Sword, Magic and Academic Society

When a city was as big as Eclair, there would be some secret paths to take on during the moment of emergency. And it went beyond saying, the ones who knew about it were few and far between. 

After all, making this public would be like keeping the door open for, let’s say, an assassin to skip all the hurdles. 

Deep in the forest southwest of Mingua. By the armpit of a decayed statue, there were the stairs leading down to the underground passageway beneath the cover they had been told.

“...I really doubted my ears first when I learned about it, but it’s really here, huh. …I wonder, why even our Client knew about it, Boss? Everywhere, Yuglia has been told as one fist under the kingship of Sagacious King Patrick, and yet, there’s this side you found beneath it. They really are just as rotten from inside, ain’t they?”

This was one of the emergency paths that, if the need ever arose, could be used to escape with a VIP from Eclair, and it leads to the southern passage, just where the Lake Eclair could be found.

Presumably, the passage was created and maintained with the help of an Earth Element Mage, and it was wide enough for Gil and Co. to pass through along with two-wheelers mana vehicles they’d. 

“I have told you to stop probing about the client's identity, Gil. ……Tsk, so it can’t be opened without the Key mana device.”

Rio chided Gil while groping around the mana vehicle to feel it. He, too, had realised the client could only be Viscount Capione with all the facts placed, however he knew something shouldn’t be said in their line of work.

There were only a handful of clients who held connections to directly commission Mercenary Group «Wings». «Blue Blood» was one such client, and the current request, too, had come from them.

They knew that even that should be a mere pseudonym, however they’d received several commissions from them, ranging from gathering confidential information to delivering suspicious articles and so on. 

The rewards that accompanied those requests were extraordinary, including the compensation for risk that followed it. 

The eyes-for-profit riffraff at barrel were plenty rejoicing at the easy money-making commissions, however the group’s heavyweight clearly smelled the danger shipping with it, and had talked to cut off from them. 

From the multiple aspects of the bottomless financial power to the state-level missions, everything surpassed what a mere mercenary group should be dipping their hands in. And Rio wasn’t blind to the dangers as well. 

He was especially disgusted by the egotistical name of that group. Albeit, he chose to brave the danger. 

He believed every mission until then must be a trial of sorts. The target should be the standard strength affirmation, but even more than that, the client must be seeing if «Wings» were credible in keeping their client name confidential as well as their trust. 

Probably, the client was also affirming if they’d caught up with their true identity or not. After all, the client shouldn’t be so easily trusting of their group. 

And the current request was too sudden, and with a high-risk that far eclipsed the one they’d before. The name «Wings» was guaranteed to spread out in the dark side of the society if they really could outmanoeuvre the famed Yuglia’s Knight Order, and successfully achieve this request. 

“But Boss, do you really have faith in them?”

Gil asked in a reserved tone. It was something he had been curious about for a while. 

Rio had a surprised look for a moment, seemingly not expecting the question, but then that expression crumbled away to a sarcastic smile. His gaze dropped to his arms, now all dark brown complex after all the tolling in the bright of the day throughout the years. 

“...We’re without status, lineage, or even nationality. But unlike us, who wander at the fringes of the world's societal norm, they’re nothing without their power. They would be weeded out, or killed without their backing. Like those insects. But that’s something you knew keenly, ain’t you, Gil? …Instead, change the phrasing—”

Then, his follow up statement quiet, yet firm voice, reverberated throughout the decayed underground passage.

“This is why they’re mere stepping stones for us.”

◆◆◆

“Well, it’s our time to move on as well.”

Five minutes after Airu-san departed from the garrison, I nudged Viz. 

“W-where do you even play to go, though? You’re really going to ignore all the warnings from Airu-san?”

Viz hastily turned to stop me. I could only muster a bitter smile at his reaction.

“I am not trying to jump into their battle. We’re going to check out on the route around the landslide affected area. Who knows, maybe we can dig up something about the mastermind that had those thieves move? …Isn’t it bugging you as well, eh?”

