I've been wandering around the mansion for more than an hour and soon the magic buff given by Alicia will end. I might still have some [Buff Potions] left in my [Inventory], but they're all limited as well. I had run out of stock of [Buff Potion] because most of it I gave to Tia and the people in the Elf village.
It's bittersweet, but there's no point regretting what happened. I just need to use everything I have right now. Luckily I still have a lot of [Debuff Powder] thanks to the materials gathering I did on my way here.
There are various kinds of [Debuff Powder] at my disposal, but I don't intend to use all of them. Because there are some of them that are quite terrible effect. Like powder can make you experience hallucinations and severe depression, in the worst case it can also make you go crazy and commit suicide.
Apart from that, there is also a powder that can enhance all your senses many times over, that may sound awesome, but sadly it is one of the most terrifying. Because it can also enhance your sense of taste, so even if you get hurt by a single scratch, the pain will increase many times over as well.
Because of that, I really had to be careful about using them, though I wasn't sure whether I should use them or not. I don't think I'll ever be in a situation where I'm forced to use those two things.
"Okay, by now Alicia and Elvy should have managed to infiltrate the basement," I muttered, hiding in a dark room.
"Hey, did you find that person?"
"He is not here."
"Damn, how is he able to move around that freely even though he is still not familiar with this mansion."
"Maybe he found out from someone."
"That is the strongest possibility… Alright, enough small talk, keep looking for him and don't let him get away."
Currently, all the soldiers in this mansion are trying hard to find my whereabouts. They didn't realize that I was currently in the room next to them.
"Geez, how long can I go on like this? Can't they be a little faster."
Since Alicia and Elvy still haven't sent any signals, that means I still have to buy more time. I don't know why they got this far.
"Could it be that they encountered quite a formidable foe."
It's the only possibility I can think of. Well, if it wasn't that, I'm sure it was Alicia slowing down Elvy's movements. She was sometimes unreliable even at such an important time.
"Well, whatever, here I also have work to do."
Right, I have to find that fat noble and beat him to death, because he intends to hurt our Elvy. Even though I gave him a lesson at the city gates before, he really can't learn from experience.
Well, if I remember correctly, according to what Wilson and David said, the man's room should be on the top floor of the mansion and right at the very end of the hall.
Having decided on it, I immediately made my move. I slowly opened the door of the room and put my head out to look around warily.
"Good, it's safe." I walked out and walked through the empty hall casually.
Right now I'm on the first floor of this mansion, whereas if I want to go to the man's room, I have to go to the third floor. However, when I intend to rise above. Right at the crossroads of the passage, I coincidentally bumped into one of the soldiers walking from the other direction of the road.
"Wh-?!"
At that instant his eyes opened wide and he intended to raise his sword. But, before he could do so, I had already drawn my sword and hit him hard on the head.
'Thump!'
"Guh?!"
It was probably thanks to Alicia's buff magic and [Buff Potion] that I had, that I could stun that soldier with just one hit using my sword that was still sheathed.
Luckily he was alone, so I was able to take him down easily before he managed to summon his other comrades.
Looking at the soldier's fallen body helplessly, I heaved a sigh of relief.
"That was close." I stroked my chest.
But this is still not good. They really really bothered my movement to go to that man's place. If possible I want to get there without anyone noticing.
What should I do?
"Hmm..."
As I was thinking that, I looked at the soldier currently collapsed at my feet and I came up with a rather clichéd idea.
"But, this is a good idea, I don't have much time left, so I guess I should try it first," I muttered and I started removing the armor the soldier had.
As you may have guessed, I intend to disguise myself and mingle with the soldiers wearing the same warrior attire. I'll use this man's clothes to use as a disguise and I can hide his body in the room I was in before.
***************
"Hey, have you found that person?"
"I haven't found it yet, but I seem to see a black shadow running down to the first floor before."
"Is that so? Good job, I'm sure it's him... By the way, what are you doing here? Why don't you go after him?"
"Umm, sorry, I just pooped. So I don't want to run around because my stomach is still sore. I'm afraid it will come out again."
"I-Is that so? Well, be careful, I'll chase him for you."
"Thank You."
The soldier left, leaving me alone in the hall. He immediately ran towards the stairs and down to the first floor, he also warned the other soldiers that the intruder had fled to the first floor.
"Looks like it worked," I said with a sigh of relief.
