Ouroboros Record ~Circus of Oubeniel~

Chapter 82: Seven's Beat (2)

The village was enveloped in a strange, sweet fragrance.

Around the village, an unusual whirlwind of scent blew in a strange direction, as if there were an invisible lid preventing the smell from dispersing. Within this strange atmosphere, the villagers were gathered in the square, their minds clouded and vacant, influenced by the unfamiliar aroma.

People with lifeless expressions, almost like half-dead creatures, drooling from their mouths.

A man dressed in the attire of a mercenary was fervently giving a speech.

"Are you all content with continuing to till this desolate land as it is? Do you not wish to gain a new life and walk a different path?"

“Shokun-ra wa, kono mama arehateta tochi o tagayashi tsuzukete manzoku ka!? Arata na sei o ete, chigau jinsei o ayunde mitai to wa omowanai ka!?”

At first glance, it seemed like a recruitment effort for a mercenary company. However, the unusual behavior of the surrounding villagers and the man's cold, calculating gaze, which showed that he had no regard for these people, hinted that this was more than just a simple recruitment.

Nevertheless, there was no one here to point out the abnormality. Those who had dared to do so were already eliminated. The knight from the Margravate of Balden, who had accompanied the recruitment for the sake of supervision, had lost his entire stomach, as if he had been devoured by a beast. He laid on his back on the ground. Soon, the falling snow would blanket the surroundings and obscure this nauseating sight of death.

"Threats from monsters, exorbitant taxes, infertile land. How long will you let yourselves be tormented by these things? …Until you die! As long as you are born as peasants, you will be exploited by the nobility for life! As long as you live in St. Gallen, you will be plagued by monsters stronger than those in other countries! Answer me, are you satisfied with this?"

“Mamono no kyoui, takai zei, yaseta tochi. Sonna mono ni itsu made wazurawaserare tsuzukeru darou ka? …Shinu made da! Noumin to shite umareochita ijou, kizoku ni wa isshou sakushu sareru! Zankutogaren ni iki tsuzukeru ijou, takoku yori tsuyoi mamono ni wa shougai nayamasare tsuzukeru! Kotaero, sore de manzoku ka!?”

The man's question was more of an intimidation. In response, the farmers, clearly not in a sane state, replied in voices that lacked conviction.

"N-No… I don't want… this kind of life anymore…"

“I, iya da… mou, konna kurashi wa iya da…”

"Monsters… taxes… I-I've had enough…"

“Mamono… zei… mo, mou gomen da…”

"Th-there's no way we would be satisfied…!"

“Ma, manzoku nante dekinai…!”

No. No. No.

The assembled villagers began to voice their dissatisfaction with the current situation. And that was only natural. In a class-based society, peasants were the primary target of exploitation, with a staggering ninety-nine percent falling under this category. The exception was the wealthy farmers who employed numerous tenant farmers. But even among them, very few could genuinely feel content with their lives.

Given the right circumstances, if you loosened the reins of their rationality, their discontent would manifest almost immediately.

"I see, so you don't like it. In that case, I'll give you a choice. Join me! Become a part of my group, and transform from a mere St. Gallen farmer… from a mere human, into a beast! Respond to my recruitment!"

“Sou ka, iya ka. Naraba, omaetachi ni sentakushi o ataete yarou. Ore no shita ni tsuke! Ore no mure e to kuwawari, Zankutogaren no tannaru noufu kara… ningen kara ikko no kemono e to kawaru no da! Ore no choubo ni oujiro!”

At that voice, the people, still bewildered even as their sanity was being stolen away, displayed their confusion. No matter how sturdy the people of St. Gallen might be, they were, in the end, farmers. They could fight against the monsters that attacked their village or even rise in revolt against their lord's rule, but these were all battles to protect their way of life. They would never suddenly decide to become mercenaries and make a living out of fighting. Moreover, due to the recent Volden Campaign and the conscription led by Margrave Balden, which was aimed at an imminent civil war, the number of adult men capable of bearing arms in the village had decreased. There should be no one willing to join the ranks of this seemingly mercenary.

However, the man in mercenary attire now switched his approach and whispered a seductive temptation to them.

"What? So you also don't like fighting? But don't worry. I merely want a somewhat sizable number of you. The same goes for Margrave Balden. Displaying his numbers to intimidate the enemy and driving them away. I also think it would be easier if that happens… I have no intention of forcing you to fight."

“Nanda, tatakau no mo iya ka? Da ga, anshin shiro. Ore wa aru teido matomatta ninzuu ga hoshii dake da. Baruden-henkyou haku mo sou dearou. Ninzuu o misete teki o iatsu shi, oikaesu koto o dai-ichi ni kangaete iru darou. Ore mo sou nareba raku da to omotte iru shi… omae-tachi o muri ni tatakawaseyou to wa omowan.”

"Merely displaying our numbers…"

“Kazu o miseru dake…”

"We don't have to… fight…"

“Tatakawanai… de… ii…”

"Furthermore, I won't limit your fodder, no, food for a while. That's the duty of a leader, after all. I won't do anything that could starve you. Let me make this pledge."

“Kuwaete, esa, iya meshi ni mo shibaraku fujiyuu wa sasen tsumori da. Sore ga shuudan no osa no tsutome dearu kara na. Omae-tachi o ue saseru you na mane wa shinai tomo. Kore dake wa chikatte iou dewa nai ka.”

"Food… food…!"

“Meshi… meshi…!”

"I'm hungry… If I follow you, Uncle, can I eat…?"

“Onaka suita… oji-san ni tsuite ikeba, taberareru no…?”

"That's right, that's right! We're not inclined toward any discriminatory thoughts that would set women and children apart. Those who willingly serve, especially those who show their usefulness, will be treated well! So, what do you think? Are you willing to follow me?"

“Sou tomo sou tomo! Ware-ra wa joshi-domo o sabetsu suru you na shisou to wa muen da. Onozu kara tsukaeru mono, sono naka demo tsukaide no aru mono wa yuuguu shite yaru tomo yo! Dou da, ore ni tsuite kuru ki ni natta ka?”

"Yes... yes…!"

“Hai… hai…!”

"I'm coming… I want to, eat…!"

“Iku… meshi, tabetai…!”

Gradually, the villagers began to agree with the man. Under normal circumstances, they would have felt repulsion and disgust from the unsettling nature of his words and the peculiar atmosphere, not to mention the gruesome sight of the knight's corpse who had been killed as soon as he arrived in the village. But their cognitive abilities had already been stolen from them.

The brainwashing incense. A loathsome elixir created through alchemy, which robs people of their will, turns them into puppets, and plants suggestions in their minds. Thanks to its effects, the villagers were now no more than willing subjects, receiving the man's incitement as imprints in their brains.

