Black Market Search (1)

Greg hesitated.

No, perhaps it’s not accurate to call it hesitation.

It was closer to being drawn in by a kind of fascination, temptation.

There was a hidden meaning in the woman’s brief words.

Even without speaking aloud, it was transmitted into his mind.

As if by magic.

The content conveyed to Greg was roughly this:

[I’ve seen many children like you.]

[Every one of them was destined to be abandoned by the world.]

[I’ll guide you to beings similar to yourself.]

[Let’s take revenge on the world together.]

A plague swept through the village, killing most of the residents.

Even the survivors were captured by bandits and sold as slaves.

Greg miraculously survived alone.

Walking aimlessly, he reached the foothills of the Five Peaks Mountain Range.

If he hadn’t met his master there, Greg would probably have died then.

But the woman before his eyes.

She pinpointed Greg’s entire life and evaluated it like this:

[A victim of a dirty fate twisted maliciously by the world.]

That all this was because of a world that miserably twisted one person’s life.

“Let’s. Burn. The world. That treated you. So cruelly.”

Even to casual listeners it was nothing more than sophistry, but.

A strange sense of trust was felt from the woman’s words.

“Will you. Come. With me?”

Just before grabbing the woman’s hand.

Greg deliberately stopped his arm.

“No.”

And clearly refused.

Both his master and the woman before him tried to give Greg something and take something in return.

That much was clear.

But.

Ethan didn’t want anything in return.

A comfortable place to stay and delicious meals.

Not only a plentiful life with friends his age, but also.

Swords and armor, high-quality education were provided.

Yet he asked nothing of Greg.

Nothing at all.

Suddenly, he recalled what Levi usually said:

• He will give you anything without asking for anything in return.
• But since he doesn’t want anything, become someone who repays that grace of your own accord.

  “Even if I burn the whole world, it won’t be for my sake.”

  Greg paused for a moment before continuing.

  “It would be for his sake. Only for his sake would I do such a thing.”

  That was Greg’s resolve.

  And.

  “Well said.”

  Levi walked forward, patting Greg’s head as if impressed.

“Step back for a moment.”

“…Yes.”

Rudy can be seen following from afar.

He was grumbling about how they could run so fast while panting heavily.

However, Levi’s interest was solely on the woman before her.

“Berda.”

“I am honored. To meet. The noble princess.”

Berda, the faithful apostle of Rielymos, the demon of pleasure.

If Targan collapsed while aspiring for ascension.

Berda was a big shot treading the steps of ascension.

The two had a passing acquaintance.

“What brings you. To such a humble place.”

“That’s none of your business, Berda.”

“I beg your pardon.”

Levi emanated intense killing intent.

At that, Berda slowly waved both hands to indicate she had no intention of fighting.

“You touched a child you shouldn’t have. If I had been a little late, it would have been irreversible.”

“Oh my. He was. Someone’s child.”

Berda licked her lips as if regretful, then.

“Well then. Until next time.”

After bowing her head politely in greeting.

She closed her parasol.

• Swoosh!

  With that, Berda’s figure instantly disappeared.

  ‘You’ve obtained a troublesome artifact, Berda.’

  Levi approached Greg.

  He looked fine on the outside, but.

  His hand was trembling slightly.

  “No need to be scared. No one will blame you. Little miss.”

  “That’s…”

  “Yes, if you don’t want me to, I won’t tell anyone.”

  For some reason or other.

  Greg tried to appear male to others.

  From the first time she saw him, his hair was shorter than an ordinary bob cut and he always insisted on wearing pants.

  He didn’t open his mouth normally to avoid his voice being discovered.

  Even when he had no choice but to speak, he deliberately lowered his voice, but.

  The sharp-eyed Levi had noticed long ago.

  “Good job.”

  “…Is it okay to go back like this?”

  She knew what Greg was worried about.

  “It’s fine.”

  That’s why she could answer immediately.

  “He will take care of it.”

After Rudy caught his breath and gently scolded Greg for disappearing carelessly,

They finished the rest of the Etre sightseeing and returned to the inn around that time.

Ethan visited the kingdom’s Inspection Bureau together with Inspector General Tom.

To commend his achievement of defeating Targan, and since about a week of preparation time was needed until the king’s direct reward ceremony,

It was thanks to Tom’s offer to show him around the Inspection Bureau, where not just anyone can enter, during the remaining time.

“Hello. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you for your hard work.”

While receiving countless handshake requests from inspectors.

As he was looking around various parts of the building.

Suddenly he had a suspicious thought.

‘Is it okay to let an outsider in like this?’

The Inspection Bureau is a kind of massive investigative agency that oversees everything from crimes by high-ranking nobles at the top to the underworld at the bottom.

If compared to the modern South Korea where he lived, it’s like a mix of the Board of Audit and Inspection, National Intelligence Service, and police.

He wondered if it was okay to bring an outsider to tour the inside of such a place, but.

Tom laughed good-naturedly, saying it was fine.

After finishing the Inspection Bureau tour, they entered the Inspector General’s office.

Tom handed him a teacup and asked.

“So, did you enjoy the tour?”

“Yes, well. More than that, I’m worried I might have caused trouble for everyone who seemed busy.”

“Not at all. A hero’s visit always invigorates people.”

He felt embarrassed at being called a hero over and over.

“Well, let’s end the small talk here. About that location on the map you showed me before. I thought it would be appropriate to discuss it here, so I brought you here.”

‘So this was the main point.’

Tom activated a soundproofing spell by flowing mana into the office.

“Recently, the activities of underworld organizations have noticeably decreased, allowing us to infiltrate the black market. So we dispatched field agents to observe the situation.”

