Chapter 65

The False Paladins Zem told Nick to rest for a week and forbade him from going to concerts. He was calm but stern—there was no arguing with him on this. Nick had no trouble following the former priest’s advice; he was injured all over, and the intense pain and exhaustion he felt from the poison left him little choice but to stay in bed for three entire days. His party members took care of him, and on the fourth day, he was finally able to get up. “You scared me when you didn’t come to the fan club meetup. I thought I’d visit and fill you in.” “Thanks, Jonathan.” Nick had received a visitor in his apartment during his period of rest. It was Jonathan, a boy who seemed to have been raised well. Nick had once saved him from being swindled by his girlfriend out of an expensive necklace, and when the boy was feeling depressed afterward, he invited him to an idol concert to cheer him up. Jonathan ended up becoming just as big an idol fan as Nick. “Let’s see…” Nick read the report Jonathan gave him. “‘Thieves have been disguising themselves as fans and slipping into concerts to steal expensive new magic items being used for production and lighting. Security has been increased in response, and magic barriers are being erected before the stage.’ What idiots.” “The lighting at the last couple of shows has been stunning. I heard some fans who are mages and researchers say they’d never seen anything like it,” Jonathan informed him. “I would’ve liked to see that. Man, I wanna get back to concerts as soon as possible.” Nick sighed. “Oh, I do have some bad news. The front row has been moved back from the stage a little,” Jonathan said. “Ah, I guess that’s because of the barrier spell.” “The barrier’s superstrong, too. Not just any mage could produce it. I’ll bet it’s strong enough to work as a shelter during a Stampede.” “That feels a little excessive, but…I guess it’s warranted.” Nick flipped to the last page of the report. It displayed what looked like Wanted posters, complete with sketches of each person and their criminal charges. “Restless Ironman Giuseppe, a D-rank adventurer. He was banned for life for repeatedly stalking idols’ carriages… This other guy was banned for starting a brawl with spectators… This man was banned for disrupting a concert by howling at the full moon… Even a court mage got banned. That’s crazy,” he said, reading the page. It was a blacklist for idol concerts. The venue staff and security guards could be trusted to handle ban-ees who were regular people, but some of them were adventurers and knights. That was why the fan club published a list of dangerous banned fans—many of whom had a criminal record—to help with security. “Huh? I feel like I’ve seen this guy before,” Nick said uncertainly after looking at one of the pictures. “You mean that Eishu guy?” Jonathan asked. “Yeah. I don’t think I know him. Maybe I just passed him on the street. Hmm… His profile says he writes fraudulent and deceptive documents.” The man named Eishu had his crimes listed beneath his sketch. He drew and sold moving portraits of idols without permission and sent cursed fan letters that played a voice when touched. He was also wanted on charges of theft, assault, and forging documents. There was a warning saying that anyone who saw him should stay away and report to the closest Sun Knight station. Nick was taken aback by his description. “He’s clearly skilled and blessed with mana. Why can’t he use that to live a regular life?” Jonathan agreed with an awkward smile. “And I don’t want to cross someone like that at a concert…” “If you do, let me or another adventurer handle it. The Hundredth Anniversary Concert’s gonna be a blast,” Nick said. “Yeah it will! You have your ticket, right? Scalpers have been robbing people blind with the reissues, so you’ll be in trouble if you lose it,” Jonathan warned. “Yeah, of course. I carry it around…everywhere… Wait, where is it?” Nick had made plans to go to a special large-scale concert with Jonathan and other idol fans. It was the Jewelry Production One Hundredth Anniversary Grand Idol Appreciation Concert—which fans called the Hundredth Anniversary Concert for short—and the tickets were in high demand. Nick had waited in line for hours to buy his ticket, and after he got it, he’d wrapped it in oiled paper and placed it under a thin wooden board that he fixed to the inside of his breastplate so it would never leave his side. His breastplate might have been knocked off during the fight against the boss of Pot Snake Cave. The thought sent a wave of anxiety coursing down his body. “Eh, I’m sure it’s around here somewhere. It’ll be fine,” he said. “The concert can’t come soon enough! Anyway, I’ll see you later!” Jonathan said before leaving Nick’s room. Nick immediately began to search his armor, terrified he’d dropped the ticket on the bottom floor of Pot Snake Cave. “Hey, Nick,” Jonathan said, coming back to the door as Nick frantically looked for the ticket. “Wha—?! O-oh, hey, Jonathan. Did you forget something?” Nick asked. “Why do you look so panicked? Anyway, you have a guest,” Jonathan responded. “Thanks for the help, kid,” said the man Jonathan brought to Nick’s door. “No problem. See you, Nick.” Jonathan exited again, leaving Nick alone with the new visitor, who was in the hallway by the door. “…What the hell do you want?” Nick asked. “I thought you might’ve croaked when I couldn’t find you at Fishermen,” the man said. Nick held the door open only a little, wary of his new visitor. He would shut the door even more if the man told him to open it. “I see you’re still breathing, too,” Nick said. The visitor was a skinny man with long black hair tied into a rough ponytail. He wore a kimono and had a long blade called a katana at his hip. He looked more like a wandering vigilante than an adventurer, the type who would be more likely to hunt bounties in the Garbage Heap—or be pursued by bounty hunters himself—than to fight monsters in a labyrinth. “The exit’s that way, Garos. It’s down the stairs and to the right,” Nick said. “I’m here to see you, man… This is quite the room you’ve got here. You can’t see the wall behind all the posters. So you’re an Agate fan. I’d expect a virgin like you to be more of the Diamond type,” Garos commented. “Mind your own business!” Nick snapped, slamming the door in his face.