Chapter 19. Investigation

After I entrusted Mercenary Leader Jebeon with creating a fake identity for me, I continued to wander around outside, familiarizing myself with the area. As a result, I could now roughly navigate without a map.

“You learn quickly!”

“Do I?”

And, during that time, I didn't just wander around. Lowell hired a tutor from somewhere to teach me basic common sense.

“Yes, I was worried because you said you had no common sense at all, but you understand quickly and have a good memory.”

“Thank you.”

“Haha!”

The tutor was a brown-haired man who looked to be in his mid-twenties, the very picture of a scholar or a nerd. His name was Eric Brown.

He told me to just call him Eric, but I'm calling him Tutor.

“So, Tutor, what kind of monsters are mainly found in the mountain range?”

“Haha, you can call me Eric.”

“Yes, Tutor.”

Today's lesson was about the geography of the Adel Kingdom.

Among them, I was learning about Kaine, the capital of the Adel Kingdom, and the Kain Mountains next to it.

“First, the Kain Mountains are largely divided into three sections.”

Eric drew a large mountain shape on the prepared blackboard and drew three lines.

“The lowest area is the lowlands, where low-level monsters like Goblins and Kobolds inhabit. It’s where most mercenaries usually operate.”

Goblins and Kobolds.

Truly tiresome names.

The number I've beaten to death in the Colosseum alone would fill a truck.

“Intermediate-level monsters, such as Mountain Orcs and Werewolves, inhabit the middle zone. They sometimes come down to hunt low-level monsters or cause harm to mercenaries.”

Just a continuous stream of familiar names.

Well, where else would the Colosseum get their monsters?

They're most likely procured from those mountains.

“The higher you go from here, the more dangerous it gets, but rare medicinal herbs are often found.”

“There must be a lot of fatalities.”

“Yes, even Silver Rank mercenaries struggle against the monsters in the highlands.”

The highlands….

The first monster that came to mind was the Ogre.

Even if there were ten Jebeons, who I saw last time as a Silver Rank, they wouldn't even stand a chance.

Moreover, the Ogre I last saw had one wrist cut off and had been marinated in drugs in the Colosseum for a long time.

A healthy, true King of the Mountains would be even more formidable.

I can’t understand how the Colosseum guys even managed to capture it.

“Oh, and there are also many cases where Orcs who have lost territorial battles in the Lunaria Great Plains beyond the Kain Mountains cross over and settle down periodically.”

“And if they survive, they become Mountain Orcs?”

“Yes, and if their numbers grow too large, they hold hunting competitions.”

“Ah, I know.”

Orc hunting competitions.

It's a competition where they hunt the Orcs that have crossed over from the Lunaria Great Plains and plunder the goods in the villages they've settled in.

The Lunaria Great Plains is a dangerous grassland filled with Orcs, but the goods that those who were in that territory bring with them are valuable.

There’s a reason why the Kingdom periodically hunts them to clean up the mountain ecosystem.

“Come to think of it, it’s almost time for the hunt.”

“Oh, is it? When do you think it will be?”

“I’m not sure, but I’ve been hearing reports of mercenaries suffering damage from Orcs lately.”

Predicting the hunting season based on Orc-related damage.

Well, I suppose even Silver Ranks wouldn't likely lose to Orcs.

Moreover, it is unusual for mercenaries, whose basic tactic is group action, to be hunted by Orcs.

“They’ll probably do it this year or next.”

“Did the Void Family participate often?”

“Yes, I understand most of the Nobles participate. Even the Royal Family sends representatives.”

“Oh….”

So, it’s a really big hunting event?

Well, in a way, it's like treasure hunting.

If they go as Noble families, there won't be any danger.

Besides, would I participate in such a hunting competition?

Well, I wouldn't have gone originally, but seeing as they're educating me like this, it seems like they're slowly planning to use me.

They even explicitly told me they'd offer me money for work.

“At the last hunting competition, a Troll suddenly appeared from the mountain….”

Anyway.

Afterwards, I heard about a mishap that happened at the hunting competition.

Eric, who kept digressing during class,

was an excellent tutor for me.

***

After all the lessons were finished.

“Did you enjoy your lesson?”

Lowell was waiting outside as I exited the reception room where I had my lessons.

“Ah, yes, I did.”

“Eric said you absorb information very quickly.”

“Well… there wasn’t anything difficult.”

It’s not that I’m stupid, it’s that I lack knowledge.