I'm currently disguising myself as a soldier and now I'm on the second floor. No one was aware that the intruder was here. Now I can be free to do whatever.
"But the excuse just now really forced times. I guess I should think of something better."
While thinking that, I ran towards the third floor. On the way I met a few soldiers, but they paid no heed to me running through the halls. They seem preoccupied only with themselves.
Well, my face was currently covered by a soldier's helmet, so I wasn't sure they would notice that I was a foreigner. In addition, during the action I wore a mask, so no one would recognize my face.
Great, now I can move freely.
Using this opportunity, without thinking I immediately ran to the third floor.
When I got there, my eyebrows shot up.
"Why are there no soldiers here?"
Different from the other floors, the floor looks very quiet and lonely. I didn't even see any maids or soldiers on this floor.
—But why?
"That's because we knew that you would be here, mister intruder."
"?!"
Hearing someone reply to me, I immediately turned towards that person. He is behind me. So I turned my head quickly to see who it was. Suddenly a knife shot and almost hit my head.
"Khh?!" My feet fell and thanks to that I was also able to survive the straight knife throw.
But I know that it's still not over, I hastily repair my body once again. The man once again threw his knife at me and he almost hit the most important part of my body.
Seeing that, my face turned pale, it was an attack with the original intent to kill me. If I don't act soon he will kill me immediately.
"Shit!" I cursed, and I immediately took the powder that can blind the eyes.
I threw it right at the man, and he also threw the knife at the same time. My powder and the knife collided, but that was my intention.
That way when my powder is crushed, it immediately creates a large amount of black smoke and obscures all of our vision.
"What a childish trick," the man said in a calm voice, but I didn't respond.
I immediately took the [Debuff Powder] that can put anyone to sleep quickly and threw it right at the man. I thought it was over when I heard the sound of my powder being crushed.
But—
"Didn't I tell you it was childish." That man unhesitatingly barged past my black smoke and got me.
"How did you know?"
"This is the difference in experience, brat," replied the shabby-robed man, holding two daggers in both hands. He swiftly swung the dagger and without hesitation struck me in the neck.
I had guessed that he would survive the sleeping powder, so I was able to dodge the relentless swing of his dagger in time.
"Khh!" I winced and jumped back.
Seeing my movement, the man was slightly amazed.
"Hmm, looks like you have some combat experience too."
"Thank You."
"But next time I won't miss, so be prepared. I will definitely kill you."
The man once again attacked me, while I could only continue to defend against his attacks. But I know that this will never end if I just dodge. I have to think of a plan.
He's so tough. I'm not sure I can beat him, maybe in terms of status I still won thanks to Alicia's buff magic and stacked [Buff Potion], but in terms of experience and fighting techniques, I lost badly. He is a true professional, I can't believe there would be someone like that in this noble house.
I'm sure he was paid handsomely.
—Hm, wait a minute, he... Paid?
"Heh."
Thinking about that, I involuntarily laughed.
The man stopped, he frowned and kept looking at me warily.
"What are you laughing at?" he asked.
At that moment my body started shaking and I laughed really hard.
"Khuku, ahahahahahahahahaha!!" Regardless of anything else, I kept laughing.
The man still continued to stare at me suspiciously and confusedly. "Are you crazy?" he quipped.
But, I don't care. After laughing out loud with great satisfaction, I looked at the shabby-robed man one more time and I took off my warrior's helmet without hesitation. As soon as he saw my face, his eyebrows raised, perhaps he was surprised at my action.
"You?!" He glared, looking confused at what I had suddenly done.
At that moment, ignoring his reaction, I extended my hand to him and said with a smug smile.
"Introducing, my name Shinomiya Riku, I'd love it if you would call me Riku. This may be too sudden. But, would you here switch sides and help me?" I said, which made him widen in surprise.
"What are you talking about?"
He still looked confused. So, in a clear voice again, I explained.
"I mean, I'll pay you double what you're currently paid if you want to defect and become my underling, how?" I asked, who made him the offer. "Of course, I won't trick you, if you want me to pay now, I can do it. That's why, if you really like it, I'll buy you here at double the price," I continued while looking at him confidently.
"Are you serious? Did you really think I would fall for such a sweet trick?"
"Of course," I replied without the slightest pause. He was once again surprised, but I ignored him and took something from my [Inventory].
It was a large pouch, filled with sparkling gold coins, perhaps hundreds of them.
