Chapter 80: Sewerage (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 80: Sewerage (1)
I walked through the sewer like that for who knows how long. After a while, Missha and Hikurod began to get bored.
"There's really nothing here."
"Rrright? I hope something comes out soon..."
No wonder they had asked to come. What did they expect? "I told you. It's just a patrol commission, that's it."
This request was simple. Placing the video recording device I had borrowed on my head, I just had to go around a set route and look for anyone hiding there. Well, a fight might end up happening in the process, but they said my predecessor had found less than thirty people in two years. The frequency of encounters with strangers was low. And even if I did run into one, I explained, I didn't have to chase after each one and fight them.
"Huh? You don't have to chase after them?"
"There is extra pay if they're caught, but there is no need to get hung up on that."
"Why?" Missha asked.
"That's because the request I received was Sewer Patrol. Captures and arrests will be handled by new personnel after the Administrative Office has checked the video records."
"I see..."
While I was briefing Missha on the request, Brown, who was at the front leading the team, suddenly stopped walking. "I can sense something nearby."
There was an unfounded murmur about his senses, but at that one word, everyone in the team looked around. Since the sewer was full of a musty smell, his olfactory stats wouldn't shine as brightly here, but Brown had +50 to his Sixth Sense stat and +20 Luck from the Mimic's essence.
After a moment, Missha pointed somewhere and shouted, "Oh! I-It's a person!"
When I shifted my gaze to where she was pointing, I saw a startled man.
Huh, how did she see that?
The small gap would be tough to fit a human body into, but the man was hiding in the hole anyway, crouching like a shrimp. "Eek!" I thrust my hand inside and pulled the man out by his collar. He was quite tall, but because he was so skinny, it was like picking up a goblin. His behavior was not all that different from a goblin's either. "Die!"
As he was yanked out, the man thrust the dagger he was holding at me. It was a good attempt. You gotta do what you gotta do to live, right?
"Ugh!" The fight promptly ended when I grabbed onto the wrist holding the dagger and bent it back.
"Why were you hiding there?"
The man quickly changed his tune at my question. "H-Have mercy! Please! I-I didn't harm anyone, I just didn't have any money!"
That wasn't the answer I was looking for, but if I had to guess, he was probably saying that he couldn't pay his taxes and ran. No one believed that, though.
"This reminds me of the old days!" said Hikurod. "Back in the day, when I was working at a blacksmith's shop, thugs with tattoos like this often came to visit me. Hahaha!"
This man's tattoos were different from the geometric pattern of a barbarian's tattoo; his skin was covered in pictures of skulls, naked women, and monsters. Of course, I didn't judge a person's insides by their outsides.
"Bjorn, look at the mark on his forehead," Brown pointed out. "He has to be a criminal who escaped into the sewers."
The forehead marking hidden under his hood was evidence of a heinous crime that could not be forgiven even with a fine. There was no room for sympathy. Well, even if he really hadn't paid his taxes, that wouldn't have changed much.
"Bjorn, what will you do with him now?" asked Hikurod.
"I don't know."
"Shouldn't the Administrative Office have given you some guidelines in advance?"
Well, they certainly did give me some advice. Their basic policy was to catch the criminals and bring them back, but as long as the video was properly filmed, there was no problem if I killed them and tossed them in the sewers.
"You can kill him? What if he's just a normal person?"
"They said there's no such thing as an ordinary person who comes into a place like this by accident," I answered.
"Hahaha! That's the heartless Administrative Office that I know!"
Well, in my opinion, they were just being considerate of the heartless adventurers. That wasn't something to worry about now, though.
"So, what are you going to do?"
"For now, we'll take him." If I were alone, it would have been different, but because there were five of us, we had extra hands. Above all, bringing him back alive gave us an additional pay of five thousand stones.
"P-Please let me go just this once. You just have to pretend you never saw anything. I only ended up like this because I wanted to live—"
"Stop." Long conversations were unnecessary. Whether he was a tax delinquent, a criminal, or had committed a crime out of necessity, so what? "I was commissioned, so I will take you. They will be the ones to make any judgments."
"...Fuck! You fucking bastards! How are you any different from me?"
We're very different. If we were the same, you wouldn't be begging me like you are now.
"Dwalkie, shut his mouth."
"A-All right." Dwalkie used his newly learned Paralysis Poison spell to silence the man. His body went rigid. I carried the prisoner on my shoulders as if carrying a bag of rice.
An hour or so passed.
"Rotmiller, how much furrrther do we have to go?"
"We're halfway there now."
"Eh? We still have half left?" Missha sighed deeply, suggesting she regretted coming along. Then she opened her mouth like she was curious about something. "Dwalkie, why do you look so norrrmal? Last time we were in the labyrinth, you were vomiting all over the place."
