And then—it happened just as we returned to the mansion from the tailor’s shop.
“Eh? The servants are moving around the mansion busily.”
“What’s going on?”
When we arrived, the manor was in an uproar. Attendants hurried through the halls, their faces were tense. Even Shiro tilted her head curiously, peering through the doorway.
That’s when the Margrave’s wife spotted us. She lifted her skirts slightly and hurried over, her expression both anxious and excited.
“Ah, Fina—perfect timing! I was just about to send someone to fetch you from the shop.”
“Mother, did something happen?”
“Yes, dear. It’s your sister-in-law—her baby is about to be born!”
““““Eeh?!””””
Hearing the Margrave’s wife’s words, we were all taken aback.
Fina-san’s sister-in-law was in her final month of pregnancy. It wouldn’t have been strange for the baby to come at any moment.
But now… it seemed the time had finally arrived.
That explained why the entire mansion was in such a flurry. Servants were rushing through the corridors, their footsteps echoing with urgency.
Then, the Margrave’s wife turned toward Sue.
“I’m sorry to trouble you, Sue-san, but could I ask you to stay on standby? Uhm, just in case something happens.”
“Yes of course.”
Sue replied without hesitation.
“Mother, Ao and Pearl said they’ll stay with Sue-oneesama as well.”
Fina-san added.The Margrave’s wife nodded.
“That’s a good idea. It’s always better to have more than one healer available.”
With that, she led Sue—cradling Ao and Pearl in her arms—toward the inner rooms of the mansion.
Of course, as a man, there was nothing I could do to assist with the childbirth. And it went without saying that a five-year-old like Horn couldn’t help either. It was best to leave everything to Sue, Ao, and Pearl, in case something happened to Fina-san’s sister-in-law.
We also shouldn’t make too much noise, so we decided to move to the drawing room.
“Oh, Fina—you’re back.”
“Father, Brother? You’re not in the study?”
Inside the drawing room sat the Margrave and Fina-san’s older brother, both calmly sipping tea. Neither of them seemed to be in the mood to work.
“The whole mansion is filled with noise right now. We finished the urgent matters early and moved here to get away from the commotion.”
The Margrave answered with a wry smile.
“To be honest, I can’t focus on work at all right now. But at a time like this, men can’t really do anything except pray to the gods.”
“I see…”
Fina-san nodded softly, her voice tinged with understanding.
I heard that even in my previous life, most men could only fluster helplessly during childbirth—so really, this was no different. There wasn’t much they could do.
“Actually, the contractions started early this morning.”
“Really?”
Fina can’t help but be stunned.
“My wife didn’t realize it at first—it’s our first child, after all. She just thought it was a little stomach pain. Honestly, I didn’t understand what was happening either until Mother explained.”
Hmm, that made sense. I was a man myself, and things like contractions were completely foreign to me.
For now, all we could do was wait.
“Hmm… not yet?”
“Childbirth takes such a long time, doesn’t it?”
Two hours had already passed since we’d returned from the tailor’s shop. Everyone is holding their breath, waiting for the moment the baby would be born.
—Suddenly,
Click.
“The child has been born, everyone. He’s a healthy baby boy.”
“Yaaaay!”
“A boy, huh.”
The margrave murmured, a deep smile tugging at his lips.
“Well then, go and see your son.”
The margrave gave Fina’s brother an encouraging pat on the back.
“Yes, of course!”
The servant who entered the drawing room announced the long-awaited news, and the tension that had filled the air melted in an instant. Fina-san and Shiro let out shouts of pure joy, while Fina-san’s brother, prompted by his father, hurried toward the room where his wife awaited.
Naturally, we followed after them—Fina-san, Shiro, and the rest of us—our hearts still racing with excitement.
“It’s me. May I come in?”
Fina-san’s brother asked softly at the door.
“Yes, come in.”
When Fina’s brother called out softly through the door, his wife’s gentle voice answered from within. As we entered the room, both the Marquise and Sue were there to greet us, warm smiles lighting their faces.
“He’s a fine heir for the future. You must be so relieved.”
“The delivery went smoothly. There wasn’t even any need to use healing magic.”
Sue added with a calm smile.
“Thank you… truly, thank you.”
Fina-san’s brother replied, his voice trembling slightly as he turned toward the bed.
There, his wife lay resting, pale but peaceful, a tiny newborn nestled beside her. He gazed at them both, eyes shining with emotion.
Around the bed, Fina-san and Shiro leaned in with bright faces, while Ao and Pearl peeked curiously at the baby swaddled in soft cloth.
And so, a new life was welcomed into the Margrave’s household.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
The door in the wall is already sliding shut—it is going to trap us out while the slave traders escaped!
“Please, make it in time!”
But just as we reached it, the massive stone door reopened again as if it closing a while ago had not happened.
The slave traders who had been trying to flee looked at us with dropped jaws. We, who had rushed in, also looked back in shock.
We checked to see if the open wall was an optical illusion.
The gold coin vibrated, and Loki’s voice echoed in my mind.
『…It must be a door that opens and closes at the command of the gods. That man invoked the name of the God of Fertility, remember? That means…』
『Hmm. So, as long as one travels with the gods’ blessing, the door opens.』
Solana’s calm voice followed, and I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.
Looks like they’re the ones panicking now.
“W–what is going on!?”
“I thought you were supposed to show us the hidden passage out of the city today!”
When things start to go south, one thing always happens—infighting. The river bandits were turning on their leader, shouting accusations at the man in the black robe.
“Silence!”
The overseer snapped, his voice cutting through the chaos. From his cloak, he pulled out a small pouch.
Solana’s sharp voice rang in my mind.
『That’s ashes of the titan!』
The overseer scattered the contents into the air. The black dust shimmered midair, glowing red-hot before vanishing entirely—and then, the oppressive aura of monsters grew so thick that made my skin tingle.
“What are they doing?”
Even Nils, unfamiliar with the ashes, must have sensed the danger. He raised his sword, watching the room warily—the channels of water, the cascades along the walls—ready for anything.
“They’ve summoned monsters to us. And… they’ve made them stronger.”
“What…?”
The four of us moved back-to-back, covering every direction.
The chamber stretched about thirty meters deep. The ceiling was high, and water channels ran along the left and right walls. There were also several water outlets near the ceiling of the walls. Waterfalls were splashing down into the channels on both sides.
“…The ‘Shrewd Merchant’ once told me that this powder calls forth monsters… and strengthens them.”
We could hear the overseer talking.
A dungeon ruled by water-born creatures.
Now I understood—truly understood—why this dungeon was rated for level thirty adventurers. In terrain like this, anything that could swim could attack from anywhere.
The overseer, with a twisted grin on his face said,
“Kukuku… don’t worry. I still have another pouch. And it seems that monsters can sense certain auras. As long as I hold this, they won’t come near us. It’s as if they fear it.”
So, they were safe. Makes sense, really—those ashes were once part of the flame titan, Surtr. For the creatures of this dungeon, that presence would be one to dread, or mistake for an ally.
“Gii… gii…”
“Kiiiii…”
“Guuuuh…”
Hands broke the surface of the waterway—scaly, webbed, and dripping. Fishmen, sahagins, rose from below. Their eyes are glowing crimson and their half-open mouths showed their jagged teeth.
