Episode 364

Ludwig frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Sir James, isn't your purpose to put this lizardman in the labor camp anyway? This means I will save you the trouble," Seren replied.

Ludwig chuckled. "Why? The more you look at him, the more you covet this lizardman? Do you think he will be able to perform well as a player if you put him in the labor camp?"

Ludwig calling me a player was oddly fitting, which made me almost laugh.

Seren slowly shook her head. "He seems to be a pretty good warrior, but there are many people with this kind of skill in this desert."

"Really? Well, that aside, how much are you planning to pay for him?" Ludwig asked.

"Ten gold coins."

I abruptly came to my senses. This was incredibly expensive for a lizardman. The empire had mostly abolished slavery, but it hadn't completely disappeared. Just look at the auction hosted by Raizen. In my opinion, ten gold coins were enough to buy a few dozen lizardmen. In the first place, they were a race with little value as slaves.

"That amount is generous, but didn't you mention 1,000 gold coins just now? Why does this sound a bit bland?" Ludwig asked evenly.

"I said that to make it easier to understand. It is impossible for one person to secure an artifact alone. They must form a team of at least five, sometimes even dozens, of people. In the process, the profit will naturally be divided equally," she explained.

"Still, as long as the prisoner survives, the profit will keep coming in steadily," Ludwig argued.

Seren nodded. "That is true. However, I don't think a prestigious Badniker knight would want to be caught in this type of risky game. What will happen if this is revealed later on?"

I almost whistled. If this had been a real duel, this would have been the moment Seren's sword pierced her opponent's weak spot. Her words had struck the Badnikers' vulnerability with precision. Only someone who truly understood the Badniker family could have made such a remark. Most noble families valued face, but due to their family head's philosophy, the Badnikers maintained an even stricter, more rigid demeanor.

She continued, "In addition, to receive payments regularly, you need to constantly stay in the south and manage the prisoner personally. You can't rely on a proxy for this. Excuse me, but don't you need to eventually leave this desert, Sir James?"

Ludwig was silent for a moment, as if he had no objections to this. Then, he glanced at me and said, "That is true. Okay. I will think about it a bit more. Let's stop here today."

"When should I come back?" she asked.

"In one day. That will be enough time."

"I understand. See you again tomorrow at the same time. Please tell me about the Golden Fairy then." Seren nodded politely and left coolly.

For someone who had requested information about me, she didn't seem particularly curious about the content of said information. In that case, there had to be another reason she had contacted Ludwig.

There was no need for me to think about it too much. Maybe the contact itself was the purpose.

I would also be curious if a Badniker knight suddenly appeared in the south. I normally would have been worried about it. However, this was Seren, so I didn't worry too much about it. Of course, some caution was necessary.

The moment Seren left, Ludwig glanced at the adjacent room and held up two fingers.

I mouthed, "Two people?"

He nodded.

As expected, someone was keeping watch.

In the brief moment when our eyes met, Ludwig spoke quickly so as not to raise suspicion. "What is it, lizardman? Do you think handing you over to the intelligence guild will improve your treatment?"

I didn't speak.

"Make no mistake. You are from a lesser race and you remain a criminal. You will be treated as livestock wherever you go." As he spoke, he pulled out a small notebook, scribbled something, and showed it to me.

What should I do?

"I wasn't thinking about that," I replied indifferently as I took the pen.

Shit. It was painfully difficult to write with lizardman fingers, but if I pressed down hard enough, the symbols at least resembled letters.

I don't know what kind of trick is being played, but her words are quite reasonable. At the very least, it would be strange if James refused.

We continued the conversation while exchanging notes with each other.

Still, the thought of handing you over annoys me.

I investigated Bastard a bit. The guild master changed half a year ago. It was exactly at that point that their power started to grow.

If there is such a rapidly growing force in a big city like this, one of two possibilities is true.

Either the master is absurdly shrewd or they have someone important backing them up.

I only realized it now, but Ludwig's writing speed was incredibly quick. Still, I couldn't hear the scratching sound of the pen. Was he using some kind of magic?

I considered trivial things for a moment. Then, I moved the pen he handed to me, writing, Let's accept the suggestion.

Why?

Writing with the pen was uncomfortable, so I didn't write long words.

