(Barella / Aurevia Bratio Ilf )
[Underground 11th floor - Zone 1]
I was led by several guards to another room... Even though this is an official military camp, I can't help but feel uneasy.
I really hope my intuition is wrong. It's unsettling to be separated from Walson like this... With Grace and Melon not around, if something were to happen, it would be troublesome with only me.
...It's quite annoying, to think that the[Wedding Dagger] that should be treated as a noble item is being treated rudely just because the one who holds the item is a [Villager]. Enduring treatment like being imprisoned, I'm amazed Walson can swallow his anger. He actually stopped me when I was about to get angry.
Those people's heads are truly foolish and reckless. Even though I wear the honor badge bestowed by the royal family, they still wouldn't listen to us. They insisted on contacting the royal family to confirm information before releasing Walson.
...Well, I don't really want to wander around this city anyway. Even if I can freely move in and out, it's more practical to stay by Walson's side. But even this rare moment of solitude got interrupted.
"Please have a seat." I entered a room that resembled an office, and a man who seemed like a high-ranking officer spoke to me this way.
There were only two people in the office.
"Thank you." Out of habit, I bowed and adjusted my posture, taking a seat on the wooden chair in front of the desk.
"Such elegant manners, as expected from the third daughter of the original Bratio Ilf family." He also sat in front of me and pointed at the tea pot. "Would you like some tea?"
His words shocked me a bit... This person actually know my identity?
"...No need." Despite that, I maintained a smile. "May I ask what brings you to find me?"
"As expected of Miss Ilf. Well then... I won't waste any more time." He revealed a brilliant smile, and in the next moment, his skin began to melt away.
Behind the crumbling exterior, a pair of sinister eyes looked at me as if smiling. This grotesque and eerie image suddenly imprinted in my vision, causing me to squint involuntarily.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Julian, the overseer of the [Sacrament Wardens], not sparing any effort to welcome you. Please forgive the inconvenience." Finally, sitting in front of me was a man wearing black leather armor... Just like me, is he an elf too?
"What's this?"
"To negotiate with you, I've employed a complete disguise magic."
...I've heard before that there's a kind of magic that can completely transform one's appearance into that of another person, at the cost of one's life, essentially stealing someone else's face... Even in espionage, there are unspoken rules against using this magic, and yet I'm seeing it here.
He must be someone who doesn't hesitate to use any means... But, what is this [Sacrament Wardens] he mentioned?
But I don't have the luxury to understand it now. This is clearly an abnormal situation; Walson must be in trouble.
I stood up, wanting to leave, but behind me, two black-clad individuals holding daggers had appeared, emanating a chilling aura of death.
"I advise you not to act recklessly... Well, even though you're a hero, as an elf, without your [Elf Weapon], you can't do anything." His tone was filled with jest.
..." The two black-clad figures forced me back into my seat.
Is his name Julian? This is quite an elegant ambush.
"Let's continue our negotiation. I really don't want to resort to violence here, it would be troublesome to involve all of you." Julian shrugged, then took out a cloth pouch and placed it on the table.
"What is this?"
"Three Emperor Gold Coins, equivalent to the value of three thousand gold coins. We want to buy something from you."
"What is it?" Is it one of my equipment?
"No, what we want to buy is the slave by your side."
His words momentarily left me stunned – buying a slave?
Is he talking about Melon? But if she wants to buy her, they should go to Walson, Why would they come to me?
"That slave… His name is Walson, right? He's your slave, right? He's quite a charming [Villager]."
"..." And then, I finally understood his words.
So, Walson has been considered a slave by this [Sacrament Wardens].
Our slave huh... The intelligence that they gathered was incorrect, but from the look of it, they know Walson's value.
...Though I still don't fully understand the situation, I do comprehend that their target is Walson.
I tried using [Party Telepathy] to contact Grace and the others, but I received no response... They wouldn't disregard Walson's safety. It's likely that a barrier or object preventing telepathic communication has been set up here.
Treating someone as a slave just because they're a [Villager]? I must say, that's quite superficial.
"Let me outline a few reasons why you should agree to our terms." Julian crossed his hands in front of his face and continued smiling.
"First, all your equipment, including your [Elven Bow], is locked in a warehouse. If you resist, you're just a lamb awaiting slaughter."
"Second, even if you were to leave from here, you wouldn't find that [Villager] anymore. Our comrade has used a teleportation item to take him away, and you won't know his location."
"Third, don't even think about opposing us. We've brought twenty people, four elite squads."
"Considering the above, take the money and leave quickly. Don't throw away your life for a slave!" With that, he pushed the money pouch towards me and then started laughing. The two individuals behind me joined in mocking laughter.
...
...
In the end, I extended my hand and grabbed the money pouch. The laughter of the three grew louder.
"As compensation for wasting my time, I'll accept this money." I spoke, and the laughter from the two ceased.
Behind me, one of the black-clad figures had a spring knife in his left eye, while the other had their head blown to pieces by an arrow from [Apache].
"Well then, let me outline a few reasons why you must lose." The wooden table turned into splinters upon a close impact. I used [Apache] to crush Julian's foot, preventing him from escaping.
"First, confiscating equipment means nothing to me." I stood up calmly, and the warmth in my words rapidly cooled.
Ignoring his agonized screams, I chanted [Equipment Calling] as I spoke.
Cloak, dress, boots, spring knife, [Apache], [Apollo] – within half a second, they replaced the lightweight clothing I had been wearing moments before.
"Second, it doesn't matter where you've hidden him, we'll find him." I reduced Julian's hands to minced meat; not for any particular reason, I just wanted to increase his suffering.
Finding Walson isn't difficult. I just need to leave here, contact Grace, or ride Rifle to find him myself.
"Third, twenty people? Please, that amount won't even be enough for a warm up, next time, bring more man; well, there won't be a next time for you." Then I exploded his abdomen, all while avoiding hitting his vital organs, of course.
Watching Julian, who wanted to scream but couldn't make a sound, struggling in pain, I aimed [Apache] at his forehead.
"Considering the above, shut your filthy mouth and die quickly." I pulled the trigger, and just like that, the man slumped down lifelessly into the ground.
Damn it, it has been such a long time since I last felt this angry.
The last time I got this enraged was when that bitch snatched Barlon away from me
Previously, I thought this state of mind was something that I would never feel again as long as I'm staying by Walson's side, but now...
...Walson, I'm coming to find you immediately. As for the trash by your side, well, there's no need to leave a single one alive.
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