And from the waterfalls above, winged shapes burst forth—monsters like giant bats, their slick blue bodies glinting under the pale light. There were more of them by the second—seven, eight… maybe more, screeching as they circled overhead.
Mia-san whispered.
“They’re sirens. They’re troublesome monsters that hit you with sound like a wall of air.”
Remembering what my father told me, I tuck my chin in.
Then single antler poked out from the waterway. A pale horse’s body neighed as it reared up towards us.
“That’s a Kelpie water horse. Really, it seems he had summoned monsters from the depths.”
Felix-san shrugged with a wry smile, remaining as nonchalant as ever.
Now, what should we do?
The main chamber was teeming with monsters. It was like the contents of a box that should never be opened.
The overseer gazed triumphantly at me.
『You’re on a tight spot, Rion』
It was Solana.
“Un.”
I exhaled, then I shook my head.
Wolfbone Skoll, who destroyed the royal capital.
Flamebone Surtr, who slept in Alvis.
There are many monsters here, but I’m not afraid of any of them. They are clearly weaker than those two after all.
I crouched down, my short sword at the ready.
“…Huh?”
Just to be sure, I activated unseal, letting my senses sweep across the area.
Then, I noticed lights all over the walls. The glow seemed to point to the next room, an even more unexplored area.
But what about those other lights?
“Try not to spill too much blood, will you? There are valuable magical materials stored here after all…”
The overseer licked his lips.
I was convinced. Those faint lights scattered throughout the chamber meant those materials. This might be why this space has collected so much water essence.
“They’re coming!”
Nils shouted the warning.
Skill,『Sun’s Divine Protection』was activated. 【Golden Flame】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Improves physical ability. Further effects for a limited time.
The world sharpened into perfect clarity.
The Kelpie water horse charged straight toward me, its single horn thrusting like a spear. I twisted my wrist and deflected the blow with my short sword, sparks flying from the clash. My feet bit into the stone, refusing to give an inch.
The Kelpie water horse snorted in surprise as it galloped past, but I spun on my heel and gave chase.
One step. Two step. My speed matched that of the beast itself.
“Gii-gii-gii!”
A Sahagin lunged at me from the side—I dropped low, sliding beneath its claws, and closed in on the Kelpie water horse’s flank.
Then I unleashed my strike.
Skill,『God of Thunder’s Divine Protection』was activated. 【Hammer of the God of Thunder】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Shoots a powerful lightning attack.
Blue-white lightning coursed across the Kelpie water horse’s body, crackling and snapping like a living thing.
The beast convulsed, its eyes rolling back, showing its whites. Even the nearby Sahagin caught in the discharge twitched violently before collapsing, exhaling black smoke as they crumbled into ash.
“Ice Blade”
Felix-san’s incantation rang out. A wave of frost surged from his staff, freezing the Sahagin struggling to rise from the waterway. The Sirens mid-flight were also caught in the spell, their wings were encased in glittering ice. Limbs locked in frozen shackles, they could only thrash helplessly.
“Heh, makes for easy targets!”
Mia-san’s chainaxe whistled through the air.
The frozen monsters shattered like glass. Those still writhing were split apart by the weight of her spinning blade.
I darted between them, distracting the stragglers. Felix-san’s magic struck true, and Mia-san finished each one cleanly from midrange. Our teamwork we’d honed back in Alvis shone just as brilliantly here in the depths of this waterlogged dungeon.
“…You make a fine party. So this is what true adventurers are like.”
Nils said, a quiet smile tugging at his lips.
He stepped forward, sword raised to mid-guard.
“I’ll lend what strength I can. Leave the defense to me.”
He positioned himself between Felix-san and Mia-san, the line of his blade steady and sure. Above us, the Sirens were swelling their bellies.
“Air blasts incoming!”
Felix-san warned sharply.
Nils met the warning with nothing more than a calm smile.
“Wind Cutter.”
The words were barely more than a whisper. A thin line of light traced his blade as the <Swordmaster> skill activated.
The slash was too swift to follow—the air warped and split apart. The sonic spheres fired by the bat-like sirens shattered midair, scattering like harmless mist.
Before the ripples faded, Nils had already turned, stepping lightly into the charge of the second Kelpie.
“Scatter Slash!”
The Kelpie staggered forward a few faltering steps before its body split cleanly in two and collapsed. It had been cut in that single passing instant. The tide of battle had turned completely in our favor.
“D-damn it!”
The overseer hurled a desperate fireball.
I twisted aside in a sideways roll, the heat brushing past my cheek.
“Forget this—let’s get outta here!”
One of the river bandits shouted.
But Nils’s voice cut through the chaos, deep and commanding.
“By all means—run! We’ll finish off these beasts first… then take our time catching up to you.”
The overseer froze mid-step. He must have realized it then—how we had already breached the sealed area he thought was untouchable and how his every attempt to shake us had failed.
That sudden stillness wasn’t hesitation. It was fear. The overseer had already played his trump card—the ashes. I could see him hesitate at the thought of unleashing the monsters and striking us down along with them.
And every second he wavered was a second his decision would be delayed…
『Hoh, clever tactic.』
Loki’s amused voice cut through my head, and I took his words to heart.
A tactical move, huh.
“Useless! If we don’t finish them here, they’ll catch up to us!”
The man in the black robe seemed to have chosen not to flee. His face flushed with fury as he plunged his hand into his robe.
“So be it…!”
He pulled out a second pouch from his pocket. It probably contained ashes. If he scattered them, more monsters would be summoned.
“Rion!”
Nils cleaved through the monsters ahead of me in a single, sweeping strike. A path was cut open with his sword. His eyes were aimed straight at the slave trader and the overseer.
“Catch them off guard!”
I kicked off the ground.
From the enemy’s perspective, my sudden dash—using the monsters’ hulking bodies as cover—must’ve looked like I vanished and reappeared from nowhere. The manager’s group hesitated, a heartbeat too slow.
The coin at my waist vibrated. Thor’s rough voice rang out.
『Well played. You laid the groundwork with that line earlier—‘we’ll deal with the monsters first,’ didn’t you?』
Some of the guards lunged to block my way—
“Wake up!”
A gust of wind from the spirit Sylph slammed into the guards, sending them tumbling like leaves in a storm. With his escorts gone, the manager stood alone—his face drained of color, hands flailing desperately.
“W-wait! Wait, wait, waaaait—!”
My boots met his face before he could finish.
“Guh—agh!”
He flipped backward, landing hard on the stone floor.
A small pouch slipped from his grasp and fell with a dry pat. I picked it up and checked to make sure the contents were still there..
『The unpleasant presence is fading. Those ashes haven’t been released yet.』
Solana affirmed.
“That’s good…”
I breathed out, relief softening the tension in my shoulders.
When I turned, Nils and the others had finished off the last of the monsters.
The final Siren, caught midair by Mia-san’s chain-blade, crashed to the ground.
The clash of steel and roar of beasts faded, leaving only the soft, steady murmur of running water to fill the grand chamber once more.
“Phew…”
The sigh had barely left my lips when instinct flared again.
I invoked the Blessing of the God of Hunting—Wild Heart, letting my senses stretch across the chamber. At once, a scarlet glimmer pulsed in the waterway to my right.
