“Alright, everyone from ‘Masquerade Ballad,’ please do your best with Alraune’s taming today!”
“Yes, today’s the day.”
“If we manage to capture it, we’ll be one step closer to freeing the slaves, except for Helen.”
It had been five days since we bought a slave at auction, and today was the last day of the slave protection period. Tomorrow, we could free them if an agreement was reached.
“Everyone from ‘Deru Deru Ecstasy,’ please raise Her Highness’s level to twenty-two today!”
“Got it. She must have accumulated a lot of experience by now.”
“Hasn’t Lord Deles accumulated any?”
“Hey, no unnecessary greetings! If her level doesn’t go up today, I’m going to destroy that log house.”
The interior of the log house was getting better every day!
“Then, Anju, who has the day off from school today!”
“Aye aye!”
I sent her away instantly. That log house was a convenient place for instantaneous movement.
“Speaking of which, Nina, this inn has become quite lively, hasn’t it?”
“It has. We might as well buy it and make it our base of operations.”
In the end, we ended up renting not only the first floor of this noble’s mansion, which had been converted into an inn, but also the third floor, and yesterday, the second floor also became available. This meant that everyone from “Passion Liberty Lovers,” now known as “Deru Deru Ecstasy,” could stay here, and they were overjoyed.
(Camilla is still trying to sneak into my room at night, as incorrigible as ever.)
Of course, I sent her away.
“Today, we’re focusing on leveling up Anju.”
“Yes, it’s better to have a higher level than Korome.”
“If the information broker is to be believed, her actual level is close to one hundred.”
As we were talking, Anju returned.
“Welcome back. So, today we’re…”
“Today, we’re off to the church first!”
“Indeed. In the morning, we’ll be heading to the Church of the Goddess.”
“Ah, that’s right. Pero, you’re coming too.”
“Mew.”
Yes, Pero had ended up converting to the Church of the Goddess and was now regularly attending church after paying her tithe. To put it crudely, we were using it as a “daycare substitute,” just as the underground information broker had suggested.
(It’s probably more trustworthy than a regular daycare.)
“Well, I’m off.”
“Have a good trip.”
The three of them vanished with instantaneous movement, leaving me, Nina, and Bauer behind.
“Um, Bauer, are you…”
“Just enjoying the sun today.”
“Ah, yes, please do.”
He then left. Perhaps hunting with Kelpie left behind would have been an option?
“Deles, shall we go with a pair hunt today?”
“Yes. Shadow-types are rather frightening, so do you have any good suggestions?”
“Let’s head to the Adventurer Guild for now.”
As we approached the magic elevator to go up to the East A Adventurer Guild, Grandpa Mohit stopped us.
“He’s here.”
“Huh? Korome?”
“Yes, if you go now, you’ll run into him.”
…It’s not like I can do anything about it, though. If I had been taken away and left like that in bed, it would have been dangerous. It’s left me with a mild trauma. Of course, I’ll be careful.
“Deles, let’s go.”
“Yes, Nina.”
We went up to the fifth floor, and there they were: Korome and her slave cleric and warrior.
“Nyahaha, long time no see~?”
“Ah, where are you off to?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“I see, I see… By any chance, did you do something you shouldn’t have?”
Was that last bit meant as a threat?
“What are you talking about?”
“Like picking up lost property and turning it in~?”
“Who knows.”
“Hmm, well, whatever. Don’t do anything unnecessary, okay~?”
With that, she went down on the magic elevator, presumably to a hunting spot. The two slaves who followed her looked dead inside.
(It’s a good thing Helen’s companions weren’t killed by Korome.)
“Hmm, now’s our chance.”
“Chance for what?”
“To get information from the slave girl.”
“Ah, Shikada!”
“She wouldn’t lie, would she? Let’s go question her.”
We bowed to the receptionist and headed down to the first floor. Let’s pretend we didn’t see the old woman peeking from the door to Area S! Then, to Korome’s inn. But since Anju isn’t here, sneaking in will be difficult.
“There’s someone I want to see. Please keep our visit a secret.”
I handed over a generous amount of gold coins at the reception, and they nodded silently. I was surprised Nina would resort to such methods, as we headed to Korome’s room.
*Knock, knock, knock, knock*
There was no answer. If Anju were here, I would have entered without question, but I spoke gently.
“Shikada? I’ve come to help. Please, just let me talk to you.”
“…”
There was no reply. I couldn’t sense anyone in the back.
“I am Nina. Shikada, I want to know about your current situation.”
“…”
“Can you at least show me your face?”
Is she not here? I’ll call out one more time.
“I brought some delicious snacks.”
*Pat pat pat pat…*
“…Really?”
She took the bait!
“Yes, here’s some. It’s delicious.”
When I gave her the snacks I happened to have, she took them with great joy and started to close the door. Seizing the opportunity, Nina slipped her arm in, and Shikada panicked. I followed up.
“You shouldn’t let anyone see the bag of snacks, right? Just let us talk until you finish them.”
“…Don’t let anyone in. Don’t talk to anyone.”
“Yes, no one’s in, and I haven’t talked to anyone. So, please let us in.”
She reluctantly let us in. Thank goodness. Shikada was happily munching on the snacks, and it seemed she really hadn’t been fed properly.
“I am Nina. If you don’t have much time, let’s make a quick deal. Shikada, why did you come here with Shucco?”
“…My mother is sick, and I came to earn money for her medicine.”
Yes, it was just as the information broker had said.
“And why did you become a slave?”
“Ugh, Waaahhhhhh!”
Oh, she started crying.
“Stop with the fake crying.”
“…Yes.”
So it was a lie!
“Then why did you become a slave?”
“In exchange for my mother’s medicine.”
“I see.”
What a terrible story.
“U, Uuuuh!”
“What’s wrong?!”
“The collar!”
Ah, it’s tightening! Did Korome find out?! I looked at the door, but she wasn’t there!
“Haa, haa, haa.”
“Are you all right?”
“They sometimes tighten it as a sort of check.”
Poor thing… We have to save her as soon as possible!
