The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

The treasure chest monster, Mimic. Also known as Box Shifter.

Among monsters with shapeshifting abilities, it's probably the one adventurers encounter the most. It's the kind you're sure to see in the shallow layers of any dungeon.

Mimics are actually blood-sucking monsters with hardly any gastric juices. They don't have digestive organs capable of dissolving solid objects like human flesh, so they can store anything that fits within their large volume - this rarely used trivia is just a bit of humor.

So even if a beginner mistakenly sticks their body into a Mimic, at worst they'll only get bitten a few centimeters deep and won't die.

The way to spot a Mimic's disguise is very simple.

To begin with, it's impossible for a treasure chest to appear in a dungeon without defeating a floor boss. Treasure chests are an important resource of the dungeon, so except for very important places, all materials simply drop as they are.

By the way, since only ignorant novice adventurers fall for Mimics, in adventurer circles, getting bitten by a Mimic is jokingly called "blood donation".

Of course, I too once found a Mimic and got excited thinking it was like in a game. But after my master taught me how to spot them and about their ecology, I started ignoring them all.

Because Roze said, "Those are like leeches in the shape of a treasure chest." Even the simple treatment for when you get bitten (fumigating with fire or tobacco smoke) is the same as for leeches, so after that, I could only see them as square leeches. I can't stand leeches physiologically.

For these reasons, veteran adventurers rarely approach Mimics.

I had even forgotten the trivia about being able to put things inside them.

"'Full Survey'... Mm, found it. Over there."

So when we immediately had Elen search, it seems there's a Mimic above ground.

The fact that a monster usually only seen in dungeons is deliberately in the city is highly suspicious. When we were quickly guided to where the Mimic was hiding, Cardel gave a wry smile.

"This is a coincidence. This place happens to be a dark guild base."

It was an unremarkable three-story building not far from the bustling downtown area.

"Is this perhaps the one you were planning to take down this afternoon?"

"That's right. Well, it saves us some trouble."

"By the way, what kind of guild is it?"

"A jack-of-all-trades. Killing, theft, extortion, loan sharking... They hire people with skeletons in their closets who can't become adventurers and do indiscriminate business."

"Sounds like a typical dark guild."

People with criminal records can't become adventurers after all.

It might sound good to say they're providing job opportunities for such people, but what they're doing is just crime. Naturally, if information reaches the Knight Order, they'll be purged.

If that's the case, no consideration is needed. I immediately check every corner with my "Eye of Illusion".

Bingo. There's a Mimic in the basement, and a large jewel - the labyrinth core - is hidden inside it.

"What should we do? Raid immediately?"

"No... I'll call the Knight Order. No matter how important I am, procedures are necessary."

"Then we'll keep watch and wait."

"I'm counting on you."

Saying that, Cardel disappeared into the back alley.

When it was just our party members left, Seori immediately tugged at my sleeve.

She's fidgeting for some reason.

"M-Master... My body has lost resistance to dazzling light, so I must consume darkness. But because I consumed too much darkness, there's a slight anomaly in my abdomen... This is probably poison that's been planted..."

"You need to go to the toilet, right? Just go to a public restroom quickly."

I could tell through our familiar communication that she'd been holding it in for a while.

"B-But I am a denizen of the dark world... I don't understand the world of light well."

"Yes, yes. Saaya, I'm counting on you."

"Okay~ Come on, Seori, let's go."

Saaya walks away, leading Seori by the hand. Do your best, Saaya. If you get lost on the way, Seori will probably wet herself. She's at her limit.

"Ruruk, is it okay to kill when dealing with a dark guild?"

"We should ask Cardel-san about that. But they probably want to capture them alive for information."

"I see... A no-kill restriction is hard on Nagi."

Nagi looks a bit dissatisfied.

She couldn't participate in the bandit subjugation the other day either, so she must be quite stressed. Nagi isn't so much wanting to kill bad guys as she is dissatisfied with not being able to participate in combat... Right? I hope that's the case.

By the way, since it's still early morning, Punisuke is sleeping on top of Elen's head. It doesn't look like he'll wake up anytime soon. Elen, of course, is full of enthusiasm. I hope she gets to participate.

After waiting for a while, Cardel returned with many knights and soldiers, and Saaya returned with Seori at the same time.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. How's the situation inside?"

