I’m Hunting My Enemy - Chapter 31

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

31. Absurd but Convincing (2)

 

Was Glem’s behavior of warning everyone not to enter the swamp actually him being defensive about someone else taking what was his?

 

Ohen had been too negligent in recording people’s appearances and characteristics.

 

He had to pick out Glem from the vague descriptions.

 

[The merchant group that entered the swamp met the same fate as those who had entered before.

 

The surviving mercenaries began using underhanded methods.

 

The number of people infiltrating the temple increased.]

 

Since Glem was the only mercenary she knew, Ryuie imagined and read all the remaining content as being about Glem.

 

[A holy relic was stolen.

 

We caught him before he reached the swamp, confiscated the holy relic, and imprisoned him.

 

The man escaped from prison.]

 

Ryuie, who had suddenly become cheerful, chuckled to herself. Because after that, it was just stories of him causing trouble several more times, stealing, getting imprisoned, and escaping.

 

When the count exceeded three times, Ohen finally seemed to have memorized the mercenary’s name, as Glem’s name began appearing accurately.

 

[Rumors began circulating that the Crown Prince’s ghost had been seen.

 

Upon direct confirmation, his appearance was different from when he was alive.

 

He wore clean, princely attire, as if someone had artificially created him.

 

Glem insisted he was not the Crown Prince, but another mercenary had already testified to seeing him talking with the captain.]

 

‘Ah. My guess was right.’

 

Ryuie had actually thought the priests might have deliberately created Yosua’s apparition.

 

They originally said they managed the swamp and were familiar with magical beasts, so it was to protect the holy relic said to be in the swamp.

 

That’s why the rumors spread even to the capital.

 

But reading the journal, it seemed they had no idea what was going on either.

 

[The rumors began to change into stories about treasure being sunken in the swamp.

 

More new people started coming.

 

The remaining mercenaries could no longer endure and left.

 

Glem was the only one who stayed among them, perhaps because being a swamp guide paid well.

 

We attempted to persuade him, but it didn’t work.

 

We brought him to the temple for nothing and just had another holy relic stolen.]

 

Ryuie read with a smile. She naturally expected the next part to be about going to catch Glem, but the journal’s content suddenly changed.

 

[It would be better not to go to the swamp.

 

We must not go to the swamp.

 

In the swamp, that thing is]

 

“…?”

 

Ryuie shook the journal, wondering if there were missing pages.

 

For the sentence to suddenly cut off like that.

 

Only blank pages came out endlessly, then a small note fell out.

 

It seemed even the owner didn’t know it was tucked in there. It was paper stained with hand marks.

 

[Everything has returned to normal.

 

We no longer pray.

 

He is already listening.]

 

“What is this?”

 

Ryuie turned the note this way and that.

 

The writing was hastily scrawled, and seeing how the note’s surface was corroded, it seemed to have been outside for quite a long time. As if it had been passed around and read.

 

Frowning, Ryuie pondered for a moment, then put the note in her pocket.

 

‘I just need to return the journal.’

 

She planned to have the mages and priests check later if anything else was attached to it.

 

Closing the journal, Ryuie fell into thought for a moment.

 

As expected, the priests here were strange.

 

Perhaps when the Crown Prince talked about giving them freedom, he wasn’t referring to Rkultu but to those priests. The journal also mentioned being reluctant to go to the temple.

 

‘Interesting.’

 

Everything is in the swamp.

 

Monsters and treasure too.

 

‘Maybe Yosua as well.’

 

Ryuie added without much hope.

 

Hope wasn’t her hobby anyway.

 

Only concrete facts that could help catch Yosua mattered.

 

Ryuie rested her head on her knees as she leaned back and closed her eyes.

 

Whether it was because of the warm outside air or because it was news about Yosua she’d learned after so long, drowsiness poured over her.

 

* * *

 

“So you said you received the holy relic from a priest and escaped?”

 

“I saw it with my own eyes.”

 

Bendam and Catsy spoke in turns.

 

Glem sat in front of them in an uncomfortable position.

 

‘Why am I here?’

 

Glem, who had originally intended to act separately, stayed at the temple at Bendam’s request.

