Royal Capital of Kashiram – Black Market District – An Unfathomable Shop
It felt suspicious. From behind the door I passed, I could hear a woman’s anguished voice. There were murmurs of conversation, but I couldn’t make out the content. With every step I took down the dimly lit hallway, I could sense that this was no ordinary establishment. While it was fine that someone was guiding me deeper inside, a heavily armed figure followed closely behind. Were they planning to make sure I couldn’t escape?
That meant the work here must be something so grueling that one would want to run away from it. Judging by that earlier voice, it was clear this place was as abnormal as a factory.
“Alright, we’ll have a quick interview over here.”
I was led into a simple room furnished only with a desk, a couple of chairs, and oddly enough, a bed. Inside were several men, ranging from intimidating to a seemingly gentle young man. I felt quite uncomfortable as they scrutinized me from head to toe.
At the back of the room sat a man who looked like a typical thief—his face was scarred and his physique was muscular. I knew I shouldn’t judge someone by their appearance, but my instincts told me this man was not someone to trust.
“Manager, these two want to work here.”
“Adventurers, huh? Lately, we’ve had a lot of eccentric customers, and I’d prefer someone a bit younger.”
“Come on, don’t say that. It’s not our job to kidnap those kinds of people.”
The word “kidnap” sent a jolt through me. But thanks to Kurinka gently placing her hand on my clenched fist, I managed to keep my anger in check. From the conversation, it was clear that this place was as dreadful as I suspected, but what more could they possibly do?
“Still, being an adventurer is tough, especially for women. When I hear stories of those who couldn’t make it and ended up selling their bodies, I think they might as well have started doing that from the get-go. I often hear about parties where the men take advantage of them. Are you two in that situation?”
“I-I have no idea what you’re talking about…”
“That’s fine. I’m not asking about your past. Now, why don’t you lie down over there?”
“…Excuse me?”
What did they mean by “lie down”? What were they planning to do? I was becoming increasingly confused about what kind of establishment this was. The manager and the others exchanged glances, and for a brief moment, their expressions turned lewd.
“Could it be that you two are first-timers?”
“Um, what kind of shop is this?”
“…Hey.”
“Yes?”
After calling over the person who had guided us, the atmosphere shifted dramatically as they whispered something to each other. A few of them immediately stiffened by the exit door, while the manager stood up from his chair. It was clear that they had no intention of letting this end peacefully.
“You want to work here without knowing what it is? This is a place where girls… do things with men.”
“W-What does that mean?”
“…Are you serious?”
Like Kurinka, I was left utterly bewildered. I couldn’t comprehend how such a thing could be considered a service, nor could I understand why any girl would willingly do that. But then again, they had mentioned kidnapping earlier, so perhaps…
“Are you saying you forcibly brought us here?”
“Haha, you’re quite the adventurer, even as a girl. Sure, there are some like that. There are plenty of kids sold by their parents to pay off debts.”
“Are you the ones who take them?”
“No, it’s the big shots. Of course, we have to pay a portion of our earnings to them, and if we don’t meet the required amount, we’ll find ourselves with nowhere to go on this continent. They’re scary, but also reliable.”
“That must be the Comet Wolf Brigade, right?”
“Y-Yeah, wait, what?!”
It was too late to cover my mouth now. Kurinka winked at me, looking quite pleased. I realized that they wouldn’t have revealed anything if I had asked normally, but now that we were in a disadvantageous position, they were getting cocky.
This was proof that they underestimated us, thinking that even though we were adventurers, we were still just girls. They couldn’t even gauge our strength properly. I could tell they were trying to backtrack on what they had just said, pulling out knives and cracking their knuckles, ready to force us into submission.
“This is bad; they were planning this from the start. What a cute face you have, but you’re really something…”
“Manager, what do we do? If that person finds out, we’ll…”
“We can just eliminate them here. I was known as the Steel Fist in my younger days, and I’ve beaten up plenty of unruly adventurers and tossed them out.”
“B-but manager, these girls are quite cute…”
“I know. They look like innocent maidens, so they’ll need some training regardless.”
