Halflings looked like human children even when they were adults. They had short limbs and were mostly about 1 meter in height. The tips of their ears were sharp and they had large mouths.
They were basically a gentle race that lived in the adorable villages that they had built in the forest, but one had to be cautious of those who lived in human cities. Those that did so were thought of as eccentric by other Halflings. They were typically fiery tempered, the opposite from their race's usual temperament, and more often than not, they were ill-natured scum.
「Even though I told you to wait obediently, you're swinging your stick around! What are you going to do if you catch the eye of the military police!? Huh!?」
The middle-aged Halfling was making a fuss in a shrill voice. I could tell he was middle-aged because of his mustache and wrinkles, but the way he was throwing a tantrum was exactly like a child. Even the doublet with a ruffle collar that he wore gave the impression that it didn't really suit him.
However, the Oriental man called Kouga was visibly shriveling in front of such a comical person. It was almost as if a giant was about to be eaten by a dwarf.
「Mister Miguel...... this, this is...... err......」
「I don't need your excuses! You're resolved for what happens when you break your word, right!?」
「I beg you, please forgive me! Anything but that!」
「It's no use! --Oh ring, bind him!」
The Halfling raised his right fist towards Kouga. The moment the silver ring on his middle finger shone in a sinister manner, black lightning enveloped Kouga's body.
「GYAAAAAAAaaAAAaa!!!」
A full-throated scream resounded. Kouga writhed in agony from the strong electric shocks burning his body. The electric shocks didn't end so easily, but continued to mercilessly bind Kouga like how a snake constricted its prey. When it finally ended, Kouga was crawling on the ground on death's door.
Looking at the terrible scene, I realized that it was caused by a certain item of bad taste.
「A covenant of servitude......」
Most of the items made from Beast materials were wonderful things that advanced civilization and enriched the people's lives. However, just as how good and evil both resided in a person's heart, there were shady items that were invented for cruel uses among them.
The covenant of servitude was the best example of such items.
The covenant of servitude was an item that showed its effects when both a special parchment and ring were paired together. Anyone who signed his or her name on the parchment with their own blood would never be able to defy the owner of the ring.
To be precise, when the owner of the ring chanted『bind』, it had the power to make the signer's magical power run out of control and forcibly generate the electric shocks.
Of course, it was strictly prohibited by law to use such dangerous and deplorable items on others. However, there was a certain exception where they were permitted.
And that was when--
「A slave like you! I'll make sure you feel the pain of disobeying me!」
The Halfling spat at Kouga, who wasn't getting up.
The only exception where the covenant of servitude was allowed was when the relationship between the two was master and slave. In other words, Kouga was a slave and Halfling was his master.
「Haa, haa..... By the way, who are you?」
The Halfling whose breathing had become ragged from getting all worked up, turned to me.
「It seemed like you were having a dispute with Kouga, but what's a pretty Miss like you doing in a place like this?」
Not this guy too....
It's true that I've been mistaken for a woman before. But just because it had happened before doesn't mean that I'm used to it, and people normally get angry over this kind of thing.
「I'd like to hear more about what happened. Don't worry, I won't do anything bad. I'm a gentleman after all. I just want to have a drink together for a bit. Hehehe」
Perhaps he didn't see my knife because it was held backhanded, but the Halfling was approaching me carelessly with a distasteful smile. With all my might, I kicked that face.
「Bugyaaaa!?」
With an impressive spray of nose blood, the Halfling smashed into the opposite wall and was stunned momentarily by the pain from the kick to his face and his back hitting the wall. Once he recovered, he shot me a look of hatred.
「Y, you, you shitty bitch! What are you doing!? I'm going to cauterize your crotch and make it so that you can never pee again!!」
I snorted derisively at his gentlemanly rant.
I was glad that he was well. It would have been great to crush his head like a pomegranate with that kick, but I had something I wanted to ask this scum.
「Watch your words. Or else--」
I pulled Silver-chan out and pointed its muzzle at the Halfling.
