The owner of the tool shop was a middle-aged man.
He wore a gentle expression, but the bulging muscles and scars on his shoulders suggested that he had once lived a rough life.
He asked in a soft voice,
“Have you picked out everything?”
“Yes.”
I placed a reasonable selection of herbs on the counter.
The owner bowed his head and said,
“That’ll be 12 guild.”
“Here you go.”
“Thank you… Hm? Sir, you’ve given too much.”
I had handed him 50 guild.
I spoke in a subtle tone.
“I was hoping to get so information.”
“If it’s information you’re after, perhaps try requesting it from the rcenary Guild instead. I can give you directions, if you’d like?”
“It’s not the kind of information that needs professionals.”
“In that case, sure.”
He smoothly tucked away the coins.
I spoke again.
“Let’s see… Oh, right, what’s your na?”
“Grey Palm.”
“Nice na.”
“Haha. Thank you. So, what would you like to know?”
I already knew.
‘He said his na is Grey Palm. Show the secret between Grey Palm and Neril Slane.’
[Got it.]
A screen soon appeared.
The first image on screen was of Grey Palm.
Grey was moving through the darkness with a group of huge n.
One of the thugs spoke.
“Hey, boss. You sure about today’s job?”
“Yeah. This info took a lot of effort to dig up. Trust .”
“Say that ninety-five more tis and we’ll hit a hundred.”
“Talkative bastard. I’m telling you, this ti’s the real deal.”
“……”
“Don’t let your guard down. Today we’re digging up the hidden tomb of none other than the famous Enerika family.”
The others grinned at his confident words.
Wait a second. Enerika family?
Enerika… Where have I heard that na before?
‘Ah!’
[What is it? You startled .]
‘No, it’s nothing.’
I brushed it off to Trail, but it wasn’t nothing at all.
The blood-red letters that were once written above Neril’s head before regression:
—Committed cris against May Enerika and 287 others.
That sa Enerika na had just co up again.
‘The Enerika family… Yeah, they were pretty famous.’
[Indeed. They’re the family of the hero who appeared during the third Demon King’s descent, the Demon King of Corruption.]
On this continent, Demon Kings had appeared four tis in the past.
Destruction, Greed, Corruption, and Ruin — in that order.
And in a few years, the fifth one, Idria, Demon King of Lies and Deceit, would descend.
Anyway, one of the heroes from the era of the third Demon King of Corruption was the great sage Beyond Erenika.
Like the other heroes, Beyond made major contributions in defeating the Demon King of Corruption.
In recognition, he was granted a title, and his family went on to produce many capable mages, becoming a prestigious household.
However, when the fourth Demon King of Ruin appeared, they failed to achieve anything notable, and their influence declined. From what I know, the family was completely wiped out around 200 years ago due to so incident.
‘Don’t tell … Neril was the one who wiped them out? Since it said she committed a cri against May Erenika…’
It sounded plausible, but my instinct — which often activated randomly — told , ‘It’s too soon to be certain.’
Well, it wasn’t the most pressing matter right now anyway.
The scene shifted again.
Climbing a mountain path, they finally arrived at a few rather shabby burial mounds.
Grey looked visibly baffled.
One of the n spoke as if he had expected this.
“Knew it. Damn.”
“Wait. I think there’s been a mistake…”
“You can say that looking at this garbage? Even if they were wiped out, this was a noble family! No village elder would bury their dog here!”
“……”
“Just wasted our ti. I’m heading back.”
That’s when it happened.
“Who goes there?”
A voice rang out — one that didn’t belong to anyone in the group.
An old man appeared, holding a torch. He looked to be nearing sixty, yet his posture was straight and his voice clear — he was in excellent condition.
‘And his outfit…’
[Hmm. Not sothing you’d wear to hike up a mountain. He’s dressed quite nicely.]
‘To be precise, he’s dressed formally. Maybe he ca to pay his respects to this grave.’
Of course, Grey and his crew had no sense of respect.
One of the n spat on the ground and said,
“Move along, old man.”
“Wait. Hold on.”
“Huh, boss? What is it?”
“Don’t you think that old guy’s dressed a bit too well?”
“And?”
“Wouldn’t be easy for soone his age to climb all the way here in clothes like that.”
They started whispering among themselves, speculating.
anwhile, the old man spoke with a displeased expression.
