Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Escape Arc (5)
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"All done."
Dregs used the key he pulled from Mere's bosom to unlock the servants' shackles.
Those things had been fused to our limbs like part of our bodies.
Every time a shackle came off, we all instinctively rubbed our wrists and ankles, savoring the unfamiliar freedom as if by prior agreement.
"I'm Nellin from Acrom's Workshop Alley. Are you here to rescue us?"
In response to Nellin's question, the sole remaining Short Stature warrior replied.
"That's right. We've already taken too long. We need to move fast now."
"Understood. But this is important—did you happen to see the trading post chief on your way in?"
"We ran into a special-grade Red Magic mage on the first-floor stairs. Might be him. Go check."
With that, he led the way down the stairs.
Kiru, who had retrieved Privé and its sheath from Mere's corpse, followed right behind.
Right after them came Nellin and me, with Dregs and the rest of the servants bringing up the rear.
The central hall on the second floor was spotless, as if nothing had happened.
On the way down to the first floor, we spotted the corpse just as the Short Stature warrior had said.
"This is him—the trading post chief... Ah, here it is! My pouch."
Nellin confirmed his identity with a glance and found her pouch intact on his belt.
She detached it and tucked it into the pocket of her servant uniform.
Then she silently gazed down at the trading post chief's body.
What flickered in her eyes wasn't anger or sorrow, but emptiness.
"All this... for something so trivial..."
With that quiet murmur, she turned away without a hint of lingering.
The Short Stature warrior, seeing this, urged them on.
"Let's move."
We hurried down to the first floor at his words.
The moment we arrived, our breath caught in our throats.
Four charred corpses smoldered, filling the space with acrid heat and a nauseating stench.
"Gasp...!"
The sound from beside me was Nellin's short cry.
Snapping to my senses at her voice, the foul smell assaulted my nose.
I reflexively covered my mouth and nose with my hand.
'This is unbearable...'
I'd thought myself numb to horrors after all the atrocities I'd endured. But the stench of burning flesh was something I could never get used to.
"As I said, the trading post chief was a special-grade Red Magic mage. We were all advanced warriors, but we fell in one go. He seemed to target all six of us, but luckily, my comrade who went ahead and I dodged the fireballs."
'The chief must have come down late. If he'd taken them all out, our hopes would have been dashed.'
"Ahh..."
Sadness clouded Nellin's face, tears shimmering in her eyes.
"It's a job we took, so no need to blame yourself. Come on, hurry."
Kiru patted Nellin's shoulder.
He half-supported her to keep her from lagging, quickening their pace.
Across the central hall on the first floor.
A few figures stood blocking what looked like the entrance, shouting as they spotted us.
We ignored them and bolted down the opposite passageway, throwing open the door to the final room without hesitation and rushing inside.
The moment we entered, a strange sense of déjà vu gripped me.
It was a room identical in structure to the third-floor lab. My feet froze for an instant.
"What's wrong?"
Kiru asked softly, noticing my state.
"...It's the same layout as the lab."
"..."
But we couldn't stop.
Even as chills ran down my spine, we followed the Short Stature warrior into the left passageway inside.
In the adjoining space, a hole in the wall gaped—just big enough for one person to pass.
The rescuers must have breached the wall from outside.
"One at a time, out this way."
At the Short Stature warrior's command, Nellin and the other servants slipped through the hole one by one.
I was just bending down to follow.
Urgent footsteps and shouts erupted from the passageway outside—the pursuers from the first-floor entrance.
I immediately thrust my hand backward.
"Prompt to Magic Cast— Fog Call."
⟨ Fog Call ⟩
Mana burst from my fingertips, blooming into thick fog that swiftly filled the room.
It would buy us at least a little time.
"Go!"
Kiru shoved my back.
We hurled ourselves through the hole without further delay.
The scenery and fresh air of the outside world after six long years.
But there was no time to marvel—we breathlessly followed the Short Stature warrior over the fence and down alleyways.
About fifteen minutes of running and walking to catch our breath later,
a lone carriage blocked a deserted alley.
The Short Stature warrior approached, opened the door, checked inside, gestured for us to board, then leaped onto the roof.
Before the carriage door, I paused and looked back at Nellin and Kiru.
"...It's finally over."
At my quiet words, Kiru nodded silently.
A faint sheen of tears glistened in Nellin's eyes.
We exchanged nods without a word, then boarded one by one.
Once everyone was aboard, a small window from the driver's seat slid open into the carriage.
"Keep the curtains drawn for about an hour. We should arrive in three hours. Off we go."
With that, the carriage lurched into motion.
Relief at leaving this place settled in, but a heavy silence blanketed the unfamiliar peace inside.
"..."
It was a six-seater with long benches facing each other.
Kiru, Nellin, and I crammed onto one side; the other four on the opposite bench.
Dregs spoke up.
"Could you explain what happened?"
Before answering, Nellin—sitting between Kiru and me—lightly slapped her cheeks with both hands as if to steady herself.
As all eyes turned to her, she spoke in her usual bright voice.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Nellin, a special-grade Purple Magic mage working as a craftsman in Acrom's Workshop Alley."
"Pardon? Special-grade... Purple Magic mage...?"