"No particular movement. They don't seem to have noticed us either."

I'm using x-ray vision, but there are only about ten men inside the building. They're all relaxed, so they probably don't even dream that they're surrounded.

Besides those here, about ten more soldiers are surrounding the building, so all that's left is to raid.

"Alright, shall we do this? Quain, I'm counting on you."

"Yes, sir!"

The knight leading the soldiers, whom Cardel called out to, confirmed everyone's positions and then addressed the soldiers.

"As shared earlier, we'll capture everyone inside. Resistance is expected, but try to take them alive as much as possible. Also, there's thought to be a Mimic in the basement, but leave that to Cardel-sama. Report immediately if you find the entrance to the basement."

"Yes, sir!"

"Now then, all units — charge!"

Knight Quain shouted while casting wind magic.

The door was blown off with a loud noise, and almost simultaneously, the soldiers rushed in.

Wow, they've got momentum— Wait, Elen is floating in the air!?

Elen is walking in the sky, using Air's Rock as a foothold to reach the second-floor window.

Walking in mid-air, are you a magician or what? The onlookers around are staring wide-eyed in amazement, can't you show a little restraint?

"'Lightning Bomb'"

"Gyaaah!"

She's throwing magic through the window.

I mean, it's true she wouldn't be able to fight if she followed the knights now, but... still, her method of getting ahead is novel, to say the least.

"Kah kah kah! I've never seen someone solidify air to use as a foothold. How interesting!"

Cardel is laughing heartily.

...Well, I guess it's fine. There aren't any strong opponents here to satisfy Elen's combat desire, but it's better than her building up frustration. Moderate release is very important.

Taking advantage of that moment, we and Cardel entered from the front, found the stairs, and infiltrated the basement.

There was a Mimic in the basement, so I kicked it, and it convulsed and spat out its contents.

"Here it is, here it is. No doubt about it, it's the labyrinth core."

Cardel nodded with satisfaction.

"Then I'll carry it. Where should I take it?"

"For now, let's take it to the guild. We need procedures to transport it into the royal palace."

"Understood."

It's a state secret after all.

As far as taking it to the guild goes, we can pass it off as a big crystal, but we can't do that with the royal palace. There will probably be baggage checks too.

I wrapped the labyrinth core in cloth and carried it on my back, then returned to the first floor.

Not much time had passed, but all the fighting on the upper floors had ended, and all the dark guild members had been captured.

The guys on the second and third floors where Elen had thrown her magic were all singed and had afros.

"Cardel-sama, we've suppressed them as planned. There are no injuries on our side."

"Good work. Well, I have some business at the guild, so I'll leave the rest to you. The other one is still scheduled for the afternoon, right?"

"Of course. Then I'll report to the commander... no, the vice-commander. Excuse me."

Quain saluted sharply and ran out of the building.

He seems like a serious knight.

"Well then, let's head back to the guild. Is teleportation okay?"

"Ah, please do."

"Elen is... oh, she's back. Welcome back."

"Mm."

"Alright. 'Spatial Transfer'."

"We're here, we're here. Man, this is convenient."

At first, he used to say things like "This is why young people..." or "If you don't use your feet, you'll age faster" even for short-distance transfers, but as soon as he started using teleportation himself, he stopped saying anything. How fickle.

"Dyna, we're back."

When we returned to the Guildmaster's room, Daisoma stood up from his desk.

"Did you find it?"

"Yes. Ruruk, if you would."

"Here it is."

I unwrap the cloth and place it on the table.

It looks like a transparent crystal. It's a bit larger than Bargia's labyrinth core, but it doesn't seem to have much magic power stored.

"You did well to find it. I'm grateful."

"It's thanks to Mamared-sama. Is the quest complete now?"

"Yes. I'll give you the reward. Please wait a moment."

Daisoma took out a bag of gold coins from the safe in the corner of the room.

After receiving the agreed-upon reward and storing it in my item box, Cardel interjected.

"You're free to go now. Sorry for calling you out so suddenly. Will you be active in Bargia again for a while?"

"That's the plan for everyone except me. We're still in the middle of clearing the dungeon."

"Oh? Ruruk, you're staying here?"

"Yes... I can leave the training of my companions to Elen, so I want to set up a base here and learn more about the royal capital."

With what happened this time, there are various things I want to investigate.

It's likely to be personal research, so I can't make my companions accompany me.

