Chapter 106
An Unexpected
Person
Translator : PolterGlast
The day after the Exchange Match
ended.
Since we had already achieved our
purpose in the Royal Capital, we could have returned to Biodasdal
immediately. However, one issue remained... the matter we discussed with the Guild
Master when we first arrived: whether or not to purchase slaves to run the
orphanage.
Honestly, I haven't reached a
conclusion yet, but I figured there was no harm in at least visiting the Black
Market. I intended to see it for myself and decide there.
"Good morning, Graham-san!
Since we won all our matches yesterday, it feels like an incredibly refreshing
morning, clearing even my heart!"
"Totally! Considering how much
we were mocked! So, what's the plan for today? No errands left in the Imperial
Capital, right?"
"Yeah. That's why I'm thinking
of going to the Black Market. I haven't decided whether to buy slaves
yet, but we definitely need workers to run the orphanage. Considering they need
to understand how orphans feel, I do think they would be the right fit."
"I agree there's no mistake in
that logic. The rest depends on what Graham-san thinks. Slavery is
definitely not a good culture, after all."
This was something I wouldn't know
until I saw it. If I saw it and judged it to be no good, we would simply leave
without buying anyone.
"I will leave the decision to
you, Graham-san! So... let us go to the Black Market. Although it
is a little scary."
"It'll be fine. If anything
happens, I'll protect you with everything I've got."
"There are no words more reliable
than those! Even S-Rank adventurers were no match for you, so I doubt
mere thugs could handle Graham!"
"Even without borrowing Graham-san's
power, it's a level that I, Ginia, and Aoi could manage on our
own. You don't need to be that cautious. ...Well then, shall we head to the Black
Market?"
We had gone up to the entrance on
the first day but turned back. I had absolutely no worries about combat, but
the prospect of witnessing human malice was slightly frightening. With some
anxiety, we headed to the Black Market guided by the Guild Master.
"...Even seeing it a second
time, it really is distinct. I can't believe this is the same place as the
Royal Capital we've spent time in."
"For sure. It feels like a
completely different city. It gets even crazier deeper in, right?"
"Yeah. As the name implies, it
is a market of darkness. Are you ready mentally?"
"I'm good. Let's go
inside."
When I told him that, the Guild
Master gave a small nod. He then handed several silver coins to a
gatekeeper who looked thoroughly corrupt, and we stepped inside the Black
Market.
Unlike the Royal Capital, which
didn't have a single piece of litter, the Black Market was full of
trash. The smell was also quite intense; the stench of garbage was mixed with
the pervasive odor of illegal drugs.
"Ugh, the sights and the smell are
quite intense..."
"This smell is a characteristic
of the Black Market. It's a complete lawless zone, so anything
goes."
"The atmosphere is scary... but
there are more people than I thought!"
As Aoi said, there were more
people than I imagined. Every single
one of them looked like bad news though.
I could see clearly now that the
Royal Capital's safety was due to all the bad elements gathering here in the Black
Market. It was truly the dark side
of the light and dark.
"The main street of the Black
Market is a bit further ahead. Try not to get involved with anyone strange,
and if they look at you, don't look back. There are plenty of crazy types, so
they'll pick a fight immediately."
"Yeah. I’ll be
caref—"
"Ah! Isn't that Graham-sama!?"
Just as I was about to reply,
someone called out to me from behind. I didn't have any acquaintances in the Black
Market, so I assumed it was a case of someone hearing our conversation and
learning my name.
I decided to ignore it completely,
but the person who called out grabbed my shoulder. Naturally, if they touched
me, I had to warn them. Thinking that, I turned around... only to find a face I
unexpectedly recognized.
"Graham-sama! It's me!
Do you remember?"
"...Max? From the Unbearable
God Cult?"
"I'm so happy! You remembered
me! I really didn't think you'd be in the Royal Capital!"
It was a nostalgic face, so it took
a moment to recall the name, but it was unmistakably Max from the Unbearable
God Cult. I had heard they were based in the Royal Capital, but I didn't
expect to meet him here.
"Is he an acquaintance of
yours, Graham-san?"
"Yeah. He’s a member of the
Unbearable God Cult—there was even a Guild request out for them."
I had let them go on my own
authority, so I hesitated for a split second on whether I should tell the Guild
Master, but since it was him, it should be fine.
"Ah! It's the person who
captured me!"
"I am truly sorry about that
time. We have reformed now, and as Graham-sama told us to, we disbanded
the Unbearable God Cult!"
I didn't remember telling them that...
Was it a good thing that a generic evil organization disbanded?
"Did you have that much
authority, Max?"
"No, everyone who was saved
that day banded together and raised a rebellion! Now, we are active as the Grey
Volunteers, an organization dedicated solely to helping people in
trouble."
"An organization solely for
helping people in trouble? ...Listening to it, that sounds incredibly
suspicious. Is it okay?"
"Of course it is! While working
legitimately as adventurers, we operate using ten percent of our request
rewards for funding! By the way, the 'Grey' in Grey Volunteers is the
'Grey' from Graham-sama!"
He told me that with a smile, but I
wasn't happy about it at all. ...However, if they had truly been reborn as a
good group, then saving them back then wasn't a waste.
It felt like the circle of good
deeds had expanded, which made me quite happy. I had felt gloomy entering the Black
Market, so it was good to meet someone who could brighten the mood.
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