Chapter 199: Chapter 199: 15-year-old Inglis and the Evil Hyrule Menace (4-1)

「It was a Hyrule Menace by the name of Tiffany. She had long hair the color of clear water, her eyes were large and bright, and she looked very pretty. She was as pretty as you are, not saying that you aren’t amazingly pretty yourself, though.」

Said the hostess as she looked at Inglis.

「…Thank you very much. Are there any other features of her you can tell me of?」

「She’s bringing a lot of Highlanders with her. They all worshipped her like crazy, every time they opened their mouth, it was always Lady Tiffany this, Lady Tiffany that. To be honest, the sight looked dumb. But those people are really evil, I tell you……They forcefully take our food from us, and anyone who disobeyed them was either killed or taken away! And this Hyrule Menace called Tiffany seemed to really enjoy it unfold. A neighborhood soldier saw an opening and went to attack her directly, but he was instantly shredded into strips……I couldn’t even tell what happened.」

Color faded from the hostess’ face, but she still delivered the much-wanted information.

「They said Hyrule Menaces are supposed to protect us from Magic Stone Beasts, but in a sense, that means they’re much scarier than any Magic Stone Beasts……Some of my neighbors and acquaintances were…」

「I see… They sounded like quite the atrocious bunch……」

That didn’t sound bad. If she could encounter them, then Inglis could expect a very high-quality fight. The Hyrule Menaces that Inglis knew so far were not the kind of people who would resort to violence unprovoked, and they wouldn’t fight without a good reason.

A Hyrule Menace who would attack unprovoked was something Inglis couldn’t wish for more. After all, she didn’t have to go to the length of making up reasons to fight.

The food situation in this land didn’t seem to be good, and they had no hope of enjoying the famed local cuisine either. If that was the case, then at least Inglis had to make sure she didn’t miss her original goal; to have a good fight.

「How often do they come to this town?」

「The Hyrule Menace only came here once, while her lackeys, the Highlanders, come every now and then. They’ve come several times already. And every time, someone amongst us is…」

「I see… Mrs. Hostess, one last question……Do you know where do they come from?」

「I would say Lekrea. It seems like the captured people are all being held in a prison in Lekrea!」

「A prison in Lekrea!? I never knew there’s a prison there!」

Ian raised his voice, looking astonished. It must have been built after Ian left Alucard and infiltrated the Weissmall Troupe on his secret mission. Which meant, it was a fairly recent development.

「Come to think of it, isn’t Lekrea…」

According to the information that Inglis had gotten from Ian and Lahti in advance regarding the situation in the Alucard…

「Yes……It’s my hometown, the town that was brought to ruin by Magic Stone Beasts!」

It was the town that was leveled by what seemed to be a Prisma. The damage it suffered was so horrific that the Kingdom of Alucard refashioned its policy. They began to deepen their dependence on the Highland and aimed to increase their national defense in the wake of its destruction. The town of Lekrea was the starting point of it all.

「I can’t believe that, after such a disaster, they would gather and torment so many innocent people again there……」

Lahti put a comforting pat on Ian’s sagging shoulders.

「Damn it! Unforgivable! Why do they keep targeting that town?!」

「Is there……someone from Lekrea among you? I’m surprised you’re still fine after what happened there. You should take care of your life now that you’ve survived such a disaster, okay? After all, that’s the only thing a survivor can do. I don’t mean anything bad, but don’t do anything that would make the Hyrule Menace or her lackeys put their eyes on you, you hear me?」

The hostess called out with sincere concern.

「Of course, Mrs. Hostess. Forgive us for making you recall bad memories. Would it be okay if we go to our room to rest? Come on, everyone. Let’s go.」

Inglis called her group and entered their allotted room. Questioning the hostess further would remind her of more painful things she had gone through, and there should be things she couldn’t talk about as well. Details should stay to each and their own.

When they entered their room, the first thing Inglis heard was Ian muttering with a grim look on his face.

「From what she told us… Things have gone even worse from when I left Alucard……I wouldn’t have thought a Hyrule Menace has already arrived and is plundering food from the people…」

「Maybe they’re trying to fan the fire?」

「……What do you mean by that, Miss Inglis?」

「Tell us quick, Glis」

Rafinha, who was already positioned in the bed, also asked for an explanation. She even let out a wide yawn. That was quite the bad manner. Inglis couldn’t blame her, though, as she had been up all night.

「……I will, Rani. Don’t fall asleep and listen to me properly, okay?」

「That’s obvious. Hwawaa~m」

「…………」

Her eyelids already looked so heavy, but since everyone else seemed to be curious, Inglis would continue either way.