Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Rotten Boots.
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The underlings I planted in the Liudira mountain stronghold finally screwed up.
Thanks to those fools, an unnamed monster visited the stronghold.
This incomprehensible intruder slipped into the stronghold with ridiculous ease, killed a few of our men, and even stole the chieftain's seat.
Rebellion?
Or resistance?
It was certainly worth considering.
One of them even risked his life to suggest retaking the chieftain's position from the monster, right under its watchful eye. I expressed my strong disapproval, but a few others agreed with him.
And the next day, every one of those who agreed was dead. The one who had spoken of rebellion was breathing just fine.
I asked him.
“You... how are you unscathed? All your comrades are dead.”
His response was astounding.
- What? What are you talking about? I was out on the black market on the monster's orders.
The monster.
It was everywhere and nowhere.
The moment the stronghold accepted it, we were no different from its slaves.
That incident snuffed out even the last flickers of resistance.
The monster was the rightful master of the stronghold.
A truly cunning and insidious one.
It suddenly struck me that no force in the world would work against it.
But a few days later, I witnessed something utterly unexpected.
Right now...
“That monster... is tense?”
A hint of anxiety.
A hint of anticipation.
I could see it on the monster.
The monster's personal guest, scheduled to visit the stronghold today.
“Everyone, bow your heads.”
In the stronghold, strength is everything. At the monster's command, we all bowed low, like supplicants. Having moved our nest countless times in this line of work, our instincts were razor-sharp.
Step...
Step...
A fine fragrance mixed with a heavy scent wafted in.
Three sets of footsteps. One belonged to someone small in stature.
“You've arrived. We've been waiting.”
“Mori, this exceeds my expectations.”
“You flatter me.”
A chilling gaze prickled the back of my neck. To instill such dread with just a look...
“...Clear out. We have business to discuss.”
The voice of this great one was deep and dark. Pitch black, befitting the one the monster served.
What in the world is this great one...
What could the being be that even this vicious monster serves...!
* * *
“There don't seem to be any useful ones.”
“They weren't people I expected much from to begin with. I just wanted disposable tools for immediate needs.”
“Indeed... If they're that level, they might just fulfill the role I've assigned.”
Conversations with Mori had become much smoother.
Why did I find these talks so comfortable now?
‘Because I've resolved to become Faust?’
Until recently, my demeanor in talks with Mori had been that of an actor. An actor playing Faust, still clinging to my human identity.
Back then, I'd bluff or posture with Mori, but now there was no need. Because I really had become Faust.
“...Your eyes have changed.”
“In a bad way?”
“Of course, in a good way. The stronghold's vermin would have pissed themselves just meeting Faust's gaze.”
“That's excessive flattery.”
“Heh heh... Well, that's my impression... But more importantly...”
Mori's gaze shifted to the two women beside me.
“...A new presence... A demon.”
“You can sense it?”
If Mori had noticed Amon's presence, that meant trouble ahead.
The cities we'd expand into would be teeming with beings stronger than Mori, and if he could sense it, so could they.
‘Hm? Wait...’
In the moment I looked away, Amon's presence had swelled enormously. A power anyone could notice, not just Mori.
“...Planning to break your promise?”
“It was just a test. Ahem...”
Before leaving the dungeon, Amon had made a promise with me. She would never reveal her power without my permission. If she broke it, I'd consider voiding the summoning contract.
‘I don't know how to void it yet, though...’
Still, my threat had worked; her massive ego settled down, and she caused no issues on the way here.
- What a flower, a flower. Such vibrant breeds are rare in Hell; I'll commit it to memory.
- Indeed, eras have passed. The humans I remember weren't nearly so refined.
Muttering like a tourist aunt on a package tour, Amon. It was only after arriving at the stronghold that she stirred up unease.
“I'm making an effort, aren't I? This unfamiliar scenery has caught my fancy, you see.”
She grinned slyly.
‘Worrying about it will just give me a headache.’
I turned my eyes from Amon and asked Mori.
“The black market's scale was beyond expectations?”
“Exactly. Coincidentally, this fair was held not far from Liudira, but it's apparently a massive one usually held far away.”
“And why here this time?”
“A major backer who pours vast sums into the black market specified this location. The land is that person's private property, so the organizers had no real grounds to refuse.”
“Three mid-sized merchant caravans' worth of goods coming and going?”
“Including private deals, roughly that much.”
The more he explained about the night market, the brighter the eyes of the two women beside me grew.
“There must be good tea. No, there had better be!”
“Plenty of intriguing items will trickle in too. Time to satisfy some expectations.”
This wasn't a vacation, yet they acted like they were off on a picnic.
“By the way, who is this backer?”
“Someone who recently inherited a barony in the Aindeil region, but seems to have avoided public appearances, as no one knows much.”
“A baron with that kind of wealth?”
