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1Generally speaking, humans were not considered to have any sub-races. However, there were slight differences in appearance and physique between humans depending on the region in which they were born.
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3There had apparently once been a time when those born in the north had skin as white as snow, while those born in the south had skin colors that ranged from dark brown to almost completely black, and many of those born in between had more yellow-looking skin. There had even been some differences in their musculature and internal organs.
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5According to one theory, the descendants of the humans who lived in the south with Zantark, the war-god of fire and destruction, and Botin, mother of the earth and goddess of craftsmanship, were dark-skinned. The descendants of the humans who lived to the north with Peria, the goddess of water and knowledge, and Shizarion, the god of wind and art, were white-skinned. The descendants of the humans living with the rest of the gods were yellow-skinned.
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7“But after the war against the Demon King Guduranis, the few humans that were left were all gathered in one place. In the process of the population growing to the size that it is now, their genes proceeded to mix. This caused their features to become more standard, to the point that the differences between them were too small to appear on their Statuses. As a result, it is said… or perhaps I should say that it was said, that there are no sub-races of humans,” Luciliano explained calmly.
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9“I see. This is a different world, so it has its own different history,” said Doug with a stiff look on his face. “So… why have you stripped and taken a pose?” he asked Luciliano. “Depending on your answer, I’m gonna have to punch you in the face.”
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11“Stripped? I have only taken the clothes off my upper body so far. And if you are going to punch me, I request that you do it with your fist rather than your telekinesis. Your telekinesis might kill me, after all,” said Luciliano.
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13“Since your race has changed, you’re checking if there has been any change to your body,” said Melissa. “Stuff that you can’t check on your Status, like your skeleton, your muscle structure, the position of your internal organs and how many organs you have.”
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15“Indeed. Melissa-kun’s insight is very helpful,” said Luciliano.
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17He had already recorded the changes to his Status, including the fact that he had become a Dark Human. He was now examining his own body to see if there had been any changes that were not displayed on his Status. He was not only palpating the surface of his body, but using spells to examine himself as well.
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19Luciliano seemed restless at the fact that his own race had changed, but… that seemed to be because of excitement and curiosity.
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21“I have acquired several Skills including ‘Status Effect Resistance,’ but I wish to see whether this is a racial characteristic of Dark Humans or whether that is due to my own individual qualities. But it would be difficult for you to answer my questions calmly, would it not? That is why I am examining my own body!” Luciliano explained.
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23The former slave girls were even more excited than he was; some of them had burst into tears of joy. Luciliano considered himself rather considerate for not forcefully investigating their bodies.
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25“And yet you’re half-naked and standing in a questionable pose in front of those very girls that you say would be unable to answer your questions calmly,” Doug pointed out.
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27Indeed, what Luciliano considered to be ‘being considerate’ was often meaningless in the eyes of others.
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29“It’s fine as long as he keeps it limited to just his upper body. There are plenty of Ghouls and Titans that dress that way, after all,” said Melissa, having more pressing matters on her mind. “More importantly, has your examination told you anything more about you guys? It would be troublesome if you’ve become weak to sunlight or your skin gets burned by silver.”
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31“There is no way to know just yet. For now, we know that our skeletons, our organ positions and organ counts have not changed,” said Luciliano. “I am not sure about sunlight, since we are underground, but… silver should not be a problem. After all, it seems that Doug-kun’s skin is not burning even while being embraced by you while you are wearing a silver pendant.”
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33Melissa half-closed her eyes, and Doug’s cheeks turned red.
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35“… Considering that you were on the verge of collapse yourself, you’re pretty observant,” Melissa remarked.
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37“Indeed. I am a researcher, after all,” said Luciliano. “It seems that the Dwarves and Beast-kin have become races other than Dark Humans, however –”
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39“I’ve changed from being a wolf-type Beast-kin to a Magic Wolf-type Dark Beast-kin! I’ve learned the ‘Beast Transformation’ Skill!” said a former Beast-kin girl, who had grown a little more fur on her ears and tail.
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41“We’ve become a race called ‘Dvergr!’ Some of us have turned completely black, and others have turned completely white!” said one of the former Dwarf girls.
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43As she said, the skin color of the former Dwarves had changed.
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45Luciliano nodded, then turned around to talk to the pseudo-main-body-type Demon King Familiar. “Well, I shall examine them, investigate what kinds of special characteristics their races have and then report to you later. Is that alright with you, Master?” he asked.
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47“I don’t mind. It seems that there isn’t anyone whose mutation has caused their Attribute Values to decrease or caused any health problems. I’ll take your report when Melissa returns to the city of Morksi. Also, could you please check on Knochen and Bone Man who are with Kanako and the others? … Those two have absorbed the bones of the Demon King, so there might be some effects on them as well,” said the Demon King Familiar, who had been conducting its own examinations using death-attribute magic. “But before that, please put some clothes on. And please make sure to not take the clothes off the bottom half of your body in front of everyone.”
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55Meanwhile, in the Commerce Guild in the city of Morksi, Vandalieu described what he had seen through the eyes of the pseudo-main-body-type Demon King Familiar to Darcia.
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57“I’m glad that everyone has mutated as they wanted and are still okay. I didn’t expect even the Beast-kin to transform as well as the humans and Dwarves, but since I can transform Elves into Chaos Elves as well, the whole world can become members of Vida’s races now,” Darcia said with a smile.
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59“The Dark Humans and the other new races mutated as a result of drinking my blood and the effects of my ‘Bestower’ Job, so I’m not sure you can call them Vida’s races,” said Vandalieu.
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61“That’s true. But when human or Dwarf reincarnated individuals want to join us in the future, you can mutate them without having to wait for them to be guided.”
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63“… That would probably be quite a mental obstacle for the reincarnated individuals in and of itself.”
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65“And Vandalieu, that Divine Protection’s whole name has finally been displayed! As expected, it’s ‘Vandalieu’s Divine Protection!’” Darcia exclaimed excitedly.
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67The Divine Protection whose letters had been concealed on people’s Statuses. Its title was clear now, and Darcia lifted Vandalieu into the air in joy.
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69Even though Vandalieu’s ‘Silence’ spell prevented the receptionist and other Guild employees from hearing their conversation, they were startled by Darcia’s attention-drawing actions. But Darcia didn’t seem to mind.
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71Vandalieu didn’t really mind either. After all, they were already drawing attention because they were a Dark Elf mother and Dhampir son. And even if they were a little eccentric, it was a small thing in the big scheme of things.
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73“Hmm, it’s finally been fully revealed… I can’t deny it anymore,” said Vandalieu.
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75The truth was out… though all of Vandalieu’s companions, including Darcia herself, had long since realized that it was probably Vandalieu’s Divine Protection.
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77However, Vandalieu hadn’t really wanted to acknowledge this.
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79“I’m sure it’s because you acquired the ‘Bestower’ Job. I don’t think you’ll be able to prevent a big statue of yourself from being built anymore,” said Darcia.
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81One of the reasons Vandalieu hadn’t wanted to acknowledge it was because he wanted to prevent Nuaza, who was essentially the leader of the Church of Vida, from erecting statues of him.
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83Nuaza was always spending his days telling Vandalieu that if he were a being equivalent to a god, capable of granting others a Divine Protection, then he shouldn’t mind having large stone statues of himself erected.
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85“… It’s not like I gave these Divine Protections on purpose. Of course, I’m glad that it’s of use to everyone,” Vandalieu added.
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87“Vandalieu-san, your paperwork has been completed. Please come to the front desk,” said the receptionist, calling out to him from the desk.
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89“Ah, yes,” said Vandalieu.
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91Still holding him up in the air, Darcia brought him to the front desk. The receptionist was waiting with a sad expression on her face.
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93“This is your Commerce Guild temporary registration card. Please take care of it, as a fee will be charged for the re-issuing of a new one if it is damaged or lost,” she said.
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95“Ah… I understand,” said Vandalieu.
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97“You did it, Vandalieu!” Darcia cheered happily.
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99Acquiring a Guild registration card in his hands, Vandalieu let out a small breath of wonder.
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101Temporary registration cards were normally made of the same material as Guild Cards, but it did not have Vandalieu’s name written on it, nor did it have the function of displaying his Status. However, once he had officially passed the trial, the temporary registration card would be processed into an official Guild Card.
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103And even temporary registration cards could be used as proof of one’s identity, just like official Guild Cards.
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105“And… I’m sorry, but the location designated for your food cart is the alley on 4th East Street, between the ‘Seven-colored Mist’ and the ‘Evening Mug,’” the receptionist said, looking down and apologizing as she notified Vandalieu of the location for his business.
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107But this location was a place that Vandalieu had heard of before.
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109“4th East Street?” Vandalieu repeated, setting his excitement aside, confirming the location.
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111The receptionist gave a sympathetic look and nodded, not at Vandalieu, but at Darcia. “Yes, 4th East Street. There will be a penalty imposed if we learn that you have set up your food cart in any other location. We do not ordinarily accept location change requests… The Guild Master is away for business; he will be absent from the middle of this month until the beginning of the month after next month. Even if you appealed directly to the Deputy Guild Masters other than Joseph-san…”
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113“From the sound of it, it seems that this 4th East Street is a very problematic location,” said Chipuras, keeping himself hidden and whispering in a voice that only Vandalieu and Darcia could hear. “Perhaps a slum quarter, or a place with poor public order that guards do not patrol… I did think that it was strange for that small man to back down so quietly after Vandalieu-sama refused his offer, but it seems that his harassment has already begun.”
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115Judging from the receptionist’s words, Joseph had used his authority as a Deputy Guild Master to harass Vandalieu, just to the extent where it would not yet be illegal.
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117Harassment that was not against the law was very troublesome. The guards would not respond to any pleas for help, after all.
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119“I understand how troublesome it is to be on the receiving side of it. Vandalieu-sama, let us brainwash him, make him our puppet and then silence him later,” suggested Chipuras.
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121“No, it’s not that bad. In fact, it’s rather convenient,” said Vandalieu, replying through telepathy that the living could not hear.
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123He nodded at the receptionist and turned to walk away from the desk.
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125“Umm… Please be careful,” said the receptionist. “You too, Ma’am… A man called the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael arrived recently and took control of the area… He’s apparently a dangerous person.”
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127“Thank you. I’ll be careful,” Darcia said with a smile.
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129It seemed that there were some faults in the quality of the Deputy Guild Master as a human, but the receptionist was a good person… though this could have just been because Joseph did terrible things on a daily basis.
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131“So, Vandalieu, what kind of a place is this 4th East Street?” Darcia asked.
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133“… It’s the red-light district, where the base of Eleanora and the others’ criminal organization is. I’m not sure where between the ‘Seven-colored Mist’ and the ‘Evening Mug’ is, though,” said Vandalieu.
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135Joseph’s harassment ended up being not much of a harassment for Vandalieu after all.
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143Heinz, the leader of the Five-colored Blades, learned through first-hand experience just what it was like to have one’s soul damaged.
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145I don’t understand. The state I’m in… I can’t tell whether the things I can’t remember are because of the damage, or because I’d already forgotten them. My emotions… Nothing comes out, not even guilt or sadness. Am I being crushed by my sense of defeat? Or is it because the part of my soul that rules over my emotions is damaged? he wondered.
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147“Your soul is different from your mind, Heinz,” said Mill, the goddess of slumber, explaining his current state in a gentle voice. “Memories and emotions function normally only when the soul is inside the body. Your soul is currently separated from your body. Your memories and emotions are unclear partially because of that reason.”
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149The maintenance of memories required the brain, which was a part of the body, and emotions were heavily influenced by the body as well. This was the reason that many Undead had parts of their memories missing and were overwhelmed by their negative emotions.
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151Then what kind of state am I in now that my soul is damaged? Heinz asked.
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153“Unfortunately, I do not know,” said Mill.
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155Heinz’s thoughts froze as he heard her gentle-sounding and yet unsettling answer.
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157“Heinz, there are things that even gods do not know. Ordinarily, those with souls as damaged as yours would not survive,” Mill continued.
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159Attacks from weapons made from magical metals such as Orichalcum or great spells cast by elite mages could harm the soul, which was otherwise untouchable.
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161But such an attack would be fatal to the body of the one who received it, and they would die soon afterwards. No soul had ever been separated from its physical body with only the soul in a damaged state like Heinz’s was now.
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163“And the souls whose lives have ended return to the circle of transmigration. A very small number of them are invited by the gods to ascend to become familiar spirits, heroic spirits or subordinate gods, but any damage to their souls are repaired before their ascendancy. We do not know exactly what kind of state a human would be in when their soul is damaged but they are still alive,” said Mill. “But we can make conjectures.”
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165Mill went on to describe these conjectures.
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167Decreased Attribute Values, lost Skills, lower Skill Levels. Mana not recovering to its maximum amount due to the damage to the soul. And once the soul was returned to the body, there would be times where the limbs and body would become paralyzed or suddenly begin to hurt.
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169And, as expected, the loss of memories, emotions and senses…
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171“However, Heinz, your soul is currently receiving treatment in my Divine Realm. Sleeping heals people… Once this treatment is finished and you are returned to your body, you should not be plagued by any heavy symptoms,” said Mill.
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173Though treatment would have been impossible if the soul had been broken and destroyed, Mill was a goddess whose authority was related to healing; her treatment would heal a wounded soul.
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175But Heinz was not worried about himself.
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177But what about my companions? he asked, worried for his allies.
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179“… Jennifer and Diana have not sustained any soul damage. It seems that the Demon King made no effort to harm their souls. Delizah is also fine. Her wounds are lighter than yours,” Mill replied, giving him a brief overview of their current states. “But Edgar is in a terrible state… It is uncertain what will become of him.”
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181Heinz was greatly agitated upon hearing the news about Edgar.
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183“His soul was on the verge of being broken, and in ordinary circumstances, it would have been impossible to prevent his memories and personality from eroding away, causing him to become completely disabled. It would have been impossible for me to treat him,” Mill continued, explaining Edgar’s state in more detail. “He is currently undergoing treatment performed by a god who rules over souls, but… even if the destruction of his soul is prevented, he may not return as the same person,” she said, speaking vaguely of Rodcorte.
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185Ordinarily, it would not have been a good idea to instill shock in someone who was undergoing treatment, but after the wounds on Heinz’s soul were repaired, he would have to fight against the Demon King… Vandalieu.
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187Mill could not keep his companions’ state a secret.
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189The Demon King… That Dhampir boy, Vandalieu. His hatred is directed only towards me, Delizah and Edgar. No, that’s not right. In a five-on-one situation, he possessed enough strength and clarity of will to spare Diana and Jennifer. That’s how it was, said Heinz, feeling a sense of defeat that was like a gaping hole in his chest.
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191During the battle, Heinz and his companions had been unaware that Vandalieu was capable of breaking and devouring souls, but they had fought with all of their strength. However, Vandalieu had the reasoning capability and, most likely, a conscience that made him narrow down the targets of his revenge. This was why Heinz felt defeated.
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193“Heinz, you are mistaken. The Demon King did indeed refrain from attacking your two companions’ souls, but that was almost certainly not because the Demon King made an effort to hold his strength back against them,” said Mill.
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195Even so, Mill, attacking their souls would not have been any burden to him, just as holding himself back wouldn’t have been any burden to him either. The fact that he did not attack their souls means… he really has narrowed down the targets of his revenge, said Heinz, denying Mill’s words.
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197He went through all of his own memories that he was able to recollect, trying to remember as much about Vandalieu as possible. The way he had fought was something that no ordinary human would be able to replicate.
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199But it was an undeniable fact that he had not attacked the souls of the two who were uninvolved with his mother’s death, and that he had immediately sacrificed himself to defend his mother even though he knew that it was a fake.
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201Compared to that, I’m… With this, I’m not sure which of us is the Demon King, said Heinz.
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203“Heinz, you are mistaken. It is true that he has some valid words and morals. However, there is no mistake that his acts will bring disorder upon the world, and that he will go on to become a calamity to all of humanity –”
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205That Demon King! The one who made him that Demon King is none other than me! … Because I sold his mother out… he has become so grotesque, and he has become a dreadful being who destroys gods! Heinz shouted, cutting Mill off.
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207The past incident in which Heinz had received a request at the Adventurers’ Guild in the Mirg shield-nation, captured Darcia and handed her over to High Priest Gordan. Up until his battle against Vandalieu, Heinz had found peace with it, that it was something that could not be helped… or at least, told himself that he had found peace with it.
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209But even for a Dhampir, Vandalieu’s appearance and the way he fought had been too grotesque, and he possessed enough strength to overwhelm Heinz and his companions. Heinz had witnessed it all. Learning from Mill that Vandalieu possessed a repulsive ability to devour souls that surpassed Guduranis, and having been defeated by Vandalieu in battle, his justifications for his actions in the past had broken down.
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211He and his companions were the ones who had created the circumstances that had given birth to a being that the gods referred to as the Demon King. He was painfully aware that everything he had said to Vandalieu during the battle had come back to haunt him.
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213The fate of the Mirg shield-nation’s expedition army and his former companion, the ‘Green Wind Spear’ Riley, and the events that had occurred in the Hartner and Sauron Duchies – Heinz bore responsibility for all of these.
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215But that was only true if everyone, including Heinz, could have predicted these outcomes.
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217“Heinz… You are mistaken,” said Mill for a third time. “Even if you had not accepted Earl Thomas Palpapek’s request through the Adventurers’ Guild, eventually, another adventurer or one of Saint Gordan’s apprentices would have captured the Dark Elf, and she would still have been executed.”
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219At the time of the incident, Darcia was a D-class adventurer at most. From the moment it was known that she was hiding near the town of Evbejia, it was inevitable that she would be captured whether Heinz had accepted the request to capture her or not.
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221And in the end, Vandalieu would have still aspired to take revenge. The only difference would have been that the Five-colored Blades would not be the target of that revenge.
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223Even so… If I had taken steps to save her and the baby Vandalieu – Heinz began, believing that this would have changed the outcome of events.
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225But this time, it was Mill who cut his words off. “That would have been impossible,” she said.
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227At the time, Heinz had reached B-class despite his youth, but that didn’t change the fact that he was nothing more than a mere adventurer. If he had tried to help Darcia and Vandalieu escape, it would have resulted in him crossing swords with High Priest Gordan, and there was a significant chance that he would have been defeated.
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229And would it be possible to decide to go against the law of the nation that one was raised in and the teachings of one’s god, throw away all of one’s own past achievements and bear the dishonor of being a criminal? It was doubtful that the Five-colored Blades – Heinz, Delizah, Edgar and the now-deceased Martina – would have been capable of doing that back then.
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231At the very least, it was certain that persuading Riley to do so would have failed.
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233I… know that. I am not conceited enough to believe that everything would have been possible for me. But I bear the responsibility for bringing about the events that caused Vandalieu to become the Demon King, said Heinz. I can no longer deny that… I can no longer keep fooling myself into thinking otherwise.
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235The story known to the public in the Orbaume Kingdom was that Heinz and his companions had gone as far as to sneak into the country in order to leave the Amid Empire after having a change of heart as a result of witnessing the mother of a Dhampir being burned at the stake. The fact that Heinz himself was the one who had captured the woman was not publicly known.
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237This was not something that Heinz had intended, but… it was a fact that he felt hesitant to make the truth public.
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239This truth was something that had been left in the records of the Adventurers’ Guild in the Mirg shield-nation, so although it was a secret, it was known in the Orbaume Kingdom among those who possessed information networks and those close to such individuals. However, Heinz was beginning to feel like he couldn’t bear that.
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241And what exactly is she… What exactly has she become? I thought that my memories were in disorder because of the damage to my soul. But no matter how many times I think back, I remember it clearly in the same way. The person who told me and Delizah that she will not forgive us… Darcia.  It was Vandalieu’s mother, the one we captured, the one who was burned at the stake, said Heinz.
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243Heinz remembered that immediately after the battle against Vandalieu, when he was in a soul-only state, Darcia had appeared and scattered him and Delizah with a swing of her staff.
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245The dead could not be resurrected. This fact contradicted his memories, causing Heinz to question his memories, and then in the next moment, he began to wonder whether Vandalieu had turned even his own mother into an Undead, but…
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247That divine presence… I cannot believe that she was an Undead. It was as if she had become a goddess… Is she not a familiar spirit… no, a subordinate god of Vida? If she will not forgive me, then… that must also be Vida’s will. If that’s the case, then I…
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249Darcia’s appearance had not been that of an Undead; in fact, Heinz even believed that she had become a familiar spirit or subordinate god of Vida.
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251But if that was the case, Heinz’s actions in the name of Alda’s peaceful faction, with the thought of co-existence between Vida’s races and humans – What had it all been for?
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253Heinz’s mind suffered from his self-condemnation and self-denial.
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255Sensing this, Mill decided to remove his sense of self-condemnation by telling him a fact that would surprise Heinz. “Heinz, that Dark Elf Darcia has not become a familiar spirit or subordinate god of Vida. She has returned to life. It is most likely that her resurrection was Vandalieu’s doing,” she said.
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257Returned to life?! That’s… The resurrection of the dead that is impossible even for the gods, isn’t it?! Heinz exclaimed.
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259Even gods who possessed immense power could not turn the dead back into the living. They could allow the ascension of the dead to become familiar spirits, heroic spirits or subordinate gods, but that did not change the fact of their deaths in the sense that they would never return to the mortal world again.
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261This was what was widely known.
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263The fact that Vida had been unable to bring the champion Zakkart back to life made this clear.
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265“Yes, it is impossible for us gods. Even for my lord Alda, and even for Vida. However, it is possible with the relics of the champion Zakkart and Vandalieu’s power,” said Mill.
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267Alda, the god of law and fate, remembered the root of life that Zakkart had created; he knew that Vandalieu had likely acquired it and brought Darcia back to life.
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269“But she has not merely been resurrected. She has become an incarnation of Vida,” said Mill.
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271Vida’s Incarnation?! … Now that you mention it, before we entered the Dungeon, we heard that there are whispered rumors that Vida has been resurrected, but… to think that Darcia has become her incarnation…
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273Heinz had entered Alda’s Dungeon immediately after Vandalieu conquered the Trial of Zakkart, but around that time, a merchant visiting the base he had created in the Devil’s Nest had spoken of such rumors.
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275But… Doesn’t that mean that the situation is even more serious? Heinz asked.
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277“Indeed. My followers, Diana and Jennifer, are already aware of this – All of the Five-colored Blades have acquired the ‘Vida’s Mortal Enemy’ Title,” Mill told him.
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279Heinz was aghast upon learning that a goddess considered him her mortal enemy.
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281“Heinz, moving forward, you must continue to learn truths that will surprise you. These truths are knowledge that would ordinarily be too much for mortals to know, but you must know them, as you bear the task of stopping the Demon King Vandalieu and saving the world,” Mill continued. “To begin with, Vandalieu’s origins lie in the distant past, long before he became Vandalieu. Back when he was known as Zakkart, Ark, Solder and Hillwillow,” she said.
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289After leaving the Commerce Guild, Vandalieu and Darcia made preparations to open their food cart right away.
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291“Your Majesty, are you not going a little too far?” questioned Princess Levia.
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293“Yeah, you don’t need to go that far to blend in,” said Orbia.
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295“I understand what you’re trying to say, but I need to blend in to some extent,” said Vandalieu.
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297He was carrying a bundle of charcoal – the fuel that would be used to grill his skewers.
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299“Firewood is cheaper, but the food cart’s structure is not suited to using large pieces of firewood for fire, so I suppose it cannot be helped,” Princess Levia said sadly.
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301“That’s not what I’m talking about… If you’re going to cook with fire, you can just use Levia and the other fire-attribute dead spirits! How can you go out of your way to buy charcoal? You should consider Levia’s feelings!” Orbia said angrily.
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303“It’s fine, Orbia,” said Princess Levia in a pained voice with tears in her eyes. “If His Majesty insists that charcoal flames are better than me, then I…”
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305Vandalieu felt as if he’d cheated on her.
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307Even though he was simply trying to disguise his food cart.
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309“You know, when I actually cook the meat at my food cart, I’m going to ask Princess Levia to do it,” Vandalieu said.
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311“What? Really?” said Princess Levia.
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313“Yes. Controlling the heat of charcoal fire is difficult, after all. If I ask Princess Levia to do it, the fire can be controlled freely.”
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315Princess Levia was a Satan Prometheus Ghost, a fire-attribute dead spirit. She was capable of controlling the heat of her flames, from temperatures that could melt iron to the temperature of lukewarm water.
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317On top of that, the only cost of using her flames was Vandalieu’s Mana, unlike charcoal which was more expensive than firewood.
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319Vandalieu wasn’t obsessed enough with charcoal to choose it over Princess Levia’s flames.
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321“So why did you buy charcoal, then?” Princess Levia asked.
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323“For camouflage, of course,” said Vandalieu. “If I don’t buy charcoal or firewood, people will look at me suspiciously and wonder what I’m using for fuel, and the Commerce Guild might think that I’ve forged my ledger,” said Vandalieu.
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325Many food cart owners in the city used firewood or charcoal as fuel. There were some who had introduced Magic Items such as magical stoves that used Mana as fuel to emit heat, but these were in the minority.
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327Though magical stoves were considered to be low-class, they were still Magical Items. It required courage for a food cart business to make such a purchase. And the Magic Stones that the magical stoves used as fuel were even more expensive than firewood and charcoal.
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329“That’s why I’m buying charcoal, but I’m hoping to ask Princess Levia to provide the actual fire,” said Vandalieu.
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331“I-Is that so…! Oh my, I was certain that… If that’s the case, then you should have said so to begin with,” said Princess Levia, her mood improving again instantly.
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333Invisible to anyone but Vandalieu and Darcia, she wrapped herself around him as if embracing him.
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335The other Ghosts seemed to be a little jealous after seeing this.
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337“… Cooking needs water, right?” said Orbia.
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339“… I wonder when you’re going to use lightning,” Kimberley sighed.
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341“… Well, I’m an advisor,” said Chipuras.
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343“Vandalieu, you should have explained things to Levia-san before buying the charcoal. Let’s do better next time,” said Darcia.
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345“Yes, Mom,” said Vandalieu. “By the way, what about the real estate agent?”
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347“There’s no problem with that. There’s just one single-family home with a basement on 4th East Street that can be moved into right away,” said Darcia.
348
349She had met with a real estate agent introduced to her by the Commerce Guild to investigate whether there were any houses that met Vandalieu’s requirements.
350
351“There’s a second floor, and we can move in as long as we clean it. If we’re renting, it’s five hundred Baums a month, and it’s ten thousand to buy it,” Darcia said.
352
353“… It’s strangely cheap. Even considering that it’s cheap for the red-light district and slum quarter, that’s less than a third of the market value that I was told,” said Vandalieu.
354
355“Hmm, perhaps the previous tenants were murdered? Or perhaps the real estate agent is in desperate need of immediate funds,” Chipuras speculated. “Or perhaps he has an ulterior motive related to Darcia-sama…”
356
357“Chipuras-san, the real-estate agent is a woman, so it’s alright. There’s nothing strange about her,” said Darcia. “But it has a history of tenants dying of disease within a year after moving in.”
358
359“Oh, I see. I apologize for my impolite words,” said Chipuras.
360
361“Well then, let’s go and buy it,” said Vandalieu.
362
363 
364
365 
366
367 
368
369The red-light district was largely the same as usual that day.
370
371Despite having been a ghost town in the early hours of the morning, people came to life as the sun set. Men and women called out to customers on the streets, visitors wandered about looking for something to catch their interest, and food carts filled people’s stomachs.
372
373Of course, even in the red-light district, there were stores that offered food and fancy bars. But these were generally expensive, and the food carts’ customer base was largely made up of the many people who worked there and the customers who wanted to enjoy themselves but did not have many spare funds.
374
375Food cart owners using relatively high-class ingredients were enthusiastically calling out to customers at the entrance to the red-light district.
376
377“We have Orc-meat skewers! Hey Mister, how about getting some energy before you go out to play?”
378
379“We have meat, fish and vegetables! Come and get your hearty sandwiches here!”
380
381Inside the red-light district, past the entrance, there were food carts scattered in rows, selling low-cost food catered for the district’s workers.
382
383“Three servings of meatballs, here you are. As always, come and return your bowls afterwards.”
384
385“Here’s your sandwich, sorry for the wait!”
386
387And in the alley that connected the red-light district to the slum quarter, away from the roads, were the food carts that the inhabitants of the slums came to – the ones that had terrible food, but were dirt cheap.
388
389Hard bread was among the higher-quality of the food sold at these food carts, and there was also soup containing mysterious meatballs… ones containing Goblin and Kobold ears, acquired almost for free from the Adventurers’ Guild that had them stockpiled from adventurers bringing them in as proof of exterminating monsters, and unsold meat left over from other food carts.
390
391If someone ever came up with the idea of adding egg or breadcrumbs to the meatballs, they would become patties, however. Perhaps patties in this world would originate from meatball soups sold at food carts in a slum quarter.
392
393… Though they were unlikely to become popular as long as they contained Goblin and Kobold ears.
394
395The owners of such food carts did not promote their businesses; they did their business in whispers with their gloomy customers that came from the slum quarter.
396
397Being amongst these food carts, Vandalieu’s food cart, which was located in an alley between the pub-brothel ‘Seven-colored Mist’ and the ‘Evening Mug’ that offered dancing women, stood out.
398
399“Would you like some grilled skewers?” said Vandalieu, calling out to potential customers.
400
401Not only was he calling out to customers, but the food cart itself was clean, and it was decorated with a heart that was the symbol of Vida, the goddess of life and love.
402
403The entire food cart seemed to be floating above the somewhat gloomy atmosphere of the back alley.
404
405“They’re very delicious, you know,” said Darcia.
406
407She herself was also floating above the back alley’s atmosphere. Her expression and her voice were simply too bright.
408
409Even hoodlums that would normally be pickpocketing or mugging people wandering into the alley were surrounding the food cart at a distance.
410
411Chipuras’s face was twisted in anger at these circumstances that were clearly unfavorable for sales. “… Vandalieu-sama, I believe it is not too late to go and throttle that man named Joseph,” he said.
412
413His anger was understandable. The customers of food carts in this place were largely inhabitants of the slum quarter; people going to enjoy themselves in the red-light district would not wander here even by accident.
414
415And those who lived in the slum quarter did not have any spare money. In other words, one would not sell anything to them unless they offered very low prices.
416
417But the meat that Vandalieu had acquired from a butcher for the grilled skewers sold at his food cart was cheap, but ordinary meat… the meat of Rank 1 monsters such as Giant Rats and Horn Rabbits, which could be harvested in large quantities. Naturally, this meat was far more expensive than Goblin and Kobold ears that could be acquired almost for free.
418
419“At this rate, our skewers will not sell, and we will be considered to have failed in three months’ time! As the Guild Master and other Deputy Guild Masters are not present, we must have him change our location even if it means strangling him,” Chipuras insisted. “Even if we are in the red-light district, we must at least be on the main street!”
420
421“It’s alright. It gives me time to prepare mentally, so it’s actually perfect. I’m experienced at cooking, but it’s my first time running a food cart, after all,” said Vandalieu as he grilled his skewers skillfully, causing a hunger-stimulating aroma to spread.
422
423“Chipuras-san, you don’t need to worry so much. The skewers smell very good, so hungry people will come to buy them soon enough,” said Darcia. “It is true that we are more expensive than other food carts, though.”
424
425The slum-quarter-style meatball soup was five Baums per bowl (The food carts refunded three Baums with the return of the bowl that the soup was provided in, so essentially only two Baums). The slum-quarter-style sandwiches, consisting of leftover meat and vegetable scraps stir-fried and put between two pieces of hard brown bread, cost two Baums each. Both options were quite filling; they were enough for all but the biggest eaters.
426
427But the skewers of Vandalieu’s food cart were five Baums each. Each regular barbecue-sized skewer had four or five pieces of appropriately-sized, grilled meat. But one skewer might be a little lacking to be considered a meal.
428
429“The sauce is hand-made, after all. We definitely don’t lose when it comes to flavor,” said Darcia.
430
431Vandalieu did not use particularly high-quality meat, but he was very particular about the sauce that he applied to the meat before grilling it.
432
433The minced herbs and fruits used, combined with Vandalieu’s advanced ‘Cooking’ Skill, resulted in quite the high-quality sauce. It was likely to be popular even in restaurants on the main street, never mind a food cart in a back alley.
434
435“And I’m using herbs and fruits grown inside my own body with the effects of the ‘Plant Binding Technique’ Skill that I gained with the ‘Tree Caster’ Job, so I don’t have to write any cost for the sauce’s ingredients on the ledger,” said Vandalieu.
436
437Indeed, the ingredients for the sauces were free.
438
439In the event that the Commerce Guild were to ask Vandalieu about the sauce, he intended to assert that he had made it by gathering the herbs and blending them himself.
440
441… There were no easily-identifiable spices in the sauce, and even if they investigated the entirety of Morksi, they wouldn’t find any evidence of Vandalieu purchasing ingredients for his sauce, so they would not be able to deny this claim.
442
443“… I see. Things may become troublesome afterwards if we threatened Joseph, so if you insist…” Chipuras mumbled with a nod, falling silent.
444
445Through Chipuras’s transparent form, Vandalieu and Darcia saw a man with a wild-looking face and his hair swept back, leading a group of undesirable-looking men, approaching.
446
447The thugs formed a threatening half-circle around the food cart.
448
449“Is this the new food cart? Hey, who gave you permission to set up shop here?!” one of them demanded.
450
451“This city’s controlled by the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael-aniki! If you wanna do business here, you gotta pay up!” said another.
452
453It seemed that they had come to demand what was known as a ‘space rent.’
454
455Not wanting to get involved, the slum quarter people who had been watching the food cart from a distance stepped even further away.
456
457“I see. Give me a moment, please. My hands are busy right now,” said Vandalieu.
458
459Naturally, he wasn’t scared by such threats… the thugs were incapable of harming him or Darcia no matter how hard they tried, after all.
460
461“The hell did you say, brat?!” one of the thugs spat.
462
463“You cheeky shit… You know, we don’t mind taking that nee-chan over there in place of your space rent!” said another.
464
465“We’d definitely like to do that!” said a third thug, giving a lecherous gaze towards Darcia, unable to hide his inner desires.
466
467“Well, I wonder what I should do?” said Darcia.
468
469She looked up at the man with the swept-back hair, who was standing in silence with his arms crossed… the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael.
470
471Michael’s mouth twitched a little, and he unfolded his arms. “Get back to your patrols, you lot. I have something to discuss with this brat,” he said to the thugs.
472
473“Huh? N-no way, Michael-aniki,” one of the thugs pleaded.
474
475“You’re going to have a nice woman like this all to yourself?” another complained.
476
477“If you have the time to be saying such stupid shit, hurry up and get back to your patrols! Or do you want me to kill you with my bare hands?” he shouted, sounding far more menacing than the thugs’ earlier threats to Vandalieu and Darcia.
478
479The thugs gave small, terrified screams and ran away back towards the main road.
480
481Everyone else in the back alley trembled in fear and fled, and the only ones left were the owners of the food carts.
482
483Seeing the now-empty alley, Vandalieu let out a sigh. “You’re disturbing the other food carts’ business, Miles,” he said.
484
485“Oh darn… Sorry about that. I panicked and thought you’d massacre them all, so I went too far, Boss,” said Michael.
486
487This was the man who had become the boss of Morksi’s underworld less than a month after making an appearance in it, the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael… or rather, the Abyssal Noble-born Vampire Miles who had infiltrated the underworld under that alias.In a certain Devil’s Nest in the Farzon Duchy… or rather, a place that used to be a Devil’s Nest. The people guarding the Dungeon entrance that had appeared in a wall in the valley there were standing in a complex formation.
488
489Half of them were standing guard at the Dungeon entrance to look out for anything unusual from inside the Dungeon, and the other half were watching out for any potential intruders from the outside.
490
491Among them were a pair of priest-warriors, standing guard with their backs facing each other.
492
493“… It seems that nothing is happening tonight,” one of them said.
494
495“Nothing happened last night either, right?” said another.
496
497One of them had been dispatched from the Church of Alda, and the other from the Church of Vida. But there was no tense relationship between them; in fact, they had a good relationship with each other.
498
499The ones standing guard here were a group of priest-warriors from the Church of the powerful peaceful faction of Alda, supported by Vida’s priest-warriors.
500
501This might have been difficult to believe considering Lambda’s mythological history, but in the Orbaume Kingdom, the peaceful faction had built a favorable relationship with the Church of Vida, despite being followers of Alda.
502
503There were duchies where the Church of Alda was very influential, such as the Hartner Duchy, and there were also the radical and fundamentalist factions in the shadows. It was best to have as many allies as possible to protect Vida’s believers from such factions.
504
505That was why the Church of Vida was maintaining a cooperative relationship with Alda’s peaceful faction.
506
507And Heinz, the peaceful faction’s leader who was protecting a Dhampir, had converted many of Alda’s believers from the radical and fundamentalist factions to the peaceful faction. The Church of Vida saw his rise to prominence as very welcome… though this was very ironic when considering the truth around Alda, the god of law and fate, and Vida, the goddess of life and love.
508
509“So, what was all that noise about yesterday? We were having a late lunch when there was a scary echoing sound from inside the Dungeon, and a part of the statue of Alda that was built at the small shrine on the cultivated land broke,” said the priest-warrior who had been dispatched from the Church of Alda.
510
511The events he described were the result of the battle between Vandalieu and Heinz. The destruction of the Dungeon by the World Piercing Destructive Hollow Cannon, and the destruction of Curatos, the god of records. The effects of these events had reached the area around the Dungeon entrance.
512
513“I do not know. The Dungeon’s entrance has remained closed the whole time. Considering that, Heinz-dono and the others are safe… or at least, one of them is,” said the priest-warrior from the Church of Vida.
514
515“Hey! How dare you say such an ill-omened thing!” shouted Alda’s priest-warrior.
516
517“I am also hoping that Heinz-dono and the others are safe, but… it is not ordinary for enormous sounds and vibrations to reach even outside the Dungeon,” said the priest-warrior of Vida.
518
519Indeed, the outside of a Dungeon was essentially in a different world from the inside. Unless something occurred near the entrance, no sound or vibrations would reach between the inside and outside, even if there was a large earthquake on the outside or an enormous magical attack bursting on the inside.
520
521But it seemed that sounds and vibrations did travel all the way to the outside in the event that dozens of the Dungeon’s floors were pierced through and destroyed.
522
523“And what of the statue breaking? Even if it is only a part of the statue that broke, we should assume that something has happened. It is similar to the uproar that happened several years ago with the statues of Yupeon, the god of ice. It is likely that it was caused by something happening in the Dungeon. As long as that is the case, it is only natural to assume that Heinz-dono and the others are involved,” said Vida’s priest-warrior. “It is only normal to be concerned for their safety, is it not?”
524
525Since Heinz and his companions were the only ones in the Dungeon, it was certain that if something had happened inside, they were involved. Ordinarily, this reasoning would be full of flaws, but this Dungeon had appeared as if prepared solely for Heinz’s party, and its entrance had been tightly sealed shut after they entered it.
526
527Considering this, Vida’s priest-warrior’s words could not be denied.
528
529“That is true, but… Damn it, just what in the world is happening inside this Dungeon? Things are going well on the outside – The purification of the Devil’s Nest and the cultivation of the land are going well, and the construction of the town is proceeding smoothly too – but I don’t know whether we’re supposed to watch the inside of the Dungeon or outside it!” the priest-warrior of Alda cursed.
530
531When the anomalous event occurred, voices of worry had naturally suggested that monsters might overflow out of the Dungeon. It was common knowledge for the inhabitants of this world that Dungeons generated monsters, and if monster numbers inside them were not controlled, the monsters would overflow into the outside world.
