Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Where Does This Tangle Begin? (1)
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‘What a windfall.’
The most valuable slaves among them all.
Subrace slaves.
They were rare to even spot, let alone capture.
And yet, here they were.
Dwarves and elves gathered in one place.
This was a chance to snag subrace slaves he’d never caught in his life.
On top of that, kids too.
Considering how child prices had skyrocketed lately, this one haul would net him a fortune.
‘Gotta unload those geezers quick.’
Honestly, he doubted they’d even sell.
They looked youngish without many wrinkles, but who’d pay for old folks?
‘That young buck’ll fetch a better price anyway.’
He felt a twinge associating with subraces, but it didn’t bother him much.
Forty people here total.
And among them, two third-circle mages, no less.
‘Just sweet-talk ’em into dropping their guard!’
He’d found a great ploy recently.
A rumor that had started spreading lately.
Everyone had come running, wallets wide open, at the mention of following this guy named Chris.
Decision made, Gerard shook a small bell.
Ding—ding—
“Ahem, the words of Lady Ilia...”
“Down there?”
The baby poked her head out and interrupted.
“That’s right. Lady Ilia appears as a grandfather.”
“Mage!”
“Anyway, Lady Ilia, whom I serve, has this to say.”
Pfft—
Every time Gerard spoke, little snickers erupted.
This happened sometimes.
Folks didn’t buy into fate-reading.
Even Gerard thought it was nonsense himself.
“Nothing to laugh at.”
Gerard scowled, feigning gravity.
“I serve the Saintess. How dare you mock before Ilia’s name!”
The old men began to tremble.
Lips quivering as they barely held back laughs.
The blond old man caught his breath and spoke.
“Right you are. Can’t mock the divine! Who do you think you’re dealing with?”
“Ahem, finally getting it, eh?”
Gerard struck a solemn pose.
“I shall reveal the fate Ilia has shown me.”
“Down there sayin’ it?”
“...That’s right.”
“Nuh-uh...!”
Ignoring the baby, Gerard rang the bell.
Ding—ding—
As the chime rang and he opened his mouth, the dwarf tossed in a quip.
“Same lame spiel every time. My ears are rotting.”
“Hey! This bell is the holy relic that channels Ilia’s oracle!”
At “holy relic,” the old man, dwarf, and baby all turned to the young man.
A cloth-wrapped item dangling from his waist.
Looked like a sword.
Gerard caught on quick.
‘Must be pricey.’
Maybe calling it a relic worked.
The blond old man reacted fast.
“Th-that really a relic?”
“You see right through it, old timer!”
“Saw somethin’ like it at the market?”
Laughter burst out everywhere.
Pfft...!
“Hey, that’s his relic.”
“What a load of crap.”
“Gah...!”
Gerard’s face burned red.
They were clearly mocking him.
Fury boiling, he scrapped the plan.
Time to take them by force.
No need to waste time on a few.
‘Chop off that old man’s arm and sell it separate!’
He signaled, and his men slunk into position.
Encircling to prevent escape.
“Coulda sold easy if you’d stayed put... Your fault now!”
Subraces were tough, but grab hostages and they froze.
Gerard drew his dagger and lunged at the blond old man.
Or tried to.
“...!”
His arm froze mid-swing.
Legs locked too.
“Magic...!”
That sneering old coot was a mage!
But they had mages too.
Gerard rolled his eyes to his men—and saw something bizarre.
“Ugh... ughh...!”
“This mana pressure...!”
Sh-shake—
His mages trembled.
Gulping air like they’d seen a dragon.
Annoyed, wrinkles creased Gerard’s brow.
Suddenly, the spell lifted, and his body moved.
‘Now!’
If the blond was a mage, grab another hostage.
Gerard shot toward the sword-bearing old man.
Smack!
Blue sky filled his vision.
“...?”
Time slowed as Gerard’s body slammed into the dirt.
Thud.
Gerard blinked, dazed.
Then a dwarf’s face loomed.
“Kids these days offing themselves like that, huh.”
“...?”
“C-captain!”
“Attack, all of you!”
Gerard’s men grabbed weapons and charged.
Aiming to capture everyone per the captain’s signal.
But the mages thought different.
‘Move now and we die...!’
‘At least third-circle gap.’
They tried to warn everyone, but no breath to spare.
The mana aura crushing them was immense.
“Grab the elf bitch first!”
“Snag her and we’re rich!”
Lust gleamed in the charging men’s eyes.
Her beauty radiated even standing still.
No man could look away.
Her slender frame seemed easy to seize.
But unaware of elven might, they paid dearly.
To Serena’s icy glare.
“...You’d dirty even the spirits.”
The sword arm she caught twisted backward.
Crack—
“Gaaah...!”
Scream out, arm locked on sword—now aimed at his buddy.
Stab—
Sword pierced clean through.
Now it danced from Serena’s hand.
Each swing carved new wounds on the slavers.
Slash—
Severed wrists.
Thrust—
Gut skewered, blade out—slicing a nearby leg.
“M-my leg!”
Sinews snapped; it couldn’t hold.
Thud—
Slash.
Serena wove through weapons, tracing arcs.
Screams and groans everywhere.
A slaver clutched his bleeding wrist, shaking.
‘Shoulda targeted others, not the elf!’
Might’ve avoided this carnage.
‘Secure a hostage and we can...!’
By now, buddies had hostages.
He glanced—then changed his mind.
Boom—
One punch.
Blast like exploding magic; a man flew.
Crash.
Another swing.
Kaboom!
“...”
No scream this time.
Knocked out cold on impact.
Maybe dead.
Nah, dead seemed more likely.
“Hah hah hah.”
The monstrous old man chuckled heartily, beckoning.
“Come on in.”
After that display, who’d approach?
Spears, swords—useless.
They knew they couldn’t even touch him.
The blond old man fared no better.
Whoosh—
Fireballs floating midair.
Fireball spell.
One could kill three or four.
Dodgeable with a dive.
But.
“What the...?”
Only if one.
He’d never seen over ten hovering.
“Grab the dwarf at least...!”
The dwarf wore upper-body armor from who-knows-where.
Arm up, he exposed his side to a spear.
Clang—
Crunch—
Spear shattered on impact.
Dwarf patted his side.
Tap-tap—
“Try again.”
“Th-this...!”
Another sword flew at it—but.
Clang—
Snap—
Broke like the spear, in two.
On the ground, Gerard’s subordinate reeled.
What the hell were these people?
Not one normal among them.
If anyone...
‘The guy carrying the baby!’
Seemed the most ordinary.
He turned to look—no need.
The white-haired guy was already crouched right in front of him, peering down.
“Wh-when...?”
No sword drawn, no spells cast.
Just a regular guy after all?
The subordinate realized.
Those eyes he thought watched him gazed subtly behind.
“Parents died in a freak accident, huh? Tough losing ’em young.”
“...!!!”
“House fire or somethin’?”
“H-how do you...!”
His crew knew, but a total stranger?
“Lemme see... Name’s Ferrant?”
“Hngh...!!”
“He’s got words for ya. Listen up.”
Quiet whispers in his ear.
Stuff only Ferrant and his parents knew.
He’d never told a soul.
Faint childhood memories at that.
“Ugh... aaagh...!”
Different terror.
That instinctive wrongness against the unnatural.
Ferrant clawed backward on the ground.
“Where you goin’? Still more.”
“H-heeek...!”
“Gotta offer some comfort, right?”