“Leave. This is private property.”
“Oh yeah? Yours?”
“No. It belongs to the one I serve.”
“So it’s not yours, then?”
“Don’t waste ti with nonsense. Just leave—”
That’s when one of the thugs cut him off.
He looked rather sly.
“Hey. We were thinking… you didn’t climb up from the base of the mountain, did you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Hard to imagine soone hiking in that outfit. Bet you live sowhere around here.”
“……”
“And judging by what you said… you must be the caretaker of this tomb? A tomb of a noble family, at that. I bet you get paid handsoly.”
I knew where this was going.
The old man seed to realize it too and quickly backed away.
But it was already too late.
“Guh…! Cough…”
Before anyone realized, Grey had slipped behind him and stabbed a dagger into the old man’s chest.
“Y-you bastards…”
“Geez, tough old man. Rest in peace.”
He twisted the dagger.
The old man let out a bubbling, bloody sound and died.
Drip.
With that, the screen cut out.
I folded my arms and tapped my index finger.
That’s when Trail cautiously said,
[By the way, when you use the Eye of Omniscience, ti in the real world stops. No matter how long you watch, it won’t cost you any ti.]
Just as he said, Grey showed no sign of awkwardness and asked,
“Is sothing wrong? You said you had a question.”
“You’ve gotten quite polite with age, haven’t you?”
“Pardon?”
“Where are your n? You grave-robbing scum.”
Grey’s face froze instantly.
A mont of silence passed between us.
Slide.
Slowly — very slowly — he reached under the counter.
Knowing exactly what he was doing, I calmly turned and shut the tool shop door.
I flipped the sign hanging on it to “Closed.”
By the ti I returned, Grey had a dagger in hand, ready for combat.
He asked,
“Who the hell are you?”
“Just a freelance rcenary.”
“Pfft. So you couldn’t get hired anywhere? Sounds like you’re not much.”
“Or maybe I’m so skilled I don’t need to tie myself down.”
“Haha! You saying you’re the second type?”
“Don’t laugh.”
At my words, the man’s laughter stopped like a lie.
Sweat began to bead on his forehead.
Because I wasn’t hiding my pressure anymore.
“Compared to you, even bandits are cute.”
“W-what?”
“Let’s start by putting that down.”
Crack.
I dashed in like lightning and twisted his arm.
Grey let out a strangled cry and dropped the dagger.
I saw his white bone burst through his flesh.
“Uugh. Grrgh.”
Grey foad at the mouth and swung his another fist.
I casually leaned my torso back to dodge, then hooked his leg and tripped him.
Thud!
“Aaaargh! Hrk!”
He struggled to get up, but I was already pressing firmly on his back with my foot.
“Don’t move. Unless you want your spine broken.”
“Wh-Why are you doing this to ? I didn’t do anything…”
“No. You’ve done plenty.”
Crack. Creak.
A sound that shouldn’t have co from a back echoed.
I continued, giving him just enough pain to make him pass out — but not quite.
“Let’s go through this one by one. This case involves recruiting Neril, but I also need to build my reputation.”
“P-Please… please spare …”
“First, let’s see. Who should we look into first?”
I expanded the blood-lettered window floating above his head.
As always, the phrase “~and several others” disappeared, and ninety nas were listed in a long column.
Plop.
I sat down on Grey’s back.
“Let’s go through them one by one before Catastrophe arrives.”
For the next two days, Grey’s Tool Shop didn’t open.
I was still sitting comfortably on Grey’s back, leisurely watching through the Eye of Omniscience.
“Uuugh… Ngh…”
Grey clutched his broken arm, drenched in cold sweat.
He couldn’t speak properly because his mouth was gagged.
‘Alright. Show the next one. I want to see the secret between Greg Felis and that bastard.’
[Can we… maybe take a short break first?]
‘I suppose. I have been using the Eye of Omniscience back to back. Let’s rest for a bit.’
[Thank you…]
‘Alright. Now that we’re rested, let’s get started again.’
[…]
On the evening of the second day,
I had co to vividly understand the full extent of the cris Grey had committed against all ninety people.
Putting it all down in docunts could easily fill a book.
Trail spoke in a strangely enlightened voice.
[Sothing’s coming to … Ah, I see a river. Would things feel easier if I crossed it?]
