"So that's the deal. You guys go back to the inn and wait, or go sightseeing wherever you want."

The demon acquaintance of the master might be able to fix the rusty sword, but apparently, I'm the only one allowed to go. Whatever the reason, demons must be a very shy race.

I get that. I've got that side to me too.

If, for example, Rebecca-san suddenly brought a bunch of strangers to meet me, I'm pretty sure I'd be completely flustered...

And on top of that, the reason I'm allowed to meet them is because I'm a scoundrel. Maybe this person is the type who has an allergic reaction to anyone who seems too pure and upright.

Like, maybe they imagine a stereotypical scoundrel: someone who drinks from midday, has a middle-aged beer belly and a balding head... makes their wife work while they laze around at home... skims off her earnings... yells at her to go buy booze...

...Surely, I can't be that stereotypical Showa-era good-for-nothing, right?

Well, even in an isekai, human society doesn't change that much. It's not entirely impossible.

"Master-dono, are you going alone de-arimasu, to the demon's place?"

Marina asked, looking puzzled.

Oh, Marina. You didn't quite get it, huh.

"Not exactly alone. I'll be with the master. It sounds like this demon is very shy. If we barge in with a crowd, we might ruin their mood, and then the rusty sword won't get fixed."

In any case, there are just too many of us to go as a group.

"Marina is a slave de-arimasu."

"Huh?"

"Marina wants to go with you, de-arimasu. Slaves don't count as people, de-arimasu."

"They don't count?"

Is that how it works?

Are slaves treated as tools, so it's okay for them to come along in this situation?

"Is that true, Grandmaster?"

"Well... it's not exactly a matter of numbers, but..."

"Not okay, then?"

"Ah... but she's a Turk, right...? Then just that girl should be fine."

"It's okay?"

"I am deeply grateful de-arimasu!"

The master gave his permission while scratching his cheek.

So slaves really don't count? No, that's not it... it feels more like she's okay specifically because she's a Turk.

But that created another problem...

"T-Then if slaves are allowed, I should be fine too nodesu! I'm coming along!"

Diana started pushing her way in. I should have seen this coming.

"Hrmm... umu... an Elf-sama is a bit..."

The master looked troubled.

He couldn't exactly be rude to an Elf like Diana, but he clearly felt uneasy about bringing her along.

Demons are probably a race specialized in handling magic. The fact that they use magic crystals for things supports that idea.

And elves are a race specialized in handling spirit power. Elves use spirit stones, after all.

...If that's the case, aren't demons and elves essentially polar opposites?

Diana might be an airheaded, sheltered princess, but generally speaking, isn't there talk about demons and elves being on bad terms...?

It's definitely possible.

If so, it's probably better not to bring Diana along carelessly...

"Alright. Diana, you're staying behind."

"W-Why?! If Marina is allowed, then I should be allowed too nodesu!"

Diana treats Marina like a little sister and usually acts like the mature older one. Yet she absolutely hates being outdone by her. She's kind, but only on her own terms—pretty narrow-minded, really.

But that's just how older sisters are; I have siblings of my own, so I know the feeling. Plus, Diana is a princess at heart.

I leaned in and whispered to Diana so the master wouldn't hear.

"Hey, Diana. The master is being polite not to say it, but I think demons probably dislike elves."

"W-Why is that?"

"I don't actually know the reason... Anyway, there's definitely some kind of issue. Worst case, they could go, 'Ugh, an elf!' and start blasting magic at us. That's not impossible, right?"

It's speculation. But it's possible.

If a magic-specialized race started firing off flames like the magicians I saw in western movies, we'd be in serious trouble.

So I want to eliminate that risk.

...Though honestly, Diana's just throwing a selfish tantrum about wanting to come.

"If you insist that much, then I won't bring Marina either. It'll just be me and the master. Frankly, I probably don't even need a guard. I've got a sword, after all."

"But..."

"Besides, the only ones with weapons are me and Marina. Think about it. Fine—Marina will stay with you. You all go have fun and wait."

"But then, Goshujin-sama will—"

"I said it's fine."

"Uuhhh... okay..."

She reluctantly agreed.

In the end, Marina stayed behind too, and it was decided that only the master and I would go to see the demon.

"Oh, right."

I rummaged through my bag, pulled out a walkie-talkie, and handed one to Rebecca-san. I'd already tested it beforehand.

"Please take this. Use it the way I explained last time. If anything happens, contact me. I'll do the same if something comes up."

"Okay... are you sure I should have it?"

"Of course. There's no one better for the job than you, Rebecca-san."

Diana would be too anxious, Marina was out of the question, and Elepipi seemed like she'd be too slow to react. As for Etowa... if Rebecca-san weren't here, Etowa might have been okay. She's actually quite clever when it counts.

