A few days later. Evening.
Afraal was more bustling than usual.
――Yes, the slave market would be held tonight.
The merchants must've learned from experience and anticipated that
Ophir and her gang of bandits would definitely come attacking as
they'd increased the number of adventurers standing guard at the
venue.
For the merchants, the bandits were surely troublesome, but their
main problem was Ophir, the Axe Saintess.
As such, they had to stall her at least until they were done closing
the deal.
That must be what they had in mind in significantly increasing the
number of guards.
But it actually worked for us too.
After all, the more people witnessed what was going to happen the
better.
Then—the time finally came.
——Whooooooosh!
"""""Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh!?"""""
The people of Afraal screamed at the sandstorm that suddenly hit
the town.
However, the real horror just started.
"…Eh? Cough cough…wh-what is this…?"
Thud, people collapsed one after another with something like a rash
emerging all over their bodies.
――Yes, it was an outbreak of plague.
Everyone, regardless of age or sex, collapsed to the ground and
became unable to move, seemingly in pain.
The town that was so bustling was instantly surrounded by silence.
Of course, this was our… or rather, Turbo-sama's work.
I had her produce a plague that could cause a human's body to
become paralyzed and unable to move.
Needless to say, although babies and old people whose bodies were
weak were also infected, their lives weren't in any real danger.
That said, most people here were innocent; I felt really sorry for
doing this to them.
But without doing such a big play, we wouldn't be able to save
everyone.
――Blaze!
So, in order to make the play successful, I transformed into phoenix,
flew over the town, and landed on the tallest building.
Then, with another help from Turbo-sama, the wind slightly altered
my voice and delivered it to the whole town.
"I was late, huh. —O' humans, you have evoked the wrath of the god
of wind. Despite being humans, you treated other humans – creation
of gods just like yourselves – as if they were goods and trafficked
them. The Axe Saintess had even repeatedly risked her life to try
and stop you, yet you never reflected. This is the price you have to
pay for your folly," I continued with a heavy and admonishing tone,
"most of you may have forgotten, but all your deeds are weighed on
gods' scales. Those whom cooperated in the evil act and turn a blind
eye also sinned. Hence, the god of wind handed down this calamity.
All whom you hold dear shall not be spared from it, either. The
calamity will waft towards them and gnaw at their bodies."
"""""!?"""""
Hearing that, the faces of not only the residents, but also the
adventurers were dyed in despair.
It was natural.
After all, their precious ones would also suffer because of them.
Still, my chest hurt.
I didn't give a damn about the slave traders, but I ended up scaring
the innocents, too.
Well, considering this was for the future of the town, there was no
way around it…
Anyway, let's finish this as soon as possible.
With that in mind, I announced, "But—there is a way to save
yourselves and your precious ones."
"""""!"""""
As hope filled the people's faces, I continued, "Swear right here and
right now that you regret your sins and will never make the same
mistakes again. And those who are guilty of trafficking humans do so
out loud. I will deliver your voice to the god of wind. However, know
that this is your first and last opportunity—lies will immediately lead
to immediate death."
If they stay unrepentant, no one could save them anymore.
So, please…! I prayed in my heart.
Then.
"—I-I'm guilty of trafficking humans!?"
"—S-so am I!?"
"—P-please forgive me!?" The merchants raised their voices one
after another.
I sighed in relief and patted my chest.
◇ ◇
Well, the problem started from then.
If the plague was cured immediately, the merchants could possibly
repeat the same act again in the future.
So, we'd decided to make the plague inflicting them heavier and
longer.
Among them, there were some daredevils who obstinately refused to
repent, hence we'd decided to take extreme measure against them.
To be precise, we'd had them continued to suffer indescribable pain
until Turbo-sama forgave them.
I hoped they'd do their best to receive her forgiveness.
Anyway, like that, the case this time came to an end, and Afraal was
now back in full swing.
There was one clear change in the town. A stone monument to
worship the god of wind now stood erect at the center.
People would surely warn themselves every time they saw the stone
monument.
And I wished that adventurers and travelers would pass on what had
happened here to other towns.
Well, setting that aside.
"Oi, what is the meaning of this?" Turbo-sama looked at us (or rather,
at Ophir) with half-closed eyes.
Because,
"Woaaah, it's the house of the goddess!"
"Wooow! What a big house!"
"Yaaay! Yaaay!"
Like that, the children who were part of the bandit group and the
children who were supposed to be sold as slaves were running
around in the Wind Temple.
"M' bad, I've decided to go along these guys, see. So, please take
care of these brats."
"Are you messing around with me, Ophir? Are you seriously telling
me to babysit?"
"Yeah. Ya like children anyway, don't cha? Then, there ain't a
problem, aight? Some of 'em can already take care of themselves,
so I'm sure yer gonna do fine."
"Do you want to be killed, Ophir? No, I will kill you. Right now."
Whirr whirr, Turbo-sama released intimidating air.
But,
Pull.
"…Hm?"
The hem of Turbo-sama's skirt was pulled by a child who was about
three years of age. The child said to her, "…Pee."
"—Wha!? O-oi, hold on!? I will take you to the bathroom now, so
don't pee here!? Absolutely don't, okay!? Okay!?" Turbo-sama
picked up the child and brought him away.
This must be how she was like when she was raising Ophir, we
watched her go, feeling slightly warm and fluffy inside.