Chapter 27

I hurriedly gathered the materials and returned home.

My master was watching over the place, and my brothers were out... but they were supposed to return by noon to have a meal.

In the afternoon, we all learned the method of crafting from our master.

We were told that if we made it a few times, we would be able to remember it, and he had prepared the recipes for arrow fletching and arrowheads. He also gave us the alchemy recipes, but he told us to practice these first. After making the alchemy recipe once, I would craft. My level hasn't gone up yet, so I haven't learned it yet.

Today's alchemy recipe was for distilled water and polishing agent, which are considered beginner to intermediate. The recipes for magic pills and ability pills are intermediate to lower, so they were easy to make. According to my master, these are things that an adventurer should have, so he gave them to us first. Well, even if we fail, they are useful, so it helps.

Crafting, unlike alchemy, doesn't require individual recipes, so my brother and Naga-kun also made it together. Crafting is for making things in general, so it seems to be convenient.

According to my master, if you learn crafting to a certain extent, you can take emergency measures if your weapon breaks during an adventure, so it's not a waste to learn it.

If you are a solo adventurer, it's important to think about what to do in case of an emergency.

"You know a lot about adventurers, Master."

"When I was a new alchemist, I also did things similar to being an adventurer to gather materials. Since the young ones also go to gather materials themselves, I just pulled out the old stuff."

"I use a bow, so being able to make arrows is a big help. Thank you."

"Is Gura-kun using a bow? If second-hand is fine, I can bring one."

"Really? That's great."

Surprisingly, my brother also knows how to use a bow.

He chose a steel sword and an iron bow as his equipment. When I asked what happened to the bow, he said he doesn't use it and just leaves it in his room. Did he have a bow at first? I don't remember.

Naga-kun has a spear... yeah. Well, neither of them thinks about defense. Master was exasperated, but they don't have the money to buy armor...

Master said, "Well, these guys are hopeless, but I'll teach you various things." He apparently did adventurer work about 50 years ago, but he had a lot of knowledge.

And then... after Master returned and we finished our meal and were relaxing, a troublesome person appeared.

"Hey, how are you?"

"...Lord Raz."

"I have something to talk about. Is it okay?"

"...Sure."

I led him to the living room on the second floor. Since it doesn't feel as dangerous as last time and my brothers' situation is probably known, it also serves as a meeting of the faces.

"So, what's the matter?"

"Hmm. First, about the two people you're hiding."

"...I didn't say they were foreigners, so the contract is not a problem. However, they recognized me when they came to this world, so even if their equipment changed, they were identified as foreigners and approached."

"I see. Did they refuse to be appraised?"

"They said they didn't have money, so I thought that would be the case. Anyway, is it okay to protect them humanely?"

I assert that if they were left alone, they might have died, to show that I won't back down. In fact, in the short time since we met, just a day and a half, I've already grown attached to them.

I was overwhelmed by the current situation and didn't know what to do, but my anxiety has been greatly alleviated thanks to them. I also cried a lot, which helped...

"So, what about their information?"

"I don't know. I only know their names."

"Indeed, if you don't know, you can't answer. Not lying is an important strategy. Have you lost the will to cooperate?"

"I still want to help. I just couldn't leave them to die. Well, I've grown attached to them, so I also want to protect them. I've told them not to cause any trouble. If you need their information, I thought you should do it yourself. I haven't been asked to cooperate. Also, I'm treating them as my siblings and childhood friends for external purposes."

"Let's go with that. There are various problems with foreigners, so if you can take responsibility for the two, it will be easier for me. As long as they don't cause trouble, it's fine. I won't try to force their status out of you anymore."

Oh, a change in policy?

I thought you wanted to find out no matter what.

I heard from my brother that we might also be protected, but I thought you would want information. If you don't need their information, did something happen?

"Don't make such a suspicious face. As long as they are not personality disordered and are aware of the collar, it's fine. I want them to think it's better to be with us rather than forcing them to obey and causing resentment. If your mood can be improved by how they are treated, we can treat them accordingly."

"Is that so? And, are you alone today?"

"Yeah. The guild master is a busy person. The real purpose is to report the facts discovered from your information. Oh, my superior said, 'Thanks. If you notice anything else, please report it.'"

Hmm.

Report... about foreigners, right?

I don't have any more information than that. If I've given false hope, that's not good.

"...Yes. Your superior is a high-ranking person, right?"