"Haha, that? I learned a spell that makes someone lose their sense of smell. It turns out that it's considered an essential bit of magic among wizards who have lived as adventurers."
"Ohh, I see. But can't you cast it on otherrr people too?"
"Uh... I-I don't know how to change the formulas yet..." Dwalkie, who had been proudly explaining his new spells, trailed off.
I chuckled. It was not that he didn't know how—he just couldn't do it. "Changing the formula" was pretty much what kept the wizards of the Magic Tower fed. Although they taught basic spells in exchange for money, they never revealed how to convert the magic or create new types of spells.
As the effects of Paralysis Poison expired, my captive suddenly started screaming and writhing. "L-Let's make a deal! If you let me go, I will give you information!"
I stopped Dwalkie from casting Paralysis Poison again. "Information?" I asked.
"That bitch!" the man hastily added. "If you catch that bitch, you'll earn a lot more than from me!"
"Bjorn, what are you listening to him forrr? It is clear that he's just doing whatever he can to survive."
That was what I thought too, but one word stuck with me. "...Tell me more about the bitch." It was worth a listen.
"Bjorn, what will you do with him now?" asked Hikurod.
"I don't know."
"Shouldn't the Administrative Office have given you some guidelines in advance?"
Well, they certainly did give me some advice. Their basic policy was to catch the criminals and bring them back, but as long as the video was properly filmed, there was no problem if I killed them and tossed them in the sewers.
"You can kill him? What if he's just a normal person?"
"They said there's no such thing as an ordinary person who comes into a place like this by accident," I answered.
"Hahaha! That's the heartless Administrative Office that I know!"
Well, in my opinion, they were just being considerate of the heartless adventurers. That wasn't something to worry about now, though.
"So, what are you going to do?"
"For now, we'll take him." If I were alone, it would have been different, but because there were five of us, we had extra hands. Above all, bringing him back alive gave us an additional pay of five thousand stones.
"P-Please let me go just this once. You just have to pretend you never saw anything. I only ended up like this because I wanted to live—"
"Stop." Long conversations were unnecessary. Whether he was a tax delinquent, a criminal, or had committed a crime out of necessity, so what? "I was commissioned, so I will take you. They will be the ones to make any judgments."
"...Fuck! You fucking bastards! How are you any different from me?"
We're very different. If we were the same, you wouldn't be begging me like you are now.
"Dwalkie, shut his mouth."
"A-All right." Dwalkie used his newly learned Paralysis Poison spell to silence the man. His body went rigid. I carried the prisoner on my shoulders as if carrying a bag of rice.
An hour or so passed.
"Rotmiller, how much furrrther do we have to go?"
"We're halfway there now."
"Eh? We still have half left?" Missha sighed deeply, suggesting she regretted coming along. Then she opened her mouth like she was curious about something. "Dwalkie, why do you look so norrrmal? Last time we were in the labyrinth, you were vomiting all over the place."
"Haha, that? I learned a spell that makes someone lose their sense of smell. It turns out that it's considered an essential bit of magic among wizards who have lived as adventurers."
"Ohh, I see. But can't you cast it on otherrr people too?"
"Uh... I-I don't know how to change the formulas yet..." Dwalkie, who had been proudly explaining his new spells, trailed off.
I chuckled. It was not that he didn't know how—he just couldn't do it. "Changing the formula" was pretty much what kept the wizards of the Magic Tower fed. Although they taught basic spells in exchange for money, they never revealed how to convert the magic or create new types of spells.
As the effects of Paralysis Poison expired, my captive suddenly started screaming and writhing. "L-Let's make a deal! If you let me go, I will give you information!"
I stopped Dwalkie from casting Paralysis Poison again. "Information?" I asked.
"That bitch!" the man hastily added. "If you catch that bitch, you'll earn a lot more than from me!"
"Bjorn, what are you listening to him forrr? It is clear that he's just doing whatever he can to survive."
That was what I thought too, but one word stuck with me. "...Tell me more about the bitch." It was worth a listen.
Negotiation: the act of persuading someone and discussing things to come to a decision. This was both a reasonable and irrational process. If the two parties weren't on equal ground, someone would end up losing out in the end—just like this.
"...Before I tell you, I need a promise!"
"Dwalkie, just make him like he was before—"
"I-I'll tell you!" Not wanting to waste this opportunity, the man started explaining his situation. "There are many other people living in this sewer besides me. Usually, it's just hard to see them because they know the routes of the patrol officers so they can avoid them..."
"Shorter."
"...Some bitch stole my hiding spot a few days ago."
To sum up the man's story, it went like this: he had been doing pretty well in the sewers when a woman came and took his home. And she was no ordinary woman. Although she looked small, he had no choice but to leave because she was leading a bunch of skeletons around with her.
Missha cocked her head. "Skeletons? Werrren't they just people who took the essence of a Nekramia?"
