Chapter 10
Soon after, I heard the answer from someone who seemed to be his subordinate.
“Yes. We are proceeding as you instructed.”
“Make sure the special-grade merchandise doesn’t get scratched. If things go well, we might end up holding an enormous money source, you know.”
Letting out a low chuckle, he continued speaking.
“I thought it was just a brat, but to think it was such a big shot…”
Then came the sound of a chair being dragged and the movement of people leaving.
“Then I will help prepare.”
‘No way…’
A bad premonition made my heart start pounding loudly.
Their footsteps were getting closer.
‘If they said preparation, does that mean they’re preparing to go out to the banquet hall? If there are decorations or clothes inside here…’
I quickly turned my head to check what Simon and I were sitting on.
“Shh.”
But Simon tightly grabbed me.
Only then did I realize my mistake.
Even if I rustled around and made noise here, nothing would change.
While I pressed my hand tightly over my mouth, hoping not a single sound would escape, the footsteps grew closer and closer.
And when I was about to cry from anxiety, I heard the sound of the closet door right next to where Simon and I were hiding opening.
‘W-We’re saved…’
Perhaps their purpose was to change clothes, because they soon left the room.
After confirming that no more sounds could be heard, Simon opened the storage door and stepped out first. Only then did I finally let out a long breath.
“I-I thought I was going to suffocate and die.”
Leaning against the storage cabinet and wiping the sweat from my forehead, I suddenly heard Simon ask,
“Did you hear it?”
“Hear what?”
“The part where they said ‘special-grade merchandise.’”
“I think I did.”
What was he plotting again this time?
After hearing my answer, Simon curled the corner of his lips upward.
“What are you thinking? Don’t tell me…”
“If it might be a dangerous item, we have to retrieve it. An item owned by a criminal organization that’s called special-grade merchandise—how evil and terrifying could that thing be?”
Hey. I can hear your inner thoughts.
Anyone could see that he looked happy from smelling money.
“Why are you looking at me like that? I’m just faithfully carrying out the mission. Confirming information about the merchandise is also part of our job.”
“Oh, yes…”
Although what he said was correct, I couldn’t trust him because his face looked strangely excited.
Regardless, Simon immediately began searching inside his inner pocket.
“There’s still time before the auction. If it’s something they treasure so much, then it must be… yes, it should be around here.”
Spreading the blueprint of the mansion he had prepared beforehand on the floor, Simon pointed to one corner.
“This is…”
It was a narrow underground space beneath the mansion.
“The opportunity is now. There’s no way such a picky man would break his schedule.”
Checking the watch on his wrist, Simon motioned for me to stand up.
I shook my head slightly and looked at Simon, who was smiling faintly.
‘Look at the spark in his eyes all of a sudden. That slave of money.’
It was the same expression he had when he proposed working together after learning that I had magical ability.
“Are you leaving me behind?”
“Let’s go together!”
I definitely couldn’t be left alone in a place like this!
I quickly lifted my hips from the floor and followed behind Simon.
Walking steadily while looking at the map, we soon reached the entrance leading to the underground space.
“I thought the security would be tight, but it’s looser than expected.”
I whispered, and Simon nodded.
“It’s fortunate that the organization isn’t that large yet. Still, don’t let your guard down. This might be a trap.”
If it was a trap, did it mean they might have deliberately left the path open?
If I opened the door and enemies were stationed inside, what should I do…?
Suppressing my nervous heart, I unlocked the lock and opened the door.
The smell of damp air greeted me first.
Fortunately, I didn’t feel any presence.
Letting out a relieved sigh, Simon walked ahead first.
Naturally, from here onward we had no information, so everything beyond this point was unknown.
Relying on the faint light and the back of Simon walking in front of me, I moved forward.
After walking for some time, Simon suddenly stopped.
“This is…”
“What is it?”
I peeked out from behind Simon’s back.
Then, in the darkness, I saw a young boy imprisoned inside iron bars.
A small, thin boy with white hair like moonlight and blue eyes.
“A person…?”
At my voice, the boy lifted his head and, upon discovering us, pressed close to the iron bars.