To these pitiable villagers, the man took something out of his pocket and displayed it.

"Those who come with me must wear this."

“Ore to tomo ni kuru mono wa, koitsu o mi ni tsukero.”

Even in the cloudy, snow-filled sky, the silver metal sparkled.

It was a slave's collar.

"Huh…?"

“E…?”

"What, you don't want to?"

“Nanda, iya ka?”

"But… that's a slave's…"

“Demo… sore wa dorei no…”

Even under the influence of the brainwashing, most showed aversion. The word "slave" denoted the lowest rung in the caste-based society, even below the farmers. Slaves were treated like livestock, bought and sold, and had no right to object to being killed—truly, they were considered less than human.

"Oi, EE-014. Come over here."

“Oi, EE-014. Kocchi ni koi.”

"Yes."

“Hai.”

The man presented a female elf with a slave's collar around her neck. She had an exceptionally exquisite appearance, almost inhuman in its perfection, characteristic of a long-lived race. Her attire seemed like fine ceremonial robes, and were it not for the shining mark around her neck, who would believe she was a slave?

Then, the man embraced her.

"Look, all of you, at this woman's appearance. What do you think?"

“Miro yo, omae-tachi. Kono onna no sugata o. Dou omou?”

"Ohh…"

“Oo…”

"What an extraordinary beauty..."

“Nante beppin nanda…”

"The radiance of her skin. The quality of her clothes. And, above all, her appearance. Isn't she irresistible? She's eating far better things than you, you know? Don't you see how well-dressed and beautifully adorned she is? She's beautiful, isn't she? She seems happy, doesn't she? And… look."

“Hada tsuya no yo-sa. Mi ni tsukete iru ifuku no shitsu. Nani yori youshi no hodo. Tamaran darou? Koitsu wa omae-ra yori joutou na mono o kutteiru zo? Ii fuku o kite kirei ni kikazatte iru you ni mienai ka? Utsukushii darou, shiawase sou darou? Soshite… hoore.”

"Ah."

His right hand, covered by a gauntlet, sneaked into her chest, while his left hand slipped beneath her hem. It was a rough yet precise movement, much like a predator cornering its prey. The elf slave, who had been rendered powerless, exhaled visibly in the cold winter air.

This was not an action meant to be performed in broad daylight in a public place. However, the villagers had no intention of condemning it. Their rationality had been stolen by the brainwashing, but even more than that,

"…Gulp."

“…Gokuri.”

They were so engrossed in the spectacle that they didn't notice they had even swallowed their own saliva.

"Among those of us who have achieved great deeds, there are those who have been granted the right to enjoy beautiful female slaves like this. How about it? Isn't this an attractive job offer? Have any of you decided you want to join our ranks?"

“Ore-tachi no naka de tegara o tateta mono no naka ni wa, koushite dorei no ii onna o suki ni suru kenri o ataerareteiru mono mo iru. Dou da, miryoku-teki na roudou jouken darou? Ore-tachi no nakama ni kuwawaritakunatta darou?”

"Yes... yes...!"

“Hai… hai…!”

"What about you, ladies? Don't you envy her? She's dressed in glamorous clothes, her skin is immaculate, and she's all dolled up. Wouldn't you think it's not so bad to become one of us?"

“Onna-domo wa dou da? kirabiyaka na fuku o kite, hada o seiketsu ni totonoe, keshou o shi… kou mo kazaritaterareteiru koitsu o, urayamashii to wa omowanai ka? Kore no nakama ni naru no mo, sou waruku wa nai to omoeru darou?”

"Ah, ye… yes."

“A, ha… hai.”

"All right, good girls. But, it means putting on collars, is that alright?"

“Yooshi, ii ko-tachi da… Sore ni wa kubiwa o tsukeru koto ni naru ga, kamawanai na?”

"Ye… yes…!"

“Ha… hai…!”

The villagers were lured away like moths to a flame. The man loosened his grip on the female elf who leaned against him, and he turned to one of them, emphasizing his words.

"You will put on that collar of your own free will. I didn't force any of you. I merely used words to entice you. You put it on out of your own will… Do you understand that?"

“Omae wa jibun no ishi de sono kubiwa o hameru. Ore wa omae-tachi ni kyousei wa shinakatta. Kotoba o narabete sasotta dake da. Sore o mi ni tsukeru no wa, akuma de omae jishin no ishi ni yoru mono da to iu koto o… rikai shiteiru na?”

"Yes… I, put it on… out of my, own will…"

“Sou… desu… ore wa, jibun no… ishi de…”

"If you understand, then it's fine."

“Sore ga wakatteiru nara, kamawan yo.”

With that, the man smiled, baring his teeth.

Instantly, a heavy animalistic odor mingled with the sweet scent of the brainwashing pheromone that permeated the surroundings. This was the true nature of the man disguised as a mercenary, revealing the monstrous essence beneath the human facade.

"Oops, I must be careful… If my mood rises too much, the smell may leak unintentionally. I have to be cautious."

“Otto, ikan na… kibun ga takaburu to, ukkari nioi ga morete shimau. Youjin seneba na.”

The monstrous being with a human face and a beastly heart tightened his loosened emotions and mouth. Soon, within thirty minutes, collars were wrapped around the necks of the entire village. They were transformed from humans into beings beneath human, still in a semi-conscious state.

"――Brilliant performance, 07."

“――Migoto na tegiwa da, 07.”

The man called 07 turned around to the voice that suddenly came from behind.

There stood a female slave who maintained her insolence even with a collar around her neck. However, while she had long ears just like the five elves accompanying the man, this woman had a darker skin color.

She was a dark elf. Her name was Opus-03, called Drei.

07 opened his mouth with a nonchalant expression towards the intruder who suddenly appeared.

"I'm honored by your praise, 03. Did I pass the test?"

“O-home itadaki kouei da na, 03. Shiken no kekka wa goukaku ka?”

"It's only regarding your script-reading, though. It seems you have enough intelligence for that."

“Kyakuhon no yomiage ni kanshite wa na. Sore dake no chinou wa juubun ni aru rashii to mieru.”

"Well, those are harsh words. Then what do you think about my acting skills?"

“Kore wa mata, tekibishii o-kotoba da. Engi no shitsu ni tsuite wa ikaga o-kangae ka na?”

"Hmph. Revealing your true nature so carelessly was a significant deduction. Without that, I might have given you a passing grade… but with this, it's probably the best I can do to exempt you from the red mark."

“Fun. Ukatsu ni mohon-sei o dashikaketa no ga ooi ni genten da. Sore sae nakereba, kyuudai-ten o kurete mo yokatta no da ga… kore dewa aka-ten o menjo shite yaru no ga seiippai darou yo.”

"It hurts to hear you say that. But, you know, I'm still a newborn and haven't gotten used to it enough. Be generous this time. I'll handle it properly from now on."

