Episode 22

Although Lydia’s reaction had been somewhat unusual, everything else worked out smoothly. We arrived safely at the safe zone and returned to the surface. Thanks to Lemon and Apple’s testimonies, the raider issue was also resolved well. Despite his damaged limbs, Gale was sold at a decent price due to a certain demand he met.

The details of that demand and his destination remained unknown… but considering the guild was an adventurer support organization established by a sect worshiping the Goddess of Love, the answer became quite apparent. They probably intend to use him in a public brothel.

Though it was a place managed directly by the temple and the treatment of male prostitutes was relatively good, criminal slaves were an exception. They’ll likely use him just enough not to kill him. Still, after about 40 years, when his demand decreases, they might heal his limbs and use him as a laborer. Live strong, 30 gacha roll… no, Galey Boy.

I shrugged my shoulders and gazed at the backs of Lemon and Apple as they walked ahead, wearing tight-fitting clothes that accentuated their body lines. Oh dear. Their hips are lacking almost as much as their chests…

As I clicked my tongue in sympathy, Lydia, who was stuck close to my side, spoke with a slightly sullen voice. “Jonah. This is really not a good idea. Why are you trusting them so much?”

“Well, I trust the elves’ sincerity about money. The problem was always that they were too thorough. There’s never been an elf who hasn’t kept their word, right?”

“That’s usually the case. But there’s always an exception to everything in the world. Like how Jonah got robbed of 8 coppers. Normally, elves wouldn’t tarnish their reputation over such a small amount.”

“Hmm… Is that so?” They swore on the World Tree, so I didn’t think it’d go that far… but this might only be because I was the one who created the elf’s setting.

Lydia, who has seen all sorts of unsightly things while living as an adventurer, might view things differently. So, at this moment, I needed to provide a reason that could persuade even her.

Grinning, I snuggled up to Lydia, not just leaning on her shoulder but also locking arms with the intention of sticking close to her. Looking up at Lydia, I laughed sheepishly.

“It seems there’s a misunderstanding, but I don’t trust Lemon and Apple.”

“Then why…?”

“No matter what happens, Miss Lydia will save me, right? Just like last time.”

“…….”

Lydia clamped her mouth shut. However, her stiff movements, as if she had turned into a tin robot, served as her response. She was embarrassed.

Under normal circumstances, I would have just let it slide, but today, Lydia was unusually responsive. I leaned my upper body closer to her arm, not as blatantly as I had with Ellie, but just enough for her to feel the touch while I pretended it was nothing.

I stood on my tiptoes and brought my lips close to Lydia’s ear, not touching but close enough for her to feel the warmth. I whispered in a tone slightly lower than usual, almost my normal voice.

“I’ve always put my trust in you. My knight.”

“……!”

Lydia’s red eyes widened, and then she suddenly froze, like a golem that had its power turned off. But soon, as if restarted, she began to move again.

Even in the darkness, her bright red hair fluttered magnificently, and her eyes sparkled red like burning flames. Her movements, inherently graceful, now carried an edge that exuded a unique charm.

Goodness. Did she activate her aura in that short moment? Just how excited was she…

Right now, in this moment, Lydia was closer to a knight than an adventurer. Ssnlk- Lydia, having drawn her sword at some point, held it in front of her and performed a brief sword salute.

“Today, I will become Jonah’s blade. No matter what happens, I will protect you, so stay close to me.”

“Yes.”

Lydia, ablaze with enthusiasm, protectively shielded me, striking various poses. Lemon and Apple’s expressions turned sour at the sight, but aside from some grumbling, the twins couldn’t do much else.

My role as a proud child of a noble family, which I had adopted to play along with Lydia and because I felt like it, was short-lived.

Despite their grumbling, Lemon and Apple earnestly led the way until they stopped. “Here it is,” Lemon announced.

“This is our organization,” Apple added.

“……?”

For a moment, I was at a loss, looking around again. Even in the late evening, the street was brightly lit. On the well-paved main road, numerous carriages and people bustled about, and even the alleyways I glanced into were clean, with not a single beggar in sight.

Indeed, this was the commercial district of Pangrave… and among these streets, the one lined with high-end stores. The spot where Lemon and Apple had halted was in front of the largest company on such a street.

“Cradle Trading Company…? Is this the organization you two are referring to? Then, that boss you mentioned, was it….”

Cradle Trading Company was renowned even within the labyrinth city. While weaponry was monopolized by the Dwarf Workshop Union and magical tools by the mage tower, everything else was under the purview of Cradle Trading Company.