"I see. Do you plan to show your face at the guild?"

"I think I'll show up somewhere every day. I still have classes, and I'm worried about Nichika-san too."

"Oh? So you're weak to beautiful women too, huh?"

"It's for Suimoku's sake. Well, I won't deny being weak to beautiful women."

I shrug my shoulders.

Though my preference is for reliable adult women. Nichika is a beautiful girl with a good figure, but it's a different genre.

"Well, do as you like. I basically don't leave the royal palace unless something like this happens. Take care next time we meet."

"Yes. Take care."

Cardel waves her hand casually. She's implicitly telling us to get out quickly.

She probably wants to have a private conversation with Daisoma. Of course, I have no intention of getting involved in this theft incident or political matters, so I quietly left the room and went down the stairs.

Maybe because it's daytime, the guild was relatively quiet. There were only a few parties eating lunch, and hardly any request forms on the quest board. Really, the adventurers in this country are such hard workers.

"What should we do for lunch? Eat here and go back?"

"Well... Let's make it a choice between here, the guild in Bargia, or eating while walking through the street stalls."

"Yes! I want to eat while walking!"

"Mm, agree."

"Me too!"

"Nagi agrees too."

"Hmph, I am master's shadow. Where master goes, I am."

The majority vote is 4 for street stalls and 1 abstention. It's decided then.

Having completed our quest, we were going to spend some leisurely time before returning to Bargia.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

"Well, well, if it isn't the country duke. Have you changed your office from the knight quarters to the prison?"

On the third day of being in the special prison.

Still without any proper explanation, meals were simply being brought in routinely.

While it was unavoidable that he couldn't fulfill his duties as a knight, Gavin wanted to at least avoid his body getting dull. However, the only things he could do in prison were meditation and muscle training, so today again, Gavin was doing one-armed handstand pushups.

At such a time, there was an unexpected visitor.

A man with glasses and a wide forehead - if he remembered correctly, Duke Akuninaru.

His father, who was clearly being addressed with words of contempt, answered without opening his eyes from his meditation.

"...What business does the Chief Financial Officer have in a place like this?"

"I just came to see how you were doing. A poor comrade who has been suspected of treason against the state for overeating."

"Is that so. I apologize for being such a boring spectacle."

"No, no, it's more amusing than I thought. Watching a beast whose only merit is brute strength caged up, you know. Hahaha!"

He's clearly mocking them.

His father remained silent without changing his expression, but Gavin almost lost his balance out of anger. Damn, focus, focus.

"But it's ridiculous, isn't it? To think that the country duke, whose only pride was his strong loyalty, would be suspected of going against the state."

"It's a trivial matter. We are merely showing our loyalty."

"You can say anything with your mouth. Do you know? Right now, you Muuteru family is the talk of the social circles. The head of the family and his son are imprisoned, the next head has gone missing in a distant place, and the remaining sons are living in shame, scorned by others. Knights are creatures that can do nothing when their brawn is sealed, aren't they?"

Missing...?

For Gavin, his eldest brother Lalahaine was a respectable brother. Strong and straightforward, the very image of what a knight should be. Lalahaine is missing? He couldn't believe it.

Gavin had unconsciously walked up to the iron bars.

"W-What do you mean, Lord Akuninaru! What's this about my brother being missing!"

"Hm? It's nothing more than a knight with only lineage to his name becoming monster food somewhere, isn't it? Hahaha, the Muuteru family is on the verge of collapse."

"That's impossible! There's no way my brother was eaten by monsters... My brother is strong, much stronger than me! Take that back!"

"Hey, who do you think you're talking to? Don't get cocky just because you're favored by Princess Maple. This is why muscle-brained families are..."

Duke Akuninaru frowned and averted his eyes as if looking at filth.

Then his father opened one eye and said,

"Did you enjoy your sightseeing of this muscle-brained family? The view from up high must be quite pleasant."

"...Hmph. I was thinking of putting in a good word with His Majesty depending on your attitude, but it was a complete waste of time. Excuse me."

Duke Akuninaru left, throwing those words behind him.

Honestly, even Gavin could tell that those words were a lie. He probably just came to see the faces of people he disliked suffering and to clear his mood.

The prison became quiet again.

That night, Gavin had trouble falling asleep, worried about Lalahaine and his other siblings.