“Gigigi”
So there were still some left. Three Sahagin. Their fish-like eyes scanned us, seemingly realizing there was no chance of victory for them. Their heads, which had been shaking frantically from side to side, stopped.
And then, all three fixed their gaze on the same target—
“N-not good!”
“Gigi”
With a splash like arrows loosed from a bow, the Sahagin shot out of the water. One seized the overseer by the arm, dragging him violently toward the opposite channel.
—And together, they plunged into the left-hand waterway.
“Guh—gluh—gobo—!”
The overseer’s muffled cries were swallowed by the rushing current. The overseer was dragged beneath the surface! His flailing arms and legs clawed at the air, stirring a chill of fear in my gut.
Mia-san and the others came rushing over.
“Hey, wasn’t that guy our biggest lead!?”
“So it seems—but he’s been pulled under…!”
Felix-san’s grim tone sent another shiver down my spine. This—this was the true terror of the water dungeon. Once a water-dwelling monster dragged an adventurer below, there was almost no saving them.
“Normally, they aren’t quite so vicious. But if their intellect was suppressed by the seal, then perhaps the ashes of the titan restored it…”
Felix-san said, his eyes narrowing at the rippling current.
I looked around the chamber.
The slave trader’s sorcerer had clearly been the one in charge of the deal. No matter how many river bandits we captured, without him we’d never get the full story.
And—maybe it was naïve of me—but after coming this far, I couldn’t just let him die.
I activated my skill.
I searched the surroundings.
“This…!”
That’s when I saw it—something that could change everything.
A faint glimmer embedded in the wall. A light that could be unsealed.
At the end of the chamber, a pale-blue crystal shimmered softly. But among its many facets, one pulsed with a stronger, purer glow.
This place—it must be a storehouse of Spirit Stones. Just like the old chambers in the eastern dungeons.
The Water Spirit, 『Undine』 can be unsealed.
The voice of God echoed in my mind.
I lifted my chin, resolve burning in my chest.
“I… I might be able to save him!”
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Chasing the slave traders who had fled inside the dungeon, we set foot on Dungeon Island.
There was a gaping cavern before us, with a waterway stretching deep into the darkness. This is likely where the enemy had escaped. One of the piers nearby held a dragon-prowed longship, docked headfirst as if it had crashed into place.
The gate leading into the dungeon was left wide open. A few guards were slumped by the entrance, clutching their injured arms and groaning in pain.
“…So this is all the defense they had? This dungeon’s supposed to be recommended for level thirty and up though.”
As we ran, Mia-san brushed back her red hair.
Felix-san answered her,
“The lake serves as a natural moat, so they probably don’t station many guards here. The place isn’t just managed by nobles or the Adventurers’ Guild—several merchant companies are involved as well. They likely don’t want to spend too much on maintainance either.”
I glanced back over my shoulder.
Mia-san, Felix-san, me and about fifteen members of the warrior corps, and the swordsman Nils—together, we formed the party that would descend into the dungeon.
“The enemy’s inside. I’ll guide us using my detection skill.”
With the blessing of the God of Hunting, I could sense the faint echo of fleeing footsteps ahead.
We stepped into the dungeon. The moment we crossed the threshold, I was captivated by the overwhelming sight.
“Amazing…”
Even though we were in pursuit, I couldn’t help whispering in awe.
The first floor of the dungeon was known as the Exploration Layer. The area had no partitions at all—the far wall, over a hundred meters away, was faintly blurred by the distance. The entire space glowed in a pale blue hue, reflections from the waterways that crisscrossed the floor and mirrored the light of the magic lamps embedded in the ceiling.
“Water… dungeon?”
To be precise, it was more of a waterway dungeon. Even the air was thick with the essence of water spirits.
“Over there!”
Mia-san pointed ahead. We jumped over the small waterway and crossed the bridge over the larger one. A few dozen seconds later, we descended the same stairs as the enemy.
Behind me, I caught the low murmur of the warrior corps discussing our next move.
“Felix-dono! With this many people, we’re well over the dungeon’s recommended party size. The monsters will start swarming toward us!”
“It doesn’t matter. The enemy has even greater numbers. They’ll be the ones attacked first.”
The second floor was much the same—another exploration layer. We quickly found the next staircase down. I could feel it. The distance between us and the enemy was closing.
“Mind if I ask something?”
While running, Nils spoke up.
“The next floor should be a combat layer, right? What if the enemy made a surprise attack?”
“Well….”
Felix-san answered for me.
“We’ll leave a few warriors behind to secure the prisoners for transport back to the surface. The rest will press forward. Because…..”
I recalled what had been said earlier. Adventurers usually delved into dungeons in small groups—seven members at most. Too large a party only made it easier for monsters to detect you.
And that gave me an idea.
“.…Because that’s what the enemy’s after?”
There were nearly twenty of them ahead, and as they fled, some were starting to fall behind. That’s why it felt like the distance between us was shrinking.
Felix-san nodded.
“They’re using their rearguard as bait. To draw in monsters or our forces, buying time for their vanguard to escape. It’s a classic tactic.”
“Like a lizard dropping its tail huh.”
Nils muttered.
I swallowed hard. The coin at my chest trembled, and Thor’s voice echoed faintly from within.
『A sloppy retreat, if you ask me. Between this and that river ambush, their moves are starting to look careless.』
I tilted my head.
“I wonder why though?”
『Who knows. But when we’re struggling, it means the enemy’s under pressure too. And when things seem too easy for us—well, that’s when they’re usually planning something.』
In other words, don’t let your guard down.
Just as I steeled myself, the sharp clang of weapons rang out ahead.
The combat layer opened up before us. It was an expanse of rough-hewn stone, like the inside of a cave. And on the air drifted a foul stench—thick and oily, like rancid grease gone bad.
“Monsters! Battle begins around the next corner!”
I kicked off the floor and sprinted toward the sounds of battle. When I burst into the combat area, what filled my vision was a humanoid figure covered entirely in scales. Its body gleamed wetly, slick with a coating of viscous slime. Its fishlike eyes were bloodshot, glaring straight at us as it brandished a three-pronged trident.
“Gigiigi”
That rasping cry sent a shiver crawling down my spine.
Several bodies lay sprawled across the ground—probably the river bandtis who’d been ambushed.
“A sahagin.”
Mia-san muttered, the chain of her chainaxe are clinking as she readied it.
“In Flocia dungeon, you see these things all the time. Some call them water goblins, but don’t be fooled. Its danger level is on a whole different scale.”
I nodded. That should be. This dungeon’s recommended level was thirty after all.
That made it tougher than either Alvis or the Royal Capital’s Western Dungeon, which both had a level twenty-five recommended level.
“Let’s break through!”
There were more than ten monsters ahead. We had to cut a path through quickly and resume the chase.
“Gigigii!”
A trident lunged toward me.
Golden flames flared to life around my body. I knocked the weapon’s shaft aside with my short sword and, as we passed each other, I slashed across its neck. The sahagin burst into gray ash, spraying blue blood through the air as it fell.
“Come on!”
I pressed forward, fighting as I advanced.
Two more came at me from opposite sides. I stomped down on the trident of the first one, vaulted upward, and kicked off the shoulder of the other one to gain distance. Then, bracing myself in midair, I thrust my left gauntlet forward.
“Wake up!”
