Chapter 139 - Special System

"Phew..."

Kania and I emerged from the basement, pulling our robes over our heads as we crossed the chaotic slave market and slipped into a quiet room. The operation was fully complete, so we could have just left, but I desperately needed a moment to clear my head.

"Young Master, is something bothering you?"

"...No, my mind's just a bit unsettled."

As I stared blankly into space with hollow eyes and a grim expression, Kania tilted her head.

"Is there any reason for your mind to be unsettled? There were a few unexpected hiccups, but it all wrapped up successfully, didn't it?"

"...Yeah, it did."

This main quest had turned out quite successfully despite the variables.

I'd achieved everything I wanted and even scored some unexpected gains.

"An increase in total mana... This really feels like I'm turning into a glass cannon."

The hero's power I wield consumes life force to unleash explosive strength in an instant. Of course, the explosive power scales with my total mana, and this reward had boosted it considerably—roughly 1.5 times what it was before. Swinging a sword in this state, I could probably cleave through most objects.

But I couldn't get cocky. My life force had been shaved down four times already, making it extremely difficult to even use the hero's power.

"Kania, let's quickly recap today's events."

"Pardon?"

"Just... I want to cool my head for a bit."

As I leaned back in my chair with those thoughts, Kania, who had been watching me quietly, cautiously pulled out a notebook from her bosom.

"In that case, I'll begin the report."

"Go ahead."

For some reason, whenever I ask Kania for a report, she pulls out this personal notebook she's never shown me, even when I say I'd like to see it. Listening to her soft voice as she goes through it helps sort out my tangled thoughts, making the complexity melt away into calm.

"...Hoo."

But not today. My unsettled mind showed no signs of settling.

"First, the report on the slaves. Thanks to Irina's efforts, all the slaves successfully escaped the market."

"So, they're all at the secret location we prepared by now?"

"Yes. They're all gathered in one place."

Kania answered, then let out a sigh and muttered.

"I was so happy when we liberated them, but now that it's over, thinking about the follow-up processing gives me a headache."

"...Kania, you don't have to handle everything yourself."

Empathizing with her plight as the one managing the practical side, I spoke up, and she turned the question back to me.

"So, what will you do with the slaves?"

"Hm..."

Hearing that, I tapped the desk a few times with my finger before starting.

"Those with hometowns or families to return to, and anyone who wants to leave—we'll let them go."

"And those with nowhere to go?"

"...We'll give them ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠jobs."

Kania's expression twisted at my words.

"Young Master, even if we screen them... Providing jobs for that many people won't be easy. And arranging jobs could expose our identities."

"What if there's a way to easily provide jobs without risking exposure?"

"Is there such a method?"

To Kania, who looked puzzled, I smirked and replied.

"We set up the 'Welfare Foundation,' remember? Have them work there—no problem."

"......Ah."

Kania's face lit up in realization, then shifted to mild suspicion as she asked.

"Was that why you ordered the Welfare Foundation established last time?"

"It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was one of several reasons. Think of it that way."

As I leaned back in my chair again, Kania glanced at me, flipped a page in her notebook, and continued.

"Next, the report on 'Mid-Boss' Miho."

"Yeah, hope that went smoothly."

"Yes. I confirmed earlier that Clana and Irina fully subdued her. Though it was a scripted situation from the start."

At that, I fiddled with the now-disconnected Domination Stone and said.

"Right before handing her over to the imperial family or church, I'll claim ownership and take her. If needed, we'll use force."

As I spoke with a serious expression, Kania's face stiffened slightly as she asked.

"Are you bringing that Miho girl home too? With Lulu as a pet already..."

"No, I won't. It's too much to handle with her added."

Cutting her off decisively, Kania's expression eased in relief.

"I'll get her a job at the foundation too. Working there, I can slowly investigate her abilities."

"What if she insists on leaving?"

"That won't happen. I know why she left her homeland."

Smiling as I said that, Kania also smiled with some relief and turned the page.

"Next... the unidentified figure who dealt with the Demon King's executive."

"...Yeah, that unidentified figure."

"If that unidentified person really is the Demon King... do you know her identity, Young Master?"

"Hm..."

To her question, I pondered briefly.

"I can't be certain yet. But I have one likely suspect."

