I don't know why the Second Princess of the Holy Kingdom is licking him even more intensely, but I still have to do what needs to be done. The first step, as expected, is to look for Noel as soon as the next morning comes. After all, his every move is being monitored by us.
Considering this man's capabilities, it is impossible for him to move around secretly.
“You said you want to go out?”
“I don’t think I said anything that strange…?”
Aiden retorted in bewilderment at the question Noel raised with narrowed eyes. People can go out sometimes, can't they? There is no need to look at him with that look on his face as if he’s hearing all sorts of things.
“Um, by any chance, do you have any complaints about your current life?”
“Huh?”
“Please feel free to tell me if there is anything you need. I will do anything I can for you.”
“No, I have no discomfort, but…”
Honestly, loafing around next to Noel, who works at the military headquarters every day, is torture. Anyone looking at it would see that I look exactly like a son-in-law living with his wife. When I explained the reason...
“…Isn’t that actually good for you, Mr. Aiden?”
“….”
“Even if you do absolutely nothing, I pay you your salary on time, and your food, clothing, and shelter are all taken care of.”
“…….”
I know. It sounds a bit strange to bring that up as an excuse. As Aiden stood there silently, Noel let out a deep sigh and ran his hand through his hair.
“I wasn’t exactly planning to keep you locked up in the building forever, so it doesn’t really matter, but…… you should probably take an escort with you when you go out.”
“An escort?”
“Of course, considering the skills you’ve demonstrated, I don’t think you’ll be easily harmed. But Mr. Aiden, you have an aura of someone who attracts trouble and accidents.”
“…….”
“That’s why, honestly, I’m reluctant to even let you go out.”
I agree. He is the one who wants to get away from it the most.
“……I’m just going out for some fresh air; isn’t an escort too much of a hassle?”
However, considering what he will have to do outside from now on, having an escort isn’t exactly a good idea. It’s not like he’s going to a place he can be proud of.
“No, but still, an escort—”
“I need time alone.”
“…….”
It was an excuse sounding like that of a married man worn out from rolling around in marriage for over ten years, but Noel simply let out a deep sigh without saying a word and didn't really challenge it. After all, it was true that she had been by his side almost all day long.
“Then, go ahead.”
Still, he hadn't expected permission to be given so quickly. Aiden blinked blankly at the sentence delivered so smoothly.
“I won't be doing any security or wiretapping, so go do whatever you want. Just take this with you.”
With those words, Noel handed something to Aiden. It was a switch about half the size of a palm, resembling a security buzzer.
“What is this?”
“It’s a GPS tracker. You can’t run away before the wedding.”
“…….”
“Just kidding.”
“……I’m not running away in the first place.”
Even if he did run away, it seemed like this person would chase him no matter where he went. At that answer, Noel chuckled as if satisfied and continued speaking.
“It’s a signal. Press it if you feel even the slightest bit in danger. Then I’ll come running right away.”
“……Going that far?”
Aiden, who was watching from the side, knew better than anyone just how overwhelmed with work this person usually was. Every single matter had a significant impact on state affairs; was he really important enough to throw all of that away?
“Since I’m the one who brought you here, it’s my responsibility to send you back safely after the contract ends. It’s not ‘going that far,’ it’s just the natural thing to do.”
As Noel said this and turned her gaze back to the documents, Aiden looked at her with slightly wide eyes.
“… … This person, you see.”
Aside from the fact that she kidnapped someone out of the blue, he did get the impression that she truly took responsibility. The way she looked after him, despite having kidnapped him, was just like a parent.
“Thank you.”
She is truly a good person. That thought suddenly crossed his mind. ▣
“I’ve been kidnapped by a strange person, Dad.”
… … Of course, given that she committed the kidnapping in the first place, it’s hard to accept any other evaluation. The first thing I did as soon as I stepped out of the government building was, of course, contact my family.
[What on earth are you talking about?] I heard my father's startled voice from the other end of the line.
[Did you borrow money from those Mafia bastards? I told you not to get entangled with criminals like that...]
“Dad and I are criminals, too.”
