Vol 1 Chapter 17: Porshutsu Denard【Vol 1: A Man Who Wants to Buy a Slave】

“Hahaha! Well done, you lot! Keep firing magic at him until he can’t move anymore!”

The bald bastard burst into laughter, mistakenly believing I’d been rendered immobile, and barked orders at his guards. The guards obediently began chanting their next spell. But in the next instant, the smiles vanished from their faces.

“Hngh!!”

“Hahaha… huh!?”

The bald man’s eyes went wide and he froze as I ripped through the Light Bind with brute force. The guards and Geed were just as dumbfounded, their mouths hanging open.

While they stood there in shock, I placed my hands on the floor and began kneading my mana. As my mana coalesced, the floor gradually darkened. Only then did Geed, who had witnessed this spell once before, frantically begin shouting.

“R-run!! That spell is coming—”

“Too slow—Everdark Swamp.”

Geed’s cry went unheeded as my spell activated. In that instant, the floor beneath the guards’ feet turned pitch black. The blackened floor lost all solidity, and in a single moment, the men standing on it sank into the swamp up to their waists.

“Wh-what is this!? What are you idiots doing? Hurry up and save me!”

“M-my deepest apologies! But… damn it, my body won’t move at all!”

The men sunk into the swamp desperately tried to move their bodies to escape. But this Everdark Swamp wasn’t some half-assed spell like the Light Bind I’d just torn apart.

This spell was originally designed to restrain large magical beasts for extended periods. There was no way these pathetic humans could escape it quickly. The guards realized the spell’s overwhelming power and gradually weakened their resistance.

But there was one bald tanuki who couldn’t grasp the situation and kept screeching. I walked quietly across the black swamp, and when I reached the man, I gave him a friendly smile.

“You Count Denard?”

“Wh-what are you!? Don’t you dare address me, you lowborn filth!! Kill this bastard already, you useless—!!”

Denard refused to abandon his defiant attitude. I crouched down to his eye level and stared at him expressionlessly this time.

“I’ll ask one more time… are you Count Denard?”

“Y-yes! I am the distinguished Count Porshutsu Denard!! If you know that, then release this spell at once, you fool!!”

Even in this situation, did he think his status and power would solve everything? He was too stupid to reason with, but I had something I needed to do.

I ignored Denard’s ranting and tapped his greasy cheek with my palm as I questioned him.

“Why’d you go after Nemu? Explain everything from the beginning—in human language.”

“Wh-what? Why should I explain such things to you!? Just release me already!!”

Denard flew into a rage after hearing my question. Since he still didn’t understand the situation, I decided to sink him about eight inches deeper. Of course, I’d sink everyone as a matter of collective responsibility.

“Wh-what!? W-we’re sinking!”

“Stop it, please! Don’t kill me!”

As they slowly began sinking, the guards panicked. Finally, Denard seemed to grasp his position and frantically began answering.

“F-fine, I’ll talk!! I targeted her because I wanted a cat person slave! Being my slave would contribute far more to the kingdom than working some moronic profession like adventurer! Even you can understand that, can’t you!?”

As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward Nemu sleeping behind me, and he flashed a disgusting, lecherous grin. I wanted to sink him to the bottom of the swamp right then and there, but not yet. I suppressed my urge and asked Denard one more question.

“Are there other nobles besides you who want cat person slaves?”

“Nobles who want cat people? I’ve never heard of such a thing! Anyway, I won’t lay another finger on that cat person! So release me already!”

“I see… then I’ll release you.”

Having heard everything I wanted to know, I returned to Nemu. I could hear a small voice muttering “You’ll pay for this later!” behind me, but unfortunately, that “later” would never come.

I picked up Nemu in a princess carry and began walking toward the passage leading outside that they’d been guarding. Noticing something was off, Denard let out a scream.

“H-hey, where are you going!? You said you’d release me! Release me right now!!”

Denard glared at me while shouting. Was his heart pure, or was he just gullible enough to take an intruder’s words at face value? As if I’d actually release him.

Actually, I’d normally just sink them all the way. But Denard was a noble of the Rodest Kingdom. If I killed him, people from the kingdom would definitely come and cause trouble. So regrettably, I’d decided not to kill Denard and take revenge through other means instead.

I ignored Denard’s words and exited through the passage.

And just as I was leaving the great hall, I activated one more spell. After we left, white mist began rising from nowhere. The guards made a commotion, wondering if there was a fire, but that commotion soon settled down.

And so we safely returned from Denard’s mansion and came back home.

I laid Nemu on her bed in my room, still wearing my jacket. Perhaps relieved that Nemu had returned after two weeks, I sat down on the floor and fell asleep just like that.

Thus, the “Nemu Kidnapping Incident” quietly came to a close.

After recovering my mana, I had Geed guide me to the noble who’d taken Nemu. Even using horses, the journey had taken over a day. It was already the fourth day since Nemu left the inn. I had to save her as quickly as possible .

“Th-This is Count Denard’s mansion.”

Geed pointed at the mansion with a frightened look and told me that. Beyond his finger was a building larger than any structure I’d ever seen .

