see... you didn't resist."
"If I were to be killed, I thought Ren would kill me with your own hands."
Shizuru expressed his trust in Ren. She can say this because she would be willing to be killed by Ren.
"I see... you're starting to sound like Kazuki."
"Really?"
"It's not a compliment. You are you. You don't have to resemble anyone."
"Ren……"
Shizuru didn't know what Ren meant by saying this. However, Shizuru was more than happy to hear these words. She wants to be her true self. That's how Shizuru felt when she was by Ren's side.
"What?"
Ren was a little surprised when Shizuru suddenly leaned on his shoulder.
"Nothing. I'm just happy for some reason."
Shizuru was so happy with Ren's words that she wanted him to spoil her. However, this is a rather rash move.
"I see... that's how it is."
"Um, Ren?"
It's not a good thing when Ren utters this word. Recently, Shizuru has come to understand that. Sure enough, Ren's hand reaches out to Shizuru's lower body.
"...S-stop, Ren."
Worrying about the eyes around her, Shizuru hides her voice and stops Ren.
"You were a little good just now. This is a reward."
"Reward, then I'm like a pet..."
And realizing her blunder.
"Pet... well, from now on, if someone asks me what you are, should I just say pet?"
"Stop that. Stop this hand."
Shizuru tried hard to stop Ren's hand.
"Isn't this kind of place good? Or is it still too few people?"
Shizuru's perversion on Ren's mind still hasn't been removed. Whether he was cold or gentle, Shizuru was always being played with by Ren.
"Ren-kun, you mustn't do it in public."
An unexpected voice.
"...Mion-san"
Mion from the guild was standing behind him with an astonished face.
"It's not Mion-san. What are you doing?"
"Isn’t Mion-san able to understand?"
"What?"
"The barrier around us"
Ren put up a barrier so that they wouldn't be noticed by the people around them. Ren doesn't have a perverse taste. At least he thinks so.
"No, what I'm saying is don't do that in public."
"But this woman is into that kind of thing."
"That kind of thing?"
"She enjoys being embarrassed when people see her. To put it simply, she's a pervert."
"…………"
Mion froze in astonishment. When she slowly shifted her gaze to the side, she saw Shizuru shaking her head left and right with all her might.
"Um... Ren-kun. You have to think about what others will think if you actually do that."
A very roundabout way of helping Shizuru. It wouldn't work for Ren.
"Like I said, there's a barrier. I think Mion-san will understand, but it's a concealment-type barrier. Instead of hiding your appearance, you'll erase your presence. If this is perfected, you won't be aware of its presence even if you see it."
"What are you going to do if it was perfected?"
"Once it's perfect, I'll try it out on the main street. It's the best situation for this woman. She can feel a lot of people staring at her, yet she won't be disturbed. It would be great if she could do it live."
"The real show is probably that thing. Um..."
Mion couldn't help but feel sympathy for Shizuru, who was staring off into the distance with teary eyes.
"Does any of this matter?"
"I don't think so. It's hard for me to listen to this."
"Eh?"
"Nothing. It's been a while."
It's been a while since Ren showed up at the guild. She wanted to talk, and when Mion approached him, she approached just like before.
"I've done a lot of research, and I think I've got it all together, so I thought it was about time."
"To the guild leader?"
"No, I'm worried about who I should report to."
"...What do you mean?"
What to report to someone who is not the head of the guild. What that means is really interesting to Mion. Mion is glad she came to talk to him.
"I thought it would be best to ask Mion-san. That's why I came today."
Ren was also willing to talk to Mion from the beginning.
"I see... then?"
"This is the content"
Ren took out the stack of papers he had kept in his pocket and placed them on the table.
"Can I read it?"
"That's why I brought it."
"I see……"
Picking up the stack of papers, Mion began to look through them. A reaction of light surprise, followed by a stern look, and finally a satisfied face.
"What can you do with it?"
After Mion finished reading, Ren asked.
"I might be able to change the head"
"As expected, the guild is that kind of organization.”
From Mion's words, Ren understood that the guild leader did not have all the authority. There is probably an organization that checks it, something like an audit department.
"…But I didn’t think you would really do it."
"What are you talking about?"
"You can't investigate this without an insider, right? Did you switch sides?"
Ren had researched enough information for Mion to think like this.
"It's not to that extent. I just threatened him and took his testimony."
"Nevertheless."
"And that's the problem. A witness cannot be a witness."
"Ara? That's tough, isn't it?"
"I know. But that's the deal."
Never disclose witness information. Ren is dealing with such a promise.
"That would lack conclusive evidence. The circumstantial evidence is perfect, but that alone isn't enough."
"What do you need?"
"Well, I don't know. Once I've made a move, I'm going to go for it, so all I need is a trigger to make it happen."
Mion, who can say this, is not just an employee, just as Ren had always thought.
"I see. Then we need to make one more effort. I wanted to get the chores done early."
"You call this a chore?"
"Just paying back what I owe. I wanted to get those things done first."
"Heh"
If you say you want to get it done first, there's something beyond that. The only thing that matters to him is what it is, but he knows that if he steps in it badly enough, he could get hurt.
The fool who tried to chain a wild wolf had just learned that its fangs were about to tear him apart.
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