“Who are you? You don’t seem to be with those guys.”
I reflexively looked up at Simon. I wanted to hear his opinion on what to do in this difficult situation.
Simon frowned slightly as he examined the boy carefully.
“So it wasn’t a ‘thing’…”
There was a faint hint of disappointment in his low mutter.
“Simon, that’s not important right now. What should we do now?”
“We will withdraw. We’ve obtained what we wanted.”
It was an astonishingly calm voice.
“Then, that child…”
The worried question that reflexively escaped my lips made Simon smile gently, yet speak calmly and decisively.
“I won’t go on long. You didn’t want to ruin the mission you came voluntarily to carry out, did you?”
“….”
“Stay rational.”
I had no choice but to nod.
What we wanted was information. Now that we knew the identity of the merchandise, further involvement would be against our purpose.
As we turned our backs to leave, the boy shouted.
“Wait a minute! You guys want something, right? Let’s make a deal!”
“….”
“What do you want? Looking at your clothes, you don’t seem interested in trivial money. Are you here to kill Victor, by any chance?”
Simon’s footsteps, which had shown no hesitation, slowed at that moment.
Seizing the moment, the boy continued shouting.
“I’ll tell you how to kill Victor! No, just let me go and I’ll kill him myself!”
“Quiet.”
Simon placed a finger over his lips and slowly approached the boy.
“You seem to know a lot about the auction house’s owner?”
“More than you do.”
“Are you the special-grade merchandise of this auction?”
“Yes. I was kidnapped by Victor and am about to be sold as a slave now.”
Simon checked the time once more.
Then he closed his eyes quietly in thought before looking at me.
“What should we do?”
“Ah, I…”
I also fell into thought along with his words.
Simon was probably weighing the gains and losses of making a ‘deal’ with that child.
‘What should we do…’
Honestly, I wanted to persuade Simon.
It would be good if I could stay rational like he said, but I couldn’t help feeling pity for that young boy.
But right now, I had to exclude emotions as much as possible.
‘Doing that might actually help persuade Simon.’
Then I noticed the restraint device around the child’s neck.
Feeling faint traces of mana, I knew it was not an ordinary shackle.
“Hey, can you use magic?”
At my question, the boy nodded.
“In that case, depending on the type, we could make it look like we didn’t intervene.”
“No one would be able to beat me in power. If you just release me, I can escape on my own. I won’t reveal your involvement!”
Simon interrupted slightly at the boy’s words.
“What if you gain freedom but don’t keep your promise?”
“Hey, what do you take me for? I’m not some shameless person like Victor!”
“Then how do I know that?”
“…I can stake my life on it. If things go wrong, you can kill me and leave.”
I gently tugged at Simon’s collar.
“I don’t think he’s lying. I don’t sense hostility either. Besides, since that child has seen my appearance, either way we have to take the risk.”
“…This is troublesome. I didn’t expect there would be a person inside. I thought we might at least get a valuable artifact.”
Simon let out a deep sigh. He no longer seemed interested in hiding it.
But seeing him joke like this, it was clear his heart had leaned toward saving the boy.
“What’s your name?”
“…I don’t have something like that.”
The boy’s voice, which had been spirited all this time, shrank at my question.
Then Simon looked at him with suspicious eyes.
“I’m not lying! There’s no way a street beggar like me would have a name.”
Come to think of it, the boy’s shabby appearance didn’t seem like someone who had suffered only for a day or two.
“Ariel, can you maintain the shape of the restraint device but remove only the restraining magic?”
“I think I can.”
If I thought of it as breaking only the seal controlling the mana, it was simple.
After hearing my answer, Simon nodded and approached the boy.
“Listen carefully. Escape is allowed only after both the auction and the transaction are finished. We won’t be here, and you will destroy the restraint device using your own strength. If you fail to keep the promise… finding a child like you won’t be difficult, so remember that.”
“Of course.”
“After escaping, come to the place written on this paper. I will send someone. We will wait for three days.”
“Alright. I promise.”
Despite Simon’s pressure, the boy answered spiritedly.
Contrary to his skinny body, his eyes shone brightly with intelligence.