Dregs blurted in shock, and Nellin nodded with a wry smile.
"Yes. I was ambushed by the Shadow Merchant Guild while buying Purple Magic materials."
With that, Nellin's story unfolded before everyone.
From the moment she was brought in as a servant, to our letter two months ago, leading up to today.
Occasional questions and sighs from Dregs and the others punctuated her tale. Amazement and relief dawned on their faces by the end.
"Nellin, Rat Pup, Maggot. Thank you."
Nellin waved off Dregs' words, while Kiru remained silent.
"No need for honorifics among us—just use our names. How about we share our real names now?"
At my suggestion, Dregs started, and we went around introducing ourselves properly. Light greetings led to more conversation.
"Zarek. Even after assigning me as Kiru's assistant six years ago, you've shown me so much consideration. I'm truly grateful."
Dregs—real name Zarek—had assigned me as Kiru's assistant so I, an experiment subject, could learn from someone who'd been through the same.
I knew he'd gone out of his way in other matters because of my experiments too.
"No need. Aroin, you've been through a lot yourself."
In the warm atmosphere, others shared how they'd ended up as servants. Most were dragged in by unavoidable debts, and we exchanged various reflections as time passed.
It must have been about three hours later.
The jolting to my rear and awkward back position made me realize just how grueling carriage travel was.
'How do people handle bathroom breaks on long trips? Water? Washing and teeth?'
Even in this situation, useless thoughts bubbled up.
One thing was certain, though.
Cleanliness wouldn't be an issue thanks to mastering Dirt Clear.
'Are utensils personal? Dishwashing? Sleeping bags in backpacks? Tent on the carriage?'
Lost in such trivial musings, we finally arrived somewhere.
"We're here. Everyone out."
At the Short Stature warrior's call, we rose one by one, rubbing our stiff backs and legs.
Stepping out, a vast campsite sprawled before us—dozens of tents clustered around a bonfire.
"Nelllin!" "Lady Nellin!" "Nel—lin!"
Shouts rang out as Short Stature folk swarmed us, a few Short Ears mixed in.
"You're back, Nellin!"
A Short Stature middle-aged man with faint orange-tinged brown hair hurried over.
"Chairman!"
Nellin ran to him and hugged tight.
"Finally, finally back! When I got your message, I can't tell you how grateful I was. What a relief! Ahh, Nellin!"
Tears welled in his eyes as he embraced her; moisture gathered at the corners.
He was called Chairman, but that orange tint in his hair... maybe family?
"Sob... Yes...! I... I somehow held on. It was so hard... so very hard—"
Watching Nellin weep bitterly, I exchanged a glance with Kiru beside me.
His eyes mirrored my own complex emotions.
We two might have faintly known how grueling it had been for the ever-bright girl.
With stiff expressions, we listened to each sob, silently enduring the ache in our chests until she calmed.
After their tearful reunion, the Acrom folk helped us finally rest properly.
We got tents for the night, fresh clothes, then meals, water, and facilities.
The process let us appreciate Purple Magic mages, Green Magic mages, and Nellin's greatness.
Nellin measured Kiru and me for clothes, then fetched new outfits from a tent—made by its Purple Magic mage owner.
The water for hydration was conjured by a Green Magic mage, and the post-meal apples came from trees rapidly grown from seeds.
The highlight was Nellin.
A portable toilet with a sink, which she called a "Transforming Magic Tool."
Just this showed how vital Nellin—the sole creator of Transforming Magic Tools—was in Acrom.
Shrink it down to carry!
Depending on mass production, it could spark a magical industrial revolution worldwide.
'I nearly became a magic generator, but Nellin's already a Transforming Magic Tool generator... Though she's wielding her power, not being exploited.'
I recalled a past-life show where someone capsule-shrunk big items for use—said person was a mega-tycoon.
If I helped Nellin someday, starvation wouldn't be a worry.
'And my first non-rice-ball meal in six years.'
The first spoonful of warm corn soup hit me with a surge of emotion.
Plain corn soup and bread slices, but this was freedom's taste—the taste of the world.
It touched my heart so deeply, I might obsess over food for a while.
"What are your plans now?"
Kiru and I shared a two-person tent.
"I need to go see Grandmother first."
"Escaping hell loosened your speech a bit."
"Maybe because it's you, Kiru."
We lay staring at the tent ceiling, chatting freely.
Even the thin blanket on the floor felt luxuriously comfortable after six years.
"The Long Ears will still fear and shun you."
Kiru's frank opinion. I liked that about him.
"I know. But they won't hunt me like the outside world. The village rejection... looking back, it was bearable. So, to see Grandmother and for my safety, I'll go back."
"If it gets tough, come to Acrom."
"Planning to go with them?"
"Yeah. Lots of Short Stature there. Plus Nellin."
'Hmm... I see.' I added Acrom to my someday-travel list.
If chance allowed, visiting Karashi in Mercia would be good too. I'd wanted to repay her magic lessons and kindness.
"Got it. I'll visit someday. Anywhere you two are sounds good to me."
"Mm."
Kiru rolled over, ready for sleep.
Time for me too.
Soon I'd part from them and head to the forest alone.
What would this homecoming after six years bring?
I pushed down my tangled thoughts and closed my eyes.