* * *

"Danna, making an elf lady your slave means you must be pretty loaded. Are you some kind of rich brat from a noble family?"

As the master and I walked toward the demon's place after parting with the others, he asked me the question that had clearly been weighing on his mind.

In this world, elves are an extremely valuable race. Beautiful features, eternal youth and longevity—and above all, they're the only ones capable of using spirit magic.

Which is why they're expensive.

It's a terrible analogy, but if you compared them to cars, they'd be "stunningly designed," "extremely durable (lasts a lifetime)," and above all, "high-performance, with the ability to fly." At that point, it's not even a car anymore. Of course they'd be pricey.

So it was only natural he'd be curious about a youngster who kept such a being as a slave. I could've just fed him a convenient lie, but since we had the time, I decided to tell him the story of how Diana and I met. It's not exactly a secret story anyway.

After I finished the story along the way, the master spoke up.

"So basically, you got half-swindled."

The master said bluntly.

He certainly didn't mince words.

"Well, not 'basically.' I definitely got half-swindled. Honestly, I was so naïve back then..."

I tried to brush that topic off coolly, but it didn't change the fact that Efta had completely played me. That bastard had the nerve to demand "ten spirit stones" with a straight face. Back then, I didn't grasp their value—but now? That would've bankrupted me outright!

"Was that Turk girl the one you bought back then too?"

"Yes. She's cute, isn't she?"

"Yeah, she's quite attached to you. I'm just confirming, but... Danna, you don't have any, well, prejudice against the Turk race, do you?"

"None at all."

"I suppose that makes sense, given you have an elf as a slave. Well, if you did, you wouldn't be asking to meet a demon in the first place."

...Is there really a connection between owning an elf and having no prejudice against Turks?

Well... maybe there is. The Turk are apparently derided as "fake elves." That mindset probably comes from revering elves too strongly in the first place.

Marina had mentioned that discrimination against Turks wasn't as bad in other countries, but in this land where the power of the Great Spirits is strong, life must be difficult for them.

Personally, I love them. I love the Turk race. Come to think of it, I wonder if there's a village out there made up entirely of Turks. I might be more interested in that than an elven village.

We stopped by the Guild on the way and purchased a moderately sized magic crystal for one gold coin. Apparently, monsters spawn frequently in the mines, so they had a decent stock of crystals. One gold coin was a heavy expense, but it couldn't be helped.

I asked if I should bring a gift, and at his suggestion, we bought some rice along the way. Rice as a gift, huh... how practical.

Despite his small stature, the master had surprisingly strong legs, steadily forging ahead while I followed behind. Unlike the well-maintained streets of Erische, the roads in Lucraella weren't paved with cobblestones. We walked along dusty paths.

Lucraella Mountain—or rather, the Lucraella mountain range—was a major mining area, and entrances to tunnels dotted the landscape. Many of them were abandoned now, and some people had repurposed them as homes. Apparently, even a few dwarves from the master's workshop lived that way.

Shabby houses were clustered haphazardly at the foot of the mountain. While the center of Lucraella was tidy, this area was quite rough and neglected.

"...Danna. I'm trusting you today by letting you meet this demon, so please don't do anything to make me lose face."

The master spoke firmly.

Apparently, demons were treated with extreme delicacy in these parts. He was probably afraid I'd scream, "Aaah! A demon! Call the guards!" or later tip off the authorities by saying, "Hehehe, officer, there's a demon hiding out over there."

"Don't worry."

Honestly, if he feared that, there'd be no reason to introduce me at all, but I figured this was the effect of my [Swindler] vocation. Something like 'making it easier to gain trust.'

...Or maybe he just figured that since I was rich, I wouldn't bother turning someone in? If I recalled correctly, reporting an illegal immigrant earned you three silver coins. Even if demons count, it'd probably be one gold coin at most.

Not that money mattered. I'd never snitch no matter how much they offered.

We pushed through underbrush, heading off the beaten path. With powerful strides, the master cut through a thicket, occasionally hacking away branches with the machete at his waist. Any semblance of a trail had long since vanished... Calling this a "shortcut" was a bold choice of words.

At the base of the Lucraella range, numerous abandoned tunnels yawned open, inhaling the air like the mountain itself was breathing.

Since this was the Empire's largest mining site, there were many traces of history, from timber-framed shafts to areas where the mountain looked like it had been carved away rather than bored into. Piles of excavated earth and stone were scattered around the area.

This area seemed deserted, mostly consisting of old ruins. There was no sign of anyone living here.

...Seriously, is there really a demon living out here?

He said it was about a thirty-minute walk, but it felt unexpectedly far.

Suddenly, we emerged into an open area.

