After having lunch, I and Celica resumed gathering intelligence in the royal capital.
It seems this is the first time Celica has come to this dirty place, she's cuddling on me with her arm linked to mine. She looks a bit sweaty.
On the contrary, I step lightly.
It's like a thorn in your side been picked off.
I arrived in front of a stone house inside the slums.
I knock at the door made of thick wood.
"....Member card?"
"Then scram."
I took out a big medal-like 【Emblem of Hero】 from my Wafuku's breast pocket.
"U... Hero..."
"Aa..."
--Well, I could've smashed it if I wanted since I have the Emblem of Hero.
There's a skinhead man with a wound on his cheek standing beside the opened door.
"Excuse me."
A dim room. The wide is average, there's only one counter. There's a door in the back.
"Looks like your business's thriving."
"I don't know how to respond that."
"Yes.... Over here."
The sour smell became even stronger when we entered the door.
A windowless secret room. It's as wide as a classroom.
Figures of men, women and children appeared along the wall.
There's more than 10 people.
"Celica, if you're not feeling well--"
Her looks pale face, she's biting her lips. However, her fingers are gripping my Wafuku's sleeve. Looks like she's afraid to be left alone.
Then the slave trader speaks.
"Hmm...."
Magic to see through abilities and skills.
A good-looking boy with long limbs is actually a monster.
What to do. This looks usable.
"Ah."
"What's wrong?"
Celica shakes her head with a stiff expression. Her blond hair glimmered faintly in the dim light.
I chase after Celica's glances.
--------------------
Name: Clarissa
Age: 41
Job: Slave (Royal Court Chef)
Element: 【Earth】
....Royal court. I see.
While I was lost in thought, the slave trader showed off a man.
The skinhead brings the lamp on the wall near the man. Lighting a bearded man with muddy eyes.
"This man was a former gladiator. He has an excellent handling of weapons."
"....As expected of Hero-sama. You certainly have good eyes."
"There's a lot of demands for sinners, so they're immediately shipped every time we get one. They're very popular for ceremonies, sacrifices and such."
"They're still discussing to judge whether that man is a Sinner or not. It looks like they can't come to a conclusion."
I spoke while glancing at the Emblem of Hero.
"I'm doing a business here...."
"Don't be absurd. It's an honest clean business."
"I'll lose trust, I can't do this."
I ask while putting my hand on my Tachi.
"What? What are you saying Hero-sama."
"If you kill me...."
"....Hero-sama, are you sane? Even if you're a hero, you can't just kill someone innocent without repercussion you know?"
"Eh....?"
I approached the boy and sprinkled him with water from the gourd on my waist.
The boy seemed in pain and then his eyes turned red and his canine teeth grew.
"Hii", "Help!", "I don't wanna die!"
"N-no way! I-I'm--"
"Ha....! It's a mistake! I don't know anything!"
"No way! --a."
The boy who grew fangs tore the chain and came attacking.
I casually swing my drawn Tachi. It's shining blue from <
SLASH!
"HIGYAA!"
"Now then, what're you going to do? There's a lot of witnesses y'know? Will you tell me or not?"
"Whether you do or don't is not the problem here. The important thing is the fact that you brought a monster into the royal capital. I'll help you if you're proven to be usable."
"I understand. I'll tell you. However, I don't have any information, or rather, I don't have any news about Sinners who are still alive. Because they rarely appear."
"Really. Then contact me as soon as you have some info. Do you know Kinmerick old man's inn?"
"Notify me there. ...I think you're aware already, but lying won't work on me understand?"
I put away my sword and offer my hand.
The slave trader is puzzled.
"It's a handshake. Let's get along from now on."
The slave trader timidly reached out and shook his hands with mine.
"Ah, also. Humans bitten by vampires will turn into a vampire too after a while right? Don't sell the slaves here. I'll come visit again before long to dispose of them."
"See you."
It's already evening outside.
"Let's go back to the inn."
Celica looks gloomy.
I ask her while walking in the town.
"No... It's nothing."
Celica's blue eyes open wide.
"I know. Don't worry. I'll buy her."
Celica shook her head.
"Ah, that was a lie."
"It was a monster alright, but it was not a vampire, just a monster who spread poison around. And when they showed the symptom, I would buy them for cheap with the promise of disposing them."
"I had a plan for that."
Rewriting status is a special privilege of gods.
"Don't worry, it will go well. Now let's have a meal with the old man and Minya when we get back."
"....Keika-sama is really great. You make anything impossible possible."
"Thank you, Keika-sama!"
Her breasts shook while we were walking, so I continued to feel the finest softness.
The moment we entered the tavern on the first floor, Lapisia came swinging her slender limbs, wearing a white dress. The blue twintail trailed behind.
She looks like a 10 year girl, but her mental age is a bit lower. She still isn't able to stop her baby talk yet. But she's a Mother Earth Goddess.
I say while patting Lapisia's head.
"Yes, let's. We've walked quite long."
"Lapisia made this today!"
I reflexively looked at the kitchen, Minya came out of it with her cat ears moving. She's a 13 year old beastfolk girl. She's as slender as Lapisia, but her swelling chest looks innocent.
"I see. Then there's nothing to worry about. Minya makes good meal after all."
Minya looked down in silence, but it seemed she was happy as her black tail stood up.
Minya brought the dish at once.
The meat and the bread let out smell that stimulate my stomach.
Lapisia says while staring with her round golden eyes.
As suggested, I stab a meat dumpling with a fork and put it in my mouth.
"Hm! What's this meat dumpling. The inside is perfectly mashed and soft!"
"This is really good! Is this a new menu!?"
Lapisia held out her slender arm and made pressing movement with her small hands.
"Un!"
With elegant gestures, Celica put the dumpling in her mouth with a fork.
"It's really delicious. This is the first time I've eaten this texture."
"You're great. Lapisia-chan."
Lapisia raised both her arm gleefully.
The meal continued afterward.
The cheerfulness made it twice as tasty.
However, as someone who was born in Japan, I began to think.
Glittering white rice. Miso soup with Dashi. Salty salmon. And also Nori and Nattou.
"What's wrong Keika-sama?"
"Is that so."
"Lapisia-chan, what did you do today?"
"Oh my, you played ball and it flew to the city's wall did you. As expected of Lapisia-chan."
Celica talks with Lapisia for a while.
She let me to be alone.
This kind of consideration healed my heart.
I continued to enjoy the good meal while thanking for Celica's existence.