The fire spirit, Salamander, launched a blazing fireball. One sahagin was blown apart instantly, while another leapt back in panic. Perhaps instinctively recoiling from the searing heat.
“Gigi?”
It turned its head in confusion—but by then, I was already gone. I kicked off the ground and slashed across its side from the flank.
“Not bad.”
The voice came just as I was catching my breath after the flurry of movement.
I froze in surprise. The speaker was standing ahead of me—meaning they’d already cut through the monsters even faster than I had.
“Fuu.”
Nils exhaled softly, stepping past the sahagin that lunged for him. All I heard was the clear, ringing shing of the blade being sheathed. A heartbeat later, the sahagin split neatly in two—top and bottom—before crumbling away into ash.
“What’s wrong?”
He glanced back at me with a faint smile. My chest tightened with awe.
There was no doubt—he is a master swordsman. It had been a long time since I had seen swordsmanship like that, well, not since my father.
A moment later, Felix-san and Mia-san caught up to us.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Let’s move. With this many monsters cleared out, the rest of the warrior corps can handle the cleanup and take the bandits into custody.”
I nodded and pressed onward.
With both the Blessing of the Sun and the Blessing of the God of Hunting active, the sounds of fleeing footsteps reached me far more clearly than before.
We descended another staircase—down to the fourth floor. Something about the enemy’s movements had changed. They weren’t heading for the next staircase anymore. Instead, their footsteps veered steadily northward.
“.…They are moving toward the outer wall of the dungeon.”
Maybe there was a hidden area there—something only they knew about.
“Let’s hurry!”
The sound of many fleeing feet echoed ahead, while our own boots splashed sharply against the quiet water. Sweeping the area with mana detection, I saw it clearly—points of red light, converging toward us and toward the slave traders up ahead.
When combat is unavoidable, we handle it through formation. Nils and I took the front line, clearing a path. Mia-san covered the midrange with her chainaxe, while Felix-san handled long-range support with his magic.
The enemy, on the other hand, was faltering. With their numbers thinned, they were struggling badly against the monsters. We passed several river bandits crouched along the corridor—injured, abandoned, and left behind.
Eventually, we cornered the slave traders.
Only five subordinates remained, along with the overseer draped in a black robe. The rest had likely been sacrificed as bait for the monsters.
On our side, we were down to four—me, Mia-san, Felix-san and Nils. The rest of the warrior corps had stayed behind in the passageways to hold off monsters and escort the captured bandits back to the surface.
“…Please, surrender quietly.”
I stepped forward.
The overseer twisted his lips into a sneer and pulled something from within his robe.
“Kuku, we’ll see about that.”
It was a small piece of metal, no larger than a thumb. It was tarnished and blackened with age yet beneath the corrosion, it might once have been gold.
Then, turning toward the wall, the man raised his voice and shouted:
“In the name of the God of Fertility, I command you―Open the gate!”
In an instant, the wall behind the overseer split open, sliding apart to both sides―just like a Seal Release triggered by my wake up skill.
“Wha—!”
The slave traders vanished into the opening, their laughter echoing mockingly back at us.
“They’re getting away!”
Mia-san shouted.
We all sprinted forward at once.
Come on—before it closes!
I pushed off the ground with everything I had, racing toward the closing opening as the heavy stone doors rumbled shut.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
At the Margrave’s estate, the lessons include not only reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also proper etiquette.
Today, Sue is teaching everyone manners.
“Fina, your etiquette is very good.”
“Thank you, Sue-oneesama.”
Since she’s been trained regularly at the Margrave’s household, Fina-san’s manners were impeccable.
“Hmm, this is kind of hard…”
“But Shiro, you’re doing quite well too.”
Even though Shiro had hardly ever been formally taught etiquette, she managed to pick up most of it just by watching Fina-san’s graceful example. Of course, there were still some details she hadn’t mastered yet—but considering her age, I’d say she was doing wonderfully.
“Balancing is hard…”
“I can’t do it right…”
“Fran, Horn, don’t rush. It’s enough if you can manage the basic form.”
As expected, Fran and Horn were struggling with the noble-style etiquette.
Well, they were only five years old, so being able to mimic a curtsy at all was impressive enough. Even if they made a few mistakes, they’d still earn a cheerful “Well done!” from anyone watching.
“Still, Shun, your manners are really quite refined. You even greet nobles with confidence. There’s nothing to correct at all.”
“I’m just imitating what I’ve seen. I happened to have some very good examples to learn from.”
I’d watched the greetings and behavior of various Margraves and butlers, so I’d managed to pick up the basics myself. I wasn’t sure how well I’d do in a truly formal setting but realistically, it’s not like we’d ever be attending one anyway.
Just then, Sue looked around at all of us and said—
“Since we have the chance, let’s pick out proper noble attire. We’ll likely have more opportunities to meet nobles in the future.”
“In other words, it’s not just about good manners, we should also look the part?”
“As expected of you, Shun. That’s exactly so.”
She replied with a satisfied nod.
Well, I understood what Sue meant. I did have a few decent outfits, but nothing that could really be called formal wear.
So, after lunch, we decided to visit the clothing shop favored by the Margrave.
“Why, if it isn’t Fina-san! Are you here with your friends today?”
“Yes! And this is my older sister, Sue-oneesama, the daughter of a baron. We’re here to look for clothes for everyone.”
“Of course, my lady. Right this way, please.”
““““Okay!””””
As soon as we arrived at the tailor’s shop, the owner came out to greet us. After Fina-san explained the reason for our visit, the shopkeeper led us deeper into the store.
“We’d like to order formal attire for everyone.”
“For all of you, right? Then let’s take your measurements first.”
Then she faced her assistants. “Please take everyone’s measurements.”
“““Understood.”””
At Sue’s request, the shopkeeper instructed the attendants to measure us. They used something like a measuring tape, carefully noting down every dimension of our bodies.
“Since we’re doing this, let’s have two sets of formal wear made.”
Sue added.
“And Fina, I’ll buy yours as well.”
“Thank you so much, Sue-oneesama!”
Fina-san replied, her face lighting up with delight.
Thanks to Sue’s suggestion, Fina-san also decided to have her outfit made. She smiled brightly as the assistants took her measurements.
Having two sets of formal wear made would normally cost quite a bit, but luckily, we had enough money saved up, so it wasn’t a problem at all. After we each told them our preferred colors, all that was left was to wait for the clothes to be finished.
“The preliminary fittings will be ready in two weeks. At that time, we’ll make final size adjustments.”
“Understood. That will be just before the martial arts tournament, then.”
“Yes, that’s correct. We look forward to seeing you again.”
The shopkeeper said with a bow.
““““Thank you very much!””””
This way, the first fitting will be ready right before the tournament—perfect timing, since things will get busy once Ao participates.
Oh, I wonder what kind of outfits we’ll end up with.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
“I-I won’t give up… I’ll survive this… and wait for that person’s resurrection… I’m sure that person will resurrect… Fortunately, this body, which I’ve turned into a karakuri, is capable of lasting forever…”
“She’s still alive!? How tenacious!”
“Huh?!”
A short distance from the destroyed ninja base, we discovered the dying female demon lying hidden in the lush grass. It seemed she had survived being hit by the airship’s magic cannon.
The karakuri transformation may have increased her durability, but she was still quite sturdy.
