Episode 57 — The Shield of Logic and the Optimal Shortest Route

The Felsen Adventurers Guild.

Amidst the usual boisterous atmosphere, adventurers were bustling in front of the request board, hunting for today's earnings.

I sat at a table a short distance away, watching Kyle and Lin.

Kyle, with his massive shield, and Lin, who was carefully polishing her magic staff, were staring intently at a request form they’d just been handed at the reception desk.

"...Whoa, are you serious?"

Kyle’s voice cracked as he muttered.

A few nearby adventurers glanced their way at the sound, but quickly returned to their own searches.

The request bore the official seal of Lord Gustav, but what really drew the eye was the heading—

'Direct Commission'

This was a special category usually reserved for national-level crises or hero-ranked parties.

"Hmph," I thought to myself.

"A direct commission... and it names the three of us specifically. Kyle, Lin, and... Meina. ...The Lord must really think highly of us."

Lin puffed out her chest with a hint of pride.

Kyle scratched his head and looked around the room nervously.

"I mean, it’s an honor, but the problem is her. ...Alright, Lin. First, we have to find Meina. She’s always so elusive—"

I stood up silently from my chair, completely killing the sound of my footsteps as I circled behind them.

"I’m right here."

"Gwah!? Whoa!!"

Kyle let out a pathetic cry and jumped.

Lin’s eyes went wide for a second, but she quickly gave a wry smile, as if thinking, "Of course."

"Meina! You really are a ghost! Where did you even spring from!?"

"...The shadows. Regardless, I’m taking that job. I'm in."

I looked down at the request form as I spoke flatly.

I already knew the contents.

Until a few moments ago, I’d been sitting next to that idiot master of mine, listening to the entire explanation of the quest alongside the sound of a potato chip bag being opened.

Investigation and destruction of the headquarters of the 'Black Lodge,' a massive dark guild in the Capital.

To protect his peaceful sleep, the amount of trash that needed to be smashed had simply increased. That was all.

"You're awfully motivated, Meina. ...The job is to investigate and destroy the headquarters of the Black Lodge in the Capital. ...It sounds like it's going to be a real mess. You okay with that?"

At Lin’s question, I lightly touched the hilt of the jet-black sword at my waist.

I could feel the surrounding air turn cold for a brief moment just from that gesture.

"...Cleaning is best done quickly. Before the garbage rots and starts to stink."

Just as Kyle muttered "Terrifying..." under his breath—

An orderly clanking of metal echoed from the guild entrance.

"Wait! Fellow adventurers!"

Bartos appeared, clad in his polished full-plate armor.

However, his usual "charge headlong" aura was nowhere to be found.

Every stride was of a precise length, and there wasn't a single tremor in his movements.

He looked like a trained automaton.

"Master Bartos!? ...Why are you all geared up like that again?"

While Kyle stood there dumbfounded, Bartos pulled a book—Introduction to Logic—from his pouch and held it high.

"I have just been granted permission by Lord Gustav to accompany you on this mission. I shall function as your 'Auxiliary Variable.' ...Please, rest assured. My current Knighthood has been logically optimized. Wasted shouting and wasted charging have already been deleted."

"Auxiliary variable...? Deleted...?"

Lin knit her brows and tilted her head.

...Good grief. Because that man blew all that weird knowledge into him, this Knight Captain is completely broken.

Well, he has the output, at least. He’ll make a decent shield.

"...Fine. But you follow my instructions. If you make a logically wasteful move, I’m leaving you behind."

When I spoke dismissively, Bartos gave a firm nod.

"Understood! Following your lead, Meina, I shall purge the Capital! ...Now, let us depart! Coordinates: The Capital! Travel route: Selecting the shortest distance!"

"Wait, selecting... how...?"

Kyle muttered, but Bartos had already pushed open the guild doors.

Watching his back, Lin spoke softly.

"I don't really get it... but I have a feeling he might actually be reliable."

"I have the exact opposite feeling..."

Kyle trailed off with slumped shoulders, and we followed Bartos out of the guild.

—Meanwhile.

Zect, buried in the Throne of Sloth in his living room, was watching the Bartos party depart with precise strides through his drone's monitor.

"...Ah, and they're off. ...Well, it’ll be quiet for a while now."

Zect stretched contentedly and pulled a bag of potato chips closer.

On the screen, he saw Bartos—having "selected the shortest distance"—ignoring the roads and charging in a straight line through the fields.

"...Well, they’ll be fine."

Zect decided not to worry about it too much.

NEXT→

If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.