Volume 5 - CH 17

Chapter 17 – After Story

“Sorano, have you talked to Kabs properly?”

Eto asked Sorano who just came out of the Knight’s Order headquarters.

“Un. With this, I’m done.”

“I see. I’m glad for you.”

“Un.”

“What did you two talk about?”, Kohaku asked.

“The reason for enslaving me.”

After being asked by Kohaku, Sorano explained the content of her last conversation with Kabs. And as the explanation progressed, Kohaku’s expression changed into anger.

“What’s the problem with that guy! How dare he speak such nonsense! In the end, he is just a small person!”, Kohaku said in a loud voice.

“Sorano’s attitude is also praiseworthy.”

Amou praised Sorano’s attitude and put his hands on Kohaku’s shoulders.

“I’m sure we won’t meet anymore.”

Although Sorano’s expression was lacking as usual, her face looked somewhat refreshed, as if a weight was gone from her shoulders.

According to Guild Master Sidrake, Kabs will undoubtedly receive a death penalty. Regarding Tulle, although he has indeed colluded with Kabs, apparently he was spared from the death penalty. The reason for that is because it seems the slaves that Kabs and his group brought this time were the first group of kidnapped victims. In other words, Tulle had not yet sold those who were illegally enslaved.

The only exception was Sorano that he sold to Tamara. However, at that time, Tulle and Kabs had only formed a partnership and there was still no talk about a joint venture. For that reason, Tulle’s position was the same as Tamara, who sold Sorano to Eto, and was not guilty.

The specific charges that Tulle received were that he had detained the kidnapped children and beastmen in the old castle which was their hideout, and that he was trying to engage in illegal trafficking as a collaborator of Kabs. Since the latter is still categorized as an attempt, it is likely that he will be sentenced to imprisonment for up to 10 years and labor-punishment as a slave.

As for his subordinates such as Dent and the veteran clerk, who knew the situation to some extent, were guilty. It is said that they will likely receive imprisonment as their punishment. And it seems, those who were not directly involved in the crime do not seem to be charged.

Regarding the slaves, the pair of brother and sister kidnapped in Veil have reunited their parents. Although their father was about to be sent as a slave to a mine near Saltgar, the Knights who were watching Kabs’s movement were fortunately able to protect him. And the Knights will be responsible to bring the three who reunited in Saltgar along with the other children who were kidnapped back to their homes.

Meanwhile, the lion beastmen, Gaios, was about to be deported to his homeland. In consideration of the relationship with the nation of the beastmen, the Kingdom concluded that they will only expel the troublesome person who went into a rampage in a gambling place.

After Sidrake informed Eto that, Eto reported that it was thanks to the information Gaios gave him that he was able to take control of the old castle faster than he expected. In addition, Eto also told Sidrake that Gaios was protecting the children while Eto was fighting. And thanks to these achievements, Gaios was spared from disgraceful treatment such as deportation and guaranteed free action within the kingdom.

The other day, Eto saw off Gaios who was going to return to the southern port city. And Gaios, whose face was wrapped with a cloth and wearing a robe that covered his body, asked Eto for a handshake.

“Eto-san, I’m really indebted to you. I don’t know what would happen to me without you. And it seems that it was also thanks to Eto-san that I wasn’t deported to my country.”

“Gaios-san has also helped me in the old castle, after all. So, we’re equal in this regard.”

“I’m thinking of looking around the southern town for a while. If you have something to do there, please do look for me. I’m sure I can at least be a guide. If you tell the Guild, I’m sure they will tell me your message.”

“Then, I’ll trouble you at that time. But, Gaios-san, I hope you haven’t been deported yet when I somehow sent a message.”

“Hahaha, I’ll try to gamble moderately so that it doesn’t happen.”

As Gaios said that, he jumped into a carriage heading south.

Incidentally, it seems Tamara will buy all slaves that Tulle had in his firm. And Eto, along with his party, undertook an escort request to transfer the slaves to the Tamara Firm. The slaves will be put on a carriage to the firm and warehouses owned by Tamara.

While the slaves were escorted to the carriage, a second-grade slave, Sarah, came out from the doorway of the warehouse. And when she saw Eto, she approached with a smile.

“Mouthless-san, can you tell me your real name?”

“My name is Eto.”

“Eto… The hero, Eto?”

“Haa, come to think of it, some people indeed call me that.”

“… Fufufu, ahahaha. Interesting! It is precisely because this kind of thing can happen that I think this world isn’t all bad. I see, so you are Eto-san.”

Sarah stared at Eto intensely, as if the feelings that she had been holding onto until then were released.

“By the way, I decided to work at Tamara-sama’s firm. It’s all thanks to Eto-san for telling them that I was your informant.”

Eto has heard that from Tamara. It was Sarah who told Eto that she had witnessed the brother and sister that were kidnapped in Veil. Thanks to that information, Eto came to a conclusion that it is highly possible that the said brother and sister were confined in the old castle. Tamara was interested in the story when Eto told him about that, and expressed his intention to hire Sarah as his subordinate. It seems that he asked Sarah if she wants to buy herself back with her salary. And Sarah seems to have accepted that offer.

“Good for you. The information Sarah-san gave me really helped, after all. Besides, you also know that I had some purpose, right? That sharp intuition is surely suitable for business.”

“Fufufu. Thank you, Eto-san.”

Sarah brought her face closer to Eto and gave a light kiss on his cheek. Then, while looking at the perplexed Eto, Sarah said, “I wish I could meet you again somewhere.”, and boarded the carriage prepared by Tamara.

“E-t-o, what was that? What were you doing when we worked our ass off!” Kohaku approached Eto with a scary face.

“I didn’t do anything, okay! That was…. I don’t understand.”

“I’m the one who doesn’t understand, though! We were worried, you know?! So, who was that woman?”

“She is Sarah-san, a second-grade slave–”

“A slave? Did you seduce a slave while infiltrating the slave firm? You’re the worst!”

“No, don’t say something misleading. I didn’t do anything.”

“Then, what was that? You seem close to her, though?”

“No idea?”

“Hah! What do you think about a woman’s kiss!”

“Alright, whatever…”

In response to Kohaku’s strict pursuit, Eto raised a white flag.