The Forest Race Clonne

Chapter 105

After that, I mingled with the crowd on the main street. It was nearing the end of the workday, and the streets were bustling with people heading home. Amidst them, a noticeable group stood out. They were sturdy-looking men scanning their surroundings. It seemed they had realized I had disappeared, possibly because I had taken too long to bleach my hair.

However, they didn’t linger long on me. They must not have expected me to disguise myself, as they judged people quickly by their attire and hair color, letting me pass without suspicion.

“Hey, you over there. Stop for a moment.”

“Me? W-what do you want with me?”

“Yeah, you. Take off that hood. Is your hair black?”

“What? Why are you doing this?”

“Hey, I said take off the hood!”

As I passed by the scene where they were harassing an innocent person, it became clear that my disguise had worked. Once I was far enough away, I exhaled the breath I had been holding, and Semeion, who had been tensely waiting in my inner pocket, let out a sigh of relief as well.

“It seems it was a good decision to change my hair color, even if it took some time.”

“Yes, indeed, it was a wise foresight. Are we returning to the inn now?”

“Not yet. There’s something I need to do first.”

“What could that be…?”

Semeion blinked at me with a puzzled look, and I smiled.

“It feels odd that the guilty ones strut around boldly while the innocent hide. Isn’t that strange?”

The most careless moment is often when someone is caught off guard. Since they lost track of me unexpectedly, they would likely be focused solely on finding me for a while.

“And they say the darkest place is under the lamp.”

“I intend to teach them that they aren’t the only ones capable of tailing someone.”

Semeion’s mouth opened in surprise.

“Sei! Do you not understand what ‘a safe place’ means?”

I could almost hear Camille yelling in my head. Of course, I had a response ready for that as well.

‘In a city with the Demonic Beasts, is there really a safe place?’

So, I wasn’t breaking my promise.

Probably.

* * *

As the city sank into darkness, the lights in the buildings gradually went out, and two men emerged. One was the Chief Manager Milon, and the other his assistant.

“Chief Manager Milon, you’ve worked hard today! Have a good evening!”

“Thank you, finish up well. See you tomorrow.”

“Of course! See you tomorrow!”

The two men got into a prearranged public carriage.

“Where to, sirs?”

“Take us to the Elpine Logistics Warehouse in the production district.”

The carriage glided smoothly after receiving its destination. Seated inside, the two men began a quiet conversation.

“You look very tired today. Why don’t you just head home?”

“I’d love to, but I can’t shake off the unease about the one we lost. And we still haven’t figured out what Camille Rouster reported to the Crown Prince after returning.”

The chief manager grumbled with a hoarse voice.

“Whether they noticed the tail or had some other purpose, I can’t stop thinking that the one who got away must be up to something.”

“Didn’t they say everything was fine on their end?”

“They did, but just hearing that report doesn’t put my mind at ease. I have to see for myself that everything is running smoothly to feel satisfied.”

“Oh my, you really are something else. But with such diligence and meticulousness, it’s no wonder you can handle such grand responsibilities. Even the higher-ups will be impressed by your dedication, Sir Milon.”

“Haha, you’re flattering me. I’m just doing what’s necessary as a loyal servant.”

“Your humility is unique to you, Sir Milon.”

As the amicable atmosphere continued, the carriage entered the northern production district. This area, filled with manufacturing facilities and warehouses, was known for its stark and desolate scenery.

Row upon row of plaster buildings stretched on endlessly. The carriage eventually turned into a particularly desolate alley and stopped in front of a building. Just from the crates and carts scattered around, it was clear this was a warehouse.

“If you value your life, you’d better keep quiet about what you heard inside.”

As the Chief Manager stepped out first, his assistant quietly offered a warning to the coachman while paying the fare. It was obvious that the pouch contained far more money than required. The coachman, groveling as he accepted it, checked the contents and replied slyly.

“Were you conversing inside? I thought you both were sleeping since it was so quiet.”

“You catch on quickly.”

Satisfied with such exemplary tact, the assistant left. The carriage then began retracing its route. When they had distanced themselves enough from the building, the coachman whispered quietly.