"Yeah. I can't tell you who yet. Your report was valuable and has helped us a lot. Oh, and the treatment of foreigners is almost decided."

"...Is it good news?"

"I don't think so... It seems they have caused trouble in other towns as well. They will probably stop being left alone and be managed by the country."

Managed by the country.

The policy has changed from registering them as adventurers and letting them act freely. Furthermore, since the country is managing them, it must be a big deal.

I don't know how many are in this country, but if there are a considerable number... it's a big deal.

If they are gathered in one place and brainwashed under the guise of education... I can tell it won't be a good treatment. If they have done such terrible things that this is the only way... I can understand, but I think there are also decent people like me and my brothers.

Is there no time to distinguish them? Or are the decent ones already surrounded? I don't know anything about the political system or factions of this country. Lack of information means there's no point in thinking.

"...First, let me confirm. Did you report to your superiors without any concrete evidence of what I said?"

"Yeah. Is it okay to talk about it?"

"...Yes, please."

"This country is divided into several regions centered around the capital. The capital and the nobles who rule the regions received orders from the king. Foreigners have been confirmed in ten cities and towns, including the capital. As you said, it was ten places, and there was no mistake. However, there was a bias in the number of people, with only one or two in some villages. It seems there are about 800 foreigners who have appeared in the kingdom."

"Already confirmed?"

"Yeah. The capital had already confirmed it, so the transmission to other regions was quick. Well, it was difficult to find three villages..."

It's not just that the transmission was quick. It should take a week to get from here to the capital, so it's not enough for a round trip to deliver the information.

This means there is some means of communication. Maybe the standards of this world are higher than I thought. And 800 people... considering there are about 30 in this town, it's quite a lot.

"Are communication devices widespread?"

"Communication devices? Hmm, that's a good way to put it. Well, there are such things as artifacts, but they are rare. A town of this size usually doesn't have them. I just happen to have one from my adventurer days."

"I see..."

In other words... this person or someone above him has the means to use valuable tools to get information from the capital. If the information is coming from his superior, that person must be at the core of national power.

...And my information has been passed on. Is this not dangerous?

At the very least, the situation has changed to the point where information from my brothers is no longer needed, and my situation is known to a certain extent by someone higher up. There's a possibility that I'm under a noble, more than I thought.

Hmm. Nobles have a reputation for being tyrannical, so I don't want to be involved... but I already feel like I can't escape.

"We are also gathering information from other countries, but there are definitely foreigners in the duchy and the theocracy, besides the republic and the empire. It seems there are foreigners in the theocracy, but it's difficult to get information. We will continue to investigate why the choice of countries is different."

"Is that so..."

They are moving quickly.

After carefully examining the information from other countries, they have decided to have the country manage the foreigners.

Shouldn't they be more indecisive in politics? To make such a quick decision... ...Oh, but if power is centralized, it's possible. The king's orders are absolute... it's called an absolute monarchy, right? Is the king of this country competent?

The situation has reached a point where the top of the country must act... What is the purpose of sending foreigners to this world... ...If we don't understand this, the friction between the residents of this world and the foreigners will increase...

"Since you don't know the history of this continent, let me explain. This kingdom is a country that gained independence from the empire. It has a relatively good relationship with the neighboring beast kingdom but a bad relationship with the empire. The fundamental reason is the difference in races."

"Huh?"

"You said before that if you could choose a race, you would. So, I investigated."

"Ah, yes. Is that... relevant?"

"Yes. First, this country has a relatively large number of mixed-race people. The guild doesn't check the race when you join. Rather, the mixed-race people gather in this country and the republic, where they are persecuted."

Mixed-race people. They are indeed persecuted.

It means that having the blood of both races doesn't work in their favor.

And the only countries that accept them are the kingdom and the republic. There aren't countless countries, it seems.

"What about other countries?"

"In the duchy, only humans can live. They check the race at the border, and mixed-race people are denied entry. Slaves are also only human. In the theocracy, only humans can live, but beast people and mixed-race people can enter the country. However, if they have characteristics of other races, they will feel uncomfortable and won't stay. Slaves, on the other hand, often have strong beast people and dwarves. In the empire, non-slave beast people and dwarves can live, but most of them are slaves. Elves, if they are pure-blooded, mostly hide in the Forest of Illusion. If they mix with humans, they are expelled from the forest... but there are almost none. Half-elves are a minority in every country and cannot be made slaves, officially."