Besides, he's just teaching me about the surrounding geography, simple history, and the Nobles.

Honestly, hearing the fantasy setting explanation was kind of interesting.

“At this rate, I think I can ask you to do the job sooner than planned.”

“Well, weren’t you going to ask me tomorrow anyway?”

Tomorrow is exactly one week since Lowell mentioned it.

I’ve been busy taking walks and having lessons during that time.

“I was originally planning to give you simpler tasks, but it seems unnecessary.”

“...As long as it’s not difficult, it’s fine.”

“The reward will be substantial if you do well.”

He's not saying it's *easy*.

Well, if it were easy, would he be putting me through all this training?

Truth be told, jobs requiring an obedient Aura User aren't exactly common.

“More importantly, have your outings yielded any results?”

The lesson had ended. I was on my way to the training ground for some long-overdue training.

Lowell inquired about the results of my outings.

Results, huh? I did get one thing done.

“Do you remember those mercenaries I mentioned before?”

“Yes, I remember. They’re quite famous in the Metropolitan Area.”

“I asked their leader to create a fake identity for me.”

Lowell stopped dead in his tracks.

“...Are you sure you should be telling me this?”

“I prefer not to keep secrets I can’t handle. But please don’t tell anyone else.”

The house dog secretly made a fake ID.

Isn't that crossing the line, no matter how you look at it?

If it’s discovered, it’ll be hard to handle, so it’s better to just tell Lowell upfront.

“What do you intend to use it for?”

“I’m not planning on running away or anything, but there might be unforeseen circumstances. Wouldn't a pre-made ID be more effective?”

A hastily cobbled-together fake ID is obviously inferior to…

…one made a few years prior with a consistent activity history.

“Well, did they make it properly?”

“I think they’ll do a good job… please verify it for me.”

“...In that case, why not just ask us to do it?”

“Would you have done it?”

“We would have, albeit through quite a complicated process, without the Young Lady’s knowledge.”

“Having you verify it is simpler.”

It’s easier to outsource complicated tasks.

Higher-ups just do the quality checks.

And…

Honestly, the ‘unforeseen circumstances’ I have in mind also include something happening to the Void Family.

So, I had it made through the mercenaries, who are independent, rather than getting too involved with them.

It’ll be easier to switch to being an adventurer anytime.

“Hmm.”

Of course, Lowell seems to understand my intentions.

“Well, do as you please.”

He seems willing to turn a blind eye this time, considering how he's observed me so far.

“...Thank you.”

“Yes. Seeing as you have the leisure to do such things, I’m confident I can assign you the task sooner."

…He’s really turning a blind eye, right?

“What kind of job is it that you’re trying to scare me with?”

“Just a simple investigation.”

Investigation, huh?

He says it’s simple, but if Lowell is sending *me* to investigate, it can’t be that trivial.

“I’ll inform you of the details tomorrow, so just be prepared.”

“Understood.”

Well, still.

Lowell wouldn't give me something I can't handle.

"Now, let's start training."

After that, I spent the day training with Lowell.

The next day.

“Go here and assist them.”

Lowell handed me a map with a building marked on it.

“Where is this?”

“It’s Astra Trade Company, a business operated by the Void Family.”

“Aha.”

So, it's like a subsidiary of sorts?

“What am I investigating there?”

It looks like a trading company. Am I supposed to do a tax audit or something?

I was starting to think it was too much for me, considering I'm still learning the basics.

“You'll be conducting an underground investigation with pre-assigned agents.”

“...Underground? Isn’t this a trading company?”

“It’s a trading company on the surface, but in reality, it's an information network run by the Second Young Master.”

…I think I just heard a huge secret.

The Second Young Master… the Young Lady’s younger brother, I guess.

I’ve never even seen his face, but I already know about his secret business.

“Wouldn’t I be ignored if I go to such an important place?”

“I’ve sent someone ahead as my proxy, so don’t worry.”

“Wow.”

I thought I was going to be an errand boy for a subsidiary.

Turns out I'm going as a corporate stooge from headquarters?

“Can I act all high and mighty?”

“As much as your skills allow.”

“I’ll just turn the whole place upside down.”

With Lowell as my backing, I can strut around with my shoulders puffed up.

“Try not to cause too much trouble.”

“Understood.”

“First, I’ll brief you on what you need to know.”

And so…

After receiving a brief rundown from Lowell, I headed to Astra Trade Company.