“Since there wasn’t a corpse near the Karakuri Giant, I had a hard time finding you. Your magic signature was so faint I almost missed it.”
Well, it made sense —after having her magic drained to power the Karakuri Giant and then taking a direct hit from a magic cannon, her total mana reserves must have been drastically reduced. But more likely, she had been deliberately suppressing her magical presence to avoid being found.
“Powerful demons usually can’t hide their magic at all. But the weaker ones have to, or they wouldn’t survive. They get really good at it.”
“Y–you bastaaard! How much longer do you intend to mock meee!?”
So she had learned to conceal her magic because she knew she was weak—but judging from how easily she lost her temper, her pride was still very much intact.
“Oh, right. When I saw you being used as the Karakuri Giant’s power source earlier, I thought it was a pretty interesting idea.”
“Huh?”
“My magic airship’s an older model you see. Its fuel efficiency is quite terrible. Recharging its mana takes a lot of work.”
I did make use of magic stones, but the fastest way was simply to channel my own mana directly. Even so—though my mana reserves had grown considerably, I am still just a baby now. I couldn’t hold a candle to what I’d wielded in my previous life.
“So I figured, there’s always the option of using demons. Maybe even a Demon Lord’s heart—it’s packed with absurd amounts of mana—but that’s way too risky. Unlike the Karakuri Giant, I don’t need to convert the energy into electricity first, so in terms of efficiency, you should be more than enough.”
“—!?”
The female-type demon froze, speechless, as the meaning of my words sank in.
I gave her my sweetest baby smile and presented her with a choice.
“So, what will it be? Would you rather die here and now… or live on and serve as my power source? I can’t promise I’ll honor your wishes—but I’ll at least pretend to listen.”
★★★
We returned to Edo Castle.
“We have successfully annihilated their base of operations. It is all thanks to your efforts.”
In the audience chamber, the shogun once again expressed her gratitude. Since she already knew my true face, there was no need for the puppet or the screen this time—she sat before us in person. Of course, still dressed as a man.
“For your deeds this time, I am deeply indebted to you. Though it began as a simple commissioned task, such service deserves a proper reward. Is there anything you desire?”
“I want more boobies again~~!”
“Oh-ho? If that is all you wish for, then drink your fill.”
“Yaaay!!”
Lindwurm and Anje both gave me flat, exasperated stares.
But who cares? Being able to enjoy those magnificent breasts was worth every glare. Ehehehe.
“Of course, the others shall each receive their own separate rewards as well.”
The general added.
“I did it! At long last, I’ve saved up ten million!”
Karen’s joyous cry rang out.
She had already earned five million from her escort mission to Nikou, and now, after helping destroy the ninja organization, she received another five million in reward money. Including what she’d made from monster hunts, her total savings had easily surpassed ten million.
“With this, I can finally make the payment.”
“Mm. Good work.”
“Uuugh… I know it can’t be helped, but it still breaks my heart…”
Tears welling in her eyes, Karen reluctantly handed over ten million yen to Fana.
Considering how Fana had already hit the jackpot back in Embara with her gambling spree, she might actually be ridiculously wealthy by now.
“Well, you can always work hard and earn it back.”
“You’re right! I’ll just have to train even harder from now on!”
Wiping her tears, Karen renewed her resolve with fiery determination.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
After lunch, I head to the Adventurer’s Guild as planned to accept a request to help with the harvest.
However, most of the requests seem to involve transportation, so this time I’ll be helping with that. After accepting the request at the guild, I head to the farm where the request originated. It seems there’s a carriage service close to the farm, so the trip is quick.
“Hello”
“Oh my, it’s Fina-sama! And what cute girls you’ve come with.”
When we arrived at the farm, an old lady peeked out from between the trees. The old lady was surprised to see Fina-san with us.
First, I explained our purpose coming here.
“Ma’am, we came here after seeing the request from the Adventurers’ Guild. Fina-san is also here today as an adventurer.”
“Oh my, oh my, thank you kindly. Just wait a moment, dearies. Grandpa, come over here!”
“Eh? What is it—oh! Isn’t that Lady Fina?”
After we explained to the old woman why we had come to the orchard, she nodded in understanding and called over the old man who’d been working deeper inside.
When he saw Fina-san, he looked genuinely surprised.
“There’s plenty that needs hauling, you see. But lately, my back’s been giving me trouble. Must be my age.”
“Oh my, that sounds difficult. If you’d like, I can treat you for that.”
“Oh, thank you kindly. In that case, why don’t we leave the hauling to Grandma here?”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
And so, Sue and Pearl took charge of treating the old man’s back, while the rest of us handled the hauling work.
Following the old woman’s lead, we walked deeper into the orchard.
“It smells like peaches.”
“That’s right. We grow all kinds of peaches here, you know.”
“Really?”
“There are still so many of them!”
As we followed along, Shiro and the others looked around curiously. The orchard was filled with peach trees. Judging by the colors and shapes of the fruit, there are several different varieties.
Before long, we arrived at the area where we’d be working.
“Now then, please take the peaches from these baskets and gently place them into these wooden crates. But be careful. Peaches bruise easily, so handle them with care, okay?”
““““Oka~ay!””””
Since peaches are soft and easily bruised, everyone took great care as we transferred them into the wooden crates.
As we worked, the old woman checked each peach, setting aside any that were damaged.
Ao joined in too, carefully helping to move the peaches with the rest of us.
“When a crate is full, we’ll take it to the storage house by the main building.”
The old woman explained.
After about an hour, all the peaches from the baskets had been neatly packed into the special crates.
Now all that was left was to move them.
They looked quite heavy, though…
“This is where Ao comes in.”
“Ao? You mean this slime?”
“That’s right! Ao’s an amazing slime!”
Of course, to the old woman, Ao just looked like an ordinary slime. No matter how much Shiro tried to convince her otherwise, it probably sounded unbelievable.
So, we decided—it was time to show her just how amazing Ao really was.
Whoosh!
“Well, I’ll be! The crate just disappeared!”
“Ao can use an item box!”
“Ao-chan’s an amazing slime!”
“I’ve certainly never heard of a slime that can use an item box before.”
When the old lady saw Ao use the item box, she was so surprised she almost fell over.
Meanwhile, Ao happily waved her tentacles at the astonished old woman. Now all that was left was to head to the house and bring the crates to the storage room.
“Oh? What happened to the crates, dear?”
When we reached the storage house, the old man was already there with Sue and Pearl, his back completely healed.
He looked puzzled, since we weren’t carrying any crates with us.
Just then, Ao slid into the storage house.
Swoosh.
“Whoah! The crates just appeared out of nowhere!”
“Sorry for startling you, sir. This slime here, Ao-chan, can actually use an item box.”
“Heh, well… that’s one amazing slime you’ve got there.”
Seeing Ao pull the crates out of the item box, the old man was taken aback, and Sue hurried to explain. Ao waved a tentacle apologetically toward him, as if to say sorry.
Anyway, the request was successfully completed.
“Okay, the signature is complete. Thank you for making my back better.”
“It’s a little bruised, but you can eat it if you cut off the damaged part. Take it.”
“Thank you very much!”
After receiving the non-standard peaches from the old lady, we headed home.
“That was fun!”
“Yeah, it was fun.”
Shiro and Fina-san happily exchanged their impressions, and even though they didn’t get to experience picking, it still seemed like they had a great time.