Viz’s gaze had been stuck on the map placed atop the table even after Airu-san had left. Perhaps, he couldn’t shake that notion from his mind at all, that maybe they’re overlooking something they shouldn’t?

Seeing no further words from him, I pressed him further.

“See, it would be even better if it’s just a mind playing trick. And we’re not exactly gonna score anything by waiting here, sitting hands on hand. If you feel like you’re stuck on a deadend in search, then don’t stop, keep moving your legs—it’s something my master has taught me. It’s our beloved mana vehicle for god’s sake. The only thing we’re getting from all this wait is distress, and depression.”

“Huh? Woah, wait, why do you make it sound like we’re here for who knows how long? It’s just five minutes since Airu-san left!”

“Exactly, we’ve just lost our five minutes of youth! Ah, and I just remembered, Eclair Lake is actually a treasure trove of water reservoirs, holding the spring of Tesba Mountain in itself. I believe we should be able to spot famous Lake Eclair’s plum blossoms too. I mean, since we’re here, it wouldn’t cost us anything to take a look around while searching, don’t you think so?!”

“Huh, no. I mean, with how big the situation has become, it would be presumptuous of us to take take a trip—”

“It’s a search too! Above all, since you’re saying there’s something suspicious, then I firmly believe in your hunch! Who knows we might truly be missing out on a clue that’s just right before us, if we keep wishy-washy! In the name of your gramp, you’ll definitely capture those despicable thieves! Isn’t it what you’d decided? Brave on, Vizkus Levancool, I’m with you!”

“......Why are my gramp catching a stray suddenly?”

◆◆◆

Following the elaborate disguised traces of the supposedly prime suspects to the depth of forest, Tim and Kurushina arrived nearby a decayed statue, and a wooden cover placed around it. 

The signs around—like the disturbed soil and vegetation that must have been covering the top of the cover, or the displacement of the statue—clearly sketched a picture that the cover had been recently opened. 

Aide Kurushina vigilantly removed the cover, revealing the stairs that lead to the underground. 

“Don’t move! I know you’re there!”

Kurushina yelled, facing the underground passageway. 

Receiving no reply, Tim readied his sword and shield, and slowly, but with galant steps, went down using stairs, his expression wincing at the sight. 

Right before his eyes was the almost endlessly continuing underground passage, and the traces of mana vehicle’s tires. 

“What in the name of heaven… with the direction it is leading to, it have to be a secret passageway meant to escort VIPs at the moment of emergency.”

“B-but how did some thieves even learn about the secret that not even knights are aware of?! No, wait, that means—”

Tim’s eyes narrowed with a stern gleam. 

“......We will have plenty of time to dig out the rat, but capturing the culprits takes the lead first. I will be chasing after the suspects. Kurushina, you inform Airu of the situation! Promptly confirm where this secret passageway leads to from Marquis Valcus, and immediately arrange the force to seal that seat!”

“Yes, sir!”

◆◆◆

“We’ve been traced. …It’s one person, but he’s fast. He must be a knight, and seemingly an expert undoubtedly.”

Rio murmured in a low voice, glancing at the pitch black passageway they’d just tread on. 

The straight passageway like the current one often easily gives away the sign of any people, though Gil couldn’t feel any presence himself, he believed it should be so if Rio said it.

“The fame of Yuglia’s Knight Order is really not in vain. Even with all the effort to erase our tracks, they still caught up to us. …Hmm, would you be able to handle them, Boss?”

Rio crooked his neck at Gil’s inquiry. 

“Well, I can’t say without knowing the other side…… but it would be a gamble to throw hands against them. Alright, that may not go easy for us, too, however I am destroying one of them.”

Rio, after remarking the following, bruteforce to remove the pillar and beam supporting passageway and used his sword to stab on the ceiling. 

Then, just as the soil slipped down, and the cracks turned to slowly break the passageway, he opened the distance.

“Gil.”

“Right away!”