In essence, it was one of the three colossal capitals that divided the commercial territory of the labyrinth city. It stood as living proof of what happens when long-lived elves seriously engage in trade. That was Cradle Trading Company.

As long as you have money, you can acquire items not available on the market, and they even offer mercenary services, albeit solely for protection… So, everything they had said was true….

I never would have guessed that these thugs had connections with the head of the Cradle Trading Company. Just as my mouth was about to hang open in unexpected fortune,

“Ah, not that way. It’s this building,” Lemon said, pointing to a corner of our view.

“Cradle, those are some bad guys. Don’t even look at them. Ptooey,” Apple spat on the ground.

A sigh escaped my mouth at the sight of such blatantly thuggish behavior and their stupidity in cursing the Cradle Trading Company right in front of its building.

“Sigh… It’s only when you have expectations that you feel betrayed, but I forgot that simple rule.”

“Oh. That was kinda cool,” Lemon sighed in admiration.

“Is Lemon dumb? Sir Jonah has always been cool,” Apple seized the moment to flatter me slyly.

Their overly blatant attitude was actually amusing. Chuckling awkwardly, I headed in the direction Lemon had pointed.

“Well, anyway, if they’ve settled in this kind of neighborhood, they must be pretty good in…” That’s when I saw it. An old wooden building that was on the verge of collapsing, small in size, maybe a bit better than a hole-in-the-wall shop.

It just happened to be right next to the Cradle Trading Company, which occupied almost an entire block, making the comparison all too stark.

“…Is it really there?” I asked.

“Yes. It boasts a tradition incomparable to the Cradle Trading Company,” Lemon replied.

“The famous Eternal Mercantile Eden! Have you heard of it?” Apple asked.

“No. It’s my first time hearing about it. What about you, Lydia?”

“I’ve never heard of it either.”

Lydia shook her head. If Lydia, who invests all her money in herself, said so, it must really be obscure.

Did my disdain show on my face? The twin elves began to add explanations in a fluster.

“We sell items you can’t find anywhere else!” Lemon exclaimed.

“And whatever it is, we guarantee it’s of the highest quality!” Apple added.

“Yeah, yeah. I get that this store is amazing, so just go and get the money you promised.”

“Yes, sir…” Lemon said.

“We’ll be back in a jiffy…” Apple added.

With gloomy expressions and drooping shoulders, Lemon and Apple headed towards the Eternal Mercantile Eden.

Only after their figures had completely disappeared did I tug at Lydia’s sleeve. “Miss Lydia, 23 gold each is probably too much to expect, right?”

“Yeah. It seems like there’s a basic income considering they’re maintaining a store here, but… still, it seems difficult for a store of this size to come up with 46 gold so suddenly.”

“Sigh. Then, I’ll just have to take as much as I can get, and the rest will have to be paid off with their bodies.”

“Unauthorized human trafficking and organ trading are illegal.”

“…Hasn’t your impression of me gotten a bit strange lately, Miss Lydia?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure.”

“…….”

I plead guilty. My killing of enemies without hesitation was, after all, a manifestation of my will to survive as a worthless orphan on the Pan Continent. But at some point, I started to be treated as a psychopath by Lydia.

How many times did I end up slapping the back of Lydia’s hand out of spite?

The worn-down door of Eden opened, and Lemon and Apple walked out through it. However, they were not in good condition. Their hair was messy, and on their somewhat attractive faces were now an array of bruises.

Even with just a glance, it was clear they had been beaten up. From the perspective of a store owner, it was already hard enough to run their own business, and they had taken in such thugs out of past affection.

But if they not only went and nearly got themselves killed but also came back with debt and asked them to pay it off on their behalf, I would have been furious as well.

Lemon and Apple walked up, looking as pitiful as chicks drenched in heavy rain. The twin elves spoke up with their swollen lips,

“We’re sorry… The boss said it will be hard to come up with that much money all at once…”

“But they said it’ll just take some time, and they’ll definitely pay back. So, they suggested talking about exactly how to do so.”

“I expected as much,” I nodded and straightened my clothes. Then, I reached my hand out towards Lydia. “Could you be my escort?”

“Just for today.” Though she had said so, Lydia’s lips were twitching upwards. She had helped me all day, after all, so I owed her at least this much.

And so, we headed into the Eternal Mercantile Eden.

“Hehehe. My name is Eve Nirvana. It’s a pleasure to meet you… or so should I say?” There, with her chin propped on her hands, was a suspiciously suspicious slit-eyed elf welcoming us.

…Surprisingly, this was now the second time I met a character I created.

Why are you here?