We all enjoyed the peaches we received as souvenirs.
If I have the time, I’d like to work in a orchard again.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
General Tokuyama Ietaka, who remained aboard the magical airship, was astonished by the giant humanoid karakuri that suddenly appeared below him.
“I had heard that a man who was exiled from the Hiraga Research Institute was lending his powers… but I never imagined he’d built something like that on such a remote island…”
Ietaka was stunned. Even the Hiraga Research Institute couldn’t possibly have created such a gigantic humanoid weapon.
When the Karakuri Giant swung its sword, a violent air current exploded outward. The bullets of condensed magic it fired from its gun struck the sea, sending up towering pillars of water and drenching the area in a torrential downpour.
“W–what a monster is this…? How could mere flesh and blood possibly stand against such a thing? No matter how mighty western warriors may be, surely they can do nothing against it…! After all, even the strongest ant cannot defeat an elephant…”
As Ietaka despaired before the overwhelming might of the Karakuri Giant—
『Mana charge: Complete. Target Locking: Complete. ―Preparing to fire.』
Suddenly, an artificial voice echoed from somewhere.
“What was that voice just now…?”
『Mana cannon, fire.』
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!
“~~~~~!?”
A cannonball made of magic was fired, its power enhanced by compressing it to the limit.
★★★
The airship fired a magic cannon at the Karakuri Giant.
“I thought something like this might happen, so I made it remotely controllable.”
The magic cannon’s target is the cockpit… just below it, at the female demon being held captive as the power source. Of course, she’s protected by tough armor, but a cannonball made of magic condensed to its limits should be able to penetrate it.
“W-wai- waiiiiit aaaaa…”
The female demon screamed and pleaded, but there was no way to stop the magic cannon once it was fired. The magic easily pierced her armor and burned her.
“Is she dead?”
“She was an unfortunate girl until the very end…”
While Fana and Anje felt a little sympathy for the female demon, Ittosai was the one who was shocked.
“I-impossible! H-how could it beeee!? The power source was destroyed!? What on earth have you done!? For a moment, it looked like something was falling from the sky…”
The magical airship was floating in stealth mode, so to him, it must have looked like a magical laser was suddenly raining down from the sky.
With its power gone and rendered inoperable, the Karakuri Giant was nothing more than a giant piece of junk.
Even so, Ittosai frantically moved the control stick and pressed various buttons, but—
“Hey, uncle, hey uncle~, how do you expect it to move without a power source?”
“~~~~!? Y–you! Where did you come from!?”
Ittosai’s eyes bulged as he screamed—because right there, inside the cockpit, a cute little child had appeared out of nowhere.
“Hmm? Through that hole over there.”
“There’s a hole in the armor!? Wh–when did that happen!?”
“While you were panicking, I just shaved a bit off with magic. It was thinner than I expected though. You should probably make it thicker next time—so people can’t sneak in so easily.”
“This cockpit is reinforced with mithril! There’s no way you could have broken through so easily!”
“Mithril? Oh, come on, at least use adamantite. The cockpit’s your biggest weak point, after all. Actually, if you really wanted to be smart, you should’ve hidden its location from the outside. Same goes for the power source, too.”
He even made it so the cockpit was plainly visible from the outside, so lining up a shot was simple. Then again, even if it hadn’t been visible, I could’ve located it in an instant by sensing the magic.
“How dare a brat nitpick me—! Agh—!?”
Enraged, Ittosai lunged forward, but the I made a solid blow to his gut with Lindwurm and sent him sprawling.
“D—damn it… W-what are you, exactly…?”
“Just a perfectly ordinary baby.”
“There’s no way that you are a baby—!!”
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Now that the Margrave has figured out Ao’s strengths, we’ll be studying at the mansion in the morning.
“Shun, you’re interested in geography and history, aren’t you?”
“I haven’t had many opportunities to study.”
“Indeed. They say that an adventurer only needs to be able to read, write, and do arithmetic.”
Sue called out to me as I was reading a social studies book.
I made up some excuse, and Sue quickly agreed. I guess reading, writing, and arithmetic are priorities for adventurers in this world.
By the way, Shiro and the other kids, and Fina-san were taking a simple test. The questions were tailored to each level, and the top performer would receive a prize.
And so, the person who finished the test first…
“Ah—Ao wins first place!”
“Yes, full marks. Now then, as a reward, you may have some fruit.”
“““Woo… good for you! I want it too….”””
For some reason, Ao had joined in solving the problems—and finished before anyone else. While everyone looked on enviously, Ao happily munched on the fruit.
By the way, Pearl was working on her test together with Fina-san.
“Come on, everyone! If you do your best, there’ll be snacks for you too.”
“‘We’ll do our best!’”
Sue clapped her hands briskly, getting everyone fired up. If snacks were enough to motivate them, it was a small price to pay.
Everyone worked hard and finished their tests one after another.
“It’s so good.”
“Yeah, really delicious.”
Everyone was smiling from ear to ear as they happily munched on the plate of mixed fruit.
Freshly picked fruit really is the best.
I finished my studies too, so I joined everyone in eating.
Juicy and sweet—it tasted wonderful.
“How about we go help with the fruit harvest this afternoon?”
“““Sure!”””
We had free time in the afternoon and since we’d come all the way to the northern frontier, we decided to lend a hand with the harvest.
Come to think of it, when I went to the Adventurers’ Guild the other day, there were plenty of requests for harvest help posted there too.
Everyone seemed motivated now, so the timing was perfect.
And with that, we got back to studying.
“You’re really diligent about your studies, Shun.”
“It’s fun learning new things.”
I replied with a smile.
I picked up where I’d left off and continued reading. The book talked about the founding of this kingdom and it was surprisingly interesting. Combining what I read with memories from my previous world helped me understand the geography even better.
Maybe it’s because I came to another world, but gaining new knowledge like this felt genuinely enjoyable.
“Ah, so if I do this… then like that—”
“Hmm…”
Fran and Horn were also studying hard.
They were only five years old, but both of them were pretty smart. They could already read and write without trouble—though arithmetic was still a bit tricky for them.
Well, they’d get the hang of it soon enough if they kept trying.
“I’m not gonna lose to Fina-chan!”
“I won’t lose to Shiro-chan either!”
Shiro and Fina, being the same age, were pushing each other as friendly rivals.
I hoped they’d keep working hard and learn all sorts of things as they grew.
Though first, they’d have to overcome the biggest challenge of all—Ao.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
We were chasing two vessels from land. A warship called longship was leading the way, followed by a small boat. The road along the canal ended, and we were about to be pulled away.
Suddenly, a swordsman jumped onto the boat. What’s more, I recognized someone I’d seen before, so I couldn’t help but gasp.
“N-Nils?!”
The boat was taken over in an instant. The river pirates had been thrown into the canal or slashed, and only Nils was left standing.
Why?
How?
I was confused by his perfectly timed rescue.
Then the sound of chains rattling brought me back to reality.
“Haha! Looks like we’ve got ourselves a free boat!”
Mia-san’s eyes gleamed. The chain-axe she threw wrapped neatly around the prow of the small boat.
“Hup!”
With a sharp pull, she hauled the boat toward the shore— likely using her skill, Immovable.
I pointed at the approaching vessel.
“Let’s take that one and go after them!”