What did “innocent maiden” even mean? Kurinka seemed just as confused, but Seigel might have some idea. He always seemed knowledgeable about these kinds of things. I didn’t know what kind of “training” they were talking about, but I wouldn’t let them lay a finger on us.
And just a few seconds later…
“P-Please don’t kill me…”
The men, except for the now unconscious manager, were begging for their lives. The manager, who was barely holding on, had retreated to the wall, wetting the floor in fear. I had instilled such terror in him that tears streamed down his face, and he was even sniffling. I never thought the intimidation techniques I learned from the Dragonfolk would come in handy in a situation like this.
I didn’t want to resort to violence to make them talk, and if this was enough to resolve the situation, then I was more than satisfied. The only issue was that I had to keep my killing intent in check so that they wouldn’t all pass out. The once boisterous manager’s scarred face was now drenched in tears, reflecting his fear.
“Do you know the Masked Giant?”
“Y-Yes, of course…”
“Do you know where he is?”
“That’s…”
“If you don’t talk, this might happen to you.”
Kurinka’s staff struck the wall with a forceful thud, and after a few seconds, she slowly pulled it back. The manager trembled uncontrollably as he witnessed the reality of the situation.
Kurinka was frightening as she carried out such rough actions with a serious expression. In truth, she was quite angry. After all, they had mentioned kidnapping girls, and I couldn’t blame her for being furious. Of course, we wouldn’t actually kill anyone, but it was more than enough to intimidate this terrified man.
“A-Ah! I remember! I think the guy who comes to collect was drunk and mentioned it!”
“Oh? What did he say?”
“Actually…”
Thus, we successfully gathered information, but at the same time, I was astonished by the audacity of the thieves. It made sense why they were so hard to find. Just as there were shops connected to the thieves that the palace guards were desperately searching for, their hideout was something that would never be discovered through normal means. Moreover, the information about the Comet Wolf Brigade itself was even more valuable. With this information, we could launch an immediate operation against the thieves.
In the end, we decided to leave the shop to the palace guards. It was beyond our capacity to handle alone, especially if we were to rescue the girls who had been forced to work there. As we left, the sight of us walking through the Black Market District with a few unconscious men would have looked quite bizarre to anyone who saw us.
I would have liked to tie them up, but I had no ropes on hand, nor did I need them. The moment they tried to escape, I would just catch them again. They shouldn’t think they could run away from me.
Kashiram Royal Palace – Conference Room
“We’ve apprehended all the staff connected to the thieves. We’ll think about the girls later.”
I was relieved that they responded quite reasonably. Given the King’s nature, I half-expected him to just tell us to win and leave us to our own devices. The fact that there was a shop connected to the thieves in the Black Market had surprised not only the cavalry commanders but even Weiss. When we entered the Royal Capital, we had gone through strict checks, yet the thieves managed to slip through.
However, with Shadow Entry, it seemed like that didn’t matter. Such magic could be dealt with swiftly by the Wizard Kingdom. Moreover, I had heard that there weren’t many countries that could win a war against that nation. It was only because they were up against that Golem army that the odds were against them. Even I had been deceived by Rash’s Illusion Magic, and it was indeed a formidable threat.
“From now on, we will strengthen the enforcement across the entire Black Market District, as well as tighten immigration control. The most pressing issue is that we allowed a band of thieves to scurry about our land like rats. As for the methods we will employ, we will extract that information shortly… Lua, Kurinka, is that information reliable?”
“Yes, it seems that there is a hideout of the Comet Wolf Brigade led by the Masked Giant at that location.”
“If that’s the case, we have been thoroughly deceived. It may not be exactly like the saying ‘the darkest place is under the lighthouse,’ but…”
Kurinka nodded repeatedly, impressed by the cunning of the thieves who had taken advantage of the chaos they caused in the villages and towns. While it’s good to be impressed, praising them is out of the question.
“Furthermore, it seems that the Comet Wolf Brigade has a main force led directly by their leader, from which several members have been dispatched to the Masked Giant.”
“And what of it?”
“Your Majesty, do not underestimate the Comet Wolf Brigade. That main force is said to consist of Custom Magic users who operate in the shadows across various regions. The fact that they have sent someone means they are preparing to take serious action…”
“This battle will be led by Weiss. We are serious as well.”