“Sore o iwareru to mimi ga itai. To wa ie, ore mo umaretate de narashi ga tarinai no de na. Konkai wa oume ni mitekure. Igo wa, zensho shiyou.”

07 responded, nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders. Drei, with a slightly irritated expression, continued.

"Yeah, handle it properly with your utmost capability. Your performance test combined with the mission is far from over, 07. If you keep producing unsatisfactory results, you might end up in solitary confinement like 04."

“Aa, seizei zensho shiro. Ninmu o kaneta omae no un'you shiken wa mada mada tsuzuku zo, 07. Anmari ni mo kanbashikunai kekka ga de tsuzukereba, 04 no yatsu to onaji you ni anakura kurashi ga matte iru.”

"That would be troublesome. While that place is quite comfortable, being outside and feeling the wind suits my nature better.""

“Soitsu wa komatta. Asoko mo naka naka ni igokochi ga ii ga, koushite soto de kaze ni fukareteiru hou ga sei ni atte iru no de na.”josei

"Geez, you're such a fuzzy man… no, are you even a man? Well, whatever. Anyway, EE-014, you had a rough time, didn't you? Being touched by such a beast, you must have had a dreadful experience, right?"

“Ttaku, kuchi no heranai otoko da… iya, omae wa otoko na no ka? Maa, ii. Sore yori, sainan datta na EE-014. Konna kedamono ni shushi o hawasareru nado, ozomashii omoi o shita darou?”

Addressed in the conversation, the elf, EE-014, shook her head slightly.

"Don't worry about it, Opus-03. While it is true that I was surprised, I don't dislike it. Despite his appearance, 07 is considerate towards the members of his group."

“Okamai naku, Ōpasu-03. Odoroki wa shimashita ga, iya dewa arimasen. 07 wa kou miete mo, mure no ichiin ni wa yasashii no desu.”

"Well, well, quite bonded, I see. It's good to care for your colleague, but don't undersell yourself too much, EE-014."

“Oya oya, zuibun to kizuna sareta mono da. Miuchi e no kizukai wa kamawan ga, amari jibun o yasu-uri suru na yo, EE-014.”

"Best not to undersell yourself, huh? As expected of 'Three Thousand Gold Coins.' Your words speak volumes."

“Jibun o yasu-uri suru na, ka. Sasuga wa kinka san-sen mai. Iu koto ga chigau na.”

At 07's needless banter, Drei glared with only her right eye. If her mood were a bit worse, the glare might have come from her left eye as well.

"Oh, what a scary face."

“Otto, kowai o-kao da.”

"Tch, how dare you spit those unnecessary remarks… Of course, as a 'masterpiece,' having that level of intelligence is a pleasing aspect, though. No, however――"

“Chi, yokei na sashideguchi bakari, yoku mo… motto mo, sore dake no chisei ga aru to iu koto wa “sakuhin” no shiagari to shite wa yorokobashii tokoro na no da ga. Iya, shikashi――”

"Well then, to satisfy the scary, scary Test Overseer, let's move on quickly. So, what's the plan?"

“Dewa, kowai kowai shiken kantoku ni mo manzoku itadakeru you, sassato tsugi ni utsuru ka. Sore de, yotei wa dou natteiru?”

"――The procurement mission in St. Gallen has reached the planned number. The majority will be sent from Elpis-Roanne to Volden after waiting for spring, but I will also entrust you with one group. Lead it and head north, Armand. Enter Arquell from that direction, then proceed with the next mission in that area. Over."

“――Zankutogaren de no choutatsu ninmu wa yotei-suu ni itatta. Kahan wa Erupisu-Roānu kara haru o matte Vorudan ni okuru koto ni naru ga, omae ni mo itsutai o makaseru. Sore o hikiite hokujou shi, Arumando houmen kara Arukēru ni ire. Soshite, douchi de tsugi no ninmu ni hairu. Ōbā.”

"Understood. Opus-07, over."

“Ryoukai shita. Ōpasu-07, ōbā.”

With a joking salute to Drei, who showed a complicated expression, the being known as 07 turned on his heel. Beyond him, the villagers, now adorned with slave collars, were being loaded onto wagons by the S-series, who accompanied them under the guise of mercenaries.

The attendant EE-series, using magic to manipulate the wind, dispersed the sweet scent that had pervaded the surroundings.

"Oops, almost forgot something… It's a waste, it's a waste."

“Otto, wasure mono o suru tokoro datta… Mottainai mottainai, to.”

With that, Opus-07 gazed at the object buried in the snow at the edge of his field of vision and licked his lips once.

