Chapter 7

On that day, before diving into the dungeon, Ren was handed a sword by the leader.

It was a magnificent longsword, without a single nick. It was neither a cheap nor a used item. The blade was forged, not cast, and the grip was custom-made to fit Ren’s hand. Until then, Ren had only been given a short dagger for self-defense, as he was told that long weapons would only get in the way, and that he should run and escape in an emergency. He tilted his head in confusion as he was handed the brand new longsword.

“What is this?”

“What do you mean, ‘what is this?’”

At Ren’s bewildered reaction, the leader chuckled.

“You’ve been working hard and have become quite skilled in training. It’s time for you to step up a bit. With this sword, you’ll carry the party’s gear while gradually engaging in battles with monsters.”

“Huh? So, does that mean...”

“Yeah. You’re graduating from being just a gear carrier. This sword is a celebration of that.”

“!”

The unexpected gift was one thing, but what made Ren even happier was the leader’s words.

He was recognized. His efforts hadn’t been in vain. Joy welled up inside him, and his face broke into a smile.

“Got it! I’ll... I’ll keep working hard!”

“Yeah, keep it up! But don’t get too cocky!”

He was recognized. He was being watched. He was growing.

As Ren, buoyed by the joy of recognition, hummed a tune while packing the party’s gear, he caught the eye of the female mage who had finished her preparations.

“Huh? Why is a gear carrier like you equipped with a longsword? Such a fancy weapon would just get in the way, you know. How presumptuous. Here, give it to me.”

“Huh!?”

Apparently, she hadn’t seen the exchange between Ren and the leader, and she was really trying to take the longsword. Ren hurriedly resisted.

“Wait, wait! The leader said it’s okay for me to equip it! He said I’ll be stepping up from today! Besides, this sword was given to me by the leader! Please, stop!”

The female mage narrowed her eyes at Ren’s plea.

Still thinking there might be more to it, she shrugged at Ren, who was hugging the longsword.

“Okay, if that’s the case, it’s fine.”

It was an unexpectedly quick response.

Ren, who had expected more, felt a bit let down.

“Ah, thank you...”

“Yeah, you should be grateful. I was wrong to assume, too.”

“Thank you very much.”

Despite being made to thank her, Ren found her unusually straightforward and tilted his head in confusion.

With the preparations for the exploration complete, and with some time to kill, Ren struck up a conversation with the female mage.

“By the way, senior. Have you heard of the Carvel Family?”

“About the Carvel Family? What’s with the sudden question?”

“Yes. I’ve heard they’re quite famous, but I don’t know much about them. Is it common knowledge in this town?”

He was curious about the incident with the thug and the slave girl.

However, the female mage didn’t seem particularly interested.

“Hmm? I don’t know much about them either. They’re some kind of well-mannered mafia that’s been around for a long time, I think.”

A well-mannered mafia. Ren couldn’t quite wrap his head around the contradiction.

The female mage, who had no particular interest in delving deeper into the topic, was approached by a senior adventurer.

“Oh, what’s this? You’re interested in the Carvel Family, Ren?”

The senior adventurer butted into the conversation and slung a muscular arm around Ren’s neck.

“I know a lot about them, so I’ll tell you. First, have you heard of the ‘Necessary Evil Stricter Than the Knights’?”

“No, I haven’t.”

Ren grew up in the countryside. There were some traditions, but he had never heard of such grandiose titles.

However, when he heard the term ‘Necessary Evil Stricter Than the Knights,’ the female mage looked exasperated.

“That’s an old fairy tale from before the empire...”

“Idiot, say ‘romance.’ There’s a dream, a dream!”

Ignoring the female mage’s grimace, the senior adventurer spoke with a knowing smile.

“Listen, Ren. The Carvel Family is a mafia that branched off from the ‘Necessary Evil Stricter Than the Knights,’ an ancient organization that has existed since the time of the emperors. The ‘Necessary Evil Stricter Than the Knights’ is an organization that has ruled the dark side of the country since the days of the emperors—”

‘Necessary Evil Stricter Than the Knights’—how cool, how cool.

After the day’s adventure and the story he heard from his senior, Ren was filled with excitement.

The story he heard was about the thrilling underworld.

An organization that fights evil with evil, never appearing on the public stage, secretly but surely protecting the country without involving innocent people. They adhere to their own code of ‘honor’ and contribute to social justice through the discipline of necessary evil. Though it shouldn’t exist, it rules the darkness and supports the country. That’s the ‘Necessary Evil Stricter Than the Knights.’

The heroic tales of the brave who overthrew the emperor a decade ago were also good, but the dark hero he heard about today also appealed to his sense of manhood.

Ren was convinced.

The Carvel Family was a direct branch of the ‘Necessary Evil Stricter Than the Knights,’ adapted to the times. There was no way a thug like that could be a member.

However, thugs are often stubborn about things like ‘honor’ and ‘grudges.’

Would they seek revenge?

Driven by anxiety, Ren headed to the square to check on the slave girl. The concept of ‘honor’ in the Carvel Family, which he had heard about, also influenced him.

His concerns were well-founded.

The thug was in the square.

Sure enough, the bald man was not there alone. He had brought another man with him.

“Hehe, get ready...!”

“...”

In the night park square.

The thug, who had brought a man in his early thirties to where the slave girl stood, laughed lewdly and barked loudly.

“This guy here, he was active in the revolution ten years ago. He’s one of the most combative in the Carvel Family! You, a kid like you, can’t possibly stand a chance! —Bro! This is the guy. He’s been causing trouble, not respecting the territory. Take care of him!”

The thug was indeed borrowing the tiger’s might.

But the man called ‘Bro’ had a different air about him.

Just standing there, he exuded a presence that reminded Ren of the top-tier adventurers he had seen from a distance, a kind of indescribable ‘dignity.’

“...”

“...”

The slave girl and the man exchanged a silent glance.

The slave girl was smiling quietly.

The dignified man said nothing.

As the tension rose, the man called ‘Bro’ moved. Silently, he took out a thousand rin from his wallet.

Was this the end for the slave girl?

Ren swallowed hard.

Could that thug really be a member of the mafia?

No, that’s right. Why am I taking the stories from my senior seriously? The ‘honor’ and the discipline of necessary evil are probably just embellishments. The mafia is just a collection of violent elements. It would decay in no time.

Ren chided himself for his naivety and susceptibility to influence.

This was bad. No more dark hero nonsense. This time, the slave girl is in danger.

Ren resolved to intervene between the slave girl and the thugs. He had no chance against the big man, but he could at least buy some time as a decoy.

Without a word, the slave girl took the thousand rin.

The bald man laughed.

“Hehehe! That’s right, be smart, and you won’t get hurt—”

Neither the man who gave the money nor the slave girl responded to the thug’s words.

The slave girl slowly moved the placard to reveal her mouth.

For a moment, everyone, including the bald man, was transfixed.

The beautiful girl, who had only revealed the upper half of her face, now exposed her hidden mouth. The anticipation was like the gradual brightening of dawn, and when her mouth was finally revealed, the beauty exceeded all expectations.

The moment the slave girl’s mouth was revealed, the man called ‘Bro’ knelt down.

He bowed so deeply that his forehead almost touched the ground, addressing the slave girl.

“I’m sorry! It’s my fault for not supervising properly, Miss!”

“Huh!!! Absolutely, that’s exactly right!!! I think everything you say is true!!!”

The slave girl, with a sly smile, affirmed the man’s apology, and her husky voice echoed through the square.