I shrug at Gerard.
"Honestly, I fail to see why you care – it's a separate nation. Also, we tried to be nice, and he attempted to kill and enslave my party members. I wasn't about to tolerate that. More importantly, I've only been friendly to the citizens of Elmesia." (Mizuki)
Gerard gives me an annoyed look.
"Don't be naïve, Mizuki. It doesn't matter what he did, he was still the ruler of a country. More importantly, we care because your actions have consequences for Elmesia." (Gerard)
Gerard pulls out an official looking letter and tosses it at me. I give him a curious look.
The letter is addressed towards the council and adventurers' guild of Elmesia. It's from someone named Lord Krandel Severus, on behalf of the Ralzen Empire. I commit the name to memory for later.
After reading through the letter, I look up at Gerard and Levi's party.
"So, the remnants of the Empire's leadership basically told you to apprehend my party and turn us over to them, or else they'd consider your refusal a declaration of war and invade you. That right?" (Mizuki)
Gerard nods solemnly.
"Yes. I somewhat sympathize with the position you were put in, and I don't miss Emperor Belmod either, but we're not about to start a war with the Empire over your actions." (Gerard)
"You can't seriously think that the Empire will leave you alone if you turn my party over to them. Need I remind you that Belmod was likely going to invade Elmesia eventually regardless. They're still going to wage war on you if I'm gone." (Mizuki)
"I'm inclined to agree, but the council of Elmesia decided it would be best to turn your party over to the Empire." (Gerard)
I snort and smirk at Gerard.
"Bold of the council to assume that they'd be able to capture my party. Tell me, you weren't stupid enough to send people after Nina and the others earlier, were you?" (Mizuki)
Gerard shakes his head.
"No, they saw her abilities on her guild profile. So, they heeded my advice that the best strategy was to isolate and capture you. If we turn you over to the Empire, I'm sure that Nina at least would follow you into their hands in a rescue attempt. That would make capturing your party relatively achievable." (Gerard)
Hmm…that's not a bad plan, actually. They can't take me, obviously, and even if they could, Nina could solo an army from the Empire. Still…I'm impressed.
"Well, that's not the worst plan, but it obviously failed. So, what now?" (Mizuki)
"If Levi and his group won't help me subdue you now, and you get away, you'll become a fugitive of Elmesia. There will be an S-rank job and hefty reward for the capture of you and your party. I don't suppose you want to just save us the trouble and turn yourself over now? I'm getting a little old for fighting." (Gerard)
That's not going to work for me. It would be quite inconvenient to not be able to come back to Elmesia or do guild jobs anymore. What a pain…
I roll my eyes at Gerard.
"That's not going to work for me, Gerard. However, I have an alternative proposal." (Mizuki)
Gerard gives me an unamused glare and responds dryly.
"Oh yeah, what's that?" (Gerard)
I smirk at Gerard.
"I think it's about time I met the council. Take me to them, and we'll have a nice chat." (Mizuki)
Gerard and Levi's group all stare at me dumbfounded for several moments.
"You…can't be serious. Even if such a thing were possible on short notice, why would they agree to meet alone with someone they're openly hostile towards?" (Gerard)
"Well, you obviously don't think much of my combat abilities, so just bring Levi's party along for protection. What's the harm? At the very least, it will give you time to mobilize all of Elmesia's forces while Nina and the others are still out. That should guarantee your ability to capture me after the meeting, right? If you phrase it to them that way, they'll probably accept." (Mizuki)
Gerard and the others just give me empty stares. To my surprise, the adventurer I assume is Sylvia snorts and speaks up.
"I thought you weren't going to turn yourself in. Why would you knowingly propose something like this?" (Sylvia)
I turn my attention to her and give a knowing smile.
"Oh, I still have no intention of ending up your prisoner, I assure you. I only stand to gain from meeting with the council." (Mizuki)
Confusion flashes across everyone's faces, and one of the male adventurers narrows his eyes at me.
"I believe Levi when he says you're dangerous, but you'd be an idiot to think you could take all the warriors in Elmesia by yourself." (…)
I shrug towards him and smile.
"If so, what's the harm in indulging an idiot such as myself?" (Mizuki)
The male adventurer becomes nervous. Gerard just sighs deeply.
