Chapter 42: The Mastermind, and the Back Alleys – 2

Chapter 42: The Mastermind, and the Back Alleys – 2

Time flew by quickly.

Three days had passed since I met Elena, and Christie came to visit again.

…Perhaps her workload had been too heavy, as she looked incredibly tired.

Me? Well, nothing much happened.

The most unusual thing was probably when I tried cooking for the first time and ended up filming a mukbang of monstrous food.

The biggest event since I fell into this world was just around the corner, yet paradoxically, the past three days felt like the most relaxed I’d been since arriving here.

“…Now that I’m actually sending you off, I can’t help but worry again.”

“It’s okay, Christie. I told you, I have some tricks to protect myself, right?”

“Yes, yes. I trust you’ve made some potions for emergencies.”

Actually, I hadn’t made any potions, but it was fine because I had the ‘Alchemist’s Treasury.’

Oh, actually, there was an additional potion registered in the ‘Alchemist’s Treasury.’

……Absurdly, the successfully diluted ‘Pain-Relief Potion’ had been registered.

The System’s message that its effects were slightly adjusted upon registration because it was practically a suicide skill that caused addiction was a bonus.

If the original caused hallucinations that made you feel good but was addictive, then using it through the ‘Alchemist’s Treasury’ caused mental confusion instead, but had pain-relieving effects and was non-addictive, or something like that.

……Anyway, it was definitely a potion I was reluctant to use, but I couldn’t complain since it could help me overcome this situation where I had no money for high-grade ingredients.

Vowing not to get involved with Elena or Christie in a professional capacity once this unavoidable operation was over, I activated the disguise item Christie handed me.

Then, a truly suspicious-looking mask covered my face and body shape.

…Still, standing next to the tall Christie, the height difference was noticeable.

“Hmm… Is it because your original build is too delicate? It’s usually much more effective than this.”

“That’s too bad. It’s just my constitution.”

“…You’ve been eating well lately, right? There are traces of food, but it’s really suspicious, you know?”

…Since it was a fact that I mostly burned or undercooked and threw away most of the food I tried to cook, I just kept my mouth shut.

Besides, because of the disguise item, my voice wasn’t my own, which was an odd situation, so I didn’t particularly want to talk anyway.

Speaking with my own throat but hearing a strange person’s voice was an experience I definitely didn’t want to have.

*If you think about it, wasn’t it the same situation when you changed into this body?*

‘My voice is a beautiful tone, and this one sounds a bit mechanical, which I don’t like to hear.’

…Of course, besides that, I just didn’t like hearing this modulated voice, but anyway.

That wasn’t what was important.

“More importantly, were the preliminary preparations done well, Christie?”

“I’ve secured an agent for contact, and I’ve spread rumors intentionally that a new, very effective drug has been created in the area.”

“Then all I have to do is actually do it.”

I don’t know how I, a civilian, ended up getting involved in an operation like this…

But still, it was much better than getting caught up in and participating in a war, which was the most dangerous event in the novel.

……I’d forgotten about it, but I should probably start recalling information about the Demon King and the Saintess soon.

You never know when I might coincidentally meet them again.

Of course, that’s assuming Elena doesn’t do anything strange in this operation and it ends smoothly.

***

A secluded alley that anyone would be reluctant to enter.

When twilight fell over such a gloomy alley, it became a place where it wouldn’t be strange if someone entered and simply disappeared.

However… even in such a place, it wasn’t a place where no one went.

In the first place, such places remained because people with many secrets and things to hide would hide and meet there.

It was an alley that looked perfect for someone to disappear in, but there were also some locals, and even some who had set up shop and operated there.

However… today, a slightly different person came to that alley.

Someone who had concealed themselves so thoroughly with a disguise item that no part of their body was properly visible.

And, not just as a mere ‘customer,’ but as a ‘private individual’ selling drugs.

“Hey, who’s there? Where do you think you’re going?”

“Well? A place where shady people like me do business?”

“Tsk, you’d better get rid of that disgusting voice and show your real voice and face, you hear? Do you want to see the ‘organization’ come down on you?”

