episode_0013

Arachne begins to cautiously open her mouth as she looks at Catlena.

To be honest, from Katlena’s perspective, there was no reason to care about the circumstances of this girl named Arachne.

But now she was in a position where she had to spend some time here, and she also had personal curiosity.

This is the story of this little girl who seems to have a story.

“Will you help me? Really?”

And, the girl’s mood began to change at these words from Katlena.

For a moment, something seemed to burn in her eyes, and Katlena felt that the situation was becoming a little amusing, and she spoke kindly.

“Of course. Even though it looks like this, I’m a pretty capable person. If it’s not a bad story, I’ll try my best.”

Katlena, dressed in splendid attire indicating her nobility, speaks with a confidence befitting her status.

Looking at this, the girl seemed to hesitate for a moment, then slowly nodded her head as if she had made up her mind.

“Ah..Okay. Then..”

*

A girl named Arachne who begins talking to Katlena after recovering from her injuries.

At first, Zeros thought that she was an orphan who had simply gotten caught up in some trouble between children.

Of course, even so, those guys who beat the girl like that weren’t in their right minds, but considering that the current setting is the rough Middle Ages compared to the modern era, and that the girl’s status is presumed to be lower class, I thought that it was somewhat possible.

however..

“Actually, I’m currently living in an orphanage. The Comel Orphanage in front of here. The guys who beat me up earlier were all kids from the same orphanage…”

‘Comel.. Orphanage?’

The moment he heard that name, a look of surprise appeared on Zeros’ face.

The Comel Orphanage was the very place he and Katlena were supposed to go with Elios.

Knowing what was going on there, Zeros couldn’t help but automatically pay attention to what this girl was saying.

And, as expected, the words that came out of the girl’s mouth were…

“I saw it.. What those guys are doing with the orphanage director. What horrible things they are doing to the kids there.“

“Yes?”

Catlena looks slightly surprised as she feels the atmosphere is more serious than she expected.

Looking at her like that, Arachne spoke in a voice filled with cold anger.

“The children living there… are not treated as human beings. Violence and hunger are the norm, and even when they are injured or sick, they are not treated. Rather…these weakened children are sold into slavery.”

Arachne shakes her fists and brings up an unexpectedly heavy story.

The moment she heard that, Katlena asked her back in a voice filled with bewilderment.

“Wait a minute. What on earth does that mean? Slaves? I heard that in the Dragona Duchy, the trade of humans and demons is strictly prohibited by law?”

“Sigh..”

Arachne sighs deeply at Katlena’s words.

Then she spoke quietly, her voice chilling.

“If the law was strictly observed, I wouldn’t have been beaten like that in the first place. Especially if it was the director who had the most power in the orphanage..”

“Um…well…that’s true, but.”

Arachne speaks with a lot of harsh words for a child.

Looking at this, Katlena felt slightly speechless.

At that moment, Zeros, who had been quietly listening to her story until now, spoke to her in a slightly urgent voice.

“So, Arachne, you saw the slave purchase scene in question with your own eyes?”

Zeros speaks with a slightly urging tone.

After briefly taking in his appearance, which seemed to burn with a sense of justice, Arachne nodded and answered.

“Yes. I don’t know the exact identity, but people said that. A boy would get 20 silver coins. A girl would get 30 silver coins. If she was missing an arm or a leg, they would subtract 3 coins..”

“Um..”

Arachne talks about serious things in a very specific way.

At this, Zeros began to smile inwardly, feeling that the opportunity he had half-given up on had come again.

‘I never thought I’d get a chance like this. This is great. Now that I’ve secured a witness, I just need to let Elios know about this…’

Slavery-related practices taking place in orphanages.

In fact, the reason Elios visited there was because he had obtained information related to it.

In the original, this was something that was only revealed two years later due to the ramen orphanage’s thorough crackdown.

However, at this very moment, detailed information about him was being revealed through Arachne’s mouth, and in this place was Cattlena, who had authority as a princess.

If he uses this opportunity well, it is quite possible to win the favor of Elios, which he had hoped for.

Then Zeros spoke to Katlena with a voice full of determination.

“Princess, you can’t just ignore this story, right? Let’s immediately inform Princess Elios… no, Duchess. If they are engaged in slavery, which is prohibited by national law, they should be uncovered and severely punished…”

“No, it’s not something that can be approached that simply, Zeros.”

“..Huh?”

Catlena, who applied the brakes contrary to what was expected.

At this, Zeros and Arachne’s faces showed confusion, but looking at the two, Cattlena opened her mouth in a calm voice.

“If Arachne, what you are saying is true, it would be right to investigate and find out the truth. However… I can’t just listen to the story and take action. I’m sorry to say this, but it’s unreasonable to poke around in a national facility called an orphanage without clear evidence.”

“Um..”

Katlena expresses her reluctance, citing her own valid reasons.

Looking at that sight, Zeros felt a little regretful, but on the other hand, he could understand what she said.

In the original, thanks to Princess Elios’ bold personality, she was able to ignore procedures and proceed with the investigation.

However, unfortunately, Katlena’s personality was not like that, and unlike Elios, who already had suspicions based on the situation, it was only natural for Katlena to be cautious after hearing only Arachne’s words.

‘Hmm… In this case, maybe it would be better for me to just talk to Elios privately? The fact that the orphanage is running a slavery business will come out as soon as the investigation is conducted anyway.’

Zeros starts to think of a way in his own way.

As a servant, he would have to talk to a princess he had no connection with, so the burden would be great and the process would also be quite complicated, but from his perspective, this was a good way to earn Helios’s points, so he thought it was worth seriously considering.

however.

“If there is evidence… there is.”

“Yes?”

‘Huh? Is it there?’

Arachne says something unexpected.

Then she looked into Katlena’s face and said in a desperate voice:

“I prepared something in advance just in case something like this happens. It might serve as evidence.

“What exactly is that evidence? And where is it now..”

Cattlena asks with interest at Arachne’s unexpected words.

Arachne looked a little embarrassed and said to her.

“That’s… I don’t know the details either. But it’s definitely written about slavery, and the hiding place is inside the warehouse in the orphanage.”

Catlena shows signs of worry again as she listens to Arachne’s story.

At that moment, looking at her like that, Zeros spoke with earnestness in his voice.

“Katlena. Since you’re talking like this, how about we first look at the evidence and make a judgment? After all, we’re going to the Comel Orphanage.”

“..sigh..”

Katlena sighs at Zeros’ request. To be honest, from her perspective, she didn’t want to get involved in something so dangerous that she wasn’t sure about.

Anyway, the orphanage is a place that Elios is interested in enough to visit and volunteer in person.

From Katlena’s perspective, who didn’t know the real reason, she was worried that this incident might incur Elios’s wrath.

however..

“..Okay. If you say so, Zeros.”

Nevertheless, she could not help but nod in the end.

Honestly, I don’t know about other things, but if the story about the slave trade is true, then as a princess of this country, it is something I simply cannot ignore.

As this was related to her mother’s honor and the founding ideals of the Duchy of Dragona, it was an issue that Katlena also felt a certain sense of responsibility for.

And crucially, the person making the request was none other than Zeros.

Katlena had no choice but to accept this, and deep smiles began to appear on Zeros and Arachne’s faces at the same time.