Volume 3 Chapter 6 The Villainous Guildmaster, Scouting Delinquents in the Town
I have come to the Royal Capital.
My guild, Gem of Heavenly Gift,
is about to build a branch in the Royal Capital.
But it seems the Merchant Guild is short on workers.
I arrived at the edge of the Royal Capital with my assistant, S-Rank Adventurer Rozelia.
"This is the slum street of the Royal Capital...?"
"Yeah. It's a place where the jobless and abandoned children gather... a spot for the outcasts."
This country is indeed rich.
But the gap between the rich and the poor exists everywhere.
Here, away from the royal castle at the center of the town, is where these social weaklings gather.
"I can't believe a place like this really exists..."
Rozelia comes from a good background.
She probably never had the chance to touch the dark side of life.
"Where there is light, there will always be shadows."
I say this to Rozelia.
"You should go back first. I have business further ahead."
"...Guildmaster, but as your assistant, I have a duty to protect you."
Rozelia is in casual clothes, but she has a rapier at her waist.
"With someone as straight-laced as you around, it makes my dirty work harder. Just go back."
"...I see."
Rozelia nods, looking impressed.
"So that's how it is. Understood. As expected of the Guildmaster."
Hehe, Rozelia smiles.
"If you take a woman (me) to the slum street, I might be in danger. So that's why you don't want me to come... right?"
"I never said that."
"Don't be shy, I know what you mean. I'll be waiting at the Merchant Guild."
Rozelia smiled and bowed her head, then walked away from me.
Good grief, I wonder what she's misunderstanding.
After a little while—
I walked through the slum street.
The narrow alleys, surrounded by tall buildings, twisted like human veins.
A man lay on his back in the alley, while a child sat hunched over, looking down.
Everyone had a look as if they had given up on life.
"...Hmph."
I'm not looking for people like that.
I moved deeper into the alley... and then it happened.
Thud!
Someone bumped into me from behind.
"Oops, sorry, big brother!"
I turned around to see a dirty-looking child.
A blue-haired child with a bandage on his nose.
He was the one who bumped into me.
"Watch where you're going."
"Hehe, my bad...!"
The blue-haired child left without a care.
I could tell she knew this street well by the way she ran without hesitation.
In no time, the child disappeared from sight.
"...Alright."
I activated the Eye of the Time King and followed her.
After a little while—
I found a shabby little hut.
Looking through the window, I saw the child from before.
"Hey, everyone! I brought some tasty food!"
"""Wow!"""
There were other children in the same situation as the blue-haired one.
"Trish, thank you!"
The blue-haired child's name seems to be Trish.
"This is delicious!"
"It's been a while since I had meat!"
The young children were munching on skewered meat.
Hehe, Trish smiled happily as she watched the children.
"Aren't you going to eat, Trish?"
"I don't need it. I ate plenty. You guys enjoy."
As she said this, Trish held her stomach.
She must be holding back her own hunger in front of the kids.
"But where did you get such delicious meat? I thought you had no money..."
"Hmm. Oh, well, I got some extra money. Don't worry about it...!"
Trish says awkwardly.
Extra money, huh.
I touch my back pocket.
Soon, the kids finish eating the meat.
"It was so good!"
"Melting meat!"
"I'm so satisfied!"
Seeing the happy kids, Trish smiles.
"""Thank you, Trish!"""
"Hehe. No problem. Well, I'm off to work. You guys wait here."
"Okay!"
Trish waves to the kids and opens the door.
"Whoa...!? It's that guy from earlier!"
She looks at me with a shocked expression.
"Long time no see."
"W-why are you here...?"
"I can see the future. I knew you would come back here. Sorry, but I followed you."
"W-what? That's unfair...!"
"Oh, you're pretty bold. You've got guts. You must have stolen my wallet."
"Y-you noticed...?"
"Of course. That was bait. You fell for it perfectly."
I had prepared my wallet on purpose to find someone like her.
"W-what! I don't have any money left! Plus, it was your fault for being careless!"
"That's true. I didn't come here to complain."
"Not even a penny left... huh?"
She looks dumbfounded.
"I came to offer you a job."
"A-a job...?"
"Yeah. Do you want to work for me? I need more hands. I promise good pay."
Trish looks up at me suspiciously.
"...What's your goal?"
"I told you, I need help. Don't make me explain again. It's pointless."
But doubt still lingered in Trish's eyes.
"N-no way...! You're trying to trick me! Not happening!"
Trish runs away quickly.
I see, she's confident in her speed.
I want her even more now.
"Huh? ...Oh boy."
A certain vision appeared in my mind.
I sighed and followed Trish.
* * *
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