It was hard to believe that someone making such petty bourgeois remarks was making a living through acts like theft. It was just like the man who had taught him from a young age never to play in the big leagues. Aiden let out a deep sigh and continued,
“He was kidnapped, but it’s not that serious. He was kidnapped to a place where he’s well-fed and warm, and even got paid.”
[… … What on earth is that?]
“There is something to it. I can’t tell you right now, but surprisingly, it’s all true. Even though it’s the most expensive neighborhood in the system, he’s living like this.”
[Can’t you kidnap me too?] … … To think that even a man like this is my father.
However, if his father knew what kind of seat Aiden was sitting in right now, he would likely faint. Let’s save that for later, once everything is settled, to reveal it like a heroic tale.
“More importantly, Dad.”
And even though he is such an unreliable father, there are bound to be areas where he can be trusted and relied upon.
“Do you know anyone in the black market?”
A brief silence fell from the other end of the line, followed by a deep sigh. [Are you going to work there too?]
“I need to gather some information. I don’t have any connections here, so I need an introduction. Where do I need to go?”
[Billy Hagen at the tool shop. The password is a crescent moon and a sun.] Even if he is a petty thief in the back alleys, if he has sustained his livelihood doing such things for decades, a 'network' formed through work is bound to be nonsensical. Aiden chuckled and replied,
“That’s charming. Got it.”
[Aiden.]
“Yes?”
[Take care of yourself. Don’t forget that Sissela and I are always on your side.] "Make sure you tell your family if anything happens." "...I know." These people, at least, will be on Aiden's side until the end of the world. Isn't that why he is struggling like this?
To live peacefully again in the arms of his father and sister. "...Haa." And, really.The place he is currently walking through is a place where it would be no exaggeration to say it is a struggle. True to its name, the underworld of the system exuded a menacing atmosphere. No matter how much he looked around, everyone around him seemed to reek of something shady.
The reason he went out of his way to come here, despite this... "-Act 1 begins here." Act 1, The System Rift, is a story about large-scale unrest and rebellion occurring within the Empire's capital. He knows that much for sure. He also knows what he must worry about first. "That illegally distributed weapons are being released in large quantities into the black market." Naturally, large-scale unrest and rebellion require a trained army, and the supplies to arm them do not fall from the sky.
It is only normal to smuggle them in through dark routes. Act 1 begins with the "Protagonist" getting entangled in an incident involving such illegally distributed weapons. "......." Right. The Protagonist.
Characters described in the system window as "most important figures in the scenario," such as Noel or the Second Princess of the Holy Kingdom, are indeed "most important" figures entangled with the protagonist, just as the description says, but they are not the protagonist. The center of this world that drives the axis of the entire game's story. The savior who will ultimately save the world.
Such a being must exist somewhere. It absolutely must exist. "Because that guy is my express ticket to escape the scenario." What Aiden must do now is find him and shoulder the entire burden currently imposed upon him. Extras like himself must disappear, and the human who truly deserves to shine must be brought onto the stage.
I mean, the groom of the Lionheart, the scenario to save the world—those troublesome matters. To do so, he must at least get a rough outline of what kind of event will unfold in just a few days. If the protagonist exists in this world, he must be entangled in the place where such things occur. "… …" But.
What if he doesn't exist? Just as it wasn't revealed in the data found earlier, what if he doesn't exist— "… … No, I'm not sure yet." Didn't I come all the way here specifically to verify that? 'So this is it.' As I continued this thought, I arrived at my destination.
Billy's Workshop. It was a name that was incredibly plain, even for a tool shop in the black market. As I stepped inside, a middle-aged man who looked to have absolutely no intention of greeting a customer gazed at me languidly.
“Crescent Moon and Sun.”
When I gave the password, the shopkeeper scratched his cheek and replied,
“The price for the information is 50 gold. What do you want to know?”
“I’ll give you 500 gold, so make sure you scrape together everything here.”
Saying that, Aiden plopped down a bundle of papers he had prepared beforehand on the counter. It contained information about weapons circulating within the black market. Even just grasping the general flow would allow one to easily figure out the trading locations, sellers, and buyers.
The shopkeeper flipped through the documents, scanning them with his eyes. Soon, a snort and a mocking laugh flew in.