532
533This was why the priest-warriors were standing with their backs facing each other, watching two opposite directions… half of them facing the Dungeon, and the other half staying on guard against any villains attempting to enter the Dungeon… mages attempting to peer into events happening inside, or assassins sent by Alda’s radical faction or worshipers of evil gods to get rid of the troublesome Heinz.
534
535Even if it was a Dungeon created by a god, there would certainly be some kind of trial inside, and there was no guarantee that this trial would not contain monsters.
536
537“Won’t the gods send a Divine Message or two? The goddess has apparently been resurrected recently, right?” said Alda’s priest-warrior.
538
539“Apparently. But although there are some with Divine Protections, there are few priests who say that they have received a Divine Message… In fact, there are more priests who have chosen to hide,” said Vida’s priest-warrior.
540
541“Hey, are you fine with that? Though I guess we’re not going to report them.”
542
543“I don’t care. There is no need to pay attention to those who aren’t here.”
544
545In recent years, there were some in the Church of Vida who had received divine protections and acquired the ‘Familiar Spirit Descent’ Skill. That was why there were rumors that Vida had been resurrected, but this had caused some clergymen to feel that their lives were in danger and flee in the middle of the night.
546
547Vida had been almost completely asleep up until now, so there had been some corrupt clergymen thinking that they would never receive divine punishment and others who had made their way into the ranks of the Church of Vida with the intent to commit crimes. Investigations into the clergymen who had fled had made this clear.
548
549But even if this hadn’t occurred, it was unlikely that Vida would inform her believers of what was happening inside the Dungeon with a Divine Message.
550
551“And there are some who have received Divine Messages who say that it had nothing to do with this Dungeon… What do you make of them?” Vida’s priest-warrior asked.
552
553“I have no idea what’s going on inside the Dungeon either,” said Alda’s priest-warrior.
554
555Alda had not sent any Divine Messages with news of Heinz or what was happening inside the Dungeon.
556
557This was because Alda was concealing information, afraid that Vandalieu would learn of it.
558
559“But that just shows how important the events that are happening inside the Dungeon are. It would be problematic if the gods were to send a Divine Message and then it were to be found out by the Vampires, the Majin or, gods forbid, the Demon King,” Vida’s priest-warrior said.
560
561“The Demon King, huh. The one whose existence was implied by the Divine Message sent to the Church of Alda in the Empire? To be honest, it sounds suspicious to me,” said Alda’s priest-warrior.
562
563“Well, it is the Church of our enemy nation, after all. And it is merely a rumor… but it’s clear what’s going on, isn’t it?”
564
565“Well, you’re right. The gods serving Alda are apparently raising heroes as if competing against each other. The gods wouldn’t do such a thing if nothing was going on.”
566
567The gods were granting their divine protections and sending Divine Messages to those with good qualities, developing them into heroes. Many of them were in the Amid Empire, but there were also such hero candidates in the Orbaume Kingdom, so there were many rumors about them, though the priest-warriors here had never met any of them in person.
568
569“Come to think of it, why aren’t the gods of Vida’s faction trying to nurture heroes? Vida’s been resurrected, after all,” said Alda’s priest-warrior.
570
571“Only the gods know that,” said Vida’s priest-warrior.
572
573“Yeah… Ah, I hope the Five-colored Blades come back soon. It’d make Selen feel at ease, too.”
574
575“Agreed.”
576
577And so, Alda and Vida’s priest-warriors continued to exchange conversation, their backs still facing each other. They felt frustration at their inability to do nothing but wait, but they carried out their daily task.
578
579 
580
581 
582
583 
584
585Meanwhile, in one of the many back alleys in Morksi’s red-light district, Miles was greedily devouring the grilled skewers that he was carrying in his arms.
586
587“Mmm! This is it. This is what I’m talking about. This is the flavor that I’ve been craving!” he said, smacking his lips.
588
589“… They’re just grilled skewers, though,” said Vandalieu.
590
591“Boss, you can’t call these ‘just grilled skewers!’ Even though the meat is cheap, the preliminary work you’ve put into these is extraordinary!” Miles insisted, continuing to consume the skewers as if in a trance.
592
593Indeed, the meat was the cheap leftover meat of Rank 1 monsters such as Giant Rats, and it would normally just have a little salt shaken over it to produce a flavor that was appropriate for its price.
594
595But Vandalieu had matured the meat with the ‘Maturation’ spell and marinated it in a sauce containing his own herbs and fruits. On top of that, Princess Levia and the other fire-attribute Ghosts provided perfect control over the cooking heat.
596
597Miles was enjoying a flavor worth far more than the five Baums charged for each skewer.
598
599“Do the higher-ups in the underworld really eat so poorly?” Vandalieu asked.
600
601He had handed a Demon King Familiar to Miles and the others for communication purposes, but in order to preserve the Mana he had stored in them, it slept except when in use and during emergencies. Thus, Vandalieu was not well-informed when it came to the lifestyle that they were living… He could not store too much Mana in the Demon King Familiar to have it constantly active, because there was a risk that Murakami’s group, who were reliant on using their radars to detect and approach him, might get confused and head in Miles’s direction instead.
602
603“It isn’t so bad for Eleanora, since she’s in the main headquarters of the organization, but in my position… I can’t stay too long in high-class stores that normal people often go to, can I? That’s why my diet mostly consists of meat that I can buy at bars. It’s not that I hate meat, but it’s hard, has no flavoring but salt, and it only comes with pickles and dried fish… I miss eating fresh vegetables, seafood and fruit. And miso, soy sauce, mayonnaise, ketchup and Worcester sauce. Not to mention curry, ramen, hamburgers, deep-fried food and moderately sweet snacks,” said Miles.
604
605It seemed that his palate had grown too accustomed to Talosheim’s standards. Even the skewers that he was eating now were a little lacking for his taste, but… it was far better than the food that he had been eating since infiltrating the city of Morksi.
606
607“When Melissa went back because of Doug and the others possibly mutating, I asked her to bring back a mountain of souvenirs, but… it would be bad if my underlings saw me eating them,” Miles lamented.
608
609“I heard that this is a city of commerce, but it seems that things are still inconvenient here compared to Talosheim. It seems that you’re suffering quite a bit… Is that why you’re a ‘Starving Wolf?’” Darcia asked, wondering whether the way he was eating and his current starved state was connected to his new Title.
610
611Miles gave a bitter smile. “I’m a face of the underworld that became visible to normal society in something of a hurry, and people started calling me that before I knew it. There were a lot of people who came attacking me… I wonder if my predecessor was a popular fellow,” said Miles.
612
613In the city of Morksi, there was a criminal organization that had done business with the ‘Hyena’ Gozoroff. This criminal organization had no name, and remained lurking in this area, not pulling off anything large-scale. It was an organization that was more of a secret society.
614
615But even secret societies did not seem to welcome those other than themselves exercising their authority in their territory. It was likely that they wanted to avoid being caught up in large incidents caused by poor thugs and failed mercenaries.
616
617They kept one of their leaders visible even to ordinary society in order to act as a leader for such rabble.
618
619Among Eleanora’s group, who had disposed of the criminal organization’s upper ranks and taken over, Miles was the only one suited for the job of replacing this leader. He had taken this role so that he could act right away whenever something occurred in the city of Morksi.
620
621But to the thugs and hoodlums that didn’t know that just one leader of the mysterious criminal organization had changed, it had simply appeared that Miles had suddenly appeared in the city and become its boss, and it was something that they couldn’t accept at all.
622
623There had been several people who had attempted to become the boss themselves, unable to accept this newcomer becoming the boss.
624
625“That must have been troublesome,” Vandalieu remarked.
626
627“Yes, it really was… Holding back and not killing them, that is,” said Miles.
628
629Such thugs were nothing but small fry to Miles. Among the people who challenged Miles for the position of ruling the city, there had been failed D-class adventurers, mercenaries and assassins. But all of them had been inferior to the ‘Hyena’ Gozoroff.
630
631Meanwhile, Miles was a Rank 11 Vampire Marquis… A being worthy of being told of in legends, a foe that even an A-class adventurer party might not be able to defeat.
632
633If he wished to, he would be able to single-handedly destroy the city of Morksi itself and go on to threaten the existence of the entirety of the Alcrem Duchy.
634
635To him, dealing with the thugs and hoodlums was nothing but a tiring task.
636
637“I’m sure you wouldn’t get angry at me for killing them, Boss, but disposing of their corpses would be a pain, and it would be troublesome if the guards noticed a large number of people going missing and made a move,” Miles said. “I had no choice but to carefully persuade them as if I was twisting a baby’s arm. That way, they become obedient after suffering just a few fractures.”
638
639Miles would grab his challengers by the arm and speak intimidating words to them while putting some force into his hand. The challengers would try to kick at his knees or stab him with a knife with their free hand, but he would be completely unfazed. He wore clothes which were made of a combination of threads produced by Arachne and Vandalieu himself, offering as much protection as metal armor. His muscles were harder than steel. There was no way for the thugs to harm him.
640
641… Some of them had apparently attempted to aim for Miles’s groin, but he had blocked such attacks with his knees to protect himself, causing tragic damage to their legs instead.
642
643And so, most of Miles’s challengers had realized the difference in power and submitted to him.
644
645“Considering that, you’ve got quite the amazing Title?” said Vandalieu.
646
647“There were a lot of people challenging me because they couldn’t believe my strength. They thought that I was only great in rumors and in appearance, but my actual ability was exaggerated. Thanks to them, I was busy twisting all of their arms until a few days before you arrived, Boss,” said Miles.
648
649Many thugs and hoodlums had ended up with marks shaped like Miles’s fingers on their arms, and those who saw these marks said that Miles was like a starving wolf who would sink his teeth into anyone. These rumors spread, and Miles became known as the ‘Starving Wolf.’
650
651“Not that I mind, since it’s actually convenient that people fear me to the point that I acquire a Title. I’ve managed to regroup with you as well… and it was harder dealing with Eleanora and Isla than the thugs,” Miles remarked.
652
653“Well, I’ve seen a little bit of that,” said Vandalieu.
654
655Miles’s position required him to walk around the city, and so it was the position that had the greatest chance of meeting Vandalieu. Eleanora and Isla had naturally wanted this position themselves, but… this was impossible for them.
656
657The concept of gender equality didn’t exist in the underworld, and they would be constantly looked down upon just because they were women. Overcoming that sentiment to take control over the thugs would have taken them over twice as long as Miles.
658
659It had apparently been quite the difficult task for Miles to comfort Eleanora and Isla, who were depressed, withdrawn and bitter over this disappointing fact. Vandalieu had watched them through the Demon King Familiar that he had left with them, but… Bellmond’s honest admission that leading a group of hoodlums with their appearance would be impossible had caused deep wounds.
660
661“More importantly, I want to talk about the guard named Aggar and the Deputy Guild Master Joseph. Did you not know anything about them beforehand?” Chipuras asked Miles.
662
663“We’ve never heard of Aggar. But there are several guards that let you get away with various things if you bribe them, so he might be one of them,” Miles replied, wiping some sauce from his lips. “As for Joseph… He’s the uncle of the current Earl Morksi.”
664
665“So, he’s actually a big-shot?” said Vandalieu.
666
667“Well, if you’re just talking about his connections. He was born to an earl’s family, but he’s the fourth son, so he didn’t become the head of the family, and there were no talks of him marrying into another family, so he became a government official and worked in a tax-related department. After that, he became employed at the Commerce Guild and went on to become a Deputy Guild Master,” said Miles. “By the way, he’s not a noble now. He apparently gave up his right to succeed his family.”
668
669The Commerce Guild was generally a non-governmental organization, but it also served as an intermediary organization that collected the nation’s taxes from merchants; essentially, it also functioned as a tax office. Thus, a certain number of government officials would be temporarily transferred as Guild employees, and it was standard for one of the multiple Deputy Guild Masters to be related to the government.
670
671It seemed that in this city, that person was Joseph.
672
673But there was at least one such Deputy Guild Master in every big city, so it seemed that Joseph was not a particularly important person.
674
675“Then does that mean that his harassment of us is Earl Morksi’s will as well?” Vandalieu asked.
676
677“I don’t think so,” said Miles. “Unlike his older brother that was the previous earl, it seems that he has had a bad relationship with his nephew since he became the current earl… and you only just revealed that you’re a Dhampir this afternoon, didn’t you, Boss? I heard that Earl Morksi has been running around investigating details of the incident where parts of statues of Alda broke and priests fainted. He shouldn’t have enough free time for that.”
678
679“I suppose that’s true.”
680
681It seemed that there was no connection between Joseph and Earl Morksi. With that being the case, that meant that the harassment of Vandalieu and Darcia was Joseph’s independent decision.
682
683Miles’s bitter smile grew wider, and he gave a sigh. “Leaving the guard named Aggar aside, Joseph’s actions are confusing for us as well. You are quite the important person just by being a Dhampir, and even though you did refuse his offer, it doesn’t make much sense that he would harass you.”
684
685“Quite the important person… It’s tricky, isn’t it. Well, it’s probably because Vandalieu himself is just a person of a rare race to most people, and he can be used to make connections with Alda’s peaceful faction and those people,” said Darcia.
686
687To the Orbaume Kingdom’s society, Dhampirs were a rare, precious race. Alda’s peaceful faction, led by the S-class adventurer Heinz, and the Church of Vida, would try to protect Vandalieu if they were to learn of his existence.
688
689But in terms of social position, Vandalieu was just a commoner. There were no Dhampir-protection laws in the Orbaume Kingdom, nor were there any laws that stated that all Dhampirs should be treated as nobles.
690
691Thus, even if Joseph harassed Vandalieu, it wasn’t against the law, so Vandalieu could not publicly protest against it. However, that did mean that he could take non-public actions against it.
692
693“The Alcrem Duchy doesn’t want to draw the attention of S-class adventurers. The Deputy Guild Master of a single commerce city can be erased right away if the duchy puts the screws on him,” said Miles, thinking hard. “Joseph shouldn’t be gaining anything from harassing Boss, but…”
694
695“From what we have heard, it is unlikely that he is harassing us for his own benefit. He considers himself to have lost face when Vandalieu-sama refused his offer, and he is simply harassing us because there is no need to hold back,” said Chipuras.
696
697“Is that how it is?” said Vandalieu.
698
699“Yes, Vandalieu-sama. Those who are rulers of little are like that. He has always exercised his authority in this city. The fact that he comes from a noble family or that he has an education has nothing to do with it,” said Chipuras. “Sometimes, people make foolish errors and commit appalling wickedness for reasons that are difficult to understand. I myself was a prime example of that when I was still alive.”
700
701“… We were on different sides while you were alive, but it’s kind of hard to agree on that,” said Darcia.
702
703“There were people like that on Earth as well, so I guess that’s how it is,” said Vandalieu.
704
705It seemed that having received higher-than-average education and being in a position of responsibility was not a guarantee that Joseph would not make any errors.
706
707There were foolish and useless nobles in this world, as well as corrupt merchants… Even on Earth, there had been plenty of scandals and crimes committed by politicians, government officials and even religious leaders.
708
709Vandalieu’s treatment in Origin itself was probably an error committed by an entire nation… Considering that, perhaps it was in the nature of humans for some of them to be that way.
710
711“Well, leaving that aside… What is Joseph-san actually going to do in the end? We’re not exactly particularly troubled at the moment,” said Darcia.
712
713“Darcia-sama, we must worry about our business’s sales, and the thugs may come again to –” Chipuras began.
714
715“Miles-san will do something about that, won’t he?” said Darcia, giving a nod towards Miles.
716
717Miles, who was about to put his sixth skewer in his mouth, stopped and nodded. “Of course. I’m sure that news of the ‘Starving Wolf’ having a long discussion at this food cart will spread within the day… I’ll make sure that your sales are good. I’ll tell my underlings –”
718
719“Then how about we make it so that I’m the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael’s woman?” said Darcia.
720
721Miles choked and coughed, and Chipuras’s jaw dropped at Darcia’s suggestion.
722
723“I see. If we do that, then it’s not strange for you to visit our food cart often, and Mom can go and meet you, too. If we make it so that you’re the ‘Starving Wolf’s’ woman, nobody will dare mess with you at all, never mind Miles’s underlings,” said Vandalieu calmly.
724
725“Vandalieu’s agreed, so it’s decided, then,” said Darcia.
726
727“Wait a second! Are you sure about this?!” Miles asked, looking shaken.
728
729“It’s fine, Miles-san. That person… Valen, wasn’t quite as well-known as you, but he was quite the big figure in the underworld,” said Darcia, looking into the distance as if reminiscing of the past.
730
731“… Are you okay with that, Boss?” Miles asked Vandalieu.
732
733“It’s not like you’re actually dating, so as long as you’re okay with it, Miles,” Vandalieu replied. “I trust you, after all.”
734
735Though Miles talked in a feminine tone and loved to wear lipstick, Vandalieu knew that he wasn’t homosexual. However, he trusted him.
736
737“Boss…! Alright, let’s do that, then!” Miles said, his heart throbbing as he felt Vandalieu’s trust in him. “But we might need to hold hands or put our hands around each other’s shoulders or waists in order to sell the act, so forgive me for that.”
738
739“Well, it is an act, after all. More importantly, about the mysterious divine protection, how’s yours, Miles?” Vandalieu asked, thinking that Miles’s divine protection’s hidden letters might all be revealed now that Darcia’s were.
740
741“Mine? There are still two hidden letters, but… now that you mention it, there were three hidden letters until yesterday.”
742
743It seemed that Miles’s divine protection still had some hidden letters. It seemed that the ‘Bestower’ Job’s effect was only enough to reveal one letter.
744
745“Is that so? All of my divine protection’s hidden letters are revealed, and it says ‘Vandalieu’s Divine Protection,’ but maybe there are some individual differences,” said Darcia.
746
747“Ah, I see… There might be a huge divine statue of you in the middle of construction by the time we return to Talosheim, Boss,” said Miles.
748
749“Miles, it’s a stone statue. Not a divine statue, a stone statue,” Vandalieu said, correcting him.
750
751TLN: In Japanese, there is a separate word for statue when it’s a statue of a god. There’s no such separate word in English, so I’ve translated that to ‘divine statue’ here. Vandalieu is insisting that it’s not a statue of a god, but an ordinary stone statue.
752
753“But Boss, there might be people other than Darcia-sama who only had one hidden letter left and now have them all revealed. Like the girls in Talosheim,” said Miles.
754
755“It’s still just a stone statue,” Vandalieu insisted.
756
757“You’re so stubborn, Boss… Ah, and my race title has changed even though my Rank hasn’t increased. It was ‘Abyssal Vampire Marquis,’ and it’s changed to ‘Abyssal Noble-born Vampire Marquis,’” said Miles.
758
759“It is just ‘Noble-born’ that was added, is it not? And the Pure-breed Vampires have already become Abyssal Pure-breed Vampires,” said Chipuras.
760
761“A change is a change, isn’t it? You’re a Ghost, so it probably doesn’t have anything to do with you, but Bellmond and the others might experience a change next,” said Miles. “Though it does seem that nothing has changed other than my race title,” he added.
762
763Considering the timing of the change, it was likely the effect of Vandalieu acquiring the ‘Bestower’ Job.
764
765“I see. Let’s ask the other Vampires in Talosheim later,” said Vandalieu. “By the way, are we doing okay for time?”
766
767“Now that you mention it, it would be problematic for us to talk for too long… I’ll take thirty more grilled skewers for takeout, then,” said Miles.
768
769“Yes, yes.”
770
771“Can I have half-and-half of Horn Rabbit meat and Giant Rat meat? The rabbit is healthier and delicious, but the rat has more fat and its richness is delicious as well. And are there any other kinds of sauces?”
772
773“Here you are. But there aren’t any other sauces, so I’ll think of some.”
774
775And so, Miles received dried leaves containing ten skewers each, then went around to the other food carts as the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael to give the owners some money as a way to apologize for the commotion that he had caused. After that, he returned to the city’s night scene. He would probably divide the skewers later among his underlings and… Eleanora and the others.
776
777Vandalieu had made a profit for today in terms of sales thanks to Miles, but later on, several other people ordered some grilled skewers and started up some conversation.
778
779It seemed that these were information brokers who were curious as to what the ‘Starving Wolf’ had been discussing at this food cart, so Vandalieu and Darcia told them their previously-decided story that the ‘Starving Wolf’ had seduced Darcia.
780
781 
782
783 
784
785 
786
787Vandalieu and Darcia returned home, put the food cart in the shed and entered the house that apparently had a shady history.
788
789The house had been cleaned thoroughly by the Tartarus Maid Armors, Saria and Rita.
790
791“Welcome home, Bocchan, Darcia-sama,” said Saria.
792
793“We’ve finished the cleaning!” said Rita.
794
795The truth was that these two had been inside the knapsack that Darcia had been carrying when she entered the city of Morksi.
796
797It would seem impossible for the two women who could only be described as beauties, one of them wearing an excessively revealing high-leg-leotard-shaped armor and the other a bikini-shaped armor with maid-like decorations, to both fit inside a knapsack.
798
799But Rita and Saria were Living-Armor-type Undead. Their armor was their actual main body, and what filled them was merely materialized spirit form.
800
801If they withdrew their spirit form and returned to an armor-only state, it was easy for Darcia to carry them both with the armors packed into a knapsack. Even if her belongings were inspected, the two of them would just remain silent and appear to be nothing but suits of armor.
802
803They were armor rather than weapons, and they were not contraband goods, so it was unlikely that there would be any problems… other than Darcia being thought of as the owner of the high-leg-leotard and bikini-shaped suits of armor.
804
805“Thanks,” said Darcia. “Has there been any changes? Like the previous tenant still being here or something.”
806
807“No, there weren’t any Ghosts. There wasn’t even a single mouse,” said Saria.
808
809“The mice might have just instinctively fled because we’re here, though,” said Rita.
810
811“I see… I thought it would have been more fun if it was a haunted house,” Darcia said, sounding disappointed.
812
813“Mom, most of this city’s spirits are already with me,” Vandalieu pointed out.
814
815“Now that you mention it, that’s true,” said Darcia.
816
817Though this was only known to those who could see spirits, there was a countless number… a truly countless number of spirits following Vandalieu. Many of them were nothing more than small points of light, but they were unmistakably spirits.
818
819“Bocchan attracts all the spirits except for those that are strongly haunting certain places or people, after all,” said Saria. “Anyway… I wonder what this house’s history actually is?”
820
821“It would be unpleasant if it was some masterful professional killer visiting every tenant and applying a poison that makes their death look like it was caused by disease,” said Darcia.
822
823“Darcia-sama, that’s scarier than ghosts. Seriously,” said Rita.
824
825“… There’s something beneath the floor. There’s a faint response from ‘Danger Sense: Death,’” said Vandalieu.
826
827Further investigation revealed a gap between the floor of the first floor and the basement, and there was mold growing inside it. It seemed to be a very toxic mold, and this was apparently the reason that tenants would die of disease within a year of moving into this house.
828
829Though this would only be revealed by later investigation… This house’s history was not exactly the truth. There had actually been some who had fled to escape their debts rather than die of disease, and others who had moved out after living here for over a year.
830
831“Well, mold is more troublesome to us than ghosts,” said Vandalieu. “‘Disinfect,’ ‘Sterilization.’”
832
833Vandalieu carefully removed the mold with his spells, then completely filled in the gap with his ‘Golem Creation’ Skill. The house was now a safe house with a shady history.
834
835“Of course, everywhere is a haunted house with Bocchan around,” said Saria.
836
837“We’re here too, and there are so many Ghosts like Princess Levia and Orbia-san,” said Rita.
838
839“And I’m going to be doing some full-scale remodeling,” said Vandalieu. “I’ll leave the outward appearance the same, though.”
840
841First, he turned the entire house into Golems. This was to leave the house’s exterior appearance the same while fixing its badly-fitted doors and its creaking floors, and implementing measures against intruders.
842
843If the entire house was Golems, it would be difficult to infiltrate even for the ‘King Slayer’ Sleygar, a superhuman assassin who had awakened the ‘Silent Steps’ Skill into the superior Skill ‘Nihility,’ which erased his presence entirely.
844
845And, as if having waited for the perfect timing, a hole in space opened inside the house, and Gufadgarn emerged from it.
846
847“I have brought the items and materials,” she said.
848
849She had brought things from Talosheim that were needed for remodeling the house.
850
851“Thanks. The only materials and weapons we can get around here are made of bone, so this is very helpful,” said Vandalieu.
852
853“You honor me,” said Gufadgarn.
854
855“This really is so helpful! We didn’t bring our halberd and glaive here, after all,” Rita said happily.
856
857“If we bought new ones from an ordinary weapon store, they would probably break right away. Thank you, Gufadgarn-san,” said Saria.
858
859Rita and Saria had been unarmed up until now; they gladly received their weapons from Gufadgarn. Their strength was already beyond what ordinary iron weapons could handle.
860
861Vandalieu used the delivered Dark Copper to reinforce the house. “With this, the house will withstand even spells and martial skills used from outside,” he said.
862
863“Perhaps it would withstand attacks from the reincarnated individuals… but I believe that it would be possible for the Pure-breed Vampire Birkyne to destroy this house’s defenses with a single attack,” said Gufadgarn.
864
865She knew almost nothing about Birkyne, but she was basing this assumption on her knowledge of the other Pure-breed Vampires.
866
867“That’s true, but… Birkyne would be able to attack the house from outside the city’s walls,” said Vandalieu. “Let’s deal with that with the Dungeon that I’ll make in the basement.”
868
869“I see. You will create a Dungeon in the basement, and use it as a shelter and as a supply of fighting forces in the event of an emergency.”
870
871“… No, I’m going to make it as low-class a Dungeon as possible, so I don’t think it would provide us with fighting forces.”
872
873“Depending on the circumstances, we might not have the time to recover the Dungeon, after all,” said Darcia.
874
875If Vandalieu carelessly created a high-class Dungeon, it was possible that this would cause great trouble for the city of Morksi. It would be good if the city could adopt the Dungeon and become a labyrinth city, but… the inhabitants of the slum quarter would lose their homes in the process, which was unacceptable.
876
877And if it ever came to a situation where Vandalieu needed the Dungeon’s monsters to fight for him, the city would either be destroyed or be in a position where its destruction was inevitable.
878
879Vandalieu was creating a Dungeon so that things would not get to that point, so there would be no point in making it for fighting forces.
880
881“Well, I need to make the floors large, so we’ll see if I can keep it to E-class or not,” said Vandalieu. “Well then, Mom, I’m going to create a Dungeon in the basement… but before that, I’ll go around behind the house.”
882
883“Behind the house? Make sure you come back before the dinner that Gufadgarn-san brought gets cold,” said Darcia.
884
885“Yes, Mom.”
886
887 
888
889 
890
891 
892
893There was a starving dog, taking no notice of the house that had people living in it for the first time in a while… along with a strange, different presence.
894
895This dog, who had been born in the slum quarter, had managed to survive until adulthood despite losing its siblings and mother. However, it had recently lost in a struggle between competing predators, and it was now starving, unable to get food. It had wandered to this place without even realizing it.
896
897Its rival predators were other stray dogs and… the inhabitants of the slums.
898
899To the slum quarter’s inhabitants, dogs were competitors when searching for food scraps, and they were good sources of food themselves. The dog had lost its family to the slum quarter’s inhabitants hunting them for their meat.
900
901That was why the dog was utterly afraid of humans. It had grown up as a stray, so it had already been taught by its mother to be wary of humans, but now, humans looked like nothing but terrifying predators to it.
902
903That was why it was here, behind this unpopular, empty house. Unable to hunt its own food or fish through garbage in the streets where people walked, it would starve to death here.
904
905But before that, Vandalieu silently appeared where the dog was.
906
907“A mouse would have done for an experimental subject, but I don’t mind it being a dog… Come here,” he said, beckoning to the dog with a small piece of dried meat in his hand.
908
909Strength returned to the starving dog’s eyes, and it bared its fangs at Vandalieu and growled. Of course, it was aware of the piece of dried meat in Vandalieu’s hand, but it prioritized being cautious of Vandalieu himself, and chose to try and intimidate him.
910
911“At times like this… are you supposed to say, ‘There’s nothing to be scared of?’” Vandalieu wondered, bringing his hand closer to the dog, unafraid of the dog’s growls.
912
913The dog let out a bark and instinctively reached out to bite. It put all of its strength into its jaws, its teeth sinking not into the dried meat, but Vandalieu’s hand.
914
915But to the dog’s surprise, Vandalieu didn’t respond at all. He didn’t withdraw his hand in pain and surprise; he simply continued to let his hand be bitten.
916
917And there was something strange about the hand in the dog’s jaws… No matter how hard it bit, no blood came out. The skin would not break.
918
919“There, there,” said Vandalieu, patting the dog’s head with his other hand. “You don’t need to give me such a playful bite… Wow, it’s actually working. I suppose it’s always worth a try to say it.”
920
921The dog felt as if something was squirming in the depths of Vandalieu’s eyes.
922
923The dog knew that this person was not a human.
924
925It let go of Vandalieu’s hand, which was white as candle-wax and not red from the bite at all, and licked it instead.
926
927“Good dog. I’m sure you’re hungry, so let’s hurry and have dinner… but before that, I suppose I’ll give you a little wash,” said Vandalieu.
928
929The dog gave a happy bark and followed Vandalieu into the house.
930
931 
932
933 
934
935 
936
937Skill explanation:
938
939Vandalieu’s Divine Protection
940
941A divine protection granted by Vandalieu, who is not a god. Until recently, the letters of this Skill’s name were hidden, but the last of the hidden letters were revealed after he acquired the ‘Bestower’ Job.
942
943As a divine protection, it provides ubiquitous benefits… In addition to lowering the difficulty of overcoming developmental barriers, it also provides a small bonus to acquiring Skills that are ordinarily difficult to acquire after birth, such as ‘Status Effect Resistance,’ ‘Physical Resistance,’ ‘Venom Secretion,’ ‘Night Vision’ and ‘Dark Vision.’
944
945Of course, it does not allow the easy acquisition of these Skills; it simply increases the chance of acquiring them through hard work and unexpected events.
946
947Skill explanation:
948
949Bedroom Skill
950
951In short, this is a skill that is used at night. It is a Skill not for ordinary intercourse between male and female, but for the user providing pleasure for their partner, so it is not a Skill that can be acquired through ordinary lovers and married couples.
952
953This Skill is acquired by male and female prostitutes, and women belonging to harems. Those who have this Skill at Level 5 or higher, they are considered high-class prostitutes, and they are not treated poorly even if they are slaves.
954
955
956Skill explanation:
957
958Love-making
959
960A technique that improves the user’s partner’s vigor and replenishes their energy through intercourse. It is a type of hygiene, but its effects are clear enough that it is represented as a Skill. Perhaps because of this, those who are subject to this Skill’s effects for long periods of time have a high chance of acquiring the ‘Endless Sexual Stamina’ Skill.
961
962There was an era when it was said that powerful people would live long lives if they kept mistresses who possessed this Skill at a high Level, and that their descendants would prosper. All royals and nobles desired such mistresses.
963
964However, there is a legend that says that this skill was granted to the people by Vida, the goddess of life and love. Because of this, the first emperor of the Amid Empire outlawed the use of the ‘Love-making’ Skill.
965
966But the third emperor completely lifted this ban, and although it is no longer illegal, there are few users of this Skill in the western region of the Bahn Gaia continent.Isaac Morksi, the current Earl Morksi, was in a bad mood.
967
968Two days ago, a mysterious incident had occurred in the Communal Church… A facility for believers to pray to the statues of multiple great gods and their subordinate gods with many followers. Isaac had been busy the entirety of the previous day investigating this incident and making plans for the near future.
969
970A part of Alda’s statue had suddenly broken, and a devout priest of Alda had lost consciousness. An unserious, foolish noble would have attributed these to the statue degrading and the priest’s poor health, but Isaac was dealing with the incident seriously.
971
972He had asked for the cooperation of the priests of the gods other than Alda from the Communal Church, the Guild Master of the Mages’ Guild, the Guild Master of the Adventurers’ Guild and the mage who was personally employed by his family of earls. It was no exaggeration to say that all of Morksi’s intelligent individuals had gathered to help him with this.
973
974But it was difficult to say that their joint investigation and discussions were very fruitful.
975
976The cause of the incident was likely not in the city, anywhere in the Morksi domain or even anywhere in the Orbaume Kingdom. They had concluded that something had likely happened to the gods… In particular, to Alda, the god of law and fate, and Curatos, the god of records.
977
978They had concluded this, but… at the same time, they had come to the conclusion that there was nothing to be done about it.
979
980Isaac was one of the more powerful nobles in the Alcrem Duchy. A city of commerce was in his domain, and he had faith in his economic power. The army that he employed was considerably powerful.
981
982However, he was still but a human. He was no hero who could intervene in the affairs of the gods and solve their problems, nor did he know of any such heroes.
983
984Thus, he had no way of knowing if similar incidents would occur again in the future.
985
986What Isaac and his subordinates could do was calm the people and tell them that no more anomalous events would occur, while also making preparations to take control over the situation quickly if such events did occur again.
987
988The only other thing they could do was prepare backup statues to replace broken ones. Statues of gods were not merely statues; they had the role of delivering the people’s worship and prayers to the gods.
989
990This seemed to be why the statues were affected when something happened to the gods. The scriptures containing the gods’ holy symbols, decorative patterns and teachings also served the same role, but Isaac and his subordinates assumed that the statues of the gods were most easily affected.
991
992These were all conjectures, but it couldn’t be helped that they could only make conjectures and assumptions. There was no way for mortals to know of the affairs of gods.
993
994However, according to their conjectures and assumptions, statues that the people’s worship and prayers were not directed at were unlikely to be damaged in the event that something happened to the gods.
995
996That was why Isaac had ordered masons to build backup statues of every statue at the Communal Church to prepare for the possibility of a similar incident occurring again. These statues would be covered with cloths and kept in warehouses until they were needed. With this decided, Isaac had ended the meeting with his subordinates.
997
998If this incident has occurred across the entire nation, no, the entirety of the Bahn Gaia continent, masons and sculptors are going to make a killing, Isaac had thought as he went to bed late at night.
999
1000Of course, he had asked his housekeeper to wake him up later than usual.
1001
1002But Isaac had been awoken at the same time as always, and was now glaring discontentedly at his housekeeper.
1003
1004“… It seems that it is still early,” he said curtly.
1005
1006“My apologies, Master. There is a serious matter that requires your attention,” the housekeeper said.
1007
1008“A serious matter? Are you going to tell me that Vida’s statues have broken next?” said Isaac, still half-asleep as he allowed his maids to dress him.
1009
1010“No, there has been a report… A Dhampir has appeared in the city of Morksi,” the housekeeper said.
1011
1012“I see, a Dhampir has appeared. That is a serious matter indeed… Wait, what?! Is Miss Selen staying here?!” Isaac exclaimed, his eyes suddenly opening wide.
1013
1014The only known Dhampir in the Orbaume Kingdom was Selen; he assumed that she was staying in the city.
1015
1016As she was a member of a rare race, she was born with the fate of being targeted by Vampires and Alda’s radical faction, and although there were some things about her that drew sympathy, she was a mere commoner.
1017
1018However, although her guardians had spent over a year inside a Dungeon, they were Heinz and his party, who were S-class adventurers and honorary nobles.
1019
1020If some kind of trouble occurred during Selen’s stay and something were to happen to her… The very thought was terrifying.
1021
1022If such an individual was staying in Isaac’s city without his permission, it was a serious matter indeed.
1023
1024“No, the Dhampir in question is not Miss Selen. According to the report from employees at the Commerce Guild, it is a young boy named Vandalieu Zakkart,” said the housekeeper.
1025
1026“What? So, there is another Dhampir… Wait, there are many things that I don’t understand. Leaving aside his name, he has a surname? And it’s Zakkart?” asked Isaac.
1027
1028In many of the nations in this world, only royals and nobles used surnames; commoners did not have them. It was not forbidden in the Orbaume Kingdom for commoners to use surnames, but… people who did were either pathetic individuals pretending to be nobles, or descendants of noble families who refused to admit their house’s ruin, or swindlers.
1029
1030So then, why did this Dhampir have a surname, the name of the ‘Fallen Champion’ Zakkart at that?
1031
1032“Why? There is no way that this name would be displayed on his Status… If he is a fanatical worshiper of Zakkart, he may be dangerous,” Isaac said. “No, wait, what was a Dhampir doing at the Commerce Guild in the first place?”
1033
1034“It seems that he visited with his mother, a Dark Elf, to make a temporary registration. Nobody checked his Status for the temporary registration,” said the housekeeper.
1035
1036“It is also a little surprising that his mother is a Dark Elf… A temporary registration? … Why?”
1037
1038“It seems that he intends to make a living selling grilled skewers at a food cart, of all things.”
1039
1040“Selling grilled skewers with his mother… A Dark Elf mother and a Dhampir child. Is it not possible that the mother is a swindler who is simply making use of her child that happened to be born with odd-colored eyes, or is making him wear an artificial eye?” Isaac suggested.
1041
1042“No, the receptionist in charge apparently confirmed that there are claws growing from the boy’s fingertips. He is unmistakably a Dhampir,” said the housekeeper.
1043
1044“I see… What did this Dhampir do after he completed his temporary registration? Did he visit the Adventurers’ Guild? Did he not seek someone’s protection?” Isaac asked.
1045
1046“According to the report… he purchased charcoal and meat at a store to be used at his food cart. After that, he purchased a single house with a questionable history that was recommended to him by the Guild, and is now operating his food cart at his designated position in a back alley that connects the red-light district to the slum quarter,” the housekeeper reported. “It seems that he has not visited the Adventurers’ Guild or sought out anyone to protect him. However, he has made contact with the man known as the ‘Starving Wolf.’”
1047
1048After listening to what Vandalieu had been doing yesterday, Isaac frowned.
1049
1050“… Apart from that last part, it’s all so bizarre that I don’t know what to make of it,” he muttered.
1051
1052He couldn’t comprehend any of Vandalieu’s actions, and this made his mood worse.
1053
1054Isaac thought that a Dhampir child would be weak, with people aiming to take his life. Indeed, even after coming under the protection of the Five-colored Blades, Selen had been targeted by Vampires on many occasions, as well as kidnappers hired by illegal slave traders and nobles with perverse desires.
1055
1056That was why Isaac thought that the most plausible options for a Dhampir boy to take after coming to the city of Morksi, would be to seek the protection of the lord of the region, Isaac himself, or trustworthy organizations such as Churches or the Adventurers’ Guild. Either that, or he could conceal his identity.
1057
1058The boy seemed to have kept quiet about the fact that he was a Dhampir when he entered the city, after all. However, Vandalieu had gone to the Commerce Guild of all places, and revealed what he was.
1059
1060The Commerce Guild was not exactly a breeding ground for crime, but… it was not an organization that one would consider asking for protection from the threat of Vampires.
1061
1062And the Dhampir boy had not even sought protection at all; he had made a temporary registration and started a food cart business of all things. On top of that, he’d possessed enough funds to purchase an entire house. No matter how cheap the house was, he would have been able to live in a cheap inn for several years with that money.
1063
1064“To summarize, a Dhampir who names himself with the surname ‘Zakkart,’ who appears to have no financial problems in his everyday life for the foreseeable future, has started a food cart business with his Dark Elf mother. If you weren’t the one reporting it, I wouldn’t believe you,” said Isaac. “So, do we know why the ‘Starving Wolf’ has made contact with him?”
1065
1066The ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael was the man who had recently appeared at the top of the city’s underworld. As lord of the realm, Isaac believed that he should be cautious about him. Not because Miles was probably thinking of some outrageous scheme, but because he was so far above the position he held.