“You can come out now.”

“……”

Just as he was about to step out, he lifted the cover and rose. Emerging from the space that had doubled as a coachman’s seat and an empty crate, he met the coachman’s eyes and saw him grinning.

“Must have been tough inside. It was quite cramped, wasn’t it?”

“It’s fine. It was bearable.”

It wasn’t an empty phrase. Had it been completely sealed, it might have been unbearable, but thanks to the small openings, he could see outside.

“Here’s the rest of the promised payment.”

When he handed over the pouch, the coachman quickly received it, checked the inside, and beamed with a wide smile.

“Hehe, then I’ll be off now. If you need me again, please look for me. You’re always welcome.”

“Sure, take care.”

The coachman, who kept bowing his head repeatedly, started the carriage again after letting me off. When the carriage was out of sight, Semeion poked his head out from the pouch. He looked somewhat dazed.

“So, you can tail someone like this too? Though I’m not sure if you can call this tailing…”

“As long as the result is the same.”

It was fortunate that they used a public carriage. Thanks to that, I could bribe the coachman.

“I didn’t even know there was space for someone to hide in a coachman’s seat.”

“Originally, there isn’t. Public carriages are often modified by the coachmen for their convenience. It’s not generally known.”

“How did you know about something like that, Prince Sei?”

“I read about it in a case file from a few years ago. A woman conspired with a coachman to hide in a public carriage and found evidence of her husband’s affair. Upon investigation, I found that there are quite a few coachmen making extra money this way.”

Fortunately, the coachman earlier fit that description. If he had been one of the rare, honest ones, I was prepared to use my authority, but it wasn’t necessary.

Maybe because the start was favorable, the destination was also quite unusual. The secluded location and the exterior designed to prevent anyone from seeing inside made this place suspicious. As expected, there wasn’t a single tree around.

“This is an ideal place for plotting something.”

It seemed I had chosen the right target to tail. Whether this would lead to the desired end was still uncertain.

* * *

“Is His Highness the Crown Prince… not here?”

Returning to the Imperial Palace, Camille was faced with an unexpected obstacle: the person he needed to meet was absent. The Crown Prince’s aide, trying not to look flustered, placed his finger on his lips.

“It’s a secret. If this gets out, we’ll be in big trouble.”

To make matters worse was the news he had slipped out secretly.

“…What about his guard?”

The aide, unable to answer immediately, revealed the reason moments later.

“He is only accompanied by Officer Edmil Frost.”

“…”

The Crown Prince of an entire empire went out in secret, with only one guard.

Unintentionally, Camille pressed his forehead. The aide, slumping his shoulders, wore a similarly troubled expression.

“I strongly advised against it, but you know Officer Rouster. Once His Highness is determined, he doesn’t listen to anyone.”

“…What was His Highness’s purpose in going out?”

“That’s highly classified. I really can’t divulge that information. In fact, it’s only because it’s you, Officer Rouster, that I’m even telling you this. If it were anyone else, I’d have remained silent.”

Of all times to be absent.

Camille swallowed a sigh. He was dying to go see the Emperor, but doing so might reveal the Crown Prince’s absence. Without knowing the purpose of the Crown Prince’s departure, he couldn’t just act on his own.

“Did His Highness mention when he’d be back? This is a matter of utmost importance that His Highness must know.”

“He said he would return by dawn at the latest.”

“Then, I’ll wait for now.”

The aide looked at him with pity. There was a sense of camaraderie from realizing that even the heir of the Rouster family was sometimes just another worker with a boss.

“For now, why don’t you sit and wait? I’ll bring you something to drink.”

“Thank you.”

Camille sat in the offered chair, trying to suppress his anxiety. He couldn’t help but worry if Sei had safely reached a safe place or if something else had already gone wrong.

Even the promise to meet again tomorrow offered little comfort. Having been betrayed multiple times, he couldn’t trust his aloof cousin at all. The problem was that Sei likely wouldn’t care about any of this.

“Please, don’t do anything dangerous, Sei. Please.”

His unheard voice scattered into the void.