“You’re getting your hands on information that’s perfect for getting killed. Looks like dangerous work suits your personality.”
“...I have no other choice.”
“Oh dear.”
What an irony it was to be placed right in the middle of such a situation just to avoid it. As Aiden wiped away the tears flowing inwardly, the man asked another question.
“How long will it take?”
“As quickly as possible. How long do you think it will take?”
“Tomorrow will be enough. I’ll keep my promise of 500 gold.”
He certainly is an acquaintance of his father. His work ethic is reliable. Aiden nodded and glanced around the shop while the man moved the documents from the counter to his workbench.
It was clear that the tool shop in the institutional black market handled far more goods than the magic tool shop in the back alleys on the outskirts where he used to operate. Just looking at the item that immediately caught his eye was proof of this.
“… … Why would they sell this kind of thing in the black market?”
As an ‘industry insider,’ Aiden recognized what it was in an instant. A variable mask powered by magic stones and a voice changer. They were the perfect tools for criminal use, but they were, strictly speaking, items originally researched by government agencies.
This isn't the kind of item that should just be sitting right here. It is certainly a premium product that one wouldn't even get a glimpse of without the system.
“Are you going to buy it? I guarantee the quality, but no haggling.”
“……I have no money.”
In truth, since Noel gave him such a hefty ‘deposit,’ he actually has a fair amount of cash in his pocket, but even so, it is clear that there won't be a situation where he needs to use something like this for the time being. Even in his current position, it is not easy to encounter a situation where he has to ‘deceive’ someone by going so far as to use something like this—
“…….”
—Exactly. It means he would have done so had a certain scene outside the window not caught his eye.
“……?”
Aiden craned his neck to look at the situation right in front of the shop. Something. It feels familiar.
Over there is a ‘scene’ that shouldn't just be left alone… … .
“……!”
And, as soon as he clearly recognized that figure, his eyes began to widen slowly. -System Message ▶ A 'Sub-quest' is given. ▶ Penalties will be given upon failure. ▶ Would you like to view details?
[Y/N] As soon as he checked the message that popped up in sync with that scene, Aiden's face turned incredibly pale.
'… … No.' No. No, surely not. Surely this couldn't be the situation he was thinking of.
Thinking this, Aiden checked the details of the 'Sub-quest' with trembling pupils.
“…….”
He ran his hand across his face with unfocused eyes. '… … I don't want to live.' It was a natural feeling considering what he had to do from now on.
“Let me ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“How much is this?”
What Aiden pointed to after saying that was the mask and voice changer he had just waved his hand dismissively, saying they were expensive. ▣ Due to the nature of the black market, all sorts of people are bound to visit, but there are bound to be a few things that everyone implicitly avoids, such as 'standing out,' 'carrying valuables,' or 'coming in a defenseless state'… … In that sense. Right now, this little girl must be no different from blood-splattering prey among a school of sharks. Her appearance was such that the most fitting description would be, "Why is such a distinguished person in a place like this?"A designer suit, clearly crafted stitch by stitch by a master artisan.
With matching gloves and boots, it looks as though selling just this outfit would easily cover a month's living expenses for an average person. No matter how you look at it, she is not someone who belongs in a place like this. "—You won't get anywhere if you wander around looking like that, young lady." And when such elements combine, guys like this are bound to appear, much like iron filings being drawn to a magnet. A gang of thugs with sinister smiles.
They each held weapons that looked far from high quality, though a few of them were occasionally seen equipped with small arms like pistols. For ordinary people without special abilities, that alone provides a good excuse to pretend not to notice them, and this is the black market, a lawless zone to begin with. Such a sight is not worth paying attention to.
Indeed, while the gang surrounded the girl, there was no one around actively trying to intervene. "This isn't a place easy enough to show your face in such fine attire. Did you come here without even knowing what kind of place this is?"
“Isn’t this the black market?”
“.......”
When a reply that could almost be called cheerful came back, the man who had spoken was left speechless. Anyone listening would think they were out for a picnic in the afternoon after lunch… …
“……I didn’t know you were stupid enough to come here knowing full well. What were you thinking coming all the way here—”
“To pursue a hobby.”