…A little over ten minutes later, after the wagons had departed, the village was left deserted. There were no signs of the villagers or any trace of what had happened, all vanished without a trace.

~~~

The Duchy of Armand.

The largest territory in the northeastern part of Arquell, owned by the greatest noble in the kingdom. It was an extraordinary land where successive generations of dukes with royal bloodlines served as lords. It bordered the neighboring country, St. Gallen, and was a strategic location overlooking the Morbaehr Kingdom across the strait.

On the border, a constantly stationed force of three to four thousand soldiers was responsible for security. In case of emergency, a force of twenty to thirty thousand, often referred to as such, was stationed in the rear and was ready to rush in until the enemy was suppressed. At the time, the rigorous defense had been increased to nearly double the usual number, reaching around six thousand.

Although a peace treaty had just been concluded with St. Gallen, the opponent was a barbaric country that shamelessly opened hostilities with a surprise attack. Moreover, in the royal capital of that country, Gallerin, the most elite forces that were conserved in the previous war were said to be ominously preparing for action. Most likely, they would be involved in the customary civil war, but there was also the possibility of a swift rematch. Considering this, neglecting the defense of the border was not an option.

In this tense Arquell-St. Gallen border, a large convoy of wagons emerged from the St. Gallen side. Most of the wagons looked shabby, and the military presence seemed small, but there had been no communication about a caravan of this size passing through. Armed men could be seen among them. Naturally, immediate shouts of prohibition and inquiry rang out.

"Stop! Beyond this point is the Kingdom of Arquell, the territory ruled by Duke Armand!"

“Tomare! Koko yori saki wa Arukēru ōkoku, Arumando-kōshaku ga touchi sareru chi dearu!”

"Let the representative come forward promptly! State the purpose of your arrival! Depending on the situation, we may need to inspect the cargo!"

“Daihyou no mono wa sumiyaka ni sugata o arawase! Arawareta mokuteki o tsugeyo! Koto to shidai ni yotte wa, tsumini nado o aratamesasete morau!”

In response, a short, stout man with the appearance of a friendly merchant emerged from the leading wagon. Though he wore a genial smile, his eyes betrayed no signs of laxity. He seemed shrewd and potentially predatory, leaving the guards with the immediate impression of a slave merchant.

"Well, well, dangerous, dangerous. Respected Soldiers, no need for such hostility. I am an envoy of a certain esteemed individual, traveling from Canales to purchase goods in St. Gallen. Here, this is the letter of introduction."

“Kore wa kore wa, kennon kennon. Heishi no mina-sama-gata, sou sakkidatanaide kudasai. Watashi wa saru o-kata no tsukai de, Kanaresu no hou kara shiire no tame ni Zankutogaren e omomuiteita mono desu. Hai, kochira ga sono tegata.”

The man presented a parchment that indeed indicated his identity as a Canales merchant and granted permission for passage. The soldiers frowned unhappily. As expected, the stated occupation was that of a slave merchant.

"Goods for purchase, does that mean the cargo consists of slaves?"

“Shiire to iu koto wa, tsumini wa dorei ka?”

"Yes, mostly. Additionally, there is a mercenary company serving as an escort."

“Hai, ookata wa. Ato wa goei o kaneteiru youhei-dan, to iu koto ni natte orimasu.”

"Mercenaries as escorts, huh. Normally, one would hire adventurers for that role, don't you think?"

“Youhei ga goei ka. Ippan ni wa bouken-sha o yatou no ga futsuu da to omou ga.”

"The one who would be their master became, well... incapacitated in the war. In lieu of him, I've taken charge of them and, incidentally, have them handle the protection along the way."

“Karera no aruji to naru mono ga, sensou de, sono… miugoki ga torenai joutai ni narimashite na. Daiyaku to iu katachi de watashi ga karera o azukari, tsuide ni douchuu no keigo o ninatte moratteoru wake deshite.”

The soldiers interpreted from the man's words that the leader of the mercenary group had either suffered severe injuries or died in the war, leaving no one to command. That's why they ended up traveling alongside a familiar slave trader.

"By the way, I don't recall seeing you enter St. Gallen, though?"

“Tokoro de, Zankutogaren ni hairu omae o mita oboe ga nai no da ga?”

He inquired with a sharp gaze, conveying the intent not to tolerate lies. Unauthorized entry and exit were crimes.

"There were a few, shall we say, interruptions due to the war. As for post-war passage, this happens to be the first time."

“Nanibun, aima ni sensou ga gozaimashita deshou. Sengo no tsuukou to naru to, sore wa konkai ga hajimete deshite.”

"Hmph. I suppose that makes sense."

“Fun. Sore mo sou ka.”

During the Volden Campaign, the borders of both countries were effectively sealed off, with opposing military forces glaring at each other. Prior to that, as they were officially in a friendly relationship, the records of entry and exit were not as rigorously maintained as they were now. The volume of traffic was incomparable to the present, so inquiries were likely difficult, if not impossible.

"Would it be alright to inspect the inside of the wagon?"

“Basha no naka o aratamete mo?”

"Of course, please go ahead."

“Douzo douzo, okamai naku.”

After confirming with the man, the soldier, mentally prepared with a cloth over his mouth, reached for the curtain. Wagons loaded with slaves were known for their distinctive odor. Those treated like animals were unlikely to be in decent sanitary conditions. People who hadn't bathed for days, if not months, were often crammed together and transported like goods. It was also a common tale for slaves to fall ill due to unsanitary conditions, sometimes dying inside the wagon. If there were corpses, even in winter, the inside of the wagon would steam with the slaves' body heat, accelerating decay.

Praying not to encounter such a scenario, the soldier, as he peered inside, was surprised to find that the expected foul smell was surprisingly absent. He had never seen a slave transport wagon this clean.

Certainly, the faces of the slaves were uniformly dark, sunk in despair, but anyone who had fallen to the lowest rung of society would likely end up like this. The fact that they were relatively clean to the point of hardly emitting any body odor was considered by the soldier as an excessive benefit for slaves.

(Why does he treat the slaves from St. Gallen with such care?)

|(Zankutogaren-jin no dorei nanzo ga, doushite konna ni daiji ni sarete yagaru nda.)

Such dark thoughts even crossed his mind. Being purchased in St. Gallen, the distinct characteristics of their compatriots were prominently displayed in their facial features. Despite the peace treaty, they were enemies just a few days ago. Seeing them crammed in there, it was only natural for some harsh words to come to mind.

"They seem unusually clean for slaves."

“Dorei ni shite wa zuibun to kirei ni shite aru na?”

"I thought it would be more appealing that way."

“Sono hou ga uke ga yoroshii ka to omoimasu ga.”

"No doubt. If you make already dirty slaves even dirtier, the buyers would be reluctant to pay."

“Chigainai. Moto kara kitanai dorei o sarani kitanaku saretara, kau-gawa to shite wa harai mo shibukunaru darou kara na.”

Adopting a questioning tone towards the merchant-like man, he berated the St. Gallen slaves. They were humans at the lowest level, or rather, livestock below that, and it was inappropriate for them to be kept so neat.

One of the slaves stood up as if reacting to those words.

"N-no! We were deceived! There's no reason for us to become slaves――"

“Chi, chigau! Ore-tachi wa damasareta nda! Ore-tachi ga dorei ni nanka ni naru riyuu wa――”

"≪Silence≫"

“≪Damare≫”

"――ggh!? Ugh…!"

“――mugu!? Guu…!”

The slave who tried to protest was forcibly silenced by the man's obedience magic.

Just to be sure, the soldier asked the slave-trader-like man.

"I'll ask just in case, but you didn't deceive them into becoming slaves, did you? If so, it would be a violation of the law."

“Ichiou kiite oku ga, damashite dorei ni shita wake dewa arumai na? Sou naru to hourei ni ihan shiteiru koto ni naru ga.”

It's a distasteful situation to aid a bunch of St. Gallen people, but it's also part of his job. If this man deceived the people into becoming slaves, allowing him entry into the Arquell Kingdom would be out of the question. Creating a situation where innocent citizens of his own country are collared would be a terrible awakening. If it became known that he let such a person through, at best, he would lose his job; at worst, he could be considered an accomplice and lose his life.

The man scratched his head as if pondering, narrowing his eyes in a dignified manner.

"Let's have the person in question testify then. ≪Before you put on the collar, you were guaranteed food for a period of time, right?≫"

“Dewa, tou no honnin ni shougen shite itadakimashou. ≪Kimi wa kubiwa o tsukeru mae ni, shibaraku no aida no shokuji o hoshou sareta ne?≫”

With that, he activated the magic tied to the collar once again.

"Ggh… Y-yes."

“Gu… ha, hai”

"≪You, who complained about meager food, found it enticing and willingly decided to put on the collar, correct?≫"

“≪Toboshii shokuryou ni nageiteita kimi wa, sore ni miryoku o kanjite mizu kara kubiwa o hameru koto ni shimashita ne?≫”

"Y-yes...!"

“So, sou desu…!”

"≪You willingly put on that collar of your own volition, didn't you?≫"

“≪Kimi wa akuma de jibun no ishi de sono kubiwa o hameta no deshou?≫”

"T-that's right...! U-ughhh…!"

“So, sono toori desu…! U, uuu…!”

"Yes, as you can see, Respected Soldier."

“Hai, goran no toori desu heishi-sama.”

With a smile that seemed ready to flatter at any moment, the man turned towards the soldier.

As the soldier pondered with a frowning expression, the man continued his words.

"The magic in the collar isn't as flexible as you might think. When asked a question, they'll honestly spill the beans. Furthermore, orders are forcibly overwritten by those given later, so even if one instructed them to lie beforehand, it's useless――"

“Kubiwa no mahou to wa angai yuuzuu ga kikanai mono deshite ne. Shitsumon o sarereba kono toori, nan demo shoujiki ni hanashite shimau no desu yo. Kuwaete meirei wa ato kara dashita mono ni kyousei-teki ni uwagaki sareru no de, jizen ni itsuwari o mouse to itte oite mo muda ni――”

"Understood, understood. I'm aware of that."

“Wakatta wakatta. Sore kurai shitte iru.”

It's basic knowledge when dealing with slaves. It's also a method taught in training for those assigned to rescue individuals unlawfully enslaved. In other words, the slave merchant was in the clear.

Just to be sure, he asked another slave,

"…≪You also put on the collar for the same reason as him, right?≫"

“…≪Anata mo kare to onaji riyuu de kubiwa o tsukemashita ne?≫”

and they all answered in the affirmative. Moreover, there was no sign that the carriage was smuggling prohibited items. Deciding that further interrogation would be futile, the soldier decided to conclude the inspection.

"Then, after paying the toll, please sign this document."

“Dewa, tsuukou-ryou o shiharatta ato, kono shomen ni sain o.”

"Yes, here you go. Is this okay?"

“Hai, tadaima. Kore de yoroshii desu ka?”

The man presented a jingling leather pouch. Upon confirming its contents, it was filled to the brim with gold coins. It certainly seemed to weigh enough to meet the specified amount, but…

"St. Gallen gold coins, huh…"

“Zankutogaren kinka dearu ka…”

In Arquell Kingdom and St. Gallen, the size of minted gold coins—meaning the amount of gold in each coin—differs. It was inevitable due to the economic and currency policy differences between the two countries. Judging by the weight of the bag in hand, it was clear that there was no issue with passing through the checkpoint, but dealing with the inconvenience of exchanging them when using them was a bit troublesome.

"I've been conducting business in that country for a while now."

“Koko shibaraku wa ano kuni de akinai o shite ita mono deshite.”

"Then, there's no helping it… You may pass!"

“Naraba shikatanai na… Tootte yoshi!”

With the permission granted, the caravan of wagons began to move slowly. The merchant-like man climbed into the front wagon and settled into the driver's seat with his portly figure.

The group of slaves that came from St. Gallen passed through the border without any problems.

