episode_0007

Returning to my original home office, I lay sprawled across the desk.

“Ah… How long has it been since I’ve tasted this kind of rest?”

Lately, with all the moving around, I had been quite busy, making this rare moment of relaxation especially sweet.

“If only life could always be like this.”

Ideally, I would have enjoyed this break while keeping an eye on the protagonist, but that was impossible. So, I decided to be content with the current respite.

“Although the original storyline has been somewhat distorted.”

Resulting in a tear-stained dung show.

Arienne, the protagonist, was at risk of being wanted.

“Since they challenged me faster than the original timeline by three years.”

With some time left, if Arienne were to challenge me again after growing stronger, the original storyline would no longer be altered.

Now, all I had to do was wait.

Since Lena was handling everything related to assisting Arienne’s party, except for information transmission, there shouldn’t be any other events. I closed my eyes, intending to relax, but then the communication crystal rang.

There was only one person who could contact me through the communication crystal – Lena. Therefore, I promptly answered.

“Lena? What’s the matter?”

“Lord Cariel, we have a problem.”

“What happened? Take your time.”

“Just now, we received reports of an issue at the orphanage we are supporting. It seems that the children are disappearing.”

“The children are disappearing?”

I had intended to leave it to my competent subordinate if it was a minor issue, but children going missing was a different story altogether.

“Who the hell is behind this?”

While I couldn’t support the orphanage in my current identity and was doing so under a fake persona, considering the scale and amount of the support, people would perceive me as a noble at least.

Clearly, someone was daring enough to meddle with that.

Ignoring me outright.

Or having enough confidence to handle me even if I took action.

“Yes. It seems that only the children from the orphanages we support, both the one we sponsor and the one I personally established, are being kidnapped. We hired quite skilled mercenaries to investigate, but…”

“It seems like they’ve lost contact.”

“Indeed. Rumor has it that all of them have gone silent.”

“What grade are these mercenaries?”

“They are at least B-grade.”

If they were at B-grade, they were considered decent mercenaries, recognizable in certain circles.

The fact that such capable mercenaries disappeared without a trace indicated their proficiency and thoroughness.

“Oh, could it be them?”

Referring to a group known as the Dark Guild.

Comprised of assassins, they were well-known enough for nobles to frequently commission their services.

“Why would they target the children in the orphanages?”

In the original work, there were no nobles kidnapping children for any specific purpose…

“Wait, were there?”

Upon reflection, it seemed like there was one individual.

A viscount, perhaps.

Although I couldn’t recall the family name, I remembered them as trash conducting human experiments on children.

“Since it’s not certain yet.”

It seemed prudent to first deal with the Dark Guild responsible for the kidnappings.

“Something like the Dark Guild.”

“The Dark Guild… Are you serious?”

“Well, unless it’s them, there are hardly any others who can handle things so meticulously and swiftly.”

“How will you proceed?”

“I have to visit them in person.”

Of course, not as Cariel, but simply as a noble sponsoring the orphanage to resolve the situation.

“Are you really going alone?”

“I probably won’t. Even if I take others along, it would be akin to declaring war openly. My identity might be exposed.”

Those unaware of the Dark Guild’s existence were few and far between.

Secretly active, even if somewhat well-known nobles are all aware.

Yet, the fact that the Assassin’s Guild operates smoothly is tacitly accepted.

But now, someone is mobilizing forces to uproot the guild?

As Kariel, there shouldn’t be major issues, but revealing one’s status is not an option.

[You may be in danger.]

“Lena. Do you think I’d lose to those riffraff?”

Even if Kariel calls him a fake hero, he was solid in physique and talent.

Too arrogant to even train properly.

However, consistent training for years with such a body made me considerably strong, so there was no chance of losing to the ragtag group of assassins.

[Just asking in case.]

“I know. But you don’t need to worry. If truly concerned, I’ll allow preparing forces as a precaution.”

There probably won’t be a need to deploy them.

Lena sighed deeply at my words.