1067
1068Analysis of the information gathered by his subordinates told Isaac that Michael’s strength was at least that of a B-class adventurer, and yet for some reason, he was merely the boss of a group of thugs. If he desired, he could have been appointed as a knight, become an honorary baron or found employment as a personal guard for a noble or wealthy merchant.
1069
1070Even if he had a dirty past that prevented him from doing that, hunting a few monsters a month that were weaker than him in a Devil’s Nest or a Dungeon would surely earn him more than leading a group of thugs and extorting space fees from merchants.
1071
1072Such a capable individual had suddenly appeared in this city, with no evidence of him having visited any other nearby city or village.
1073
1074The ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael was an ominous person with an unknown background and far too much strength to be a mere boss of a group of thugs.
1075
1076What was he planning to do after making contact with a mysterious Dhampir?
1077
1078“According to someone who was hiding in the red-light district, he was seducing the Dhampir’s mother,” said the housekeeper.
1079
1080“… I see, I see. So, he was merely flirting,” Isaac murmured. “Is there any reason to believe that this Vandalieu and the recently-appeared ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael knew each other before all of this?”
1081
1082“No, it was Joseph-dono who ordered his food cart to be placed in the ‘Starving Wolf’s’ territory, so I do not believe that is the case.”
1083
1084Isaac clicked his tongue. “My uncle.”
1085
1086Isaac’s uncle Joseph, one of the Commerce Guild’s Deputy Guild Masters, was something of a nuisance to him.
1087
1088They did not have a good relationship, but he was not worth going as far as to call an enemy. His everyday behavior was a little unpleasant, and often harassed union members that he did not like as much as he could without breaking any rules, but as such harassment was within the rules, he was not punished.
1089
1090However, even though he could not be punished, it decreased his value within the Guild. That was why he could not rise to the position of Guild Master no matter how many years passed… though he did not have the suitable ability or capacity to do that anyway.
1091
1092Joseph resented Isaac, under the impression that this was Isaac’s doing, which made their relationship worse. However, Isaac was not actually negatively affected by this in any way, and he could not create any excuses to punish him, so he had no choice but to leave him alone. This was the pointless spiral that their relationship was in.
1093
1094“What is that damn raccoon thinking? It’s true that the boy is a commoner, even if he is a Dhampir, but… that is only true for the present. According to the records, they are a race that displays tremendous talent in adulthood, and His Excellency Duke Alcrem is an opportunist. He would surely want to maintain a good appearance for the renowned Five-colored Blades,” Isaac muttered. “Despite that, he has done something that will earn the hatred of the Dhampir. Has he not considered the possibility that his head will be the first to fly in several years’ time?”
1095
1096Vandalieu was a commoner, but Joseph was also currently a commoner. With the authority of a duke, it would be possible to behead a commoner for a suitable crime, especially a commoner that was detested by those around him.
1097
1098Isaac was leaving Joseph alone for the simple reason of not wanting to create a bad precedent of a realm’s lord meddling in the Deputy personnel affairs involving a Deputy Guild Master of a Guild in his city.
1099
1100“I do not know what that man is thinking, but… perhaps he believes that the Five-colored Blades have perished inside the Dungeon. This is the second year that they have been inside it, after all,” said the housekeeper.
1101
1102“Hmm… with that being the case, Alda’s peaceful faction’s influence becomes uncertain, too,” said Isaac.
1103
1104“Also, please refrain from using the phrase ‘damn raccoon.’”
1105
1106“Alright. But in the end, we don’t know anything about the boy. There’s no doubt that he’s planning something.”
1107
1108It was absolutely certain that Vandalieu was planning something. There was some purpose to his series of movements beginning from his temporary registration at the Commerce Guild. But Isaac had no idea what it could possibly be.
1109
1110However, it would be too careless to simply watch and wait until he learned something.
1111
1112“For now, I shall have a knight hand him a letter from me. I will not become involved in the matter regarding my uncle; if the boy wishes for protection, make preparations as peacefully as possible,” Isaac ordered.
1113
1114“But that would tell him that we have taken notice of him,” said the housekeeper.
1115
1116“It would be stranger if we didn’t take notice of him. It does not seem that he is deliberately spreading the news that he is a Dhampir, but he has revealed his race at the Commerce Guild where my uncle works, after all,” said Isaac. “Continue the investigation, and just in case, tell the Adventurers’ Guild and Mages’ Guild to be on the lookout for Vampires. After that… we watch until something happens.”
1117
1118“As you wish.”
1119
1120“Now then, I shall return to bed –”
1121
1122“Master, breakfast is ready. Your wife is waiting in the dining room.”
1123
1124“… I suppose it can’t be helped. I shall get up.”
1125
1126And so, Isaac Morksi’s day began.
1127
1128 
1129
1130 
1131
1132 
1133
1134A week had passed since Vandalieu’s food cart opened for business. He reconstructed his soul in his dreams, and operated his food cart while he was awake. On his days off, he would have Eleanora and the others teleported to the house for strategy meetings and dinner parties. And so, the days went by peacefully with no significant events occurring.
1135
1136Meanwhile, the gods of Alda’s faction were observing his movements closely. Unable to understand his motives, they were utterly bewildered, and Murakami’s group was continuing to move towards the Alcrem Duchy.
1137
1138In Talosheim, Luciliano had finished examining the new mutated races, including his own, and sent his reports through Melissa.
1139
1140According to these, Dark Humans had more Mana than humans, and possessed the ‘Status Effect Resistance,’ ‘Rapid Regeneration’ and ‘Night Vision’ Skills. They had no particular weaknesses as a race.
1141
1142The Dvergr also possessed more Mana than their Dwarf counterparts, as well as more Intelligence, and in addition to the inherent Skills that Dwarves were born with, Dvergr also possessed ‘Fire/Light Attribute Resistance.’
1143
1144As for the Dark Beast-kin, it was thought that the entire race possessed ‘Beast Transformation,’ despite it being a Skill that was mainly possessed by Vampires and was rare for Beast-kin to have.
1145
1146The ‘Beast Transformation’ Skill, which transformed the user from a humanoid form into a beast, provided enhanced Attribute Values and weapons in the forms of things like claws and fangs.
1147
1148Since the only ones who had undergone the transformation were wolf-type Beast-kin girls, there were no other transformed Beast-kin other than Magic Wolf-type Beast-kin, so that was all that was known so far.
1149
1150The lifespans and biology of the new races were unknown. It was unlikely that their lifespans were shorter than their original races, but it was possible that their reproductive capabilities would be slightly decreased.
1151
1152Luciliano had concluded by saying that this would be known soon enough, as more people in Talosheim would undergo this mutation in the future.
1153
1154Rather than worry about such details, what Vandalieu needed to do was announce to the citizens that there was a chance that each race could mutate, so that the nation wouldn’t fall into panic… Blood Potion which was commonplace within the Boundary Mountain Range and the Dark Continent, was made from his blood, which was undeniably a fragment of Vandalieu.
1155
1156Considering that, anyone could undergo mutation, though the Blood Potion didn’t seem as likely to cause mutation compared to drinking Vandalieu’s unprocessed blood directly.
1157
1158Among Vandalieu’s companions, he learned that Knochen and Bone Man, who had both absorbed Vandalieu’s fragments such as the Demon King’s bones, had undergone mutation as well.
1159
1160Up until now, Knochen had to disassemble himself into a swarm of bones in order to fly, but he had now become able to fly with his bones in a structured form.
1161
1162One might think that this was a small change, but it had given Knochen the ability to transport things that he did not previously have, and it was a big deal being able to move while maintaining the shape of a fortress or concert venue.
1163
1164In the event of being surrounded by enemies or a natural disaster on the ground, Knochen could simply take its allies and fly into the sky.
1165
1166On top of that… he had gained the unorthodox ability to form a massive, fortress-sized sphere with his bones and ram into targets at high speeds.
1167
1168However, it was unlikely that he would want to do this, as it would damage his bones.
1169
1170Bone Man had been focused on diligently improving his technique as a Rank 11 Skeleton Blade Lord, but his Rank had suddenly increased yesterday.
1171
1172His Rank had increased, but… his race title had changed to ‘Skeleton Blade Emperor.’
1173
1174“JUOOOH! What disrespect I have done to my lord! If I had a stomach, I would slice it open in shame!” he cried.
1175
1176TLN: Bone Man is referring to seppuku/hara-kiri, a Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment performed by samurai after bringing shame upon themselves.
1177
1178He recovered after Vandalieu talked some sense into him through a Demon King Familiar.
1179
1180“It is nothing to be concerned about, you say… My lord exceeds the frame of an emperor. Juooh… I see!” he said.
1181
1182Meanwhile, both of their divine protections from Vandalieu had all of their letters revealed. It seemed that Nuaza had already begun planning for an enormous statue of Vandalieu to be built in Talosheim’s Church.
1183
1184Vandalieu wished that he could become an adult before Nuaza started building stone statues of him, but he gave up on this, as there was no telling how many decades this would take… though he had given the condition of specifying that they were stone statues, not divine statues.
1185
1186As for Vandalieu’s private life, he had one new companion.
1187
1188“What are you going to name it, Vandalieu?” Darcia asked, smiling at the dog and stroking its thin back as it busily ate some dried meat that had been boiled to soften it and remove the salt.
1189
1190She had skipped over the usual questions that a parent would normally ask in this situation, such as “Why did you bring it here?” and “Are you really going to be able to take care of it?” The reason for that was –
1191
1192“Wow, amazing! It’s an ordinary dog!” exclaimed Rita.
1193
1194“For Bocchan to bring home an ordinary dog that isn’t a spirit, Undead or monster… I never thought that such a day would come,” said Saria.
1195
1196The reason for that was clearly shown in Rita and Saria’s words.
1197
1198“Even I can pick up a normal dog… though I originally intended to use a rat,” said Vandalieu.
1199
1200He had picked up this dog from behind the house for an experiment. Previously, animals born to one Undead or one living parent, or two Undead parents, had mutated into monsters just by licking a little spilled Blood Potion before he acquired the ‘Bestower’ Job.
1201
1202So then, now that Vandalieu had become a ‘Bestower,’ what would happen if he raised an ordinary animal not in the semi-Devil’s Nest that was Talosheim, but in an ordinary human settlement, here in the city of Morksi?
1203
1204Vandalieu wanted to find out.
1205
1206Also, if he was able to tame it, he thought that it might not be a bad idea to register at the Tamers’ Guild.
1207
1208“In other words, you couldn’t bring yourself to abandon a starving dog within reach,” said Chipuras.
1209
1210“Ugh, you’ve seen through me, Chipuras,” said Vandalieu.
1211
1212“This dog was very lucky. Make sure you eat properly and grow big,” Princess Levia told the dog.
1213
1214“It’s so thin… By the way, is it alright for a dog of this age to be eating meat?” asked Orbia.
1215
1216“… Princess, Orbia-neesan, I think this dog is an adult,” said Kimberley.
1217
1218“I welcome you, my new brethren. All is according to Vandalieu’s will,” said Gufadgarn.
1219
1220As the dog ate meat for the first time in a long time under the gaze of the noisy group around him, it felt both at ease and nervous.
1221
1222The thing that made it feel at ease was that there wasn’t a single human in the house. There were Undead, an evil god and an incarnation of a goddess; to the dog, all of them were beings that were not people.
1223
1224The thing that made it nervous was that it could sense something watching and evaluating it through Vandalieu.
1225
1226The source of this gaze was the group equipped inside Vandalieu, such as Eisen, Quinn, Pete, and Kühl.
1227
1228The dog was strongly aware that it had been placed at the lowest position of a hierarchy.
1229
1230“About his name… It would be easy to name him ‘Hai’ or ‘Gray’ after the color of his fur…” said Vandalieu.
1231
1232TLN: 灰/Hai is ‘gray’ in Japanese.
1233
1234Having finished eating the dried meat, the gray-furred dog looked up at Vandalieu as he seemed to come to a decision.
1235
1236“Since it gave me a playful bite as soon as it met me, let’s call it ‘Fang,’” he said.
1237
1238The dog, now named Fang, gave a small whimper.
1239
1240 
1241
1242 
1243
1244 
1245
1246A week after the business opened, it was going surprisingly well. The customers were the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael (AKA Miles) and his subordinates, but there were also sometimes customers who came from the main street, drawn by the smell.
1247
1248There were even customers who were high-class prostitutes from high-class brothels and patrons of high-class bars, who would normally never have anything to do with food carts.
1249
1250… Well, many of them came to buy skewers as an excuse to see the woman who had been seduced by the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael.
1251
1252It seemed that the women who were trying to court Michael because he was the ruler of the underworld, as well as the owners of stores that were trying to maintain a good relationship with him, were interested in Darcia, the woman who was rumored to have been seduced by him.
1253
1254There were even some women who took the effort to come to Darcia and say unpleasant things to her.
1255
1256“So, you’re the one… Hmph!” one such woman said.
1257
1258“Don’t get too full of yourself. A woman who has baggage with her isn’t good enough for him,” said another.
1259
1260“Well, it seems that the rumors have already spread. Michael-san is more popular with the ladies than I thought,” said Darcia.
1261
1262“Hello, I’m the baggage. If you aren’t going to order anything, could you please not stand directly in front of the food cart?” Vandalieu said to the women.
1263
1264Of course, Darcia and Vandalieu didn’t take them seriously, and though they were a little cautious, they didn’t need to pay them any more attention than that.
1265
1266But there was one woman, who seemed to be a female bouncer, who was a little different.
1267
1268“You should listen and just disappear –” she began, but she suddenly stopped mid-sentence. “No, it’s nothing. Excuse me,” she said, and then she fled.
1269
1270It was likely that she possessed the ‘Intuition’ Skill. She had potential, so Vandalieu reported her appearance to Miles.
1271
1272There was another problematic… or rather, mistaken, customer. He appeared to be a rich upstart, and he had two bodyguards with him, one on either side.
1273
1274“How much?” he asked.
1275
1276“One skewer is five Baums,” Vandalieu replied.
1277
1278“I see. And what is the additional charge to buy her?” the man asked, stroking his chin with a hand that was wearing many jeweled gold rings.
1279
1280“Eh, me?” said Darcia, blinking in confusion.
1281
1282“Indeed. This is some kind of secret office for prostitutes, isn’t it? Have a woman at the food cart, pretending to be a vendor, and have customers pay an additional fee to buy her along with their skewers. If that weren’t the case, there’s no way a fine woman like you would be working as a vendor at some poor food cart,” the man said, seeming proud of himself as the corners of his mouth rose in a sleazy smile. “Now then, name your price,” he said, reaching out to grab Darcia’s shoulder.
1283
1284But before his hand could reach her, Fang, who had become the food cart’s guard dog, growled at him.
1285
1286“What the hell is this filthy mutt doing here?” the upstart shouted, having only taken notice of the thin and scrawny Fang for the first time. “Hey, get the hell out of the way…”
1287
1288And in the next moment, he suddenly turned completely pale, let out a terrified scream and ran away as fast as he possibly could.
1289
1290“Huh?! Master, what’s the matter?!” one of the upstart’s bodyguards shouted.
1291
1292“W-wait!” said the other.
1293
1294Standing in front of Vandalieu, Fang looked proud of himself.
1295
1296“Did you use your ‘Mental Encroachment’ Skill?” Darcia asked as she watched the bodyguards hastily chase after the upstart.
1297
1298“No, using ‘Mental Encroachment’ would probably leave some permanent effects, so I just stared at him while using ‘Demon King’s Demon Eyes,’” said Vandalieu.
1299
1300He had gained a Skill by acquiring the fragment known as the Demon King’s Demon Eyes. If targeted on land, it had the effect of contaminating it with Mana, and if targeted on a living creature, it caused fear in it.
1301
1302This had likely been a very convenient ability for the Demon King Guduranis. He had been able to spread monster-spawning Devil’s Nests across the world by gazing at it, and destroy the fighting spirits of most humans who opposed him with a single glance.
1303
1304But to Vandalieu, it was not as useful. He didn’t particularly want to spread Devil’s Nests, and although the fear effect was very strong against ordinary humans, it did not affect adventurers who possessed a certain amount of ability; it would certainly not work against the Five-colored Blades.
1305
1306Vandalieu had used the Demon Eyes on the upstart because it would have taken too much effort to talk him down.
1307
1308“He didn’t look like the type to listen to people, and it didn’t seem like he knew about the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael… and I thought that if I used the Demon Eyes, nobody would notice,” said Vandalieu.
1309
1310Indeed, the people in the back alley had been surprised by the upstart’s scream, but none of them had noticed Vandalieu’s use of the Demon Eyes.
1311
1312They were snickering at the pathetic rich boy, who seemed to be scared to death of dogs.
1313
1314“But if you don’t hold back, it might become a kind of trauma for the people you use it on,” said Darcia.
1315
1316“I half-closed my eyes when I looked at him… It’s quite hard,” said Vandalieu.
1317
1318“Well, it’s fine. I’m sure it was good for him.”
1319
1320It did indeed seem to have been good for the upstart; Vandalieu and Darcia never saw him in the red-light district again.
1321
1322On the second day after the food cart opened, two knights employed by Earl Morksi came to the food cart and handed Vandalieu a letter from the earl. It was an offer of protection, but Vandalieu politely declined and sent the knights away.
1323
1324“Why did he send messengers while monitoring us?” Orbia wondered.
1325
1326“Orbia, there’s no guarantee that the people staking us out are spies for the earl,” said Vandalieu.
1327
1328“Yes there is. The only one who’d send living, human, well-trained spies to watch us is the lord of the region.”
1329
1330“It’s too early for it to be the person called Murakami and his group, and considering that Birkyne knows your strength, he would probably have sent stronger spies. I think Orbia-san is right,” said Darcia.
1331
1332“I see… Well, we’ll leave them be. Just be careful not to let them into the house,” said Vandalieu.
1333
1334In fact, Isaac Morksi had already sent spies to Vandalieu’s house, but… they had retreated, as they had been unable to pick the locks. Vandalieu had turned the entire house, including the doors and locks, into Golems.
1335
1336No matter how masterful the spies were at lockpicking, there was no way to open locks that consciously changed their internal structures on their own, unless they were to break the locks and doors to enter by force.
1337
1338Of course, even if they had entered the house, they would be helplessly captured or killed by Rita and Saria, so this was fortunate for the spies.
1339
1340Because of such good fortune and because Vandalieu did not want conflict with the earl’s family even if it were kept secret, the earl’s spies were all still alive and well.
1341
1342And on the food cart’s third day of business, the priestess of Vida and the priest of Alda, who had recovered from the incident that occurred several days previously, came from the Communal Church to visit the food cart. They wished to protect the Dhampir and his mother; though they were polite in tone, they were more fanatical in their attempts to persuade Vandalieu than the knights had been.
1343
1344“Though this may be rude to the people who live here, this place is dangerous. It seems that the recently-appeared thug known as the ‘Starving Wolf’ has set his eyes on this place… There is no telling when villains and the assassins of Vampires will approach,” said Alda’s priest. “You must receive the protection from our Church.”
1345
1346Of course, Vandalieu politely declined.
1347
1348However, there was an unexpected development with the priestess of Vida.
1349
1350“Please come and give a sermon, just once! Learning of a Dark Elf’s religious beliefs will be a good opportunity to broaden the minds of the believers… no, the people!” she said.
1351
1352“No, I wasn’t particularly involved in religious services in my settlement,” said Darcia.
1353
1354“Please do not be so reserved! I beg you!” the priestess pleaded.
1355
1356“E-even if you say that…”
1357
1358Perhaps sensing something in Darcia, who was the incarnation of Vida, she was passionately begging for her to give a sermon.
1359
1360Darcia had no experience in ordinary sermons, but she couldn’t exactly hold a solo concert in the Communal Church either. She was trying her best to refuse, but the priestess wouldn’t give up.
1361
1362“W-what should I do? Would it be alright for me to just talk?” Darcia wondered.
1363
1364“I think it’s alright. You’ll be fine,” said Vandalieu.
1365
1366Darcia was overwhelmed by the priestess’s persistence, and so it was decided that she would give a sermon at the Communal Church. If she could increase the people’s belief in Vida in this city and convert more people to become believers, it was likely that she could slightly speed up the recovery of Vida in her Resting Grounds.
1367
1368And although Vandalieu had declined the offer of protection, it was a good thing to make more allies within the city of Morksi.
1369
1370On the fourth day of the food cart’s business, there was a small bit of trouble where a boy of about the same age as Vandalieu attempted to steal the food cart’s money, but was stopped by Fang.
1371
1372“Why did you go out of your way to try to steal from us, even though we have a guard dog?” Darcia asked him.
1373
1374“I thought it would be easy to steal from a skinny dog, a naïve woman and a spaced-out child!” the boy shouted.
1375
1376Apparently, that’s how it was.
1377
1378But during this conversation, a nun from an orphanage came looking for the boy.
1379
1380“I’m sorry, this boy ran away from the orphanage and did such a thing…” she apologized.
1381
1382“I already wrote that I want to leave the orphanage! I’m ten, so I can do work on my own. I won’t be in your care!” the boy said defiantly.
1383
1384“You can’t expect anyone to read letters that look like wriggling earthworms that you scribbled on a wall! And stealing isn’t work!” the nun said, scolding him.
1385
1386The donations to the orphanage had become scarce, causing the nun to be unable to feed the children satisfactorily for some time. It seemed that the boy had chosen to reduce the number of mouths that needed to be fed by leaving the orphanage.
1387
1388It was a respectable thing to do, but it was also reckless. The nun apologized profusely over and over, and then took the boy away.
1389
1390 “Mom, I want to go and make a donation to the orphanage tomorrow. A box with Vida’s holy symbol on it, filled with food,” Vandalieu murmured as he watched them leave.
1391
1392“Yes, that’s a good idea… Come to think of it, I wonder if they believe in any gods?” said Darcia. “The girl who came to pick the boy up seemed to be a nun.”
1393
1394There were also several instances of the guard named Aggar who had extorted a bribe from Vandalieu visiting the food cart, attempting to approach Darcia in particular. But each time, he was glared at by Miles and his subordinates, forcing him to retreat.
1395
1396Kest, the honest rookie guard, visited once and bought a single skewer.
1397
1398“I understand your situation, so as a guard, I’ll just say one thing. Don’t lie too much,” he said, giving Vandalieu a light warning.
1399
1400And so, a week passed, and Vandalieu’s plan was going mostly smoothly other than the fact that neither Murakami or Birkyne had been detected by his information networks.
1401
1402Darcia’s sermon and Vandalieu’s donation to the orphanage were unrelated to his original goal, but these opportunities to create more believers of Vida were an unexpected blessing.
1403
1404And on the eighth day of the food cart being open, the reconstruction of Vandalieu’s soul was completed. Before going to restock on meat, he headed to the Tamers’ Guild, accompanied by his tamed companion Fang.Monster explanation:
1405
1406Skeleton Blade Emperor
1407
1408‘Skeleton Emperor’ is the highest confirmed race of Skeleton-type monster… and Skeleton Blade Emperor is one Rank above that.
1409
1410It is a fearsome Skeleton Emperor that commands Skeleton-type Undead. However, Bone Man’s master Vandalieu is an emperor, and Bone Man serves as his knight.
1411
1412Thus, he does not try to command and rule over Skeleton-type Undead. In the past, he had commanded the Undead army in the former Scylla territory, but it was apparently quite the shock for him to become an ‘Emperor.’
1413
1414Standing deeper in the frontlines of any battle other than his companion Knochen, he wields his blade fervently in order to increase his Rank and acquire a different race title.
1415
1416Naturally, this race is a new race to Lambda.“It has taken some time, but we have accomplished the task, Bocchan!” said Sam.
1417
1418Knochen let out a happy roar.
1419
1420“Vandalieu-sama, you have become even more wonderful than before!” said Tarea.
1421
1422“The skewer business and the conversion of more people into believers of Vida are going well too, everything is going smoothly!” said Kanako.
1423
1424Nuaza let out a happy shout. “I am honored to have taken part in this great task!”
1425
1426“Congratulations, Vandalieu. Show everyone your new form,” said Darcia.
1427
1428Amidst everyone’s cheers, Vandalieu stood up.
1429
1430His soul’s appearance was far cleaner than its previous form… the humanoid form with human body parts and fragments of the Demon King scattered all over its surface.
1431
1432From afar, he would appear to be a warrior or mage wearing armor and fur. But if one looked carefully, they would realize that he was far too thin to wear armor.
1433
1434And from up close, there was no way to conceal his grotesqueness. What appeared to be armor was actually a hard exoskeleton and carapace, and what appeared to be decorations were actually horns and compound eyes. What appeared to be a cape was actually wings and membranes, and what appeared to be his two legs were actually jointed legs that were organized into two bundles.
1435
1436The shield that his left arm appeared to be carrying was made from his bone that protruded through his exoskeleton and entwined with his carapace. And his clawed right hand was holding a staff that looked like a brain… If one looked closely, it was a sphere composed of countless brains that had their nerves wrapped around each other, and the shaft of the staff was a tongue that extended from that sphere.
1437
1438His head had a mouth with fangs protruding from it, enormous ordinary eyes, Demon Eyes, hair and horns.
1439
1440The inside of his body was visible through gaps in his joints; the blood vessels visibly pulsated, and his internal organs squirmed. From time to time, a strange-colored liquid would drip from Vandalieu’s eyeballs.
1441
1442And there was death-attribute Mana… constantly emanating from him like pulsating brain waves from deep within him, and circulating around him like blood.
1443
1444“It’s easier to move than before, so that’s very helpful. You did a great job, everyone,” said Vandalieu.
1445
1446“Words of praise. It seems that we have done well,” said Myuze.
1447
1448“Alright, three cheers to celebrate a job well done!” someone said from among the crowd.
1449
1450Everyone who had participated in the soul reconstruction task, the enormous Vandalieu and the countless small Vandalieus that had joined partway through all gave three cheers in celebration.
1451
1452 
1453
1454 
1455
1456 
1457
1458Waking up suddenly, Vandalieu looked at his Status and saw that his Mana had completely recovered.
1459
1460But he was suspicious and confused.
1461
1462“What’s wrong, Vandalieu? If you’re not feeling well again, you can have some of my blood,” said Darcia, who had been sleeping in the bed next to his.
1463
1464“No, that’s not it… My soul’s construction was finished in my dream, so I was wondering what all of the countless mes joining in the cheering were,” said Vandalieu.
1465
1466He pondered this question, unable to understand the current state of his soul, but after a minute, he decided that it wasn’t harmful so it wasn’t really important.
1467
1468At that exact moment, Heinz, who was receiving treatment in the Divine Realm of Mill, the goddess of slumber, heard a strange, distant, echoing roar.
1469
1470“What is this terrifying noise?!” he exclaimed.
1471
1472“A roar that echoes in my Divine Realm… Perhaps one of the remnants of the Demon King’s army who is related to slumber and dreams? No, it is likely to be… the roar of the Demon King who had joined forces with Vida, the one who defeated you and devoured Curatos-dono,” said Mill.
1473
1474“No, it’s too early! He really does exist in a realm beyond humans…!” Heinz murmured.
1475
1476The roar faded away, but Heinz’s trembling did not subside for some time.
1477
1478 
1479
1480 
1481
1482 
1483
1484《The Levels of the ‘Mana Enlargement,’ ‘Increased Mana Recovery Rate,’ ‘Enhanced Vitality,’ ‘Bloodwork,’ ‘Cooking,’ ‘Embodiment,’ ‘Super High-speed Thought Processing,’ ‘Demon King,’ ‘Group Thought Processing,’ ‘Group Control’ and ‘Soul Form’ Skills have increased!》
1485
1486《You have acquired the ‘Strengthened Attribute Values: Ruling’ Skill!》
1487
1488《‘Multi-cast’ has awakened into ‘Greater Multi-cast,’ and ‘Mana Control’ has awakened into ‘Precise Mana Control!’》
1489
1490 
1491
1492 
1493
1494 
1495
1496Seeing Fang place one paw in Vandalieu’s hand, then place the other paw in Vandalieu’s hand, lie down, stay, and stand up on his hind legs just as Vandalieu commanded, the Tamers’ Guild’s employee let out an admiring gasp.
1497
1498“Wonderful. To think that a boy who has not received instruction under another Tamer, and is keeping a pet for the first time, could train a slum dog, which is essentially a stray dog, in just one week!” he said.
1499
1500“… It’s because he’s very smart,” said Vandalieu, not very happy despite the Guild employee’s praise, though Fang barked happily.
1501
1502This was probably because he had experienced no troubles whatsoever teaching Fang tricks and training him.
1503
1504This was because Fang could immediately understand all of Vandalieu’s orders except for one. To Vandalieu, Fang was simply an intelligent dog.
1505
1506But in truth, Fang was not a particularly special dog. In fact, he could have been considered to be inferior to the average stray dog. That was why he had wandered behind the house that Vandalieu had bought, unable to feed himself.
1507
1508But after becoming Vandalieu’s pet, he received the effects of Vandalieu’s Guidance, and his Attribute Values were increased beyond those of any other dog. This was why he had become very intelligent.
1509
1510“It does indeed seem that the dog is clever, but… I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that you are a Dhampir?” said the Guild employee. “I have heard that Vampires possess not only the ability to transform into wolves and bats, but also the ability to use such animals as their familiars and control them freely.”
1511
1512“It’s true that Vampires can transform into wolves and bats, but the latter is superstition,” said Vandalieu. “Or maybe it’s simply the case that there are Vampires who were Tamers while they were still human.”
1513
1514“I see… Very well. You pass. I hereby acknowledge you as an associate member,” the Guild employee said, handing Vandalieu a registration card and a collar.
1515
1516A common misconception was that the Tamers’ Guild was a Guild only for those who tamed and used monsters, but this was not the case. Anyone who used any means to tame any non-human creatures was qualified to register.
1517
1518The term ‘Tamer’ was a broad one that included showmen who used monkeys in their shows, snake charmers who controlled snakes with flutes, and shepherds who skillfully managed their herding dogs and sheep.
1519
1520Of course, few such performers and shepherds did actually register at the Tamers’ Guild.
1521
1522Even though it was possible for them to register, they only tamed animals that couldn’t exactly be called familiars, so they could only become associate members at most. No matter how much experience someone had, no matter how skilled they were in taming wild animals, they would need to teach tricks to a Rank 1 monster to progress, and even then, they would still be below the newcomers.
1523
1524This system had been in place since a very long time ago, so those who tamed monsters were the ones with influence, and there were almost no benefits for those who could only tame animals, even if they did register.
1525
1526The only such people benefiting from registering at the guild were skilled coachmen or hunting dog trainers registering at the Guild and applying to be introduced to potential employment by nobles or rich merchants.
1527
1528“You are now an associate member. Are you planning to handle monsters? If you are merely using that dog as a guard dog for your food cart, then registration at the Tamers’ Guild is not necessary, and there is almost no work to introduce to someone who is merely good at handling dogs, so I think your registration would be quite meaningless,” said the Guild employee.
1529
1530“You’re aware that we are running a food cart. I thought that it was in a place that doesn’t draw much attention,” Vandalieu remarked.
1531
1532“Well, yes. It is a food cart run by a Dhampir and a beautiful Dark Elf in this country. It would be strange for it to not become a topic of conversation. If I wasn’t worried about upsetting my wife, I would visit the red-light district to have a look myself.”
1533
1534A week had passed since Vandalieu opened his food cart, but it seemed that he and Darcia had already become famous in the city… Darcia would soon conduct a sermon at the Communal Church, so in another week’s time, perhaps news of them would have spread to the nearby villages as well.
1535
1536“If you can’t think of any monsters that you can tame, isn’t registering actually disadvantageous?” the Guild employee asked, still looking confused. “The only difference is that you have to follow a lot of rules.”
1537
1538Guild members needed to follow a number of rules regarding the monsters and animals they tamed. But they were common-sense rules, such as having to pay a large fine when one’s tamed monsters or animals caused damage to others for no proper reason, so Vandalieu didn’t think that this was inconvenient at all.
1539
1540“Even if I’m just an associate member, registering gives me another form of identification,” Vandalieu said.
1541
1542“You don’t need identification since you’ve already made a temporary registration at the Commerce Guild… Ah, well, you might. That man has his eyes set on you. I see. No wonder a child with a temporary registration was allocated a spot in a back alley in the red-light district,” the employee murmured to himself, realizing that Deputy Guild Master Joseph of the Commerce Guild was harassing Vandalieu. “So that is why you have registered at our Guild as well, just in case. It is convenient for us, but unfortunate for you. But rest assured; even though he is a Deputy Guild Master, he would be unable to force you out of the Guild without a good excuse. And if things get too hard, you can always leave the Commerce Guild and rely on the Tamers’ Guild. As a Tamer myself, I’ll teach you the basics!” the employee said proudly.
1543
1544But having already become an associate member, if he were to show the Guild employee Pete and Kühl who were equipped inside him… or if he used less exciting examples, like the Demon Ducks and Capricorns in Talosheim’s farms, or the experimental animals that had recently mutated into monsters, he would become accepted as a Tamer without being taught the basics.
1545
1546But he was sincerely happy at the man’s kind words, so he just nodded.
1547
1548“Thank you. I’ll count on you if the time comes,” he said.
1549
1550“Ah, if there’s anything you want to talk to me about, tell one of the employees to pass on a message to Guild Master Bachem!” the man added.
1551
1552… It seemed that the man Vandalieu thought was a mere employee was actually the Guild Master of the Tamers’ Guild.
1553
1554He had likely taken over the desk after hearing that the rumored Dhampir had appeared at the Guild.
1555
1556Fang gave a suspicious sniff.
1557
1558“… Alright,” said Vandalieu, deciding not to focus on becoming a Tamer.
1559
1560In reality, he tamed far more powerful monsters than this good-natured Guild Master.
1561
1562 
1563
1564 
1565
1566 
1567
1568After attaching a collar to Fang, Vandalieu headed to the butcher to stock up on meat to use for his grilled skewers.
1569
1570“Your Majesty, is Isla-san going to be okay with this?” asked Princess Levia, glancing at the collar of the proud-looking Fang with a worried expression.
1571
1572“Isn’t this dangerous around Eleanora? Bellmond too,” said Orbia.
1573
1574Isla, who was currently infiltrating the city’s criminal organization, was a Vampire Zombie who had remained low-key for three years after she became an Undead in order to acquire the ‘Eclipse Emperor’s Hound’ Title and receive a collar. Eleanora and Bellmond were Vampires who had showed great effort and dedication in order to receive collars from Vandalieu.
1575
1576But surely even they would not be jealous of Fang, who was actually a dog… though nobody could be certain of this.
1577
1578But Chipuras was glaring at Fang, his jealousy practically glowing.
1579
1580“This dog wears a collar that I, Chipuras, the former ‘Fine Dog’ of the Five Hounds, am no longer able to wear…!” he groaned.
1581
1582He had also been a Vampire when he was alive, one of Isla and Bellmond’s colleagues.
1583
1584“Chipuras, your tone has not quite become unpleasant, but control yourself. I’ll tell Isla and the others when they come to the house, so it’s essentially fine,” said Vandalieu.
1585
1586“Boss, are you trying to say that things are not actually fine?” said Kimberley.
1587
1588“I think I’ll look for a good opportunity to invite them here, and thank them for their hard work,” Vandalieu whispered.
1589
1590If I make collars out of Spirit Silver, would Ghosts be able to wear them? he wondered as he entered the butcher’s store.
1591
1592Though it was called a butcher’s store, the store that Vandalieu was using was actually a meat wholesale store that was used by business owners as well as ordinary customers. The scene inside was rather graphic, with uncut meat hung from hooks descending from the ceiling and employees using knives to carve chunks of meat as their customers had ordered.
1593
1594“Excuse me, could I please have some meat to be used for skewers? I’d like Horn Rabbit and Giant Rat, as well as Giga bird meat if you have it,” Vandalieu said to one of the store’s workers.
1595
1596He was making the same order as last time, and the workers knew his face, so this wouldn’t cause any problems. The store’s manager would tell him, “Here you are,” and hand him meat wrapped in dried leaves or skins, and Vandalieu would pay him in exchange.
1597
1598That’s what should have happened.
1599
1600But today, the store manager had a sour look on his face, and he made no effort to wrap any meat.
1601
1602“… Sorry, we’re sold out,” he said.
1603
1604“Sold out?” Vandalieu repeated. “Then what is that Giant Rat meat that’s hanging over there?”
1605
1606“Th-that’s… reserved for another customer. Can’t sell it to you!”
1607
1608“Then what about that Horn Rabbit thigh there?”
1609
1610“Th-this was butchered by a rookie and it’s damaged! I can’t sell it to customers!”
1611
1612“Then could I please have that wild boar meat over there?”
1613
1614“Th-that’s left over from yesterday! It’s gone bad! I can’t hand it to you!”
1615
1616“Then I’ll take that bear meat over there, even though bear meat has a distinct, unusual flavor that makes some people dislike it.”
1617
1618“That’s… Wait, why can a kid like you tell different cuts of meat apart?!” the store manager demanded.
1619
1620“Even if you ask me that, I can only answer that I can because I can,” Vandalieu replied calmly.
1621
1622Perhaps attempting to make the best use of limited ingredients and funds in a new environment had been a good experience for Vandalieu; his ‘Cooking’ Skill had recently risen to Level 8. He was skilled enough to be able to work at a first-rate restaurant.
1623
1624He might not have been able to recognize ingredients that he had never seen before in his life, but it wasn’t hard for him to tell apart meats that he had experience in preparing before from their external appearance and the blood vessels that were left.
1625
1626Perhaps realizing this, the store manager’s face was twisted in a complicated expression.
1627
1628“… The cuts we have in stock now aren’t really rare, but you can tell them apart, huh, kid,” he sighed.
1629
1630But it seemed that he had no intent of fulfilling Vandalieu’s order.
1631
1632“I’m sorry, but I can’t sell you our meat. If this was the only butcher’s store in the city, I’d tough it out, but there are other butchers around. I can’t go against him,” he said, hanging his head. “That’s how it is. This isn’t something that an adult should be doing to a kid like you, but…”
1633
1634Vandalieu stared at the top of the man’s lowered head for a few seconds, and then lowered his own head in return. “I understand. I’m sorry for being so demanding.”
1635
1636And with no further complaints, he quietly turned to leave the store.
1637
1638The store manager hastily called out to him. “The other butchers will be no good, too! The same might apply for the fish markets, too. But maybe things might work out if you talk directly to the Adventurers’ Guild. We stock our meat from the Adventurers’ Guild as well as hunters!”
1639
1640“I see. Thank you,” said Vandalieu.
1641
1642He stepped out of the store, patted Fang who was waiting for him outside, and headed for the Adventurers’ Guild.
1643
1644“Your Majesty, what is going on?” asked Princess Levia.
1645
1646“I think Joseph’s harassment has gone a step up,” said Vandalieu. “He’s put pressure on every wholesale store so that they won’t sell any ingredients to me.”
1647
1648“Huh?! Isn’t that really bad?!” Princess Levia exclaimed in shock.
1649
1650“Van-kun, the guards! Let’s report him to the guards! If you can’t be bothered with that, I’ll just drown him!” said Orbia, enraged.
1651
1652“No, I think reporting him would be pretty pointless,” Kimberley said, trying to calm Orbia down. “This Commerce Guild Deputy Guild Master is definitely used to doing things like this. I have no doubt that he’s made sure not to leave any paper trails that could be used as evidence. Even for the old man running the butcher’s store, he probably just sent a messenger to verbally threaten him not to sell Boss any meat.”
1653
1654“If he has done that, then he can simply pretend that he knows nothing in the event that an investigation actually happens. I used such methods often myself,” Chipuras added.
1655
1656“Chipuras-san…” Princess Levia said quietly, sounding disappointed.
1657
1658“That is how it is, so, Vandalieu-sama! Let us make the decision to dispose of Joseph! He is harassing us without hesitation; it is clear that he intends to force us into a situation where the food cart cannot operate, and make us fail the review!” Chipuras insisted.