“That's the odd part. Rumors say his late father—the previous baron—had a foot in the underworld. Even whispers that the title was bought by scratching the backs of influential nobles...”
“Hmm...”
Detailed.
Very much so.
If asked what impressed me, it'd be the entire backstory tied to the black market.
Nothing felt slapped together.
Not the backer's secrets, nor the market's location.
In the game, these were skippable details, but now in reality, everything interlocked like gears. Treat it like a game, and you wouldn't notice the dagger in your heart until it was too late.
“The schedule?”
“...Truthfully, no leeway.”
“I see...”
Slide...
“Let's depart.”
* * *
Prance...
Clatter...
Clatter...
The carriage held me, Lucifer, and Amon. Mori sat at the driver's seat, guiding us.
Mori had somehow procured a carriage—the same one gathering dust in the stronghold's warehouse—and two horses bought from a nearby ranch, he said. When I asked if they'd been stolen or looted, he laughed heartily and said we'd use carriages often from now on, so he'd ensured no issues.
Thinking and acting like a human—that was Mori's true terror.
“We're... about there now.”
The carriage halted briefly. Stopping in the middle of a deserted forest path felt unsettling, but soon the reason became clear.
Whoosh-!
Someone climbed onto the driver's seat.
“Bill.”
Bill, the dark elf assassin.
“Lord Faust, safe travels.”
Bill glanced briefly inside the carriage, then faced forward again.
“Mori, move out.”
Mori gruffly replied to Bill, who issued orders the moment he sat.
“Hmph, I know that without being told.”
Clatter...
“Bill.”
“Yes?”
“What are the black market's main wares?”
“Not on the level of official auctions, but relics from nearby ruins flow in heavily.”
“And?”
“Vast quantities of stolen goods.”
Stolen goods. Like what was loaded in this very carriage.
Dungeon adventurers had fallen multiple times, their gear and possessions now ownerless. Adventurers don't haggle over food that goes down the gullet, but they'll pay top coin for gear that keeps them alive.
Even sold as scrap, it'd fetch a good price in Solaria. Plus, with Carl Corso's remnants—including those pricey scrolls he used like water—we'd make more than travel expenses.
The stronghold's informants were monitoring adventurers heading from Liudira to the Great Forest, so the dungeon would stay safe while we visited the market.
Clatter...
A full day by carriage.
Starting from the stronghold, the actual distance to the dungeon was farther, but we'd arrived at the market site.
Clatter...
But something felt off. All around was dense forest. That's a tree, that's vines...
‘If we're not here for a forest bath, shouldn't there be lights at least?’
The woods were eerily silent, not even a wild beast's cry.
‘No way...’
Focusing on the unnatural haze between trees, the illusion shattered like breaking glass.
Fwoosh-!
The forest brimmed with lights and smoke billowing from chimneys.
The black market guards wore long-sleeved robes and held spears; two approached the carriage.
“How may I assist?”
“Here.”
At my signal, Bill handed over the introduction letter from the fence we dealt with.
“Quite a group. We'll inspect the carriage.”
“As you like.”
Slink...
An unpleasant gaze swept the interior. Bill had already disguised himself, so no issues there.
Lucifer and Amon, however, looked like beauties any man might covet, so caution was needed.
“Uh, ahem... If any issues arise during your stay, please visit us.”
“Appreciated.”
Smirk-
The guard, who might've sensed something off in Amon's archaic speech, just grinned dopily and opened the barred gate.
Creeeak...
“Cleared!”
Clatter...
Clatter...
The gate opened to another world.
Lights adorning the night. Dozens of tents evoked the thrill of a traveling circus.
“Scram! Not selling at that price!”
“Do you know what this is and you're lowballing it like that?”
“Hey! Hands off the slaves! One more time and I'll chop off those filthy fingers!”
The black market was a city that never slept.
Being the first day of the fair, everyone shouted at the top of their lungs.
“The fence arranged a lodging. We'll head there.”
“...Right.”
Clatter...
At the lodging, Bill took the horses that had pulled us here to the stables, feeding them fodder mixed with bean husks.
“Phew-! So thick with humanity's sticky scent.”
“Disgusting, but I'll endure.”
I let the demons' complaints go in one ear and out the other. Instead, I turned my attention to a group arguing in the market's main street.
“No mounting horses within the grounds.”
“Hey! Do you know who I am?”
“Pardon, but may I have your name?”
“......”
Clearly a noble's daughter.
A cute girl with her hair in twin tails, still boyish-faced and looking young, was clashing with the guards.
The woman on horseback exuded nobility too, but regrettably, my eyes were drawn not to her, but to someone in a robe amid the group.
As torchlight flickered her way, her features fully emerged in my view.
A beauty that dropped jaws.
Her skin was strikingly pale, her eyes an unusual color.
Our gazes met.
On the black market's first night, a strange encounter.
Amon chuckled beside me.
“They're hiding their identity too, just like us.”