Nyx Nova

Chapter Six

It was the next day, I was strolling around the village when I got a summon to be at the conference room at once. From what I can hear, there was a group of human adventurers entering the village. My Clairvoyance skill tells me that there's noble blood within the group, which piqued my interest in them. When I entered the room, I was met with questioning eyes by three separate parties that were sitting at the table, they were all mostly what this world would call third-rate adventurers saved for a certain few. The noble that I was sensing, strangely enough, was having a glamour cast over her to hide her identity but that's not all, those three beside her, were quite strong human.

'Sorry I was late, don't let me interrupt you,' I greeted them.

'Ah, not at all, you're on time actually,' said Rimuru before he turned to one of the three humans. 'This man is the Second Consul of Tempest, he has as much authority over the village as I do but he is mainly the head of the education department, Nyx Nova.'

'The bard, Nyx Nova?' the middle-aged man inquired.

'Yes, the very same. Do we know each other?' I replied after I took a seat by Rimuru.

'No, we don't. You travelled through the Brumund Kingdom last year, didn't you? but our guildmembers couldn't stop fawning over you after listening to your music. The living legend, the travelling bard with a gold voice,' the man replied. 'I am Fuze, the Guild Master in the Brumund Kingdom.'

'Oh, I remember the Brumund Kingdom, it was nice visiting there. I can't do anything about my voice but I'm glad that you liked the music. Sorry,' I laughed lightly. 'As you can see, I chose to stop my nomadic life and settle down here. Anyway, what brings you here, Fuze-dono?'

'Ahem, yes, I was about to explain,' said Fuze as he cleared his throat. 'It was around ten months ago that I received a report from these fellows after their scout of the forest. First, I would like to thank you for mourning our guild's hero. I am sorry for the late apology.'

'No problem, but I imagine that there's more to your trip than an apology, right?' Rimuru replied. I couldn't help but notice the searching gaze that the noble sent towards me, it was so probing that I was embarrassed by it. Perhaps she was among the girls that watched my performance.

'Yes, well, a few months ago, in the Brumund Guild, a rumour was going around that an Orc Lord had appeared and an investigation revealed it as the truth soon after,' Fuze explained. 'And just when we had prepared to flee, that man showed up in my office bearing a message from you that the Orc Lord had been taken care of. Indeed the Orc Lord was no more. However, knowing that the victors were monsters, it is hard for us, as humans, to consider it as a settled case.'

I then noticed the other two were enjoying the potato chips that were served, they even fought with each other for a serving. Seeing the carefree way Fuze treated those three equally and the theatrical closeness those three had with one another, I concluded that the two were actual noble escorts. It's safe to assume that they were playing a role of an adventurer. A noble with elf blood, that sounds familiar, where did she come from?

'That, that is the Prime Minister of Dwargon, Bester?!' Fuze suddenly exclaimed and I noticed the presence of the said man leaving the area. I had missed the exchange between them, I guess.

'Yup, ex-minister now,' Rimuru explained. 'He's working hard with Kaijin as our city's researcher and technician.'

'Don't forget that he's also one of the lecturers at the Institute,' I reminded my friend.

'Ah, that's right, what a hard-working and remarkable fellow,' Rimuru remarked.

'Institute?' Fuze wondered.