The Fourth Time, They Can't Even Mount an Assault... Saburō Attacks

[Core Room]

"Two of them… an awkward number."

Mint had spotted fresh visitors.

"One looks like a warrior, the other a baggage-carrying attendant. Judging by the direction and the timing, they're probably connected to the bandits from the last two times."

"Two of them or not, there's no such thing as too cautious. Marie-san, get the settlers squared away."

[The Hillside]

The two of them came as far as the edge of the dungeon's sphere of influence, right up to the displayed severed head (the head on the spike).

"Brother…"

"There's no mistaking it. That is Lord Taro's head."

"Hiki Komori Niedo Saburō. Of no rank and no title I may be, but I have come to avenge my brother."

The warrior bellowed out his name on an empty road, but coming from a jobless, shut-in NEET, it didn't cut much of a figure. And since no one was listening, naturally there was no reply.

"Shall we press on? Off the road."

"No. These are nasty pieces of work, every bit as heartless as that filthy little Oyama Shimotsuke-no-suke. Push in blindly and we'll only walk into a trap. We'll need to think of something, like tagging along with the adventurers who come and go from the dungeon. The road works as a road, and adventurers pass through it, which means it isn't a trap of the dungeon itself. Beyond a doubt the settlers living here are the ones working it."

"They'd spring the trap without a shred of hesitation, adventurers and all."

"Shimotsuke-no-suke would, I suppose. I did consider leaving a note behind, but even Brother Jiro couldn't read or write, and there's no way the settlers here can read a letter."

"Even so, wouldn't they at least deliver it to the magistrate?"

[Core Room]

"At this rate they'll make contact with the adventurer party."

"If I run a warning broadcast, the bandits will learn the adventurers are here, and the adventurers could end up attacked… And since we don't know how strong the bandits are, it's a problem."

"You could simply disguise it as a status report to the settlers."

"That works. Let's see… 'The two mountain bandits currently intruding are at present by the displayed head before the main gate. Residents are asked to continue standing by inside the buildings.'"

[The Hillside]

"To call this distinguished Hiki clan mere mountain bandits…"

[Outskirts of the Library Dungeon]

"Hey, Hyōe-Jiro, word is bandits have shown up."

"Two of them or not, doesn't mean they aren't seasoned. There may be five of us, but the only ones who can fight are me and Saemon-Taro. Still, only two of them, so it's a scouting party."

[The Hillside]

While all this was going on, the adventurer party came rolling up, hauling an empty oxcart.

"Don't recognize your face."

"Hiki Komori Niedo Saburō, of no rank and no title."

"We're here to make firewood fuel. And you lot?… Eh, if you'd rather not say, no matter. A man keeps his livelihood his own secret."

"Ah, never mind."

With that, Saburō collected his brother's head and left.

[Library Dungeon Entrance]

"Oh, Secretary-General, much obliged for the welcome."

It was Umadayū, the one among the adventurers most versed in negotiations, who called out to Marie.

"A short while ago you met a pair of travelers over by the execution stand. Did they say anything?"

"Aye. They gave their name as Hiki Komori Niedo Saburō, of no rank and no title."

"A shut-in NEET?"

"Aye, he did indeed say Hiki Komori Niedo Saburō. Might be a false name, though."