Chapter 78

Once we finished eating and returned to the inn, we immediately got down to business. Our discussion centered on the Underground Guild and the nobles who had commissioned the overhunting of spirits.

“So, Alice, how much have you and your people managed to dig up?”

“About eighty percent, I’d say. We’ve identified the nobles who purchased spirits through the Underground Guild, but we still don’t know which specific nobles accompanied the hunters to make direct purchases on-site. To make matters worse, those individuals are high-ranking figures, making them difficult to approach. We’re struggling quite a bit.”

“In that case, I’ll sneak in and liberate the spirits directly. Can you handle the rest of the small-fry nobles?”

“Yes. We plan to enlist the cooperation of this country’s Knights’ Order and clamp down on them as an international issue. What about your information, Sir Ryu?”

“The info I have is mostly Elf-related. The elves are desperate to take back their kidnapped kin. Apparently, they want revenge on the nobles as well.”

“…Their anger is perfectly justified, but this is also a human legal matter. Could you please let us handle the judgment based on human law?”

“Who knows? I think they’ll settle down once they have all their people back, though.”

I knew I was making a difficult demand. My priority was information on the elves; as long as I got that, the rest didn’t matter much to me.

“We can’t provide information on every single one, of course, but I can offer documents on the nobles who purchased a significant number of elves. Your goal is the liberation of the elves, correct?”

“That’s right. Actually, I’m after the spirits too, but since you guys can handle them to some extent, I’ll focus my secret maneuvers on the places that are hard for you to reach.”

“My apologies. This is technically a job we should be doing ourselves.”

“Don’t worry about it. Thanks to your intel, it looks like my work will be finished much faster. By the way, you guys have a lead on the auction too, right?”

“An auction? No, that’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

I guess I had to fill her in. I explained the details thoroughly.

“An illegal slave auction? Do you happen to know the location?”

“They wouldn’t tell me. Since it’s a lucrative spot for the slave traders, it makes sense they’d keep it quiet.”

“I see…”

“If your goal this time is strictly the liberation of the spirits, maybe save that lead for next time.”

“You’re right. We don’t have enough personnel to handle two major incidents simultaneously. We’ll have to expose that at a later date.”

Alice said as much, shifting the conversation back to the spirits. As we talked, the time for my transaction with the slave trader drew near. Since I couldn’t take Alice with me, I cut the discussion short.

“Sorry, Alice. It’s time for me to get to work.”

“Ah, is that so? I guess we’re calling it a night, then.”

“Looks like it. I plan to be back early, so feel free to head to sleep ahead of me.”

“…You won’t attack me, right?”

“If you want to be attacked, come back and say that after you’ve grown up some more.”

“I’m at the age where I can’t grow anymore!!”

“Well then, goodnight.”

“Goodnight to you too.”

I waited until I confirmed Alice had pulled the covers over her head before blowing out the lamp.

Now then. Time to make the purchase and get some sleep.

I left the inn and headed toward the slave trader’s shop. I sensed five presences without any hostile intent—two were the elves from earlier, and the other three were likely Alice’s comrades. I decided to ignore them, assuming they were just keeping watch.

When I reached the shop, I opened the door without hesitation.

“Shopkeeper, I’m here for the purchase… huh?”

The shopkeeper was surrounded by a group of people wearing masks. The crest on their chests likely belonged to some underground guild or another.

One of them called out to me.

“Ah, so you’re the adventurer who tried to buy the elf. Sorry, but we’re taking that elf for ourselves.”

“Shopkeeper? Who are these people?”

“They’re from the Underground Guild! You mustn’t resist them, absolutely not!!”

“That’s how it is. Now, get your hands up and stay quiet.”

One of the guild members spoke while leveling a dagger at me.

I obediently raised my hands and asked a question.

“Why go after that elf so suddenly? I paid a fortune for her.”

“Like we’d tell you. Hey, old man, hurry up and bring her out.”

“Y-yes, right away.”

As the shopkeeper prepared to head to the back of the shop, unable to resist, I threw out a proposal.

“Shopkeeper, here’s a deal. If I handle this situation, can we call the rest of my payment even?”

“Wha—what are you saying!?”

“I won’t mess up the shop, so come on, do me a favor.”

“Do you even understand the situation you’re in!?”

Shut up, you small fry. I’m going to make use of this situation.

“Can you actually win?”

“Piece of cake.”

“Then please, I beg you!!”

I had his word. Time to get to work, then.

“Don’t you get cocky with—!?”

I ruthlessly buried my fist into his solar plexus.

For the three surrounding the shopkeeper, I stopped their hearts.

Unless someone performed resuscitation, they weren’t coming back.

Only one was left alive.

“That makes the rest of the payment even, then.”

The one I left alive was too damaged to move; that worked out in my favor.

I figured I’d just hand this survivor over to Alice’s comrades.

“Shopkeeper, hurry up and bring the elf. It’ll be a pain if more of these guys show up.”

“Yes, sir!!”

The shopkeeper hurriedly brought out Wilos.

He told me I’d have to ask her myself why the Underground Guild had targeted her specifically.

Left with no choice, I dumped the guild members in a nearby trash heap, then took Wilos and moved to the alleyway.

When we entered the alley, the other two were already waiting.

“Here. Take her home.”

“Lady Wilos, let’s go home.”

Seeing her kin for the first time in a while, Wilos seemed to lose her tension; supported by the two of them, she began her journey back to the village.

I returned to the inn and went straight to sleep.