Chapter 7
The place I arrived after chasing the goblin was a room resembling a warehouse, with rusty iron cages scattered everywhere.
I could immediately guess that the creatures inside those cages were what this world called “monsters.”
In addition to the goblin that stole the underwear, there were kobolds, orcs, harpies, and lycanthropes… Along with circus tools and toys scattered about.
I see. I can roughly deduce what this man used to do before he ended up in this situation.
“Did you use the monsters to perform in a circus?”
After all, there are those who train even ferocious beasts to perform.
It wouldn’t be surprising for someone in this world of real monsters to have pursued such a profession.
As if my guess wasn’t incorrect, the man who appeared to be the caretaker of the monsters didn’t deny my words and instead issued a warning.
“B-back off immediately, or I won’t be able to guarantee what happens next!”
Creak. The latch on one of the cages he was holding onto was on the verge of being undone.
If it were to open, the massive monster confined inside would soon escape.
Even so, I didn’t retreat but instead continued to confront him.
“Back off? If I do, things might become even more troublesome for you.”
“Troublesome? For me?”
“If I leave here, the security bureau officers who hear of your whereabouts will descend upon this place. And taking these monsters with you, finding another hideout, or remaining hidden will all prove difficult for you.”
“Ugh…”
Realizing his precarious situation, the caretaker trembled.
I let out a faint smile and quietly took a step toward him.
“Well, that aside, I have no intention of stepping back just to settle for a small reward from providing testimony.”
Another step forward. Gradually, I closed the distance between us, tightening the noose on him.
“So, what will you do now?”
“Wh-what…”
“If I don’t back down, you’ll only have two choices left. Turn yourself in, or…”
I wanted to test him.
Would this man, cornered and desperate, be willing to abandon all he had sought to achieve in his quest for revenge?
“If you don’t surrender, the next course of action is obvious, isn’t it?”
“You, you bastard!!!”
A whisper from a devil, provoking inner conflict.
Finally, as if he had let go of his last shred of reason, he undid the latch on the cage and released the monster inside.
“C-come out, Ogre!!”
“Grrraaah…!”
From within the cage emerged a massive figure.
Compared to the goblin, this creature was colossal in size—a monster known as an ogre.
In terms of raw physical strength, it was unmatched even among humanoid species, described as highly dangerous even in games.
“Graaaah! Graaaahhh…!”
Despite its menacing presence, the ogre stood protectively in front of its master, ready to confront me.
Even savage monsters, it seemed, could show loyalty to their masters.
For someone like me, who serves another, it was almost admirable.
“It’s your fault. You shouldn’t have provoked me…!”
Whatever the case, everything had been going well until this intruder showed up unannounced.
Shaking off his hesitation, the man pointed at me and shouted fiercely.
“Take him down, Ogre!!!”
“Graaaahhh!!!”
Following the command, the ogre charged at me.
Though its movements were slow, its massive body was intimidating.
If I didn’t retreat, its hands would surely grab hold of me and crush me completely, leaving no trace.
“This is what a desperate human’s choice amounts to.”
Accepting the danger, I extended my hand toward the oncoming fist and focused my magic.
“And yet, I offer my deep respect for the humanity you displayed by hesitating until the very end.”
Boom! A burst of magical energy erupted.
The ogre’s hand was deflected upward by the force, and I took the opportunity to leap onto it, aiming my hand at its head.
Thud! A heavy blow landed on its head.
The ogre staggered for a moment before collapsing, unable to withstand the impact, and fell unconscious.
“O-Ogre!!”
“Don’t worry. I only made it lose consciousness.”
I only kill those who must be killed.
If he surrenders here and now, I’m willing to end this without taking any lives.
“Well? Will you continue to resist?”
“…Ugh…”
The man, at a loss for words, hung his head.
His voice, when it finally emerged, carried genuine frustration.
“Why… Why is this happening? I just wanted to live a normal life with my children…”
“If you wanted to live normally, you shouldn’t have resorted to crime.”
“But… without doing this, I can’t earn enough to take care of them! I spent years taming these children after hearing I could succeed, but the nobles only saw us as a momentary amusement, and the investors abandoned us because it wasn’t profitable. What was I supposed to do!?”
So, he couldn’t abandon the monsters, resorted to crime, and even began targeting nobles as a form of petty revenge?
It was understandable, in a way.
He dreamed of success but was only met with mockery, grew attached to the creatures he had nurtured with care, and couldn’t abandon them.
In such a reality, turning to crime seemed almost inevitable.
Judging by the fact that he hadn’t initially intended to kill me to erase witnesses, he wasn’t entirely evil.
From a human perspective, he was someone who might evoke sympathy.
“…Are you prepared for the consequences?”
