Chapter 97: A Trustworthy Porter
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 97: A Trustworthy Porter
“What are you? You look incredibly suspicious.”
The Saintess radiated hostility toward the Frogman trapped inside the iron cage. No, it wasn’t just hostility—it was pure murderous intent.
“S-Saintess! Calm down!”
“Excuse me? Calm down? You want me to calm down after seeing that thing? Porter, what is wrong with you? Move!”
“Aaaagh! Rosier! Help me out here!”
“Uh, my body is physically incapable of opposing the Saintess. My apologies.”
“Aaaagh!”
The Saintess was trying to bash the Frogman’s head in with her Bible for the sole reason that he looked suspicious. I grabbed her by the waist and hung on for dear life.
If the Saintess kills the Frogman, it’ll be a total disaster.
In an Underground City crawling with heretics, it was only natural to be suspicious of such a bizarre creature. I understood how she felt. But if the Frogman died here, we would never be able to enter the Snake Nest.
The Frogman was the only being who could grant access to that hidden location. If he died without revealing the way, no one in the Labyrinth City would ever set foot in the Snake Nest again.
Who knew what treasures were hidden there? I couldn't just let this opportunity slip away.
“Saintess, please, just calm down and put the Bible away...! He might not even be a heretic. Shouldn't we at least hear him out?”
“An adventurer trapped in a cage in an Underground City full of heretics? One who has clearly succumbed to the Curse of Transformation, losing his human form and becoming half-monster? He is so suspicious that I feel it is my duty to kill him. Is there really any value in listening to what he has to say?”
“No, wait! Saintess! Just take a breath...”
“You. Your behavior right now... it’s a bit suspicious. You’re trying far too hard to protect him. What is your reason?”
“Ugh. Well...”
The Saintess stared straight into my eyes.
She had clearly flagged my behavior as suspicious. Even so, I couldn't tell her the Frogman’s true identity or how useful he was. This was precious information that only I should know. Word of the Snake Nest must not reach the Saintess’s ears.
If she knew, the Church would know. And if the Church got wind of the Snake Nest, their priests would strip the place bare before I could get a single thing. I had to keep the information about the Snake Nest a total secret, no matter what.
“I’ve been suspicious ever since you suggested we spare that heretic Apostle. I wasn't worried because you're immune to curses, but... Hmmm.”
After a moment of deliberation, the Saintess finally activated her Ability. It was likely Lie Detection. Actually, this was better. It made it easier for me to create a favorable situation. I could prove my innocence while still concealing the truth about the Frogman.
“Porter, from this moment on, answer only with the truth. If you lie, I will have no choice but to label you a heretic. Do you understand?”
“Yes...”
“Then, the first question. Do you harbor friendly feelings toward the heretics? Do you wish to become close to them, or perhaps join their side?”
Friendly feelings? Not a chance.
“No.”
The Saintess’s eyes glittered. She was gauging whether it was truth or a lie.
“Then, are you planning to use the heretics through some means? It seems as though you want to utilize their power.”
To this question, I had to say yes. Telling a lie would be a death sentence, so I had to speak the absolute truth.
“...Yes.”
“Hmph. Then, are you trying to use the heretics to satisfy your own personal greed? For your own gain? Answer me.”
My personal greed?
The ultimate reason I was using the heretics was so Witch Helena could use the Apostle’s body to take down the Giant. This was far from personal greed. If anything, it was for the public good of the Labyrinth City.
“No. I’m not doing this for personal greed. If anything, I’m performing a service right now.”
“A service? To what end?”
“A service to bring normalization to the Labyrinth City.”
“Normalization? Hah. Everything so far is the truth. Then, Porter, why are you trying to protect this man? Do you know him?”
I didn't "know" him personally. I just happened to know his identity.
“He doesn't know me. I simply obtained information about him and know who he is.”
“A cursed adventurer left abandoned deep within the Lake Section, a place where almost nothing has been uncovered... and you knew about him? How? Who is your informant? Is it a heretic? It is, isn't it? You got information from a heretic! Answer me!”
“No! I swear by the Goddess, I have no connection to those heretic bastards. And as for how I know about him... I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that. If you want that information, you’ll have to pay a fair price. I won't say anything until I receive an information fee.”
“Hah. You’re demanding money in this situation? You truly are a slave to coin.”
“Well, did you expect to get information for free? I paid for this information myself. I can’t just give it away. I’ll need at least five platinum coins.”
“Forget such ridiculous talk of platinum coins. Sigh. You must have some secret method. I assume the way you obtained information about the Labyrinth wasn't illegal?”
“Not at all. It was a perfectly legal method. I’m an honest man. Could you please stop with the baseless suspicions? If you keep doubting me, it’s going to ruin our relationship. Let’s keep things civil.”