1659
1660“Well, I will add ‘probably’ just in case, but I do think it’s almost certainly the work of Joseph and his underlings, but…” said Vandalieu, nodding.
1661
1662There was only circumstantial proof, but Joseph was probably the only one who could pressure stores that sold food ingredients but not the Adventurers’ Guild.
1663
1664“But it’s not like we will be able to buy ingredients again right away after we bury Joseph… Even if we killed him and had Isla take his place with ‘Shapeshift,’ it would be troublesome having her constantly keep up a convincing act,” said Vandalieu. “And if something were to happen to Joseph, the first person the investigators would suspect is me, the suspicious Dhampir,” he added.
1665
1666He was fully aware of how suspicious he was, which was why he advocated for continuing to leave Joseph be.
1667
1668“In terms of appearances, it would be best for something to happen to Joseph after we’ve put this city behind us,” he said.
1669
1670“… Very well. After all, there are no problems if we procure ingredients from the Adventurers’ Guild,” said Chipuras. “It may become somewhat more expensive, but we simply need to provide Miles with plenty of money in advance for purchasing skewers.”
1671
1672“You’re right,” said Orbia. “If we just bear with it for now…”
1673
1674“He’s the one who is in a pitiful situation,” Kimberley said with an evil cackle.
1675
1676“Everyone, please suppress your bloodthirst. It’s making Fang nervous,” said Vandalieu. “And it would be troublesome if some adventurers were to take notice.”
1677
1678Vandalieu reached the Adventurers’ Guild, and he had Fang wait outside once more. There was a general rule that tamed creatures could not be taken into Guilds.
1679
1680Fang, who still hadn’t lost his hatred of humans, let out a dissatisfied whimper. But this was something that couldn’t be helped.
1681
1682“Orbia, please stay with Fang,” said Vandalieu.
1683
1684“Okay!” said Orbia, turning to Fang. “Look, I’m with you, so don’t worry about anything,” she whispered in his ear while still keeping herself invisible.
1685
1686Leaving Fang to her, Vandalieu entered the Guild.
1687
1688It was near noon, so there weren’t many people in the Adventurers’ Guild. Even so, perhaps because there were many who had heard the rumors of Vandalieu, the adventurers looking at the commission board and employees behind the counter turned and looked at him curiously.
1689
1690But thanks to this fame, there were no adventurers who came to pick a fight with Vandalieu, which was fortunate because he was currently accompanied by a group of Ghosts in bad moods.
1691
1692Vandalieu picked one of the receptionists at random and approached.
1693
1694“Welcome to the Adventurers’ Guild. Please state your business,” the receptionist said.
1695
1696“Hello, I want to buy some meat for consumption. Do you have any leftover meat?” Vandalieu asked, showing her his temporary registration card from the Commerce Guild.
1697
1698“I’m sorry, at this time of day, meat is a little…”
1699
1700The receptionist’s response was unfavorable. Vandalieu and his companions thought for a moment that Joseph had somehow put pressure on the Adventurers’ Guild as well, but… it seemed that it was just a matter of it being the wrong time of day.
1701
1702Naturally, the meat sold by the Adventurers’ Guild was meat that was hunted and brought in by adventurers. Many of these adventurers accepted requests in the morning and returned to the city before the sun set. Thus, the Adventurers’ Guild’s wholesale store would only become stocked with meat in the afternoon. It wasn’t even noon yet, so it was too early.
1703
1704There were some adventurers who would return in the early hours of the morning, but it was too late to buy the meat that was brought in by those adventurers.
1705
1706Meat was a raw product, so the Adventurers’ Guild made an effort to trade it to other wholesale stores and restaurants before it spoiled. As a result, there was no substantial inventory of meat left.
1707
1708“Then is it possible to purchase the parts that are brought in as proof of monster extermination?” Vandalieu asked the receptionist.
1709
1710He had given up on acquiring ordinary meat, and was wondering if he could get his hands on the monster parts that adventurers handed in at the Adventurers’ Guild as proof of having exterminated the monsters.
1711
1712Most monster parts used for this purpose were ears, tails, pointed tips among other things that were not suited for consumption, but were rather used for alchemy. But considering that the food carts of the slums served Goblin and Kobold ears, as well as meatballs containing things such as minced Giant Rat tails, it was possible to purchase them.
1713
1714This would save the Adventurers’ Guild having to purchase the fuel necessary to dispose of them by incineration, so it apparently sold these parts almost for free as a charitable gesture.
1715
1716Vandalieu had once wondered how the Adventurers’ Guild told apart the races of the monsters that such ears had belonged to, and what the Guild did with the ears once it purchased them. This was the answer to one of those questions.
1717
1718“I’m sorry. The buyers for those are already decided,” the receptionist said.
1719
1720It seemed that there was already an existing arrangement for the sale of these parts. Even though they were parts intended only as proof of extermination, and sold almost for free, there wasn’t an unlimited supply of them. Thus, a list of buyers was decided in advance, and the parts that were brought in were divided evenly among them.
1721
1722“Umm… Would you like to make a commission?” the receptionist suggested. “If you’re lucky, I think you might be able to acquire some ingredients within a few hours.”
1723
1724“I’m grateful for your suggestion, but that would be difficult,” said Vandalieu.
1725
1726There were almost no adventurers currently inside the Guild. Even if Vandalieu were to make a commission, there wouldn’t be any adventurers willing to rush out to acquire Giant Rat and Horn Rabbit meat within such a short timeframe, especially since they wouldn’t even be paid much for it.
1727
1728It would probably be possible if Vandalieu were to offer an abnormally high reward for it, but… that expense would have to be written in his ledger, which would be bad for when the ledger was inspected in spring.
1729
1730“Thank you. I’ll come back if I need anything else,” said Vandalieu, giving a bow and turning to leave.
1731
1732“We will be eagerly awaiting your next visit,” the receptionist said.
1733
1734Vandalieu stepped outside.
1735
1736“What shall you do? Will you keep the food cart closed for today and come back to buy ingredients in the afternoon?” asked Princess Levia.
1737
1738“Or will you change plans entirely and go with the Tamers’ Guild? Unlike the Commerce Guild’s employees, the Guild Master seems friendly,” said Chipuras.
1739
1740“No… That would kind of make it seem like I’ve lost to Joseph, which feels bad. This food cart business that we’ve all started together can’t stumble over a small bit of harassment like this,” said Vandalieu. “Let’s get some ingredients, even if we have to do it by force.”
1741
1742 
1743
1744 
1745
1746 
1747
1748That day, Kest was watching the city’s gate, unable to shake off a bad feeling that he had right now.
1749
1750When he had taken over for the senior guard Aggar, who had been on morning duty, Aggar had been in a strangely good mood. Kest had even heard him disturbingly mutter, “With this, that woman will be mine soon.”
1751
1752By ‘that woman,’ surely he doesn’t mean Darcia-san, the woman who was Vandalieu’s mother? I think that even Senpai wouldn’t dare to try and lay his hands on a woman that someone as big as the ‘Starving Wolf’ has got his eyes on… No, wait, are Darcia-san and Vandalieu really alright when the ‘Starving Wolf’ has his eyes on them?! Kest wondered to himself. But as long as they’ve got their food cart open in that spot, they can’t help but get involved with the ‘Starving Wolf’… Ah, I’m so powerless.
1753
1754Though Kest was focused on his duties, his thoughts were in turmoil.
1755
1756“… Kest, do something about your ears and your tail,” one of the other guards warned him.
1757
1758“Huh?! Ah, I’m sorry!” Kest said, hastily straightening out his ears and tail.
1759
1760It seemed that they had given away the anxiousness in his mind.
1761
1762“Well, there’s nobody passing through at the moment, so it’s fine… Wait, there are some people passing through,” said the other guard, who was a serious superior unlike Aggar.
1763
1764Kest turned around and saw a boy pulling a cart… Vandalieu, the source of his troubles, and a dog that he had seen before.
1765
1766“Hello,” said Vandalieu.
1767
1768“V-Vandalieu-kun?! W-what’s the matter? Has something happened?!” Kest asked, flustered and worried that Vandalieu had finally broken under the harassment he was receiving and was now leaving the city.
1769
1770“Calm down, you’re still on duty!” the senior guard warned him, then turned to Vandalieu. “… Are you leaving the city?” he asked.
1771
1772“Yes, to fill up my stocks a little,” said Vandalieu.
1773
1774Kest looked down at Vandalieu’s cart and saw that it contained no belongings of any sort; it was completely empty.
1775
1776“Ah, stocking up for your food cart. I see, I thought… No, never mind. Make sure not to stray too far from the highway. And sometimes Goblins and other weak monsters come out even in ordinary grasslands and woods, so be careful. No matter how trustworthy your guard dog is, don’t let your guard down,” said Kest.
1777
1778Fang looked at Kest and gave a few barks.
1779
1780Kest interpreted these as “Leave it to me!” and patted Fang’s head.
1781
1782“Take good care of your master,” he said.
1783
1784“Kest, I know he’s an acquaintance, but check his identification before you let him out,” the senior guard sighed.
1785
1786Vandalieu showed the senior guard his two pieces of identification.
1787
1788The guard raised his brows in surprise. “You have not only a temporary registration card at the Commerce Guild, but also an associate membership at the Tamers’ Guild? I’m surprised you managed to tame something in such a short time,” he said. “If you belong to the Tamers’ Guild, the toll fee is reduced by five Baums, whether you’re a full member or an associate member. Since you’re underage, you can pass for free. Make sure you’re back before the sun sets.”
1789
1790“Yes, thank you,” said Vandalieu, giving a small nod as he took his identification cards back.
1791
1792With that, he left the city, dragging his empty cart behind him.
1793
1794“By the way, he said he’s filling his stocks… What does he need to stock up on?” the senior guard asked Kest as he watched Vandalieu leave.
1795
1796“Herbs for his sauce, I think,” Kest assumed. “It has quite an unusual flavor… He’s probably going to harvest the herbs for it somewhere.”
1797
1798“I see. The Dark Elf’s rumored secret sauce, huh. Maybe I should go and buy one of those skewers sometime,” the senior guard said with a nod, satisfied by this explanation.
1799
1800 
1801
1802 
1803
1804 
1805
1806But meanwhile, Vandalieu was headed not for the grasslands, but the Devil’s Nest closest to the city.
1807
1808Morksi was a commerce city; it didn’t have wide open farmlands. Thus, its food was supplied through purchasing large quantities of it, as well as hunting and gathering.
1809
1810A part of that was hunting in the Devil’s Nests. In fact, the city of Morksi had been originally built in this location that was close to multiple Devil’s Nests for the purposes of harvesting their resources.
1811
1812“Now then… we can’t be too far away from the city, so I suppose I’ll make this lake and forest into a Devil’s Nest. I’ll have to re-examine the surveillance around the city later,” said Vandalieu as he loosened Fang’s collar and held his hand out towards him.
1813
1814Fang gave Vandalieu a confused look, panting with his tongue hanging out.
1815
1816“Well, Fang, the experiment is coming to an end. Thanks to you, I’ve learned that animals will not transform into monsters by spending a week living with me in a human society. So… we’re moving onto the next experiment,” said Vandalieu.
1817
1818He extended his claws and made a cut on his own arm.
1819
1820Blood welled up and began dripping onto the ground.
1821
1822“This is an experiment to see if ordinary animals that were not born through Undead reproduction experiments will be transformed by a part of me.”
1823
1824Fang sniffed Vandalieu’s blood-covered arm a few times, then began licking the blood up.
1825
1826Once he was finished, creaking noises began coming from his body.
1827
1828Becoming much more physically huge than he was before, Fang let out a powerful roar. The loosened collar fit his neck perfectly now.
1829
1830Giving a satisfied nod, Vandalieu patted Fang in thanks, and then directed him deeper into the Devil’s Nest.
1831
1832“It seems that your mutation has gone well, so shall we do some Leveling while we hunt?” said Vandalieu.
1833
1834Fang, now the size of a large-breed dog, gave a proud bark then ran off in excitement.
1835
1836“Ah, wait for me,” said Vandalieu, calling after him.
1837
1838 
1839
1840 
1841
1842 
1843
1844With a bark and a growl, Fang leapt out of the brush to attack the monster that was his target… A Giant Horn Rabbit.
1845
1846The monster raised its horns and charged at Fang in return.
1847
1848Giant Horn Rabbits were monsters that had progressed from Rank 1 Horn Rabbits, and they had the exact same appearance except that they were as big as large dogs.
1849
1850They also changed from an herbivorous diet into an omnivorous one upon their Rank increase, but they were cowardly monsters that ate mainly insects and small animals as well as plants like ordinary Horn Rabbits.
1851
1852But the horns on their heads were sharp and solid. Being stabbed by them could be fatal.
1853
1854In self-defense, the Giant Horn Rabbit swung its horns at Fang, who was about the same size as it.
1855
1856Fang barked and flinched as the horns struck the side of his face. The Horn Rabbit was surprised that its desperate attack had landed, but it decided to use this opportunity to neutralize its attacker. Lowering its horns, it began to charge.
1857
1858Its powerful hind legs tensed with strength.
1859
1860But Vandalieu ran onto the scene.
1861
1862“‘Sharp Tongue.’”
1863
1864His ‘Unarmed Fighting Technique’ martial skill… his extended, sharpened tongue, pierced the Giant Horn Rabbit’s head and ended its life.
1865
1866Fang whimpered.
1867
1868“Bad boy, Fang. We came here to hunt everyone’s dinner and ingredients to use for the skewers. What are we going to do if you eat the monster?” said Vandalieu, scolding Fang.
1869
1870Fang’s seniors came out from inside Vandalieu to tell him off as well.
1871
1872“Don’t go leaping out when you’ve never fought a monster before,” said Quinn.
1873
1874“Don’t get… carried away,” said Eisen.
1875
1876Pete made some disappointing clicking noises.
1877
1878Fang whimpered, and his ears drooped.
1879
1880“I know that you can feel the power filling you up. But no matter how powerful you are, you can’t win if you have no experience. Watch everyone else except me to learn and gain some combat experience,” Quinn continued.
1881
1882“Quinn doesn’t fight herself… Do your best,” said Eisen.
1883
1884Kühl made some encouraging wobbling noises.
1885
1886“Quinn, Eisen. Kühl has finished draining the blood, so I’ll start disassembling the corpse,” said Vandalieu, seeing that Fang seemed to have learned his lesson. “Ah, Fang, please go and fetch the cart. I left it behind.”
1887
1888Fang gave a bark.
1889
1890And so, Vandalieu and the others began their tasks.
1891
1892Though Fang had mutated into a Rank 2 Demon Dog, life had only just begun for him.Rock, an adventurer based in the city of Morksi, was busy hunting that day with the same D-class adventurer party that he was always with, the Iron Boulder Brigade.
1893
1894Rock and his companions had been regularly visiting this Devil’s Nest since their adventurer school days; it was a familiar hunting ground for them.
1895
1896“Alright, let’s go home after we bring down a few more monsters,” he said.
1897
1898“Yeah,” agreed one of his companions. “We want to sell the ingredients before sunset.”
1899
1900The value of materials sold to the Adventurers’ Guild didn’t change based on the time of day. However, the Guild employees certainly appreciated receiving meat and other food ingredients before the time of day when wholesalers would fill their stocks.
1901
1902“Since I have a debt to the Guild, I have to show them that I’m earning good money,” Rock added.
1903
1904“It’s just so unlucky that your old man got so badly injured right after you bought your new weapon,” said another. “Rock, apparently there’s going to be a beautiful Dark Elf giving a sermon at the Communal Church. How about you go and pray the bad luck away?”
1905
1906Rock gave a grim frown. “Hey, are you trying to say that my old man’s injury was punishment for not being devout enough? You know I pray to the gods in gratitude every time I hunt monsters.”
1907
1908“You should pray to gods other than the god of soldiers and the god of thunderclouds,” said his friend. “And according to the rumors, the Dark Elf is apparently a real beauty.”
1909
1910“Not interested. If I have the time to attend something like that, I think it’s more worthwhile to go on a solo Goblin hunt –”
1911
1912The party’s light conversation was interrupted by a loud, echoing howl coming from a short distance away.
1913
1914“Did you hear that?!” He asked his companions.
1915
1916“Yeah, it’s nearby… Over there!”
1917
1918They braced themselves, picked up their belongings and headed towards the source of the sound.
1919
1920They were greeted by the scene that they had imagined.
1921
1922A gray-furred dog that was larger than a wolf. The fur around its mouth was stained with fresh, crimson blood. At its feet was a boy lying face-up, his neck covered in blood.
1923
1924The boy’s eyes, which were turned towards Rock and his companions, were lifeless and empty.
1925
1926“A Demon Dog… We were too late,” Rock muttered.
1927
1928Demon Dogs were Rank 2 monsters, dogs that had been transformed by corrupted Mana. They were only about as physically strong as wolves or perhaps a little stronger, and they had no special abilities. Even rookie adventurers who had only recently become accustomed to battle could defeat them.
1929
1930And since dogs rarely wandered into Devil’s Nests, such monsters were few in number.
1931
1932But Demon Dogs were even more aggressive to humans than wolves, never mind ordinary dogs, and they did not falter even when wounded. Every year, rookie adventurers lost their lives to these beasts after letting down their guard.
1933
1934And Demon Wolves would let out a howl of victory and joy after killing a human. Rock and his companions had rushed over here after hearing a howl, but…
1935
1936“What the hell is the Adventurers’ Guild thinking, letting a child go hunting on his own!” one of Rock’s companions shouted, enraged.
1937
1938“Don’t say that. Once someone has chosen to become an adventurer, anything that happens to them is their own responsibility, whether they’re a rookie or a child. It’s his own fault for underestimating the monster,” said Rock, but he raised his sword and shield nonetheless.
1939
1940The Demon Dog let out a low growl.
1941
1942“But we need to at least avenge him,” said Rock. “This is quite the end to our hunt, but –”
1943
1944“Umm, excuse me. Don’t be so hasty. Aren’t you misunderstanding something here?” said Vandalieu.
1945
1946“This is part of our duty as adventurers… Wait, did the corpse just talk?!” Rock shouted, jumping back in surprise.
1947
1948“I’m alive. I’m not a corpse. I was just playing around with my familiar,” Vandalieu said, still lying on the ground as he looked up at Rock and his companions.
1949
1950Through several hunts, Fang had successfully hunted Giga birds… Rank 2 monster birds that used their fangs and talons as weapons, without the help of Vandalieu and the others.
1951
1952Being praised for this, Fang had let out a roar of joy, pushed Vandalieu down and began licking his face and neck despite still being covered in Giga bird blood.
1953
1954Right at that moment, Rock and his companions had arrived on the scene and misunderstood the situation.
1955
1956Vandalieu explained all of this to Rock and his party, who were all wearing looks of disbelief.
1957
1958“I-I see,” one of Rock’s companions muttered.
1959
1960Vandalieu was indeed alive, and although it was hidden from the view of Rock and his party by trees, there was a cart loaded with Giga bird corpses and other monsters that Fang had been hunting.
1961
1962And although Rock and his companions had realized it too late, Fang was wearing one of the collars sold by the Tamers’ Guild for familiars.
1963
1964Though they did feel some discomfort at the situation, there was nothing that called for suspicion and investigation.
1965
1966“Sorry for misunderstanding things,” said Rock. “Still, if there was a conspicuous Tamer like you at the Adventurers’ Guild, there’d be rumors of you everywhere, but I’ve never heard of you.”
1967
1968Tamer adventurers were rare. Though monsters varied in aggressiveness depending on their race, they were generally enemies of humanity, and yet Tamers made use of such creatures. They were far fewer in numbers than warriors.
1969
1970Vandalieu was a Tamer of just over ten years of age who had an unusual appearance and was capable of taming a Demon Dog. Rock thought that it was strange that there were no rumors about him as a promising individual.
1971
1972Even though I’m talking to him face to face, he has so little presence that it’s abnormal… Could it be that there are no rumors about him because he has no presence? Rock thought rather rudely.
1973
1974“That’s because I’m not an adventurer,” said Vandalieu. “I currently have a temporary registration at the Commerce Guild, and I’m an associate member of the Tamers’ Guild.”
1975
1976“You’re not an adventurer?!” Rock said incredulously. “An associate member of the Tamers’ Guild… Could it be that you tamed this Demon Dog today?!”
1977
1978“No, Fang is a stray dog from the slums. We came to this Devil’s Nest today, and he mutated into a Demon Dog,” said Vandalieu, telling the truth but not all of it.
1979
1980Rock and his companions opened their eyes wide in shock.
1981
1982“He only just became a monster?! That’s… amazing,” said Rock.
1983
1984In all honesty, it was difficult to believe. But Rock did not have the knowledge he needed to deny Vandalieu’s not-entirely-true explanation… his claim that Fang had been an ordinary dog, and mutated the moment they entered this Devil’s Nest.
1985
1986It was common knowledge not only to adventurers such as Rock and his party, but to all people in this world, that animals such as birds, rabbits and dogs could transform into monsters under the influence of corrupted Mana.
1987
1988But there were almost none who had actually witnessed this happening in person. Corrupted Mana wasn’t visible to the naked eye, and nobody knew just how much corruption animals could withstand.
1989
1990Mages and alchemists had tried to understand this process since ancient times, but their vague descriptions only stated that animals had individual differences in tolerance, and that it would also depend on the attribute and density of the corrupted Mana.
1991
1992Thus, there was nothing that could disprove a dog becoming a monster on the same day that it entered a Devil’s Nest.
1993
1994… Incidentally, there was no law to punish the owners of animals that happened to transform into monsters. They only had to take responsibility if such transformed monsters were to kill people or destroy property.
1995
1996“Well, maybe it got corrupted while eating Goblin or Kobold ears in the slums. And then once it came to this Devil’s Nest, it reached its limit and mutated,” said one of Rock’s companions. “Shall we get going, then?”
1997
1998“I guess so. Sorry for asking so many questions. Demon Dogs aren’t weak for Rank 2 monsters, but Rank 3 monsters and hordes of Goblins and Kobolds sometimes pop up around here. Be careful,” said Rock, assuming that Vandalieu relied entirely on Fang for hunting, as he seemed to be an unarmed person who wasn’t an adventurer.
1999
2000And then Rock’s party turned and left.
2001
2002“… We’re lucky they were good people,” said Vandalieu. “Well then, shall we start heading home as well?”
2003
2004Fang barked.
2005
2006“You want to pull the cart? That would make you seem more like a tamed monster to others, so it would reduce the chances of any future misunderstandings,” said Vandalieu, nodding. “Give me a moment.”
2007
2008Vandalieu quickly created a leash and muzzle to connect Fang to the cart with his ‘Thread Refining’ Skill.
2009
2010When they returned to the gate at the city of Morksi, Kest and his senior were shocked to see that Fang, who was pulling the cart, had turned into a Demon Dog. They were also shocked to see that the cart was filled with disassembled monster corpses.
2011
2012“Y-you needed to restock on meat…” Kest muttered in astonishment.
2013
2014“Yes, though I did harvest some herbs as well,” Vandalieu told him.
2015
2016The cart also contained herbs for the sauce used on the skewers… To be more precise, the herbs that Vandalieu had grown inside him with the effects of the ‘Tree Caster’ Job, put in the cart after entering the Devil’s Nest, and was now telling the guards that he had picked.
2017
2018With this, if anyone were to try to investigate where Vandalieu had acquired the herbs he used, they would search the Devil’s Nest pointlessly rather than the people around Vandalieu.
2019
2020“Umm… Is this kind of thing allowed, Senpai?” Kest asked the senior guard.
2021
2022He wasn’t sure whether it was allowed for an underage person who wasn’t an adventurer to enter and hunt in a Devil’s Nest and bring in his spoils.
2023
2024The senior guard rubbed his chin. “It isn’t a problem. There aren’t any laws punishing it, so…”
2025
2026Of course, Devil’s Nests were inhabited by monsters, and they were dangerous. It was not a place suitable for underage people and ordinary civilians who were incapable of combat.
2027
2028But there was no law in the Orbaume Kingdom that forbade civilians from entering Devil’s Nests.
2029
2030Even without a law forbidding it, ordinary civilians did not normally enter Devil’s Nests.
2031
2032But there were also cases of new Devil’s Nests forming, and existing ones spreading. It also wasn’t uncommon for Devil’s Nests to appear no different from ordinary grasslands or lakes.
2033
2034It would be cruel to punish the villagers of a village in a forest or mountain that had become a Devil’s Nest, or travelers or victims who had accidentally wandered into a Devil’s Nest. That was why there was no law punishing such people.
2035
2036“There aren’t any taxes for goods from hunting in Devil’s Nests if you’re just bringing them in, either. But… in ordinary circumstances, I’d be giving you a stern lecture,” the senior guard told Vandalieu.
2037
2038“Yes, I’m sorry for making you think that I was just foraging for herbs rather than hunting,” Vandalieu apologized, lowering his head.
2039
2040The senior guard sighed. “You’re free to pass.”
2041
2042“We’ll let you get away with it because that Demon Dog was with you this time. If you go to a Devil’s Nest again, don’t forget to bring that Demon Dog with you,” said Kest, looking relieved. “And don’t take too long to go to the Tamers’ Guild to exchange your associate membership for a full one.”
2043
2044“Yes, thank you,” said Vandalieu.
2045
2046Fang gave a small bark.
2047
2048Vandalieu gave a small wave at Kest, quickly returned to his house, sorted out the stocking of his inventory and headed to the Tamers’ Guild with Fang, where he had registered as an associate member just that morning, this time to become a full member.
2049
2050“You have talent as a Tamer!” the Guild Master, Bachem, said fervently.
2051
2052But Vandalieu somehow managed to leave, telling him that it was time to open his business, and opened his food cart, just as he had done yesterday.
2053
2054“You’ve been busy today, haven’t you? Are you going to hunt in the Devil’s Nest every day from now on?” asked Darcia, who had been informed of Vandalieu’s visit to the Devil’s Nest by Chipuras.
2055
2056“Yes, I’m going hunting again tomorrow,” replied Vandalieu as he grilled the skewers. “We were limited on time today, so we didn’t manage to get much meat. And I also need to rethink this city’s security net. Tomorrow, I’m going to adjust the security net from the outside and hunt several days’ worth of meat, as well as some Goblins and Kobolds, Leveling Fang up in the process.”
2057
2058Fang barked in approval of this plan.
2059
2060“Do your best, both of you. But if you’re busy, I could go and hunt for you,” Darcia suggested.
2061
2062She didn’t have a membership card of any Guild, but the people of the city thought that she was a Dark Elf who had been living in a hidden village. If she were to hunt some monsters that D-class adventurers were capable of hunting, there would be more people who would assume that she was an exceptional hunter in her old village than people becoming suspicious.
2063
2064“That’s a good idea… Alright, then I’ll ask you to do that once Fang has Leveled to a certain point,” said Vandalieu.
2065
2066“Yes, leave it to me,” said Darcia.
2067
2068“One skewer, please,” a customer said, approaching the food cart.
2069
2070Even as Vandalieu and Darcia conversed, customers were coming to the food cart sporadically. During the week that it had been open, the skewers had gained a reputation as being delicious, and there were now customers other than people associated with the ‘Starving Wolf.’
2071
2072“That’s three Baums,” said Vandalieu.
2073
2074“Huh? You dropped your prices?” the customer asked in confusion; skewers had cost five Baums each up until yesterday.
2075
2076But he handed over three Baums and purchased a skewer nonetheless. On his way back to the main street, he examined his skewer suspiciously.
2077
2078The amount of meat hasn’t changed? No, it’s increased slightly. Then has the quality dropped? he wondered, having a bad feeling about the skewer.
2079
2080But the moment he took a bite of the skewer, he realized that he had been wrong. The flavor had clearly improved.
2081
2082“So delicious! It’s cheaper and the amount of meat hasn’t changed, so why does it taste better?!” he wondered incredulously. “I-I need one more!”
2083
2084Despite having almost returned to the main street, the customer turned around and bought one more.
2085
2086… Because I’ve changed the way I’m stocking meat, Vandalieu thought.
2087
2088He had not purchased the meat from a wholesale store; he had hunted and butchered the meat himself, so it had cost him nothing. And since Vandalieu and Fang were the ones who had worked to acquire the meat, there were no labor costs involved.
2089
2090Thus, he was making plenty of profit even while selling the skewers at three Baums each.
2091
2092And the reason the skewers had become more delicious was simply because the meat’s quality had improved. Yesterday, Vandalieu had used the meat of Rank 1 monsters such as Giant Rats and Horn Rabbits. Today, he was using the meat of Rank 2 monsters such as Giant Horn Rabbits and Giga birds.
2093
2094The taste of monsters’ meat and the usefulness of other materials harvested from them generally increased with their Rank. The difference between Rank 1 and Rank 2 monsters wasn’t drastic, but… that wasn’t the case with Vandalieu’s ‘Cooking’ Skill involved.
2095
2096Perhaps making good food from inferior ingredients was one way a chef could display his skill, but using better ingredients did produce more delicious dishes.
2097
2098“Why have your skewers become so delicious?!” the customer asked.
2099
2100“My ‘Cooking’ Skill Leveled up this morning,” Vandalieu told him, giving him the shortest feasible explanation possible, not having the time to explain all of that.
2101
2102“I see!”
2103
2104“You’re not going to tell him the details? It might be convenient for us later if Joseph gets a bad reputation,” said Orbia.
2105
2106If Vandalieu spread the news that Joseph had threatened every wholesale store in the city, his already-poor reputation would sink even further.
2107
2108But Kimberley argued otherwise. “Orbia nee-san, if we do that, the reputation of the butcher’s store that Boss was buying his meat at before will fall as well. We don’t want that, do we?”
2109
2110“Ah, you’re right. That person seemed like a good person,” said Orbia. “Then I suppose it can’t be helped.”
2111
2112Though it was a small thing, Vandalieu had taken into consideration the circumstances of the old man at the butcher’s store who had yielded to Joseph’s threats in order to keep his livelihood.
2113
2114As they were having this conversation, a thin, bearded man, wearing an overcoat that was dirty and torn in several places, approached the food cart not from the direction of the main street, but from the direction of the slum quarter.
2115
2116“Welcome,” said Vandalieu.
2117
2118“No, I’m not a customer… The name’s Simon, and the ‘Starving Wolf’ told me about yer,” the man said, lowering his head with a self-deprecating smile.
2119
2120It was difficult to tell how old he was because of his beard and how dirty his face was.
2121
2122“Ah, it’s you. Vandalieu, the person introduced to us by Michael-san is here,” said Darcia.
2123
2124“Nice to meet you. But what business you got with a half-dead geezer like me? I’ll gladly work for you if there’s work to do, but… don’t think I’ll be of any use,” said Simon, his self-deprecating smile growing even wider.
2125
2126“That’s not true,” said Vandalieu, shaking his head. “You still have your Adventurers’ Guild membership card, don’t you?”
2127
2128“Yes… You can find work as long as you have one of these even if you’re missin’ your right arm, after all.”
2129
2130The man named Simon, who had been introduced to Vandalieu by the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael, was a former adventurer. But before he could save up enough to retire, he had lost his dominant arm due to a severe injury and had become unable to fight.
2131
2132These days, he was barely managing to feed himself by doing day jobs that involved things like cleaning, the kind of jobs that only rookie adventurers would be doing. He was what was known as a straggler.
2133
2134“Then please go and sell these to the Adventurers’ Guild as proof of having exterminated monsters,” said Vandalieu.
2135
2136His task for Simon was to go to the Adventurers’ Guild and sell the body parts of the monsters he had hunted in the Devil’s Nest today that served as proof of having exterminated them.
2137
2138“Huh? Proof of extermination? Why would you go outta your way to have someone else sell ‘em? … You’d be able to sell ‘em right away, even with a temporary membership card,” said a bewildered Simon.
2139
2140Indeed, the Adventurers’ Guild would purchase any proof of extermination as long as the seller was registered. Surely there was no reason to go out of one’s way to seek out a failed-adventurer-turned-beggar to sell them.
2141
2142“None of us have one,” Vandalieu explained simply.
2143
2144The Adventurers’ Guild would outright refuse to purchase proof of extermination from those who were not registered.
2145
2146“Then you should just go and re – No, never mind. I’ll do it,” said Simon, still confused but realizing that Fang was glaring at him, and sensing that there was something in that gaze.
2147
2148He lowered his head, pushing his questions and confusion aside.
2149
2150He was likely mistakenly thinking that his life would be in danger if he became too interested in the matter.
2151
2152“Then here are the parts you need to sell. Please return after the Adventurers’ Guild buys them from you. Your share will be half of their buying price,” said Vandalieu.
2153
2154“You got it… T-this much?! I’ll go right away!” said Simon, his expression lighting up.
2155
2156He took the bag containing the proof of extermination and headed towards the Adventurers’ Guild, half-running as he left.
2157
2158The price for proof of exterminating Rank 1 and 2 monsters wasn’t anything extraordinary. But Simon had been able to tell that there was quite a large amount inside the bag, judging from how heavy it was. By selling such an amount, even if he received only half of the buying price, that would be several days’ worth of pay from day jobs. He wouldn’t starve for the next short while.
2159
2160Considering the simplicity of the task being asked of him, the amount that Simon was being paid was extraordinary. But the money that Vandalieu acquired from selling the proof of extermination wasn’t income earned by his business, so he couldn’t write it down in his ledger. It was meaningless money.
2161
2162Thus, his hiring of Simon was an act of charity, and he intended to donate the other half to an orphanage as well.
2163
2164“I hope this serves as an explanation for why we have plenty of money to the region’s lord who’s sent spies to watch us,” said Vandalieu.
2165
2166“I hope he believes that we were hunting monsters before we came to this city, and we saved up money to buy the food cart and the house by selling their materials,” said Darcia.
2167
2168The last reason for Vandalieu doing this was to decrease any suspicions that the region’s lord might have towards him by showing himself acquiring funds, even if the amount acquired was small.
2169
2170Just as Simon left, three human men in their thirties entered the back alley.
2171
2172One of them gave a small laugh. “I’m telling you, it’s true. The food cart will either be selling skewers without any meat, or it’ll have closed up. All we need to do is make sure that that’s the case.”
2173
2174“And then we’ll get paid by Joseph,” said another.
2175
2176One of the men was someone that Vandalieu and Darcia recognized.
2177
2178It was Aggar.
2179
2180Up until now, Aggar had only stared at the food cart from afar with a frustrated gaze, but perhaps gaining confidence now that he had people with him, he approached Vandalieu.
2181
2182“Long time no see, Vandalieu-kun, Darcia-san,” he said, a nasty smirk on his face. “Your business is – going well?! Why the hell are you still cooking meat?!” he shouted, his tone and expression changing completely as he saw that Vandalieu was still grilling skewered meat as he had done for the past week.
2183
2184“Hey, what the hell’s going on, Aggar?” one of the men with Aggar whispered to him, scowling. “This ain’t how it’s supposed to be. How come they’re doing business just fine?”
2185
2186“Yeah. The only thing you got right is that there’s a Dark Elf so beautiful you’d never think she’s got baggage with her, and that the kid looks really creepy,” whispered the other.
2187
2188“Why, you ask… This is a food cart that sells grilled skewers. I don’t think there’s anything strange about that,” said Darcia, answering his initial question.
2189
2190She was wearing a customer service smile, but it was stiff; she had noticed that there was something strange about the behavior of Aggar and his companions… She had good ears, and she was able to hear their whispered conversation.
2191
2192But it seemed that Aggar was unable to hear her words. His eyes darted about restlessly as he tried to think of an explanation.
2193
2194“That’s it!” he shouted suddenly. “You’re using that dog’s meat! You got rid of your guard dog and replaced your meat with –”
2195
2196Fang, who had been hidden in the food cart’s shadow, gave a series of fierce, angry barks. Aggar’s words could have caused serious damage to the food cart’s reputation.
2197
2198“What the hell?! Why is your guard dog alive, and why the hell has it grown bigger?!”
2199
2200Fang had been keeping out of sight of his own will, thinking that customers might be afraid to come to the food cart if he was visible from the main street. But he wasn’t able to ignore Aggar’s accusation.
2201
2202Though he was rotten, Aggar was still a guard. He didn’t fall over backwards in an unsightly way as Fang bared his teeth and barked at him threateningly; he immediately took a step back and put up his guard.
2203
2204“As you can see, Fang is alive and well. Aggar-san, it seems that you and your colleagues have come to the red-light district to enjoy yourselves after work, but… is there something inconvenient about the fact that there is meat at my food cart?” Vandalieu asked him as he glared at him with the Demon King’s Demon Eyes.
2205
2206But unlike the rich upstart that Vandalieu had glared at last week, Aggar and his companions did have some combat experience. Perhaps it was this that made them more resistant to the fear, or perhaps Vandalieu had held back too much. Their reaction wasn’t quite as drastic; they turned pale and their voices shook, but there was nothing more than that.
2207
2208“N-n-n-n-nothing at all. L-let’s leave, you guys!” Aggar said to his companions, and then he took off.
2209
2210“Alright!” one of them said, turning to run as well.
2211
2212“Wait for me!” said the other as he ran to catch up to the other two.
2213
2214“Should I have put a little more force into it?” Vandalieu wondered.
2215
2216“I don’t think you could have done any more,” said Kimberley. “It would have been more troublesome if they’d pissed or shit themselves or fainted right in front of our business.”
2217
2218“Those people… They were hired by Joseph, right?” said Darcia.
2219
2220“Eleanora and the others did tell us through the Demon King Familiar that one of Joseph’s family servants made contact with Aggar,” said Vandalieu.
2221
2222Aggar was simply a crook guard; his personality and abilities matched that profile. But among the members of the criminal organization, he was known as one of the convenient guards who would look the other way for a bribe.
2223
2224Joseph had likely paid him to carry out this excessive harassment on Vandalieu and Darcia.
2225
2226Aggar had brought people with him to see whether Vandalieu’s business, which should have been completely bare of meat, was still operating. On the off-chance that it was, they were intending to accuse him of selling bad goods and threaten him into closing down, obstructing the inspection that was required for his temporary registration to become a proper membership.
2227
2228… It seemed that Aggar’s two companions also intended to lay their hands on Darcia while they were here.
2229
2230“Would it not be wise to dispose of those three?” suggested Chipuras.
2231
2232“Hmm, it is indeed unpleasant, but when I think about whether it’s worth killing them for it… I’m not sure,” said Vandalieu.
2233
2234Joseph was abusing his authority as Deputy Guild Master to carry out this excessive harassment of his own will. But Aggar was a small fry who had been hired for small change.
2235
2236If Vandalieu were to bury Joseph, there wouldn’t be anyone similar replacing him for a while, but if he were to bury Aggar, similar small fry might appear again one after another.
2237
2238And although Aggar was a crook, he was still a guard. If he were to die a strange death or go missing, it was possible that a large-scale investigation would be carried out.
2239
2240“Yes… If he doesn’t cause a little more harm, it’s a little hard to decide,” said Darcia.
2241
2242If she were an ordinary woman, she would feel a sense of danger from Aggar. But although she found him unpleasant, even she didn’t think that he was worth killing. Her current body would be completely unaffected by any paralyzing drugs or sleeping pills, and she had enough strength hidden in her slender arms to beat an armored knight to death with a single blow.
2243
2244She didn’t really care about the interest that Aggar seemed to have in her.
2245
2246“Hmm, you’re right in saying that the guards might investigate Vandalieu-sama if we were to dispose of them,” said Chipuras. “Not that they would find anything. They should just stay quiet.”
2247
2248“They can’t do that, it’s their job… Speaking of jobs, they’re still there, aren’t they? The spies of the region’s lord,” said Orbia.