"We're here."

"Here?"

We stood before an old mine shaft entrance.

It seemed someone was indeed hiding here, as there were signs of daily life outside.

Laundry was hanging from a rope stretched between trees. A washing tub was nearby. There were traces of outdoor cooking. A simple wooden table and two chairs had been set out. In a place like this where visitors were rare, I imagined they might sit out here to enjoy the sunlight and tea once in a while.

"I'll go ahead and explain things, Danna. Wait here."

"Alright."

I was left alone.

I decided to sit in one of the chairs.

...Still, a demon, huh? I should have asked what they looked like.

In this world, different races look very different. Etowa is a cat-person, elves have long ears, and dwarves are short and buff. Maybe they'd be a lizard-person, an ice-person, a fire-person, or even someone like Crystal Bowie. If they actually looked like Crystal Bowie, I'd probably be startled... Better brace myself.

As I was spacing out, I heard rustling—someone approaching.

I abruptly stood up from my chair.

The chance of a random person being here was low... Was it an animal? Given the location, it could even be a magical beast or monster.

I braced myself, ready to draw my sword at a moment's notice.

Rustling through the grass—

"Hum-hum-humm~ Tonight's dinner is Lailaila~ Fresh wild Lailaila~"

A girl—or rather, a young woman—appeared, humming a tune while carrying a large bird that looked like a turkey with both hands. Visitors are probably rare here as she didn't even notice I was here.

"Pluck the feathers~, take out the guts~, stuff it with rice~, sear the skin—"

The moment she turned this way, she noticed me. She froze as if someone had hit the pause button.

She was a girl with beautiful, cool-looking light blue hair. It was a rare color in these parts; I'd heard that light blue hair was more common in the north, near the Imperial Capital. She looked to be a little older than Aurica.

"......"

Her eyes were red—red as bloodstone. Across every inch of her visible skin, black tattoos writhed and coiled like snakes. It was a sinister sight, the complete opposite of Diana's colorful, festive-looking tattoos.

I felt like I'd heard of this before... Red eyes, black tattoos.

"......Hello."

I tried a greeting for starters. I wondered if this person was the demon. She was quite different from what I'd imagined, but maybe you couldn't tell just by looking.

Her burning red eyes stared me down as if she were appraising me. It wasn't exactly a warning color, but she was clearly on guard. However, she didn't look like she was about to run away immediately. She had a strange sense of composure. She reminded me a little of Diana.

"...Whose man are you?"

The girl finally spoke. "Whose man"...?

"I'm no one's man."

"Are you here to kill me?"

"No."

"Then you're a bounty hunter."

"There's a bounty on you?"

"Don't play dumb!"

She'd been humming moments ago, but now she was sharp and intense.

The mention of a bounty jogged my memory.

I remember now... This person is 'that'.

She was one of those people who violated a spirit contract. The so-called "scorched" state.

After breaking a spirit contract, you lose the spirits' blessing, black tattoos surface, eyes turn red, and your strength fades—or so Rebecca-san had explained on the way here.

And supposedly you get one gold coin for reporting someone like that.

"Was it called... a 'Prison Crest'?"

"Don't act innocent! Whose fault do you think this is?!"

Wow, she got heated fast.

She really ought to calm down and get back to prepping that lai-lai-la.

"Hey, hey, wait a second. I don't even know you, and this is our first meeting. I don't know what you're misunderstanding, but you've got it wrong."

"Ah... either way, it's over... I can't cause her any more trouble... I might as well just..."

No good. She's not listening.

As she spoke, she pulled a luxurious-looking dagger from her chest.

I recognized that design.

It had a sheath made of ebony with an exquisite twisted grain, inlaid with geometric mother-of-pearl patterns. The chape, locket, guard, and pommel were made of a shining pale metal with beautiful engravings. The hilt was made of the same ebony, carved in a spiral pattern that showed off the wood's beautiful grain.

The handle, carved in a spiral and made from matching ebony, was just as beautiful.

"Whoa, cool dagger..."

...No, wait. Is she serious? This wasn't the time to admire the craftsmanship!

She drew the blade, looking ready to take her own life. Before I could rush forward to stop her, a voice echoed from the tunnel.

"That's enough. That man is my guest. Calm yourself. He isn't a pursuer."

A figure emerged alongside the master.

White hair.

Slightly pointed ears.

Dark skin, similar to Marina's.

Then—suddenly—the vocation board popped out.

Meet the Nightmare Race 1/3 → Defeat 'Arges' of the Altar Constellation 2/3

The guidance progressed.

The intensity of the next stage was staggering, but that wasn't the point right now. The fact that the guidance had moved forward meant—

"Nightmare race...."

Not a demon at all!