Seirei Gensouki's
Chapter 147: Restoration Journey to pt4 ~

「Is this about the adventurers who are following us? 」

Rio asked that question with a face full of understanding.

"Religion . They were there when I noticed. Although they may chase us from behind, for some reason they keep a reasonable distance from us. Don't you think their actions are strange? 」

「Naturally but, we lack evidence to judge that they are following us. They were too careless in their efforts to chase us. There is also the possibility that they maintain a reasonable distance with other travelers on the highway for self-defense. 」

「Uhm, that's for sure ……. But I have a feeling. 」

Vanessa nodded with a pensive expression on her face.

Later,

"What's wrong? 」

Christina-tachi joined their conversation.

「No matter what do not look back and please just listen to our conversation. The truth is, we found an adventurous party following us. 」

Vanessa answered while being vigilant.

"Since when?…………"

Christina-tachi's eyes were wide open because they didn't notice him at all.

「About 30 minutes I guess. An hour after we left the post town. 」

「Did they follow us? 」

When Rio explained to her, Christina asked that looking wary.

「Although the probability is low, it is also not zero. Nevertheless, even if it is true that they are trailing us, the reason for that is unknown .. 」

「So, are you trying to say that they are not chasing me? 」

「Although I wouldn't say impossible, they basically expose themselves in broad daylight. They don't feel like they're trying to hide themselves at all. It was too unnatural and they were too poor for tailings work. 」

Rio answered Christina's question with a wry smile.

「If that's the case, does that mean they are most likely also a traveler?」

Celia muttered in a low voice.

「Maybe. After walking for a while, we will arrive at the junction that is split to the south and east. We will go east but, if they still follow us, let's deal with them. 」

"Good . 」

Christina-tachi nodded in agreement when Rio proposed his plan to deal with them.

Later, after Rio-tachi walked along the highway for almost 30 minutes, they arrived at the intersection. There, they took the road to the east as planned first and decided to rest for a while later. By doing this, it would not feel unnatural even if they saw adventurers tailing them from behind.

As they sat in the rocky area along the highway, the adventurers they were waiting for passed by them.

「... They go. 」

Celia said that in a disappointed tone as soon as the adventurers took the highway heading south.

「It's too early to disappoint us. Let it observe the situation for a while longer, then continue our journey. It's not like they won't take a detour. 」

Rio warned Celia to stay alert.

But, the adventurers did not return even after they waited for them.

◇ ◇ ◇

That night .

After Rio-tachi arrived at the next post town. As usual, dinner and lodging were arranged by Rio.

Then, at that time――,

（I'm back, Haruto. ）

Aisia's telepathic message echoed in her mind.

（It's fast. Are you okay? ）

Rio was a little surprised, then asked her.

（Yes. There's something I want to tell you. ）

（…………. . Entiendo. We practically met and talked to each other right? Will you wait for me in an inconspicuous place near the south gate? I'll go there soon. ）

After pondering for a while, Rio decided to meet Aisia outside of the inn.

（Roger. ）

Rio started to speak together with Aisia's clear and simple answer.

「I will go briefly for information gathering. Please rest at the inn during that time. 」

Rio said those words when he left the inn.

When she arrived at the south gate, Aisia who was wearing a veil to cover her face suddenly appeared before her.

「Should we go to a quiet place?」

「Uhn. 」

Rio followed Aisia towards the dead-end alley, silent of human presence. Then they flew across the sky out of the post town in the shade of a dark night.

After arriving at the nearby plateau, Rio took out a stone house from the 『Kotak Barang Box and decided to speak inside.

Rio who was sitting on the sofa after putting cold tea on the table asked that question.

「After that I followed the adventurers. I mean the adventurers who welcomed you in the post town earlier. The one who hired them was a man around thirty. They call him Arein. 」

「Arein ........ I have never heard of that name」

「Maybe Arein and Lucius are different people. Moreover, Arein was employed by others. His name is Reis 」

「Reis …………. Yes, never heard that name also 」

Rio had a pensive expression on his face. Two names he had never heard appeared.

「Besides Arein and Reis, there are two more called Ven and Lucci. 」

「Sorry. Sorry, I have never heard of either. 」

「The real issue is from this point. My conclusion is, the chances of Arein-tachi having some sort of connection to Lucius are very high 」

When Aisia told that fact with her monotonous voice, Rio's expression stiffened.

「………. Let me hear the reason. 」

「Arein-tachi is looking for someone. But they don't know who they're looking for. But, I have a feeling that the person they are looking for might be Haruto. 」

「Why do you think so?」

Rio asked with a confused face.

「They have received an order from Reis to chase after the man who escaped after attacking the knights in Creia. He had told them that, the man who escaped spoke the name of his leader. So I thought that the leader called might be Lucius. 」

Aisia explained the real reason.

「Of course, assuming that the leader is Lucius, then they are most likely referring to me. Or rather, there was no one other than me who perfectly matched their description. 」

Rio agreed to her reasoning while showing a wry smile. He was not surprised by the revelation. He was somewhat surprised by how calm his emotions were when learning about this information.

"I saw . 」

After a brief nod, Aisia drank cold tea in the metal glass placed on the table. The sound of ice moving within the metal glass resounded in the room.

「For them to look for people who react on behalf of Lucius, yes. That method was too wasteful and inefficient. 」

「But it may feel like a good offer as long as they find the person they are looking for, as they are even willing to bet on the slightest odds. Haruto, you are among their list. They're not sure about that yet. 」

See I understand .......................... Did you feel something during the exchange in the post city earlier? 」|

Because he never expected that by looking for Lucius he would call people who knew about Lucius ——–

Rio let out a piercing cold smile hearing such beautiful information.

「But, those people were also ordered to gather information from the search party. Especially from the commander class. 」

The face of Charles Arbeau, Celia's former fiancee, floated in Rio's mind.

「I think Arein-tachi has no direct relationship with the search party. It seems that his relationship through Reis seems to be moving in a different place at the moment. 」

Thus, Aisia reminded Rio of Reis' existence.

「Reis yes. Let's remember that name. …… . By the way, since Arein-tachi's attention is on me, can I assume that they will come after me? 」

「Yes. He hires adventurers who will pretend to be pursuers to chase you. They were ordered by him to head in a different direction with your group 」

「………. So the people who followed us today huh. Of course it was easier for them to know which path we took from that point. Which means–"

「Yes. I preceded Arein-tachi just to be safe because I didn't know when they would catch up with us. Those people have greater mobility because they use griffon 」

"I saw . Thank you, that's very valuable information. Thank you very much, Aisia. 」

Rio stood up after saying thank you with a sincere smile on his face.

「What will you do for Arein-tachi? 」

「. Right now I can't leave Celia-sensei's side and I also got information about that person. 」

Rio was silent for a while while listening to Aisia's question.

「Then should I follow Arein-tachi from now on? 」

「Please, it will save me from many problems. 」

「Then leave it to me. 」

"……Thank you . By the way, are you going to supply your Odo in your spirit form inside my body tonight? You can start following them from tomorrow. 」

「Uhn. 」

After nodding, Aisia left her seat and went towards Rio. And then, she suddenly clasped Rio's hand tightly.

「Good night, Haruto. 」

「Goodnight, Aisia. 」

Rio showed a restless smile looking at Aisia's sleepy face.

At the next moment, Aisia suddenly disappeared as she entered Rio's body in her spirit form.

（. I need to gather accurate information in this post city. ）

After doing a light stretch, Rio then left the stone house.