After returning to the castle, I invited Rinphia to my room and sat down on the sofa facing her.
"I want to thank you again, Rinphia. If it weren't for you, I would have died."
"Is that so? The assassin didn't intend to kill you. If that's the case, the butler behind you might have intervened in time."
"Still, I didn't get hurt. Thank you."
"It's for my own sake. And I prefer actions over words for gratitude."
Rinphia said this without changing her expression. She's such a cool kid. Her speech is calm, and she doesn't show much emotion. As a solo adventurer, she might lack a bit of charm, but her ability to get by shows her strength.
"Alright. Let's hear your story."
"Thank you. The village I was born in is near the southern border of the empire. If I say it's a refugee village, you can probably guess what it's like, right?"
Refugee village.
I frowned at the words. I thought it would be a troublesome matter, but it turned out to be even more complicated.
Refugees are people who have flowed in. They are not originally from the empire. They are people who have been driven from their homes due to wars or the emergence of monsters. That's what refugees are.
"Of course, I can guess. It's a tough problem for me. Please continue."
"Yes. As you know, refugee villages exist in various places, but most are not recognized by the empire. It's natural, since they entered and built villages without permission. I don't intend to complain about that. My village is one of them. But... we need the empire's help now."
"Is there a problem?"
"That's right. Our village is a target for kidnappers. Young girls and children are being kidnapped. The reason is that our village is made up of multiple refugee groups. Many people, including me, are mixed-race."
Being mixed-race isn't that rare.
If I say so, I'm mixed-race too.
Black hair isn't rare in the empire, but having black eyes as well is a bit rare. It's the kind of rarity that makes you think, "Maybe they're from the east." But that's not enough to be a reason for kidnapping.
"What has happened in your village due to being mixed-race?"
"...Heterochromia."
The moment I heard that, I thought, "I knew it." Being mixed-race and a target for kidnapping can only mean one thing: the child of a sub-human.
I sighed and crossed my legs. It's a nasty story. Heterochromia is a special condition where the eyes have different colors. The problem is that such children are traded for high prices. They are rare and usually have high magical power.
"If it's human trafficking, we can't ignore it. But the southern border is a remote area. I think it would be faster to talk to a local lord or military official in a nearby large city rather than coming all the way to the capital?"
"I did. But no one took action. They said there was no evidence, and in the end, they said such a village doesn't exist... So I left the village to seek help from influential people in the capital. Fortunately, I don't have heterochromia. When I received a request in the west, I met Silver. There was a rumor that Silver was connected to the royal family, so I came to the capital to visit Silver. In the end, I met you before that."
"That's quite a coincidence. But no one took action..."
The worst-case scenario flashed through my mind. The most troublesome situation in this problem.
It's that the local lord or military officials are involved with the kidnapping organization. If that's the case, it's no longer just a refugee village issue.
It becomes a problem of noble and military corruption.
And if that's the case, I don't have the time to solve it.
"Lord Arnolt, even if it's a request from a person who saved your life, you should say no if it's impossible."
"Sebastian..."
"Why?"
"Lord Arnolt and his younger brother, Lord Leonard, will soon go to another country as a full-power ambassador and his assistant. They won't return for at least half a month, and it could be several months. There's no time to help even if you want to."
"I see... Then, can you at least provide financial assistance? I've given rewards to adventurers I trust to guard the village. So the village is safe for now. But my village doesn't have the money to hire adventurers for a long time. I've given the money I earned as a down payment, but it's not enough to keep them there permanently..."
I see. You became an adventurer for that reason.
To earn money and find trustworthy adventurers. The best way to do that is to go on quests together.
You're quite thoughtful.
Now, what should I do?
It's easy to abandon you. I don't need to take on such a troublesome problem during this busy period.
Even if you're a person who saved my life, that's just a surface-level story. I wasn't really in mortal danger. Besides, there are requests that can be made and those that can't.
This one is definitely the latter.
