Karma
Karma
Asilie's first remark after running over from a different position than the lookout tower I'd first climbed and seeing the captain's corpse was deeply shocking.
"Wow, there's someone even bigger than Eldi."
"Hey, big sis? Are you saying I'm some kind of giant specimen?"
"Mm. Well, aren't you, though...?"
"Somehow that feels incredibly unfair."
Even if it was true that I was way bigger than my peers, with examples like Yekaterina and Radnelbandes already around, I considered Asilie's assessment unjustified. Ignoring my indignation, Asilie checked the captain's pockets, found what looked like a ring of keys, and handed it to me.
"Maybe he was in charge of managing the people they caught? Thinking back to when I scouted earlier, people were coming and going from this tent, so this was probably the auction block."
"He called the dead bastards over there his subordinates, but from the brief talk I had with him, he seemed a bit dim. Maybe the brains are hiding somewhere else?"
"But they're doing business with nobles, so that's entirely possible. Speaking of which, what was that scream earlier?"
"An unexpected variable. They had a prostitute hidden away. She's passed out now, so it's quiet."
"Hmm. Security's lax. Maybe having a backer made them complacent?"
I hadn't thought of it that way, but it seemed entirely plausible. Considering that just the customers we'd briefly spotted were no small number, they definitely hadn't been in business for just a day or two. In the end, from my perspective, I'd taken down over forty men as easily as eating cake, so it didn't really matter.
"First, just in case, can you scout the perimeter and see if there's anyone we missed? You're better at tracking than I am anyway, big sis."
"Hehe. Keeping your caution even after an easy win like this is a very good attitude. I'll be right back."
Come to think of it, I'd always just learned from Asilie, but I'd never had a chance to show her how I actually moved in the field, had I? Once I realized I hadn't made a fool of myself in front of her, I suddenly felt a surge of pride.
"Anyone here! Routine inspection... damn. They really went all out."
While I was basking in the praise from my lifelong teacher and getting a bit of a high from it, I entered the tent. The inside was dug out and carved to be a full-scale auction block, right down to the floor. That made me certain there had to be a brains of the operation besides the captain.
Starting with the lighting and going all the way to the shallow tunnel dug through the earth to bring slaves in, it wasn't hard to tell that someone with a genuine talent for entertainment had staged the place to stir excitement and whet the customers' appetite to buy. They'd built the whole thing, from start to finish, around atmosphere.
"I really want to catch whoever that is and see their face."
I didn't know who they were, but they could think, and they could weigh various factors for profit. Maybe they'd even lightly sell out Count Bosha or people connected to him to save their own skin. If I could drag them along, wouldn't Sir Ekaf find some useful way to employ them? With those thoughts in mind, I moved a little further through a crude tunnel that clearly showed the marks of slaves being moved in chains—and then a scene I'd somewhat expected came into view.
Inside a cage built to hold people, about twenty individuals of all races were locked up without any distinction. Since there didn't seem to be any specifically hostile races here, they showed no unease toward each other despite being imprisoned together. Maybe it was because the buyers were nobles, but their hygiene seemed better than expected—if that counted as any comfort. In that scene, I spoke as politely as I could.
"Good day, everyone. I'm from the Slave Liberation Front. There's probably a slave trader hiding somewhere in here—does anyone know where?"
My sudden appearance and statement were enough to draw every eye. I could feel the gazes of people who'd been on high alert change the instant they heard the word 'liberation.' Some seemed not to understand my words, maybe because of a language difference, but those who could read the atmosphere showed similar reactions. Yet despite those hopeful looks, no one opened their mouth. As if something was working to prevent them from holding onto a complete hope.
"Hmm. That's strange. It doesn't look like they took any particular magical measure..."
Using the eyes I'd already proven through that Rudra's Dog bastard, I wondered if maybe the shackles or chains on them had some magic that kept them from speaking—but that wasn't it. While I was scanning the area to see if there was any kind of device in the space... something subtle caught my eye. A mass of magic in human form.
"...That's weird."