「I'll blow you to smithereens」
「Silver Flame!?」
When Silver-chan was pointed at him, the Halfling's expression paled instantly.
「W, why would a woman like you have a Silver Flame......」
「Shut up. I haven't given you permission to speak. You just have to answer my questions obediently. If you don't want to get killed, that is. Understood?」
「U, understood!」
I continued as the Halfling nodded his head desperately.
「I don't recognize your accent. Where are you from?」
「I'm from the city of Soldiland, far to the south!」
A city on the southernmost border of the Empire. That must be why his accent is so strong.
「You don't look like a merchant. What are you doing in the imperial capital?」
「Th, that is, er...」
「Answer me」
The Halfling let out a shriek and stiffened up like a statue when I pressed Silver-chan's muzzle to his forehead.
It would be faster if I used Confess, but I purposely didn't. I won't feel better unless I make scum like him properly savor the taste of fear.
「I, I'll talk! I've actually migrated here!」
「Why」
「I was entrusted with running an underground arena by the Dalanbert Family, but they found out that I embezzled the payments to my superiors, so...…」
The Dalanbert Family was a different organization of Yakuza from the Luciano Family. Their influence was definitely not weak, but the Luciano Family was overwhelmingly superior in terms of size and status.
「You reap what you sow. The reason why you migrated to the imperial capital is because it's the territory of the Luciano Family. Even the Dalanbert Family won't dare to come here」
「Y, yes...... it's as you said......」
「You said you were entrusted with running an underground arena. Then, is that Oriental over there one of the gladiators?」
「That's right...... Of late, most of the fighters in the arena are professional fighters, but only this guy is a slave that I had bought from another place, so I brought him along when I ran away...…」
「I see. And this time you're going to make him fight in the underground arena in the imperial capital and milk as much fight money out of him as you can. Since that’s the last lifeline you have left」
I had seen the imperial capital's underground arena only once before, but with Kouga's strength, he would probably be able to become a high-ranking fighter right away. The fight money he would receive should be reasonably large too.
「And if circumstances permit, you're trying to think of ways to get involved with the underground arena again, aren't you?」
「Well, yes...... Oh, could it be that Miss is involved with the underground arena in some way? Then, why don't we take this chance to get on good terms?」
Though he was still frightened, the Halfling was rubbing both hands and smiling amiably. To be able to do that with a muzzle on his forehead, he was certainly strong-willed.
「It's a shame. I'm not involved with the underground arena. I'm just a Seeker. And I'm late to correct it, but I'm a man」
「Eh, Seeker!? And......a man, you said!!??」
The Halfling widened his eyes in shock.
I'm a bit concerned that his reaction was stronger for the revelation that I'm a man rather than that I'm a Seeker, but I'll let it slide.
Now, what to do?
No one would blame me for killing this Halfling. Although he was involved with the Dalanbert Family, he is now a fugitive to them. They might not thank me for killing him, but they probably won't consider me an adversary for doing so.
And if the Halfling disappeared and I claimed ownership of Kouga, there would no longer be anyone who would try to take him back.
It's not a bad plan. There are only benefits and no drawbacks for me.
But--
「Disappear within 10 seconds. Or I'll kill you. One, two, three--」
「Ee, eek!」
When I started the countdown without waiting for a reply, the Halfling rushed to Kouga hurriedly and kicked his head.
「For how long do you intend to sleep! Hurry up and run!」
After being kicked by the Halfling, Kouga stood up, seemingly in pain, and staggered after his master, who had ran off as fast as he could.
Kouga glanced back at me for an instant, and I could see the fear and sadness inside his eyes.
What an idiot. If it's a man of your caliber, it's possible for you to kill your master and free yourself even despite being restrained. Whether it's because he had been harshly disciplined or that he's scared that he would have to survive by himself after that, it appears that his heart has been completely withered by fear.
