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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“My goodness, there’s someone even bigger than Eldi.”
Asirye, who had come running from a different watchtower than the one she first climbed, made a rather shocking first impression upon seeing the boss’s corpse.
“What? Sis? You’re talking as if I’m some specimen of a giant?”
“Hmm. But it’s true…?”
“That feels incredibly unfair.”
Even though it was true that I was exceptionally large compared to my peers, with examples like Yekaterina and Radnelbandes existing, I found Asirye’s assessment to be unjust.
But Asirye, who turned her gaze away from my sense of injustice and searched the boss’s belongings, found a bundle of keys and handed them to me, saying,
“Perhaps he was in charge of managing the captives? Recalling the people coming and going to this tent during the earlier reconnaissance, it seems this was likely the auction site.”
“According to him, he called those dead guys over there his subordinates, but from the brief conversation, he seemed a bit lacking. Maybe the brains are hiding somewhere else?”
“Indeed, considering they’re doing business with nobles, that’s a definite possibility. Come to think of it, what was that scream earlier?”
“An unexpected variable. Turns out they were secretly hiding a prostitute. She’s quiet now, either unconscious or something.”
“Hmm. Their security is lax. Maybe they grew complacent with their backing from a nobel?”
I hadn’t thought of it that way, but it seemed quite plausible.
Just considering the customers we briefly observed, there were quite a few, so these guys must have been in business for more than a day or two.
From my perspective, the end result was that I easily disposed of over forty people like eating cake, so it didn’t really matter.
“Just in case, could you check the surroundings to see if there’s anyone we missed? You’re more skilled at tracking than me, after all.”
“Hehe. Maintaining vigilance even after such an easy victory is an excellent attitude. I’ll be right back.”
Come to think of it, I never had a chance to directly show Asirye my movements in actual combat, only learning from her each time.
Realizing she didn’t show any signs of being startled, I suddenly felt a sense of pride.
“Hello! I’m here for the regular inspection… Damn. They were quite serious.”
Adjusting my mood after being praised by my lifelong mentor, the inside of the tent I entered was set up very seriously like an auction house, with the floor dug out and carved.
Thanks to that, I became convinced there must be someone else playing the role of the brain besides that boss guy.
From the lighting to the not-so-deep tunnels dug into the ground to bring in slaves, it was easy to discern that someone with a talent for entertainment, if I may say so, had staged the set to boost excitement and stimulate consumers’ purchasing desires.
From beginning to end, they had thoroughly established the atmosphere.
“I really want to catch them and see their face.”
I didn’t know who it was, but they knew how to use their head and consider various factors for profit.
Perhaps for the sake of their life, they might readily sell out Count Bosha or those associated with him.
If we could drag them back, wouldn’t Lord Ekaf find a way to make good use of them?
With that thought, I moved a bit further through the mediocre tunnel, where there were clear signs of slaves being moved while chained, and saw a sight I had somewhat expected.
About twenty people, regardless of race, were imprisoned in iron cages designed to confine humans.
Perhaps because there were no particularly hostile races, they were locked up without distinction, yet they showed no sense of unease towards each other.
In a scene that was a small consolation, if any, the hygiene seemed better than expected, perhaps because the customers were nobles.
I spoke with the utmost courtesy.
“Greetings, everyone. I’m from the Slave Liberation Front. I believe a slave trader may be hiding somewhere here. Does anyone know of them?”
My sudden appearance and words were enough to focus their attention.
I could feel the gazes of those who had been on high alert change drastically with just the word “liberation.”
Some seemed to have a different language and didn’t understand what I was saying, but those who read the atmosphere showed similar reactions.
However, contrary to their hopeful gazes, no one spoke up.
As if something was at play, preventing them from harboring complete hope.
“Hmm. Interesting. They don’t seem to have taken any magical measures…”
Through the eyes proven by Rudra’s son of a bitch, I wondered if magic was cast on the shackles or chains worn by them, preventing them from speaking, but that wasn’t the case either.
While looking around, wondering if there was some device in the space… something subtle caught my eye.