~~~

The caravan of wagons continued along the road, crossing the border. In the vicinity of the winter wilderness where the procession reached, the man disguised as a slave merchant began to exhibit strange behavior. Jumping from the driver's seat to the covered cargo bed, he started taking off layers of warm clothing, including a thick coat for insulation, a merchant-like vest, shirt, and trousers, leaving himself in the barest form. Despite being inside the wagon, it was a shabby used canvas-covered wagon. Cold wind seeped in through various tears, making the temperature inside almost the same as the snow-flurried outside.

Amidst this, there was no sign that the man, displeasedly pinching his fat belly, felt the cold.

The man muttered as he clicked his tongue,

"Good grief. Humans are troublesome creatures…"

“Yare yare. Ningen to wa mendou na iki-mono da…”

As he finished speaking, a transformation occurred.

The excess fat covering his entire body vanished like a deflating balloon. Conversely, his short stature stretched rapidly, and robust muscles filled his once emaciated limbs and chest. His hair changed both in length and color, and within seconds, the man transformed into an entirely different person. If the previous plump figure resembled a seal, this new appearance could be likened to a true leopard. With a physique that looked resilient, and a sharp expression, he truly resembled a beast in human form. The way he looked at his surroundings while exposing his naked body was like a wild carnivorous beast that had been trained for battle, a battle stance that harmonized with nature and humanity.

His appearance was none other than that of an individual called Opus-07, the one who brainwashed and manipulated villagers in the border territory of Balden in St. Gallen into slaves.

"Uh-huh. This appearance feels more comfortable. Indeed, the form of a warrior suits me better. I suppose I'll maintain this for a while."

“Fumu. Kochira no sugata no hou ga ochitsuku. Yahari tatakau mono no sugata wa shikkuri to kuru na. Shibaraku wa kore o joutai to suru ka.”

His muttered words seemed to imply that he had no true form.

And then, at that moment,

"――Who's there?"

“――Dare da.”

07 cast his gaze upward. There was nothing above but the low ceiling of the wagon. However, he was convinced that beyond it, someone or something with intelligence was present. He inquired,

"Not 03. The aura is different… I'll ask just in case, are you an enemy? Or an ally?"

“03 dewa nai na. Kehai ga chigau… Ichiou kiku ga, teki ka? Mikata ka?”

Almost immediately, a response came.

"…'I am an ally,' I answered."

“…Mikata desu, to, kaitou shimasu.”

"If you claim to be an ally, answer this: Does he favor tea?"

“Mikata da to iu nara, hitotsu kotaero… Kare wa koucha ga koubutsu ka?”

"'No, his true favorite is coffee,' I entered the passcode."

“Iie, hontou ni suki na no wa kōhī desu, to, pasu o nyuuryoku shimasu.”

"Hmm, correct. You can enter."

“Fumu, seikai da. Haitte mo ii zo.”

"'Excuse me then,' I said in greeting."

“Dewa shitsurei shimasu, to, aisatsu o kuchi ni shimasu.”

Then a woman invertedly opened the canopy from above and descended inside.

To call her a woman might be appropriate in terms of her physical appearance, but her expressionless face, a mask-like visage, and eyes that gleamed like gold, all made her look beautiful yet otherworldly. Despite being on the roof of a moving wagon in the cold sky, she was dressed in a way that did not seem fitting for winter attire. While not as exposed as the naked Opus-07, her appearance was still unconventional.

The peculiar woman who appeared courteously bowed to the equally, or maybe even peculiar man.

"'It's my first time meeting you, correct?' I self-confirmed. I am Opus-05, Femme. Opus-07, please do not forget me from this point on."

“Anata to au no wa hajimete desu ne, to, jiko kakunin shimasu. Ōpasu-05 Femu, desu. Ōpasu-07 ni wa igo, o-wasurenaki you onegai shimasu.”