2249
2250“Then the region’s lord is aware of the harassment that we are receiving. He should do something, shouldn’t he? It’s a problem involving his own uncle and the guards of the city that he rules,” said Princess Levia.
2251
2252“You’re right about that. But Boss looks like he’s doing fine, so he might not make a move, thinking it’s not a big deal,” said Kimberley. “Hey Boss, maybe you should try looking at the window on the second floor of that building and saying, ‘This harassment is so tough.’”
2253
2254“… That would do nothing other than make fun of the spies, wouldn’t it?” said Vandalieu.
2255
2256As the conversation shifted from a discussion into light conversation, Fang, the only one who perceived Aggar as a threat, gave an unhappy bark.
2257
2258Fang seemed to be insisting that Vandalieu never go near Aggar again.
2259
2260“It’s alright, Fang. They can’t resort to direct violence. Power and authority are the only weapons both Joseph and Aggar have, and other than that, they’re unimportant,” said Vandalieu.
2261
2262Joseph was a Deputy Guild Master at the Commerce Guild, and uncle of the lord of the realm. Aggar was a guard. Both of them were using their positions to harass Vandalieu and Darcia.
2263
2264But Vandalieu couldn’t do too much to avoid the harassment. If he did, things would only become harder for himself.
2265
2266“Well, it’s only human to not notice or forget about those kinds of things… I need to be careful not to as well,” Vandalieu told himself.
2267
2268Fang gave a confused bark; why would Vandalieu need to be careful when he wasn’t a human being?
2269
2270What Fang didn’t understand, no matter how many times Vandalieu said it, was that he truly thought of himself as a human being.
2271
2272 
2273
2274 
2275
2276 
2277
2278In a Divine Realm far away from the city of Morksi, Vida, the goddess of life and love, sat at a table with her close brothers and sisters.
2279
2280“The reconstruction of his soul has been completed without problem. This week has been the period of greatest vulnerability for Vandalieu, but we can breathe easy again,” said Ricklent, the genie of time and magic, with a sigh of relief.
2281
2282“He may have been vulnerable, but there is no way for Alda and his followers to exploit that. With only a week available to them, even if his heroes were to make a move immediately after that battle, only the ones already in the Alcrem Duchy would have made it in time. The reincarnated individuals do not seem to be nearby either, and Birkyne is not the type to make hasty moves,” said Zuruwarn, the god of space and creation as he polished a magnificently decorated silver cup. “You worry too much, Ricklent.”
2283
2284“… Was there not a possibility of heroic spirits and gods descending directly upon the world?” said the gods’ newest sister… Gufadgarn, the evil god of labyrinths, formerly of the Demon King’s army.
2285
2286Though the other gods had gathered here with their original appearances, she alone was present in this Divine Realm in her vessel.
2287
2288“That wasn’t possible,” said Vida, shaking her head. “Even if the heroic spirits and the gods descended upon the city of Morksi to strike Vandalieu while he was weak, it would have been a wasted effort if you were to take Vandalieu and Darcia and teleport them inside the Boundary Mountain Range.”
2289
2290Considering the energy that was expended when gods and heroic spirits descended upon the world, they would have been on the verge of death afterwards. Knowing that Gufadgarn was constantly nearby Vandalieu, this was a plan that would have been impossible to consider.
2291
2292“And it’s unlikely that Alda and his followers would descend upon the world for a direct battle against Vandalieu; that would only happen if Vandalieu were to invade their Divine Realm,” said Ricklent. “Our brother Alda is trying to defeat Vandalieu under the pretense that it is for the world’s sake. But he would not risk destroying the world in order to achieve it.”
2293
2294Indeed, the gods were necessary for the maintenance of the world. Alda did not wish to risk the gods being destroyed or exhausted to the point that they would no longer be able to maintain the world.
2295
2296Of course, there was some room to work with, and even if there was some lack of gods, the world would still last for over a thousand years. But if the gods sustained more losses than they expected… in the worst-case scenario, the world could collapse and become extinguished within a matter of seconds.
2297
2298“But the world collapsing and evaporating within seconds would also happen if all of us were to be destroyed, so I think you really do worry too much,” said Zuruwarn.
2299
2300“It is you who is too optimistic,” retorted Ricklent. “More importantly, what is that cup? I have not seen it before.”
2301
2302“It is my personal cup. I am intending to drink cola from it,” said Zuruwarn.
2303
2304“… Vandalieu is busy; do not rush him so much,” said Ricklent.
2305
2306“Zuruwarn, cola is that sweet ale-like drink, isn’t it? Won’t a deeper container be better so that the bubbles don’t spill over?” said Vida.
2307
2308The serious, heavy-discussion atmosphere in the Divine Realm had loosened up all of a sudden.
2309
2310“Leaving that aside, the form of Vandalieu’s soul has been settled. It should be easier for him to utilize the power of the death attribute from now on,” said Zuruwarn.
2311
2312“His soul was distorted up until now, since Rodcorte just put it together carelessly… Well, his soul is still grotesque for a human’s soul,” said Vida.
2313
2314“It was likely an impossible task from the very beginning to reconstruct the soul of a single human from the broken soul fragments of four,” said Ricklent. “It seems that there were no problems on the surface on Earth, where humans do not possess Mana, but… he awakened to the death attribute in Origin, where magic does exist, and now that he has been reincarnated in Lambda, which has the Status System that I created, he is as we see now.”
2315
2316“Vandalieu’s death-attribute magic… His ‘Dark King Magic’ Skill is a Passive Skill. To him, the power of the death attribute is like his heartbeat or his breathing… No, it’s like his bones, muscles and organs. It’s a function that he can use unconsciously,” said Vida.
2317
2318Humans were capable of standing without understanding the structure of their legs, and their organs functioned even if they did not understand how they did so.
2319
2320The Status System had determined that the power of the death attribute was similar to these phenomena for Vandalieu.
2321
2322“Even in the event that Vandalieu were to be reincarnated again, the power of the death attribute is unlikely to ever leave his soul. That should apply even if he were to be reincarnated in a world without magic, such as Earth,” said Zuruwarn.
2323
2324“I am looking forward to what the future holds for him, but that means I can’t take my eyes off him,” said Vida.
2325
2326“Great gods, there is something I wish to confirm,” said Gufadgarn, who had remained silent up until now. “Has the reconstruction of Vandalieu’s soul really finished? There appears to be parts that have spilled over, and others that have separated into countless pieces.”
2327
2328Some fluids and eyeballs had overflowed and fallen off the enormous Vandalieu, creating a swarm of Vandalieus that varied in size between fitting in the palm of a hand to about three meters tall.
2329
2330It seemed that Gufadgarn was worried about this.
2331
2332“It’s fine. Those fluids and eyeballs are like an aura, or… something like the flames that Zantark’s body emits,” said Vida. “Also, the Vandalieus that aren’t a part of the main body are just separated from him to serve the role of familiar spirits and divine protections.”
2333
2334“They will likely appear in groups in the dreams of those with his divine protection and become one with them. They do not seem to be performing any work other than that at present, however,” said Ricklent.
2335
2336It seemed that the current state of Vandalieu’s soul wasn’t a problem.
2337
2338“I see,” said Gufadgarn, nodding as she put her trust in the judgment of the gods of this world.
2339
2340“Now then, Gufadgarn has finally allowed you into the Boundary Mountain Range, so I’d like to relax for a while, but… there’s so many things to do, like keeping an eye on Peria who should be reviving soon, searching for where Botin is sealed and trying to convert the people from Alda’s faction to ours,” said Vida.
2341
2342“We should leave that last task almost entirely to our followers,” said Ricklent. “Even if we send Divine Messages or appear in their dreams, humans’ choices are their own. That is how it should be.”
2343
2344“Yes, I must lead the priests in human societies properly now after having slept for so long… But there’s an unexpectedly small number of people who actually receive my Divine Messages,” said Vida disappointedly. “There are quite a few people who call themselves my followers but actually aren’t, too.”
2345
2346“I shall return to being Vandalieu’s shadow,” said Gufadgarn.
2347
2348The gods returned to their respective tasks, and silence returned to the Divine Realm once more.While Vandalieu and his companions were overcoming Joseph and Aggar’s insignificant schemes, a certain man entered a nameless bar between the red-light district and the slums with his drinking buddies… or rather, his subordinates that were posing as such.
2349
2350“Welcome…” a waitress said unenthusiastically.
2351
2352In addition to the unmotivated waitress, there was a strong-looking but amateur door guard, and a man who served as both bartender and chef, who talked constantly and yet was so unfriendly that it was incredible that he hadn’t been fired yet.
2353
2354Even the customers were the kind that were satisfied with drinks that had been diluted to mask the fact that the alcohol had been fermented for too long.
2355
2356“Your order? If you’re still deciding, I recommend the Slum Cocktail. It’s made from the leftover booze that we get given from other places, but tonight’s mix is a good one. You’ll be in paradise for sure,” said the bartender, talking on and on in a gloomy tone.
2357
2358“One special red wine and sheep cheese set, large,” said the man, placing his order without engaging in the small talk. “I’ll share it with my drinking buddies.”
2359
2360“… We’re out of that. We do have white wine and normal cheese, though,” the bartender said.
2361
2362“No, I want the red wine and sheep cheese,” the man insisted.
2363
2364“Very well. Follow me to the back room,” the bartender said, and with that, he led the men to a room with no windows and nothing inside except for a plain table and chairs.
2365
2366But one of the man’s subordinates pressed a button, and a staircase leading downstairs appeared in the middle of the floor.
2367
2368“Let’s go,” the man said.
2369
2370“Yes, ‘Venomous Snake’ Erkid-sama,” said the bartender.
2371
2372The man was the ‘Venomous Snake’ Erkid. Like the ‘Hyena’ Gozoroff, he was a somewhat well-known figure in the Alcrem Duchy’s underworld.
2373
2374And like Gozoroff, he was the boss of a lower branch of a nameless criminal organization. At the bottom of the stairs that led underground was the organization’s headquarters… At least, Erkid had been told that this was the headquarters, and this was where he met with the leader of the organization and the bosses of the other lower branches of it.
2375
2376There’s no guarantee that what I’ve been told is true information, and there’s no definite proof that the boss that I’ve met is the real boss and not a body double. I have to say, I’ve done well to place myself so deep in a mysterious organization, Erkid thought to himself sarcastically.
2377
2378But he felt no dissatisfaction towards the organization. There were many things that the organization provided – such as the cultivation of raw materials, their refinement into drugs, trade routes to sell the drugs, information on ongoing drug investigations.
2379
2380Naturally, Erkid paid the organization a large amount for these services, but… he was still left with plenty of money in hand.
2381
2382That was why he felt no dissatisfaction… or at least he hadn’t, up until just a moment earlier.
2383
2384As Erkid and his subordinates descended the stairs and proceeded through the corridor ahead, a woman appeared before them.
2385
2386“Welcome, ‘Venomous Snake’ Erkid-dono. The leader is waiting further inside,” she said.
2387
2388She was a Beast-kin woman that the organization’s leader had recently been keeping near him, and her name was Belle. It was rumored that she was both the head’s new secretary and lover. But Erkid thought that she was probably his bodyguard.
2389
2390The evening dress that was made of thin fabric and even had long slits on the sides, revealing her plentiful chest and the shape of her hips, looked like it belonged to a high-class prostitute rather than a secretary.
2391
2392But as Erkid looked at her hair that was too short to reach her shoulders, her sharp eyes and her posture that left no openings, Erkid told himself that she was about as similarly capable as himself.
2393
2394“But before you enter, may I ask what business you have with him?” Belle asked, winding her tail that was a defining characteristic of forest-monkey-type Beast-kin like herself, around her neck like a scarf. “I have heard nothing other than that it is an urgent issue.”
2395
2396But Erkid gave a weak smile and declined to answer. “Of course, I would not waste the head’s precious time. But it is an extremely important matter… so I would like to tell him directly, in person.”
2397
2398Belle stayed silent for a moment, and then let out a sigh. “… Very well, if it is insisted by none other than you, Erkid-dono. This way,” she said, giving up on getting any answers from Erkid and leading him and his subordinates further inside.
2399
2400The eyes of all of the subordinates except for one were fixed on Belle’s white back and her bottom, which bounced gently beneath her tail with every step she took.
2401
2402But Erkid suddenly stepped forward and forcibly grabbed Belle’s tail. Perhaps she couldn’t have even imagined that the boss of a lower branch of the organization would dare to do such a thing to someone who was the head’s secretary and lover; she made no move to avoid her tail being grabbed.
2403
2404But Erkid could see that her shoulders were trembling.
2405
2406“I don’t know if you’re the head’s favorite or something, but don’t be so full of yourself, you monkey bitch. How many women do you think the head’s used and discarded like trash? You’ll be joining them as soon as he gets bored of you. You should be sucking up to me while you can, so then maybe I’ll use you once you’re let go. I’ll be cutting this bothersome tail off you first, though,” Erkid snarled, pulling Belle’s tail a little as if threatening to pull it out, but then he let go.
2407
2408“… This way,” said Belle, attempting to continue leading Erkid and his subordinates as if nothing had happened.
2409
2410But Erkid and his subordinates didn’t fail to notice that the blood had drained out of her already-pale face, making it even more pale.
2411
2412Satisfied, a faint smile appeared on Erkid’s face once more as he continued following Belle, making no further attempt to touch her.
2413
2414Before long, they reached a large door. They hadn’t met any other members of the organization along the entire corridor.
2415
2416Though this place was called the headquarters, the boss was not always here, and the authorities would never enter this place, so there was no need for any guards or fighting forces to be present, though it was possible that there was a vault somewhere in here and there were accountants doing administrative work and Erkid just hadn’t been informed.
2417
2418Belle knocked on the door. “… It’s Belle. I have brought the ‘Venomous Snake’ Erkid with me,” she said.
2419
2420“Come in,” said a woman’s voice from inside.
2421
2422Behind the door, there was a large meeting room. However, there were only three silhouettes waiting inside.
2423
2424“Erkid, you said that it’s an urgent matter, but… you seem to be in quite the good mood,” said the old man who was sitting in a chair that resembled a throne.
2425
2426Though he had a white beard, it was visible even through his clothes that he maintained his body and kept it muscular. This was the leader of the organization.
2427
2428The two women standing behind him, one to either side, were his bodyguards.
2429
2430The woman on the right was a beauty; her body wasn’t quite as sensual as Belle’s, but it was attractive nonetheless. She was clearly older than Belle in appearance, but her skin had a glossy appearance to it that made it clear that her body was not declining. But she had a strangely faint presence; she didn’t give off any signs that she was alive at all.
2431
2432In contrast, the red-haired woman on the left was about twenty years of age, with a strict-looking, beautiful face. She was wearing leather armor that seemed to be made of a monster’s hide, and a longsword hung at her waist.
2433
2434And both of them were wearing chokers… or rather, collars. Erkid wondered if these two were slaves that the leader had acquired from somewhere.
2435
2436There was also an Elf girl standing behind the head. She had the plainest air about her of the three women, but she was a tidy-looking girl who could certainly still be called attractive. There were likely a good number of men who would prefer her over the red-headed, strict-looking woman and the somewhat gaudy-looking, middle-aged woman.
2437
2438But she wasn’t armed, so it didn’t look like she was a guard, and although she didn’t have a shabby appearance, she didn’t seem to be one of the head’s lovers. She wasn’t wearing a collar, either. Erkid had heard the rumors that this was one of the head’s illegitimate children that he had made with an Elf woman.
2439
2440After quickly examining the people in the room, Erkid quickly gave a bow before the leader would begin to suspect something.
2441
2442“Yes, I’m afraid… I have come to check on the organization’s management and personnel,” he said.
2443
2444“That is your ‘urgent matter?’” the leader asked.
2445
2446“But of course. Why have you put a hold on my plan to expand my drug business? The plan to take over a remote village and convert the entire village into a drug manufacturing factory… Was there something inadequate about this plan?” Erkid questioned.
2447
2448Erkid’s plan had been to use brute force to take over a distant village that was only visited by merchants once or twice a year, turn its inhabitants into slaves and use it for the cultivation and refinement of drugs. Of course, the Commerce Guild would pull some strings to switch the merchants out for those working for the organization, and trade drugs illegally under the pretense of ordinary business.
2449
2450If things had gone well, this would have resulted in the biggest drug-production operation in the Alcrem Duchy within a few years.
2451
2452The leader of the organization had suddenly put a hold on that plan. He had said that drug controls would become stricter or other organizations might interfere, and instructed Erkid to wait and observe the situation.
2453
2454Erkid’s intelligence network had found no information about drug controls being tightened or anything about other organizations.
2455
2456“I believe I have explained the reason. Do you not trust my command?” the leader of the organization asked.
2457
2458“I don’t. And that’s not all. The ‘Hyena’ Gozoroff is fairly quiet these days, isn’t he? And it seems that there are some other lower branches of the organization that are taking a break,” said Erkid.
2459
2460“… There are other circumstances that the other lower branches find themselves in,” the leader said in a somewhat flat tone. “Is there any reason for me to require your understanding of each of them?”
2461
2462The bodyguard women beside the leader were glaring at Erkid with dangerous looks in their eyes. The middle-aged woman’s almost-invisible presence was certainly not invisible now.
2463
2464“And… who is this ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael? It seems that you have left the surface work to him, but I’ve never heard of the man before,” Erkid continued. “From what I’ve heard, Belle over there and the wenches you have on either side of you are giving commands in your place. As things stand, I can’t trust you like I did before.”
2465
2466“Erkid, do not misunderstand. Whether or not you trust me is unimportant. Whether I trust you or not is. That is everything,” said the head.
2467
2468That was how things were in criminal organizations. But upon hearing the head’s words, Erkid hardened his resolve.
2469
2470“I see… Then I shall stop being your subordinate, starting today! Take this, you guys!” He shouted, facing his four subordinates and raising a hand.
2471
2472The ring on one of the fingers of his raised hand shone for a moment, and swords, axes and spears suddenly appeared.
2473
2474“An Item Box?!” Belle shouted.
2475
2476“Erkid-dono, you intend to betray us?!” one of the other women demanded.
2477
2478Erkid felt as if his heart was dancing in joy. The organization had changed too much in such a short period of time, and he could no longer trust it. With that being the case, there were only two options to ensure his survival – he needed to separate himself from the organization, or take control of it.
2479
2480He had made his preparations for this. He had gathered capable individuals, and since it was unlikely that he would be allowed to see the leader while visibly armed, he had purchased a Magic Item that would allow him to sneak weapons in.
2481
2482Three of the four subordinates he had brought were either C-class adventurers or fighters with fighting strength equivalent to C-class, who had either become addicted to drugs or fallen into debt.
2483
2484The other was a former B-class adventurer with a bounty on his head for evil deeds such as killing his clients who had made commissions, but he had slain many would-be bounty hunters who had come for him. He was known as the ‘Bounty Hunter Hunter’ Abel.
2485
2486Erkid himself was quite skilled. Even if he could not take over the organization this instant, he would be able to do severe enough damage for it to become unable to act for a while.
2487
2488He would use that opening to set up his drug-trading organization independently and make preparations.
2489
2490The scene before him promised the fulfillment of his ambitions… Erkid let out a triumphant laugh as he watched his subordinates swing their weapons down at the leader of the organization.
2491
2492“You women, if you surrender, I might spare your lives! I’ll keep you as pets, starting with Belle over there… Huh?” he uttered in surprise as he realized that the weapons of his subordinates, who were supposed to be strong enough to be C-class adventurers, hadn’t harmed the body of the organization’s head.
2493
2494“W-what is this?! A magical barrier?!” one of the subordinates shouted.
2495
2496“My special move, ‘Iron Sever,’ had no effect at all?!” yelled another.
2497
2498A transparent barrier had appeared, wrapping around the Elf girl… Melissa, who was standing behind the organization’s leader.
2499
2500“This leader isn’t really worth protecting, is he?” Melissa said casually.
2501
2502“I can’t maintain his Live-dead state if he’s too heavily wounded, so don’t say that,” said the leader.
2503
2504Erkid’s subordinates continued desperately trying to attack them, but they were all blocked by her ‘Aegis.’
2505
2506And Abel, who was Erkid’s trump card… had been struck down by the swords of the two bodyguards simultaneously, and was now collapsed on the floor, scattering blood everywhere.
2507
2508“Hey, why are you going for this one as well?!” the red-haired bodyguard said, looking at the middle-aged one.
2509
2510“Because he looked the strongest of them all, of course,” replied the other bodyguard. “Well, he was still a small fry, though.”
2511
2512“Well, whatever… Infinite Thrusts!”
2513
2514And with that, the red-haired bodyguard… Eleanora, performed a ‘Swordsmanship’ martial skill that unleashed an uncountable number of thrusts at an incredible speed.
2515
2516With their blood spraying into the air, Erkid’s subordinates collapsed onto the ground.
2517
2518“Ah! At least leave one of them alive! What are you going to do if my ‘Torture’ Skill gets rusty!” said the other bodyguard… Isla.
2519
2520“If your skill gets rusty because of something like that, then that means that was all there is to your skill,” said Eleanora. “Besides, the one you want to torture is that man standing over there, isn’t it?”
2521
2522“So cheeky… despite the fact that your ‘Swordsmanship’ Skill hasn’t awakened into a superior Skill,” Isla gloated.
2523
2524“Kuh, getting me right where it hurts! I feel like I’ll reach something if I go a little further, you know!” Eleanora protested.
2525
2526Having witnessed his subordinates being slaughtered helplessly, Erkid stood stock-still, dumbfounded. His brain was unable to keep up with the change in situation, and had stopped thinking entirely as a result.
2527
2528His subordinates had been a B-class adventurer with a bounty on his head and three men as capable as C-class adventurers. They should have at least been able to put up a fight; Erkid hadn’t even imagined that they would be massacred without even buying him any time.
2529
2530“It seems that you are unoccupied. Very well, I shall be your opponent,” said Belle… Bellmond.
2531
2532In his stupefied state, Erkid failed to avoid Bellmond’s tail wrapping around his leg like a snake.
2533
2534“What the hell, you ape woman?!” he shouted in surprise.
2535
2536In the next moment, Bellmond smashed him against the ceiling of the room with just the strength of her tail.
2537
2538A few seconds later, she struck him against the floor. And then back again. Erkid made several trips back and forth between the ceiling and the floor, gasping in pain each time.
2539
2540Erkid was very quickly turned from a young, aspiring boss of a drug-trading organization to a wounded man on the verge of death.
2541
2542Just as his face started to become unrecognizable, Bellmond stopped to take the ring from his finger.
2543
2544“I’ll take this,” she said, and then swung Erkid with her tail once more and let go of his twisted leg at the same time, sending him flying like a piece of garbage.
2545
2546The corners of Melissa’s mouth twitched, while Isla’s turned upwards in a smile.
2547
2548“Isn’t he dead? I thought we were supposed to take him alive,” said Melissa.
2549
2550“Melissa, he’s still hanging on to life. Once a person becomes a D-class adventurer, they don’t die so easily from things like this. It seems you’re still not used to how resilient the humans of this world are,” said Isla.
2551
2552Indeed, Erkid’s chest was still faintly moving up and down. It was likely that he could still be saved with a Potion or with magic.
2553
2554“… It seems that I can’t get rid of my habit of thinking of humans with the common sense that applies on Earth and in Origin, though I’m fine with monsters and you people,” said Melissa.
2555
2556“You haven’t experienced a lot of battles against people since you came to this world, so it can’t be helped. You’ll get used to it whether you like it or not soon enough,” said Eleanora. “More importantly, how is that Item-Box-ish ring?” she asked Bellmond.
2557
2558Bellmond examined Erkid’s ring for a few moments, then shook her head. “Unfortunately, it’s a low-quality Item Box. It is likely only capable of holding a few weapons, though it is still quite valuable.”
2559
2560“… He might have acquired it just because it was the right size to carry some weapons. It may be effective for surprise attacks,” said Eleanora. “Anyway, you seemed to be quite rough on him. What got into you?”
2561
2562“Yes, it was quite a relentless attack coming from you. It does seem that you held back, but… did something happen?” Melissa asked.
2563
2564“No, nothing,” said Bellmond, giving a smile as she wrapped her tail around her neck like a scarf once more.
2565
2566Hearing her answer, Eleanora and Melissa immediately knew that Erkid had managed to incur her wrath.
2567
2568It’s probably something to do with her tail, thought Eleanora as she made eye contact with Melissa.
2569
2570There’s no other explanation, thought Melissa, knowing that Eleanora was thinking the same thing.
2571
2572Meanwhile, a fluffy creature emerged from the back of the organization’s ‘leader’ behind them… The Demon King Familiar that had been controlling his mouth.
2573
2574“Well then, let’s heal this guy and question him, then use him when we destroy his organization,” the Demon King Familiar said. “Good work, everyone.”
2575
2576From a hidden door in the meeting room, the other members of the organization who had undergone surgery to transplant fragments of the Demon King into their bodies… Aberrations, including the ‘Hyena’ Gozoroff, emerged to carry their soon-to-be new brethren into the processing room.
2577
2578Erkid would not be punished by the law, but he was likely to continue an existence where he could regret his evil deeds for all eternity.
2579
2580“Incidentally, Danna-sama… Could you please stop this backstory of me being a secretary and lover?” said Bellmond. “Not that anything happened,” she added.
2581
2582The Demon King Familiar looked away. “I thought that less people would try to make a pass at you if we made you the organization leader’s woman, but… it seems that it didn’t work out.”
2583
2584Eleanora, Isla and Melissa nodded in agreement as the Demon King Familiar looked towards them.
2585
2586“I only got called out to once. Maybe people keep trying to find out information about the organization’s leader?” said Eleanora.
2587
2588Isla let out a disdainful laugh. “I was called out to five times. It seems that I have a different charm as a woman compared to a girl like you.”
2589
2590“If looking as if anyone could win you over with some sweet words is a charm, then perhaps so,” Eleanora said in retort.
2591
2592“… Girl, I shall accompany you in swordsmanship training in the form of a real battle. Make some room in your schedule.”
2593
2594“Don’t do that. If you two did training in the form of a real battle, this underground base would collapse,” said Melissa. “And I’ve always been staying close to the organization’s leader, so I’ve never been called out to or had men put their arms around my shoulders or waist… though for some reason, it seems that there’s rumors that I’m his illegitimate child.”
2595
2596“It might be best not to use this method from now on,” said the Demon King Familiar… Vandalieu.
2597
2598It seemed that when an organization’s unity loosened, the underlings looking to overthrow the leader saw his women as trophies.
2599
2600“Let’s think more carefully if there is another opportunity. Well, the rebellions seem to be over, though,” Vandalieu said.
2601
2602“Yes… because there are almost no lower branch leaders left. The only two remaining are the ‘Brown Rat’ and the ‘Vulture,’” said Bellmond.
2603
2604“Bellmond, why do they have even more unpleasant-sounding names than the ‘Hyena?’” What kind of people are they?” asked Isla, scowling in displeasure.
2605
2606As a Zombie, perhaps she disliked creatures that fed on the remains of the dead.
2607
2608“The ‘Brown Rat’ is an old man who is the boss of a group of beggars, and possesses his own information network. He is based in another commerce city, not Morksi, so he is unlikely to show his face,” said Bellmond. “The ‘Vulture’ controls the black market of stolen goods. He is not in Morksi either, so he will not show himself here.”
2609
2610“Perhaps we can say that the unimportant ones have survived. Incidentally, I wonder why all of the leaders of this organization have Titles named after animals?” said Eleanora.
2611
2612“Who knows. It could simply be that Titles named after animals that are well-known to many people are easy to acquire,” said Bellmond.
2613
2614“… This is a northern region. Are there even any vultures around here?” said Isla.
2615
2616There were no longer any human-hunters like the ‘Hyena’ Gozoroff, mercenary groups or assassin organizations left in the organization.
2617
2618Vandalieu and his companions had crushed them all.
2619
2620At first, Vandalieu had only intended to use the organization to gather information, but he had been unable to overlook evil plans such as Erkid’s plan to take over an entire village, so he had put a stop to them. When the leaders of the lower branches disobeyed or attempted to overthrow the organization’s leader like Erkid, they had been crushed.
2621
2622The only ones currently remaining were the ‘Brown Rat’ and the ‘Vulture.’
2623
2624“Sorry to change the topic, but you’re not going to use Blood Potion to treat the ‘Venomous Snake’s’ wounds, are you? It might be problematic if he were to turn into a Dark Human and escape,” said Melissa.
2625
2626She had directly witnessed humans consuming a part of Vandalieu, including Doug, and transforming into members of a new race. She seemed to fear that the same might happen in Erkid.
2627
2628“You don’t need to worry about that. We tested this on the people from the lower branches of the organization that we captured alive,” said Isla. “Even when they drank Vandalieu-sama’s precious blood and had the Demon King’s fragments directly implanted in them, they didn’t transform into a new race… though they did become Aberrations.”
2629
2630The result of transplanting materials made from the Demon King’s fragments into a living human was an ‘Aberration,’ a meat puppet that had no will of its own. They had received Vandalieu’s fragments like Doug and Luciliano had, but they were completely different beings.
2631
2632Perhaps remembering the screams of the victims as they transformed into these Aberrations, a smile of joy appeared on Isla’s face.
2633
2634“Yes, that’s how it was for the Aberrations that took away the ‘Venomous Snake’… so it’ll probably be fine. But I wonder what the difference is between him and Doug?” said Melissa.
2635
2636“… Don’t compare him to scum who would do anything to profit from selling drugs. If he knew, I don’t think he would like it very much, even if he knew that you are talking about his race and constitution rather than his personality,” said Bellmond.
2637
2638It seemed that she really considered Erkid to be absolute vermin.
2639
2640“The difference between them? That’s obvious. It’s whether or not they’ve received Vandalieu-sama’s guidance. Only those who have given their bodies and hearts to Vandalieu-sama can advance to a new stage!” Eleanora said animatedly.
2641
2642Before, Melissa wouldn’t have believed in such spiritual-sounding words.
2643
2644But she gave a nod. “Maybe you’re right,” she said. “Statuses exist in this world, and Guidances affect them, so spirituality isn’t limited to just the mind. It wouldn’t be strange if this affects whether someone mutates or not.”
2645
2646Perhaps sensing something dangerous in the way that Eleanora had phrased things, the Demon King Familiar’s fur quivered a little.
2647
2648“Melissa may be right, but let us not phrase it that way, Eleanora. It makes us sound like a cult,” Vandalieu told her. “And you don’t have to offer your body and heart to me, either.”
2649
2650“Well, Vandalieu-sama is humble as always,” said Eleanora, then her expression suddenly turned serious. “Moving onto another topic, the organization being manipulated by Birkyne isn’t making a move yet, is it? It has been a week since Vandalieu-sama made the fact that he is a Dhampir public. We should have heard some information by now.”
2651
2652Birkyne was Eleanora’s parent as a Vampire, the last of the Pure-breed Vampires worshiping Hihiryushukaka, the evil god of joyful life. He currently ruled over the Vampire organization of Bahn Gaia. It seemed that his organization’s influence hadn’t reached the city of Morksi, but it was almost certain that his subordinates were present in other cities in the Alcrem Duchy.
2653
2654Vandalieu had revealed himself in a commerce city where large numbers of people traveled to and from, so news should have reached Birkyne’s subordinates, but…
2655
2656“It seems that no Vampires have entered the city yet. I’ve turned a part of the city’s walls into surveillance Golems, and set up surveillance Undead around the city,” said Vandalieu. “The spirits haven’t found anyone suspicious either, other than the region lord’s spies and Joseph’s pawns.”
2657
2658“There isn’t anything in the information from the lower branches that are still active, either,” said Bellmond. “Eleanora, you should be the one who is most knowledgeable about the way that man thinks.”
2659
2660“You don’t know anything? You were his favorite, weren’t you?” added Isla.
2661
2662“That’s true,” said Eleanora with a bitter smile. “But although I was his favorite, I didn’t play a big role in the organization. It’s just that Birkyne supervised me directly. I didn’t even have subordinates. Maybe Bellmond wouldn’t know that, but you should, Isla.”
2663
2664“You say that, but… when I was alive, we were not aware of the circumstances faced by the other factions. And if you’re a leader in a high position like I was, you aren’t interested in someone who is merely Birkyne’s favorite,” said Isla.
2665
2666Though Eleanora had been said to have great promise, she was but a single Vampire. Perhaps this was the difference between her and someone like Isla, who had acquired a Title as a trusted confidant of a Pure-breed Vampire.
2667
2668As for Bellmond, she had spent most of her time after becoming a Vampire managing Ternecia’s safehouse at the underground lake. Naturally, she knew nothing.
2669
2670“It could be that he is having more difficulties than expected with reorganizing Gubamon’s faction now that Miles and the other main Vampires aren’t in it,” Vandalieu suggested. “Or perhaps… Birkyne’s subordinates are actually already inside the city. Ones that are not Vampires, don’t do evil deeds and are not even aware that they are working for him.”
2671
2672“I see,” said Melissa, nodding. “Someone sends a letter to a family member describing events in the city. The family member who receives this ordinary letter is already a subordinate of the Vampires, and leaks information to places they don’t intend. That kind of method, huh. That wouldn’t be caught by our information network.”
2673
2674“… That sounds like the kind of method that Birkyne would like,” said Isla. “It seems that he has narcissistic tendencies, so he would like tricks that make himself look clever.”
2675
2676“It was just a suggestion of a possibility,” said Vandalieu.
2677
2678“No, Vandalieu-sama. Now that I think about it, I don’t know how he found me when I was a slave who had been sold to a mine. It isn’t as if he gathered his subordinates from random places,” said Eleanora. “I think it’s certain that he’s hiding these human subordinates in places where people gather.”
2679
2680If she was right, Birkyne was already aware that Vandalieu was in the city of Morksi. With that being the case, he was almost certainly planning something.
2681
2682If that plan was to avoid and hide from Vandalieu in order to survive, then this plan was a failure, but… if he was planning to look for an opportunity to attack –
2683
2684“We need to strengthen our watch over the city after all. Everyone, please stay alert,” said Vandalieu.
2685
2686“Yes, Vandalieu-sama!” Eleanora replied.
2687
2688“… Ah, I forgot to ask. What are we planning to do about Joseph and Aggar?” asked Bellmond.
2689
2690“We don’t have time to deal with them, so we’ll leave them be. I don’t know if the Deputy Guild Master of the Commerce Guild can harass us any more than he already is, but I’m sure the region’s lord will do something if he goes too far,” said Vandalieu.
2691
2692 
2693
2694 
2695
2696 
2697
2698In a dark place, far away from the city of Morksi, Birkyne was reading a written report.
2699
2700“This is a good sign,” he murmured to himself.
2701
2702As Eleanora had guessed, he was aware that Vandalieu was in the city of Morksi. From the description of the appearance of the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael, he had realized that it was Miles, Gubamon’s former subordinate. He was also aware that Vandalieu was with a Dark Elf who went by the name ‘Darcia.’
2703
2704He had endless questions regarding this information, however.
2705
2706“So Miles has changed sides… but why is he able to walk in the sunlight? Perhaps he was using a spell or a Magic Item during the battle against the Fifteen Evil-breaking Swords to resist the sunlight for a short while, but he is lurking in the city’s alleyways in the middle of the day. Could it be that he has acquired the ‘Sunlight Resistance’ Skill like Valen did?” Birkyne muttered. “And the Dark Elf who calls herself by the Dhampir’s mother’s name. Who is she? The mother’s corpse was burned at the stake and turned to ash, so she is unlikely to be an Undead… Has he brought a similar-looking Dark Elf relative from his mother’s homeland? If so, what in the world for?”
2707
2708Despite being a Pure-breed Vampire with the knowledge that came with having lived for over a hundred thousand years, Birkyne wouldn’t have been able to imagine that Vandalieu had mutated Miles into an Abyssal Noble-born Vampire.
2709
2710But he did make a correct guess regarding the other mystery that he was pondering.
2711
2712“No, she must be the real mother. If Zakkart’s relics were hidden somewhere inside the Boundary Mountain Range, then the ‘Root of Life’ might have been preserved. So, he used that and resurrected her…”
2713
2714Before the battle between Vida and Alda, Birkyne had himself once been a Pure-breed Vampire who worshiped Vida. Thus, he could imagine to some extent as to what lay within the Boundary Mountain Range.
2715
2716“In that case, stirring up trouble with Vandalieu is not the correct move after all. I shall wait and observe for a while longer,” Birkyne decided.
2717
2718“Are you sure you should do nothing? Perhaps we could advance our plans, using our subordinates and sending in new humans under our control?” suggested his subordinate Mortor, a Noble-born Vampire who had been born as a Dwarf.
2719
2720“It is crucial that we do nothing,” Birkyne replied. “It is a coincidence that he appeared in the city of Morksi, but he has planned things so that his plans will succeed no matter where he carries them out. And even if we do nothing, my adorable puppet will draw closer to Vandalieu. Naturally, with pure, uncorrupted intentions. Vandalieu is good-natured. You know this from our investigations, don’t you? Even if I do not act, he will show compassion towards my puppet, save it, and become so close to it that he cannot abandon it even if he realizes the truth,” he said with a smile as he picked up his wine glass. “That is when we shall act,” he said as he emptied the glass of its crimson contents.
2721
2722Earl Isaac Morksi gave a scream upon hearing the report from his spies in his office.
2723
2724“What the hell is my stupid uncle thinking?!” he shouted. “Have the guard’s direct superior reprimand him! If he disobeys his instructions, I shall send him to another city! As for my uncle, I shall write him a letter! Hand him the letter directly, personally make sure that he has read it, and if he declines to read it or, gods forbid, he tears it to pieces without reading it, make up some charges for insulting the dignity of his lord and drag him here!”
2725
2726Drawn by the scent of the blood of multiple monsters, the Kobolds gathered.
2727
2728Horn Rabbits, Goblins, Forest Wolves, Slimes, Gluttony Goats, Impaler Oxen and Orcs.
2729
2730The smell of the blood of monsters of varying races and strength was coming from a single place. One could only imagine that this was the work of adventurers.
2731
2732Adventurers who had come to the Devil’s Nest to hunt were taking a break with the corpses of the monsters they had defeated left in a wagon or carriage.
2733
2734Having realized this, the Kobolds decided to swiftly attack the adventurers. As there was the scent of Orc blood in the air, it was clear that the adventurers were capable. But the Kobolds’ leader believed that the adventurers could be defeated if they were taken by surprise while they were tired and resting.
2735
2736What they saw was a wagon loaded with a mountain of monster corpses, and a white-haired child who was sitting down as if hiding.
2737
2738Believing that they were even luckier than they had initially thought, the Kobolds flooded in towards the cart.
2739
2740And the Kobolds were met by a large dog covered in a heat-shimmer-like aura.
2741
2742They shrieked as they were easily repelled, and the Kobold Soldiers’ weapons didn’t even scratch their foe. The heat shimmer around the dog distorted their vision as it leapt about, robbing the Kobolds of their lives one by one.
2743
2744Realizing that they would be exterminated at this rate, the Kobold General leading the pack roared an order for the Kobolds to take a tightly-packed formation.
2745
2746He had made the decision that if they protected each other and eliminated each other’s blind spots, they would be able to fend the dog off. The Kobold General’s order, and the Kobolds obeying it, was a fine demonstration of the fact that Kobolds were more capable of unified coordination than other monsters.
2747
2748At the very least, they were more well-coordinated than unskilled bandit groups.
2749
2750But with a loud bark, the large dog used the mass of crowded Kobolds as a jumping platform to leap at the Kobold General.
2751
2752The Kobold General let out a surprised yelp, but quickly roared in return as it activated the ‘Shield Technique’ martial skill, ‘Stone Wall.’ It attempted to use its shield to defend itself from the dog.
