Chapter 1

"Rain, do you understand why you have been summoned?"

"…I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I have no idea at all."

"This traitor! Are you trying to play dumb!"

"T-Traitor!?"

The king’s roar echoed through one of the castle’s rooms.

The target of his anger was Rain, a merchant.

For the king to summon an ordinary citizen was unprecedented.

Many soldiers stood around, ready to restrain Rain if he acted out.

If he showed any sign of aggression, Rain would be subdued in an instant.

Rain suppressed the urge to retort and began to listen carefully.

"What do you mean…? I’m just a merchant. I haven’t committed any acts of treason."

"Claiming you haven’t committed treason? We have investigated the races you have approached outside the country. Dragons, demons, vampires—how can you say that no information from our country has been leaked?"

"I haven’t leaked any information! They are just business partners! On the contrary, I can also procure rare items!"

"Your Majesty, it is inconceivable that monsters would give rare items to a mere human who is just a business partner."

While Rain was pleading his innocence, one of the king’s aides interrupted the conversation.

His words only worsened Rain’s situation.

The king nodded in agreement with the aide’s opinion.

"The man is right. If you have received rare items from monsters, it is proof that you have leaked information from our country in exchange."

"Why is it like that!? I can procure rare items because of the trust built as a business partner!"

"Trust? You just said you have a trust relationship with monsters?"

"I did… but—"

"It’s decisive. I didn’t expect you to confess. My intuition was right."

The king looked at Rain with a satisfied smirk.

It seemed he was convinced that his suspicions were correct.

His expression was like that of a mathematician who had solved a difficult problem.

"Rain, you will be permanently exiled from the human kingdom. Accept the charge of treason."

"…What? What are you talking about! There’s no way I can accept that!"

"It’s the result of selling your soul to monsters. Consider yourself lucky that I’m not taking your life."

The king snapped his fingers, and the soldiers around him immediately restrained Rain.

And so,

Rain, a mere merchant, was captured without any resistance.

No matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t match the strength of the trained soldiers.

His arms were bound, and he was pressed to the floor.

Why was he in this situation?

A wave of uncontrollable anger rose within Rain.

"Take him away. That traitor."

"Are you kidding me…!"

Rain’s patience reached its limit, and he finally cursed the king.

The stigma of being a traitor.

The misunderstanding that he had betrayed the country he had always loved, leading to his punishment.

He couldn’t remain silent.

"Watch your mouth, boy. …And by the way, we plan to attack the monsters you are friendly with soon. Look forward to it."

"――Shut up!"

"Then farewell. I doubt we will meet again."

The anger over the false stigma of being a traitor.

The attack on the beings with whom he had built a trusting relationship as a merchant.

The fate that awaited him in the future.

Amidst a mix of various emotions, Rain was struck on the head and lost consciousness.