With a thunderous thud-thud-thud, we leapt aboard the small boat. Just in time, two more allied boats appeared—manned by city guards.
This was where several canals converged. Their patrols must have been alerted by the commotion, so they gathered here. Including the boat Nils had stolen, there were three boats, each with a capacity of six people. They were just over five meters in size, but they still had oars and masts to set sail.
『Lion, we can still see the enemy!』
Solana’s voice came from the gold coin.
It seemed that the guards’ boats were similarly stationed at the exit to the lake. Water fences and small boats provided a brief delay. The warship, however, quickly broke through, gaining momentum.
“…Why are you all here?”
Felix-san handed the oars to Nils, who was still stunned.
“It seems we have the same goal.”
We’ll talk about that later. For now, all we have to do is row!
The makeshift fleet, including Nils, began to paddle down the canal. Calls echoed through the darkness of the night. Our speed rapidly increased.
I looked ahead and shouted.
“The enemy is moving fast!”
The warship was large. I thought we wouldn’t lose sight of it, but the night mist that hung over the lake gradually began to obscure its shape. I oared desperately, trying not to lose out to the tall people. But the agile enemy ship seemed to mock me.
“We’ve come this far…!”
My short sword trembled. The blade of blue crystal short sword glowed emerald-green.
“Wake up!”
The skill I instinctively called upon brought an incredible effect— after all, this little one is a spirit of wind.
“Whoa!?”
A strong tailwind suddenly surged against our sails, propelling the boat forward with a burst of speed. Mia-san and the others nearly pitched forward from the force.
When I glanced back, I saw it— a faintly glowing, greenish dog sprinting across the surface of the water.
“Woof!”
More wind rushed in. Felix-san raised his voice—
“Raise the sail!”
The canvas stretched wide against the night sky, swelling with the breath of the wind spirit, Sylph. With the oars and the blessing of the wind together, our speed surged.
The fleeing warship ahead of us began to grow larger—closer.
“W-what the hell’s going on!?”
“We can’t shake them off!”
Their curses drifted back to us across the water.
『Haha, this is splendid!』
『Normally, water spirits like undine handle such things but——』
『Wind serves just as well. Water and wind both nurture life so they go well together.』
The gods smiles at the excitement.
Thus the speed issue has been resolved.
“You…”
Breathing hard, Nils looked at me. His expression caught somewhere between astonishment and disbelief.
“W-who are you really?”
By now, we didn’t even need to row anymore. The wind alone was enough to keep us right on the enemy’s tail.
Felix gave me a subtle look.
If we caught up too soon, we’d lose the chance to “let them lead us to their base.” So, we stopped rowing on purpose and let the wind carry us forward.
“…My name is Rion. I’m with the Raven Warriors.”
Then I added, firmly.
“Just like you, I’m after the slave traders. My sister’s been targeted by them too.”
Neither Felix-san nor Mia-san stopped me from introducing myself. Well, if we were going to exchange information here, hiding who we were wasn’t an option.
Nils’s eyes widened. His gaze shifted to the two raven emblem on our cloaks, and after a moment, he gave a firm, thoughtful nod.
“…I see. So, two hunting dogs have sunk their teeth into the same prey at the same time, huh.”
His face was smudged with the soot of travel, yet even so, his features were strikingly handsome. Beneath the sweep of his golden hair, his expression softened for a brief moment.
“Looks like we’re a temporary party, then.”
At that, Felix-san spoke up.
“Tell us what you can. Were you already aware of this slave deal as well?”
“Yeah”
Nils replied.
I saw Felix-san’s narrow eyes widen slightly.
“I came to Flocia because I was told that the slave traders had a base here. There are people who pass information to me—reliable ones.”
That… then it means his network might be on par with, or even greater than, the Raven Warriors.
Considering he was once a noble, maybe he had special connections of his own.
“I also received word that a trade would be happening soon on the western side of the city. Tonight was only supposed to be a quick reconnaissance.”
Something about that made me pause.
Wait a second—this side is…
“This is the east side, right?”
I asked.
“Yes” Felix-san confirmed.
I discussed with Felix-san.
If he was searching to the east, how did he manage to meet up with us on the other side of town?
Nils lowered his eyes, fiddling with the sword at his waist.
“I got lost.”
The lake breeze blew through the boat.
“…It’s always been like this. I came to Flocia by river, and I couldn’t have gotten lost if I was on the river. I thought I was searching west, but I see, I was in the east.”
Mia-san’s mouth twitched.
“You’re an adventurer, right? H-how’s your dungeon dive doing?”
“I hardly ever go in. Actually, I only became an adventurer six months after my sister was kidnapped.”
We exchanged uneasy glances.
Is this really okay…? He seemed like such a reliable ally, but the more I heard, the more nervous I was getting!
“Look—there!”
One of the warriors pointed ahead.
Through the thin mist, faint torchlights began to flicker into view.
My voice trembled.
“…That’s the slave traders’ base in this city…?”
What we saw was nothing like the peaceful scene from the daytime.
Torches burned here and there, but the island itself—shrouded in darkness and fog—looked eerie, almost alive. The longship cut straight toward it without hesitation—toward that place.
Toward the Dungeon Island.
Felix-san set his staff against the deck, his expression hardening.
“They’ve realized they can’t win on open water. They’re gambling everything on escaping inside the dungeon. Which means—”
I swallowed hard.
The Flocia dungeon lay on an island in the middle of the lake.
“Their base… is inside the dungeon?”
“Most likely. If there’s an undiscovered exit within the dungeon, they could use it to shake off any pursuit.”
The Dungeon Island is in chaos now. Guards were visible along the shore, but they were trained to face monsters, not enemy warships. No one had expected an assault from the lake. The enemy vessel steered straight for a dark, gaping cavern ahead—the island’s dock, the entrance to the dungeon itself.
“Let’s go after them!”
And so, under the shroud of night, we turned our prow toward the dungeon.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Apparently, the slave traders’ transaction would take place east of the city. In the abundant city, Flocia, if the port, bustling with people and goods, is its light, then the east is its shadow. Like the eastern part of the royal capital, it was a slum where the poor live.
We gathered members of the warrior corps and set up an ambush at the designated location.
It is now completely dark.
“I never thought we’d get this kind of information on the first day.”
Mia-san reached out from under her cloak and adjusted the hood that she had pulled down over her eyes.
Felix-san, dressed in the same attire, responded,
“Thanks to you, we were able to get ahead of them. I take credit for that, Rion.”
Nodding in response, I looked down over the vacant lot below.
Thanks to the advance intel, we were able to wait here for the slave traders’ exchange to begin. The warrior corps had split into teams of three or four, each taking positions on rooftops with good vantage points. My own team consisted of Mia-san, Felix-san, and me.
The appointed time is now drawing near.
Even at night, southern Flocia is astonishingly warm. The air is so still, so silent, that it made me uneasy.
I leaned toward Felix-san and whispered,
“…They must have realized by now that the river bandits meant to come here aren’t showing up. Do you think they’ll cancel the deal or move it somewhere else?”
“I doubt it. Their network is complex but that also means that they can’t easily change plans at the last moment. The first to notice anything would be their contact at the trading house. But we’ve already taken care of him.”