2753
2754But the shield, which had been looted from a human corpse, was unable to completely block the dog’s attack. It was deflected upwards, and the dog’s follow-up attack tore the Kobold General’s throat open.
2755
2756The dog let out a roar of victory, and the surviving Kobolds screamed in terror and began to run away after seeing their leader defeated.
2757
2758As if taking over for the Kobolds, the D-class adventurer party known as the ‘Iron Boulder Brigade’ appeared.
2759
2760“This is a Black Dog! A Rank 3 monster! It’s a dangerous one!” Rock shouted at his companions in warning.
2761
2762“Black? It looks gray to me… No, wait, Rock,” said one of Rock’s companions.
2763
2764“It’s not a matter of the color of its fur! That ‘Aura of Darkness’ that looks like shimmering heat is proof that it’s a Black Dog. It uses that to confuse the eyes of its enemies, erase its presence and strike from a blind spot to inflict a fatal wound… It might be Rank 3, but it’s more dreadful than a Rank 3 monster. There are a lot of D-class adventurers who fearfully call it a grim reaper’s servant,” said Rock. “It might be alone, but don’t let your guard down!”
2765
2766“That’s not what I was trying to say. Doesn’t that Black Dog look familiar? And the aura makes it hard to see, but it has a collar on. And… you,” Rock’s companion said, pointing at Vandalieu, who was sitting near the cart that Fang had been guarding. “Be faster to explain yourself. We’re at fault for giving you a fright as well, though.”
2767
2768“Sorry, I wasn’t meaning to hide,” said Vandalieu, lowering his head in apology.
2769
2770 
2771
2772 
2773
2774 
2775
2776The plan had been to hunt a large number of monsters to acquire the meat needed for tomorrow while also increasing Fang’s Level.
2777
2778Despite merely giving Fang commands to hunt monsters, Vandalieu gained Experience Points as well. But naturally, the one-tenth fraction of the Experience Points from defeating Rank 3 and 4 monsters was nowhere near the amount that he needed to Level up.
2779
2780But because he had become a ‘Bestower,’ he had begun to gain Experience Points whenever someone transformed into a member of a new race like Luciliano and the others. He had also acquired Experience Points when Fang mutated, so his Level had increased a fair amount already.
2781
2782The ‘Bestower’ Job might be surprisingly good for gaining Experience Points. And I gained quite a fair amount when Eleanora and Isla disposed of the ‘Bounty Hunter Hunter’ Abel, too… I heard that humans gain less Experience Points when killing another human, so it must have just been my imagination when I felt like I got a lot, even though it was only a tenth of what the kill was worth.
2783
2784Thanks to these circumstances, Vandalieu didn’t have to think about his own Leveling.
2785
2786But although he had originally intended to use up all of the time from the early morning until the afternoon, plans had changed due to various circumstances. He needed to strengthen the surveillance network that he had secretly set up around the city of Morksi.
2787
2788He was simply increasing the number of surveillance Golems and Undead, so it didn’t take too much effort, but it wasn’t a simple enough task to be completed in a matter of minutes.
2789
2790In order to lure a large number of monsters to them in a short period of time, Vandalieu had decided to drain the blood from all of the corpses of the monsters he’d hunted in one spot.
2791
2792The smell of blood drifting into the surroundings had lured starving monsters in. Fang had been using his physical strength that had been improved by Vandalieu’s guidance to hunt the monsters that gathered, with the occasional assistance from Eisen and Kühl.
2793
2794Naturally, his Rank had increased in the process.
2795
2796“A Black Dog… From what Rock-san and the others told us, it seems that you’re a rare kind of monster,” said Vandalieu, patting Fang’s head.
2797
2798Fang gave a happy bark. With the way he was wagging his tail, he looked like an ordinary large dog, especially since he was suppressing his heat-shimmer-like aura.
2799
2800According to Rock, this aura had the effect of instilling fear in humans; Black Dogs were troublesome monsters that attacked not only the bodies of their enemies, but their minds as well.
2801
2802“… It seems that monsters are more scared of me, though,” said Vandalieu.
2803
2804He had not realized it until recently, but he was even more terrifying to monsters than Fang was.
2805
2806He had been aware that Demon-type monsters feared him, but it seemed that this was true for low-Rank monsters in general.
2807
2808Just like herbivores would avoid carnivores, weak monsters would not approach Vandalieu unless they were starving to the point of insanity.
2809
2810And the majority of the monsters in the Devil’s Nest closest to the city were the weak kind that feared Vandalieu. That was why he had been staying near the cart with his presence erased during the hunts, though he would have shown his presence if too many monsters happened to gather.
2811
2812But that was why it had taken some time for him to deal with Rock and his companions when they arrived onto the scene.
2813
2814“We went a little overboard, didn’t we,” said Vandalieu.
2815
2816Fang gave a regretful whimper.
2817
2818Though they had prepared a large cart in advance, Fang had defeated too many monsters, and all of the meat and materials would not fit on it.
2819
2820After parting ways with Rock’s party, Vandalieu had decided to call Gufadgarn, create a connection in space and have her move the meat that would not fit on the cart to the house.
2821
2822“Pay it no mind. It is a joyful thing for me,” said Gufadgarn.
2823
2824Incidentally, the spies of the region’s lord did not follow them into the Devil’s Nest. This was likely to avoid being found by monsters and being noticed by Vandalieu as a result, something that they prioritized over keeping their eyes on him.
2825
2826“Still, is the Goblin and Kobold meat not unnecessary? I believe you could simply discard it after cutting off their ears,” said Gufadgarn.
2827
2828The majority of the meat that she had transported to the house was not for use in skewers, but meat that was unsuitable for consumption in the first place. This was meat that nobody would desire other than inhabitants of the slums who were unable to secure a meal for themselves for the day.
2829
2830“And if you are intending to donate something to the orphanage, would it not be better to offer something a little better in quality?” Gufadgarn added.
2831
2832Goblin meat was stinky and hard, and Kobold meat was hardly any better. They were not poisonous; meat was meat, so it would be better to eat it than nothing at all. The orphanage would happily accept it, considering that the nuns running it had been forced to cut down on the orphans’ meals and were unable to feed them properly.
2833
2834“No, I don’t intend to do that. I have other meat for donation. I was thinking of using this meat for Gobu-gobu or baked dishes,” said Vandalieu. “The owners of the food carts operating near us have been looking at us harshly lately, so this might be a chance.”
2835
2836“… I do not understand how the gazes of the owners of other food carts are connected to Gobu-gobu or a chance for us, but all will be as my master Vandalieu wills,” said Gufadgarn. “But may I say just one thing?”
2837
2838“What is it?” Vandalieu asked.
2839
2840“If you intend to continue hunting as you did today, I suggest that you bring more carts and also more members with you.”
2841
2842Fang vehemently objected to Gufadgarn’s suggestion with a series of sad barks. It seems that he took her words to mean that he alone was not enough. “That’s not right, Ane-go*,” he seemed to be saying.
2843
2844TLN*: Respectful term for older sister.
2845
2846But it seemed that Gufadgarn had no intention to imply this either.
2847
2848“Fang, we are brethren,” she said. “I am not saying that your strength is insufficient. I made this suggestion because the humans may grow suspicious otherwise.”
2849
2850Vandalieu and Fang were the only ones who were known to have gone out hunting today. At the very least, that was what the Iron Boulder Brigade and the guards at the city’s gate believed.
2851
2852On top of that, they were under the impression that Vandalieu was leaving the majority of the fighting to Fang. They would never imagine that he would participate in battles himself with magic or weapons.
2853
2854And then there were today’s results. They were likely surprised that Fang had defeated so many monsters that were of the same strength as himself, but at the same time, perhaps they would feel some apprehension.
2855
2856Fang gave a short bark of understanding.
2857
2858“I see,” said Vandalieu with a nod. “From an outsider’s perspective, it looks like I’m getting carried away and conducting dangerous hunts. You’re right in saying that leaving all of the fighting to just Fang would be worrying, even if he is a Rank 3 Black Dog.”
2859
2860There was no guarantee that monsters would always appear in groups one after the other, in small enough numbers. In fact, it would be more likely for multiple groups of monsters to appear at once, and some of them would attack the (seemingly) defenseless Vandalieu while Fang was fighting off others.
2861
2862Perhaps Rock and Kest would imagine such terrible scenarios. Kest was just a rookie guard, so even if he imagined these scenarios and worried about the danger, he would simply warn Vandalieu more and more. But Rock and his party were adventurers that hunted in the same Devil’s Nest.
2863
2864Perhaps they would ask to hunt together. Vandalieu might appreciate the sentiment, but… it would be very inconvenient.
2865
2866“Yes… and Mom still has her sermon… She will probably be asked to give more sermons from time to time from now on as well, so we can’t always be hunting together,” said Vandalieu.
2867
2868Darcia was busy today with her preparations for her sermon at the Communal Church tomorrow; it was likely that she only intended to give one sermon. But Vandalieu was certain that she would be asked to give more, because he was a mother-con who knew how attractive his mother was.
2869
2870Fang barked a few times.
2871
2872“Rita and Saria? Those two… I don’t know if people will believe that I’ve tamed Undead at this point,” Vandalieu replied. “But Eleanora and the others are in the criminal organization so I can’t have them act, and having Miles give us some bodyguards or recruiting companions at the Adventurers’ Guild would be pointless, since it would be just as inconvenient for us to hunt with them as hunting with Rock’s party… so I guess there’s no other choice but to ask Rita and Saria.”
2873
2874Deciding that there was no choice but to somehow convince Kest and the rest of the guards that Rita and Saria were humans, Vandalieu began thinking about how to do that.
2875
2876Gufadgarn opened another hole in space. “No, I believe we merely need the numbers to make it seem like we have a powerful party, rather than actually having a powerful party. So why not insist that you have tamed these during your hunts? They also happen to be monsters that appear in this Devil’s Nest,” she said. “Now then, show yourselves before our lord, my brethren.”
2877
2878From inside the hole, three monsters emerged, summoned by the evil god of labyrinths!
2879
2880 
2881
2882 
2883
2884 
2885
2886Having returned to the city of Morksi, Vandalieu explained his situation at the gate, purchased three additional collars from the Tamers’ Guild and completed his restocking for tonight.
2887
2888Accompanied by Darcia, Fang and the others, he visited the orphanage in the slums to make a donation and comfort the orphans.
2889
2890Vandalieu’s group approached the gate to the orphanage.
2891
2892“Hey everyone, the meat is here!” one of the orphans said in a lively voice as he spotted them.
2893
2894The orphans, who had been spending their early afternoon in the garden, immediately rushed towards them. Vandalieu had donated the unused meat from yesterday, so the orphans remembered him well.
2895
2896The boy with the lively voice, leading all the other orphans, was Matthew – the one who had previously attempted to steal from the food cart and been stopped by Fang.
2897
2898“Matthew! Make sure to call him ‘Vandalieu-san!’” said a nun, scolding the boy, then turned to apologize to Vandalieu and Darcia. “I’m so terribly sorry. My shortcomings have caused him to develop insufficient manners…”
2899
2900“It’s alright, Seris-san. Being lively is the most important thing for children,” said Darcia. “Vandalieu was just a little surprised… weren’t you, Vandalieu?”
2901
2902The nun was Sister Seris, the one who had come to pick Matthew up from the food cart.
2903
2904“Well, I would appreciate it if he called me by my name,” said Vandalieu.
2905
2906“I’m sorry. But that’s how we are, right?” said Matthew, clapping Vandalieu on the shoulder.
2907
2908“… Huh?” said Vandalieu.
2909
2910“What are you saying, we’re friends, aren’t we!” said Matthew, still grinning broadly.
2911
2912‘Friends.’ This word reverberated inside Vandalieu’s mind. Yes, ‘friends.’ Not an older friend like Kasim and the others, but a friend of his own age.
2913
2914“Yes, we are friends,” said Vandalieu.
2915
2916“Yeah, of course!” said Matthew, putting his hand on Vandalieu’s shoulder once more.
2917
2918He was getting rather carried away considering that he had initially tried to rob Vandalieu, but… at this moment in time, Vandalieu strongly considered him to be a ‘friend.’
2919
2920“Children make friends quickly, don’t they?” said Darcia, beaming.
2921
2922“I-is that so? Vandalieu-san’s expression isn’t changing and the tone of his voice is still flat… Isn’t he hating this?” asked Seris.
2923
2924“That’s not true. Vandalieu just isn’t very good at expressing his thoughts in his expression and his voice,” Darcia assured her. “Look, they’re having so much fun.”
2925
2926Seris looked back at Vandalieu to see that… Matthew and the other orphans were cheering at Vandalieu for him to show them his claws.
2927
2928“H-huh… A-are they?” said Seris, looking uncertain.
2929
2930It looked like bullying to her, but perhaps Darcia knew how her son was feeling inside because she was his mother. Seris had thought of herself as the children’s older sister, but she realized that she still had a long way to go.
2931
2932“Wow, they’re longer than I thought,” said one of the orphans.
2933
2934“Can they cut through anything?” asked another.
2935
2936“Yes, I can peel fruit very easily, like this,” said Vandalieu, demonstrating.
2937
2938“Oooooh!” the children exclaimed in awe.
2939
2940“Cutting the shell of hard fruit and scooping out the flesh inside is simple as well,” said Vandalieu, demonstrating further, as if he were showing a product on a shopping program.
2941
2942“OOOOOH!” the children exclaimed, even louder than before.
2943
2944Vandalieu didn’t feel that he was being bullied.
2945
2946“Hey, where did those fruit even come from?!” one of the orphans asked.
2947
2948“They were hidden in my sleeve,” Vandalieu replied.
2949
2950He had actually grown the fruit with the effects of the ‘Tree Caster’ Job mere moments ago.
2951
2952“Wow, can I eat this?” the orphan holding the fruit asked.
2953
2954“Go ahead,” said Vandalieu.
2955
2956“Thanks, Onee-chan!”
2957
2958“Wait, you’re a girl?!” asked Matthew in surprise.
2959
2960“I’m an Onii-chan. I’m a boy, Matthew,” Vandalieu told him.
2961
2962Despite having started to slowly develop secondary sexual characteristics, Vandalieu’s voice was still high, and he had no facial hair whatsoever. It seemed that the orphans had been unable to determine his gender.
2963
2964“Onii-chan, did you kill the monsters with those claws?” another one of the orphans asked.
2965
2966“No, Fang here is the one who mainly took care of them,” Vandalieu replied.
2967
2968The Black Dog Fang was introduced to the orphans.
2969
2970“He looks strong!” the children said.
2971
2972Fang, who disliked humans, didn’t give much of a reaction. But he stayed calm and sitting, still suppressing his aura, and none of the children became annoyed by this.
2973
2974“Then what about these huge rats over there?” asked Matthew, pointing at three very large rats that were about the same size as Fang, who was a large dog.
2975
2976One of the rats gave a squeak.
2977
2978They were Great Giant Rats, each of a different color – white, black and gray. They had round eyes, whiskers that acted like feelers, and long, thin tails. All three of them looked exactly like rats, except for their size.
2979
2980“That’s Maroru, Urumi and Suruga. They’re the Great Giant Rats that I found and tamed on the way home today,” said Vandalieu.
2981
2982These were the Rank 2 monsters that Gufadgarn had recommended.
2983
2984Of course, it wasn’t Gufadgarn who had caught and tamed them. All three of them were originally animals who had been born from Vandalieu and Luciliano’s experiments involving living animals mating with Undead, then transformed into monsters after drinking Blood Potion.
2985
2986“Stand in line,” Vandalieu ordered.
2987
2988Perhaps because the Great Giant Rats had been born from experiments involving the breeding of Undead and transformed into monsters by Blood Potion, they were firmly loyal to Vandalieu. On top of that, their appearance was exactly the same as ordinary Great Giant Rats; there was no way to tell that they had been born in unusual circumstances.
2989
2990And although Great Giant Rats were not as common as Goblins, they were still very common. Since Vandalieu had the precedent of having tamed Fang, there was nobody who could refute his claims of having encountered and tamed them by chance.
2991
2992Even Bachem, the Guild Master of the Tamers’ Guild, hadn’t shown any signs of suspicion.
2993
2994“Can we pet them?” one of the orphans asked.
2995
2996“Yes, as long as you aren’t too rough. Make sure not to pull on their whiskers or their tails,” said Vandalieu.
2997
2998The children began petting the quiet Great Giant Rats. They had grown up in an orphanage, so they were used to being around rats, but it seemed that they were very curious and interested about these enormous rats that would be taller than themselves if they were to stand on their hind legs.
2999
3000The Great Giant Rats squeaked and showed off their cute side to the children, rubbing their smooth fur against them.
3001
3002In other words, they were putting on a show.
3003
3004“So cute!” one of the children said.
3005
3006“Hey, didn’t these guys sound deeper when they squeaked earlier?” said Matthew, who was one of the older children, realizing that the lovable enormous rats were being sly.
3007
3008But the rest of the children were obsessed with the three rat sisters.
3009
3010Maroru and Urumi began letting the children ride on their backs, and the youngest of the rats, Suruga, went over to Fang and began slapping her tail against him.
3011
3012Fang let out a surprised bark. Suruga gave him a series of squeaks. Fang protested a little more, but he gave in and let out some soft, never-heard-before barks as he approached the children.
3013
3014It seemed that Suruga had told him, “We’re doing our best to show off our charm and win over these young humans, but you’re not doing anything even though you’re our senior?! You call yourself a male, curling up like that?!”
3015
3016Fang, who was above Suruga in Rank but lost when it came to appeal, reluctantly went to interact with the children.
3017
3018“Hey, did you see that?!” said Matthew, turning to Vandalieu.
3019
3020But for some reason, Vandalieu was doing push-ups with three young children sitting on his back.
3021
3022“What is it?” Vandalieu asked.
3023
3024It seemed that he wanted to show off the strength of a Dhampir.
3025
3026“Wow, you’re so strong even though your arms are so thin,” said Matthew. “You’d be fine even if Seris-neechan got on your back, right? Even though she probably weighs about ten times as much as you.”
3027
3028“Matthew, what are you saying?! There’s no way I’m that heavy!” Seris protested.
3029
3030“But I guess it’s impossible after all, since Nee-chan’s gotten fatter these days,” Matthew continued. “Ah, but I think you’d be fine with Vestra-neechan on top of you, since she’s thinner than Seris-neechan –”
3031
3032Seris and another nun of around the same age, with slanted eyes and a strict-looking face, quietly walked behind Matthew and took a hold of his cheeks.
3033
3034“Matthew, if you have the time to be saying silly things and saying mean things about Seris, you can help us carry the meat to the food storage,” said the nun named Vestra in a considerably blunter tone than Seris’s. “Seris, don’t get upset over every thing he says. You need to scold him.”
3035
3036“Vestra… Thanks,” said Seris. “I know what I need to do, but…”
3037
3038“Come on, Vestra-neechan! Even you were screeching when Rudo-niichan made fun of you in the past!” said Matthew.
3039
3040“The past is the past, and the present is the present! Go and help!” said Vestra sternly.
3041
3042“Okay then. Let’s go,” Matthew said to Vandalieu.
3043
3044“Yes, let’s get it done and out of the way,” said Vandalieu as he began carrying the food with Matthew.
3045
3046“Eh? Vandalieu-san, you don’t have to,” said Vestra, hastily trying to stop him.
3047
3048“She’s right! You’ve made donations two days in a row now; we can’t thank you enough as it is!” Seris protested.
3049
3050But Vandalieu diligently pushed the cart that was loaded with dried meat he had made quickly with magic and furs that could be used as blankets.
3051
3052“I’m strong, so don’t worry about it,” he said. “And you don’t have to add ‘-san’ to my name; both of you are older than me, aren’t you?”
3053
3054“No, you’re running a food cart… and you’re an amazing Tamer,” said Vestra.
3055
3056“Yes. In fact, you’ve got it together better than us,” said Seris.
3057
3058The two nuns began helping him push the cart. It seemed that they thought highly of Vandalieu having a temporary registration at the Commerce Guild and being a Tamer, rather than thinking about his age.
3059
3060“I guess boys have to work, after all,” Matthew sighed. “Hey, Vandalieu, teach me some taming tricks or how to fight!”
3061
3062“My taming is self-taught so I’m not very confident in it, but I can teach you how to fight,” said Vandalieu.
3063
3064“Matthew, don’t cause any more trouble for Vandalieu-san… Wait, you’re okay with it?” said Seris.
3065
3066As Vandalieu and the others headed towards the food storage, Darcia was talking to the head of the orphanage. Other than having an eye-patch over her left eye and being very thin, the head of the orphanage seemed to be a gentle, elegant woman.
3067
3068“I see, so this is Vida’s…” said Darcia.
3069
3070“That’s right. When this city was still developing, and the slums had begun to grow larger as if it were the city’s shadow, the first head of this orphanage built this building with his own private funds. ‘This is the place that needs the most love,’ he said. This building has a history to it, if nothing else,” said the head of the orphanage, smiling and pointing at the orphanage that had signs of having been repaired here and there. “I don’t think it can be called much of a history when talking to a Dark Elf, however,” she added.
3071
3072“No, I’m quite young.”
3073
3074“Is that so? You have such a dependable son, so I thought… I would certainly like to hear about how you educate your child.”
3075
3076“Oh no, I don’t do anything special. I’ve caused nothing but hardship for my son.”
3077
3078Darcia suddenly thought back to the days that she had spent with Vandalieu… and felt a little depressed at all the trouble that she had caused him.
3079
3080But this wasn’t the time to be feeling depressed. This conversation was not just to build a good relationship with the orphanage’s head, but also to gather information, so she pulled herself together.
3081
3082“More importantly, you don’t seem to have a good relationship with the priest of the Communal Church and the lord of the region,” Darcia said.
3083
3084The head of the orphanage seemed to not notice Darcia’s inner thoughts.
3085
3086“I suppose you can tell. The first head of this orphanage was a Vida fundamentalist, while the priest of the Communal Church is a member of Alda’s peaceful faction,” she said. “In the past, the entirety of the Alcrem Duchy was not a good place for Vida’s races to live in, and this orphanage took in Beast-kin and Titan orphans, so there weren’t good relations back then.”
3087
3088About three hundred years ago, there was a tragedy in which the daughter of the Alcrem Duchy’s duke lost her life to a bandit attack. The attack on the troop of caravans that she was with resulted from information that was leaked by a Beast-kin knight, and around half of the attacking bandits were members of Vida’s races such as Beast-kin and Titans.
3089
3090The duke, who loved his daughter dearly, did everything in his power to hunt bandits. At the same time, he exiled members of Vida’s races from public positions such as knights, guards and civil officials. He left a will to his descendants that members of Vida’s races must not ever hold public positions.
3091
3092Unfortunately, the duke had served as king of the nation for two terms, and was a righteous and beloved figure who had made the Alcrem Duchy prosper. Many of the exiled members of Vida’s races did not resist, believing that he would come to his senses one day.
3093
3094The next duke maintained his father’s policy out of the sadness he felt from losing his older sister.
3095
3096This policy had been continued until recently. Under the policy’s influence, Vida’s religion had grown less influential, with more of the Communal Church’s priests favoring Alda’s followers over the generations, causing the orphanage to become estranged from the Church.
3097
3098“As you can see, we have Beast-kin and Titan children here too,” said the head of the orphanage. “But that is because we have received support, albeit secretly, from the lord of the region over several generations. Though I do believe that it was for political reasons rather than out of compassion…”
3099
3100“You’re probably right,” Darcia agreed as she watched Fang and the rats play with the Beast-kin and Titan orphans.
3101
3102If Vida’s races were completely persecuted, there was a risk that they would unite and form a rebellion, and it would have also been problematic if they turned to crime because they could not afford to eat.
3103
3104But since the duke would not change the policy against Vida’s races, it was hard to support the orphanage openly. That was likely why the lords of the region in the past had done so in secret.
3105
3106“But then, wouldn’t it be possible to repair the relationship?”
3107
3108The entirety of the Alcrem Duchy now allowed members of Vida’s races to take up public positions. The wolf-type Beast-kin Kest serving as a guard was one example of that.
3109
3110But the head of the orphanage slowly shook her head. “It does not go very well. Even if the system changes, people’s hearts… We have had some disputes with Alda’s priest at the Communal Church.”
3111
3112“I see, that’s –” Darcia began.
3113
3114Unfortunate for the children, but convenient for us, she thought, finishing her sentence in her head.
3115
3116Darcia and Vandalieu were against Alda’s peaceful faction… or rather, against all of Alda’s forces. It was important for children to have ordinary lives without starving, but it would be strange if Vandalieu gained friends who were followers of Vida with good ties to Alda’s peaceful faction as a result of his support of the orphanage.
3117
3118In other words, I need to maintain the Vida fundamentalism in this orphanage, and pull the followers of Vida at the Communal Church towards us. I have to do my best at the sermon tomorrow! Darcia thought to herself.
3119
3120“Is something the matter?” the head of the orphanage asked.
3121
3122“No, it’s nothing,” Darcia replied with a smile.
3123
3124 
3125
3126 
3127
3128 
3129
3130That evening, while Vandalieu was making preparations to open the grilled skewer cart tomorrow, an incident occurred.
3131
3132The owners of the food carts on the same street gathered in front of Vandalieu’s food cart. There was an unusual air about them, so Fang revealed himself from the food cart’s shadow, and the Great Giant Rats were alert as well.
3133
3134“Umm, is something the matter…?” a bewildered Darcia asked the food cart owners.
3135
3136“Please, spare us!” one of the food cart owners said.
3137
3138“I’m begging you, please stop!” said another.
3139
3140The food cart owners bowed their heads, making Darcia even more confused.
3141
3142“The skewers at your food cart are delicious and too cheap! And the meat you used today was even bigger than yesterday. Don’t tell me you were using boar… Orc meat or Huge Boar meat!”
3143
3144“If you sell stuff like that at the same price, nobody will even take a second look at our meatball soup that has Goblin and Kobold ears in it, or our sandwiches with vegetable and meat scraps!”
3145
3146“We procure the meat ourselves so we don’t pay anything for it, and we do all of the butchering as well,” said Vandalieu, still continuing to cook his skewers. “That’s brought our prices down, and you’re feeling threatened as a result?”
3147
3148If even the poor residents of the slums could acquire delicious food for the same price, they would certainly choose the delicious option. And Vandalieu’s skewers weren’t just cheap; each skewer had a large quantity of meat.
3149
3150And as one of the food cart owners had guessed, today’s skewers had been made with the meat of the Orcs and other Rank 3 monsters that Fang had defeated. This was meat of a quality that would have been better suited for sale at a food cart on the main street near the entrance to the city or in a proper restaurant, not in a back alley that connected the slums to the red-light district.
3151
3152What the food cart owners said was correct. There was no way that their products, which relied on their quantity and cheap price to make up for their terrible flavor, could compete.
3153
3154“Yeah, that’s right! I’m sure you’re thinking that we should just set up business somewhere else, right?!”
3155
3156“You guys can only do business here because you’re on a temporary registration, but the rules of the Commerce Guild let us set up business anywhere, after all!”
3157
3158“But the reality is that you don’t have anywhere to go. Your current products won’t sell on the main street, and the other food cart owners might chase you out because your food carts aren’t a good look. But if you move deeper into the slums, you won’t get as many sales, so you can’t make a living,” said Darcia.
3159
3160“Th-that’s right! You guys probably think that we should just work harder to sell better food rather than the crap we’re making now, or buy new food carts to set up new businesses on the main street, or find some other job, aren’t you?!” the angry food cart owner shouted.
3161
3162“But if you could do that, you’d have already done it. It seems like you all have your own circumstances, too… Maybe you can’t do manual labor because you injured yourself when you were a mercenary or adventurer, or you can’t get any jobs because you don’t have an education or because you have a criminal record,” said Vandalieu. “You barely even get by from day to day, so you don’t have the funds to buy ordinary ingredients or new food carts.”
3163
3164“How the hell do you know all of that?!”
3165
3166The food cart owners whose circumstances matched Vandalieu’s guesses broke into tears. The rest of them were all wearing exhausted, miserable expressions.
3167
3168… Even Fang, who had been wary of the food cart owners at the beginning, was now looking at them with a pitiful expression.
3169
3170Incidentally, Vandalieu and Darcia knew of the food cart owners’ circumstances because their advisor Chipuras had told them that something like this might happen if they sold their skewers at too cheap a price.
3171
3172He had infiltrated human society as a Deputy Guild Master of the Commerce Guild and as a counsellor; one of his jobs had been to extend a helping hand to those who had stumbled in life, ensure that they had nobody to turn to other than him, and utilize them for various purposes.
3173
3174Thus, he could easily guess the circumstances of such people.
3175
3176“So, you know why we’re asking this of you, right?” one of the food cart owners said.
3177
3178“I’ve been courted by the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael, so you can’t do anything rash,” said Darcia. “I’m sorry. We didn’t intend to drive you people into a corner, but…”
3179
3180“It’s fine… Unlike the guy before him, Michael-san is a good guy.”
3181
3182“He only asks for space rent once a month, and he settles disputes properly.”
3183
3184“His subordinates make sure to pay for their food, too.”
3185
3186It seemed that the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael, or rather Miles, was respected by the inhabitants of the slums.
3187
3188“But since you understand our situation, we beg you. Putting the matter of the ‘Starving Wolf’ aside, your son is a talented Tamer who can tame monsters, isn’t he!”
3189
3190“I know you’re on a temporary registration, but even if that doesn’t work out, you can make a fine living by becoming an adventurer and hunting. If our businesses fail, we’ll end up dying on the streets!”
3191
3192“I thought you’d say that, so I’ve prepared another option for you,” said Vandalieu, pointing at the large stone vase that was on his cart.
3193
3194“Huh?”
3195
3196“I will teach you how to make a new product, so will you become a part of our chain… our affiliated stores? I just need you to mark your carts with Vida’s holy symbol,” Vandalieu told the bewildered food cart owners.
3197
3198This was the point where Vandalieu’s encroachment upon the inhabitants of the city of Morksi began to become visibly apparent.These are the three sister rats who were born from breeding experiments between Undead and living animals, mutated through Blood Potion, then increased their Rank.
3199
3200Their appearance is that of ordinary Great Giant Rats, but they acquired a variety of Skills around the time their Rank increased.
3201
3202During battle, they use ‘Armor Technique’ martial skills – ‘Stone Form’ to increase their defense and ‘Rapid Reaction’ to increase their reaction speed. They move quickly and use their tails like whips, and enemies who slip past their tails and get close are met with their front fangs.
3203
3204Of course, ordinary Great Giant Rats do not possess the ‘Status Effect Resistance’ and ‘Rapid Healing’ Skills.
3205
3206They are also far more intelligent than ordinary Great Giant Rats, and they worship Vandalieu as their creator.Darcia’s sermon at the Communal Church was a great success.
3207
3208I’m really glad they weren’t expecting anything too formal… I can’t memorize those bulky scriptures in just a few days, after all, Darcia thought to herself.
3209
3210Ordinary sermons at the Communal Church would have a priest of a different god come every day to teach their doctrines, tell anecdotes that were related to their teachings and tell stories of past heroes, creating a session that was both religious and served as leisure.
3211
3212Nobody, including Vida’s priestess, had expected Darcia to talk about the history of the religion or the ‘correct’ interpretation of her doctrine.
3213
3214It seemed that the priestess had sensed something about Darcia, but many of the people who had gathered here today had come to see the ‘rumored Dark Elf beauty’ and hear unusual stories.
3215
3216Indeed, the ratio of men to women among the people gathered in the Communal Church was considerably skewed towards the men.
3217
3218Some might lament the men’s impure intentions despite the Church being a place to come and listen to sermons, but it was only natural for the sermons of attractive clergymen and clergywomen to be popular.
3219
3220… Darcia did let out a sigh when she saw that Aggar, who was apparently off duty, and the men he had previously brought to the food cart, was among them. But she was happy when she spotted the faces of Kest, customers of the food cart, Seris, Vestra and the children of the orphanage. They were all interested in what she had to say.
3221
3222And although she didn’t know their faces, the adventurer Rock had been brought here by his companions in the Iron Boulder Brigade, and Bachem, the Guild Master of the Tamers’ Guild, had been brought here by his wife.
3223
3224The spies sent by the region’s lord were also among the audience.
3225
3226“Nice to meet you, everyone. My name is Darcia. Thank you for allowing me to come and speak to you all today,” said Darcia, greeting the crowd.
3227
3228She heard the audience whispering words of admiration amongst themselves. Many of these words were regarding her beautiful appearance and her serene, clear, wonderful voice.
3229
3230The voice training that she had received from Kanako was coming into play.
3231
3232“But I’m not a real clergywoman, so… I’ll be talking about the goddess’s religion of the village that I lived in, and the legends of the heroes related to that,” Darcia continued.
3233
3234She did not tell stories from the hidden Dark Elf village on the Amid Empire side of the continent; she described the religion of Talosheim and told of its legends, with some amendments here and there.
3235
3236She did her best to ensure that she would not sound like an extremist, but she also made sure to properly tell the audience of Vida’s original teachings.
3237
3238She did not want the audience to think that her teachings were similar to the mainstream teachings of Vida’s religion in the Alcrem Duchy, which were taught by those who had a friendly relationship with Alda’s followers.
3239
3240Needless to say, Darcia was an enemy of Alda, the god of law and fate… a Vida fundamentalist.
3241
3242But starting off with things like “Undead should be acknowledged” or “Alda is the true enemy, and reconciliation with him is unthinkable” wouldn’t win her the people’s support. She was aware that this would only cause them to turn on her.
3243
3244That was why Darcia talked about the festivals inside the Boundary Mountain Range celebrating Vida, and heroes who were members of Vida’s races, while choosing her words to make the stories sound pleasant and interesting to the audience.
3245
3246And once she had finished speaking, the audience’s reaction was quite favorable. Considering that this was her first time doing the work of an ordinary clergyman, it was quite an excellent result.
3247
3248But Darcia decided to add something more for good measure.
3249
3250“Last of all –” she began.
3251
3252It’s a little flashy, but it should be fine if I hold back, right? Murakami’s group will have received information about me from Rodcorte anyway, and if Birkyne wants to face my son, he won’t back down even if I get a little stronger. Okay, let’s do this! she told herself, firing herself up.
3253
3254Darcia offered a prayer to Vida and sharpened her consciousness.
3255
3256“‘Familiar Spirit Descent!’”
3257
3258A pillar of light descended upon her. Something that wasn’t her own, but that she wouldn’t describe as foreign, entered her.
3259
3260Bathed in light, Darcia faced the audience with open arms. “The goddess’s blessings to everyone,” she said.
3261
3262The audience froze for just a single moment, and then burst into a passionate cheer.
3263
3264 
3265
3266 
3267
3268 
3269
3270Gods existed in the world of Lambda, and its inhabitants never doubted that fact.
3271
3272For a religion to gain followers in such a world, it needed more than a good doctrine and physically attractive, charismatic clergymen giving sermons.
3273
3274Something that was visible to the eye was the most effective.
3275
3276That was why clergymen traveled to various lands as training, saved people from everyday troubles and monsters like adventurers, and provided medical treatment and education. Churches even dispatched groups of priest-warriors to Devil’s Nests and remote regions to exterminate monsters.
3277
3278But visibly doing something like that in a single sermon was impossible, so Darcia had decided to use ‘Familiar Spirit Descent’ to summon a familiar spirit upon herself to show the people.
3279
3280She possessed the ‘Goddess Descent’ Skill, which was a far superior Skill to ‘Familiar Spirit Descent.’ But summoning the goddess herself would stand out too much. If it became a topic of too much conversation, Vida’s Churches from all over the Orbaume Kingdom would invite her to speak for them, and messengers might visit her from Duke Alcrem or from other duchies. That would make it impossible to move freely in human society.
3281
3282That was why she had decided to summon a familiar spirit that served Vida. Acquiring a superior Skill did not cause the forgetting of the previous Skill. It was no different from Vandalieu still being able to use ‘Death-Attribute Magic’ and ‘No-Attribute Magic’ even after acquiring ‘Dark King Magic’ and ‘Hollow King Magic.’
3283
3284It was not rare for clergymen of large Churches of Alda to perform ‘Familiar Spirit Descent’ at the end of their sermon, though some priests of Alda were discontented by this practice, thinking that it was making a show of the gods’ servants.
3285
3286But it seemed that Vida’s priestess thought favorably of it.
3287
3288“Darcia-san… No, please let me call you Darcia-sama!” she said.
3289
3290“No, you know, I’m just a worker at a food cart, Priestess-sama,” said Darcia.
3291
3292She hadn’t expected even the priestess to react like this, never mind the gathered audience.
3293
3294“Please call me ‘Paula,’ Darcia-sama!” the priestess said, clutching Darcia’s hand, her eyes shining like those of a young girl.
3295
3296Darcia panicked a little, even though she was supposed to have been used to receiving the passionate stares and cheers of an audience from her concerts.
3297
3298Maybe it’s because they’re so close? Kanako-chan always made sure that the audience didn’t climb onto the stage… I was so lucky to have Bone-Man-san and Mikhail-san on security, Darcia thought to herself.
3299
3300Despite her sermon being over, the audience’s excitement didn’t seem to subside. As Darcia looked at the front row, she saw Vandalieu there.
3301
3302His expression was unchanging as always, but he gave her the thumbs up. He probably thought of her sermon as a job well done, including the fact that Priestess Paula was clinging onto her.
3303
3304… In the opposite situation, Darcia would always think of Vandalieu’s actions as jobs well done. Perhaps one could say, like mother like son.
3305
3306“Darcia-sama, please take me as your disciple!” said Paula.
3307
3308“No, that’s… I can’t teach a priestess… Umm, what shall we do?” said Darcia.
3309
3310She couldn’t just suddenly tell her about the region within the Boundary Mountain Range, and the ‘Familiar Spirit Descent’ Skill wasn’t something that could be taught. It was a Skill that became possible to acquire by becoming more devout, changing one’s everyday actions to follow the gods’ teachings, and conforming with the gods’ way of thinking.
3311
3312In other words, one could only tell devout followers to “continue doing their best.”
3313
3314But this was a chance to convert Priestess Paula and the rest of Vida’s believers in the city of Morksi to an anti-Alda stance.
3315
3316“I will do it, but I’m not an official priestess, so… do you mind if we just say that we’re friends? Let’s talk more about our faith from now on,” Darcia said, deciding to accept Paula as a friend.
3317
3318With this, the Church of Vida, which didn’t make it clear just how much influence it had in the Orbaume Kingdom, wouldn’t make a fuss over it.
3319
3320“Friends… Yes, it’s an honor, Darcia-sama!” said Paula, overcome with emotion and embracing Darcia.
3321
3322“So, you won’t stop using ‘-sama’ with my name,” Darcia sighed as she returned Paula’s embrace.
3323
3324I’m really glad I held back and only used ‘Familiar Spirit Descent,’ she thought to herself.
3325
3326There was no telling how much commotion she would have caused if she had summoned the goddess herself rather than a familiar spirit.
3327
3328 
3329
3330 
3331
3332 
3333
3334The voices of praise coming from the majority of the audience gathered at the Communal Church did not subside for some time.
3335
3336Priestess Paula had actually already improved the public opinion of Vida’s religion in the city of Morksi during the previous incident where a part of the statues of Alda mysteriously crumbled.
3337
3338While the priest of Alda let out a scream and lost consciousness, Paula had calmed the people down, ordered that the incident be reported to the guard, and took charge to ensure that panic did not break out.
3339
3340Of course, command soon returned to the earl that ruled over the region, but Priestess Paula had continued to make efforts to keep the people calm even after that. The people of the city had been impressed by her sincere personality and the way she worked for the city’s sake during an emergency situation.
3341
3342And now, the people were extremely excited by Darcia’s sermon.