"Yeah. Forget or not, information about you has been engraved in my head from the beginning. …However, it's quite a journey for you to come this far. Without the ability to use teleportation magic, long-distance travel must be quite challenging for you."

“Aa. Wasureru mo nani mo, ore no atama ni wa saisho kara omae ni kanshite surikomi ga sarete iru… Shikashi, yoku koko made shucchou tte kita mono da. Ten'i mahou no tsukaenai omae dewa, chou kyori no idou wa nan'gi suru darou ni.”

"…That's because I'm heree! Ta-daa!"

“…Sore wa watashi ga iru kara na no deshitaaa! Jajaaan!”

Having said so, a new intruder barged in noisily.

In one corner of the carriage, magical particles gathered and took on a human form, and the next moment, a figure with mass stood on the floor.

The newcomer was an elf. At least, pointed long ears, golden-threaded hair, and fair beauty were perfect characteristics of a long-lived race. However, she was too voluptuous for the slender image usually associated with elves, and her hips, filling out the skirt, were sensually generous. Her slender waist was also provocatively curved. Not adhering to the elven aversion to metallic adornments, she wore glasses polished to a sparkling shine on her face.

Apart from the basic features, everything about her was unlike an elf. However, her magical ability to teleport directly into a moving carriage, a place that constantly changed coordinates, that indeed seemed to be a capability fitting for a member of a race proficient in magic. Certainly, if she was accompanied by this elf-like being, she wouldn't have any trouble using teleportation magic.

"I'm Opus-06, Seis! …Wait, whoaaaa!? You're, na-naked!?"

“Ōpasu-06, Seisu deeesu! …Tte, wakyaaaa!? Ha, hadakaaa!?”

Just when Seis thought she had given her name, she let out a freakish scream at the sight of 07's gallant nude form, making no effort to conceal it. Despite covering her bright red face with both hands, her eyes remain wide open, peeking through the gaps between her fingers, as if she wasn't covering it.

07 spoke with an expression of exasperation,

"Oh, I know about you too… According to the data engraved in my head, you are also responsible for modification surgeries as an assistant, so shouldn't you be used to this kind of thing by now?"

“Aa, omae no koto mo shitteiru zo… Surikomareta dēta dewa, joshu to shite sotai e no kaizou shujutsu mo tantou shiteiru to kiku ga, kono teido wa minareteiru no dewa nai ka?”

"I-it's not okay when you're awake! When the subjects were undergoing modification, they were sleeping under anesthesia! Wai- why is your thing starting to swell like that!? Why are you transitioning into a standby-ready stance!?"

“O, okiteru no wa dame! Datte, kaizou-chuu no sotai wa masui de neteru ndesu yoo! …Cho, nani o mukumuku to saseteiru ndesu ka!? Naze, sutanbai redei na taisei ni ikou shiteiru ndesu kaaa!?”

"Even if you say that… There's a female whose inside might be like 'that', but the outside is quite alluring, frolicking in front of me. Can't blame me if there's a reaction."

“Sou iwarete mo na… nakami wa are na you da ga, mitame wa nakanaka ni sosoru mesu ga me no mae de hashaide iru no da. Hannou ga okite mo shikata arumai.”

07 replied nonchalantly, turning towards Seis with a slight sway of his hips. Naturally, she became even more flustered.

"Eeeek!? Don't shake like that! No, don't give me that meaningful head movement! Or rather, please don't point it towards me! Listen, pointing a weapon means a duel, you know? I'll beat you, you know? I-I'll burn, cut, and crush you with my magic, you knooow!?"

“Fugiii!? Yurasanaide! Dame, imishin ni sono heddo o yurashicha dame! Te iu~ ka, kocchi ni mukenaide kudasai! Ii ndesu ka? Buki o mukeru tte koto wa kettou no aizu na ndesu yo? Yacchaimasu yo? Wa, watashi no mahou de yaitari kittari tsubushitari shimasu yooo!?”

"My, my, quite a rough welcome for a newcomer."

“Oya oya, shin'iri ni taishite tearai kangei da na.”

Finally, Femme, unable to bear it any longer, interjected from beside them.

"'07, please don't tease 06 too much,' I warned. The education instilled in her is a generation older than what was applied to you. Perhaps due to that, her mental aspects are younger than you, who came later."

“07, amari 06 o karakawanaide kudasai, to, chuui o kanki shimasu. Kanojo ni hodokosareta surikomi ni yoru kyouiku wa, anata ni mochiirareta mono yori hito-sedai mae. Sono eikyou ka, seishin-men ni kanshite wa kouhatsu dearu anata yori mo osanai no desu kara.”

"My bad… Well, eliminating this thing once wouldn't be a bad idea, but having one with male appearance between two females seems unbalanced. In that case――"

“Sore wa shitsurei… Ikkai koitsu o kesu no mo ii ga, mesu ga ni-tai no naka ni mitame osu ga ittai, to iu no mo tsuriai ga toren na. Dewa――”

Shrugging his shoulders, 07 transformed his body again.

He made his body smaller, more slender, and changed the contours to be rounder and softer. Certain parts were tucked away inside, while others showed modest protrusions.

In a matter of seconds, a petite teenage girl appeared in place of the tall, rugged man.

"――Phew… If I take on the appearance of a young female like this, that innocent girl over there shouldn't be too disturbed, right?"

“――Fuu… kore kurai osanai mesu no sugata naraba, soko no ubui no mo ichi ichi douyou surumai?”

One corner of her mouth was lifted up in a defiant and sarcastic smirk that seemed unbecoming of such a docile-looking girl. Her actions were unmistakably the same as those of Opus-07 before the transformation. On the other hand, the voice, containing a teasing tone, gave a husky impression despite the apparent age, yet it was far from being a male voice. Hiding her naked body and behaving like a modest young girl, if she could manage that, it would be a perfect transformation.

As Seis directed her gaze toward the entity transformed from male to female, she puffed her cheeks and glared with teary eyes while making a groaning sound.

"Rather, couldn't you just wear clothes?"

“Te iu~ ka, fuku o kireba ii janai desu ka~…”

"My change of clothes is in a different carriage. Even I wouldn't be able to conjure up clothes out of thin air."

“Kigae wa betsu no basha da. Sasuga ni ore mo nani mo nai tokoro kara fuku wa tsukuren.”

"'Why don't you just transform into a figure that matches the clothes you've taken off over there?' I pointed out."

“Soko ni nuide aru fuku ni gacchi shita sugata e henshin sureba ii deshou, to, shiteki shimasu.”

"That appearance is ugly and seems weak so I don't like it. It would be better to have a different look even without clothes. At least, it should be a visually appealing appearance. It wouldn't matter if I behave as I like in a place where there are no onlookers."

