At the edge of the Demon District, temporary shelters for demons who had joined the city late were gathered.
Calling them temporary shelters was generous; most were tents made by patching together old clothes here and there. It was unmistakably a refugee camp.
Of course, most demons didn't care much for the poor environment.
It was merely a place to stay briefly before rescuing their kin or family.
Nevertheless, the fact that the scale of the slum grew day by day was proof of how difficult rescue was.
“Can we trust that human? Like you said, it’s too dangerous a plan.”
In the innermost part of the slum.
Inside a small tent set up on the border between the forest and the slum, Hillia spoke in a worried tone.
“Probably.”
Karl replied nonchalantly.
The plan of the human who introduced himself as Palsh was certainly dangerous.
A large space was needed to hold slaves who came from, and were headed to, the Federation simultaneously.
The only place capable of that in Novosibir was the clearing in the forest called the Wasteland.
Legally, it was strictly private property, so the Border Guard rarely came, and it was good for monitoring approaching outsiders.
Although crudely built, it was a burdensome place for a ragtag group of demons to attack.
“It’s not easy to attack from the outside, but if a commotion occurs inside the Wasteland, we have a chance.”
Palsh’s plan was simple.
He would enter the Wasteland as a buyer and start an attack from within, then Karl would launch a pincer attack from the outside.
It was rational.
The outskirts of the Wasteland were fortified, but the inside was merely a space for smugglers to stay briefly.
Starting the attack from the inside gave them a chance of winning.
“Theoretically, that is. Will that human really try to help demons like us?”
Hillia asked with quite a serious face.
It was a reasonable suspicion.
A human who cared for demons.
“He risked his own life, so we have to trust him.”
At first, Karl didn’t trust that human either.
Being human alone was suspicious, but combined with his flippant attitude and strangely unsettling closed eyes, trust was impossible.
Moreover, the plan he proposed required a relationship of trust between the inside and outside.
As long as there was a risk of betrayal, no matter how plausible it seemed, it was a half-baked plan.
Palsh knew that fact very well, and he made quite a dangerous gamble to persuade Karl and Hillia.
“This Blood Contract thing, can we trust it? I don’t know much about Dark Elf spells.”
“It’s not a spell. It’s a curse.”
Karl said, looking at the dagger stuck in a stump pulsating with crimson blood.
“To be precise, it’s a curse that makes the one who breaks the promise die from boiling blood. It’s a curse even we don’t use anymore, except for the most boneheaded ones.”
Unlike spells that only required the caster's mana, curses needed a place, a target, and a medium to be prepared.
Instead, their effect was powerful. Enough to kill the promise-breaker instantly.
Such a curse was first proposed by Palsh, a human.
Furthermore, compared to their demands, his demands were absurdly simple.
“Asking us to hold onto something important, are we a warehouse? Isn’t he trying to rip us off by dumping something troublesome on us?”
“That… I have no idea either.”
It was quite a baffling condition.
If not for the Blood Contract, it would have been suspicious enough to avoid.
“But it’s an opportunity that might not come again. Anyway, surveillance has been tight lately, and our results are low. It’s time to take a gamble.”
“Well, I understand that feeling too, but still, trusting a human…”
“The Blood Contract is a gamble risking one’s life. In this matter, we can probably trust that narrow-eyed man.”
Hillia nodded reluctantly.
Karl also mulled over the words he had just spoken, trying to convince himself.
‘To risk his own neck. He’s no ordinary guy. Palsh. Just what kind of human is he?’
* * *
Damn it.
Cold sweat beaded on my forehead.
I hadn't expected a situation with an axe blade at my neck at all.
“Now, now, calm down a bit…”
“Just answer properly, Valheit.”
Before my eyes stood Til Chartra, emanating a menacing killing intent.
Why did she suddenly get so angry?
“It’s just that the deals I’ve made with the Borgia Liquor Guild aren’t just one or two.”
“You know which deal I’m talking about. The human trafficking one.”
No, how did she know about that?
I should have managed all the documents related to the Borgia Liquor Guild.
Did she investigate it herself?
It was hard to imagine Til digging through the piles of documents in the Strategy Division.
“Yes, I made the contract about a month ago.”
“Why?”
“It was a means to cooperate with the demons.”
“And you expect me to believe that?”
Til spat out the words, chewing on her anger.
This was a very dangerous situation.
The Status Window kindly popped up beside me, showing the danger numerically.
[Timer]
Valheit Death Probability: 91.2%
(-) Til Chartra’s suspicion and anger!
The axe blade itself wasn’t a huge problem.
I could block it sufficiently with the mana remaining in my staff.
The problem was what came after.
Fighting Til wouldn't kill me, but if we fought to the death, the future would be tough.
“It’s not a matter of believing or not believing. It’s simply the truth.”
“What’s so special about those demons.”
Hmm, that was a rather difficult question to answer.
To put it plainly, it was because those two were the Demon King’s companions.
Of course, saying this would likely elicit a ‘what kind of bullshit is that’ response.
I quickly racked my brain.
I needed to come up with a decent answer.
“They aren’t incredibly special demons. Just stragglers gathered to save their families and kin. The key point is the smugglers from the Northern Federation.”
“…Continue.”
“As the scale of the slave trade passing through Novosibir grows, the border is becoming unstable. It’s moving beyond simply being a problem between the Federation and the demons, and is starting to affect the Empire as well.”
Til was still murderous, but she waited for my words at least.
“Among all the businesses in the Northern Federation, the only taboo is human trafficking. Cesare would never allow it.”
“But it’s happening.”
“I needed proof that the trade was actually taking place. Also, the fact that the trade is happening behind Cesare’s back means the buyers aren’t just simple customers.”