Ethan nodded his head, expecting a positive answer, but.

“As a result, we failed. No, let me correct that. We presume we failed.”

It wasn’t.

“The life detection signals of all the dispatched agents have been cut off. This means someone artificially blocked the mana, which we suspect is the work of someone quite skilled.”

“Was it the work of a mage?”

“Probably not. The underworld is far removed from mages.”

Saying so, Tom added a brief explanation.

Even a 2nd circle mage wouldn’t have to beg for food.

No matter how low the circle, there are many places that need mages.

But in the world, people born with magical talent were extremely rare.

So they couldn’t help but be far removed from the underworld.

Although it’s a den of criminals, the basic reason they gathered was just one.

To grab a lot of money.

So bringing mages into the organization, who are expensive to employ and often have many more crazy ones than expected?

Such guys have long since been weeded out and disappeared from the underworld, he said.

“Let me get to the point. An unknown threat has appeared in the black market. So we can’t guarantee that the missing personnel are there.”

‘Not good.’

An unexpected variable had already occurred.

With bad luck, someone may have already taken care of all the pillars of the underworld.

Those are all experience point lumps that should be fed to his precious wards.

Moreover, even the missing Oros could be in danger.

Naturally, Ethan’s expression darkened.

Tom didn’t miss that reaction.

‘It seems he was a very cherished servant. Well, the report did say he takes especially good care of his people.’

The report on the subjugation of monster colonies in Count Sharian’s territory.

Ethan’s actions towards his comrades who fought together were very impressive.

‘If only the Inspection Bureau and the royal family could become like that.’

He would become an incredibly reliable ally.

So he immediately suggested an alternative.

“But there’s no need to worry too much. Not only the Inspection Bureau, but we also plan to check the black market with support from the royal army. I will take responsibility to find the missing person.”

Was that not enough?

After thinking for a while, Ethan offered an additional opinion.

“Would it be alright if I participated in the search operation?”

If they all rush in and slice up the underworld like this.

Not only clearing the main story, but also missing out on the special rewards that come with it.

‘If that’s the case, it would be better to go in with the kids.’

If player participation is assured, even with many NPCs, they can receive rewards.

And he can feed experience to Levi and the other wards.

At that.

“Of course! Thank you so much!”

Inspector General Tom grabbed Ethan’s hand excitedly.

Even with an unpredictable threat.

He wasn’t afraid if the man before him was with them.

In the damp, foul-smelling sewer.

The two demon worshippers who were sitting around killing time.

Raised their heads when they heard familiar footsteps approaching.

“Huh? No way?”

“Seems like it.”

Niel, who was running pitter-patter towards the entrance.

“Ah!”

“Niel. It’s been a while.”

She leapt right into the tall woman’s arms.

“Berda!!! I missed you!!!”

“I missed. You too.”

Berda approached Keli while holding Niel.

“What’s the occasion?”

“What do. You mean?”

“No~ it’s been a while since I’ve seen Berda smiling so brightly like this. No, have I ever seen you smile before?”

“Almost. Never.”

Recalling the child she just met.

A smile spread across her face.

“There you go again? Something really good must have happened?”

“It did. Something good.”

“If Berda is happy, I’m happy too!”

Berda smiled brightly and pointed at her feet.

The sharp Keli knew what her superior was asking.

“I finished modifying the waterways with the monsters Slau left behind. If we squeeze the sacrifices and pour them into the waterways, the ritual should proceed roughly.”

“Good job. Keli.”

The preparations were complete.

“Rielymos will be. Pleased too.”

“Yeah~ Berda must be happy. Since you’ll ascend soon.”

The collapse of the secret society that supplied sacrifices.

Slau’s death and the failure to procure monsters from the labyrinth.

On top of that, the monster breeding ground was destroyed and Targan was killed.

There were many twists and turns, and the one they served urged Berda.

To move up the date even if it meant overdoing it, regardless of heavenly intervention.

As a result, they prepared for the ritual even if it was somewhat rushed.

“It’s really. All done.”

Sometime soon.

They would be able to summon Him to this world.

Berda recalled the child she met on the street.

The child who suffered from a strangely twisted fate.

She thought it would be nice to meet again someday.

If he survived after the ritual was over, that is.

The square in front of the entrance leading to the black market.

This usually quiet place was bustling with people for the first time in a while.

“Are you serious?”

“Rudy, have you ever seen me joke around before an operation?”

“No, but still…”

Rudy glanced sideways at the black market infiltration team.

Ten Inspection Bureau agents and knights dispatched from the royal knight order, 50 royal army soldiers.

And.

“Ugh… Stop pinching my cheeks…”

“Eek! How could you touch my tail like that!”

“Now, now, everyone focus!”

The kids and Ethan were playing around.

‘To think such kids traversed labyrinths and monster colonies and fought demon worshippers.’

The waiting inspectors, knights, and soldiers felt similar to Rudy.

“Why did he bring kids?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Rudy honestly couldn’t believe it, but.

When Ethan took out armor and weapons from his backpack and distributed them to the children,

Seeing the kids skillfully equip the gear on their own, he gradually started to believe.

“Are we going to fight?”

“I’d prefer if we didn’t have to fight. We came to find Uncle Oros. Bad people took him away.”

“They took Uncle away?”

At that, the children burned with a sense of justice.

Ethan was slightly moved by that sight, but.

‘How dare they touch Ethan-nim’s person.’

‘What idiot committed such an act?’

Their inner thoughts were far from the children’s innocence that Ethan imagined.

“Infiltrate!”

The operation to infiltrate the black market began with the knights in the lead.

However.

“Hm?!”

A scene completely different from what was expected unfolded.

Most of the infiltrating personnel were thrown into confusion.