Royal Capital Etre (1)

Ethan summarized the current situation over two days.

The mana stone mine development is expected to be completed in the near future.

There were no major injuries from this expedition.

Though all of Serdin was bustling, it would settle down with time.

The Inspection Bureau is coming to pick up Ethan in a few days.

‘No major problems.’

The rest was about the children.

Until they are perfectly prepared, we should not create situations where they meet dangerous beings like demon worshippers.

‘Well, we won’t be going to dangerous places for a while anyway.’

He intended to do his best if there was anything to support.

Just then, he caught sight of the children and Elkar running around in the garden.

It seems they were playing tag or something.

‘Somehow he seems to have grown a bit bigger?’

[The first root of the World Tree explains that spirits can grow according to the spirit tamer’s capacity.]

‘I guess Hwalin has talent as a spirit tamer?’

[The first root of the World Tree answers that it is so.]

He had given items and skill books to the children he took as wards.

But Ethan hadn’t considered Hwalin.

‘Wait, was there a skill book on spirit arts?’

He quietly returned to his room and rummaged through his backpack.

“There is one.”

A rather stiff academic book titled “Complete Collection of Precautions for Spirit Summoning and Contracting”.

It was a skill book that could give a passive skill that increases spirit affinity.

He dusted it off well and handed it to Hwalin.

“Would you like to read this when you have time? It will help with spirit arts.”

“Thank you, I’ll work hard too!”

Fortunately, Hwalin was pleased.

Though she seemed to have some difficulty reading the thick book.

‘Hey, root. Turn on thought acceleration.’

[……]

[‘Destruction’ pretends to be somewhat surprised at his brother’s treatment, then soon giggles saying it’s interesting.]

Even though Meri and Anna said it was okay, to play with the kids and come back leisurely.

Hwalin was responsible enough to maturely refuse outright and return to work.

So she wasn’t the type to leisurely read books during work hours.

She did read in bits and pieces during break times, but.

It seemed she wasn’t making much progress because it was thick and the terminology was difficult.

‘She’ll lack even rest time. Would she have time to read books?’

So he decided to turn on thought acceleration for her.

It was Ethan’s small consideration for the diligent Hwalin.

In the afternoon, Albert visited.

It was to report what he had obtained going back and forth between the Maydan border command and Serdin.

“How was the Maydan border command?”

“It gradually revived after supplying food and weapons several times. The last time I visited, I heard they had become one of the leading forces in the civil war.”

Though the development of Borka joining and dramatic civil war victory disappeared.

It seems they somehow overcame the situation with the food and equipment Ethan prepared.

“Here’s the ledger. Let’s check. We’ve earned enough to far exceed the cost of establishing one merchant group.”

“Really? Then let’s just set it up right away.”

Albert strongly pushed to name it ‘Ethan Merchant Group’ after Ethan’s name, but.

It was scrapped after Ethan fiercely opposed.

Instead, it was decided to be ‘Regin Merchant Group’, which Albert had originally planned to choose.

“I look forward to working with you in the future.”

“Of course, boss!”

Gold coins were left even after giving Albert a separate bonus so he wouldn’t feel disappointed.

‘This should be enough not to worry about living expenses in the future.’

Since he had become the de facto owner of Regin Merchant Group.

Steady fixed income was secured for the future.

So Ethan bestowed gold coins on those who had worked hard this time.

1,000 gold per person to the Douglan exploration team, the two teachers, and the servants.

Then he realized one person was missing.

“I don’t see Oros.”

Oros, who works as the mansion’s gardener.

For some reason, only his figure was not seen.

Fellow servants all seemed not to know either.

“May I explain?”

“Levi? Do you know something?”

Levi nodded.

“He was sent on an errand to Etre, but contact was cut off. I even gave him a mana messenger ball just in case.”

“Then isn’t that a big problem?”

“We’re inquiring for now.”

Formidable underworld organizations operate in the royal capital Etre.

If he went missing, it’s practically safe to assume he was captured by the underworld.

‘Can we save him? No, we have to.’

It’s not just because Oros’s gardening skills were outstanding.

It’s not because he was a kind servant who played well with the children.

‘How dare they touch our mansion’s gardener? Mere underworld nobodies?’

There were two lessons learned from subduing Targan.

First, there are still many strong people in the world.

So don’t set foot in dangerous places that don’t match the level of growth.

Second, the wards could somewhat handle it even when facing a demonized demon worshipper.

So the underworld controlled by Etre’s five pillars is not a dangerous place.

‘Especially Borka subdued Targan alone.’

The underworld of the royal capital is already no match for Ethan and his wards.

Frankly speaking, they could just push in and sweep everything away.

But.

‘Still, it would be troublesome to crush everything.’

When you clear the main story Etrion part, a realistic and uncomfortable follow-up story pops up.

“The five pillars that ruled Etre’s underworld have disappeared.

But the nobles still craved luxury and pleasure.

Someone had to provide contraband, drugs, and prostitutes for such nobles.

This was also the reason why the original underworld was established.

No matter how dangerous and illegal, because it makes money.

Those who know this and just blankly watch are either stupid or stupid priests.

…

After you left, people began to gather again in Etre’s black market.

From survivors of the subjugation to newcomers flowing in looking for work, it’s quite diverse.

Someday the black market will regain its former heyday.

The underworld residents who lost power are still holding their breath and watching for opportunities.

For the moment when the black rose will bloom.”