Despite the old man’s angry command, who had only simply covered his face, the newcomer showed no strong reaction.

Because of the face-covering item, it was impossible to tell if the face behind it was smiling or trembling in fear.

“Calm down. Don’t ruin your already ruined face any further, and take this.”

“Hah! What insolence is this? You, do you know who you are……”

“Don’t know, are you going to take it or not?”

A mysterious colored substance contained in a luxurious bottle.

It was a drug so unfamiliar that even the old man, who had been lingering there for a long time, observed it carefully for a moment.

And, the people who had been showing interest in the power struggle between the newcomer and the old man, who was the real power in this alley and had moved for the first time in a while, also began to show interest.

“……Is this what you’re relying on?”

“The undiluted solution already has a buyer, and even the diluted one is enough to rely on.”

“Tsk, what bravado.”

Saying that, the old man took the bottle from the newcomer’s hand.

After that, he drank it immediately without any hesitation.

As if no trickery would work anyway.

As if it would be useless to him, having already consumed all sorts of poisons and illegal drugs.

“Hmm…?”

But, contrary to the old man’s expectations, the drug was ‘real.’

He felt something different from the drugs made before.

Before his eyes, a world unfolded where he achieved what he most desired.

It was, literally, a world where only happiness existed, without even misfortune, worries, or doubts.

It wasn’t a potion that suppressed negative emotions and amplified positive ones…… but one that showed the happiest moment one could imagine.

The illusion only lasted for a very short time, so there wasn’t much emotion, but the old man could tell.

This drug…… in some ways, caused addiction in the most malicious way.

And, because of that, the person who made such a drug was dangerous if they were outside the ‘organization.’

“Someone wants to trade this?”

“That’s why I came. They said this place was safe, you know?”

“Tsk. That guy’s a rookie too. Anyway, you…… the ‘organization’ will be looking for you soon, so survive as best you can.”

The newcomer’s face was still covered by the item.

So the old man still couldn’t confirm his face.

Thinking it would be either fear or ecstasy, the old man continued speaking.

“Well… if you want to live a little longer, I recommend leaving everything behind except the bare minimum.”

“If I ask why, you won’t answer, will you?”

“If you want to die, or if you’re determined to die, I’ll tell you on your way.”

At those words, the newcomer quietly placed a few more glass bottles down.

Some were dark in color, others light.

“I made them myself, so there’s some variation, please account for that. The darker the color, the stronger it is, for your reference.”

“Telling me that is utterly useless, isn’t it?”

“I’m telling your superiors, not you, so take note.”

Saying that, he subtly turned his head, and a faint figure could be seen running in the distance.

That person also wore a disguise item, though less thoroughly than the newcomer, so it was clear why the newcomer had turned his head.

“Then, I look forward to tomorrow.”

Ignoring the old man’s piercing gaze cleanly, he disappeared.

……As quickly as possible, before the old man realized there was a recording item among the potion bottles.

***

‘It’s really a good thing I know the contents of the novel….’

Various incidents that occurred in the back alleys of the capital in the original novel.

Whenever such incidents broke out, several ‘named’ characters who dominated the back alleys of the capital appeared.

And… the old man I just faced was one of them, one of the mid-level executives active in the ‘organization.’

If I hadn’t known the novel’s contents…… well.

I probably would have spent a lot more time in a power struggle with that old man.

And, originally, I just needed to vaguely attract attention by pretending I made a new drug, but Elena, that crazy bitch, wrote a letter this morning by mail.

She’d give me a recording item, and I should subtly install it in the potion bottle I was giving to the old man.

……Because of that, I was unnecessarily more anxious and had more work to do.

“Good job. …Thank you for cooperating in such a difficult operation, even though you’re a civilian.”

“No problem. It’s just the beginning.”

The Defense Force member who contacted me was looking at me with pity, for some reason,

And occasionally said things like, “No matter how urgent, even a child like this…” but I just ignored it.

I wasn’t relaxed enough to correct misunderstandings made by complete strangers.

According to both Christie and Elena…… I was scheduled to be kidnapped today.