3343
3344Despite the atmosphere of excitement in the Communal Church, there were some who quickly walked out with pale faces. One of them was one of the spies sent by the lord of the region.
3345
3346… This has gotten out of control. But the lord’s decision to refrain from actively attempting to contain that woman and her son was correct, he thought to himself as he moved quickly down the street, wanting to make his report as soon as possible.
3347
3348If one listened to her words without being distracted by Darcia’s charisma, the novelty of her stories and her performance with ‘Familiar Spirit Descent,’ it was very clear that her stance was not friendly towards Alda’s peaceful faction; in fact, it was the exact opposite.
3349
3350The concepts that all of Vida’s races should be acknowledged as people, that new technology should be accepted, and Devil’s Nests should be adapted to rather than fought against.
3351
3352All of these ideas were against Alda’s religion.
3353
3354On top of that, Darcia had used ‘Familiar Spirit Descent.’ This performance was enough to make the spy certain that Darcia could become the leader for a group that stood against Alda’s peaceful faction.
3355
3356From a social status perspective, a Dark Elf working at a food cart might be too weak to use as a leader, despite her ability to use ‘Familiar Spirit Descent.’ But if she were to make a move, the fact that she was the mother of a Dhampir would likely become a weapon for her.
3357
3358If Isaac Morksi had already created a favorable relationship with Darcia and Vandalieu, Duke Alcrem, who was friendly towards Alda’s peaceful faction, would suspect that he was plotting something.
3359
3360Feeling proud of his master’s keen insight, the spy continued hurrying down the road.
3361
3362There was another person walking down the same street, with a look of determination in his eyes.
3363
3364“I’ll do it… I can do it if I try. I’ll do it!” he muttered.
3365
3366The man, who was dressed in rags, repeated his words to himself over and over as he walked towards the slum district.
3367
3368The last group leaving the Communal Church unhappy was Aggar and his companions.
3369
3370“Damn it, this isn’t what we were told!” one of them said.
3371
3372“Nobody told us she was gonna use ‘Familiar Spirit Descent.’ We can’t follow Joseph’s orders no more,” said another.
3373
3374They had gathered at the Communal Church under nobody’s orders; they had gone of their own free will.
3375
3376This was not because they were devout believers who regularly attended priests’ sermons. Naturally, they had gone because Darcia was there.
3377
3378They had believed that Vandalieu wouldn’t be able to bring his monsters into the Communal Church, and the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael’s lackeys wouldn’t show their faces there either.
3379
3380Of course, Aggar had already received a stern reprimand from his superior officer for trying to make a move on Darcia. The captain of the guards had visited his house first thing in the morning and given him an earful, followed by a warning to not get involved with that woman and child anymore.
3381
3382If Aggar continued doing these abnormal activities, he would face the wrath of someone above his captain… possibly even the region’s lord.
3383
3384If he kept causing trouble, he would lose his job… In the worst-case scenario, he would lose his head. This thought had made him fearful for a while. But Aggar was the kind of guard who would repeatedly take bribes, thinking that it was fine as long as he wasn’t caught, and his companions were the same.
3385
3386Telling themselves this, they had chosen not to listen to the captain’s warning.
3387
3388But they were unable to hide their shock upon seeing Darcia summoning a familiar spirit.
3389
3390“If we make the wrong move, we’ll be killed,” said one of Aggar’s companions.
3391
3392“According to the rumors, summoning a familiar spirit gives you some crazy Attribute Value bonuses. Even all of us together wouldn’t be able to take her in that state,” said another.
3393
3394Indeed, ‘Familiar Spirit Descent’ was a Skill that enhanced the user’s Attribute Values. The most remarkable change it caused was the increase in Mana, but other Attribute Values such as Strength and Agility were increased as well.
3395
3396With that being the case, Aggar and his companions, who were only as strong as an ordinary guard, wouldn’t be able to defeat her even if they gathered dozens of others like them… though in reality, Darcia would be able to easily knock out a hundred knights, never mind guards, without even summoning a familiar spirit.
3397
3398Unaware of this, Aggar and his companions’ backup plan of using force was out of the question. They were forced to accept the fact that they would be helpless if Darcia fought back.
3399
3400If they took her by surprise and dealt a single blow to her head or a vital organ before she had the chance to use a Skill… This would be the way an assassin would think, and this wasn’t their goal anyway.
3401
3402“And wouldn’t it be bad to mess with her? We might receive divine punishment…” one of Aggar’s companions muttered.
3403
3404The mental pressure was also troublesome. If one had no malicious intent towards the user of ‘Familiar Spirit Descent,’ it would merely seem to be a divine miracle, a wonderful opportunity to witness a god’s power.
3405
3406But to those like Aggar, who did have ill will towards the Skill’s user, ‘Familiar Spirit Descent’ only caused a sense of pressure. It instilled a fear of the gods, who held absolute power, a fear that Aggar usually forgot.
3407
3408“D-don’t be such cowards! I’m not going to give up. We’re gonna get our pay from Joseph! If you want out, then get out!” Aggar told his companions.
3409
3410As Vandalieu and the others had expected, Aggar and his companions had been hired with the Deputy Guild Master Joseph’s money. And also as expected, the objective of their task was to assist Joseph in harassing them… though it had gone too far to be called mere harassment.
3411
3412Aggar had been planning to take advantage of this and also make a move on Darcia.
3413
3414“You say that, Aggar, but do you really think we’d be able to do anything against someone who can use ‘Familiar Spirit Descent?’ She’s definitely stronger than us even without using it,” one of Aggar’s companions said.
3415
3416“What?! Are you saying that I’d lose to her?!” Aggar demanded.
3417
3418“Do you really think you wouldn’t?! She can use ‘Familiar Spirit Descent,’ you know?!”
3419
3420In general, it was believed that those who could use the ‘Familiar Spirit Descent’ Skill were clergymen or heroes that had undergone strict training.
3421
3422If one were to think of it in terms of Adventurers’ Guild classes, they would be a minimum of C-class.
3423
3424In contrast, Aggar and his companions were somewhere between E-class and the lower end of D-class. There was no way that they would be able to overcome Darcia, even with the most conservative estimate of her strength.
3425
3426“Let’s give it up, Aggar. There’ve been a countless number of women that we couldn’t make a move on in the past, haven’t there? She’s just another one on the list.”
3427
3428“If you think about it, she’s a woman that someone as dangerous as the ‘Starving Wolf’ has his hands on. I’m glad we didn’t make a bad move and meet some ugly fate. Let’s think about it that way!”
3429
3430“The captain warned us, too… It’s true that we took money from Joseph, but it’s not an amount that’s worth being fired from our jobs as guards, right?”
3431
3432Aggar gave a frustrated sigh. They might be right, he thought.
3433
3434If he gave up here and stayed quiet for a while, he could return to his life of working as a guard, earning a reasonable income as well as a little extra from his side activities from time to time. He had no obligation to return the money that he had received from Joseph, either.
3435
3436He hadn’t lost anything. He just needed to give up on something that he couldn’t obtain.
3437
3438No matter what I do, it’s not within my reach… no, wait, Aggar thought.
3439
3440He thought of the start of a plan that could possibly work out well.
3441
3442“That woman donated to the orphanage in the slums, right?” he asked his companions. “The one that we raided about ten years ago when the priest of Alda was going on about slave trading or something.”
3443
3444“Yeah, I remember that. We were still rookies back then, so we were just put on lookout and carrying things about. Not sure what came of it,” one of his companions replied, recalling his vague memories.
3445
3446“If I recall, nobody got caught because of that uproar. I think they didn’t find anything, so the captain of the guards back then was made to take responsibility, and the priest of Alda just stayed quiet and pretended that nothing happened,” added another.
3447
3448The details that Aggar remembered were about the same. The guards had entered the orphanage and searched it, but they found nothing, so the case was closed due to insufficient evidence.
3449
3450It was an incident that the majority of the city’s inhabitants had forgotten about.
3451
3452“What about it?” one of Aggar’s companions asked.
3453
3454“Well, I actually stole a copy of the key to the orphanage back then. I thought it might come in handy one day. We’ll enter the orphanage from the back using that key, then kidnap a few of the kids,” Aggar suggested. “Then we’ll tell that woman’s Dhampir brat to come alone if they want to see the orphans alive again, and leave his monsters behind. Once we get him, we’ll tell the woman –”
3455
3456“W-wait, Aggar, that doesn’t sound like a good idea!” one of his companions said, hastily trying to talk Aggar out of this.
3457
3458“Yeah, we can cover up stealing small change as much as we want, and we can silence women. But we can’t cover up something like what you’re planning!”
3459
3460Aggar didn’t want to hear any of his companions’ complaints.
3461
3462“Don’t be so damn scared! Once everything is said and done, we can just have the ‘Starving Wolf’ Michael take the fall for it! He’s a hoodlum to begin with. We just need to fabricate some story about him being blinded by love and that’ll be the end of it,” Aggar said. “So, what’s it going to be? I’ll do it even if I have to do it on my own, you know.”
3463
3464His companions did wonder whether things would go so conveniently, but their sense of danger seemed to be loosened by the fact that they had never been caught for their evil deeds so far.
3465
3466Perhaps things would go fine as long as they didn’t mess anything up. That was what they thought.
3467
3468“Y-you’re right. Alright, we’re in.”
3469
3470Aggar gave a low laugh. “That’s what I’m talking about,” he said with a vulgar grin.
3471
3472He led his companions to his room to discuss the details of the plan.
3473
3474 
3475
3476 
3477
3478 
3479
3480That night, the food carts in the dirty alleyway had been completely transformed.
3481
3482A woman who always ate here after work approached, and her eyes grew wide open in surprise.
3483
3484“… What is this?” she said.
3485
3486She couldn’t help but be surprised that the food cart that she was so accustomed to seeing was now clean, and for some reason, there were large, pink hearts drawn on it.
3487
3488“… W-welcome,” said the owner of the food cart with a slightly stiff smile.
3489
3490The woman was relieved to see that it was the same owner as before.
3491
3492“Oh, it’s you, old man. What happened to this store? I was sure that you’d been driven off somewhere else and some other food cart had taken your place,” the woman laughed.
3493
3494“Well, there are circumstances, you see…” the food cart owner mumbled.
3495
3496“What do you mean by ‘circumstances?’ Your food cart is so clean, and this heart is Vida’s holy symbol, isn’t it? Are you copying that skewer cart?”
3497
3498“That’s… exactly right.”
3499
3500“W-what?! You’re really copying them?!”
3501
3502“Shut up and try it! You’re gonna have the usual anyway, right?” the food cart owner said, handing over a serving of soup.
3503
3504The woman was bewildered, but she took the bowl as she always did… and frowned as she looked at its contents.
3505
3506“Old man… It smells better than the stuff you had before, but what is this purple ingredient?” she asked.
3507
3508The meatball soup that the food cart had been selling yesterday had been replaced by a soup with some purple objects inside it.
3509
3510“I’ve tried the flavor myself. Just take my word for it and try it,” the food cart owner assured her.
3511
3512“If you say so… It tastes better than it looks! It’s actually more delicious than the stuff you had before! This purple stuff tastes more normal than I thought, too! What is this?!” the woman asked.
3513
3514“Goblin meat. That bra – What should I call him… Boss, says it’s a Ghoul dish called Gobu-gobu.”
3515
3516“Onee-san, we’ve got Kobold sandwiches here! Come and give it a try! It’s so good that even I was surprised!” another food cart owner said, calling out to her.
3517
3518“We’ve got stir-fried meat over here. It’s one Baum for one pack, same as before, but we’ve got Goblin and Kobold organs starting from today. They’ve been properly processed, so come and give it a try,” said the owner of a third food cart.
3519
3520“W-wait. How many meals am I supposed to try in one night?” said the woman.
3521
3522“Hey, this customer is still enjoying my soup. Save yours for later!” the owner of the first food cart told the others.
3523
3524These businesses had been selling slum-style food such as soup made with meatballs containing shredded Goblin and Kobold ears, sandwiches made with scrap vegetables and meat, and slum-style stir-fried mouse and fish meat. They had now been reborn as businesses that sold Gobu-gobu soup, steamed Kobold meat sandwiches wrapped in Kobol leaves, and stir-fried organs.
3525
3526Goblin meat was smelly and unpleasant. Frying it and boiling it didn’t change that. Using a mountain of expensive spices would make it about as edible as ordinary meat, but… that wouldn’t be affordable to those who weren’t wealthy.
3527
3528But if Goblin meat was pickled for an entire day in the juice of Gobubu grass, a magical grass that grew everywhere, the meat turned purple and its unpleasant flavor and smell was removed. Its surface turned slick, creating a rather strange texture, but it wasn’t inedible. This was how the preserved food known as Gobu-gobu was made.
3529
3530It made for a better soup ingredient than Goblin and Kobold ears whose flavor had been forcibly concealed by turning them into meatballs.
3531
3532Kobold meat, when wrapped in Kobol leaves that grew only in places where Kobolds lived and then steamed, lost its odor and its sinewy, hard meat became soft. Using Kobol fruit in addition to the leaves would make it taste even better, but that would put its price far out of reach of the inhabitants of the slums, so it had been just wrapped in the leaves.
3533
3534But as the softened Kobold meat had been mixed well with tare sauce and other ingredients, it made an excellent filling for sandwiches made with hard, heavy, black bread.
3535
3536And the Goblin organs and Kobold organs also underwent the same odor-removing process when baked, so they became edible.
3537
3538Cut into bite-sized pieces and fried with sauce, it was far more delicious than the slum-style fried meat… and more nutritious, too.
3539
3540All of these dishes had the same price and quantity as their previous versions, and they were slightly cheaper than Vandalieu’s skewers. Perhaps even the curious who wandered in from the red-light district would buy them, not just the inhabitants of the slums.
3541
3542“But Vandalieu-sama, couldn’t you have taken a little more payment from them?” Chipuras asked Vandalieu, who was busy grilling skewers.
3543
3544The fact that the other food cart owners were selling their new products at the same prices as their old ones meant that Vandalieu had sold them Gobu-gobu and Kobold meat at the same value as the monster ears that could be purchased almost for free and scrap vegetables and meat.
3545
3546“Goblin and Kobold meat has so little value that ordinary butchers refuse to buy it,” said Vandalieu. “And I processed the ingredients for them this time, but they’ll be doing it themselves from now on.”
3547
3548“They promised us a little once they make some profits, so it’s alright, Chipuras-san,” said Darcia.
3549
3550“… Ordinarily, you would ask for a cut of their total sales. I believe that asking for a mere one percent of their profits after stocking costs and other expenses are deducted is too little, but… well, if our objective is missionary work rather than profit, then I suppose there is no problem,” said Chipuras.
3551
3552By having the business owners paint Vida’s holy symbol on their food carts, the people of the slums were able to tell that they were affiliated with Vandalieu and Vida’s religion at a single glance.
3553
3554That was a big thing in and of itself.
3555
3556Vandalieu wasn’t expecting to gain any passionate followers from that alone. But just having them give a short prayer or thinking of Vida after their meals would be enough.
3557
3558Increasing the people’s faith in these small ways would still provide strength for the goddess.
3559
3560“And spreading the fact that Gobu-gobu and baked Kobold meat are dishes from Ghoul culture is the first step to laying a foundation for proclaiming Ghouls to be one of Vida’s races rather than a race of monsters… Well, not that there are any Ghouls in the Devil’s Nests around here anymore,” said Vandalieu.
3561
3562“You asked the spirits of adventurers and Miles-san to find them and invited them to move to Talosheim, after all, Your Highness,” said Princess Levia.
3563
3564Indeed, there wasn’t a single Ghoul left in the Devil’s Nests around the city of Morksi.
3565
3566“Now all that’s left to do is amplify Van-kun’s influence in this city?” said Orbia.
3567
3568Vandalieu gave a small sigh. “… We didn’t actually need to do that in the beginning, but yes. Our original plan was just to conspicuously operate a food cart for three months.”
3569
3570Now that he thought about it, he was just supposed to have set up store on the main street, buy ordinary meat from wholesale stores and sell skewers that were just slightly more delicious than ordinary food.
3571
3572But it seemed that the turning point of fate had come when Joseph set his sights on Vandalieu at the Commerce Guild.
3573
3574“You’re right. But I’m glad we were put in this place. That’s the one thing we can thank Joseph-san for. Thanks to him, we met Fang, made friends with the people at the orphanage and experienced a lot of good things,” said Darcia, smiling at Fang, who was keeping watch from the shadow of the food cart as usual.
3575
3576“Well, there’s more things for us to do, but I don’t regret it, either,” said Vandalieu. “Fang, Maroru, Urumi, Suruga, dinner’s ready.”
3577
3578After cooling the cooked meat to a reasonable temperature, Vandalieu took the meat off the skewers and tossed it into the air, where it was caught and eaten by Fang and the rats.
3579
3580The customers who had come to buy skewers smiled and enjoyed this sight.
3581
3582The Great Giant Rats were still Rank 2 and hadn’t transformed into strange races. As there was a Tamers’ Guild branch in this city, the customers didn’t feel any aversion to the rats.
3583
3584They would normally be terrified of the Rank 3 Black Dog Fang, who was about as dangerous as a bear, but… he was suppressing his Aura of Darkness that instilled fear in others, so he didn’t look any different from an ordinary large dog.
3585
3586“Maybe I’ll go hunting with you tomorrow,” said Darcia. “We need to save up a lot of Goblin and Kobold meat for the next little while, don’t we?”
3587
3588“Yes… though I can grow Kobol leaves myself,” said Vandalieu.
3589
3590Fang gave a happy bark.
3591
3592 
3593
3594 
3595
3596 
3597
3598‘You are the only one who can do it, the only one we can ask. If you refuse, it will be the end of us; you are our only hope.’
3599
3600The man had heard these words so much that they could have made his ears rot. And in the majority of the cases, things could have been managed by someone other than himself.
3601
3602Even this time, the situation could almost certainly be resolved by someone else.
3603
3604“A Minotaur King has gathered a horde, and the Adventurers’ Guild has missed them. I know that the Five-colored Blades have their hands full with a god’s trial and whatnot, but this is something that can be handled by gathering up some A-class and B-class adventurers. Even if a Minotaur King gathers a horde, they’re monsters that tend to stay in packs. There’s certainly time to gather the forces needed to fight them off,” the man muttered as he walked alone.
3605
3606He remembered the greasy, sweaty face of Duke Alcrem, the man who had made the request of him.
3607
3608A village near a Devils’ Nest had been wiped out about a month ago. Judging from the fact that all of the houses had been burned down, it was thought to be the doing of the ‘Hyena’ Gozoroff and his gang of kidnappers, and an order of knights serving the duke had been dispatched to hunt the ‘Hyena’ down.
3609
3610But the order of knights had never returned; in fact, they had discovered that a horde led by a Minotaur King existed in the Devils’ Nest near the wiped-out village.
3611
3612And the order of knights was led… or rather had been led, by the youngest daughter of the previous Duke Alcrem – in other words, the half-sister of the current Duke Alcrem, although the difference in their ages was about the same as that between a father and daughter.
3613
3614“The duke might not have intended it, but he ended up giving a good meal to a starving lion,” the man muttered.
3615
3616Having learned the identity of the leader of the order of knights, Duke Alcrem had managed to make contact with the man by chance, and made his request.
3617
3618“To think that I could make contact with you… This must be the will of the gods. Please exterminate the Minotaur King and his horde, and if my half-sister is still alive… no matter what kind of state she is in, dispose of her.”
3619
3620An order of knights would certainly not be weak by any means, but Minotaurs were a superior race of Ogres. Fighting a horde of monsters led by a Minotaur King… that would be a far taller task than hunting down the ‘Hyena.’
3621
3622And now that a month had passed with no word from them, there was no need to imagine their fate.
3623
3624“His predecessor took good care of me, and I’ve been paid well for my silence. It’s not a bad job, but… is the name of his family of dukes that he holds so dear, so cheap that it would be tarnished by his sister who has given up her rights to succession being impregnated by a Minotaur?” the man wondered.
3625
3626The hush money paid to him could have been used to buy an expensive Potion, hire a first-rate healer and create a Magic Item that erased harsh memories for her treatment.
3627
3628If it still concerned the duke, there were still plenty of other options, such as sending her to a monastery far away from the commoners.
3629
3630These thoughts did cross the man’s mind.
3631
3632“But… I suppose it’s none of my business,” he told himself.
3633
3634Randolf ‘the True,’ the S-class adventurer who had publicly stepped back from duty and did indeed wish to live in seclusion, stepped into the Devils’ Nest that contained the Minotaur horde with his bow and arrow on his back and a thin-bladed sword in his hand.Randolf was a very Elf-like adventurer. His weapons were his sharp senses, his exceptional ‘Archery’ Skill, his speed of movement, his ‘Swordsmanship’ that used delicate techniques, and his ‘Spiritual Magic.’
3635
3636He was the kind of Elf adventurer that many could imagine.
3637
3638A group of Minotaurs stood before him and roared.
3639
3640Many might think that such an Elf adventurer would be ill-matched against Minotaurs that swung axes and clubs with more ferocity than a raging bull.
3641
3642Arrows would be stopped by their thick muscles, so they would have no effect unless they struck the eyes, mouth or armpits. Their weapons, swung with superhuman strength, would be impossible to stop with a thin-bladed sword.
3643
3644They were ferocious and tough, unfaltering even when wounded, and the Elf adventurer would eventually be cornered even if he repeatedly used ‘Spiritual Magic.’
3645
3646“… ‘Thousand-Piercing Screw Arrow,’” Randolf murmured.
3647
3648The arrow released from the string of his short bow, which was easy to use in forests, pierced the center of the chest of the Minotaur charging at him.
3649
3650The rapidly-spinning arrow did not lose momentum; it pierced through the arms of the Minotaurs behind the first, continued through the breastplate and into the heart of the Minotaur Commander who had been leading the group and finally came to a halt after leaving round holes in the trees in the background.
3651
3652“Sorry, I put too much power into it. This is a bow that I am using for the first time, after all,” Randolf said.
3653
3654Having seen two thirds of their group and their commander killed in a single attack, the surviving Minotaurs froze in shock. Randolf drew his sword and quickly disposed of them.
3655
3656Despite having a thin blade, it cut through their hastily-raised weapons and thick-muscled limbs like a sickle harvesting rice.
3657
3658He stored the Minotaur corpses in an Item Box… a Magic Item that could store objects in a subspace in which time was frozen.
3659
3660“I’m really very sorry. I didn’t intend to harm you. I’ll fight more carefully from now on,” he said, apologizing once more to the trees that he had damaged, then continued on.
3661
3662 
3663
3664 
3665
3666 
3667
3668The rough location of the Minotaur King’s horde was known, but there wasn’t any precise information.
3669
3670That was why Randolf had wind spirits carry sound to him so he could confirm the rough locations of Minotaurs as he proceeded towards the center of the horde.
3671
3672Most monster Kings stayed in the center of their horde. This was because the monsters, who were under the effects of the ‘Strengthen Followers’ Skill, stayed near the King to protect it, and also to maintain the King’s superiority over them.
3673
3674Monsters that were under the effects of a monster King’s ‘Strengthen Followers’ Skill became the King’s loyal servants, but in the end, they were still monsters. Even if they were able to coordinate themselves like an army, they were not an actual army.
3675
3676Monsters merely formed hordes. Armies could split up and position their forces, but hordes could not.
3677
3678And the Kings themselves had no knowledge on how to build and maintain an organized structure.
3679
3680“Though the exception to that is the Noble Orc Empire that supposedly exists within the Boundary Mountain Range,” Randolf murmured to himself. “In that regard, a Rank 4 Goblin King’s horde is no different from a Rank 8 Minotaur King’s horde, but…”
3681
3682Storing the corpses of the Minotaurs standing in his path to stop him in his Item Box, Randolf proceeds through a cave that looks just like a Dungeon.
3683
3684“There are more Minotaurs than I thought. I’ve defeated over a hundred of them already, but they still keep coming… Does your King have the divine protection of an evil god? The number of women in the village you abducted them from was about thirty or forty. And perhaps a few adventurers on top of that… Certainly less than a hundred in total, isn’t it?” Randolf asked the Minotaur Mage in front of him.
3685
3686But the Minotaur Mage did not answer; it roared an incantation and attempted to fill the entire passageway with flames. But the moment it attempted to finish its spell, there was a sudden fierce wind that caused the flames to burn the Minotaur Mage rather than Randolf.
3687
3688The Minotaur Mage shrieked in pain as it burned.
3689
3690“I see, I understand. In that case, they are not impregnating them and reproducing in an ordinary way. I can’t imagine that Goblin and Kobold females would be able to withstand them. Perhaps there was a settlement of one of Vida’s races? Or maybe there is an evil god involved after all… Things have become troublesome,” Randolf muttered as he moved on, leaving the burnt ashes of the Minotaur Mage behind.
3691
3692He made steady progress in the direction that the Minotaurs were appearing from.
3693
3694 
3695
3696 
3697
3698 
3699
3700After defeating the Minotaur General that had been guarding the final door, Randolf emerged into a wide, dome-shaped space.
3701
3702The floor and ceiling had many magic circles drawn on them in a closely-packed pattern, and there were four Minotaur Mages spread across the edges. They seemed to be acting as priests; they were offering prayers with intense concentration.
3703
3704And in the center of the dome was a Minotaur that was larger than the others and emanating a strange aura from its entire body, groaning as it stood in front of an altar.
3705
3706A rusted, black-red metal bottle and a woman lay on top of the altar. It seemed that she was alive, but all four of her limbs had been severed partway down to prevent her from escaping. If this was the female knight that was Duke Alcrem’s younger sister, then things would end quickly, but… something was strange.
3707
3708The color of her hair didn’t match the description that Randolf had been given. On top of that, it seemed that she had the ears and tail of a beast.
3709
3710“… It’s become a bit of a troublesome situation. Is this ritual for planting your seed into the woman and impregnating her with the incarnation of an evil god?” Randolf asked the Minotaur.
3711
3712The tip of the groaning Minotaur’s cow-like tail suddenly became sharp like the stinger of an insect. At the same time, a sinister presence filled the dome.
3713
3714“So, you have been producing an excessive number of subordinates with that Demon King’s fragment. Considering its form and effect… the Demon King’s oviduct, perhaps? You have planted your eggs in her to produce offspring rapidly. But it’s quite the strange fragment for a Minotaur King to acquire considering that Minotaurs are a race of monsters that have only males,” Randolf murmured.
3715
3716Perhaps becoming enraged by the fact that Randolf was showing no signs of fear or even unrest, the Minotaur King let out a roar, picked up a nearby halberd and charged towards him.
3717
3718“‘Severing Air Flash.’”
3719
3720Randolf swung his sword to perform a martial skill that unleashed a shockwave that traveled towards the Minotaur King. But it was nullified with a swing of the Minotaur King’s tail, which had transformed into the Demon King’s oviduct.
3721
3722With another roar, the Minotaur King laid a series of bumpy, semi-transparent eggs.
3723
3724These eggs hatched the moment they hit the ground, their contents developing rapidly and letting out roars as they were born into the world.
3725
3726A horde of Minotaurs, each of them identical to the Minotaur King other than the fact that they did not have the Demon King’s oviduct, was produced.
3727
3728“So, you do not need a female to reproduce. No, considering that you did not produce these until I entered this place, the offspring you produce through asexual reproduction are something like short-lived clones of yourself. They probably only have lifespans of several minutes to a few hours.”
3729
3730Ignoring Randolf’s analysis, the Minotaur King’s copies flooded in towards him. They weren’t equipped with halberds or armor, but their fists and legs would certainly serve as weapons against the slender body of an Elf.
3731
3732“‘Hundred Severing Air Flashes,’” Randolf muttered, swinging his sword again, even faster than before.
3733
3734The countless number of shockwaves he unleashed slaughtered the Minotaur copies in an instant, not even giving them the time to let out dying screams.
3735
3736Witnessing the copies that it had gone through the effort to create wiped out by a single attack, the Minotaur King recognized Randolf as a superior foe. It raised its halberd and let out a roar.
3737
3738But nothing happened. Dumbfounded, the Minotaur King turned to look at the altar, but –
3739
3740“‘Summoned Wind God Spear,’” Randolf murmured.
3741
3742His wind-attribute ‘Spiritual Magic’ spell pierced the Minotaur King’s exposed torso.
3743
3744But it did not fall; it let out a shriek filled with agony and rage, and its wound began to heal.
3745
3746Perhaps the Demon King fragment had granted it the ‘Rapid Regeneration’ Skill that Minotaurs did not ordinarily have, or perhaps its shriek had been the incantation for a healing spell.
3747
3748But naturally, Randolf swung his sword to deal the fatal blow before the wound could completely heal. However, his martial skill’s shockwave was nullified by the Demon King’s oviduct on the end of the Minotaur King’s flexible, whip-like tail.
3749
3750The Minotaur King sneered, as if it could easily defeat Randolf as long as it did not lose its composure again.
3751
3752Randolf sighed. “Unfortunately, this sword is made of Mythril, so it does not have the ability to directly fight against the fragment of a Demon King like an Orichalcum weapon. But… ‘Wind Remnants.’”
3753
3754He cast a spell that warped the air and created heavy afterimages of himself made of wind, then deftly closed the distance between himself and the Minotaur King.
3755
3756He was simply too fast; the Minotaur King swung the Demon King’s oviduct and its halberd, but they pierced only his afterimages.
3757
3758“‘Triple Lightning Thrust.’”
3759
3760Standing directly in front of the Minotaur King, Randolf unleashed three quick thrusts that were as quick as lightning, aimed at the Minotaur King’s solar plexus, heart and neck.
3761
3762“It just means I need to destroy your vital organs without directly facing the fragment,” Randolf murmured to his defeated foe.
3763
3764Still wearing a look of shock, as if unable to believe what had just happened, the Minotaur King fell. Its wounds did not regenerate this time.
3765
3766“Taking the Demon King’s fragment into account, it was Rank 10, I suppose. Considering the size of the horde, it might not have been possible to stop the ritual without at least ten A-class adventurers,” Randolf said to himself.
3767
3768The Demon King’s oviduct attempted to crawl away from the Minotaur King’s corpse. Randolf took out a Magic Item for sealing and sealed it away. He also retrieved another fragment of the Demon King, which had an old seal on it.
3769
3770He then used his short bow to slay the four Minotaur Mages that had taken no notice of the Minotaur King’s death and were still continuing to pray in order to maintain the ritual.
3771
3772“Of course, it seems that the evil god abandoned these monsters for some reason, so there’s no way to tell whether the ritual succeeded or not. It could have sent a familiar spirit or spirit clone. Then I would have been able to at least enjoy myself… perhaps,” said Randolf, complaining about the nameless god that the Minotaurs had been worshiping.
3773
3774At that moment, the Minotaur King had activated the ‘Familiar Spirit Descent’ Skill or one of its superior versions. But the god it prayed to had not answered.
3775
3776“Still, why did it abandon these Minotaurs?” Randolf wondered. “It is likely to be an evil god, so there shouldn’t be any reason to not answer their prayers. Even if it did see that there was no hope for victory, sending a familiar spirit wouldn’t be such a great effort.”
3777
3778Meanwhile, the evil god worshiped by the Minotaurs… Langleboza, the evil horned cow god, let out a large sigh of relief. “The ritual has safely failed… that damned pumpkin-headed fool. This is what happens when you ignore my Divine Message,” he grumbled.
3779
3780Langleboza was an evil god with an appearance resembling a cow, and that was why he had set his sights on Minotaurs of all monsters.
3781
3782He had also granted a divine protection to the King of this horde, but… the King had killed the host of the Demon King’s oviduct, which had been on its way to the Boundary Mountain Range, and retrieved it. On top of that, it had even used a second fragment of the Demon King, which it had acquired in a sealed state, and began attempting to create a body for Langleboza to descend upon… all while ignoring Langleboza’s Divine Messages telling him to stop and lay low.
3783
3784This was no joking matter. No evil god would wish to descend upon the world unless they had a death wish.
3785
3786The forces of Alda, the god of law and fate, were very active, and Vandalieu, the ‘new Demon King’ feared by Alda, was also present on Lambda’s surface.
3787
3788A monstrosity who could devour the souls of not only mortals, but gods as well.
3789
3790Even Randolf, who had just done Langleboza the favor of defeating his servants, was a superhuman among superhumans, possessing an ability in combat that was worthy of an S-class adventurer. He was another being who was capable of fighting gods.
3791
3792But Vandalieu was too dangerous in a way that was different from Randolf.
3793
3794He had already devoured several evil gods, such as the evil god of release and the evil god of the magic tome. Even the god of records, Alda’s close servant, ended up in his stomach.
3795
3796Langleboza had no intention of joining these gods in their fates.
3797
3798That was why he had not responded to the Minotaur King’s use of ‘Familiar Spirit Descent.’ To ensure that it would not have even the tiniest chance of defeating Randolf.
3799
3800“Even if it is defeated by this adventurer, I am completely unharmed. I can simply stay holed up in my Divine Realm and sleep for tens of thousands of years, as long as it takes for the situation on the world’s surface to change. It is possible that I will never awaken, and my slumber will be no different from death, but… it is better than suffering agony as I am devoured,” Langleboza told himself.
3801
3802Paying no attention to Randolf, he withdrew his consciousness from the world’s surface.
3803
3804Unaware of these circumstances, Randolf continued pondering for some time, but gave up before long, realizing that gods had their own situations.
3805
3806“I suppose there is no difference in the fate that awaits those who believe in and rely on gods, whether they are human or monster,” Randolf muttered. “More importantly, I still have one task remaining, but this girl is…”
3807
3808He looked at the girl on the altar. She continued to stare into space with empty eyes. Her arms had been severed above the elbows, and her legs above the knees. The stumps of her limbs had been treated just enough for the bleeding to stop.
3809
3810Even if the severed limbs were found, it would be impossible to rejoin them and return her to her original state… but more importantly, Randolf was surprised when he saw her face.
3811
3812“So, this really isn’t Juliana Alcrem,” he murmured.
3813
3814Juliana’s older half-brother, Duke Alcrem, had asked Randolf to put her to rest if she were still alive, and make the public story that she died in battle rather than having been captured by the Minotaurs. Randolf had also been given a description of her appearance.
3815
3816The colors of this girl’s hair and eyes were different. More importantly, she was of a different race.
3817
3818Juliana Alcrem was a dignified, noble, beautiful human girl somewhere between adolescence and adulthood, with golden hair and blue eyes.
3819
3820But the woman lying on the altar had hair that was more yellow than golden. Her eyebrows were thick, and she had a strong-willed, determined-looking face. There was something strongly wild about her, but she didn’t lack dignity entirely, and she could have certainly been called a beauty.
3821
3822But there were triangular, feline ears on her head, and a leopard-like tail at her waist.
3823
3824She was clearly a Beast-kin, though Randolf couldn’t tell whether she was a wildcat-type or leopard-type Beast-kin.
3825
3826“What to do… The monsters were doing some suspicious ritual, so I was certain that they would have her close to the King so that they could use a noble lady as a sacrifice or something,” Randolf sighed.
3827
3828In stories, women used as sacrifices to give birth to the incarnation of a god were nobles, but… that was likely to not always be the case for Minotaurs.
3829
3830It was possible that Juliana really had died in battle, or even if she had been captured, perhaps she had been unable to withstand the Minotaurs mating with her.
3831
3832To Randolf, who had no interest in gaining trust or reputation as an adventurer, he didn’t mind telling this story and simply leaving, but –
3833
3834“That would be too pitiful. I’ll at least hear what this girl has to say,” he decided, taking out a cloth from his Item Box and covering the girl’s body with it.
3835
3836He then activated a Magic Item for disguise, then cast the ‘Antidote’ spell on the unawakening girl.
3837
3838Light gradually returned to the girl’s empty eyes, and her expression became clearer.
3839
3840“Ah… Huh? I’m… Ah…Aaaaaaahhh?!”
3841
3842TLN: The girl is using “ore” as a pronoun for herself, something that is almost exclusively done by boys/men.
3843
3844The girl began to scream in agony.
3845
3846“Your consciousness has returned, but your pain has returned with it. Give me a moment, I will treat you,” said Randolf, attempting to treat her enough to remove the pain so he could hear her story.
3847
3848“W-wait! Please wait! If you heal me as I am now, you won’t be able to reattach them!” said the girl, attempting to refuse his treatment. “My arms, where are my arms… My leg! Even my leg’s…?!”
3849
3850Even though her limbs had been severed, applying a fourth-grade Potion or better and some slightly advanced healing magic with her limbs aligned correctly would rejoin them to her body, and it was possible that she would become able to move them normally after several months or perhaps a few years.
3851
3852The girl knew that.
3853
3854“It’s no use. Though it’s crudely done, your wounds have already been sealed. I don’t even know where your arms and legs went. Into the Minotaurs’ stomachs, most likely,” Randolf told her. “Give it up.”
3855
3856“No way…” The girl gave a frustrated scream. “SHIT! Those bastards, how dare they do that to me?! I’ll never forgive them for using me as bait!” she shouted.
3857
3858Randolf sighed; it seemed that it would take some time before he could hear her story, even after he healed her wounds.
3859
3860Judging from her screams and shouts, she appeared to be an adventurer and had been a part of a party. It seemed that nothing had gone wrong for a while, but the party had unfortunately entered the Minotaur King’s territory and found themselves being chased by several Minotaurs.
3861
3862But having realized that they wouldn’t be able to escape, one of her party members had thrown a knife into her leg. She had fallen onto the ground, and the people she had thought of as her companions had muttered a quick “Sorry,” and left her behind as they ran.
3863
3864She had continued to resist, but a Minotaur’s axe had severed her arms, and that was when she lost consciousness.
3865
3866“And next thing I knew, I was in a Minotaur lair with a number of other captured women, and one of them was still able to speak. She said that she was from the duke’s family, so help would definitely come. That we shouldn’t give up… but the Minotaurs made me take some strange drug… My legs were still attached up until then… This is… It can’t be real… This is…”
3867
3868“Hey, my name is Ralph. I’ve been requested to exterminate a Minotaur King and rescue a certain woman,” Randolf said, using a simple false name that he kept for situations like this.
3869
3870“Huh…” the Beast-kin girl said blankly.
3871
3872“I’m Ralph. What’s your name?”
3873
3874“I-I’m Natania.”
3875
3876“Natania. The duke asked me to rescue that woman. Do you know where she is?”
3877
3878Natania thought for a moment. “If I follow the smell, I’ll probably know.”
3879
3880Randolf wrapped Natania in his cloak and carried her as he proceeded in the direction she indicated, through the Minotaur lair that had only bloodstains remaining.
3881
3882Before long, they reached the chamber where the Minotaurs had been confining the women, though there were several skeletons on the ground; it looked more like an execution chamber than a place for confining people.
3883
3884It was likely that the Minotaurs had simply eaten the women in this chamber when they died or became unusable.
3885
3886Juliana Alcrem was still alive.
3887
3888“No way…” Natania breathed.
3889
3890Juliana was breathing and had a pulse. Like Natania, her limbs had been severed, but that had likely been the case for a while. Iron shackles weren’t sufficient to keep capable individuals in captivity. Their limbs had to be severed, their eyes gouged out and their vocal cords torn.
3891
3892Considering that, the Minotaurs’ treatment of her had been lenient, as they had only applied the first measure.
3893
3894But Juliana was thoroughly broken. Even as Natania and Randolf came into her view, her empty eyes gazed into space, and saliva continued to dribble out of the corner of her half-open mouth. She showed nothing that could be called a response.
3895
3896Randolf tried casting the same life-attribute spell ‘Antidote’ that he had cast on Natania, but Juliana did not regain her sanity.
3897
3898“When I was taken away, she was worn out, but she was still conscious,” said Natania. “She told me not to give up… That she couldn’t use ‘Familiar Spirit Descent’ anymore, but the gods would definitely save us.”