While calmly waiting for my next words, Til didn’t lower the axe blade.
“I don’t know who they’re trading with, but if left alone, it’s a business that will surely become a problem not just for the Northern Federation and the Empire, but also for the Eight Council, so I intend to sort it out beforehand.”
Good. Not bad for something concocted on the spot.
Whether Til accepted it was another matter entirely.
“What’s the reason for the Blood Contract.”
“To gain trust, wouldn’t one have to risk their own neck?”
Til, who had been glaring narrowly at me, lowered her handaxe.
Is it over?
“Risking your own neck… I guess you said that for me to hear.”
“Pardon?”
“Playing dumb. You knew I was tailing you.”
Did I? No wonder she appeared as soon as I left the temporary shelter.
“Think whatever you like.”
“Since you risked your neck, I suppose I have to trust you this once… But.”
Once again, bloodshot killing intent pricked my skin.
“If it’s a lie, you’d better be prepared to kill me.”
“Why go that far?”
I voiced the question I'd had ever since the axe blade was at my neck.
Seriously, what did I do?
“I don’t care what Count Valheit does, but it’s a different story if the Acting Commander of the Eight Council does it.”
“That’s a bit hurtful. What’s so different?”
“Of course, it’s different. That person never crosses the line. Unlike a guy like you.”
“…I will take that to heart.”
I never wanted to experience a similar situation again.
My life being on the line was a problem, but losing Til’s trust was also a problem.
“So why did you call me.”
“Tomorrow, there are two things I need you to do.”
To change the future of being killed by the Demon King, I had to intervene in the story as quickly as possible.
But it wasn't time to step forward directly yet.
Since I had few pieces to use right now, I had to utilize Til here and there.
“First, when I give the signal, safely lead the prisoners out. Second, get acquainted with the demons.”
“I understand the first part, but what’s the second?”
“When the hunt for slave traders begins in the Federation, won’t we need to monitor Novosibir? Luckily, there are many demons in Novosibir who would do such work for free.”
It was a slightly flawed explanation, but it was enough to move Til.
For now, it was enough for Til and the demons to simply meet.
“I’ll explain the detailed contents when we get back…”
Something cold touched my face. I looked up to see thin snowflakes swirling down.
“Tsk. The northern blizzard has arrived. I thought it was late this year.”
Til clicked her tongue.
No one welcomed the northern blizzard, which lasted from a month at shortest to several months at longest.
“This is quite troublesome.”
It was especially bad news for me.
The text at the very top of the Status Window blinked, reminding me of that fact.
[Timer]
299 Episodes until World Destruction.
(View Details!)
Episode 1 of 『The Path of the Demon King』 had just begun.
At the same time, a time bomb was strapped to my neck.
The death probability had returned to 87.8%.
Considering that Episode 1 had just started, it wasn't a satisfactory number.
But it was also a number that wasn't impossible to lower.
Valheit, driven straight towards death, and I were different.
I planned to survive past 150 episodes, to 300, no, even longer than that.
Brushing the snow piling on my shoulder, I steeled my resolve.
* * *
“Uh, Mr. Palstz, right?”
“It’s Palsh.”
“Ahem. My apologies, hehe. I’m the manager here.”
A man strangely reminiscent of a rat forced a smile as he handed over a shabby list.
“Is it correct that you purchased a total of 10?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Please come this way.”
Following the man who moved with quick steps into the Wasteland, I scanned the surroundings.
People and demons locked in cages came into view.
At the emaciated gazes following me, my expression unknowingly crumpled.
“There are many goods.”
“Eh? Yes. Most of them are heading to the Northern Federation. Demand has increased quite a lot.”
“Is that so.”
As we passed a cart full of people, a hand shot out from between the thin bars of the cage.
“Sir, please buy our child! I’m sure she’ll be very useful! Please, just the child…”
“Shut up, you trash!”
A smuggler bellowed, striking the frail arm with a club.
The woman let out a low sob, perhaps from the pain, perhaps because her only hope had collapsed.
Even though I had prepared myself mentally, it was quite a sickening sight.
The manager looked at my face and shook his head as if understanding.
“Those are clearance items, so the stench is a bit strong. But don’t worry! Unlike those, the ones the Count bought have been washed clean and prepared.”
The rat-like manager, having jumped to his own conclusions, chattered on and even winked as if he knew everything.
“Of course, the washing fee is free! Call it business ethics.”
“Hmm.”
“Ah, we’ve arrived. I’ve arranged them inside this tent. Now, sign here and pay the remaining balance, and the transaction is complete, yes.”
I scribbled my signature on the list and handed it back along with a heavy pouch of money.
The man, having meticulously checked the amount, nodded his head vigorously.
“Payment received. Then let’s go in together and check…”
“I’ll do it alone.”
“Eh… But the rule is to check the goods together with the seller.”
When I dropped a few silver coins into his shabby hand, the manager shut his mouth.
“I have something to check before leaving. Do you understand what I mean?”
“Yes, yes. Of course, it’s fine. I’ll make sure no one comes to the tent, yes.”
The man hastily stuffed the silver coins into his pocket and scurried away, bowing.
Letting out a deep sigh, I entered the tent.
Neatly dressed demons of various races sat with their hands tied.
Among them, the most eye-catching presence was, as expected, the Dark Elf.
“Misha Druke. Is that correct?”
Instead of answering, Misha nodded her head.
Unlike the other prisoners filled with anxiety and resignation, her eyes held a small but sharp fighting spirit.
“Don’t look at me like that. Karl Druke sent me.”
The Dark Elf’s eyes widened in surprise.
Soon, the other demons wore the same expression.
“I’ve come to rescue you. We plan to leave at noon, so prepare yourselves.”