Afraid it might notice my gaze, I turned my head naturally, and after a little time passed, the mass of Magic Power really did start creeping stealthily. That was clearly invisibility magic or stealth magic. So I could even see through magic. I'd never run into someone who used that kind of sustained magic before, so I was only learning it now.
"They wouldn't have gathered only mutes, would they? Hey, out there? Those bastard scumbags outside are all dead, you know? You don't need to worry. I didn't sneak in."
As I walked slowly toward the center of the cages, glancing sidelong, the mass of Magic Power showed no sign of trying to run. Instead, it moved very slowly and pulled something that looked like an edged weapon from inside its clothes, creeping up behind me and closing the distance bit by bit. Hah. I'd just threatened that I'd killed all of its underlings or comrades or whatever they were, and it was still approaching to cut my throat? Its steps grew a little faster, as if it was already sure of its victory, yet it made no sound at all—it had even cast a sound-suppression spell. A bastard specialized in stealthy escapes or ambushes from top to bottom. It was a type I'd never encountered before, so it was a bit fascinating.
"It's not a lie, but they don't believe me..."
I muttered, pretending to be disappointed, then turned my body toward the bastard as if I hadn't noticed a thing. I reached out and seized the hand gripping a dagger, and with a bright smile, I spoke.
"Why don't you believe me?"
"......!"
I was certain. From its movements and the trembling I felt through its hand, I could feel it screaming as if it had seen a ghost. Before it could struggle to break free from my grip, I stepped into its space and smashed a headbutt right where its nose should be. Blood sprayed out of thin air, and the bastard went limp.
"Mm. Even if I can't use it, I really should study magic. There really are all kinds of bizarre things out there."
"Y-you caught a mage with your bare hands!"
"Hero! Please! Please get us out of here!"
"Save us!"
It seemed that the very thing the people had been so terrified of—the thing that had kept them silent as if dead even when I'd grabbed the bastard's hand, not understanding what was happening—was this... thing? Bitch? The moment blood spurted from empty air and I let go of the hand I'd been holding with a nonchalant expression, cries of desperate pleading erupted from all sides.
"As I just told you, you are all safe now. Everyone, please calm down. I'll just tie up this one properly and then come back."
"Don't go! Please!"
"Heroooo!!"
Hmmmm. So this is human distrust. They'd been captured and brought to a place like this, so it's not like I couldn't understand. Still, watching them—men and women of every race alike—cling to the bars made me feel uncomfortable about just ignoring them and walking away. But with the invisible bastard in this state, I couldn't even tell if it was fully unconscious or not, and leaving it unbound could cause a serious headache if something happened. After a moment of thought, I pulled out my sword, scabbard and all, drove it into the ground, and raised my voice a little.
"Don't worry! Every last slave trader has paid with their lives. You are safe now. But if I don't restrain this unidentified mage, other dangers could arise after you're freed, so I'm prioritizing securing them! To ease your anxiety even a little, I'm leaving my sword here—please wait just a moment!"
"Y-you mean it, right? You won't abandon us and go?"
He wasn't even a girl, just a guy, and when a guy begged and pleaded like that, it made me want to ditch him and leave. I really, really hated that I couldn't speak my honest thoughts right then.
"I swear it on my sword. Please wait just a little."
In the end, by putting on an awkward knight act just the way they wanted, I managed to calm the commotion to some degree. I had no idea who they thought I was that an oath on my sword actually meant something, but if it worked, that was enough. After the unusual experience of tying up the invisible man with rope that seemed sturdy enough, I returned, belted on my now dirt-covered sword again, and opened the cage doors. It took far longer than I'd expected. One by one, they grabbed me and looked ready to bow in thanks, and once I started accepting those thanks, it really did go on without end.
"First, I'll go check with my party for any other threats nearby. It's not very clean outside... so please wait in here as much as possible."
Fortunately, there wasn't a single clueless soul who asked why it wasn't clean. And not a single one ignored my words and insisted on leaving right then, so I was able to leave that spot with great satisfaction.