But the man seemed convinced. "I don't know exactly what they were. However! It was completely different from the skeletons in the labyrinth! I was once an adventurer too, so I'm confident!"
"So what is your verdict?"
"It has to be wicked black magic. If you hand her over to the temple, you will definitely receive compensation. Money that won't even compare to what you'll get from me!"
I thought this over for a moment. The timing was too coincidental to just dismiss. A woman who had been hiding in the sewers for a few days and used wicked black magic...
"Could it be that woman?"
"Elisa Behenk. No doubt she had no other choice but to hide here."
Brown and Hikurod apparently thought the same thing. They gulped and each tossed in their two cents.
Damn, could it really be that bitch?
I needed to know more because there was not enough evidence to be sure. "What was she wearing? Describe it in detail."
"She was wearing a robe and her face was covered with a hood, so I couldn't see it clearly. I knew she was a woman from the lines of her body and her voice, but that's all."
"I see."
"Oh! Now that I think of it, she was wearing a very unusual necklace..."
"What shape was it?"
"It's hard to explain in words."
I had an inkling as to what it was and quickly pulled an item out of my bag, the symbol of the church of Karui that I found while digging through Hans's backpack the other day. "Was it something like this?"
"Yes! It was just like that!"
I let out a deep sigh as I stared at the nodding man. The possibility that it really was that bitch had increased dramatically.
"What arrre you going to do?"
"I'm thinking," I told Missha.
"Hahaha, what are you thinking about?! We need to go catch her now and deliver justice!"
Justice my ass, you just want the reward money.
Anyway, if Hikurod was an extremist, Brown was on the moderate side. "I think it would be better to go back to the Administrative Office and file an official report. We're not sure if it's that woman yet, so why should we risk it?"
Both of their opinions were definitely valid. If we caught her ourselves, we would earn the reward money, but if we didn't take the risk, filing the report would allow someone else to handle the matter.
Something doesn't feel right.
If Elisa was the crazy bitch this guy was talking about, I felt especially uncomfortable with the idea of heading back like this. Elisa was not just a bitch—she was one with a grudge against me. Because of that, I was inwardly worried that she might be plotting something from the shadows.
Even if the administration office or the temple mobilized to send people over here, it would take several days.
And if she ran away in the meantime, I'd have to keep feeling this way. "I want to check it out, but what do you guys think?"
Missha immediately agreed. Dwalkie, who was neutral, likewise cast his vote according to the opinion of his best friend, the dwarf.
Brown was worried but followed the majority rule. "Since the four of you are in agreement, I will come along. But before that, how about finishing the patrol quest?"
"You are right. Let's do that."
Soon, we moved a little faster and finished patrolling the route set by the Administrative Office.
"Where is your hiding place? Lead me there," I ordered the prisoner.
"Promise me that you'll let me go."
"If it's the woman we're looking for, or if I feel it's worth it, I'll let you go."
"Okay, follow me."
I stopped him. "Wait, wear this first."
"Huh?"
I tied a rope around the man's waist. He had a puzzled expression on his face. Then I grabbed the remaining rope like a dog's leash since it would be annoying if he ran away.
"Okay, now that that's done, take the lead."
"...The route is not on the map, so follow me."
Soon, the man began to find his way through the maze-like sewer. It was then that I realized how complicated the structure was. So far, we'd only been walking on the main path where the water from the gutters flowed, but if you squeezed through a narrow gap that looked like a wall, you found a new area. Then there was a fork in the middle and a hole in the ceiling you had to climb through.
There was one question on my mind at this point. "Why did you get caught hiding in a place like that?"
"...I've been wandering around looking for a new hideout. Then I heard you guys, so I had no choice but to hide in a hurry."
I see. He had some bad luck, too.
"We're here."
The man stopped at a hole with a diameter of about six feet. I didn't know what this place was designed for, but it seemed that if you followed the path into the hole, you would find a large, open area.
"From now on, everyone, lower your voices," I instructed.
"Haha, this is quite nerve-racking."
Unlike Hikurod, who looked a little excited, or Missha, who looked a little scared, I wasn't too worried. By coincidence, all five of us were in the sewers together. Everyone was much stronger than they were back then. So, if the woman hiding down there was Elisa Behenk...
"Hey, is there anywhere you can escape from in there?" I asked the prisoner.
"There are no entrances other than this hole."
This time, I would be able to show her what justice was.
Negotiation: the act of persuading someone and discussing things to come to a decision. This was both a reasonable and irrational process. If the two parties weren't on equal ground, someone would end up losing out in the end—just like this.
"...Before I tell you, I need a promise!"
"Dwalkie, just make him like he was before—"
"I-I'll tell you!" Not wanting to waste this opportunity, the man started explaining his situation. "There are many other people living in this sewer besides me. Usually, it's just hard to see them because they know the routes of the patrol officers so they can avoid them..."
