Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Slums (3)
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The next day, after making up my mind.
I headed to the slums with Tiriel for our morning routine, but after unloading the food aid supplies, I asked her for a favor.
"Lady Tiriel, would it be alright if I stepped out for a bit?"
"……."
No question came about where I was going.
She simply looked at me with an anxious expression before nodding shortly after.
And then she muttered softly.
"May Lady Astril's blessing be with you…."
With those words behind me, I set off for the elf noble's mansion that I had visited yesterday.
On the way, soldiers glanced at me.
But there were no particular interactions.
In Parion, it wasn't that unusual for a slave to wander around alone.
Many owners sent their slaves on errands.
And slaves who had earned a certain level of trust were even granted freedom of movement.
"Isn't that the mutt…?"
"Yeah, the one who took down the elf's shadow knight…."
"……."
No, maybe it was because my face had become well-known.
Anyone who knew I was Karga's exclusive slave wouldn't bother touching me.
"You're here."
After crossing through Parion's city center like that, I arrived in front of the elf noble's mansion.
The elf soldier standing guard there spotted me and approached.
"So, have you decided? What'll it be?"
"Can't I speak to Lady Elena directly?"
"No can do. She gave strict orders not to let you in if you showed up."
"……."
Probably because of the male pheromones.
'I was planning to douse the place in pheromones while I was here.'
Since they'd be kneeling and begging me soon enough anyway, I didn't mind earning a bit of resentment.
Though beating me up would cause them big problems, so they wouldn't.
"Tell me. Are you in or out? I'll pass it on to Lady Elena."
"……."
Regrettable, but I informed the soldier of my decision.
"I see. So you're stepping in for the slum mutts."
"Yes… And as you'd expect, you've already talked it over with Lady Taira, right?"
"Mm. We've already received a hefty sum and informed them we'd hire the mutts. Just tell them you're taking their place instead. We're good with it."
"…What if Lady Taira refuses?"
"Any reason she would?"
"……."
None.
It was a foolish thought.
To Taira, a mutt like me or a pack of slum mutts were all the same in the face of that massive payout.
"Departure's tomorrow afternoon. Get ready."
"Tomorrow afternoon? …You're leaving pretty quick."
"She's already stayed longer than planned. Business is done, so get lost, mutt."
Longer than planned.
I wonder why.
'…Me, probably.'
No other reason came to mind.
It must have been humiliating enough that they couldn't endure without killing me.
After that, I left the elf noble's mansion and returned to the slums.
Then I went to Tiriel and the slum dwellers and explained the mercenary recruitment situation.
"Wha…?! Y-You're going, Gladiator?!"
"And leaving the money behind…! Why…."
"That's how it turned out. Don't worry—just stay with your families."
"A-Ah…. How can this…."
Tears began welling up in the faces of the gathered slum residents as I explained.
"Th-Thank you…, sob, thank you, Gladiator…."
The first one to approach me was the man who had received a huge sum yesterday and was thrilled to head to war.
Tears streaming down his face, he gripped my hand tightly with trembling hands.
"How can we ever repay this kindness…."
"Thank you so much… You're our hero… Gladiator…!"
"I'll pray for you every day…! Thank you for saving my husband…!"
Starting with the man, men, women, and children alike all came forward in tears, offering their thanks.
Tiriel simply watched me from afar.
Anxiety flickered on her face, but she said nothing.
"Gladiator!"
"Anna."
"I-Is it true…? You're going in my dad's place… Gladiator…."
"Yeah. So don't worry anymore. Spend time with your dad like usual."
"Ah, ugh, th-that…."
Anna's shocked face soon turned red at the nose as tears welled up.
She stifled her sobs for a moment before looking up and asking.
"You'll come back, right…?"
The pure worry of a child laced with guilt and gratitude.
To that, I smiled confidently and replied.
"Of course. I'm super strong, after all."
At my answer, even the teary-eyed Anna managed a small smile and nodded.
I wasn't lying.
I had no intention of dying.
"……Are you sure you'll be okay?"
On the way back with Tiriel, she finally asked me.
I replied with an apologetic look.
"You must have been shocked by the sudden news."
"No, actually… I kind of thought it might turn out this way since yesterday…."
"Since yesterday…? Haha, as expected of the fairy folk with their prophetic senses."
"Hehe, just a hunch."
"……."
"……."
As we walked side by side in silence for a moment.
"I believe you'll definitely come back. Gladiator."
Tiriel gave me a soft smile and words of encouragement.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Lady Karga."
"Hm? What is it?"
After finishing the slum service with Tiriel, around lunchtime.
I approached Karga and asked her to arrange a meeting with Taira.
"The mistress…? Why?"
"I have an important request."
"Tell me first. That's the proper procedure."
"……I'm sorry, Lady Karga. …This is a request that must go directly to Lady Taira, so please forgive my rudeness."
"Hm……."
Karga pondered me for a moment before chuckling and nodding.
"Fine. If you're saying that much, it must be. Got it. Prepare to go right away."
"Thank you!"
I knew I should have told Karga first.
But she had opposed my duel with Ireila to the end.
She valued my life.
Unlike Taira, she wouldn't accept my opinion on this.
"Mistress, it's Karga. I have business."
A short while later, I headed to Tiriel's room with Karga.
[Ooh! Karga! Whatcha want? Cravin' lunch with your big sis?]
Creeeak.
Taira opened the door happily at her little sister's visit.
As the door opened, the same Eastern-style room from before appeared.
