Chapter 31

In the Haberst household, an emergency meeting was being held.

The reason was simple.

If things continued as they were, it was thought that most of us would lose our positions in the household when Crest returned.

“I’m... fine. I’ve been kind to Crest before,” said the third son.

The eldest son stood up with a thud.

“Me too! Besides, the one who bullied him the most was you!”

The third son defied the eldest son, a scene that would never happen under normal circumstances.

In our household, the eldest son’s word was absolute. No one could go against him, not even me, the second son.

But this was an emergency. ...If things continued, Crest would take all the power, so everyone was being assertive.

“Huh? No way! It was the eldest brother who gave the orders!”

I watched the third son and the eldest son argue.

...We brothers were ugly, pushing the blame onto each other.

They weren’t saying these things from the heart.

They were foolish, trying to save themselves by pushing the blame onto someone else when Crest returned.

Then, Father slammed his fist on the table.

“You guys! This isn’t the time to argue over nonsense! ...Right now, we need to decide who will go search for Crest!”

When Father roared, his face red with anger, everyone fell silent.

The eldest sons were exchanging glances, essentially saying, “You go.”

...No one wanted to go on the search.

After all, the lower world was teeming with monsters. It was said to be so dangerous that stepping into it could cost you your life.

But—I had been waiting for this moment.

“Father, I will go.”

“Alibert, really!?”

Everyone looked at me in surprise. ...I was just as surprised by myself.

“Yes. If you lend me the knights, I will definitely find Crest and bring him back here.”

“S, so you will...! But... do you have any guarantee that you can bring him back even if you find him?”

“Yes. I will definitely persuade him.”

With my words, the Haberst family meeting came to an end.

Back in my room, I checked the slave collar I had the knights prepare.

“Is this the slave collar used on criminals?”

The knight nodded in response to my question.

“How do you use it?”

“First, you knock out the person and forcibly put the collar on them. Once it’s on, you can force them to obey you.”

“I see.”

I put it in the bag I had prepared for the journey.

“But... this is only to be used on criminals. If it’s discovered that you used it on Crest, who is in his current position—”

“He didn’t clearly explain the effects of the lottery to us. That alone is enough to be considered a crime!!”

I shouted and then kicked the knight out of the room.

...I couldn’t help but smile.

I don’t want to go on a dangerous search in the lower world either.

But, with a little thought, it’s clear that I need to be the first to contact Crest.

...It’s simple.

Right now, the one we should be wagging our tails for in this household is not Father or my brothers.

It’s Crest, though it’s embarrassing to admit.

But... I’m not stupid. I don’t think Crest will agree to my persuasion.

So, I will put a slave collar on Crest and make him my puppet.

Then, I can force everyone else out and secure a favorable position for myself.

...Just wait, Igeril.

I smiled to myself, thinking of Igeril, the eldest son.

I’ve been mocked for being the second son. This is my revenge.

---

The movement between the lower world and the upper world is not limited to the transfer magic array.

...There is a place where the lower world and the upper world directly touch.

It is called the Gate.

There is a long, slightly downhill tunnel between the upper world and the lower world.

On the upper world side, a sturdy gate was built long ago, and it remains firmly closed to this day.

At the gate, there are people called the lower world’s guardians, who protect the upper world.

I am walking through the gate with them now.

I am looking at the tunnel that connects to the lower world with the knight I brought along.

The lower world’s manager handed me a light. It’s a wooden stick with a magic stone attached to the end, which emits light by absorbing magic power, faintly illuminating the tunnel ahead.

“...Since receiving the king’s orders, we have expanded our search area, but we have not found Crest yet.”

“I see. Hmph, I wasn’t counting on you criminals anyway.”

They are called the lower world’s guardians... but they are just a group of criminals.

The people guarding this gate are all criminals who have fallen to the status of slaves.

This is a dangerous job. In the past, they tricked people into doing it by calling it an honorable job, but now no one wants to do it.

Originally criminals, they are now in a somewhat honorable position, which is much better than being thrown in jail.

The lower world’s guardian who accompanied me as a guide explained the tunnel ahead while looking at me.

There are goblins around here, and further in, there are wolves.

His constant emphasis on the danger was annoying.

“I’ve never seen goblins or wolves, but they’re not that strong. We have elite knights, after all.”

I brought 20 knights for this investigation.

I’ve heard that goblins and wolves are weak monsters. There’s no way the knights are inferior to the lower world’s managers.

“...Yes, but knights excel in human combat. The sensation changes when fighting monsters.”

“Are you mocking the knights? What a position you have.”

“No, no, that’s not it. I just... please don’t be careless. The monsters in the lower world are tougher than those on the surface. Fighting with the same mindset will cost you your life.”

“I see.”

...It’s pointless to argue with them.

The lower world’s managers are neither warriors nor knights.

They are a group of cowardly criminals.

“The deeper you go into the lower world, the more dangerous it becomes. If anyone gets injured, it’s best to return immediately.”

“Hmph, I will decide that. Let’s go, everyone!”

When I raised my voice, the knights all nodded in unison.