Volume 1 Chapter 97 High-class Brothel Ivrise
Brothel Town Angel.
It is what you would call a bad place.
Located in a corner of the southern district of the Holy City Arsubania, this area is surrounded by tall fences.
There is one entrance, called the Gate of Paradise, which is a white gate painted with apple trees. It stays closed during the day and opens at night.
It's common knowledge in the Holy City to avoid going out at night because it's dangerous──but in the case of Brothel Town Angel, it is quiet during the day, and at night, it reveals a dazzling appearance that makes the daytime calm seem like a lie.
"This is Brothel Town, huh? I've heard rumors, but it's my first time here."
Sir Rail says, looking around with interest.
Even though he says he's looking around, he's wearing a fox mask, so all you can tell is that he's moving his neck.
His long white hair sways as he moves, almost like a long tail.
"I thought it would be a dirtier place, but it's surprisingly clean."
The buildings, varying in size, are lined up neatly, and the setting sun paints their walls orange.
The magic stone lamps begin to light up, shining like the brightest star in the town.
"Brothels──there are differences, but they are usually places that commoners can't approach. Most visitors are nobles or rich people. Knights too, but it's always those with status, power, and money."
"As expected of Lucian, you know a lot."
"It's common knowledge, Sir Rail. It's not that I know anything special."
The high-class brōtḥel Ivrise has the appearance of a noble's mansion.
It resembles the villas built for nobles staying in the Holy City.
It was probably built to imitate those in order to create a sense of luxury.
"Then, we'll go in through the back. Lucian and Sir Rail will go in through the front."
"Okay. Be careful, Ciel."
"If anything happens, I'll send a signal."
After parting ways with Lucian and Sir Rail, I headed to the back entrance with my subordinates from Saintwise.
In Kirschtein, Eiris's magic went out of control, causing the people of Kirschtein to turn into a mob and almost kill each other.
Since the same thing could happen here, I left the protection of the people of Brothel Town to the subordinates of Saintwise and Leonsroar.
Only a few powerful individuals, like Leavis, are heading to Ivrise.
(I wonder if Ms. Lydia is okay.)
I recall Ms. Lydia's face, which I left at the Great Temple.
I wish I could be by her side.
But──the holy sword Laevateinn, said to drive away all evil, has returned to His Highness, and Sir Roxas is with them.
I can trust those 2 to take care of Ms. Lydia, so I shouldn't worry.
Defeating the witch's daughter is our top priority right now.
If intelligent monsters are thought to disturb the world──then we, the gem people, might be seen the same way.
Ms. Lydia would surely cry and say that's not true, but that's just because she is Ms. Lydia.
I know that this world is more cruel than Ms. Lydia thinks.
"It's eerily quiet... and this is..."
As I entered through the back door of Ivries, Leavis touched the wall with his fingertips and frowned.
There was something white stuck all over the wooden wall.
It stretched from the wall to the floor, as if it was wrapping around the entire interior of the mansion.
"It's spider silk. It's infused with magic."
"Spider?"
"Yeah... The same thing is coming from Francois. It seems to control people──turning their bodies into something like monsters."
I touched the spider silk.
When I channeled magic through my fingertips, the silk flared up blue and disappeared.
Fire magic has limited uses. If that fire spreads to the building, it could cause a big fire.
But if adjusted, it can burn only the target.
While burning the silk covering the mansion, I climbed the stairs.
From the ceiling above the stairs, several white, cocoon-like things were hanging, about the size of a person.
"Those are people."
"They're probably from the brōtḥel. Leavis, rescue them."
"Understood."
I gathered my magic and spread it throughout the hallway.
The blazing blue flames spread along the corridor, burning away the sticky white silk.
As the people hanging from the ceiling fell, Leavis and the others worked together to create a net of magic to catch them, laying the women wrapped in thin clothing and the men dressed like butlers on the floor.
"They seem weak, but they're still breathing... They've been acting quite extravagantly, but why haven't they been found until now?"
"The brōtḥel is a hidden place. Especially those who come to Ivries are all people of high status. It's hard to know who has come here, and if those who came are under the control of the witch's daughter, it would be difficult to notice."
"Depending on the situation, a whole month's salary could disappear in one night, or maybe not. It's a rich person's hobby."
"There are women who live by that. I think it's ugly to put a price on a person's body, but I can't say it's entirely evil. Everyone who can be treated should be treated and taken out of the mansion. I will head upstairs. Can I leave this to you, Leavis?"
"Yes... Sir Ciel. If you get hurt, Ms. Lydia will be sad. I know your strength, but please don't do anything reckless."
"Yeah... I'll be careful."
Leaving the rescue of lives to my subordinates, I moved upstairs.
As I went up, it seemed like the spider silk was stretched all over the corridor, blocking my way.
"Is this a delay tactic?"
Eiris, whom I faced at Kirschtein, had someone like a strategist named Judal with him.
Judal seemed to be following Eiris──rather, it felt like Eiris was being protected by Judal.
Eiris looked somewhat young.
But this time was different.
They manipulated Francois, captured the holy beast, and controlled the royal palace.
There was a clear sense of will behind it.
It was different from just making people fight, hate, and kill each other like Eiris did before.
"...We need to hurry."
A magic circle appears at the tip of my outstretched finger.
The main flow of fire quickly burns away the spider silk, revealing the original hallway.
On the exposed hallway, there are people from the brōtḥel who must have been tangled in the spider silk, lying on the ground.
I thought they were dead, but it seems they are just sleeping.
They look weak, though.
"That's in bad taste."
Not killing them all at once makes me wonder if they plan to use them as pawns.
When we reach the top floor, I can see Lucian and Sir Rail coming in from the front entrance.
"Ciel! How did it go over there?"
"There are no monsters. My subordinates are rescuing the people from the brōtḥel who were trapped."
"Same here. The sticky white silk made my sword all gooey. I got annoyed, so I used my magic to rewind the time on the spider silk, and it turned back into a tiny spider."
Sir Rail indicated a size about the size of a grain of rice with his fingertip.
"I crushed the little spider, but there were so many that more than half got away."
"Well, that was just a regular spider. If we defeat the main one, they should disappear."
"This is the last room. I'm going in."
Lucian opened the largest door on the top floor.
Inside, unlike the other rooms, there was no contamination from the silk.
A sweet scent wafted from an incense burner, and goldfish swam in a large bowl.
On the luxurious bed, there were signs that someone had been lying there, but no one was present.
"...It's a molted shell."
Sir Rail said quietly as he placed his hand on the bed.
As I looked around, I noticed the window was open.
Outside the window, the evening darkness was approaching, and a cold wind blew into the room.
"They escaped. ...Ciel, let's go back. Lydia is in danger."
Lucian said.
"Of course──."
Just as I was about to respond, I heard voices arguing from downstairs.
'Sir Ciel, the people we rescued──along with those evacuated from other brōtḥels──have started to act violently. Please leave this to us and go after the witch's daughter.'
Leavis's voice echoed in my head.
I turned my gaze to the fiery sunset outside the window.
"Let's return to the Great Temple."
I suppressed my anxious feelings and created a teleportation magic circle.
Thinking about what would happen if Ms. Lydia's life was taken made it hard to concentrate on building the magic.
I told myself to stay calm.
The scenery distorted. I hoped she would be safe──though I dislike gods, it was the first time I felt like praying.
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