Even if light shines once in the back alleys, darkness always returns like the tide filling a tidal flat.

When the protagonist passes by and time flows.

The sticky and unsettling darkness is bound to return to its original position.

So when the five pillars, the native residents of the royal capital, are removed, new organizations spring up.

If the player clears out the underworld, Hwaryon, who had been holding her breath, integrates the organizations 2-3 years later.

If the protagonist doesn’t intervene, it leads to a route where Hwaryon completely takes over the five pillars and the kingdom’s upper class before long.

But Ethan had completely diverted Hwaryon’s existence.

Therefore, if he eliminates the five pillars, the story is likely to flow towards the proliferation of new organizations and great chaos.

The problem is that the variables on this side are bigger and more troublesome.

‘I don’t want to create unpredictable elements.’

The chaos starting in the royal capital would affect Serdin too.

So the conclusion reached was.

‘Let’s just rescue Oros and get out.’

For now, he decided to leave the underworld alone and watch.

“Ethan-nim, what should we do?”

“What else? We have to find him.”

“Understood. Then I’ll make additional requests to the guild for his whereabouts…”

“No, there’s no need for that.”

Ethan’s gaze turned to the yard.

There was Borka, who had floated up into the air all alone using levitation magic, refusing to be caught during tag.

“Levi, could you bring one of Oros’s belongings?”

And Ethan was taking out a cookie box.

‘If I ask her to use a search magic, it’ll be done in no time, so there’s no need to request the guild.’

This is much cheaper and more effective.

The black market located below the sewers.

And the sewer dug underground again for the black market.

In this real-life version of the saying “There’s a bottom even to the bottom”.

“Berda!! Where~ are~ you~!!”

Niel was running through the sewers as if it were her own bedroom.

“Niel, Niel. If you fall like that, you’ll be covered in filth again? Be careful.”

“It’s okay! Because Keli will clean me up!”

“…What? Come here! You little brat!”

“Aaah! Keli got angry!”

Keli lowered her gaze a little.

Something you wouldn’t want to know flowed incessantly through the main central sewer.

On the left and right walls, prisons with densely arranged bars were lined up.

This place, which was originally used as a special prison for the underworld.

Has now been transformed into a storage for living sacrifices for demon worshippers.

“Hmm, the condition of the sacrifices isn’t bad. Fortunately, none have starved to death.”

“Keli! Keli! Can I kill this?”

“No. Berda will scold you if she finds out we’re using it as a sacrifice.”

“Boo-hoo.”

“Instead, you can kill the rats.”

“Okay!”

Immediately, Niel’s nails grew long.

Niel stretched both hands up without hesitation.

“Aaagh!!”

Some men fell down in a shower, bleeding.

“H-How!”

“Did you think the smell wouldn’t spread just because you erased your presence with magic? The scent of sunlight, hard to smell in the shadows, is vibrating. You guys are so stupid. Right, Niel?”

“Stupid? Then are they Niel’s friends?”

“Hmm… That’s right. They’re on the same level as Niel.”

“There are so many stupid people! Now Niel doesn’t have to be the only stupid one!”

Click clack.

Keli slowly approached and carefully examined the man’s attire.

“We’ve recently swept away all the underworld remnants, so there shouldn’t be any more popping up. You guys… were sent from somewhere else, huh?”

“?!”

“Guys who would look into the underworld’s movements. For example… right, the kingdom’s Inspection Bureau.”

The man’s pupils shook desperately.

“What, you look like you’ve been completely exposed without saying a word? Sorry~ I’m a bit skilled, you know? It’s because I’m a woman with many sins.”

Keli gently touched the man’s chin, then.

Got up again with a smirk.

“Niel.”

“Yes?”

“Eat only half.”

“Okay!”

As Keli snapped her fingers.

Only three out of the six agents floated up and flew into the iron cage in the corner.

The man whose intentions Keli had just seen through was one of them.

He tried to turn his head, which wasn’t moving well.

To check on his remaining colleagues.

But.

“Aaaagh!!”

“Fuck! You bitch! Aaagh!!”

Crunch. Crack. Crunch.

When he heard the sound of bones being chewed alive.

He gave up, shaking his body.

A sense of guilt washed over him for surviving while his subordinates died.

“Well done. There’s no toilet in here, so if you saw something so scary and wet yourself… oh my.”

Though the man was an Inspection Bureau agent.

It was his first time facing beings that weren’t human.

And he couldn’t overcome that level of fear.

The result was clearly visible on his pants.

“Well, it’ll be soon anyway. Until then, hang in there, oppa?”

Creak, clang!

The iron bars closed.

The agents fell into despair.

At best, they thought the weakened underworld guys these days were plotting schemes.

They never imagined demon worshippers were secretly active in the royal capital’s underground.

It had already become something beyond the Inspection Bureau’s ability to handle.

‘Is this the end?’

If there is a god.

The agents were muttering for him to please save them.

And.

In the middle of the road far to the east of Etre.

“Achoo!”

“Oh my, are you alright?”

“…It was just a sneeze. I’m fine, Inspection Bureau Director.”

“Hohoho, you don’t have to call me so stiffly. What kind of relationship do we have?”

‘What kind of relationship do we have exactly.’

There was a man who had set out to rescue a missing servant.

And incidentally receive a reward from the king.

‘They’re so troublesome. Well, the Inspection Bureau is escorting me, and the place is the royal capital. It should be safer than the abandoned mine.’

Not knowing what kind of events would befall him.