Chapter 43

Today's second update

In order to obtain an unconditional slave, I and Lirisia broke into the mansion of Lord Thomson, a high-ranking government official who was hosting a slave abuse show.

However, when we tried to catch him in the act, the floor suddenly collapsed, and everyone in the first-floor hall fell underground.

Some groaned from the impact, and others lay unconscious.

I rushed to Lirisia.

“Lirisia, are you okay!?”

“Yes, I’m fine!”

Lirisia was crouching, holding the elf Tety.

She didn’t seem to be injured.

I looked around.

It seemed we had fallen from the height of the first floor.

The black pillars that supported the ceiling were all shattered.

Moreover, the vast hall, which was too large to be called a basement, had black walls and floors.

In front of us, there was a gigantic seated statue, almost touching the ceiling.

It had three eyes, twisted horns, and a pipe in its mouth.

Its hands were hairy like an ape’s, and its feet were thin and sharp like an eagle’s.

A large eyeball was embedded in its broad chest.

It was clearly a demon god. A seated statue of a demon god.

Lirisia, holding Tety, opened her eyes wide and shouted.

“T-This! It’s the Puppet Demon God Faid!”

“Do you know it, Lirisia?”

“It’s a demon god that bewitches and controls people, my lord! That a high-ranking official was worshiping a demon god! — This must be the cause of the magic interference!”

“Where is Thomson?”

“O-Over there!”

In the direction Lirisia pointed, a fat man was trying to open the basement door.

Debris was blocking it, preventing him from opening it.

“Not going to let you escape—!”

I raised my sword and charged.

Thomson, noticing me, quickly turned around and pointed his right hand, which had a black ring, at me.

“O demon Faid, grant me your power…! — Mind Control!”

“Ha—!”

Some kind of black wave came at me, but I focused and slashed it.

It disappeared as if cut.

In the next moment, I took a large step forward and struck Thomson with the flat of my sword.

“What, what the hell!? Using magic with a sword!? Impossible—!”

A dull thud sounded, and Thomson fell unconscious, his eyes rolled back.

I let out a sigh of relief, but a sharp voice came from behind!

“My lord! Watch out—!”

“Huh?”

I turned around.

A black pillar nearby was collapsing towards me, scattering black particles.

“Whoa!”

I shouted in surprise and instinctively shielded my head.

Then—somehow, the black pillar shattered into pieces at the sound of my voice.

Small stones hit my face, but they quickly disappeared.

Lirisia came to my side with wide violet eyes.

“Oh my, what a sight! As expected of my lord!”

“…Did I destroy it with my voice? Or did you do something, Lirisia?”

“Neither! The walls and pillars in this basement seem to be made of stone solidified with evil magic! So they were dispelled by my lord’s holy aura.”

“I see. So the floor collapsed because I used my full power upstairs.”

“I think so… They were using evil magic with the demon god’s altar and the evil stones. Magic to control people at will.”

Lirisia frowned sadly.

I also realized the implications.

“So the lack of evidence was due to the use of evil magic to cover it up and silence people.”

“What a terrible thing…”

“Well, that’s all over now. It’s a good thing.”

“Yes, as expected of my lord!”

—And then.

People came from upstairs, led by Edgar and his group.

They were adventurers and knights.

Looking down from above, Edgar’s mouth dropped open in shock.

The knights and adventurers shouted in alarm at the sight of the altar.

“What is that altar!?” “And this ominous stone!?” “A demon god!?” “A high-ranking official worshiping a cult!?” “What a monster!”

I called out to them from below.

“The master of the house, Thomson, is here. —And please keep an eye on the back exits to prevent anyone from escaping. We have a list of participants.”

“““Yes, sir!”””

Several knights hurriedly returned.

Then the rescue and arrest operations began.

Edgar, who had regained his composure, smiled wryly and praised me from above.

“Really, Mr. Alec, you’re amazing. Finding a demon god’s gathering place is beyond what I expected. Whether in the dungeon or here… I’m just amazed.”