Gil had conjured three fireballs from the tip of the wand he was carrying on his right hand, and affirming the countdown to collapse of passageway, the two hurried up to move forward. 

◆◆◆

“So they escaped…”

A look at Tim’s grim expression, who had returned back to the Headquarter, was all Airu needed to know what the situation was. 

“Mm. I did make sure I left no traces, but I failed. The passageway was destroyed from quite a bit ahead. This really isn’t a paper chase, but a wolf hunt. They’re also quite quick in their decision. It’s not impossible to make a path through the soil and all, but they would probably try to block the path again. It would be a big hurdle to chase from behind, so I decided to change strategy. Have you pinned down the exit?”

Tim explained the situation, and then inquired about the follow up but, Airu wore a similar grimace expression at the question.

“That is, er… Viscount Valcus has been saying he has no idea there exists such a secret passageway. And that, he would have already informed us if knew such firsthand…”

A sharp gleam flashed in Tim’s eye and glared at Viscount Valcus. With seemingly an expression that wants to cry but had no tears, Viscount objected to the treatment.

“I, I swear this is the truth! And even if I had, I would never in my seven lifetimes tell about it to thieves of all… it’s just, impossible!”

Just then, Viscus Capione, who had been summoned by Airu, happened to enter the room and doubled down on him.

“What a barefaced liar! Are you telling me you, head of the Viscount Valcus, one that governs the Eclair, had no idea about the secret passageway of all? Bullocks. Now you’ve just turned our desperate search into a mockery! Hurry up and speak where the exit is, you rebel!”

But behind the sharp remarks, Viscount Valcus undoubtedly noticed the mockery hidden beneath that gaze. 

“You—”

“You, what?! You aren’t going to tell me that when your family had inherited Eclair from House of Capione at the order of the late king, you missed on such crucial information?! And with the circumstances back then, which could have easily marked us for treason, it would’ve been impossible to go against the decree! Ah, just to be clear, I haven’t heard a single word about the passageway from my predecessor at all. 

I mean, it has been, like, several decades since Former Capione County has been ceded! And yet, to not grasp something as crucial as the existence of a secret passageway is akin to inviting thieves to your house, and is admitting that you, the one managing the Eclair, had been incompetent which even risked it to fall into enemy hands!”

Viscount Vlacus tried to open his mouth several times, seemingly wanting to say his piece, but ultimately swallowed those words. 

It was impossible to know who created such a passageway when. In such a situation, the liability indeed fell over the House of Valcus shoulder, that Viscount Capione had described. He would only be playing in Viscount Capione’s hand if he accused him without concrete proof. 

“......Capturing the culprits takes precedence right now. Anyway, there would be no merit in thieves to move inside Eclair, which means the exit must be leading to somewhere outside. With the effort it would take to maintain it, I believe it shouldn’t be extending that long. We need to first make sure they don’t escape, so do another three-fold defense perimeter around Eclair. Hopefully, it’s not too late by then……”

Tim explained, his last sentence trailing off as his gaze scurried around the Headquarter. 

“...Allen Rovenne… where have the two gone to?”

Airu directed her gaze to the personnel on standby there.

“Yes! A bit after Airu-sama had departed, the two said they’re going to check out the landslide affected area, and promptly left for there! Err, there were some words like sightseeing Eclair’s plum blossom, and after asking about other local noteworthy places, they cheerfully left……”

As soon as the name of the landslide disaster area came up, Viscount Capione’s eyebrow jumped up. 

“It’s like they’re on some trip…… It reminds me, the two had quite an interesting take on the situation. Now that I repeat it again in my mind, it’s like they’re expecting situation to roll in this directi—”

Airu then began to explain about the possibility of mole inside, and how the two suspect landslide disaster area might be compromised with the positioning of police during the first day. 

“If the exit of the underground passageway happened to be somewhere around the landslide area…”

Tim’s expression pulled the biggest grimace of the day and shouted,

“Prepare the horses. The two are in danger! We’re chasing after them!”

Right now, it's 2/13 chapters huh.