“Ano sugata wa minikui ue ni yowa-sou dakara sukan. Fuku ga naku tomo betsu no kakkou ga ii. Semete mibae no suru sugata denakereba na. Hitome ga nai tokoro de kurai, suki ni furumatte mo kamawan darou ni.”

"Hoho~? So we are not considered onlookers?"

“Hoho~? Watashi-tachi no me wa hitome denai to mousu ka.”

"That's just the nuance of the words, 06. If you puff up like that, it'll ruin your cute face, you know?"

“Kotoba no aya da yo 06. Sou fukureteiru to, kawaii kao ga dainashi da zo?”

"''As I said, please don't tease her,' I repeated. That's enough, let's move on with the discussion."

“Desu kara, kanojo o karakawanaide kudasai, to, kurikaeshimasu. Iikagen ni hanashi o susumemashou.”

With Femme's words, 07, who had transformed into a girl, showed a slightly unamused expression but obediently complied.

"Now then, let me convey the message. Taking over the supervisory duties from 03, 05 has judged that Opus-07 has cleared the test criteria for extended solo missions, autonomy, decision-making ability, deceptive capacity of transformation, and presence sensing capabilities. Congratulations."

“Sore dewa dentatsu jikou, o, o-tsutae shimasu. 03 yori shiken kantoku ninmu o hikitsuida 05 wa, Ōpasu-07 no chou jikan tandoku koudou-ji no jiritsu-sei to handan nouryoku, henshin nouryoku no giman seinou, kehai sacchi nouryoku nado, tesuto koumoku wa youkyuu suijun o kuriā shiteiru to handan shimashita. Omedetou gozaimasu.”

"'I am extremely grateful for your praise,' is it fine if I respond like that? However, if I hadn't passed—glad that there were no issues, but assuming the other way around, what would you have done? Even though it was a test, it involved actions in a public setting. In case things didn't go well――"

“O-home ni azukari kyouetsu shigoku, to kaeseba ii no ka na. Shikashi, ore ga goukaku――mondai ga denakatta kara yokatta mono no, moshi sou naranakattara dou suru tsumori datta noda? Tesuto o kaneteiru to wa ie, shujin kanshi no ba de no koudou da. Man’ga ichi no toki wa――”

"In that case, Femme-chan would have sent a suspension signal to you, and then I would have erased the evidence with magic… Before we took over, it was Drei-san's responsibility."

“Soshitara Femu-chan ga anata ni teishi shingou o okutte, sono go watashi ga mahou de shouko inmetsu suru koto ni natteta yo~… Watashi-tachi ga hikitsugu mae wa Dorai-san no tantou da ne.”

The completely sulky Seis's words even carry a hint of wishing that things had turned out that way. If it's just her magical abilities alone, she was on par with the great sages of ancient times. It's an obliteration of evidence from such an individual. Perhaps it was planned for her to blow up the surrounding area in a flashy manner to make it look like an attempt by the enemy nation. Seis, with her pure but callous sensibilities, seemed to harbor murderous intent towards 07, who had committed various impoliteness during their first meeting. Of course, she also had feelings of admiration for the "father" who gave her the mission. Despite being childish, she didn't explicitly mention any intentions that deviated from the plan.

"Oh, how scary, how scary. It's a relief that things didn't turn out that way."

“Oo, kowai kowai. Sonna koto ni naranakute yokatta yokatta.”

"As I said—no, never mind. Rather than that, do you remember the details of the next mission?"

“Desu kara――ie, ii desu, to, teikan o oboemasu. Sore yori mo, tsuzukete no ninmu no naiyou wa, oboete orimasu ne?”

"Of course. Here in Armand, I'll scout peasants using the appearance of the mercenary from earlier. I'll brainwash them but won't turn them into slaves, then I'll take them to Volden under the guise of mercenaries, where I'll release the brainwashing. Using a different appearance, I'll guide their escape from the group of mercenaries who have forcibly brought them there and liberate them, letting them return to farming in that same area. Among them, those with fitting constitution and physical abilities or magical power above the standard will be sent to the lab as subjects for modification."

“Mochiron da tomo. Kono Arumando de sakki no youhei no sugata o tsukai noumin o sukauto. Sennou wa suru ga dorei ni wa shinai. Sono mama youhei no meimoku de Vorudan ni tsurete iki, soko de sennou kaijo. Betsu no sugata o tsukatte muriyari tsurete korareta youhei-dan kara no dassou o tebiki shi, kaihou shite douchi de kinou saseru. Sono naka demo taikaku ya karada nouryoku, mata wa maryoku ga suijunchi ijou no mono o ittei suu, 'seihin' e to kaizou suru sotai to shite rabo okuri ni, datta na.”

"'Yes, it's perfect,' I gave a praise."

“Hai, kanpeki desu, to, shousan o okurimasu.”

"Uugh… so unfair, so unfair, sooo unfair! Why is 07 being praised so much despite being so cheeky?"

“Uuu… zurui zurui zuruuu~i! Doushite konna ni namaiki na no ni, 07 wa homerareru no ka naaa?”

"That's because I am an excellent familiar and the finest 'masterpiece' of our creator."

“Sore wa ore ga yuushuu na tsukaima deari, zoubutsushu-sama no kessaku taru “sakuhin” dakara da.”

"Don't praise yourself! Besides, even if you remember the details of the job, it's meaningless if you can't execute it properly, you know!?"

“Jibun de iu naaa! Sore ni, o-shigoto no naiyou wa oboeteite mo, chaaanto jikkou dekinakattara imi nai ndakara ne!?”

"Yeah, I'll make sure to work hard to satisfy you as well… And there's something I want to ask, 05."

“Aa, omae ni mo go-manzoku itadakeru you ni doryoku suru sa… Sore to hitotsu kikitai nda ga, 05.”

"'What is it?' I complied to your question."

“Nan deshou ka, to, shitsumon o uketamawarimasu.”

"In this operation, we're generously scattering a large amount of gold coins. Does it not affect the financial state of our creator? It's a hassle, but humans use money for everything, right? I've heard that they're in need of it at this time."

“Kono sakusen ni atatte tairyou no kinka o keiki-yoku baramaiteiru wake da ga, zoubutsushu-sama no futokoro guai ni eikyou wa nai no ka? Shichimendou na koto da ga, ningen-domo wa nani o suru ni mo kane o tsukau ndarou? Ima no jiki wa nani ka to iriyou to kiite iru no da ga.”

07's concern was valid. Tullius and the others were implementing various policies to recover from the damage of the previous war. No matter how much money they had, it might not have been enough. Yet, he freely used funds for things like tolls and arranging carriages. While he ordered to use them without hesitation, it's natural for a sense of concern for her master to arise.