“I’m surprised too. I’m just a former hero who leaks holy aura.”

“This is what a true hero is. —You’re in a league of your own, really.”

Edgar smiled wryly and shook his head. His messy hair swayed.

Then he headed for the investigation and rescue efforts.

—Moreover, a demon god, and in the capital.

This led to unexpected results.

Originally, only Thomson was supposed to be caught.

The other participants could have claimed “I didn’t know” or “I was forced to participate” and gotten away with it.

Most of the slaves in the abuse show were provided by Thomson.

However, the discovery of the demon god’s altar changed the story.

Everyone was suspected of being a worshiper.

They were also suspected of offering slaves as sacrifices to receive the demon god’s favor.

As a result, the Church of Luctia, the state religion, joined the investigation, and a thorough investigation was conducted.

Those who received slaves from Thomson were also subjected to forced investigations.

Incidentally, Thomson reportedly insisted until the end that he was doing the right thing.

“What’s wrong with killing incompetent or criminal people who would become unconditional slaves!? It’s the effective use of garbage! —You must be jealous, right? I could let you participate too?”

He said this even before the king.

He was just a fool. Or perhaps he was defiant.

What I found disappointing was that the ‘demon god’s bust’ I was looking for was not related to this demon god.

The one I was searching for was a statue of a demon god that governs curses.

◇ ◇ ◇

When the western sky turned red.

As dusk fell, we were released from the questioning and explanations.

The incident was named the ‘Demon God Worship and Slave Sacrifice Case.’

I talked to the slave trader Simon in the courtyard of Thomson’s mansion, where there was a fountain.

Behind him were the slaves. They all had smiles on their faces, but tears streaked their cheeks.

Simon bowed deeply.

“Thank you very much for saving the slaves. Moreover, for exposing that the lack of evidence was due to the use of evil magic, and for clearing my name. All the slaves are deeply grateful. As expected of Mr. Alec.”

“Thank you so much,” “We’re saved! Thank you,” “I thought it was all over… thank you.”

The slaves expressed their gratitude, tears streaming down their faces.

I nodded in response and asked.

“They were controlled by mind manipulation. It’s understandable. —So, what will happen to these slaves?”

“Thomson hadn’t paid for them yet… and it seems he won’t be able to in the future. According to the contract, we will have to take them back.”

Thomson and his family were sentenced to death and their assets were confiscated.

Incidentally, the king was so enraged by his condescending remarks that a quick judgment was made.

I pointed to a girl and said,

“Then, can you sell me this girl, whom I couldn’t save? I want to take care of her as much as possible.”

I was pointing to the elf girl Tety.

She was wearing a hooded robe to hide her face and body, which had suffered greatly.

Simon, with a troubled expression, looked at Tety sternly.

“It’s unforgivable to treat someone so badly… However, I can’t heal her any further with magic, and I will have to take a loss… I understand. As a token of gratitude for Mr. Alec’s efforts and compassion, how about 400,000 goats, which is almost the cost price?”

“Alright, I’ll take her.”

“Then…”

After the slave procedures were completed, I obtained the unconditional slave Tety.

My remaining funds were now about 6 million goats.

I had expected to spend at least 1 million goats, so it was a pleasant surprise. In a way, it was also according to plan…

Then, Lirisia and I took Tety to the store.

Tety, with her hood covering her head, followed silently, her head bowed.

One of her eyes was almost completely hidden, so Lirisia led her by the hand.

Lirisia and I exchanged worried glances but couldn’t think of anything to say to Tety until we reached my store, where no one could see us.

Thank you for reporting typos and pointing them out! I have made the corrections! The last update was particularly bad, I apologize.

And thank you for the bookmarks and ★ ratings!

The points have reached 46,000!

I wonder how far they will go… I’m so happy!

The next update will be tomorrow.

→ 44. Tety’s Feelings and Kou’s Answer