"Shorter."
"...Some bitch stole my hiding spot a few days ago."
To sum up the man's story, it went like this: he had been doing pretty well in the sewers when a woman came and took his home. And she was no ordinary woman. Although she looked small, he had no choice but to leave because she was leading a bunch of skeletons around with her.
Missha cocked her head. "Skeletons? Werrren't they just people who took the essence of a Nekramia?"
But the man seemed convinced. "I don't know exactly what they were. However! It was completely different from the skeletons in the labyrinth! I was once an adventurer too, so I'm confident!"
"So what is your verdict?"
"It has to be wicked black magic. If you hand her over to the temple, you will definitely receive compensation. Money that won't even compare to what you'll get from me!"
I thought this over for a moment. The timing was too coincidental to just dismiss. A woman who had been hiding in the sewers for a few days and used wicked black magic...
"Could it be that woman?"
"Elisa Behenk. No doubt she had no other choice but to hide here."
Brown and Hikurod apparently thought the same thing. They gulped and each tossed in their two cents.
Damn, could it really be that bitch?
I needed to know more because there was not enough evidence to be sure. "What was she wearing? Describe it in detail."
"She was wearing a robe and her face was covered with a hood, so I couldn't see it clearly. I knew she was a woman from the lines of her body and her voice, but that's all."
"I see."
"Oh! Now that I think of it, she was wearing a very unusual necklace..."
"What shape was it?"
"It's hard to explain in words."
I had an inkling as to what it was and quickly pulled an item out of my bag, the symbol of the church of Karui that I found while digging through Hans's backpack the other day. "Was it something like this?"
"Yes! It was just like that!"
I let out a deep sigh as I stared at the nodding man. The possibility that it really was that bitch had increased dramatically.
"What arrre you going to do?"
"I'm thinking," I told Missha.
"Hahaha, what are you thinking about?! We need to go catch her now and deliver justice!"
Justice my ass, you just want the reward money.
Anyway, if Hikurod was an extremist, Brown was on the moderate side. "I think it would be better to go back to the Administrative Office and file an official report. We're not sure if it's that woman yet, so why should we risk it?"
Both of their opinions were definitely valid. If we caught her ourselves, we would earn the reward money, but if we didn't take the risk, filing the report would allow someone else to handle the matter.
Something doesn't feel right.
If Elisa was the crazy bitch this guy was talking about, I felt especially uncomfortable with the idea of heading back like this. Elisa was not just a bitch—she was one with a grudge against me. Because of that, I was inwardly worried that she might be plotting something from the shadows.
Even if the administration office or the temple mobilized to send people over here, it would take several days.
And if she ran away in the meantime, I'd have to keep feeling this way. "I want to check it out, but what do you guys think?"
Missha immediately agreed. Dwalkie, who was neutral, likewise cast his vote according to the opinion of his best friend, the dwarf.
Brown was worried but followed the majority rule. "Since the four of you are in agreement, I will come along. But before that, how about finishing the patrol quest?"
"You are right. Let's do that."
Soon, we moved a little faster and finished patrolling the route set by the Administrative Office.
"Where is your hiding place? Lead me there," I ordered the prisoner.
"Promise me that you'll let me go."
"If it's the woman we're looking for, or if I feel it's worth it, I'll let you go."
"Okay, follow me."
I stopped him. "Wait, wear this first."
"Huh?"
I tied a rope around the man's waist. He had a puzzled expression on his face. Then I grabbed the remaining rope like a dog's leash since it would be annoying if he ran away.
"Okay, now that that's done, take the lead."
"...The route is not on the map, so follow me."
Soon, the man began to find his way through the maze-like sewer. It was then that I realized how complicated the structure was. So far, we'd only been walking on the main path where the water from the gutters flowed, but if you squeezed through a narrow gap that looked like a wall, you found a new area. Then there was a fork in the middle and a hole in the ceiling you had to climb through.
There was one question on my mind at this point. "Why did you get caught hiding in a place like that?"
"...I've been wandering around looking for a new hideout. Then I heard you guys, so I had no choice but to hide in a hurry."
I see. He had some bad luck, too.
"We're here."
The man stopped at a hole with a diameter of about six feet. I didn't know what this place was designed for, but it seemed that if you followed the path into the hole, you would find a large, open area.
"From now on, everyone, lower your voices," I instructed.
"Haha, this is quite nerve-racking."
Unlike Hikurod, who looked a little excited, or Missha, who looked a little scared, I wasn't too worried. By coincidence, all five of us were in the sewers together. Everyone was much stronger than they were back then. So, if the woman hiding down there was Elisa Behenk...
"Hey, is there anywhere you can escape from in there?" I asked the prisoner.
"There are no entrances other than this hole."
This time, I would be able to show her what justice was.