Five

After riding Amy's horse, I became curious about various things, so I decided to ask Guel-san.

"Um, Guel-san."

"Hmm? What's up?"

"Why are you and your group going to the Comprehensive Guild?"

"Huh? Didn't we discuss our purpose?"

"Well... no, I don't think we did."

Fortunately, Lizlina remembered.

"Oh, right, we didn't discuss it. Our purpose is to inspect the branch of the Comprehensive Guild."

Inspection? Wait a minute! That sounds suspicious!

"If it's just an inspection, couldn't your subordinates handle it?"

The moment Guel-san heard my words, he furrowed his eyebrows.

"This time, it became a situation where the Duke must be present."

Huh? What do you mean?

"It seems the local nobles have been causing trouble for the Comprehensive Guild, and there's a possibility of corruption within the guild itself. So, the Chairman of the Comprehensive Guild came out to investigate."

"E-Excuse me, Amy-san, what do you mean? The Chairman of the Comprehensive Guild, could it be..."

"Duke Bardek is not only the Chairman of the Comprehensive Guild on this continent but also the Chairman of the Comprehensive Guild for the entire Relevant Continent. Ellaina, didn't you know?"

There's no way I could have known that on my first day of reincarnation! Besides, isn't the Chairman of the Comprehensive Guild quite an important person?

"W-W-Wha...?"

I was left speechless by Lizlina's explanation.

"Alright, we've arrived... Huh?"

Oh my... It's the Comprehensive Guild.

"Hmm? It's pretty noisy inside. Did something happen?"

Is it a fight? No, that doesn't make sense. The voices I can hear leaking out sound more like a tense situation. Could it be...?

I felt a shiver down my spine, so I turned around hastily, and Guel-san and the others had transformed into completely different people.

"Duke Bardek."

Guel-san signaled something to the Duke with his eyes.

"Well, Ellaina-san, would you mind lending me your strength?"

Huh, really? More trouble? Gender change due to reincarnation, then almost being put into the Duke's suspicious carriage... how many times is it today?

"If it's okay with me, I'll help."

I said that, but I really wanted to refuse.

"Thank you. Now, let's go!"

For now, I stashed ACE32, my main weapon, in the armory, as I didn't want to accidentally hit any civilians. I drew JERICHO941PSL from its holster as I followed Duke Bardek.

While following Duke Bardek, I quickly prepared myself. As we entered the Comprehensive Guild, the sounds of shouting and screaming were much clearer than when we were outside. What I witnessed there was a flashy man in expensive-looking clothes kicking a man who seemed to be a guild employee and yelling at the counter.

"Do you idiots understand!? If you don't listen to what I say, you'll end up like him!"

"Do you even realize what you're doing!? Just because you're the lord of this town doesn't mean you can commit such crimes! We're issuing an arrest warrant!"

The guild employee at the counter protested, but the flashy man, with a despicable smile, showed a bloody knife to the employee and started saying crazy things.

"What? What's this? You commoners dare speak to me, the lord, like this? Are you listening? If you don't listen to me, you'll meet the same fate!"

"You're no longer a lord. It's no longer acceptable, no matter how much you rule this town. We're issuing an arrest warrant!"

The guild employee continued to protest, but the flashy man, who finally turned towards us, still had his knife pointed at the guild employee.

"Why can you decide that? Isn't it the duty of the nobility to judge criminals?"

Duke Bardek, with an angry expression, said that he had passed his limit and looked astonished.

"Do you even know what you're saying? Are you an idiot? I'm the lord of this town! That means I am the law! Therefore, you are all sentenced to death for defying me! Guildmaster, you and that damn clerk!"

Finally turning towards us, the flashy man froze like he had ice water poured on his head when his knife, which he had been pointing at us, flew somewhere.

At first, he didn't understand what had happened. With a face showing that he didn't understand what was happening, he looked at his right hand. The moment he saw his right hand, his face twisted in pain, and he began to scream with tears in his eyes.

This guy is truly an idiot. If he wanted to escape, he shouldn't have let go of the knife he was using to threaten others. To be honest, it was easy to shoot him.

"You! What are you doing? Put your hands behind your head and lie down slowly! If you don't do as I say, I'll shoot again!"

"Wh-Who are you... to decide my fate..."

While visibly terrified, the idiot, instead of tears, was now producing sweat and mucus from his face as he started speaking.

"Are you still talking at a time like this? Move away from there now! Do you want this civilian to die in vain?"

Guel-san said, stopping and gesturing to his subordinates to apprehend the idiot.

"Carry him here in front of me!"

After taking care of the idiot, Duke Bardek ordered, "You will be interrogated and tried later. Depending on the circumstances, you might escape the death penalty if you're lucky, but you won't avoid serious charges. Do you have anything to say?"

"I-I didn't... do anything wrong... It's all their fault! It's Reivis's fault! Levait's fault!"

After all this, you still want to talk? Take this criminal away!"

Upon Duke Bardek's instructions, Guel-san replied with a "Understood!" and took the idiot away.

"Now, all that's left is to investigate the damage to this guild. Oh, Ellaina, thanks to you, we managed to catch that guy. Thank you."

"No, please don't mention it... Haa..."