"Mm? Number 17 too? Heh, not lookin' to tumble with the three of us, right?"
"Sister…."
"Kyahaha! Kidding, kidding! You're so serious about everything, Karga—no fun in jokin' with ya."
"……Actually, the business is from Number 17, that's why I came."
"Huh? Number 17?"
At Karga's explanation, Taira hopped down from her seat and approached me.
And like before, she sniffed around me and asked slyly.
"Whaddya want? You in heat or somethin'? Here to make that request from last time?"
"…No, it's a pretty serious request."
"Kyahaha! You're just like Karga! Kidding, kidding!"
I chuckled along with the laughing Taira for a moment before straightening my expression and getting to the point.
Straight to it, without preamble.
"The elves' proposal to hire slum mutts as war mercenaries. …Please allow me to take their place."
"……."
"Wha… Mercenaries…? Number 17, what are you talking about."
Taira fell silent with a hardened expression at my words, while Karga asked me in shock.
"I'm sorry, Lady Karga. I figured you'd definitely oppose if I explained."
"Of course I would! War…!! Do you even know what it means to go as a mercenary…!!"
"Enough. You worked it out with the elves already?"
"Yes."
"Sis—!!"
Taira cut off Karga and asked, and I answered immediately.
Then Taira returned to her seat, lay on her side, and stuck her pipe in her mouth.
"If that's the case, go ahead. We've already been paid more than enough anyway. If you're both agreed, that's that."
"S-Sis…!! It's the elves! They're definitely scheming something again…!!"
"Even so, the mutt's volunteerin' himself."
"Th-That's…."
"Happens plenty, right? Gladiator slaves volunteerin' for war mercenary calls. Have we ever blocked it? 'Cept when it don't add up money-wise."
"……."
"Karga, he's your direct slave, but fundamentally, whose slave is he?"
"……Your slave, Mistress."
At Karga's weak reply, Taira let out a chuckle.
"I know that too. Fundamentally, the mutt's Parion's fighting slave. Elves requested mercenaries from Parion, paid up, and if the mutt volunteers, no reason to stop it."
"B-But the elves' intentions are impure…! They're clearly after Number 17's life…!"
"That's why they paid the life price this time."
"……!"
"Different from the labyrinth and the last match, Karga."
It was, honestly, a perfectly reasonable point.
No reason to stop me.
In fact, Karga was the only one being stubborn here, and knowing that best, she fell silent.
After returning to Karga's room, I carefully apologized to her.
"I'm sorry…."
"What's the reason."
Instead of scolding my apology, Karga asked for the reason.
"Why volunteer for war? Blackmailed? Because of the slum folks?"
"……."
"You know what a battlefield's like, and that those guys want you dead. …Why."
To her worried gaze, I smiled brightly and answered.
"Because I'm absolutely sure I won't die."
"……."
Setting prophecies aside, I had no plans to die.
Of course, a battlefield would be a first for me too.
But this wasn't the starting point when I first entered the game, and I'd grown this strong.
My veteran gamer title wasn't for show.
Risky, but I had zero intentions of dying.
"…When's departure?"
"Tomorrow afternoon."
"Soon…."
"Yes."
Finishing the talk, Karga approached me gently.
And lightly took my wrist.
"……I'll miss you."
"Me?"
"Yes…."
"……."
"……."
A brief silence flowed.
An awkward but not unpleasant silence.
Then, a moment later, with flushed cheeks, she looked up at me softly and spoke.
"Won't you sleep in my bedroom tonight?"
"……Pardon?"
At Karga's words, I swallowed hard.
Sleep together?
Now?
In bed?
Tonight?
My face heated up as I agonized over what to do, what to say.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' lets out a scream! Ancestor 'First King of the Beastkin' issues a charge command! ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day, afternoon.
I set off on the journey as a mercenary hired by the elves, as planned.
For the record.
Nothing happened last night.
Though I did fall asleep in Karga's bed together.
Essentially, my role was that of a human dakimakura.
The kind made of bamboo that you hug to sleep on summer nights.
Karga hugged me like that all night, as if soothing her disappointment.
Of course, when she came to her senses this morning, she was incredibly embarrassed and wagged her tail like a fan.
Still, thanks to that, our farewell before the trip wasn't gloomy, so it wasn't bad.
'They were fuckin' huge….'
So soft and squishy.
It was a tough night to endure, but personally, I'd do it again if asked—a great time.
"What're you thinking about?"
"Eek?!"
And then.
Ireila, who had quietly approached my side, looked at me impassively and spoke primly.
"Why are you here? You're supposed to be up front."
"Got bored, came back."
"…Royal Half is pretty lax, huh?"
"Not something a mutt should say."
"……."
She doesn't hold back.
So I obediently answered Ireila's question.
"Just, y'know, war comin' up. Can't stop thinkin' about worries."
"…You were smirking a little for someone worried."
"…Even worries can have some fun mixed in."
"I see."
"……."
"……."
The ensuing silence.
No more questions came.
But she walked beside me with her usual impassive face.
…Why isn't she going back to her spot?
'No, don't mind it.'
Get a grip.
With that thought, I refocused.
From now on, I'm a mercenary heading to war.
To a war where I might die.
But I have no plans to die.
'If it feels off, I'll desert.'
I could run even now, of course.
But there's something more important.
I subtly glared at the noble carriage in the middle of the group.
That bitch who pushed me this far.
I can't leave without repaying her.