I think I can do more on that front.

The gist of it was simple. Instead of relying on a backer like the Badnikers, sneaking in through the path of the intelligence guild would likely lead me to a rougher situation. I could cause more trouble and get tangled up with many people. If I did that, I would naturally be able to contact Gustav.

Ludwig wrote, Okay, if that is what you think. Then we don't have to wait until tomorrow, right?

I wrote back with difficulty, No. But we should investigate more, just in case. Brother, please find out what type of place Bastard is. Is it a reliable place, have they crossed the line, what type of person is their master... If you can afford it, look further into Father's actions as well.

Ludwig wrote indignantly, You really know how to make people work hard.

Ludwig's expression said it all. Then, he said in a sharp voice, "I can't put up with a lowly monster like you any longer. Yes... It wouldn't hurt to accept the master's words. Congratulations. A new hell will unfold for you now."

I snorted and hit my own forearm. Thanks to the scales, it sounded like a scabbard had hit me. At the very least, the people eavesdropping from next door would assume I had been struck.

I said in a heavy voice, "I will keep that in mind."

Ludwig nodded. He was about to leave the room when he wrote, So what are you going to do today? Stay at the inn?

I wrote back, No. I have something to do.

I was lost in thought as I touched the key in my subspace. I would be busy once I entered the labor camp, so now was my only opportunity.

***

How would someone who had been trapped underground for centuries feel after finally setting foot on the ground again? Under the blue sky that one couldn't remember any longer, one could feel the sun and the wind and breathe in the dry air unique to the desert.

I couldn't imagine this easily despite having a similar experience. From my perspective, I could have been considered confined to Spirit Mountain for ten years. It was an unimaginably long time for someone who hadn't even lived fifty years.

Come to think of it, I don't have a bad feeling about this. Spirit Mountain was large to the point of being absurd, and there were many unknown areas. I probably hadn't even explored a quarter of it by the moment I left. Above all, I had my master and seniors.

On the other hand, the person now standing on top of the sand dune, gazing down at Airuga, had been confined dozens of times longer than me and had only dealt with people who had shown her no goodwill.

At that moment, Lise Ladygoth had to be feeling a tremendous sense of liberation, yet she wouldn't say anything. She simply stood there on the sand dune, eyes closed, letting the occasionally hot wind blow over her. She had been like that for an hour already.

It was worth deliberately bringing her here, to the wide open dune with an unobstructed view, rather than the city. Under the blazing sun, Lise's white skin looked very fragile. She was so petite that I half-wondered whether a strong gust of wind would blow her far away like a fallen leaf.

In any case, I could be talkative, but I wasn't clueless. I quietly stayed out of the way, not interrupting Lise's thoughts.

Around ten more minutes passed before Lise finally looked at me. Her pupils were a bit shaky, but she seemed to be relatively calm now.

I finally said, "I wish there were more things to see here, but it is a desert, so the view is limited. Well, this is the largest city in the south. I hope you understand."

"Don't overthink. The desert is a place that I wanted to stop by at least once. By the way, what's up with your appearance?" she asked.

"Ah. Personal reasons," I replied.

I was currently using the Nalu disguise, which I had briefly assumed in the capital. Luan couldn't move freely, and Luzard was under Bastard's watchful eye, so I had little choice. The Lichal Mask still had one hidden disguise left, but I would rather save it. That left Nalu as my only option.

"Should we eat something first?" I asked. "Let me know if there is anything you want. I will keep it in mind."

"You must know this city well," she remarked.

"Somewhat."

Lise pondered this. "I want to eat something sweet."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you have plenty of dessert. For now, shall we go to a place I recommend?"

"Yes."

I led Lise down the sand dune and back into Airuga.

First of all, I bought her some expensive clothes. In many ways, Lise's usual appearance drew a lot of attention. It was only after she tidied up her messy hair and put on a clean outfit that the gloomy vibe she gave off disappeared somewhat.

I glanced at Lise. The situation was a bit awkward, but she didn't seem to dislike it.

Okay. I inwardly laughed slyly. I planned to turn today's daily outing with Lise into the best memory. I had reached the conclusion that there was nothing wrong with making a good impression on this outstanding black mage.