Currently, we are overlooking an abandoned workshop’s yard. Beyond the stone wall, a canal flowed by. The faint sound of splashing water echoed through the night.
Before long, two carriages arrived.
About ten people got out in total. A magic stone lantern was set down in the middle of the vacant lot, its pale blue glow dimly illuminating the surroundings. Men armed with axes and swords split into two groups of about five each, taking their positions.
As we watched, one of the carriage doors opened. Three people were dragged out. They were all bound and gagged. Even from here, I could see the handcuffs glinting faintly in the blue light.
“How terrible….”
The words slipped out before I could stop myself. But this is what it means to fall into the hands of the slave traders.
“…Rion, calm yourself.”
Felix-san whispered softly.
Our warrior corps cloaks blended into the darkness so we wouldn’t be noticed, even if we shifted slightly. And once the fight starts, our matching cloaks would also serve to help distinguish friend from foe in the chaos.
“The slave trade in Flocia has always been a mystery. To bring slaves into the city, they’d have to pass through either the city gates or the harbor. But there’s no way a group of bound and gagged people could get through inspection unnoticed.”
I tightened my jaw.
Don’t rush it. I told myself.
Felix-san’s calm voice reminded me just how valuable this moment was.
“That’s why just like the hidden tunnels beneath Alvis, there must be some secret route known only to them. If we can witness this exchange, we’ll uncover it. That alone would be a major breakthrough.”
A chill crept up the back of my neck.
We were finally close—close to the slave traders, to Ymir and the truth behind them.
“Shh”, Mia-san whispered.
“It’s starting.”
From the darkness, a man stepped forward, he clutched a ledger in his thin hands. His cheeks were hollow, and from beneath a brown cloak, a gaunt face is exposed. When he flicked the staff he carried, the dim light caught his sharp eyes as he stared at one of the pirate groups.
Judging from his presence alone, he had to be the overseer of the exchange.
One of the river bandits spoke, “Several are missing…”
“They were captured.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd at the overseer’s curt reply.
“Never mind. Let’s start. As promised, I’ll tell you about the escape route.”
He gave his staff another faint shake, glancing briefly toward the canal.
There were two groups of bandits—five men each. One side hefted a heavy-looking sack and handed it to the other. The men peeked inside, and they quickly made greedy grins. It’s clearly filled with money.
In exchange, the three bound captives were dragged forward and handed over.
—These guys… they’ve got some rare skills.
—This city’s our hunting ground.
—That global message pulled in every greenhorn for miles.
—As if any of them could ever become “heroes,” huh?
Those voices inevitably reached my enhanced ears.
I met Mia-san’s gaze.
“Rion!”
“Yes!”
We exchanged a glance—and leapt down from the rooftop.
I drew in a deep breath and shouted at the top of my lungs, “Stop right there!”
More than ten men turned toward me at once, their gazes slamming into me like a wall of pressure. In one swift motion, I drew my short sword.
“We’re with the Raven Warrior Corps! Surrender quietly!”
A ripple of panic spread through the enemy ranks. I could also feel their composure slipping.
The overseer clicked his tongue.
“Fireball!”
He hurled a blast of flame toward the mana lamp. The crystal shattered, scattering burning fragments in every direction. Thick, black smoke billowed out—
A smokescreen!
『Over there!』
The coin in my pocket trembled, and Solana’s voice rang out.
『The wall! They’re climbing the wall!』
Shoving the captured slaves aside, the bandits scrambled up the retaining wall that surrounded the abandoned workshop.
Wait, that’s—
“Head for the canal!”
As if mocking Mia’s shout, the slave traders leapt over the wall to the other side. We grabbed onto the wall and vaulted after them.
“Hehe! Just like we predicted!”
Mia-san flashed a grin, her sharp canine teeth catching the moonlight.
Down by the embankment, the men had stopped running.
Of course. The earlier panic had been nothing but an act. Three patrol boats were already waiting on the water, blocking their escape. The guards had them trapped—us behind, soldiers ahead.
“Thank goodness—”
The words had barely left my mouth when a scream tore through the night.
Under the pale moon, the surface of the canal bulged— and then a massive vessel loomed out of the darkness. It is heading straight down on the smaller patrol boats.
Mia-san’s jaw dropped.
“A longship!?”
At the prow of the warship, a dragon’s head was carved in menacing detail—its fanged maw seeming to roar at the night.
With a thunderous crash, the vessel slammed into the patrol boats, splintering them like toys. Had the guards been a heartbeat slower, they’d have been hurled into the water—or worse.
The slaver traders clambered aboard the oncoming warship and pushed off from the bank. The longship had to be at least ten meters long—massive compared to the small boats it crushed beneath its hull.
Those who couldn’t fit aboard seized what remained of the undamaged patrol boats and followed behind the Longship.
“Row!!!!”
At the overseer’s roar, oars struck the water in perfect rhythm. The boat was about to sail away from the side of the workshop!
We immediately sprint along the canal path, rushing after the escaping vessel.
“Wait, didn’t they have a bigger ship?”
Mia-san shouted, glancing back at the guards being pulled from the water.
“The canal’s wide. Neither the warriors nor the city guards could cover every route. And besides…”
Felix-san grimaced.
“The fact that they had a warship ready means the Eastern Shipping Bureau’s in league with the slave traders. In the capital and in Alvis, they courted the nobles. But in a merchant city like this, they’ve wormed their way into trade guilds and the shipping offices. How thorough of them.”
“Now’s not the time to praise them!”
Mia-san snapped.
The cobblestone path along the canal was uneven, fitting for the city’s poorer quarter.
From the gold coin in my pocket, Solana’s voice rang out.
『There is still a chance. We just have to catch that ship, right?』
“Exactly! If we do, we’ll find out where their base is too!”
We sprinted along the canal, chasing after the fleeing slavers.
The oars beat the water like wings, smooth and powerful—clearly, the river bandits knew how to handle a boat.
“We’re not letting them get away, right?”
Mia-san called out.
“I’m worried. At this rate…”
Soon enough, the canal would open up into a wide body of water.
Once that happened, the lake would be just ahead—if they reached it, we’d lose them.
“Felix-san!”
“We’re joining the pursuit!”
The raven warriors caught up from behind. Felix-san raised a silver whistle to his lips and blew a sharp signal, then traced glowing runes in the air. A surge of cold magic rushed toward the canal.
—It was an ice spell.
“Ice Edge!”
Frost burst forward, racing toward the fleeing ships. But the enemy’s mage—the gaunt overseer—countered with a wave of fire.
The clashing elements roared against each other, steam billowing skyward. The freezing spell lost its force, and before the ice could seal the canal, the two vessels slipped through the narrow gap between frost and wall.
『Rion, shall we intervene?』
Solana’s divine voice echoed in my mind.
But even gods have limits—she had fought for us just two nights ago, and tomorrow we’d be entering the dungeon of Flocia.
As I hesitated, the ships broke free into the wider channel.
“Haha! Farewell, then!”
The moment the overseer spoke, a shadow leaped into the night sky. It seemed to have jumped from a building along the canal. It landed on the back of the two fleeing boats. Amidst the spray of water, the shadow’s blade flashed in the blink of an eye.
Blonde hair fluttered in the night sky.
“Nils…?”
It was Nils—the swordsman who said he was pursuing the slave traders.
“Y-you guys…”
Our gazes met.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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