But if I abandon you, there will be a few people who will complain. It's even more troublesome if they take action on their own.
There's no choice.
"Rinphia. I understand your story. Can I suggest a compromise?"
"A compromise?"
"Yes, I and Leonard will go to another country. That can't be avoided. But when we return, we'll do our best to help. I hope you can wait until then. Of course, I'll send a new request to trustworthy adventurers to ensure the village's safety until then. I'll cover the costs. How does that sound?"
"Is that okay...?"
"Lord Arnolt... It's too dangerous. We are in the middle of a struggle for the throne. Taking on other problems will create vulnerabilities. Something like today could happen again."
"In that case, I will assist you. How about that?"
Saying this, Rinphia placed her sword on the table.
It looks like a thin sword, but as I saw earlier, it's a magic sword that can change shape into a spear or shield. Judging from the spear's abilities, each form likely has its own unique abilities.
After showing this, Rinphia said without changing her expression:
"If you protect the village, I will protect you. I will protect what you want to protect. In that case, can we make a deal? I'm not boasting, but I'm good at protecting important people."
"Thank you for the offer, but is it okay to leave the village?"
"If you send adventurers, it shouldn't be a problem. The kidnappers aren't skilled. When I was in the village, I could protect it alone. An A-class adventurer can ensure the village's safety."
You're a principled and cautious kid to say such things.
You're considering the possibility that I might not act on my words and are offering to stay by my side.
In fact, I was considering that possibility depending on the situation. That's why I used the ambiguous phrase "do our best to help."
Is this a good catch?
Let's test it a bit more.
"Rinphia. In that case, what would you do if I broke my promise?"
"I would take materials that would be disadvantageous to you and run to another camp. I would use that as a reward to save the village."
Sebastian and I looked at each other.
An A-class adventurer with combat skills to handle many situations and some negotiation skills. She can live as an adventurer and has a lot of knowledge.
I can't keep relying on Elna to guard Fina. Elna has her own missions.
Thinking about it, Rinphia is the perfect candidate to fill that gap.
To be honest, she seems more suited to the role of a bodyguard than Elna, both in terms of personality and ability.
"What if I say no to the deal?"
"In that case, it's fine. I'll take the same story to other candidates for the throne. If I add that you refused, they will likely accept."
"Hmm..."
She has the ability to read the situation.
Her calmness, even in this situation, is a point in her favor. Rinphia is in a tight spot right now.
If I refuse, Rinphia will definitely be in a difficult situation. Other candidates for the throne might not offer the same conditions. Rinphia is confident they will accept, but she's just saying it strongly. It's a bluff.
Still, Rinphia doesn't flinch and doesn't try to get closer to me.
She knows she's being tested.
"Sebastian, what do you think?"
"I think it's perfect. If she can help, she will be a strong ally. However, the village's issue must be resolved."
"Let's weigh the options... I have no choice. I have no other options. Rinphia, I'll accept your deal. You will help me, and I will help you. Is that okay?"
"I have no problem with that... But why do you have no other options?"
"My younger brother is a good person. The daughter of the duke, our greatest supporter, is too. If I abandon you, they will be angry and might try to help you on their own. It's better to help you from the start."
"...I'm honestly surprised. Your reputation was not good. Incompetent and lazy. A dissolute prince who only plays. A prince who has been drained of all his good qualities by his younger brother. Many people judged you that way. But the impression I got from talking to you is the opposite. You are not incompetent or lazy. Could you be Prince Leonard?"
Rinphia looked at me with a slightly suspicious gaze.
I chuckled.
I forgot to act incompetent because the problem was so troublesome. This makes me even more reluctant to let Rinphia go.
"Rest assured. I am Arnolt. Anyway, the deal is done. I look forward to working with you, Rinphia."
"...I look forward to working with you too."
With that, Rinphia and I shook hands firmly.
Starting from the next chapter, Al and Leo, with their new companion, will finally venture out as their influence grows!
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