3899
3900“It isn’t difficult to imagine what happened after that,” said Randolf.
3901
3902It was likely that the Minotaur King had used the Demon King’s oviduct to lay vast quantities of eggs in the bodies of the women other than Natania, who had been used for the ritual.
3903
3904The women other than Juliana had died, unable to withstand this, and Juliana’s mind had crumbled in the process as well.
3905
3906In fact, I’m surprised she even managed to retain her sanity for this long, Randolf thought to himself.
3907
3908Juliana’s limbs had been severed, and she had been used as a birthing machine as she watched the other women around her die one by one and be eaten by the Minotaurs. It was a wonder that she had managed to stay sane for a month while being imprisoned in this situation.
3909
3910That was what Randolf thought, though Natania didn’t seem to feel this way.
3911
3912“In any case, I suppose I should be quick and ‘help’ her,” said Randolf.
3913
3914“Yeah. I’m sure you got a great Potion or something from the duke’s family – huh?”
3915
3916Randolf put Natania on the ground and drew his sword.
3917
3918“W-why did you take out your sword… W-wait! By ‘help,’ you meant…?!” Natania gasped.
3919
3920“That is correct. As an adventurer, you understand, don’t you?”
3921
3922There were times when captured women were found by adventurers that completed requests to exterminate Orcs, Goblins or Minotaurs. If the women were capable of moving on their own, they would be brought back to a city, but… what would be done in situations where their limbs had been severed and their minds broken?
3923
3924There was no helping them, so the adventurers would pray for their happiness in their next lives and put them to rest.
3925
3926“No, this person is someone from the duke’s family, a knight! She’s not an adventurer!” Natania protested.
3927
3928“This is the request that has been made by the very same duke’s family. Well, I did consider sparing her if she was capable of living on, even if her body was damaged to some extent,” Randolf said.
3929
3930He had been treated well by her grandfather; he had accepted this request for its large payment and to pay back that debt.
3931
3932But Randolf had intended to break his contract with Duke Alcrem if Juliana had retained her sanity against all odds and insisted that she didn’t want to die… or if her subordinates who knew that she had been violated by Minotaurs did the same.
3933
3934He considered himself to be retired as an adventurer. But that didn’t mean that he had taken up the profession of assassination.
3935
3936In this case, however, it was likely more merciful to kill Juliana.
3937
3938“A vegetable with no limbs wouldn’t be able to live on by herself with no family, after all,” said Randolf.
3939
3940If this were Earth, his words would have been called inhumane. But in this world, where the concept of human rights was underdeveloped, it was a decision that would be accepted as unavoidable.
3941
3942If Duke Alcrem intended to help Juliana, something could likely have been done about her state with his financial assets, but…
3943
3944“Rest assured. I’ll send you to your next life and end your suffering next,” Randolf told Natania.
3945
3946“Y-you’re going to kill me?! N-no! I’ve been rescued, I don’t want to die again!” Natania screamed.
3947
3948“… I am speaking out of kindness, you know,” Randolf sighed as he looked down at her. “Think about it. How are you going to feed yourself as an adventurer with a body that can’t fight? Do you have enough savings at the Guild to live the rest of your life? Or is your family wealthy enough to take care of you?”
3949
3950Natania’s face grew paler and paler with each question Randolf asked. Still, it seemed that she had no intention of giving up and being put to rest.
3951
3952“Then you help me! I’ve never heard the name ‘Ralph,’ but if you were strong enough to exterminate all of those Minotaurs on your own, and you’re acquainted with the duke, then you’re A-class, aren’t you?!” she said, her face shining with hope at this idea.
3953
3954But Randolf’s response was faint. “Those are good deductions, but so what?”
3955
3956“If you’re an A-class adventurer, you’re earning plenty, aren’t you?! Lend me some. It doesn’t have to be a lot; just enough for me and that person to live on for a while. I’ll be a prostitute if I have to and pay you back!”
3957
3958“A prostitute, huh. If you live like that, in a few years’ time, you’ll regret not having died today.”
3959
3960Even as she was now, Natania could probably make a living at a brothel, and she would be taken care of there. Prostitutes who were former adventurers had more resilient bodies than ordinary prostitutes; they often became popular.
3961
3962But in many cases, a more tragic life awaited them in the future.
3963
3964In her current state, the majority of Natania’s customers would be those with strange fetishes. Unless she was very fortunate, the best she could manage would be being used as a plaything every day until she died, or being kept as a slave by a rich person with strange tastes.
3965
3966Randolf knew of several true stories where a former female adventurer turned to prostitution after becoming unable to fight, and were later rescued from that lifestyle by their previous adventurer companions who had succeeded in life, living happily ever after. But he couldn’t imagine that Natania had companions like that.
3967
3968“S-still, if I can just live on, I might…!” said Natania.
3969
3970“You don’t know when to give up. It’s true that I can’t see the future, either. The chance of your success is not non-existent,” said Randolf.
3971
3972“Then…!”
3973
3974“… But I’m sorry. I don’t intend to create any more ties of obligation.”
3975
3976With Randolf’s abilities and wealth, almost anything was possible. He could destroy the Alcrem family of dukes, rescue thousands of orphans from poverty and grant them advanced education, or even create an entire nation.
3977
3978It was possible for him to help Natania and Juliana.
3979
3980If he wanted to, he could have an exceptional alchemist create artificial arms and legs to allow them to move normally, and he could have Juliana take a different name and take care of her in her everyday life.
3981
3982But Randolf knew that if he did this, there would be no end to it. There were always people in need in every village, every city and every nation. There were countless people who would die without a helping hand at any given time.
3983
3984It would be a noble thing to extend a helping hand to save someone with whom one had no personal connection to. Randolf had only respect for those that did this.
3985
3986But he had no intention of doing it himself. He was already finding himself unable to retire from his adventurer life because of his past ties of obligation.
3987
3988“No way…” Natania whispered, her eyes becoming dim.
3989
3990Randolf raised his sword, not looking at her. “That is how it is. If there is anything to resent, resent your own inability to evaluate your current situation. I’ll at least pray to Zuruwarn for happiness in your next life.”
3991
3992To tell the truth, Randolf did not worship any god. In the past, he would offer prayers to gods and have their familiar spirits descend upon him. But he had stopped praying to them once he decided to retire from being an adventurer.
3993
3994But in Lambda, a world where gods were known to exist, not worshiping any of them was a behavior that people would consider strange.
3995
3996That was why Randolf told Natania that he believed in Zuruwarn, who did not have any set religious commandments.
3997
3998“Then at least do this for me… The guys who used me as bait to escape are a party called the ‘Flame Blades.’ I want you to report them. You’re about to kill a woman who’s crying and screaming that she doesn’t want to die, so she can at least ask that of you, right?” said Natania.
3999
4000Randolf’s hands stopped.
4001
4002Indeed, if he was going to kill Natania, fulfilling this request was reasonable. But that would require visiting the Adventurers’ Guild and explaining to them that her party had not abandoned her, but deliberately wounded her to use her as bait. After explaining to them why he knew that, of course.
4003
4004If I tell them that I heard it from a female adventurer who had been captured by a Minotaur King’s horde… They’d ask me who the hell I am. Then should I keep the duke’s request a secret and reveal my true identity? If I explain without revealing who I am… it’s likely that they won’t even investigate my report, so I’ll have no choice but to reveal it, Randolf thought. No, if I reveal my identity, they would probably guess that I was acting under a request from Duke Alcrem. I only accept requests from people who I’ve become indebted to in the past and their descendants, after all… So in that case, there might be some who make the connection to Juliana…
4005
4006If the truth was revealed to the public, in the worst-case scenario, Duke Alcrem would become known as having used Randolf ‘the True’ to kill his own younger sister who had become a nuisance to him.
4007
4008Randolf would also be troubled if he were to become known as an assassin hired by a duke. The mere thought of similar requests flooding in from other dukes made him want to curl up and die.
4009
4010With that being the case, he simply needed to refuse Natania’s request and kill both of them.
4011
4012Now that I think about it, Natania knows that Juliana is from the duke’s family. With that being the case, there is no choice but to kill her in order to make the public story that Juliana was killed in battle, Randolf realized.
4013
4014That was why he had no choice but to kill them if he were to prioritize the duke’s request. That would have been true if Juliana had been captured alive by the Minotaurs along with her subordinates and then died before Randolf rescued her with only her subordinates surviving.
4015
4016And Natania was saying that she didn’t want to die.
4017
4018“It can’t be helped,” said Randolf, and then he swung his sword.
4019
4020Natania shut her eyes tight. But there was no sound of blood spraying into the air, so she opened her eyes in confusion a few moments later.
4021
4022Randolf had cut Juliana’s golden hair to less than shoulder-length. He also cut the chain holding the pendant bearing her family crest around her neck, and put the pendant into his pocket.
4023
4024After making sure that Juliana didn’t have any rings or anything somewhere, he turned to Natania. “I won’t help you. I won’t help you, but I can take you to the nearest city from here… No, people from the duke’s family are likely to be there. I’ll take you to the Adventurers’ Guild in Morksi, the second-closest commerce city. Once you’re there, you can become a prostitute, sell the Minotaur children in this woman’s stomach to the Tamers’ Guild, become a slave or do whatever you want in order to live,” he said.
4025
4026As Randolf had sealed away the Demon King’s oviduct, the development of the Minotaur eggs planted in Juliana’s body had slowed. Even then, it would grow faster than an ordinary Minotaur. Although there was no telling how many eggs were in her, it was unlikely that they would be born before they reached the city.
4027
4028The Tamers’ Guild couldn’t tame multiple Minotaurs, but they were still newly-born Rank 5 monsters. They would probably buy them for ten thousand Baums each.
4029
4030“Y-you’ll spare us?!” Natania exclaimed, looking up at Randolf.
4031
4032“… I’m merely throwing you out and leaving you be. And if you want to survive for at least a little while, tell people that this woman is a traveler or adventurer from a different group from yourself,” Randolf told her, taking out another cloth from his Item Box and wrapping Juliana’s body in it.
4033
4034“O-Okay!”
4035
4036“We’ll be teleporting outside the Devil’s Nest. After that, I’ll take you to the city of Morksi and leave you in the care of the first adventurer I see. What happens after that doesn’t concern me. That’s all I’m doing. After that, pray hard that you will run into someone who’s good-natured, unlike me.”
4037
4038“Yeah, that’s plenty –”
4039
4040Without waiting for Natania to finish her sentence, Randolf activated a Magic Item that teleported the user to a pre-designated location, and the three of them left the Minotaur lair.Two days after the sermon, Simon was outside the city.
4041
4042How many years had it been since he left the city of Morksi? He had received numerous requests to repair the walls that protected the city, so perhaps it hadn’t been that long, if one were to count that.
4043
4044But he felt as if it had been over ten years. The cold winter wind felt good. Each time he felt the snow that had fallen yesterday crunch underfoot, he remembered those days.
4045
4046The scent of blood in the air and the sight of the lifeless corpse lying on the ground in front of him was incredibly pleasant.
4047
4048“That’s right, I can still do it. I’m not finished; even if I have only one arm, I can at least kill Goblins!” Simon shouted with a maniacal laugh as he struggled to wipe the blood from the thick-bladed sword in his right hand.
4049
4050These days, his pocket was warm with the funds that he received from running errands for Vandalieu. The quantity and quality of the monster parts handed to him for sale at the Adventurers’ Guild increased with each passing day. There had only been the parts of Rank 1 and Rank 2 monsters on the first day, but his second errand had even included a body part from a Rank 4 Kobold General.
4051
4052That one part alone had been worth a week’s pay from doing day jobs, but the bag had contained multiple body parts from Rank 3 monsters such as Orcs and Goblin Leaders as well.
4053
4054Even back when he was an adventurer, his party had never hunted this many monsters in a single day. He thought it was incredible.
4055
4056Simon had received half the pay from selling these parts just for carrying them to the Adventurers’ Guild. He had been paid far too much for a task that involved no great labor and no danger. He considered himself lucky.
4057
4058But for Simon, it wasn’t just lucky.
4059
4060Every time he entered the Adventurers’ Guild, unpleasant looks were directed his way.
4061
4062Simon had regularly visited the Adventurers’ Guild to accept day jobs. Each time he did so, his one-armed body would receive looks of pity and sneers.
4063
4064It was during his third year as an adventurer, in his later teenage years. He had finally purchased some decent equipment, passed the examination to ascend to D-class, and his whole life was ahead of him when he lost his dominant arm at the shoulder.
4065
4066The shock of this loss was great, but Simon had not given up immediately. There were skilled alchemists in Morksi, so he and his party members had done their best to see if there was a way to acquire a Magic Item artificial arm.
4067
4068If he had a Magic Item artificial arm that functioned well, he could not only live every day without any inconveniences, he could return to being an adventurer.
4069
4070But Magic Item artificial arms, even those that did not function particularly well, cost over ten times what Simon had expected.
4071
4072As Simon had only just become a D-class adventurer, he didn’t have a large amount in savings. Even if all of his party members scraped together all of their wealth, it still wasn’t enough for even a down payment.
4073
4074Even if he went to the Guild for a loan, they could not loan a large amount of money to adventurers who had just become D-class.
4075
4076Still, Simon struggled hard and did not give up. He trained to use his sword with his left hand, and even tried training to become a shield-bearer and learning magic to change his role in the party.
4077
4078But this hadn’t gone well, and Simon had left his party so that he wouldn’t hinder them. His companions had left Morksi after that, and he hadn’t heard their names since, so he didn’t know what had become of them.
4079
4080Perhaps they had died before becoming famous, or perhaps they were moderately active as C-class adventurers in another duchy, or perhaps they had given up adventuring and taken up other professions. Perhaps the Guild would have told Simon if he asked, but he hadn’t even tried asking.
4081
4082Left in this city on his own, Simon had continued living out of force of habit. At first, he had worked as a baggage carrier for other adventurers, attempted jobs in production industries – he believed that he had done his best to live as a respectable person.
4083
4084But before he knew it, his alcohol consumption had increased, and he had gone from living in a cheap inn on the main street to a dilapidated house in the slum district, and he had stopped caring about his appearance past the bare minimum that was socially required.
4085
4086The sword and armor he used in the past had been sold for living expenses, and he had truly become an outcast who had settled into the slums.
4087
4088He couldn’t blame currently-active adventurers for pitying and sneering at him.
4089
4090Despite that, Simon had brought parts that served as proof for having exterminated monsters. This drew unavoidable attention. News quickly spread that there was a Dhampir boy, a Tamer but not an adventurer, who was hunting monsters for meat to use at his food cart, and Simon was being hired to sell these parts for him.
4091
4092Though Vandalieu was merely doing it for the meat, the fact that he was acquiring the meat on his own was not a pleasant situation for the Adventurers’ Guild.
4093
4094It was possible that potential clients who didn’t understand the situation would wonder why they needed to pay such large fees for monsters to be exterminated when a child who was not even an adventurer could do it.
4095
4096Even without such thinking, Vandalieu’s cutting into their profits was no joking matter.
4097
4098But naturally, Vandalieu didn’t visit the Adventurers’ Guild himself, so everyone’s discontent was directed at Simon, the one running Vandalieu’s errands.
4099
4100In any case, people had asked Simon to tell Vandalieu to either make requests for meat at the Adventurers’ Guild or register as an adventurer himself.
4101
4102The gazes of active adventurers towards Simon had changed from looks of ridicule to looks of contempt. They thought he was buttering Vandalieu up, milking him as much as he could.
4103
4104… He was indeed milking Vandalieu, so he couldn’t say anything back, however.
4105
4106But over the past ten years, Simon had become fully accustomed to receiving ridicule and scorn. He found it unpleasant in the moment, he didn’t really think much of it, but… after hearing Darcia’s sermon, he had started thinking.
4107
4108As long as people continued to live, they could redo things. So then, perhaps he could try becoming a respectable adventurer again, one that wouldn’t be subjected to such treatment.
4109
4110Before he knew what he was doing, Simon had found himself taking his money not to a bar, but to a weapons store. There, he had purchased a sword, then began to move his weakened body.
4111
4112Today, he had left the city at a timing where he wouldn’t run into Vandalieu, looked for a lone Goblin wandering around outside a Devil’s Nest, and hunted it.
4113
4114Simon chuckled. “At this rate, in less than a month… I’ll even be able to take on Rank 2 monsters. Then, if I can regain the senses I had back in the day and become able to fight with my left arm… even Rank 3 monsters aren’t an impossible dream.”
4115
4116It was hard to make a living as an adventurer without hunting monsters that were at least Rank 3. Hunting Rank 2 monsters would be enough to continue living in the slums, but there would be no point in devoting himself to a dangerous profession with a handicapped body only to live the same lifestyle that he had been living up until now.
4117
4118Feeling like he was moving forward towards the goal that his eyes were fixed upon, Simon laughed, but there was sweat on his forehead and his shoulders heaved up and down as he breathed heavily.
4119
4120Years of an unhealthy lifestyle had reduced his stamina more severely than he had thought.
4121
4122In this world, there was a Status System and Skills. Skills were effective for the rest of one’s life after acquiring them.
4123
4124But that did not mean that Skills were always as effective as their Levels would suggest no matter what the condition of the user’s body was.
4125
4126If one’s muscles atrophied, the speed and strength of their sword swing would decrease, and if their senses grew dull, their parrying abilities would dull as well.
4127
4128But Simon did not dwell on his current state; he cut off the Goblin’s ear and, with clumsy movements, began dismantling the corpse.
4129
4130“Never would have thought that I’d be going through the effort of taking Goblin meat back home with me,” he chuckled to himself. “And I’ll make that bra – Vandalieu-san, realize that I’m not just some gofer –”
4131
4132Suddenly, Simon leapt away from the Goblin corpse and raised his sword. He found himself facing a pack of wolves.
4133
4134“Wolves… Shit, they were lured here by the smell of blood, huh,” he muttered.
4135
4136They were ordinary wolves, not monsters. This pack of wolves, which roamed outside the Devil’s Nest, had been drawn here by the Goblin corpse that Simon had been dismantling.
4137
4138There were just under ten of them, and all of them looked somewhat thin. It was likely that they hadn’t been able to hunt enough to eat properly this winter. They were looking to take the leftovers from the monster that Simon had defeated.
4139
4140The odds are against me… I have no choice but to back down, Simon decided.
4141
4142He slowly stepped backwards away from the Goblin’s corpse, glaring at the wolves.
4143
4144They weren’t monsters, but if one were to put a Rank on them, they would be Rank 2, and there were nearly ten of them. They were not adversaries that Simon could fend off.
4145
4146But fortunately, as they were not monsters, they were not fixated on killing humans. Simon would almost certainly be able to get away without fighting as long as he gave them the Goblin’s corpse.
4147
4148That was what he thought, but it seemed that the wolves decided differently. The pack spread out to surround him, despite the fact that he was slowly trying to back away.
4149
4150Simon’s face stiffened. “These bastards think I’m easy prey!”
4151
4152The wolves weren’t just after the Goblin corpse; they had decided that the one-armed, fatigued Simon was food for them as well.
4153
4154As if in response to Simon’s words, the wolves bared their fangs, and one wolf from the back leapt at him to try and knock him off his feet.
4155
4156“Sh-shit, ‘Instant Response!’ ‘Single Flash!’”
4157
4158Simon activated a martial skill that he hadn’t used for years, improving his reaction speed, and swung his sword at the head of the wolf that had leapt at him.
4159
4160But he groaned as pain ran through the arm that he used to swing his weapon, and his attack missed the wolf. He immediately tried to avoid the wolf’s tackle, but his leg was caught, and he fell onto the ground.
4161
4162W-why?! I used my martial skill!
4163
4164His reaction speed had increased, and he had been able to clearly see the wolf that tried to knock him down.
4165
4166Indeed, his martial skill had been active. But his arm, which had atrophied and lost its muscular strength, had screamed in pain, unable to withstand the use of ‘Single Flash,’ a martial skill that involved a fast swing of the sword. His atrophied leg, unable to keep up with Simon’s improved reaction speed, had gotten caught.
4167
4168No way! I’m gonna die in a place like this?! Simon thought in despair.
4169
4170“HEL –” he screamed as the wolf leapt at his throat to end his life.
4171
4172He heard the low growl of a rat and a yelp of pain from the wolf as it was thrown into the air.
4173
4174Surprised, he looked up to see an enormous, furry rat with a long tail that had a metallic shine to it.
4175
4176“Wha – A monster? But it’s a rat, could it be…?”
4177
4178Simon heard another rat screech.
4179
4180Before he could get onto his feet, he felt heat on one side of him and cold air on the other side. In the next moment, a ball of flames burned a wolf, then a blast of cold air froze it solid.
4181
4182Two more rats appeared; one was wreathed in flames and the other was surrounded by a liquid that radiated cold air.
4183
4184“Three rats means that it’s definitely…” Simon muttered.
4185
4186As he became aware of who was rescuing him, an echoing, fearsome roar shook the air. The surviving wolves yelped and fled.
4187
4188“It’s a little late for me to say this, but I’m here to help,” said Vandalieu, who was riding on the back of a gray-furred Hellhound.
4189
4190Knowing that he was saved, Simon gave a sigh of relief.
4191
4192 
4193
4194 
4195
4196 
4197
4198It was pure coincidence that Vandalieu had come to Simon’s aid. He had been hunting with Darcia yesterday, so he had gone hunting earlier than usual today to work hard on Fang’s Leveling, and happened to come across Simon on the way home after Fang’s Rank increased.
4199
4200“I see, so that’s why you were hunting a Goblin,” said Vandalieu, having heard Simon’s explanation of the situation.
4201
4202“Yes, I got rather hot-headed. It’s unbecoming for someone my age…” said Simon, who was sitting on the ground, unable to fight off his fatigue.
4203
4204Vandalieu was touching Simon’s arm.
4205
4206“This is embarrassing. Even now, my legs won’t stop shaking… I’m pathetic,” said Simon, lamenting his own weakness.
4207
4208“You’ve spent quite a long time not doing this kind of work, haven’t you? It can’t be helped. And it seems you’re quite fatigued, too,” said Vandalieu.
4209
4210“Yes… But I’m starting to feel better as we keep talking.” Simon gave a self-deprecating laugh. “I’m not sure which one of us is supposed to be the older one…”
4211
4212“That’s just because I’m curing your fatigue,” said Vandalieu.
4213
4214Indeed, he was using ‘Out-of-body Experience’ to put his spirit-form arm inside Simon, examine the state of his body, massage his muscles and improve his recovery by fusing with him.
4215
4216Ordinarily, Vandalieu wouldn’t be able to put his spirit form into Simon unless Simon himself allowed it, or if he were unconscious. But he was able to quietly heal Simon as he was currently in a depressed mental state and didn’t have the willpower to resist.
4217
4218He hurt the muscles in his arm, and just has a few other scrapes. His organs are like this because of years of unhealthy living, Vandalieu observed. His brain is… hmm.
4219
4220“By the way, this is Fang, and if I recall, Maroru, Urumi and Suruga? Their appearances have changed quite a bit. Did their Ranks increase?” Simon asked, unaware that the inside of his head was being examined while he was being treated.
4221
4222Fang, sitting next to Vandalieu on standby, gave a bark. The rats were devouring the wolves’ organs.
4223
4224Fang had been a Black Dog, but he was now a Rank 4 Hellhound. He had grown to about the size of a cow, but the color of his fur hadn’t changed.
4225
4226Hellhounds were monsters that were well-known by adventurers. Their ability to breathe flames, and their ferocious and savage nature, were well-known. Thus, they were considered difficult to tame even by skillful Tamers.
4227
4228But as Fang had started out as an ordinary dog that had undergone multiple Rank increases to become a Hellhound, he appeared to not be ferocious at all… though his roar had been so terrifying that even Simon had frozen in fear despite knowing that it was Fang.
4229
4230It was possible that Simon’s legs were still shaking partially because of Fang.
4231
4232But although Fang had turned from a Black Dog to a Hellhound, the transformation that the rats had undergone was even more dramatic. Up until yesterday, they had been Rank 3 Murder Rats.
4233
4234These were considered to be the strongest among known rat-type monsters, which preyed on humans with their sharp fangs, but… Maroru and the others were certainly not Murder Rats now.
4235
4236As the conversation turned towards them, the rats stopped feasting on wolf organs and gave sly squeaks at Simon… with their mouths stained red with blood.
4237
4238“Yes, they’ve become Rank 4 like Fang,” said Vandalieu. “Maroru is a Flame Rat, Urumi is a Wet Rat, and Suruga is apparently an Iron Rat.”
4239
4240The rats had changed race, and their fur had changed accordingly to their race titles. Maroru was wreathed in flames, Urumi was surrounded by water and cold air, and Suruga had gained the ability to make her fur itself as hard as metal.
4241
4242They’d mutated so much that one would never think that they had once been ordinary rats.
4243
4244“Do you know of these races?” Vandalieu asked.
4245
4246“No… Never heard of them,” said Simon. “Maybe you don’t get them around here… or maybe they’re new races?! If they are, you can get a reward if you report them to the Tamers’ Guild or the Adventurers’ Guild!”
4247
4248Considering Simon’s response, it was likely that the rats were of new races. With the exception of Wet Rats, Vandalieu had heard of the other two races as monsters that appeared in Earth’s folk tales, so he hadn’t thought that this was the case.
4249
4250With that being the case, I suppose I’m the reason for their Rank increase to their current races. Maybe it’s because I went to Earth and gained knowledge there? Vandalieu wondered. If that’s the case, if Fang had a twin, maybe it would have mutated into a Komainu instead of a Hellhound.
4251
4252TLN: Komainu are lion-dogs made of stone seen at Japanese shrines.
4253
4254Meanwhile, the treatment of Simon’s arm was finished, and Vandalieu let go of it.
4255
4256“I think you’ll be alright now. Can you stand?” he asked.
4257
4258“Yes, I can manage… I’m really sorry for causing you so much trouble. I don’t know if I can say that this is thanks, but please take that Goblin and this as well,” said Simon, gingerly getting to his feet and pointing at the Goblin he’d killed.
4259
4260He also held out his sword and scabbard.
4261
4262“It’s a cheap sword, but I don’t have anything else on me, so… I haven’t used it much yet, so you should be able to have the weapon store buy it back for some amount,” he said.
4263
4264“Are you sure? Weren’t you going to redo being an adventurer?” said Vandalieu.
4265
4266“Yes, I’ve learned my place. I’m not cut out to live this lifestyle… I’ll redo things, but for a different lifestyle.”
4267
4268Simon’s mind had been completely broken by this experience of almost being killed by wolves. He had been encouraged by Darcia’s sermon, but it was certainly fate that he had been saved by her son. He tried to convince himself that the goddess believed he was not suited for the adventuring profession.
4269
4270Of course, he didn’t have any idea what this ‘different lifestyle’ would be. The current Simon was here as a result of having tried and failed at that in the past.
4271
4272If he had at least acquired a creation-oriented Job, things would have been different, but… Simon’s current job was ‘Swordsman,’ and it was at Level 10. He would need to Level up ninety more times to change Jobs.
4273
4274On top of that, he had hit a barrier in his development, making it hard for his Level to increase.
4275
4276His companions from the past had also tried to help him to at least allow him to change Jobs, but he gained almost no Experience Points from anything other than combat, and his Level had increased at a snail’s pace. Unable to bear this, it was Simon who had backed down from this arrangement.
4277
4278“If I at least had a talent for taming like you, maybe I could have done something even with only one arm, but… this can’t be helped. I’m sorry, but please use me as your gopher, at least for the next little while,” Simon said.
4279
4280“No, if you want to redo things, I’ll help, since you were so inspired by my mother’s sermon that you want to change your life,” said Vandalieu, showing no signs of wanting to take Simon’s sword.
4281
4282“Huh? You’ll teach me the basics of taming?!”
4283
4284“No, that’s something that can’t be taught even if I wanted to teach it. What I’ll be helping you with is gaining your arm back.”
4285
4286“My arm?! Th-that’s even more surprising… Are you acquainted with a skilled alchemist?”
4287
4288The truth was that Vandalieu himself was a ‘skilled alchemist,’ but Vandalieu didn’t mention that.
4289
4290“It will all depend on your hard work and motivation,” he said. “But if you have those, I promise you that you will acquire the best arm possible.”
4291
4292He had an idea for helping Simon regain his arm. It was… not the use of the root of life, the Lambda version of pluripotent cells that the champion Zakkart had created.
4293
4294If he used that, Simon’s arm would certainly regenerate. But too much time had passed since he lost his arm. His brain had completely forgotten how to move his right arm; the brain cells needed for that were now either gone or serving other functions.
4295
4296With that being the case, even if Simon were to regrow his arm, a long period of rehabilitation would be required for him to become able to move it. Though he might become able to use it in everyday life again, it would be difficult for him to regain the strength and dexterity needed for battle even decades later.
4297
4298In the case of Bellmond’s tail, Vandalieu had been able to regenerate her brain tissue as well, but… that was because she was a Vampire with an advanced regenerative ability. It was difficult to achieve the same in Simon, who was a human.
4299
4300That was why Vandalieu intended to teach Simon the best secret possible for moving an artificial arm.
4301
4302“It won’t need any special talent or qualities; you only need to believe in my words and follow me until it works. However, I believe that people will be uncomfortable around you or stare at you inquisitively afterwards,” he warned Simon.
4303
4304Simon listened to Vandalieu’s vague explanation. He didn’t know Vandalieu very well, and today was the first time that they’d had a conversation this long. But looking at Fang and the rats, he could tell that Vandalieu wasn’t an ordinary person, and more importantly, he was the son of Darcia, the one who had given him the determination to redo his life.
4305
4306He was certain that Vandalieu wouldn’t demand anything unreasonable.
4307
4308“… If I never met you and your mother in the first place, I’d have just continued working day jobs and barely feeding myself, living like a dead person,” said Simon. “It might not be of much worth, but I’ll entrust my life to you.”
4309
4310The moment he finished his sentence, a large change occurred inside him.
4311
4312The weight of his body disappeared, making him feel light, and his head felt clear. His body was filled to the brim with strength.
4313
4314“O-OH! This is… I feel like I was reborn the moment I decided to follow you! I feel like I could go and send those wolves flying into the air now!” Simon shouted, jumping up and down on the spot.
4315
4316He had been guided by Vandalieu at that moment.
4317
4318Darcia’s sermon had left a deep impression on Simon yesterday, but he had still not been guided by Vandalieu at that point.
4319
4320Darcia hadn’t preached Vandalieu’s values and view of life at the Communal Church; she had preached the teachings of Vida, the goddess of life and love, that were taught in the Boundary Mountain Range.
4321
4322But becoming a believer of Vida didn’t necessarily guide one to Vandalieu’s Dark Demon Creation Path. One needed to either decide to follow Vandalieu as Simon had just done, or become strongly charmed by him like the Undead were.
4323
4324… That was why the food cart owners that Vandalieu had taught how to make Gobu-gobu and steamed Kobold meat had already been guided.
4325
4326“I’m sure you’re full of willpower. At this rate you’ll be able to work hard in training tomorrow,” said Vandalieu, repeating the same words he had said to the food cart owners to play down the guidance’s effects when they found their physical abilities enhanced.
4327
4328“Of course!” said Simon. “But… We’re starting tomorrow?”
4329
4330“Yes. I need to prepare some necessary things, and… I need to stock the ingredients tonight.”
4331
4332Vandalieu wasn’t negligent when it came to the operation of his food cart.
4333
4334 
4335
4336 
4337
4338 
4339
4340Vandalieu and his companions had left their carts where they were and rushed over to help Simon. Thus, they had to go back to get them before returning to the city.
4341
4342Simon was afraid that other monsters would have ravaged it by now, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
4343
4344“He used some kind of spell…? He never ceases to surprise,” Simon said to Fang, who had been ordered to guard Simon while he waited for Vandalieu and the rats.
4345
4346Fang barked in response.
4347
4348Fang knew that the truth was that Vandalieu hadn’t used a spell; he had left Chipuras behind to watch the cart. But he didn’t tell Simon the details… though it wasn’t as if he had become able to speak the human language from his Rank increase.
4349
4350Incidentally, Fang disliked humans, but felt a sense of closeness and companionship with those who had been guided by Vandalieu, so it didn’t seem that he had any hostility or excessive sense of caution towards Simon.
4351
4352Fang himself believed that this was because he perceived Simon to now be something that wasn’t a human, though his appearance remained the same.
4353
4354“I’m not as amazing as you, seeing as you turned into a Hellhound in just a few days, but I feel like I can change my way of life now,” Simon said to Fang.
4355
4356Fang gave an encouraging bark to his new junior. ‘That’s the spirit,’ he seemed to be saying.
4357
4358But this peaceful conversation was abruptly interrupted.
4359
4360“So, you’ve tamed a Hellhound. It seems that you’re a capable Tamer,” a voice said without warning.
4361
4362Fang immediately got to his feet to protect Simon.
4363
4364The owner of the voice… Randolf, gave an impressed nod.
4365
4366Despite having received no command, it protects its owner, and yet doesn’t attack. It has been well-trained, considering the ferocious and savage nature of Hellhounds, Randolf thought.
4367
4368Indeed, he mistakenly thought that Simon was Fang’s Tamer.
4369
4370“N-no, I’m not –” Simon began, bewildered by what appeared to be a human adventurer.
4371
4372“Sorry, but I’d like to make a request. I want you to take these two to the Adventurers’ Guild,” said Randolf, one-sidedly stating his business without listening to Simon.
4373
4374He brought forward Natania and Juliana, whom he had made float behind him with wind-attribute magic, and presented them to Simon.
4375
4376“Wha –?! This is terrible…” Simon whispered.
4377
4378The two were wrapped in cloths, but he could tell with a single glance that they were both missing all of their limbs. Despite Simon and Fang being in front of her, Juliana showed no response but to look over at them with a hollow gaze.
4379
4380“It’d be better to take them to a healing mage’s clinic rather than an Adventurers’ Guild… No, maybe the Church would be better!” Simon exclaimed, disturbed by their serious states.
4381
4382“Wait, calm down! Our wounds are fine, so we want you to take us to the Adventurers’ Guild! I’m Natania, and this is Julia… Yes, her name is Julia,” Natania said hastily. “The truth is –”
4383
4384She began explaining the situation.
4385
4386Randolf watched silently. Natania referred to Juliana as ‘Julia,’ a woman she had met after being attacked and captured by Minotaurs, and told Simon that she didn’t know anything other than her name.
4387
4388The Minotaur King incident would be dealt with by the Alcrem family of dukes and the Guild Master of the Adventurers’ Guild in the capital, so there was no need to report it to the Guild in the city of Morksi.
4389
4390Randolf intended to disappear once he saw that Simon thought of them as unfortunate victims of Minotaurs and accepted their request.
4391
4392But before Natania finished speaking, he felt a chill on his spine, as if someone had pressed ice against it.
4393
4394This is… The Demon King fragment is reacting?!
4395
4396Surprised, Randolf checked the small Orichalcum bottle… the Demon King fragment’s seal. It was trembling. The fragment, which was sealed and had not infested any host, was reacting to something.
4397
4398Wondering if the god of law and fate had caused another eclipse, Randolf looked at the sky, but that wasn’t the case either.
4399
4400Then what is it?! I know that there have recently been incidents of Demon King fragments that have infested hosts traveling towards the Boundary Mountain Range, but… this is the Alcrem Duchy! This isn’t close enough to the Boundary Mountain Range for a sealed fragment to be reacting! Randolf thought. Wait, I don’t have the time to think about what’s causing it.
4401
4402The freshly-applied seal on the Demon King’s oviduct looked like it would hold, but at this rate, it was possible that the older seal on the fragment that the Minotaur King had been using in its ritual would break.
4403
4404If the seal was broken, it was possible that the fragment would aim to infest the Hellhound, Simon, Natania or Juliana as its host.
4405
4406“Hey, here’s the fee for their request,” Randolf said, handing Simon a Magic Stone that he had harvested from a Minotaur. “And this is a farewell gift for you two,” he said, handing several Magic Stones taken from Minotaur Mages to Natania. “I’ll leave them to you!”
4407
4408And with that, he used the wind-attribute spell ‘Soar’ to take off into the sky.
4409
4410“Wait! What’s going on all of a su… Ah, he’s gone. What’s wrong with that guy?” Simon wondered.
4411
4412“… Who knows?” said Natania, staring blankly up in the direction that Randolf had flown in.
4413
4414Next to her, Fang relaxed his guard.
4415
4416He had sensed that Randolf was an overwhelmingly powerful individual. He had been so mentally fatigued by his presence that he had not even thought to warn his carefree junior.
4417
4418“Well, we don’t mind carrying you to the Adventurers’ Guild, but hold on for a moment. This guy’s owner, and my… What should I call him? Boss, teacher, master… Yes, my master who is going to train me, is coming,” Simon told Natania.
4419
4420“Master? You’re not the one who tamed this guy?” Natania asked, looking at Fang.
4421
4422“Yeah, he’ll be back soon – Ah, that’s him!”
4423
4424As if showing up to replace Randolf, Vandalieu and the rats returned, each pulling a cart with them.
4425
4426“Hmm? It seems like something happened. Could you please explain the situation?” said Vandalieu.
4427
4428“Yes, Master! An adventurer I didn’t recognize appeared out of nowhere with these two –” Simon began.
4429
4430“I see. Natania-san and Juliana-san, yes?”
4431
4432“How do you know my name?!” exclaimed Natania, bewildered.
4433
4434There was no way that he could have known her name, let alone Juliana’s, which hadn’t even been spoken.
4435
4436I’m the one who’s surprised. I’ve returned to find that I have even more apprentices, Vandalieu thought.
4437
4438“I’ll hear the rest of your story while we move, shall I?” said Vandalieu.
4439
4440“Alright, I’ll tell you what I can. But this person is Julia. Don’t say the name ‘Juliana’ out loud. Please, help us,” Natania begged him.
4441
4442Vandalieu nodded. “Yes, of course I’ll help you… I see. That must have been an ordeal,” he murmured.
4443
4444He was mainly looking not at Natania, but the spirits of what appeared to be knights and village girls that were floating around Juliana.
4445
4446“Please help Captain Juliana and this girl who persuaded that man not to kill her,” one of the spirits said.
4447
4448“Please, help. Help, help, hel-hel-hel-hel…” said another nonsensically.
4449
4450“Ah, our god… Our god, help…” said a third.
4451
4452“It’s alright, it’s alright. Please stay calm,” Vandalieu told the spirits, nodding to their words.
4453
4454He had already planned to help Simon. That one person had turned into over a dozen, then multiple dozens. That was all.A wildcat-type Beast-kin female adventurer. Her adventurer class is D-class. She has not acquired the ‘Coordination’ Skill because she has worked solo up until now, but she has acquired the skills of a scout instead.
4455
4456But as she has no arms or legs, she is currently in a state where she cannot use most of her Skills. She has been in this state for a long time, so her brain may lose some functions and she may lose Skills such as ‘Enhanced Agility.’
4457
4458Incidentally, the reason her missing limbs are displayed as a Status Effect while Simon’s missing arm is not is because Simon’s arm has been missing for so long that it is now considered his normal state.
4459
4460 The youngest sister of the current Duke Alcrem. She has already renounced her right to succeed her family, but she is a member of a respectable house of dukes.
4461
4462She belongs to a knights’ order and had been entrusted with the command of one unit. If her abilities were to be judged with the Adventurers’ Guild’s standards, she would be considered C-class; there were high hopes for her future.
4463
4464However, like Natania, she is currently missing her limbs. Furthermore, several of the Minotaur King’s eggs have been planted inside her womb by the Demon King’s oviduct.
4465
4466The trauma from these events has caused her mind to break, and even if her body were to be restored to its previous state, it is uncertain as to whether she would return to normal.