However, Femme answered without paying much attention to it.

"'If that's the case, there's no problem,' I answered. All the currency used in this operation is counterfeit."

“Sore nara mondai wa arimasen, to, kaitou shimasu. Konji sakusen ni mochiirareru kahei wa subete gizou desu.”

"Oh?"

“Hou?”

"But even so, what's being used is real gold."

“To itte mo, shiyou sareteiru no wa honmono no kogane desu ga.”

"It's good that it had been dug up, but I had no use for it, so it was left over! What do you think? It's well done, right?"

“Hotta no wa ii keredo tsukaimichi ga nakute amatteta bun da ne! Dou~? Ii deki desho.”

In a complete change of mood, Seis captured the conversation. Presumably, she had a hand in counterfeiting as well.

A private minting of currency without the knowledge of the state was, of course, a crime. Well, from the start, the act of Tullius secretly mining gold and silver in the underground labyrinth violated the kingdom's laws. It was such a big deal to the point of Laubert once firmly warned not to bring it outside.

However, it was a problem only if it got exposed.

"We have to change our perspective. If the problem is for me to use it within the borders of Arquell, then just use it abroad in a way that they won't know it's me."

“Hassou o gyakuten saseru nda. Arukēru kokunai de boku ga tsukau no ga mondai nara, kokugai de boku da to wakaranai you ni tsukaeba ii janai ka.”

The master had said that.

"I see. No matter if it's fake money from a suspicious origin, if it's used as operating funds for disposable undercover activities, the risk is minimal, huh."

“Naru hodo. Shussho no ayashii nisegane darou to, tsukaisute no andākabā de no katsudou shikin ni suru nara risuku wa saishougen ka.”

Saying so, 07 glanced at the identification that spilled out from the discarded clothing. It indicated that she was a slave trader from Canales, and it was also fabricated using alchemy.

"'It's an excellent strategy,' I assessed. It can effectively utilize redundant resources and absorb human resources from enemy countries and potential political enemies, after all."

“Migoto na sakusen desu, to, hyouka shimasu. Dabutsuiteita shigen o yuukou ni shouhi shi, teki-koku ya seiji-teki kasou teki kara jinteki shigen o kyuushuu dekiru no desu kara.”

"If complaints arise about the people being turned into slaves from St. Gallen, we can just deflect criticism and silence it by suppressing the calumny from treacherous assailants who executed a despicable surprise attack. If we're accused of taking people away by the Decentralists, we can counter by suggesting that such accusations stem from mismanagement that made the people want to leave in the first place. We are treating them as proper farmers, not slaves, after all."

“Zankutogaren kara kokumin o dorei ni sareta to monku ga deyou to, hiretsu na kishuu o shita renchuu kara no hibou chuushou to mokusatsu sureba ii. Chihou bunken-ha kara tami o ubawareta to iwaretara, somosomo tami o nigasu you na shissei o shiteiru no da to kirikaeseru. Kochira wa dorei dewa naku chanto noumin to atsukatte yaru no dakara na.”

"Rather, I've heard that Arquell's registry management is quite lax, especially for commoners. Since we're targeting those who are likely not even listed in the register, like the third son or below, I don't think they can prepare the basis to ask us to give them back."

“Tte iu~ ka, Arukēru no koseki kanri tte, kekkou iikagen tte kiitemasu kedo ne~. Toku ni noumin wa. Kocchi ga nerau no wa daichou ni mo noranai you na sannan ika dakara, kaese tte iu hou-teki konkyo? Tte yatsu mo chanto youi dekinai kamo.”

"Rather, the people might beg us not to send them back to lords like Armand and the others. If they go to Volden, they'll be given land and even slaves to work for them, after all."

“Mushiro, Arumando-ra no you na katsute no ryoushu no shita e wa kisanaide kure to, naite tanomareru kamo shiren na. Vorudan ni ikeba tochi, kuwaete soko de hatarakaserareru dorei made ataerareru no dakara.”

"'That's possible,' I judged."

“Ariemasu ne, to, handan shimasu.”

In short, that was the plan for this operation. From St. Gallen, they would take slaves. From the territories of opposing local nobles, they would acquire farmers, offering them vacant farmlands or new cultivation areas created by casualties of war. Moreover, by utilizing the identities of slave traders and mercenaries, they could do this at least seemingly legally. This was a strategy aimed at killing two birds with one stone, weakening the regions and facilitating the reconstruction of Volden, a development of the plan Tullius had discussed with Langogne in the past. Even though Lavallee's actions brought it to a halt, it could still be effective if dressed in a different guise.

"However, it's quite an elaborate plan. Personally, I'm more inclined to take on jobs where I can use this ability to rampage and devour to my heart's content."

“Shikashi, nanto mo tenokonda saku da. Ore to shite wa, kono nouryoku o tsukatte zonbun ni abaremawatte kuiarasu shigoto no hou ni shokushi ga muku no da ga.”

07, wearing the appearance of a girl, cracked her right hand, producing not just the sound of finger joints but also the cracking of the skeletal structure of her right arm. The slender arm of a human girl transformed into the thick, fur-covered, sharp-clawed limb of a beast. Consciously or unconsciously, a sly smile appeared on her face, revealing fangs reminiscent of a saber-toothed tiger.

That was the unique ability of this new 'masterpiece.'

"The time will come for you to undertake such missions as well, and at that time, feel free to wield those arms… no, claws, to your heart's content, Opus-07, Jet."

“Izure wa sono you na ninmu ni tsuku toki mo kimasu yo, to, yosoku shimasu. Sono sai ni wa zonbun ni sono ude o… ie, souga o furutte kudasai. Ōpasu-07, Jetto.”

"A chimera created with an entirely new concept, with homunculus as a base and incorporation of cells from various animals and monsters, allowing it to freely use their forms and abilities… Well, it's somehow irritating, but this achievement is as expected of Father's masterpiece~."

“Homunkurusu o bēsu ni, tayou na doubutsu ya monsutā no saibou o kumikonde, jizai ni sono sugata to nouryoku o tsukau to iu, mattaku atarashii konseputo de tsukurareta kimera… mu~, nanka shaku da keredo, kono deki wa sasuga otou-sama no “sakuhin” ka~.”

In response to the words of its two predecessors, the seventh 'masterpiece'—Jet showed a wild grin.

~~~

Author’s Note: Jet is '7' in Thai.

~~~

TL Note:

Apparently, 07 refers to Tullius as “造物主様 (Zoubutsushu-sama)” which means 'Creator of all things' or 'God' it makes me wonder if the theory about Tullius intending to become a God is legit awawawawawawa~

Oh and I've guessed about it before, but now that I’ve read the raw myself I can finally confirm that Seis addresses Tullius as “お父様 (Otou-sama)” uwahhhh I like how it sounds~

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