A lump of magic in the shape of a person.
“…Strange.”
Just in case they sensed my gaze, I naturally turned my head, and after some time passed, the lump of mana really began to move stealthily.
That was clearly an invisibility or concealment magic.
I could even detect magic.
This was the first time I learned that, having never encountered those using such persistent magic before.
“They couldn’t have gathered only mutes, right? Hey, you there? The aura-using bastards outside are all dead, you know? You don’t have to worry. I didn’t sneak in, after all.”
As I slowly walked towards the center of the cages, the lump of mana I glanced at didn’t seem to have any intention of running away.
Instead, it moved very slowly, took out something resembling a blade from its bosom, and gradually closed the distance behind me.
Huh.
I’m threatening them, saying I killed all their subordinates or colleagues, and they’re still approaching to slit my throat?
The gradually quickening pace seemed to exude confidence in their victory, and yet, judging by the absence of any footsteps, it seemed they had even cast a noise suppression magic.
From start to finish, this was a being specialized in stealthily fleeing or assassinating.
It was interesting, as I had never encountered this type before.
“They don’t believe me even though I’m not lying…”
Mumbling as if disappointed, I pretended not to notice, turned my body towards the being, reached out, grasped the hand holding the dagger, and greeted them with a bright smile.
“Why don’t you believe me?”
“……!”
It was certain.
Judging by the being’s movements and the trembling felt through their hand, it was as if they were screaming like they had seen a ghost.
Faster than the being trying to struggle free from my grip, I dug into their bosom and headbutted where their nose would be, causing blood to spurt from the empty air as the being went limp.
“Hmm. Even if I can’t use it, I should still study magic. There are all sorts of strange things, really.”
“You, you caught the mage with your bare hands!”
“Hero! Please! Please get us out of here!”
“Save us!”
The people who had kept their mouths shut as if they were dead until I grabbed the being’s hand, began to cry out from all directions as if my headbutting and the blood spurting in the air, followed by my nonchalant expression as I released the hand I was holding, were a signal.
“As I just mentioned, you are all safe now. Please calm down, everyone. I will just restrain this fellow and return.”
“Don’t go! Please!”
“Herooooo!!”
Hmm.
Human distrust.
It’s understandable, having been captured in a place like this, but still.
Seeing them clinging to the iron bars, regardless of race or gender, it was hard to simply ignore them and leave.
However, without restraining this being in an invisible state, not knowing if they were truly unconscious or not, leaving them unbound could lead to trouble if something were to happen.
After a brief contemplation, I took out my sword, sheath and all, struck it into the ground, and slightly raised my voice, unsure if it would be effective or not.
“Don’t worry! The slave traders have all paid the price with their lives. You are safe now. But if I don’t restrain this unidentified mage, there may be other dangers after you are freed. I prioritize restraining them! To alleviate your anxieties even a little, I will leave my sword here, so please wait a moment!”
“You, you mean it, right? You won’t abandon us, will you?”
You’re not even a lass, and hearing a man plead like that makes me want to abandon you.
I hate not being able to speak my true thoughts in this situation.
“I swear upon my sword. Please wait a little.”
In the end, by imitating a shoddy knight as they desired, I managed to quell the commotion to some extent.
I didn’t know if they found meaning in my words, swearing on my sword, thinking of who I was, but as long as it worked, that was enough.
After the unique experience of tying up the invisible person with a rope that seemed suitable, it took more time than expected to return, pick up my sword that had become covered in dirt, and open the door for them.
They were all about to grab me and bow in gratitude, one by one, so by the time I received all that, it really never ended.
“For now, I will check with my companion to see if there are any other threats nearby and return. It’s not very clean outside… so please wait here if possible.”
Fortunately, no one was tactless enough to ask why it wasn’t clean.
Moreover, since no one even insisted on going out right away, ignoring my words, I was able to leave the place quite satisfied.
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[“slave liberation front” my ass, bro just spitting out random bullshit lmao]
The noble Eldmia had to fight the bad Eldmia at the end there 🤣
Tftc