Since slavery is legal in the Labyrinth City, the information I got from my slave was technically legal.
“An information fee of five platinum coins... Well, I suppose information on an undiscovered area would be worth that much. Fine. I understand. Then I assume you won't tell me why you're trying to save him either? Not until I pay the fee?”
“Correct. But I swear, he has absolutely nothing to do with the heretics. Furthermore, he is someone who might be of help to us.”
“Hmm. This is also the truth. Then, what is his identity? Is he actually an adventurer? An adventurer kidnapped by heretics? You can at least tell me that much. Is he an adventurer or not?”
“That... he is not an adventurer. And I don't know exactly why he was locked in that cage.”
“Whether he was kidnapped by heretics, or if he’s a ‘spawned monster’ that appeared when the new section was created... you don't know. And yet you want me to trust you because he isn't dangerous? You demand an absurd fee and then ask for blind faith. Sigh.”
“He isn't a dangerous being. As long as you don't attack first, there won't be any problems.”
“The claim that he isn't dangerous isn't a lie either, but in the end, that is only the truth within the scope of what you know. You don't actually know for sure if he’s dangerous or not, do you?”
“...He won't be dangerous. In fact, he’ll be an asset. I’m certain of it. Please trust me. You’ve seen me—I don't go this far to defend someone unless they’re beneficial to me. You know I move strictly based on profit.”
“Hmm. True. You certainly are the type to move for profit. I realized that when you set the Garden on fire and tried to pour oil into the lake. I suppose you have some basis for your confidence? Even if you can’t tell me... until I pay five platinum coins.”
“Exactly.”
The Saintess nodded and stepped back.
“Very well. Porter, I’ve never lost out by listening to you. I will trust you this time as well. However, if anything seems off, I will kill him immediately. Both that frog and you.”
“Yes. Understood.”
I had successfully persuaded her.
Between having Paramel use the Arrow Repelling Blessing to deal with the Skinwalkers, incinerating the Garden Section with oil bottles, and bringing advance information about the Lake Section—I had built up a fair amount of trust.
Thanks to that, I was able to talk the Saintess around.
According to rumors, the Saintess was a monster who would raze an entire innocent village if she felt even a hint of suspicion. The fact that she chose to believe me showed just how high my credibility was.
Thank goodness.
This is why your daily conduct is so important. No one listens to an incompetent person. But when a capable person speaks, even nonsense sounds plausible.
I’m in luck. I found an NPC I thought I’d never find.
Leaving the Saintess and the Inquisitors behind, I approached the cage where the Frogman was trapped.
The Frogman, who had been lying half-reclined and catching flying insects outside the cage with his tongue, straightened his posture.
“So. Is your talk with that woman finished? I hope my wait was worth it. Croak.”
“Yes. I’ll get you out.”
I spoke to the Frogman while pretending to pick the lock on the chains with a lockpick.
“But before I let you out, there’s one thing you have to promise me.”
“What is it?”
“The information about the Snake Nest. Don't sell it to anyone but me.”
“You know more than I thought. Croak.”
The Frogman scratched his chin, thought for a moment, and then nodded.
“Fine. In exchange, you must fulfill a few requests. Croak. Then I will tell only you the way to the Snake Nest.”
“Deal. What are your requests?”
“First request. Kill that Giant over there. Croak.”
Hunting the Giant was already on the agenda.
“Fine. I’ll take care of the Giant for you.”
“Second, bring me the Alchemy Essential Tools.”
“I already have them.”
“Eh? Croak?”
I’d heard the info from Olivia; did he really think I wouldn't come prepared? I had already packed all the items he essentially required. This is why having a walkthrough is so convenient.
“The third condition is to bring you Water Moth Larvae, right? I have those too. All we have to do is kill the Giant.”
“Do you have a prophet for a friend?”
“Something like that.”
“It seems you’ve met a benefactor.”
That benefactor is my slave.
“Fine. Kill the Giant and come back here. Then I will tell you the way to the Snake Nest. Croak.”
“Can I come back a bit later? I want to meet you separately after I ditch those people.”
“I don't mind. I plan on staying in this spot for a while anyway.”
“Great. Let’s trade.”
With this, I could control the information about the Snake Nest as I pleased. If I maintained a good relationship with the Frogman, I could monopolize the Snake Nest for myself.
Now that I’ve found a way to get Soul Slaves, I’ll form a separate party and take it all for myself!
I felt fantastic. Once this expedition was over, the Snake Nest would be mine.
With a joyful heart, I put the lockpick back into my inventory, pulled out my axe, and hacked through the chains wrapped around the cage. Striking along the grain as Gon had taught me, the chains snapped like thin thread.