‘Stay calm and co back.’
[You are a demon.]
‘I had no choice. To ensure the greatest happiness for the greatest number, I needed a ticulous plan. If I were just here to recruit Neril and leave, there’d have been no need to go this far.’
Trail regained so composure and spoke again.
[You seem more passionate about this than I am now.]
‘Appreciate it.’
[But wouldn’t it have been easier to just torture that guy and make him talk? Instead of working to death.]
‘You can’t tell whether sothing’s the truth with torture. When there’s a more reliable way, why take a risk?’
Trail seed to accept that and went quiet.
At any rate, I ungagged Grey.
He was half-dead from the pain of his broken arm, rising fever, hunger, and thirst.
“Hrrgh… Please, just spare …”
I opened a canteen and dripped a bit of water into his mouth.
“Stay with . You can’t die just yet.”
Gulp gulp. “Hah… what do you an, yet?”
“Soone will be visiting soon. Is there a secret room in this tool shop?”
“…Th-There’s a basent.”
“Let’s go.”
I dragged him down the stairs.
Crash.
I tossed him to the floor and asked casually,
“Where did you hide the Lord’s heirloom?”
“…!”
“Not that I needed to ask. It’s right here.”
Grey had committed cris against “Frank de Levan and 89 others.”
Frank de Levan was listed as the representative. In other words, the person whose secrets Grey most wanted to hide.
That was the na of the lord who governed the Quelk territory.
Through the Eye of Omniscience, I had clearly seen Grey hide the Lord’s heirloom in this basent.
Rustle rustle.
I moved aside so disorganized farming tools, and beneath them was a small jewel box.
I picked it up lightly and gave it a shake.
“Seems a bit too valuable for soone like you to hold onto.”
“Grrgh.”
This ti, Grey looked like he might die not from the broken arm, but from the spike in his blood pressure.
“How the hell do you know that?! Who the hell are you?!”
“Changed your tone again?”
“No! I an—what the hell are you?!”
“Take a break. There’s sothing more urgent than dealing with this box right now.”
Click clack.
Familiar footsteps approached from outside the shop. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by novel fire
‘She’s here. Neril.’
I struck Grey at the back of the neck, knocking him out cold.
Then I hurried upstairs. Just as I reached the top, I heard a knock.
“Excuse . Are you open?”
Definitely Neril’s voice.
Was it strange that I felt glad, even under these circumstances?
“Yes, I’ll be right there.”
I flipped the sign to “Open” and opened the door.
A woman with deep blue hair down to her waist stood there.
Slightly slanted eyes and tightly pressed lips gave her a sharp impression, but even that couldn’t overshadow her beauty.
The teardrop mole under her right eye was just as I rembered.
I smiled gently and said,
“Are you a custor? The owner stepped out for a mont.”
“Do you work here?”
“Yes. Just for today. For this one ti only.”
“…?”
“Why don’t you co in?”
Neril nodded and stepped inside.
I returned to the counter and asked in a relaxed tone,
“Is there sothing you’re looking for?”
Neril stood with her arms crossed, staring at silently.
“I’m looking for soone.”
“…”
“His na is Grey Palm. He’s probably around 41 now. Bald except for the hair right above his ears.”
“Sounds like soone I know.”
“You’d have to. He’s the owner here, isn’t he?”
Her tone changed.
She continued in a voice as cold as winter.
“You’re not just so part-tir, are you? You weren’t hired just to mind the shop.”
“…”
“I already took care of all Grey’s other lackeys. One by one. Over five years. They were living successful lives all over the continent.”
“…”
“Guards, guild masters, branch heads of rchant unions… Their deaths made waves. If Grey heard those rumors, I figured he might start hiring bodyguards.”
She seed to think Grey had hired as one.
“But would he really have the money to hire soone of your caliber?”
“Do you know who I am?”
“No idea. But I can tell from your posture alone—you’ve been through a lot.”
The tension in the air began to thicken.
I straightened my back and changed my tone.
“You’re mostly right, but let correct one thing. I wasn’t hired by Grey.”
“…”
“I was actually waiting for you.”
“…What?”
“Would you like so tea? I heard you especially love black tea. Absolutely crazy for it, in fact.”
Neril’s eyes wavered slightly.
“Nice to et you… Witch of Carnage, Neril Slane.”
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