[Sigh… You’re so confident that you won’t do anything separately, but if there’s no contact for a long time or you can’t reach me, consider it dangerous and lead the troops immediately.]

“Alright. See you later.”

[Yes.]

After cutting off communication, I relaxed, a sardonic smile on my face.

“If you touch the kids, I’ll show you what happens.”

It’s common sense not to mess with children.

What would they achieve by bothering these newly sprouted adults?

But if even one child gets hurt or killed, I’d wipe them all out, but if everyone is unharmed, I might show some leniency.

I hoped they would make a wise choice.

***

No worries about support, no concerns about spreading rumors – Arienne’s party.

Now, they only have to work hard to drive out the fake heroes, but important news has spread among them.

Arienne’s childhood friends from the orphanage she grew up in are disappearing.

Arienne lost her cool, and the party members sweated trying to calm her down.

Finally calming Arienne down, they had a conversation.

“So, you heard that the kids from the orphanage are missing?”

“Whoever it is, I’ll tear them apart.”

Arienne’s display of intense vigor made all the party members except Arel shiver.

For the first time ever.

Especially since she had never shown such anger even in front of Kariel, seeing her this furious was unprecedented.

Arel, the only one maintaining a poker face among the party members, spoke up.

“I suspect it’s the Assassin’s Guild’s doing.”

“The Assassins? The group of killers?”

“Yes.”

“Why would they?”

“I’m not exactly sure, but they definitely have some purpose.”

“Then let’s go.”

Arel intervened as Arienne was about to rush off.

“There’s no point in rushing. The Assassin’s Guild isn’t some bandit group; they’ve been around for quite a while, and nobles have been turning a blind eye. If we interfere, who knows what repercussions may arise.”

Disturbing the Assassin’s Guild could lead to friction with the nobles.

If luck isn’t on their side, even high-ranking nobles could get involved.

Arienne was aware of these facts, but she couldn’t just stand by and watch the children from the orphanage being kidnapped.

“So, should we just stay put?”

“That’s not the case. We should seek a way rather than blindly rushing in. Whether sneaking in or by some other means, words to that effect.”

“If there’s a hidden bridge, there must be a shadow street. Do you know how to get in? It’s likely to be quite tricky.”

At Tarr’s words, Arell contemplated deeply.

As he said, if there’s a hidden bridge, it would be in the shadow street known as the dark district.

However, entering the shadow street was quite challenging.

From locating the dark district to even if one knew the location, they had to present a code through a broker.

If they were to forcefully enter without presenting the code, it could lead to a full-on clash with the entire dark district. Unless they entered stealthily, knowing the code was essential.

“But knowing the code to the dark district is likely restricted to those affiliated or nobles.”

In other words, unless they snuck in, there seemed to be no way.

However, if sneaking in were that easy, they wouldn’t have been pondering so much.

“Even if we manage to get in somehow.”

Confronting the hidden bridge head-on would indeed be foolish.

Yet, they couldn’t just abandon this task, making their situation truly perplexing.

As everyone was deeply engrossed in thought,

The communication device rang.

Since they had only one person to communicate with, their sponsor, they urgently answered the call.

However, contrary to their expectations, the voice that came through the device was that of a woman.

[Can you hear me?]

“Who…”

[To put it simply, I am someone assisting your sponsor. They have instructed me to fully support you, which is why I am contacting you like this.]

Upon hearing those words, Ariane’s expression changed momentarily, and she hurriedly asked,

“Do you happen to know how to enter the shadow street?”

[Yes. I know the location as well.]

“Um… then please tell me how to enter the shadow street.”

[Understood. If you approach the entrance located on the outskirts of Raphel City, you will find a broker wearing a feathered hat. Approach him and say ‘Night of Darkness,’ and you should be able to enter.]

With the communication device turned off,

Ariane immediately rose from her seat.

“Let’s go, everyone.”

The other party members also stood up.

With determined gazes, they headed towards the location of the shadow street.