In other words, mixed-race people, whether they are beast people, dwarves, or elves, are considered mixed-race as long as they are mixed with humans... The race can be a barrier to traveling between countries.

And then, slaves. In the empire, mixed-race people can become slaves. How many people chose without knowing?

"What about the kingdom?"

"Discrimination based on race is prohibited. Therefore, they accept any race, and people actually gather. Slaves are mostly war slaves and criminal slaves. Debt slaves are mostly transferred to the republic, so there are almost none. Basically, you can think of them as mostly criminal slaves. By the way, you might not know, but the color of the slave collar differs depending on the type of slave. Also, there is a procedure to remove the household registration when one becomes a slave... conversely, if one doesn't have a household registration, they can be made a slave in that country just by putting on a slave collar."

"Um... so, there was talk about preparing a household registration?"

"Yeah. Well, there's a bit of a dispute about your household registration, so you'll have to wait a bit."

"Eh, ah, yes."

What kind of dispute?

Isn't a household registration something you can get by paying money in this country? I checked, and I heard that adventurers are recommended to have a household registration if they are C-rank or higher.

Is something troublesome happening?

"Don't worry about the household registration for now. It's certain that you and the other two will have one. And, continuing... in the kingdom, those who have the <Heaven's Destiny> are pure humans. The <Heaven's Luck> is for mixed-race people, according to the latest survey results."

"Can it be investigated so easily?"

"Yeah. Well, the method is still a secret. According to the survey... in the duchy, only those with <Heaven's Destiny> exist. This suggests that the country might only allow pure humans to be chosen. It's also concerning that no other unique individuals like you have been reported."

The survey is fast... They have already surveyed other countries?

No, but it's impossible to leak the actual situation. To talk about something without confirmation for the sake of the survey... especially with the duchy, which seems to have a bad relationship.

"...It's possible that <Heaven's Destiny> is for pure-blooded humans and <Heaven's Luck> is for mixed-race people... Is the information from other countries accurate?"

"Yeah. The current king's sister is married to the duchy, and the information from there seems to be accurate. We have also surveyed the races in the kingdom and the empire as much as possible, but it seems that <Heaven's Luck> is for those who are mixed, regardless of whether they are beast people, elves, or dwarves. Well, it's a hypothesis, but it's a strong one."

"As a hypothesis, it's possible?"

In other words... if there is even a little blood of another race, the options are the republic or the kingdom... and the empire.

There were only three options... and in the empire, the possibility of becoming a slave is high... and most of them have <Heaven's Luck>. Conversely, if they have <Heaven's Destiny>, they might have had more options?

"Well, we're still watching... and, there's one more interesting effect we found."

"An interesting effect?"

"The unique skill <Heaven's Luck>... it seems they can come back to life once."

"Eh?"

Come back to life?

Die but be resurrected?

What does that mean?

"It seems they came back to life even though they were killed. They died when they were killed again."

"......"

"There was a foreigner who caused a serious incident in the capital. It was difficult to capture them alive because they resisted. It's not like they were killed in an experiment without doing anything wrong."

"Is it because of <Heaven's Luck>? Not because they are foreigners?"

"It seems to be <Heaven's Luck>. By the way, it has been confirmed that foreigners without <Heaven's Luck> died in one go."

"......"

In other words.

If there were no problems, most would have <Heaven's Luck> or <Heaven's Destiny> and could come back to life once.

There are stories about heroes coming back to life if they die, but is it like that?

More importantly... if this is known, it's dangerous... If it's known that they can come back to life once, there might be torture...?

The human rights of foreigners seem to be very thin, and it makes my stomach hurt...

"There were five foreigners who caused incidents in the capital. Four of them came back to life once, it seems. The citizens of the capital, who witnessed it, called it a miracle, and it caused various troubles. Well, since it happened in the city, even if a gag order is imposed, it will spread. It seems to have happened in this town too, but the guild master hasn't reported it yet."

"Is it okay to tell me this?"

"If I don't give you the necessary information, the information I can present to you will be limited. I'll tell you what you want to know and what I need to tell you, even if you don't want to know."

In other words, know your fate. If you resist, this is what will happen, a threat?

But... if I believe that they didn't kill innocent people in an experiment, then I won't be killed for no reason.

Still... if there is a crime, it's a world where you can be killed on the spot. The scary actions that I thought were just in war or a gun society are happening right in front of me here. ...It's scary.