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Translator: Kell | Editor: Weasalopes
Unken’s Secret
「Wait, Pond? The town in Ponsonia? Guildmaster?」
Alice’s gaze went back and forth between Unken and Hikaru. Hikaru couldn’t be mistaken as he checked the man’s Soul Board. There couldn’t be anyone else with the same name who had the exact same stats.
「So you’re from Ponsonia.」Unken asked Hikaru, feeling tension all over his body.
Hikaru himself deepened his voice a bit so he wouldn’t get exposed.
「Who knows? It doesn’t matter where I’m from, does it?」
「How much do you know?」
「All I know is that the blockhead right there snuck into Margrave Grugschilt’s mansion, got busted, and ran all the way here.」
「………」
Unken scowled at Alice. She turned pale, looking at Hikaru as if to say “This isn’t what we planned!”
「I just want to know why you, a Ponsonian guildmaster, are working for the Empire.」
「Why do you want to know that?」
Various theories were probably being formed in Unken’s head right now as to who this boy was. But there should be plenty of people who knew he worked as a guildmaster in Pond. When it came to information, Hikaru had the overwhelming advantage.
「I’m just curious.」
「You’re taking a risk just to satisfy your curiosity? Good one.」
「I don’t think there’s any risks involved at all. You two don’t stand a chance against me.」
「I like your confidence, but are you sure there’s only two of us here?」
Hikaru knew right away that Unken was bluffing. His Mana Detection told him there was no one else around. Although he wouldn’t be able to detect those with three or more points on Mana Obfuscation or those who had special magic items that blocked detection Skills. But even Unken only had two points on his.
「I am.」
「How ridiculous.」
「I’ll know if reinforcements arrive too.」
Unken clicked his tongue.「He has Detection, huh?」he muttered. Most people knew about Detection Skills.
「You shouldn’t rely on your job classes. This isn’t a place for kids. Go home.」
「I’m not leaving until you answer my question. I’m sure anyone would be curious why the man who killed the Tyrant is working for the Empire.」
Various emotions showed on Unken’s face. Hikaru simply baited him, but it seemed to be true. Jill guessed right. Fifty years ago, Emperor Balzard—who was known as a tyrant—planned to invade other nations, Ponsonia included. But he was assassinated. And by whom, nobody knew.
「What?! Master Keikai killed the Emperor?! What do you me—」
Unken swung his dagger towards his disciple standing beside him, Alice. The attack was spontaneous, but his movements were clean and sharp. But right before his blade could slit Alice’s neck, sparks flew. A stone that Hikaru hurled hit the dagger’s grip, and the weapon dropped to Unken’s feet.
「Wha…?」Alice stood there, dumbfounded. Her mind couldn’t keep up with the sudden turn of events.
「What are you just standing there for?! Get away from him! He almost killed you!」
「Wh-What…? Master… why?」
「Because you learned a top-secret information!」
Unken quietly reached for his dagger. He was serious. He really wanted to kill Alice.
Was it really that bad if someone found out? Of course, it’s not something you can talk about openly. But did he really have to kill his student for it? Without even hesitating a bit? Hikaru couldn’t tell.
「Don’t move, Unken.」Hikaru aimed his revolver loaded with a bullet containing dark magic.「If you pick that up, you’re dead.」
「I haven’t seen that weapon before. But it seems you’re serious.」
Unken most likely realized from Hikaru’s aura that it wasn’t just a threat. The old man had four points on Instinct as well. He pulled his fingers away from the dagger and showed his empty hands to Hikaru.
「Get away from him, stupid spy.」
「B-But…!」
「Just move! Quick!」
「Okay!」
Hikaru would’ve killed Alice earlier if he deemed her dangerous. And now he was trying to save her. The whole situation was too ridiculous to even be funny.
「Haha. You’re a nice boy. I see. So you led him here, Alice.」
「N-N-No, I didn’t!」
Alice stood ten meters away, but Hikaru could clearly see her panicking. If he could, he’d tell her to quit being a spy. She was too easy to read, definitely not fit for this line of work.
「Well, it doesn’t matter. What do you want, kid?」
「I told you. I just want an answer to my question.」
「You’re a man of few wants. Though I suppose wanting to learn the truth is being greedy.」
「So will you answer my question or not?」
「Very well. Alice.」
「Yes, Sir!」Alice straightened up.
「If you learn about what I’m going to say, you will either spend the rest of your life working for the Empire, or be chased until you die. Are you fine with that?」
「Of course not!」
「Then go. Forget about what the boy said just now, and I will forget it as well.」
「I already forgot everything! Nothing happened today!」
Alice turned her back on them and ran as fast as she could. She disappeared into the darkness in no time at all. With his Mana Detection, Hikaru could tell she took the shortest direction to get away as far as possible, without hesitating for a moment.
「She’s done in this type of work.」
「Yeah, right. You just tried to kill her.」
「How’d you stop me earlier? Don’t tell me you just threw that stone on the spur of the moment. That would be a superhuman feat.」
That’s exactly what he did. Though Hikaru couldn’t tell him he had ten points on Throwing, of course.
「Forget about me. Let’s hear the truth right now.」
「No need to be in such a hurry, Hikaru.」
「…Wha?」
Hikaru was caught off-guard after Unken called his name.
「Haha. That was a bad move. You shouldn’t let your discomposure show. When you’re fighting and your life’s on the line, it could lead to a fatal mistake.」
Hikaru didn’t want Unken to correctly identify him. The old man might’ve baited him too. His four points on Instinct could have played a huge part. Still he mentioned his name right at the offset.
「A kid with this much skill? You’re the only one that came to mind. Take it as a compliment.」
「Why, thank you.」
「You were able to kill the Red-horned Rabbit so efficiently because of your ability to conceal your presence and your Detection.」
「No one’s stupid enough to show their cards.」
「I taught you how to dissect, didn’t I?」
「That was your job as the guildmaster.」
「You really never run out of things to say…」Unken muttered.「Whatever. I’m no longer Pond’s guildmaster.」
「Really?」
「I resigned. From now on, I’m working full-time for the Empire. If you really want to know, I’ll tell you… How I killed Emperor Balzard, a relative of mine.」