"...Who?"

"Well..."

The moment I started to share my suspicions ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with Kania—

- Creak...

The room's door suddenly opened, and someone entered.

"Frey!!!!!"

""........""

We fell into deep silence as we stared at Perloché, who had flung open the door.

"What are you doing here?"

"...And why are you here?"

My heart had already felt off since hugging the crying Perloché earlier, and seeing her beaming innocently now made it feel even stranger.

"I came to be with you!"

"What?"

"I came to keep an eye on you!"

As Perloché seemed to change her words midstream, Kania's expression beside me began to harden.

"...Hoot."

Wondering why, I noticed the owl—which had a rather poor relationship with her—perched on Perloché's shoulder.

"Kania! Serena just arrived and says she has something to discuss with you!"

"...Serena?"

"Hurry!"

As Perloché fussed, the owl on her shoulder glanced warily and hooted reluctantly.

"Hoo, hoot."

"See? The owl says to hurry too!"

Come to think of it, I'd momentarily forgotten about Serena. She was supposed to join the operation as soon as the sun set. But it had ended far easier and quicker than expected, so she'd probably raced here at full speed right at sunset—but still arrived a bit late.

"Then, I'll be right back."

"No, I'll come with—"

"No!!"

I started to rise to comfort the likely disappointed Serena, but Perloché blocked me, leaving me tilting my head.

"You stay here!!"

"...Why?"

"I have something to say!"

Perloché still wore her innocent smile.

'...Ugh.'

But for some reason, my chest felt heavy.

"Kania, I'm fine. Go talk to her."

"But..."

"I'll follow soon."

Resigned to this tête-à-tête, I told ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Kania that and quietly stared at Perloché before me.

"Perloché, about you..."

After gazing into her eyes for a long moment, I was about to ask in a low voice when—

- Creak...

".....?"

Perloché's expression suddenly turned icy as she stood, forcing me to pause and gauge her mood. Just a few months ago, she was the idiot I bullied, but lately, why did she feel so intimidating?

- Step, step.

As I thought that, Perloché slowly headed to the door.

- Click!

"...Perloché?"

What was she doing? She suddenly locked the door.

What the hell?

"Hmmm..."

Bewildered by the inexplicable situation—

"...Just for a moment, allow me a brief deviation."

Perloché suddenly lifted the corner of her mouth and whispered softly.

""..........""

A heavy silence fell.

"...Just kidding."

In the silence, Perloché's face turned sad.

"What are you doing?"

Feeling both pity and suspicion, I cautiously asked why, but—

"Something more important than deviation."

Biting her lip hard, Perloché muttered lowly and returned to the seat before me.

"A condition I finally created... one I might never recreate... I can't throw it away for a moment's lapse."

"Wh-what...?"

"Just for a fleeting comfort... No, I told you this. Get it together. No, if I do, it'll be bad."

Her eyes were already lost in panic.

"Perloché, calm down."

"Yes! Got it!"

But as soon as I spoke seriously, she snapped back to normal.

"Frey! From now on, you should tell the truth!"

"...About what?"

Reeling from the rapid shifts, Perloché spoke in her bright voice.

"You're the one who dragged Ruby into this incident, right?!"

"Ruby? You mean Ruby, the staff member from the orphanage where we did volunteer work?"

"I was sweating bullets protecting Ruby who was wandering around here today!!"

The moment Perloché spoke with a pouty, annoyed expression—

A system window appeared before my eyes.

"This is...?"

"How could you involve such a pretentious yet kind person like Ruby... make her flee from monsters! The Sun God won't forgive you..."

"...Ha."

I gazed at the special quest from the day I first received special stacks, its hidden parts now revealed.

'You want to play, Demon God?'

I quietly pondered, recalling her ruby-red eyes.

"Perloché? Didn't you say Serena arrived? I don't see her anywhere?"

Kania's puzzled voice came from beyond the firmly locked door.

Meanwhile, at that moment...

"...Hm?"

Serena, racing toward the slave market in her carriage, tilted her head and muttered.

"That's strange."

"I've memorized the faces of everyone participating in the slave market, but that person wasn't among them."

Reflected in her moonlit eyes was a girl with ruby-red eyes, hurriedly fleeing somewhere.