Chapter 19 - At the Cost of Ignorance (5)

Sometimes when playing a game, you can see a map or location where NPCs and monsters exist at the same time.

The 'slums' in the original 'Legend of Heroes' was such a place. Pickpocket NPCs and humanoid monsters named Pickpocket coexisted. It was a format where the number of monsters was too low to call it a hunting ground, but aggressive mobs existed so it couldn't be considered a safe zone.

If you ask why I'm bringing this up now.

"Aaaagh!"

"Your courage is commendable."

It's because I want to say that unlike the original, the remake version doesn't have anything floating above their heads, making it hard to tell if they are mobs or NPCs. Daaaaaamn it.

I approached thinking it was an NPC and almost got pickpocketed.

"There are things forbidden by God. One of them is theft."

On another note, I now know why the Inquisitor had a rather unenthusiastic... no, sour expression the entire way to the slums.

Our stubborn Kimchi Dumpling seemed rather uncomfortable having to meet people who broke God's word.

"Fuck, what terrible luck..."

The guy who was kicked and sent tumbling after putting his hand on my waist muttered a curse. At that, the Inquisitor's expression turned cold and she gripped her mace.

"He who commits theft shall have his wrist—."

"Stop right there, Inquisitor."

"Pardon?"

"Keeping doctrine and discipline is not a bad thing, but you shouldn't do it at every moment."

"But that is a sinner."

"Isn't mercy needed at times as well?"

"... Mercy, you say."

"Yes, mercy."

"..."

Even at the Archmage's words, the Inquisitor didn't look like she understood. Her stubbornness seemed to slowly and clearly reflect in that lack of understanding.

Well, it's not a part I have to care for, so it doesn't matter.

"There's a rumor that pickpocketing has decreased recently, is that true?"

Judging by the attempt to pickpocket me, it seemed like he would be classified as a mob, but I tried talking just in case. Unlike the original where they were just concluded as monsters, I judged they might have been upgraded to something like hostile NPCs. Or maybe this is also part of the story—leading to interrogation if the player catches them, and pursuit if missed?

If none of those, well, I'll just handle it according to the situation.

"Wh-What are you talking about."

But you're coming out this uncooperative?

"I won't ask twice."

Judging by what the Inquisitor was about to do, it seems people who steal here get a wrist amputation punishment, and you have to put obtained information to good use.

I drew my longsword without hesitation. The Archmage, who had been gently coaxing and persuading the Inquisitor from behind, was stunned, but it was none of my business.

"Your wrist, or an answer."

I firmly stepped on the pickpocket's chest and moved the tip of the sword, which had been pointing at his throat, to his wrist.

The newly rising sunlight vividly displayed the movement of his Adam's apple.

"Hic! I-I don't know! It's true that the territory has gotten roomier, but...!"

"Speak exactly. Why did it get roomier."

"S-Some of the pickpockets who used to rule the area emptied their zones. Th-That's why."

"Whereabouts."

"I don't know that. It's a daily occurrence for one or two guys to hide themselves in this business to begin with!"

[❖ Ominous Omen

∎ Talk to Pickpockets 1 / ?

∎ Talk to Beggars 0 / ?]

Why does he know so little. The moment I made that judgment, the count went up by one.

Seeing that the number of people to ask isn't set, it seems I just need to converse with however many guys and extract the desired information.

Plus, that I can also get information from a guy who might be a mob or a hostile NPC.

"Is there anyone who knows more details than you."

Ah, still, I should ask this before I go.

"W-Wanggae might know. All the pickpockets in this area pay him money."

"Location."

"Wh-What?"

"Location."

Kuh. So I can ask this too, right? Apart from the guy not giving the answers I want, interrogation is fun.

I tasted thrilling amusement while interrogating with a cold voice to match my concept. In other games, you could only press for answers with given options, but here I could do it however I wanted, which was a unique point of fun.

Of course, I don't feel confident that I asked more precisely than if keywords had been designated.

"If I say that, I'm dead!"

"Then I'll cut off your wrist."

"Fuck!"

The pickpocket NPC heaved his body as if trying to resist, but my foot pressing down on his chest was a bit stronger.

And since my enjoyment of interrogating an NPC while intoxicated by my concept was greater than the guilt of cutting someone else's wrist, the blade aimed for his wrist without hesitation.

Unlike a tongue, cutting a wrist didn't evoke much resistance in me—since it's something that happens quite often when hunting monsters—which made it even more so.

"Damn it, damn it damn it..."

Will slashing sever it in a single strike? But it feels like scraping the floor would ruin the blade more.

A stabbing method would be better. I raised the arm holding the sword above my head. My intention was to stab right through the center of the wrist and sever it in one blow.

"I'll talk, I'll talk!"

And the moment I was about to bring the blade down, the NPC squeezed his eyes shut and finally shouted his surrender.

THWACK!

I struck down into the floor right next to his wrist.

"Guide me."

"Fuck, just when I thought I'd earn a bit this morning..."