 

If Catsy had asked, he would have refused, but Bendam’s request was polite and had clear reasons, making it difficult to decline.

 

The reason he needed him was also appropriate.

 

“In any case, since the young lady has designated you as a reference, we can no longer maintain a casual employment relationship.”

 

Bendam lifted paper and pen with tired eyes.

 

“I’ll quickly confirm only what’s necessary for document preparation.”

 

“Ugh. I really hate this kind of work.”

 

Catsy swung her feet as if it were someone else’s business.

 

“We could have just matched our stories among ourselves, but why do we need to keep records too?”

 

“Documentation. Everything must be documented.”

 

Bendam shook his head and muttered.

 

He was like an ordinary worker suffering from administrative procedures.

 

Feeling awkward, Glem gave an answer born from sympathy.

 

“Well… I’ll help with what I can answer. If it’s something I know.”

 

“Very good.”

 

With a very relieved expression, Bendam rubbed the tip of his quill pen with both hands to soften it.

 

This wasn’t his first or second time handling Ryuie’s aftermath, so his work progressed quickly and skillfully.

 

“Honestly, your escape from the temple will have a huge negative impact on the young lady’s subsequent investigation. Since the temple has also agreed to hand you over, we could slightly change the wording in the official documents, right?”

 

“Hmm. Do as you please.”

 

Glem nodded awkwardly.

 

“Good! Since you received the holy relic from a priest, let’s say it wasn’t an escape but a proper handover procedure returning your belongings. It was a holy relic you used, right?”

 

“It is, but.”

 

“That was stolen in the first place too!”

 

Catsy interjected teasingly.

 

“Isn’t that completely problematic?”

 

“It’s not related to this case, so we can leave it out.”

 

“Wow. As expected.”

 

Catsy, who mouthed ‘villain’ and giggled. Bendam pleaded with a tearful expression.

 

“Please, if your theft is going to be discovered, could you do it after the swamp case is over? Please.”

 

“I’ll try.”

 

Glem, who had become slightly amused, answered. Bendam muttered.

 

“It’s not completely a lie. Since the priest directly returned the holy relic. So we can say the temple cooperated with you.”

 

“Right. Since that head priest named Ohen gave permission, another priest must have returned the holy relic.”

 

“Of course, of course.”

 

“….”

 

Glem’s expression became subtle.

 

‘Could that really have been Ohen’s doing?’

 

If he wanted to release him, he could have just opened the prison with the keys. Ohen was the commander, as those two had said.

 

But to go through the trouble of stealing the holy relic again and returning it to Glem as a way to help him escape.

 

No matter how he looked at it, someone didn’t want Ohen to find out.

 

The problem wasn’t who, but why.

 

What would happen by releasing him again?

 

He was just a former mercenary who now only served as a guide.

 

Besides, he hadn’t been captured by the temple for just a day or two, so there was no reason to change course now.

 

If there was a reason to change, if there was something different from before, it would only be Ryuie.

 

Perhaps they had released him to take Ryuie back to the swamp?

 

After already figuring out that he had been hired by her.

 

Glem’s mood instantly soured.

 

“Speaking of which.”

 

Glem placed his hand on the documents to change the conversation.

 

“Can you find out who the priest was that brought me the holy relic? You said your name was Catsy, right?”

 

“Well.”

 

Catsy answered vaguely.

 

She clearly looked annoyed.

 

“Is that important?”

 

“Could it have been Benito?”

 

With half-certainty, Glem asked again. Catsy seemed to sense something as her answer became more earnest.

 

“Are you asking if that priest who was strangely hitting on our mistress was the one who freed you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“His build was similar.”

 

“You couldn’t see his face? You?”

 

“Even if you’re invisible with a magical device, people get suspicious when robes suddenly get pulled off, you know?”

 

Catsy answered curtly. Bendam coughed awkwardly.

 

“Glem. Is there some problem with that person?”

 

“I just don’t understand why he freed me. Don’t you find it suspicious?”

 

Glem naturally drew Ryuie’s two servants into his concerns.

 

It was possible since they were in the middle of working on documents for Ryuie.

 

‘If he actually touched me and the holy relic, he must be involved. It bothers me.’

 

Of course, Ryuie probably wouldn’t care at all.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————