Finding Nemu inside this place would be tough. Well, I could find her immediately using Search magic, but according to Geed, the count possessed considerable magic tools. There was a possibility they’d make a fuss over magical traces .

I had to be careful here. Just as I was thinking that, Geed pleaded with a face that looked ready to cry .

“H-Hey, isn’t this enough! I guided you here! Let me go home already!”

“…Got it. But don’t tell anyone about this, okay? It’d be rough if you brought the count’s guards. If a noble remembers my face, I won’t be able to live anymore.”

“O-Of course! I definitely won’t tell anyone! I promise!”

With that, Geed shed tears and left in the opposite direction of the mansion. I forgot to use that magic on him, but I could cast it later, so it’d be fine. Rescuing Nemu came first .

“Spread the mana thin, small, with a spreading sensation… Search.”

I activated the magic and searched inside the mansion. Gradually directing my senses upward from the first floor, I detected Nemu’s mana around the middle of the top floor. Apparently there was no one nearby .

“There… I’ll infiltrate through a window and use skills to get to Nemu’s location.”

I cut off the Search magic and headed to the top floor window using Flight magic. I made a hole with Wind Blade near the window lock, put my hand through the hole to unlock it, and silently infiltrated the room .

I activated Search magic again in a narrow range and confirmed the route to the room where Nemu was being held .

“Alright… exit the room, go right, turn left at the end. It’s the third room from there.”

After confirming the route, I activated the Stealth skill and left the room. This skill could make sounds coming from me as small as possible and also made it harder for others to recognize me .

It didn’t work on people who had the Detection skill to counter it, so I had to act carefully here too .

I smoothly proceeded through the passage and reached the target room. I opened the room’s lock with Unlock magic and entered. Inside was dim, lit only by a faint lamp. But even with that faint light, I could recognize Nemu’s figure .

“Nemu!!”

I involuntarily shouted at the sight of Nemu before my eyes. The Stealth skill’s effect wore off, but I didn’t care about that .

Both her hands and feet were bound with chains. She had welts all over, probably from being whipped. And the pajamas with tons of fish drawings that I’d given Nemu as a present were lying on the floor, torn to shreds .

“Hey, Nemu! Get it together! I came to pick you up!”

“…Yu…u…ki?”

Nemu faintly reacted to my voice. I destroyed the chains binding her hands and feet and immediately cast healing magic on her. Thanks to that, Nemu’s body returned to normal, but her heart remained wounded .

After looking at my face, Nemu turned her eyes toward the pajamas that had fallen on the floor. Then she quietly began shedding tears and started crying while stifling her voice .

“Sorry… Yu… the one you gave me… it’s ruined… sorry…”

“It’s okay! Don’t worry about it! We can go buy another one together!”

“…Sorry…”

After apologizing between sobs, Nemu closed her eyelids as if fainting and fell asleep. I put the jacket I’d been wearing on Nemu, who was in her underwear. Then I carried her on my back and left the room .

With this, Nemu’s rescue was complete. All that was left was to do what I had to do and go home .

I activated Search magic again and searched inside the mansion. This time I did it without limiting my mana, and as a result, the magic tools apparently reacted because alarms started blaring throughout the mansion .

Due to that sound, people began gathering in the great hall on the first floor. Among them, I could confirm Geed’s mana too. Apparently that guy broke his promise with me and informed the count. I let out a short laugh, then proceeded to the great hall where Geed and the others were waiting while carrying Nemu on my back .

◇

As I descended the stairs leading to the great hall, the guards were already blocking the passage leading outside, waiting .

“He’s here!! It’s the intruder! Everyone draw your weapons! He apparently uses magic!”

“Ohhh!!”

Seeing me carrying Nemu on my back, the guards raised shouts. Among that crowd was Geed, who I’d just parted with a few hours ago. Apparently he’d properly fulfilled his role .

“Geed… I thought you weren’t going to tell anyone?”

“Are you stupid! If I report to Lord Denard and have him prepare the guard, you’re no match for us! Serves you right, you bastard!”

Perhaps getting cocky being surrounded by many guards, apparently he’d forgotten about the incident at the tavern. Dealing with this number of people was easier than taking a shit for me .

I lowered the sleeping Nemu from my back to the floor and proceeded forward in front of the guards. As I steadily closed the distance, the group split left and right. From beyond them, a chubby, bald, disgusting man glared at me .

“Y-You’re the scoundrel trying to kidnap my adorable Nemu!! Really, this is why I dislike commoners!! You lot, don’t kill him, okay? If we have this man, we might be able to make Nemu a slave! Understood!!”

“Y-Yes sir! Magic troops prepare restraint magic activation! Other soldiers provide support for activation!”

Following the bald man’s orders, all the guards shifted to combat readiness. Those with close-range weapons stood in front of the magic troops, taking defensive positions so their chanting wouldn’t be interrupted. Before long the chanting finished, and magic was cast toward me .

“—Restrain the enemy who opposes us!! Light Chain!!”

Ropes of light released from the magic troops bound my arms and body. Seeing me unable to move, the man showed a disgusting smile .