But harboring resentment against the world and seeking revenge is like walking a path strewn with thorns.
As enemies increase and public opinion grows more negative, the legitimacy of one’s actions inevitably diminishes.
Even so, anyone seeking revenge must be prepared to bear such a burden.
“Are you prepared to take responsibility for the harm you’ve caused many people, turning them all into your enemies because of your actions?”
“……”
The caretaker looked silently at the monsters around him in response to my words.
Reading the sincerity in his gaze, I placed my hand gently on his shoulder and quietly offered him advice.
“If you aren’t prepared for that, it’s better to end your revenge against the world here.”
It was advice offered with genuine sincerity.
I knew that vague resentment against the world ultimately leads only to one’s self-destruction.
“If you keep accumulating karma like this, you may cross a point of no return.”
This advice was also my earnest wish for the person I now serve to understand someday.
***
The serial underwear theft that had caused a stir in the city ended successfully.
After completing the procedure of handing over the culprit, I was finally able to receive a pouch of money from Callisto Noxianne, the lead investigator on the case.
“Take it. It’s the reward money.”
“It’s quite substantial.”
“Well, high-ranking individuals offered the bounty. From noblewomen to popular stars… He stole from a wide variety of people.”
Callie said this while pulling a cigarette from her pocket and putting it to her lips.
As she was about to light it with a match, she glanced at me and offered me a cigarette.
“Care for a smoke?”
“I’ll politely decline. The smell would be disrespectful to the person I serve.”
“…You’re a respectable guy, even though you look so dark.”
Dark? I’d dressed up as a proper butler, but did I come across as villainous instead?
While I was contemplating this, she exhaled a puff of smoke and spoke again.
“Anyway, thanks to you, this troublesome case has been resolved. The only remaining issue now is figuring out what to do with the monsters he was raising while the culprit stands trial…”
“Just to confirm, are you planning to execute them immediately?”
“Use a kinder term like ‘euthanasia.’ Although the Rights of Sentient Species Committee is pretty influential these days, so they might strongly oppose it.”
“…Rights of Sentient Species Committee?”
“You’ve heard of them?”
“Yes, I’ve heard some rumors.”
They were definitely a group that appeared in Romancing Academy.
An organization that advocates for coexistence between humanoid beings and humans, though they caused chaos at the academy with the humanoid beings they brought.
The protagonists of the story resolved the issues they caused.
Considering this is a past timeline compared to the main story, they haven’t caused trouble yet.
Either way, it’s an academy problem and not something I need to worry about immediately.
“Well, now that I’ve received the reward money, I’ll take my leave. Goodbye…”
“Oh, wait a moment. Before you go, I have a question.”
Callie stopped me just as I was about to leave.
When I turned back, she immediately asked me,
“How long have you been in this city?”
“I was originally in another place but recently entered this city after being hired.”
“So, you don’t have any official means to prove your identity here.”
Does she mean something like an identification card?
Feeling uneasy, I asked just in case.
“Would I be arrested for not having proof of identity?”
“Of course not. How could anyone check the identities of every single person in this city?”
That’s a relief.
Now that I think about it, there were plenty of countries in my original world that didn’t use personal identification numbers.
It’s not strange for a fantasy world to not issue ID cards.
“Still, if you’re going to work outside the backstreets, it’s better to have a publicly recognized identity. That way, people will trust you when you work.”
“A publicly recognized identity… such as?”
“If it’s something anyone can acquire, it’d be something like a mercenary or a fixer who handles odd jobs. Because they take on various tasks indiscriminately, anyone can become one. And if you get an ID issued by the association, having a high rank means even high-ranking individuals might hire you. If you’re struggling for money in the future, consider that option.”
Struggling for money…
Considering I’ll need funds for my duties as Jeremia’s butler, it might be wise to follow her advice and take up work as a fixer to ensure a steady income.
“Thank you for the good advice.”
“No problem.”
As I expressed my gratitude for the helpful information, Callie smirked and added,
“I have a feeling we’ll cross paths often in the future. In places with lots of incidents, capable people to solve them are always in demand.”
“Ha ha, I hope to maintain a good relationship with you as well, Captain Callie.”
After exchanging farewells, I looked down at the money pouch in my hand as I walked away from her.
With this much money, I won’t have to worry about food expenses for a while.
I just hope the meal I prepare with this will help foster a good relationship with Jeremia.
As I made my way to the marketplace, purchased some ingredients, and headed back to the mansion…
“Kyahhhh!!”
A woman’s scream rang out from not far away.
The voice immediately caught my attention because I knew exactly whose voice it was.
“Miss?”
Jeremia Andersen.
Why would she, who should be at the mansion, be screaming in the middle of the street?
—
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