I headed to the restaurant with Lise after helping her clean up. I had visited the place several times before my regression, and it was known for its snake meat. When I thought of snake meat, I expected toughness, a strong odor, and questionable hygiene, but none of that applied here. If it had, I would not have returned as often as I did.

"By the way, is snake meat okay with you?" I asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You have a snake vibe about you, what with your hair and all that. I thought it would be a bit annoying," I explained.

I spoke out of consideration, but Lise replied in a nonchalant tone while staring blankly at the street, "It doesn't matter. People who keep ornamental fish don't refuse to eat fish, right?"

"Oh..." Her meaning was clear. I sat down, glanced at the menu, and asked, "Is there anything else you want to eat?"

"What is this steamed scorpion dish like?" she asked.

"It is a bit spicy. Should I order one so you can taste it?"

"Yes. I also want us to have some fruit and vegetable dishes," she replied while looking for something in the dessert section.

I nodded without showing this. In the end, we ended up ordering too much for the two of us.

After a while, the food came out.

Lise didn't make a fuss, but she moved her utensils with great caution. She slowly put the food in her mouth and chewed it with great care. Occasionally, she would flinch in surprise, mutter words of admiration, or soften her expression slightly when she found a dish she particularly liked.

In the meantime, I put the food in my mouth and looked around. I could feel burning eyes on us. I pretended not to notice, but I could sense the mercenaries smiling and sneaking sly glances at us.

Two well-dressed teenagers had ordered all sorts of dishes, which naturally drew attention. They probably thought we were spoiled children from wealthy families. How much money did we have? Did we have any guards around us? They were probably observing these things.

It was only natural for flies to start buzzing around. Although Airuga was relatively safe compared to other places, the south was still the south. It was bound to be a mess compared to the capital and Teper, where the Hero Society was located.

Of course, there would be no problem if they picked a fight. I could beat them up to my heart's content. Both Lise and I wouldn't be here tomorrow, so there was no need to worry about being followed.

A short time later, we finished our meal. I stepped outside with Lise, who had a rather satisfied expression on her face.

"I have good news," I said.

"What is it?"

"There is a branch of De Marlin Refreshments in this city."

Lise was surprised.

My expression was triumphant at her reaction, which had exceeded my expectations. "You've never had freshly-baked pastries, have you? They really melt in your mouth. Pair this with high-quality black tea and you won't even notice how much you eat."

"I see..." Lise pretended to be calm, but she listened carefully while murmuring, "Pastries and black tea..."

The plan was very smooth. I seemed to have scored a lot of points, but there was no harm in trying to make a better impression.

"By the way, the De Marlin Refreshments store is always crowded with customers. I will have to wait a bit. Lise, would you like to wait at the inn?" I offered. "I'll pack up soon."

"I would rather look around here," she stated.

I considered it for a moment before nodding. "Are you sure? You shouldn't do anything too conspicuous..."

"You are worrying unnecessarily. Who do you think I am?"

At present, she looked like a country girl who had just arrived in the city.

I nodded without giving away any of my thoughts. If she were somewhere nearby, I would be able to react quickly if anything happened.

By the way, there are a lot of people here. Who would've thought that the De Marlin Refreshments store would be so popular in Airuga?

Even burly mercenaries with tattoos and serious expressions couldn't resist the lure of sweet desserts. It was strangely fascinating to see these intimidating figures lining up in front of the small store with the cute sign.

I was a bit dispirited that I also had to join that line. The line is longer than I expected. At this rate, I will end up waiting here for an hour. Don't they accept reservations here?

I was standing there, my mind on trivial things, when a familiar voice suddenly rang out. "Oh? You look familiar."

I got goosebumps the moment I heard the clear voice.

I looked behind me and saw a woman who was half a head taller than me while I was in the Nalu form.

She had striking features, curly hair, and crescent-shaped eyes. Her clothes had changed, but I recognized her at a glance. She was the witch I had encountered at the Middle Name meeting while I was in the Nalu form. Later, I stopped by Frostwolf Village in the north to find Verita and learned that she was a Colorless believer.

"Ah, I never thought we would meet in a place like this. As expected, fate likes to keep things fun," she remarked.

I was shocked.

Dorothy looked down at me with a smile. "What are you doing here?"