"I'm putting in a request for retirement after this mess, but fine. If you want to walk yourself to prison, I'm not going to stop you. Let's take you to meet the council, Mizuki." (Gerard)
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
After the meeting with Gerard, I am led to another building within Elmesia by Gerard, Levi and his party, and a couple of guards. It looks like a town hall, and I'm taken to a small roundtable council room. The table has five chairs and I take a seat at one. Everyone except Levi's party leaves, and they take up a stance on the wall.
"Well, isn't this cozy! So, which of you is Rikard?" (Mizuki)
The tallest of the three adventurers, heavily muscled with sandy brown hair, nods towards me. I smile at him, then turn my attention to the other adventurer – an average height guy with a lean frame and dark black hair. That's the one who said I must be an idiot.
"Thanks! So, I guess that makes you Leo, huh? Nice to meet you both!" (Mizuki)
Leo gives me a dubious expression, and Rikard looks surprised as well. Levi just smiles nervously. Sylvia responds sarcastically.
"Nice to meet us, huh? I thought you said earlier that you recognized us from Levi's party." (Sylvia)
I give Sylvia an amused grin.
"Oh my, you're a sharp one. Yes, obviously I lied. I just said that so I could use your reactions to confirm that the extra presence I sensed in the room earlier was Levi." (Mizuki)
Sylvia looks surprised, then narrows her eyes at me.
"That's awfully candid of you. What do you mean you sensed his presence?" (Sylvia)
I smile and shrug.
"Oh, Levi's just a really loud breather! Anyway, I'm being candid with you because I want to build a little trust. After all, when this is all over, I'd like for you four to join my party. What do you think?" (Mizuki)
Those are my true feelings, and I've been thinking of approaching Levi for a while. We need more explicit allies in Elmesia if I want to help stabilize this place in the face of the Empire's wrath. However, I'll need to probe how much I can trust them a little more first.
They all stare at me with their mouths open. Leo gives me a skeptical look.
"Our personal inclinations aside, I believe you're failing to grasp the gravity of your situation. The entirety of the Empire has declared you an enemy, and the council intends to aid them in apprehending you. As of right now, your days as an adventurer are over. Do you really think you're about to talk your way out of it?" (Leo)
Before I can respond, Rikard nods and steps forward.
"Also, I'm sorry to say that we have been asked to take your weapons from you before that meeting. Please hand them over." (Rikard)
Levi looks nervous about the sudden request.
Hmm…that's okay. This might be a good opportunity to make them think twice about attacking me. I'd like to avoid killing them. Right now, they seem to be wary of me only because of Levi, but I doubt that alone will be enough to stop them if things go sideways in this meeting. Plus...I'm curious what they'll do with a bit of sensitive information about me.
I smile mischievously and rise from my chair to face them…my movement immediately sets the rest of them on edge. They're all watching me intently.
I pull my katana and dagger off my utility belt and hold them out in front of me. Rikard looks surprised, and he starts walking towards me cautiously to collect them. However, before he can grab my weapons from me, I open an item box and drop them inside.
Rikard freezes, and everyone in Levi's party is shocked silent. I just smirk and turn my attention to Leo.
"To answer your question, Leo, I have no intention of becoming a fugitive in Elmesia, nor a captive in the Empire. Before this meeting is over, I can assure you that the council will be singing a much different tune. Your opportunity to join my party will still be available then." (Mizuki)
The others remain silent, but Levi just stares at me intently. All signs of lighthearted banter are gone.
"I thought you couldn't use magic, Mizuki." (Levi)
"Oh, I don't believe I ever told you such a thing, Levi. All I said was that the guild's magic assessment concluded that I can't use magic. That is true, and I just haven't bothered to correct anyone. After all, I'd like to keep my magic a secret." (Mizuki)
Levi grows silent, and Sylvia narrows her eyes at me suspiciously.
"If you're keeping such a big secret…why'd you so casually share it with us just now?" (Sylvie)
That's a fair question. The truth is, I think this will help me probe how much I can trust them with confidential information, and it will hopefully make them think twice about attacking me. Even if they tell people, my obscurity isn't long for this world – I can't masquerade as a magic-less weakling forever.
I shrug and cut Sylvie a knowing smirk.
"I'd hate to deprive you of the fun of figuring that out for yourself. Besides…it looks like our time alone is just about up." (Mizuki)
I take a seat back at the table, while the others give me confused looks. Before they can inquire further, however, the door to the council room opens abruptly.
The group includes three people, led by Gerard, and they all take a seat at the table. I'm sure I can't keep the surprise off my face.
"Gerard…Zevy…why didn't you tell me you were part of Elmesia's council!?" (Mizuki)