“I’m free thanks to you. My thanks, adventurer.”
The Frogman held out his hand, and I shook it reflexively. The texture was strange. It felt like touching a frog. Well, I was touching a literal frog.
As the Frogman stepped out, the Inquisitors and the Saintess approached us.
“By the way, how did you end up trapped in a place like this?”
“I don't know. I woke up and I was here. This certainly wasn't my home. Strange. Croak.”
“You were kidnapped?”
“It feels that way.”
The Frogman kept his answers brief to Raphael’s questions. He clearly had no intention of saying where he came from.
High probability he’s from the 7th Floor.
According to the information Olivia gave me, there were hints that the Frogman and Arachne were originally from the 7th Floor. You could say they experienced a regression through the Labyrinth Eruption.
Neither Olivia nor I knew the exact details, but they weren't people who had come down from the surface. They were beings pulled up from below during the cataclysm.
“So, Porter. How can this being help us?”
“One moment. Excuse me, your name is...”
“Call me Prodo.”
“Then, Mr. Prodo. Do you happen to have anything for sale?”
“Of course. Wait a moment. Croak.”
The Frogman and Arachne were both guardians of hidden locations and merchants. He croaked and gagged, then began to vomit something up to show his wares.
“Crrroak...”
“Ugh...”
Three glass bottles covered in thick mucus, a squishy golden lump, and two bright red orbs.
“Here. These are the goods for sale.”
The Inquisitors’ expressions soured in real-time as they looked at the items he produced. Understandable, since from their perspective, a mysterious cursed adventurer had just puked something up.
But to my eyes, having heard about his inventory from Olivia, the things he vomited looked like treasures more valuable than platinum coins.
The items the Frogman sells are completely random.
I heard his stock changed every week. Out of all the possible items, two of the rarest had appeared.
“Three bottles of Exir. A lump of Killer Bee Royal Jelly. And two Spirit Beast Hearts.”
Two Spirit Beast Hearts. Those were insanely broken items.
I have to buy them.
Olivia had told me about them before she fell asleep, like she was telling an old legend. She said if I ever ran into the Frogman and he was selling Spirit Beast Hearts, I had to get them no matter what.
“Mr. Porter, do you know what these are?”
“Yes. I do.”
I nodded at Rosier’s question.
“Exir is a toxin that can paralyze the entire Lake Section. And the Killer Bee Royal Jelly is...”
“Doesn't it have a super-regeneration effect? Right?”
“Correct, Saintess.”
“Hmm. How does he have items that come from the 7th Floor?”
As the Saintess’s suspicion began to flare up again, I quickly leaned in and whispered to her.
“Saintess.”
“Yes, Porter?”
“He’s a type of fairy.”
“A fairy?”
“Yes. You know the Guide Fairy from the Goddess Church Bible? The one that led the lambs to the Sanctuary?”
“When did you ever read the Bible?”
“Rosier blabbers on about it so much next to me that I just picked it up.”
It wasn't like I wanted to listen. My guard, Rosier, told me stories from the Bible whenever she was bored. At first, I thought it was nonsense, but they were basically fantasy stories, so they were actually quite entertaining.
Anyway, it helped. I guess no information is truly useless.
“Hmm. A Guide Fairy. It is true that the Guide Fairy took all the lambs’ hardships upon himself to resolve them. Hmmm.”
The Saintess was swayed again by the mention of biblical stories. This woman was more gullible than I thought. It felt like she was easily tricked if you brought up things she was familiar with.
“Hmph... Fine, for now. So he’s like that Guide Fairy? I find it hard to believe such a being exists in the Labyrinth.”
“Goodness, you’re so suspicious. According to the information I’ve gathered, he’s just a bit mentally unwell. If we leave him alone, he’ll just wander around here selling things. He’s no threat at all.”
“I hope I can trust you. If I let this slide and a problem arises later, you will be held entirely responsible.”
“I’ll take full responsibility.”
“...Fine.”
Only then did the Saintess drop her suspicion. Or rather, she stopped showing it.
“Hey. Adventurer. Are you buying or not?”
“Ah. I’ll buy. Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Good. Do you know how to pay?”
“Of course.”
The Frogman didn't take money. Having gold coins in the Labyrinth was useless since there was nowhere to spend them. Instead, he took food ingredients. Or monster corpses.
“Will this be enough to buy everything?”
I pulled monster corpses out of my Subspace Pocket and piled them up in front of him.
I was unusually lucky today. Three bottles of Exir, Killer Bee Royal Jelly, and two Spirit Beast Hearts.
—These are the real deal.
Even Helena, who was watching the situation from within me, marveled at the haul.
If I took these back to the surface and sold them, I could probably buy a whole mansion in the Labyrinth City.