Certainly, Kouga is strong. If I looked only at his fighting abilities, he's so strong that I want him for an ally even if it costs me an arm and a leg. But what I want for an ally is not a skinny dog, but a ferocious wolf.
I have no business with those with a weak heart.
「I'm disappointed in you...」
The words I muttered melted away into the darkness of the slum.
†
†
「Hey~! Noel, over here!」
When I arrived at the Sated Cat, an unexpected person was smiling and waving at me.
「Leisha, why are you......」
One of the members of Lightning Bite, Leisha, the Archer, was eating at the same table as Alma.
I took a seat, feeling suspicious. There were already many dishes laid out on the table, half of which were empty.
「Noel, you're far too late. If Leisha hadn't passed by, I was about to eat all alone」
Alma glared reproachfully at me. From what I could gather from her words, she seemed to have met Leisha by chance and had decided to eat together.
「I said that I'm sorry, didn't I?」
「Thank you for buying me lunch!」
Leisha, who was beside me, said something brazen with a smile.
「Don't act willful all of a sudden. I've no obligation to treat you」
「Eh~, why!? Isn't it fine, you stingy man!」
「Aren't you from another party? Go ask Wolf if you want to be treated」
「Wolf always has no money so he never treats me~. If anything, we're the ones who are always treating him」
That guy, even though he's the leader, can't even manage money properly, huh...... Isn't he embarrassed to take money from his party members? Although he doesn't seem to have spent money in a way that destroyed trust like Lloyd did, he's such a sloppy guy despite being acknowledged by them as their leader.
「Didn't you make a lot of money subjugating Gordo? I heard from Alma. If you have money to spare, isn't it fine to treat me!?」
Having heard something I couldn't ignore, I turned to look at Alma, but she feigned ignorance and whistled.
「You've really got a loose tongue, don't you......」
I'm also at fault for not forbidding her from speaking about it, but this shitty woman's big mouth is abnormal. From now on, I'm going to keep all the important secrets from her. Thankfully, I had been hiding the matter about Hugo from her from the start.
「By any chance, did you also hear about me buying lunch from Alma?」
「That's right~」
Leisha nodded and poked Alma's cheek.
「We bumped into each other on the main street, and after some small talk, we ended up going to eat together. And then, Alma talked about how Noel would come later and buy lunch. Right~?」
「Hmm, I see」
Now that the truth was out in the open, Alma diverted her eyes uncomfortably. While I certainly did talk about buying lunch, I didn't say anything about treating other people. In all likelihood, she had probably made a slip of the tongue while she was showing off.
However, Alma still had a reputation to uphold. She would end up as a liar if this continued. So I had to fold here and accommodate her side of the story.
「I understand the story now. Leisha, I'll treat your share as well」
「Eh, really!?」
「Yes, you can eat and drink all you want. I'll deduct the bill from Alma's share on the next job. Precisely and not one Fil less」
「Ya~y! Alma, thank you for buying me lunch!」
「Ehhh!?」
Alma panicked at my decision, but it was already too late.
「Excuse~ me, give me the most expensive wine!」
「Order the bottle. Also add the full course of super-special marbled beef」
「Give me the bottle for the wine please~! Also an order of the full course of super-special marbled beef please~!」
「Wait a minute! You're joking, right!?」
Alma was in tears after me and Leisha's merciless orders.
She's pitiful, but she had brought it on herself. And, once in a while, even I want to eat and drink using other people's money.
Miguel speaks in Hiroshima-ben too btw. So first half was pure torture again… and did you immediately realise who I was talking about or did the name stump you? (^_-) I’m honestly a bit puzzled why the author refuses to use his name despite giving him one.
Were you surprised by how Kouga turned out? He was looking so cool last chapter… what a turnabout…
Poor Alma, turns out Leisha is just as merciless as Noel. (ᵔᴥᵔ)
Btw, it’s been a pretty long day hasn’t it? It’s still noon of the same day… (^_^*)
Skill-book Alley is next… are they going to power up?
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