Vol 1 Chapter 13 – Dark Night Temptation【Vol 1: A Man Who Wants to Buy a Slave】

After returning from Lake Hounien, we’d managed to close the distance between us a bit more. Though honestly, it was just that we talked a little more than before.

Half a month had passed since we’d gone on that walk together.

That day, we were eating dinner at a restaurant.

“Yuuki, amazing. This fish dish looks weird but it’s delicious. Can I have another one?”

“No, stop already! That’s your fifth one! Today’s done!”

“Mm… okay. Thanks for the meal.”

Nemu puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction as she finished the last fish and wrapped up her meal. After leaving the restaurant, the two of us started walking down the dark road home, chatting as we went.

“We’re leaving early tomorrow, got it? I bought ingredients, so make sure you cook for yourself!”

“Mm… I’ll try if I can.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Just because I’m not around doesn’t mean you should skip meals—it’s not healthy!”

“Mm… okay.”

A month and a half since we’d started living together. Starting around last week, I’d begun making Nemu cook on days when I’d be gone for more than a day. Since we had to live together for half a year, I figured she should at least improve her cooking skills, but that wasn’t going so well.

“Listen! Don’t fall asleep while cooking! And don’t fire magic at the frying pan like last time! ‘It got a hole in it so I couldn’t cook’ isn’t gonna fly!”

“Got it. I’ll only use the stove fire. Can I use all the fish?”

“Yeah, do what you want. But don’t just eat fish—make sure you eat vegetables too, okay?”

“…I’ll do my best.”

At my instruction to eat vegetables too, Nemu made a face like she’d bitten into something bitter. I’d learned over this past month that Nemu really hated vegetables, and she probably wouldn’t eat any this time either.

After walking for about ten minutes, I stopped our conversation and came to a halt. I turned around to check the situation. Looks like some weird guys had their eyes on us.

“Nemu, sorry! Looks like I left something at the restaurant! I’m gonna go back and get it, so head home first!”

“Okay. Will you be alright alone?”

“I’m not a kid! It’s just retracing my steps, I can handle it easy!”

“Okay. Then Nemu will go home first.”

With that, Nemu headed home alone. I turned around and started walking back toward the restaurant.

Five minutes after I started walking, three men appeared in front of me, blocking my path. At the same time, three more men came from the fork in the road behind me, and they all began surrounding me.

“You guys… what do you want with me?”

“You’re the adventurer Yuuki Ishiguro, correct?”

One of the three men in front pointed at me while asking. The others were smirking and watching the situation unfold.

“Yeah, that’s me. So what the hell do a bunch of guys want with me in the middle of the night?”

“Hey now, don’t be so on guard. We got intel that you’re living with Rank A adventurer Nemu Shironia. We came to ask you a favor.”

The man grinned as he continued the conversation. Apparently these guys’ target wasn’t me—it was Nemu.

“A favor?”

“Yeah, a real simple favor. We want you to kick Nemu out of your house. You were planning to live alone originally, right? Just kick out the annoying roommate! Simple favor, right?”

As he spoke, the man flashed the sword hanging at his waist. The other men were all carrying weapons too. I didn’t recognize their faces, but they were probably adventurers or dark guild members. Most likely associates connected to that request that caused Nemu’s suspension.

Were they planning to isolate Nemu and starve her to death? A month ago, I might’ve happily cooperated, but I had no intention of doing that now.

“…That’s an impossible request. I’ve tried my best to kick her out, but she won’t leave at all. Plus she’s a Rank A adventurer—there’s no way I could win by force. Sorry, but there’s nothing I can do.”

When I answered honestly, the man apparently decided to stop hiding his intentions and drew his sword, spinning it around as he pointed it at me. Taking that as a signal, the guys surrounding me began drawing their weapons.

“Sorry on our end too. This isn’t a request—it’s an ‘order.’ Surrounded by this many people, all the same rank as you, you understand you’ve got no chance of winning, right?”

Same rank, huh. So these guys were a group of Rank B adventurers. They might be the ones who took that noble escort request together with Nemu.

But would guys with such shady behavior actually get noble-related requests? There was also the possibility they were simply people who held a grudge against Nemu.

Well, either way, this was a chance.

“…How much is the payment?”

I boldly pushed back against the threatening guys. In reality, these guys were no match for me. If I used magic and skills, I could send them to the afterlife in an instant. But that wouldn’t work. My infamy would spread to that side of the world.

Here, I’d pretend to go along with their plan while creating the appearance that I was reluctantly doing it for money.

“Hah? What’re you saying! Why the hell would we give you money!”

One of the smirking bunch snapped at my statement. Apparently the others felt the same way. They probably thought I’d back down if they threatened me. But I wasn’t that soft.

“You’re asking me to defy a Rank A adventurer, right? I might get killed! There’s no way I’m doing it for free!”

“Are you stupid! If you don’t do it, we’re killing you right here anyway! Just shut up and kick Nemu out!”

“Oh yeah? Then I’ll take my chances getting killed and drag two or three of you with me! Come at me if you’re fine with that!”

I didn’t actually intend to fight, but I grabbed my weapon and turned toward the rear. Then I kept turning around repeatedly, staring at their faces as if appraising their weapons. Finally, I pointed my sword at the man who’d threatened me and glared at him.

The man apparently couldn’t let his comrades get killed either, so he furrowed his brow in irritation and started ordering his companions to lower their weapons.

“…Tch. How much do you want?”

“At minimum, one platinum coin. I’m making an enemy of a Rank A adventurer! I definitely won’t be able to live in Ortelia anymore, and I might even die!”

One platinum coin—the amount I’d used to buy the house. I’d said it, but of course I didn’t think they could actually pay it. At best, it’d be one or two large gold coins.

That’s what I thought, but the man pulled out a small pouch from inside his clothes and tossed it to me.

“There’s ten large gold coins in there. Use it to kick Nemu out! If you can’t do it, we’ll fucking kill you!”

“H-Hey, Geed! Is it okay to give him money!”

“Shut up! Let’s go, you guys!”

The man called Geed led his companions away toward the main street. Why did he have exactly one platinum coin’s worth prepared? Did he predict I’d say that? I didn’t know the truth, but I’d just recovered the platinum coin I’d lost on the house purchase.

But in exchange, a big problem remained.