At this answer, which was way off the mark, the thugs were simultaneously dumbfounded.
“What?”
“It’s my first time at the black market in the capital. I’ve been to the back alleys of my hometown many times, though.”
The girl who said this was still grinning broadly.
“Can you help out a bit? I think you guys are good enough.”
The thugs exchanged glances. Soon, a succession of sarcastic laughter escaped between them.
“Of course. We’ll help. Of course we will. Shall we go over there first and hear what we need to do?”
Saying this, someone pointed with a finger toward a secluded back alley within the black market. In his mind, a picture of emptying this girl's belongings, taking her hostage, and further robbing those precious parents—whose identities were unknown—was likely being completed in seconds. And even with such a desperate crisis right before her eyes, the smile on the girl's face was actually growing brighter.
It was as if she were relieved to have found someone who would truly 'help' her. "Let's take our time listening to the story. Okay? We'll have plenty of time from now on—" She continued speaking with a face that had failed to maintain its composure, but the sentence was cut short when someone grabbed her shoulder tightly. "Who the hell is this!" The man turned around shouting menacingly and flinched immediately.
The man who had grabbed her shoulder had a truly nightmarish appearance. His skin was rough and bumpy, as if meticulously sculpted with a knife; a scar ran from his forehead to his neck; he had a hooked nose; he was blind in one eye; and half of his lip was missing, as if it had been severed somewhere. It was an overwhelming grotesqueness that would make even a seasoned criminal turn pale the moment they faced it… …
“Get lost.”
Even his voice had a bizarre tone, like a knife scraping against steel plate. Enough to make every single man gathered there recoil just from hearing it.
“W-what? Are you trying to pick a fight, you bastard—”
“Don’t make me say it twice.”
The voice dropped another level. As that horrific face drew closer, a gasp escaped from someone.
“This is your final warning. Get lost.”
“…….”
It was clearly a passionate speech, powerful enough to move hearts. It was a definite fact, judging by the fact that every single thug present understood the message and responded by scattering and running away without a single word of reply… …
“—You too.”
Then, the man who had boasted such flamboyant rhetoric turned to look at the girl as if spitting it out.
“Go home right now. This isn’t a place for a guy like you.”
Having said that, the man turned coolly and without a second thought. He looked as though he had finished his business and was going on his way.
“Mister.”
However, a voice immediately followed, grabbing him by the back of the neck.
“You know who I am, don’t you?”
Feeling his hands and feet freeze—Aiden, who was in 'disguise,' slowly stopped walking.
“……What do you mean—”
“You didn’t come to save me, did you?”
“…….”
“It’s pretty obvious.”
—Undoubtedly, that is the correct answer. What Aiden had intervened to save was not this defenseless-looking girl, but the 'armed gang of thugs.' To be precise, when considering who this girl is. !! Sub Quest !! ▶ Contact 'Deathwish', Katya Heinkel Craven. ▶ Resolve the situation as peacefully as possible. ▶ If you handle the current situation smoothly, the target’s favorability toward you will increase significantly! ▶ Failure will result in penalties! … … It was practically the same as Aiden grabbing the back of the neck and pulling those guys out of a lion's jaws just moments ago.
“No way. Just when things were starting to get interesting, how can you ruin it all?”
“…….”
“Those guys just now could have been handled as ‘self-defense.’ Huh?”
With her hands behind her back and still smiling brightly, the girl who said this scurried toward Aiden. Her voice was melodious, like jade beads rolling on a tray, but listening to it made Aiden feel his veins drying up.
“What are you going to do?”
“……What do you want me to do?”
“You have to take responsibility. You ruined my leisure time.”
“…….”
“Since I came all the way to the Empire, I had a little spare time, so I went to the trouble of carving out a good opportunity.”
Damn it. Fuck it. While Aiden was mulling over those words inwardly, the girl continued speaking with that same bright smile.
It was a face Aiden remembered, too. The second princess of the Holy Kingdom. The most important key figure in the main scenario, specifically on the Holy Kingdom side.
That very person.
“Hey, will you keep me company for a bit?”
She brought it up in a nonchalant tone.