Volume 3, Chapter 4 – The Serial Kidnapping Case

“A series of kidnappings, you say?”

We had returned to the inn and were listening to the owner’s story while enjoying a meal he had treated us to.

“That’s right. In a town called Tukat, about two days’ journey south from here, there have been successive cases of young women disappearing. My own daughter married into a family there, but I haven’t been able to get in touch with her for a month now. The guards here can’t interfere in the affairs of a neighboring town, and when I asked the hunters for help, they just took my money and gave me no information. I’ve been at my wit’s end.”

“I see. That is certainly worrying…”

“Very well, then leave it to me. I shall simply confirm the safety of your daughter, yes?”

“Really! Thank you so much. My daughter’s name is Safiya. If you ask for Safiya, the innkeeper’s wife from Yurgu, people should know who you’re talking about.”

Hmm, I feel like we should help with this.

If women are disappearing one after another, it’s probably not the work of a lone culprit, and even for Shizuku-san, going alone feels dangerous.

“Shizuku-san, we’ll help you too.”

“What! Are you sure?”

“Yes, of course. In exchange, please tell us more about the Miko Nation.”

“Oh, certainly! Is that alright with Chris-dono and Lumia-dono as well?”

“Wherever Fiene-sama goes, I go.”

“Me too, me too!”

“Hehe, Fiene-dono is truly beloved. Very well, then I shall rely on you for a short while.”

And so, we decided to accompany Shizuku-san to the town of Tukat to check on the safety of Safiya-san.

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By the time we arrived in Tukat, the sun had already set.

However, the town was lively even at night, with many people walking about.

“It doesn’t feel like a place where a series of kidnappings is happening,” I murmured to no one in particular.

“Indeed.”

“But but! I feel like the people walking around are… weird? I can’t put my finger on where, but doesn’t it feel strange?”

“You’re right. Their movements are somehow sluggish, or rather, I do feel something like that.”

Lu-chan seemed to be picking up on something.

Chris-san also felt a sense of dissonance, but I couldn’t quite tell.

“Hmm, I wonder what’s going on.”

For now, we headed toward the inn.

When we asked a passerby for the location of Safiya-san’s inn, they told us readily, so we made our way there.

“Excuse me. We’d like to stay the night; do you have any vacancies?”

“Welcome. I’ve got one room left if a four-person room is alright with you. How about it?”

The young man at the reception replied. It seemed all the other rooms were already taken.

I glanced at Shizuku-san, and since she nodded, we decided to stay.

“We’ll take it, please.”

“Right on. Here’s the key. The room is on the second floor, at the very end of the hall on the right. You can eat in the dining hall over there.”

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“Thank you. We’ll come down for dinner once we’ve dropped off our luggage.”

We went to the room first to put our things down.

That said, most of the belongings of the three of us were in my Storage, so we only had the bare minimum on hand, but I wanted to see the room, so I accompanied Shizuku-san.

“So that is Storage Magic? That is quite an incredible spell.”

“But I’ve heard some merchants can use it too?”

“I think Fiene-sama may be the only Saint who can use Storage Magic.”

“Heeey, enough with that talk, let’s go eat already!”

Lu-chan seemed to be quite hungry. It looked like we’d better hurry. We headed straight for the dining hall.

After taking our seats and ordering several dishes, we waited for a while.

When the young man from before brought our food, I decided to bring up the main subject.

“I believe a woman named Safiya-san married into this inn. Is she doing well?”

“Ah, Safiya is my wife.”

Apparently, he was the husband in question.

“Um, is it possible to meet Safiya-san?”

“That’s impossible right now.”

“Then, when will we be able to meet her?”

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“Hmm, I couldn’t say.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Because my wife is currently out serving the Town Mayor. I have no idea when she’ll return.”

“Err…?”

What? What is this guy talking about?

“As I said, she is serving at the Town Mayor’s place. When she returns is for the Town Mayor to decide. How could someone like me possibly know?”

Hmm, I have no idea what he’s talking about.

“Um, Safiya-san’s parents are very worried about her…”

“Then please tell them. Tell them she has properly gone to serve the Town Mayor.”

“I see. Um, have you not seen your wife?”

“Isn’t that obvious? She’s serving the Town Mayor, so of course I haven’t.”

Did she marry into some kind of weirdo’s family?

“Um, aren’t you lonely?”

“Lonely? What do you mean?”

“You can’t see your wife, right?”

“Haha, what are you talking about? For my wife to serve the Town Mayor is nothing short of an honor.”

“Eeeeh…”

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This is hopeless. I can’t get through to him.

“Will that be all? I have work to do, so if you’ll excuse me.”

With that, the husband of the woman we were looking for departed.

“Hmm, what do you think?”

“That man is the worst. I feel like cutting him down and tossing him aside.”

“In my eyes as well, that man did not seem sane.”

Lu-chan was munching away.

She looked at us and let out a strange “fueh” sound, so when I gestured for her to keep eating, she went back to munching.

Since Lu-chan looked perfectly happy just eating, let’s continue this discussion without her.

“I wonder what ‘serving the Town Mayor’ actually entails.”

“Indeed. I just hope it isn’t anything improper…”

Chris-san echoed my doubt.

Then, the person who should have the answer appeared from an unexpected place.

Suddenly, the dining hall doors swung open, and a well-dressed man wearing glasses walked toward us.

“You must be the traveling women. I am Felhi, the Town Mayor. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

And then, the man himself showed up.