The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick up Trash - Volume 2 - Chapter 84

Chapter 84:

Total Confusion

“WHAT’S THE MATTER? You two look pretty serious,” Seizerk asked, puzzled by the looks on our faces.

Rattloore thought for a moment, steeled himself, and took a deep breath. He made Seizerk take a seat, which only spooked him more. Then he laid out our exchange in the restaurant and what we’d been discussing on the way back.

“Wait, but… But…” The furrows on Seizerk’s brow deepened. 

Was it that painful to imagine those nobles might be involved? To my mind, nobles were people who would do anything for money and power.

Seizerk heaved a sigh.

“Ivy, I think your ideas have merit, but I don’t think it’s Count Faltoria.”

Count Faltoria? Is that the name of the noble?

“Why not?” I asked.

“He was the one who proposed the raid in the first place.”

“Oh, is he? Umm, how did that come about?”

“Huh…what was it again?” Seizerk put a hand to his chin. “I think he got a hold of information on a black-market dealer. That dealer was going in and out of the former merchant’s… No, wait. He was using a different place as his hideout… Huh? Why’d they choose that mansion for the raid, anyway?”

“Was the mansion not the original target?”

“Oh, right! It was a tip-off from someone… I don’t remember who, though.”

I couldn’t believe that Seizerk would forget something so crucial. They must have deliberately concealed information and only let a little slip. But where had the tip about the former merchant’s mansion come from?

“Huh? Why did they pick that place…?” Seizerk muttered in total confusion. Rattloore looked deep in thought, too. “Aaargh! I’m not suited for this! This is why I became an adventurer instead!” he suddenly cried, clawing at his hair until it stood on end.

Rattloore and I jumped in surprise. We stared at Seizerk while he continued to yowl incoherently. Oops…we broke him. Rattloore and I looked at each other and slowly sat back down. Unsure of what to do, we left Seizerk to his breakdown for about five minutes.

Finally, he fell silent. Phew. I was starting to worry we’d have to fix him. I was still a little nervous about the way his eyes were fixed on the ground.

“What are you guys up to?”

I turned to find Bolorda looking at Seizerk in stupefaction. Could he help us? I sure hoped so. Rattloore filled him in on everything we’d talked about. Bolorda looked increasingly alarmed as Rattloore went on but managed to hear him out to the end.

“Uh-huh…so that’s how Seizerk ended up in this state. See, he started adventuring because he couldn’t stand dealing with the darker side of humanity. All an adventurer needs to do is kill stuff, after all.”

Did he really? I feel bad for telling him, then. I’ll just pretend I don’t see Rattloore snickering… Keep me out of it.

“Still, Ivy…”

“Yes?” What’s he gonna say? Does he think I’m overthinking it, too?

“You’ve gotta be lying about your age, right?” Bolorda said. “You can’t be nine. Be honest.” It seemed like he was just as confused. “For the record, I’m not confused.”

He read my mind!

“Well, whatever,” he sighed. “I’m just surprised to hear all this out of your mouth. It’s exactly what we were talking about before.”

“What do you mean?”

“The GM called us in earlier. The captain of the guard was there, too, and he said he thinks there are moles among his people. Apparently, he has his doubts about some of the guards watching the mansion.”

“Whoooa, Ivy was right! You’re so clever, Ivy!” Rattloore was amazed.

“Right? I’m telling you, that kid can’t be nine!”

You can say that all you want, but I really am nine!

“Now, if there are moles in the guard, then that changes things,” Bolorda went on. “Especially regarding Mira’s next moves.”

“Yeah… Hey, is that why the adventurers were taken off the patrols?” Seizerk glanced up. He looked like he’d aged five years in the past ten minutes.

“That’s right. If members of the guard are involved, acting rashly now would be playing right into their hands.”

“Got it. And?”

“Pretty much as Ivy deduced: That former merchant’s residence is hiding something. They looked back at who ordered the raid there. We thought Count Faltoria was the one who made the call, but it turns out he proposed a different target.”

“I remember that, too! The count was honing in on some house on the outskirts of town, right?”

“Exactly. Lord Foronda was the one who changed the plans.”

Lord Foronda? The noble who governs this town?

“Lord Foronda is one of the two people I was talking about, Ivy. He’s the one who has Bolorda’s respect.”

The man Bolorda owed his life to. Good. Maybe Lord Foronda will be on our side here? But I do wanna tread carefully. How do I know who’s friend and who’s foe?

The bag on my thigh was twitching. I looked down. Sora was moving around inside a new bag Sifar had given me for the slime. I don’t know what it was made for originally, but the inside was lined with fur. Sora seemed to like it, so it must’ve been cozy in there. Oh! Maybe Sora can help us?

“Umm, what if I had Sora look into it?” I suggested.

“Huh?”

Is it that crazy of an idea? I figure Sora’s the perfect investigator here.

“Wait, Ivy. How can Sora help? Don’t you have to keep it in its bag?”

“I’ll have it tell me from inside the bag.”

“That bag… I think I’ve seen it before.” Seizerk squinted at the bag. Is there something weird about it? Now I’m worried.

“This? Sifar gave it to me.”

“Really?!” Rattloore was shocked, too.

Why? Was it unusual for Sifar to give it to me? It’s not a magic bag, it’s just a normal one.

“Um, is there something special about it?”

“No no, the bag’s fine,” Seizerk answered. “We were surprised because Sifar doesn’t give gifts often.”

“More like never, you mean.”

How can that be? He gave me clothes you can layer on top of other clothes, too… Oh, and a really pretty mug.

Bolorda stared at Seizerk and Rattloore in obvious annoyance as they discussed Sifar’s gift-giving habits—or lack thereof. “Can we gossip later? Right now, let’s talk about Sora.”

“Sorry! So…Sora. Can it really help us?” Seizerk asked me.

“I think so. Sora, remember that lady Callua we met earlier? If she’s a friend, wiggle twice. If not, stay still.” I could feel Sora bobbing and quivering atop my leg. Callua passed muster. “Callua should be okay. What about Luiseria?”

The bag stopped moving. It seemed Luiseria was a member of the kidnapping ring. That was a shame. When the other three saw the bag go still, they all whispered to each other.

I interrupted, “Oops—it’s weird for a bag to move like that, isn’t it?”

“No worries. Some tamers keep animals inside bags, after all.”

Really? Then it’s not too out of the ordinary for a bag to move on its own? How does Sora judge people, anyway…