“But… there’s one more piece of information.”
One of the targets of the Comet Wolf Brigade is me. It seems the matter with Glaive has been lingering ever since. I had completely forgotten about it until the shopkeeper mentioned my name, and now I’m flooded with mixed feelings. While I’m glad to have this information, an indescribable anxiety also creeps in.
“Hmm, if that information is reliable, we can devise a strategy. For that, Lua, you will take the lead.”
“M-Me?”
“If the information about the hideout is accurate, then barging in and taking the thieves’ heads would yield no evidence. In fact, we would be seen as the villains. If the Comet Wolf Brigade knows your face, we can use that to draw out their true nature.”
“With all due respect, Your Majesty! If that is the only role, there’s no need to use that girl! There are plenty of substitutes for a decoy!”
Weiss, who had been quiet until now, suddenly slammed his hand on the table and raised his voice. The captains jumped in surprise, staring at Weiss’s face, but no one dared to speak. I was just as shocked. The cool and composed person I thought I knew had suddenly transformed, spitting words with fervor.
“A decoy can be replaced by anyone? Weiss, say that foolishness again, and you will never sit in this room again.”
“U-Um, that’s not…”
“Then shall we use the cavalry’s common soldiers? With mediocre skills, they would surely fall prey to the thieves. Wouldn’t it be more promising to have Lua, pretending to be oblivious, stroll in instead? Above all, failure is not an option. If that happens, they will vanish again, making it even harder to find them.”
“I understand your words. However, Your Majesty, I cannot fully trust that girl’s abilities… I have never seen her fight, and placing faith in a child’s strength seems reckless.”
“Indeed…”
“That is true. After all, it would only stir distrust among the people to have an outsider Adventurer at the forefront of a cavalry-led operation against thieves.”
Being mentioned without my consent, the atmosphere grew tense. Complaints about me began to surface from the captains, making me feel uncomfortable. I shouldn’t have casually offered to help; perhaps we should have handled this ourselves. Whether I’m truly strong or just a rumor, it’s common for experienced individuals to dismiss me as an ordinary child, and that thought was starting to irritate me. I didn’t care about their strategy anymore; I just wanted them to do as they pleased.
“Alright, alright, if that’s the case, then you just need to prove your worth, right? In that case, let’s settle this quickly. Weiss and Lua, you shall face each other in a duel.”
“W-What are you saying?!”
“That’s right! Even if you decide this, I’m not going to participate! It’s ridiculous!”
“Lua-chan, I understand how you feel, but please calm down…”
This king truly says the most outrageous things. He’s not called the Battle King for nothing. Whether it’s business or anything else, he views everything as a battle. Winning means happiness, losing means misery; he sees life as a series of contests, and this mindset is reflected throughout the entire kingdom. Just as Kurinka said, he doesn’t consider the feelings or circumstances of those who lose.
“Weiss. If you win, the plan we just discussed will be scrapped. We will rethink it from scratch.”
“…There are a few conditions, but let’s do it. However, I believe they would pay to avoid a match against an S-rank.”
“Lua. If you win, I will prepare 300,000 gold as an advance payment for the request. Furthermore, if the operation succeeds, there will be an additional 800,000 gold. What will you do?”
There’s no option to refuse. I’ll shut the mouths of those captains who are grinning at me. Everyone here probably thinks they can easily defeat me, so this is a good opportunity. I’m also annoyed by Weiss, who seems to look down on us, and while I don’t care about their strategy, I’ll accept the challenge.
“Fine, I just have to win, right? I’ll do it.”
“…Oh?”
I didn’t mean to sound sarcastic, but after saying it, I thought I might have gone too far. Weiss’s cold gaze was filled with an ominous aura. From what I can sense, he might be the strongest person I’ve ever encountered. Tiferia is still a bit of a mystery to me, so I’ll exclude her from that comparison.
“Then let’s head to the training grounds.”
The Centaur Knight Weiss stood up quietly. The anger radiating from him was something the captains, who seemed to be preparing for an entertaining spectacle, could not perceive. The oppressive aura emanating from his entire being was so intense that even the air seemed to want to flee.