Ch#169
* * *
Rosewell Street No. 89.
Agavert's base.
"Come on, come on! Hurry and flip the cards already!"
"Argh, I had it won."
The new recruits were deep into a card game in the kitchen.
"Eat this while you play. With all the sieges lately, it must be tough, right?"
Marshal approached the table holding beautifully prepared fruit.
The members immediately whistled in welcome.
Rio, who had been sitting at the end of the table, stood up and took the fruit plate.
"Thank you. Agavert is so systematic that sieges aren't that hard."
Marshal beamed.
"That's a relief then. When we had few members, our Leader and executives really worked hard. See? Now with new members, it's bustling and nice? No empty rooms either."
"Rio! Not joining the next round?"
The members preparing a new round urged him, but Rio handed over the fruit basket and stood.
Then he followed Marshal toward the living room.
"Is there anything I can help with? It's a rare day off, yet you're not resting because of us..."
Marshal's eyes widened.
She looked proudly at Rio, who was like a son to her, and asked.
"Then can you help me collect the sheets? I have to wash the bedding today, but with more people, it's a bit much alone. And the workers aren't coming today of all days."
Agavert didn't keep resident workers.
Partly because of Tie's identity, but more than that, few people wanted to work full-time at a mercenary base.
Rio nodded readily.
"No problem."
The two started from the top floor and worked their way down, stripping off the dirty sheets.
By the time they reached the first floor, Rio's arms were piled mountain-high with sheets.
"Here, here, this way!"
Marshal called to him, his view blocked by the stack.
Rio waddled out the entrance holding the sheets.
Following Marshal's lead, he went down the stairs to the back of the garden.
"I've got the laundry setup ready, so just dump them in the tubs. Careful, you can't see."
"Yes, yes."
Reminded of his mother back home, Rio smiled unwittingly.
Nearly at the back garden.
"Eh? How are you already here?"
Marshal's puzzled voice came from ahead.
Rio, sensing no presence, tilted his head amid the sheets.
'Who came?'
The Leader and executives had all left for Luminen Mansion today.
The young Leader had clearly said when leaving.
'Tie will come back after playing till evening! Have a good day, uncles and bros~!'
Rio looked up at the sky.
The sun was still beating down; it wasn't evening yet.
"Rio offered to help with the sheets. Oh!"
Then Marshal's short scream rang out.
Rio's body suddenly floated into the air.
"Wha, whoa!"
A few sheets slipped from his grasp and fell.
As Rio flailed for balance, someone draped a sheet over his head from the ones he'd held.
"Oh my!"
"Wh-who are you!"
Marshal shouted, and Rio struggled desperately.
But the opponent didn't budge.
Instead, in moments, they wrapped him sheet-tight and dragged him off somewhere.
"Wh-where are you taking him! You can't do this! What if the executives find out!"
Marshal's voice faded into the distance.
Rio, panting inside the sheets, slid his left hand to his waist.
'What lunatic kidnaps a mercenary right from the base!'
Too unthinkable; he hadn't responded properly.
Finally, Rio gripped his dagger's handle.
He readjusted to tear free and escape, but.
"We're here. Stop."
As if anticipating everything, the opponent seized his wrist, then set him down on something soft.
Rio wriggled free of the sheets, gasping.
"Haa, haa!"
Then gaped at the sight before him.
"...Vi-Vice Leader?"
A warehouse stacked full of horse-feed hay.
Backlit by the glaring sun at the door stood the Vice Leader—someone he'd never exchanged words with.
"Put down the knife."
Tese tan slammed the warehouse door shut with a bang.
Then grabbed a rope from the wall and strode toward Rio.
"Wh-what are you doing!"
Rio backed away but soon hit the hay pile.
"Uwaaak!"
Tese tan twisted his wrist back and bound it tight.
Terrified, Rio pondered.
What did I do wrong?
I've worked hard and diligently since joining Agavert!
I especially avoided the Vice Leader!
Everyone in Talochioum's mercenary world knew.
The brutal backstory of how Trebaga fell under Agavert.
Who'd dare approach Tese tan prowling the base with that fearsome face!
"Vi-Vice Leader. There must be some misunderstanding! I didn't do anything!"
Tese tan, having securely bound Rio's wrists and ankles, stood.
Then replied flatly.
"I know."
"Yes?! Th-then why...!"
"Stopped by the kitchen before the garden. Asked who among the newbies sucks most at lying. They all pointed to you."
Rio paled.
Traitors—they sold out a comrade to this monster, whatever it was!
"Now I'm gonna ask you something."
Rio swallowed hard.
Ventilation-bar shadows striped Tese tan's face.
"What's the Necromancer King's identity?"
Rio blanked.
Seconds later, he parroted.
"Pardon?"
"What's the Necromancer King's identity. Seems everyone but me and Trebaga folks knows."
Rio's lips twitched.
Naturally, he couldn't spill on the Necromancer King's identity.
He'd sworn with memories staked on the Holy Artifact.
But more than that.
"Don't you, the Vice Leader, know?"
"......"
Tese tan's brows furrowed slightly.
Rio pressed on incredulously.
"I thought you knew! Doesn't make sense if members know but Vice Leader doesn't!"
Rio wriggled into position.
Making the pitifulest face possible.
"But I can't say a word."
"Why?"
"Swore with the Leader. Break it, I die!"
Precisely memory loss, not death—but Rio exaggerated.
Vice Leader or not, this guy's tied me in a locked room threatening.
To escape alive, no choice.
"...I see."
Tese tan rubbed his chin.
As Rio watched, gulping.
Shing—the scrape of blade on sheath; Tese tan drew a dagger.
"Vi-Vice Leader."
Rio called in a quaver.
But Tese tan advanced step by impassive step.
"Go."
And severed the ropes on wrists and ankles in one slash.
Rio scrambled up.
Hesitated, asked.
"Y-you're freeing me just like this? Why tie me up at all...?"
Wasted rope.
Tese tan narrowed his eyes.
"This builds proper crisis sense."
Rio edged back, then bolted out the door.
Alone in the warehouse.
"...Swore an oath, huh."
Tese tan muttered, watching Rio flee.
"Then gotta find out myself."
He moved again.
* * *
That evening.
"Hee hee hee."
Tie burst into her room excitedly.
Hung her cloak on the chair, then flopped onto the bed.
"Tie's got a big family now too!"
Today was an awesome day with family.
Dad was prickly as ever, but Grandpa and big uncles always treated her kindly.
Being with those four soothed her upset heart.
Tie rolled around giggling uhehehe.
Then.
Whoooosh—
A sudden chill wind swept the room.
"Necromancer King."
Someone landed gracefully through the wide-open window.
Tie gawked at the face revealed.
"Vi-Vice—!"
The intruder in Tie's bedroom was the Vice Leader.
Dad.