"—This?!" The man was dumbfounded when he saw me casually tossing hundreds of gold coins in front of him.
"Don't worry it's just a down payment for now, I'll pay you formally if you want to contract with me. Probably about twice as much as there is."
"..." Hearing my offer, the man swallowed hard.
I smiled and held out my hand once more. "How, do you want to accept me?"
At that moment, the man silently took the money I threw and walked in front of me. Then, without thinking anymore he immediately grabbed my handshake while hugging all the money.
"Nice doing business with you, Riku-sama."
Finally, I got a new partner.
The power of money is truly extraordinary.
**********
'Boom!'
"H-Hey, what are you doing, Jake?! Why are you attacking us?!" shouted a soldier when he saw the shabby-robed figure charging at his comrades.
"You idiots, I wasn't your partner in the first place either, don't call my name like we're friends. I won't let you guys pass here, because that's an order from my new master," Jake replied indifferently and he started attacking all the soldiers who were trying to climb up to the third floor.
He knocked them all out easily with just a kick.
Now, I have a powerful underling named Jake. I told him to block all the soldiers trying to go up to the third floor. But, I also told him not to kill them. At first he complained about that, but he fell silent once I started talking about the 'Bonus'.
Really easy people.
Alright, now that I don't have to worry about my safety in this mansion anymore, I'll go straight to beat up that fat noble.
This time, I will definitely give him a serious beating. I will make him regret for trying to touch our Elvy and the Elves he enslaved.
I definitely won't forgive him. I will make him accept all the rewards.
Ordinary punishments won't deter the noble, maybe I'll hang him in the middle of the city naked. I'm sure he'll be famous the next day as the butt of a joke.
It would also destroy his reputation as a noble. This was a well-deserved punishment for him.
"What's that over there?" I muttered when I saw a door at the end of the hall.
Seeing that, I immediately hastened my steps.
Just you wait, damn fatty, this time I definitely won't let you go.
While thinking about that in anger, I without a second thought pushed open the door, using all my strength.
'Boom!'
"Okay, that's enough for now, this time I will definitely... won't... forgive you..."
The door opened with a bang and I immediately entered it screaming loudly. But, upon seeing what was inside, my voice slowly started to fade away.
There, I saw that fat noble. But, not only was there him, there were also several people I didn't know and they were all completely naked.
"Hkkk?! Y-You, what are you doing here?! H-Help me!!" The fat noble started to get scared and screamed softly while asking for help.
Not only him, everyone else who was there also started to panic and fear as soon as they saw me. They looked very flustered at this situation.
"H-Hey, you! What are you doing here?! Don't you know whose house this is?!"
"R-Right, don't bother us!"
"Ophen-sama, is he your servant, please drive him away immediately!"
They all protested at my presence, but I ignored them and entered the room with my face down in silence.
I walked in silently and when I had only taken a few steps my foot bumped into something. I stopped and looked at what I had just hit.
My eyes winced when I saw that.
What was there was—
"... He.. lp..."
—An Elf girl with a badly injured and messy body.
"..." I fell silent.
I don't know what she went through until she received such a severe injury. When I saw her, she could only cry and groan in pain in a low voice. Hers body also seemed as if it could die at any time if it was not treated immediately. Moreover, the look in hers eyes seemed to have lost all light of life, as if she only wished for a quiet death.
Seeing that, I knelt in front of her, lifted hers body carefully in my arms and forced her to drink the advanced [Heal Potion] that I had.
"Cough... Cough..." She coughed and spat out the potion. I took another potion and slowly drank it again, this time she took small sips.
At the same time, hers body started to recover, all of hers injuries disappeared and hers convulsions had also stopped. Seeing that, I heaved a sigh of relief.
Well, for now she should still be safe. But I don't know if it's okay or not, so I'll tell Alicia to check again later.
"Now sleep, I will soon end all this nightmare. You're fine," I said, while getting her to inhale some [Debuff Powder] that could put her to sleep in an instant.
After that, I laid her back on the floor and covered hers body with the robe I had. Then, I glanced again at the trash in front of me.
"Hiieeekk-!!" They all shrieked like a pig in a pinch.
"Help! Anyone help us?! The intruder is here!! Quick catch him!!"
"Hey, is anyone here?! Quickly save us!!"
They one by one started running toward the exit and screaming for help.
At that moment, I said in a cold voice without even turning my head—
"—Estella, this is an order, swallow them all."