Chapter 92

We returned from the forest after confirming Tetti's race and the spirit.

We walked down the main street of the capital in the afternoon.

Tetti and I held hands, and the beautiful elf Cheryl walked behind us.

People on the street gave us second glances, perhaps thinking Tetti and Cheryl were too beautiful and cute.

I was a little worried they might think we were a family.

But Liricia wouldn't mind, I guess.

---

As we turned into a side street to head to the shop, we found a strange stall.

Two thug-like men were setting up a stall in front of a closed store, using boards and pillars.

Next to them was a wooden box containing small bottles.

Tetti exclaimed in her cute voice.

"What!? Puchi Eri!?"

Just as she said.

The sign on the stall read "Puchi Eri, Great Sale!"

The price list, not yet displayed, showed 10,000 goats.

I was taken aback by the stall.

It was too early, beyond my imagination. What should I do?

But I couldn't let it go.

The thugs setting up the stall grinned and spoke to us.

"Hey, buy it! It's a universal potion that can bring you back to life even if you die. I'll give you a discount!"

"What are you talking about, it's not a fake!"

"What did you say, you brat! It's definitely the real Puchi Eri!"

"There's no way it could be half price!"

"It's a special item that was rejected during the manufacturing process. But it still works properly?"

"Such---gah!"

I covered Tetti's mouth as she was about to retort.

I dragged her a little away.

The thugs watched us with grins.

---Do they know who Tetti and I are?

Tetti looked up at me, frowning.

"What should we do, Master Alex?"

"Nothing much. We'll handle it normally---but we need a bit of preparation."

I took out my communicator and put it to my ear.

"Kou, did you remake them?"

"Yes, Master. Both the shop and the stock have the Crown seal now."

"Thanks. Is the shop busy now?"

"It's always quiet."

"So it's not busy. Ask Liricia to bring about five bottles. The location is---"

I was about to explain when Kou interrupted.

"I know where the communicator is. I'll tell her."

"Got it, thanks."

I ended the call and told Tetti and Cheryl.

"Tetti, run to the Adventurer's Guild and tell Edgar to come here immediately. Cheryl, call the guards."

"Yes, Master Alex!" "Understood, I'll be right back!"

The two elves left the scene quickly.

The shop was closer in location.

Liricia would probably arrive first.

Actually, setting up a stall in the same back street was a complete obstruction of business.

---Well, let's do it.

I just need to provoke them into starting a fight.

Then I'll show the people and get them to testify as witnesses.

Some people were still glancing at us because of Tetti's earlier outburst, so it should work.

I slowly approached the stall.

I observed the two men closely.

They both looked to be in their thirties, with messy hair, beards, and dirty clothes.

They didn't seem to be the masterminds. They were probably underlings following someone's orders.

At their age, they still seemed to be underlings, just like me, probably not very successful.

So I recalled the things I had been told in the past to provoke them.

"You're trying to make a quick buck by selling fake Puchi Eri."

"Huh? Where's the proof it's fake? I told you, it's a special item."

"There's no such thing as a special item in the manufacturing process. Seriously, are you this old and can only do this kind of job?"

"Wh-what?"

The thugs' grins froze.

I laughed through my nose and continued.

"Is this small job fun for you? 'Living a life of nothing but boring jobs, what's the point?'"

"Are you looking for a fight, you bastard?"

One of the men stepped out of the stall and stood in front of me.

His face was flushed with anger.

"A fight? You're not worth it. 'You'll just fail again. You can't accomplish anything big.'"

"I'll kill you!!"

The man pulled out a knife and lunged at me.

I stepped back and dodged the knife.

He swung wildly in anger, but the knife was too large and easy to avoid.

---All these words were said to me when I failed my mission as a hero.

Maybe I was great for not getting angry.

But I didn't realize they couldn't find me because I had already defeated them.

"Hmph, is that all? 'You might be trying hard, but this doesn't even count as work.'"

"Damn you!!"

His face turned red as he swung the large knife again.

I dodged, and he stumbled and came at me again.

I calmly dodged his attacks while looking around.

People were gathering to be witnesses.

"What's going on?" "Isn't that Master Alex?" "He was attacked first." "Puchi Eri... did he snap?"

Liricia ran over in her white nun's habit, followed by Cheryl with her golden hair flowing and a few guards.

---Alright, that's enough.

I infused my fist with holy energy and said,

"Let's end this---Ha!"

I dodged the large knife and punched the man's stomach hard.

"Ugh!"

The man flew and crashed into a building wall.

He hunched over, holding his stomach.

A healing punch that left no marks.

I could say I didn't use my hands, that he fell on his own.

Seeing the man fall with one hit, the other man tried to run.

"Damn it, I'll remember this!"

The man spat out a line and ran.

However, a tall man with messy hair appeared and blocked his path.

"This area is closed off."

"What, who are you? Get out of the way---Ouch!"

Edgar twisted the man's arm and pinned him to the wall.

Liricia arrived first.

"Master!"

Liricia handed me a small bottle.

I held it up for everyone to see.

"These guys did something they shouldn't have! Can you see? The real 'Puchi Eri' has the Crown seal, approved by the king! They are criminals for counterfeiting it!"

The crowd murmured in surprise.

"What are they doing!" "Oh! The king approved Puchi Eri!" "That's amazing!" "They did something wrong!" "As expected of Master Alex!"

I even heard a clear child's voice.

It was Edgar's team of children, who joined in the agitation without being asked.

I should thank them later.

Then the guards Cheryl brought arrived.

The captain stepped forward.

"What's going on here!"

"Captain, those two were trying to sell fake Puchi Eri with the Crown seal. When I warned them, they attacked me..."

I handed the real Puchi Eri to the captain.

He examined the small bottle closely.

"Is that true!? Let me see... This is the official Crown seal! ---Arrest these men!"

"Sir!"

The guards immediately tied up the thugs.

The men tried to argue.

"No, it's real!" "I've never heard of the Crown seal!"

But the guards asked the crowd for their stories.

"Those men attacked first." "Master Alex is not a bad person." "He's a good person, he even delivered a memento." "He didn't use his hands even when attacked. He's a capable man."

All the testimonies were in my favor.

The men were taken away by the guards, cursing.

The captain looked at me.

"Aren't you the hero Alex?"

"I'm a former hero. If you need a statement, I'll come with you."

"That would help."

"Alright."

I turned to Liricia and Cheryl.

"Liricia, Cheryl, thank you."

"Yes, understood." "It's our duty."

"Thanks to Edgar too. You saved me."

"No problem. ...And I have something to tell you."

"Got it, wait at the shop---Hey, Liricia, where's Tetti?"

"She's still at the Adventurer's Guild."

"I see. It's dangerous for her to be alone, I'll go get her---"

Then one of Edgar's children came over, hiding their face under a hat.

The white blouse and black skirt...

The child spoke in a cute voice.

"I'm here!"

"So Tetti was hiding among them."

"Yep! I came with them."

She looked up and smiled, showing cute dimples.

Liricia chuckled.

"Even in that short time, the children seemed to get along."

"Yeah, they felt similar."

"Ah, that's true."

Edgar's children were orphans.

Tetti had also lived alone for a long time after losing her parents.

In that sense, they were similar.

Edgar, who seemed worried, was looking at Tetti under his messy hair.

---

The captain came over.

"Come with me. I'll take you to the station."

"Alright---Liricia, go home with Tetti."

"Yes, Master. ...Let's go, Tetti."

"Okay!"

Tetti and Liricia left.

I parted ways with them and headed to the station.

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→ 93. Swift Edgar and Spica