Who told you to pick me as your first customer.

SHING.

Anyway, I got his promise. I sheathed the longsword and removed my foot. Of course, I didn't relax my body so I could catch him right away if he ran.

"He is a thief."

The Inquisitor, who had been watching, couldn't hold back and added a word.

"Not my business."

Of course, it wasn't a very important issue to me. It was despicable that he tried to steal my things, but wouldn't finding the tail of a demon that might be around be (concept-wise) the priority over that.

"Also, unless you want to test the speed at which my sword pierces you, you'd better not get any funny ideas."

However, that didn't mean my disgust was completely relieved, so I warned the pickpocket.

"I... I got it."

I just poked at him just in case, but was he really planning to run away? I narrowed my eyes as I looked at the pickpocket who flinched while getting up.

Judging by that, he'll completely ignore the warning and try to run again as soon as we enter an alley. There's nothing more I can do here, ah, a tracking spell?

But it feels a bit off for me to ask first. I still have to keep some distance. Just like people from a different group, literally just walking the same path.

"Archmage. How about casting that spell."

"... You mean a tracking spell?"

"Yes. He might run away, might he not."

I pondered whether I should invest my unspent skill points into tracking after catching the Demon Contractor.

But in the meantime, the Inquisitor did it. It wasn't that she read my mind, of course, it seemed like a condition she laid down just because she didn't like the pickpocket.

Or else it was just an arrangement placed because it was part of the story.

"What?"

"... I'm not sure if this is right."

At the mention of a tracking spell, the NPC jumped up and the Archmage let out a faint sigh.

"I have cast a tracking spell. We will be able to catch you even if you run away."

But he didn't refuse in the end.

His staff waved once, and a brand was stamped onto the pickpocket NPC. He tried to rub it off in a panic, but there was no way a spell could be erased with physical force.

"Get moving."

"Fu...ck."

* * *

"What is it, why did you crawl back—?"

Once the undeniable shackle called magic was fastened, the pickpocket guided us to Wanggae with a resigned face.

"Wh-Who are you!"

An NPC, who was chubby unlike a thief, stood up in shock. Looking at his physique and the food placed around him, he was clearly a guy who lined his pockets well as a manager.

"What the hell did you bring—."

"It'll depend on what kind of answers you give."

"Gah."

Well, how much he embezzled was not my concern, so I lightly tuned it out. Instead, I kicked his bulging belly. That was because the guy picked up a dagger that was on the table.

"That does not look like a very good way to greet someone."

"If you're dissatisfied with my methods, turn around right now and handle it your way."

The Archmage seemed to be slowly feeling skeptical about the character of his companions. But my concept had always been like this. Ahaha. Roleplaying is so fucking fun.

"My words might be blunt, but the sentences could be long."

I kicked the fallen guy's hand to knock the dagger away, and drew the knife prepared in my own inner pocket.

Combined with the experience of twirling a balisong and the game's system assistance, even a fixed-blade knife spun rather smoothly around my fingers.

"Wh-What are you going to ask."

How come the so-called boss has less guts than the guy he bosses around.

Still, him being that terrified made it easier to interrogate. I slowly asked the things I wanted to ask him from a peaceful posture.

The results from that were terrible if you could call them terrible, but there were some gains if you could call them gains.

"Wh-What is your intention in asking me? The Heresy Inquisitor would know this matter better, wouldn't they. Taking them to the Temple for the purpose of rehabilitation."

"... What did you just say?"

Even if the quality was terrible, I had at least gained the next direction to move in, so that would be it.

"Swear to God! Are you certain they were taken by the Temple?"

The Inquisitor, who suddenly intruded, pressed him angrily. It was slightly uncomfortable since it overlapped with my concept's tone and temperament, but it felt fine when I reminded myself that hers was strictly for criminals.

"Y-Yess... I can swear it. There is not a single lie in what I said."

"The duration?"

"I-I properly grasped it starting from a month ago... my guess is that it started even before that."

"... Blasphemy!"

And the Inquisitor erupted in fury.

"The rehabilitation of criminals is only permitted during the period allowed by the Grand Temple! Yet to arbitrarily volunteer for rehabilitation when it's not even that period!"

... That was a very annoying reason to be bothered. And here I thought there was something incredibly suspicious.

"... That's not the important part, is it."

"Then what is more important than this?!"

I left the somehow paler white lion—the Mage—and the Inquisitor behind, and stared down at Wanggae.

"You said they've been dragging people away since a month ago."

"Yes, yes."

"Did they drag away a lot of people at a time?"

"No... the boys said they only quietly dragged away one or two at a time."

Wanggae glanced at us nervously as he said that.

"Exactly like how human traffickers quietly and secretly drag people away. Ah, I'm not saying it was actually like that. How could the Temple do such a thing. It's just a metaphor..."

Wow. At this point, it's undeniable even without my memories of playing the original. It's almost to the point of becoming solemn at how cliché the development is. Not that it matters since the game system is so fun.

"What did you just—."

"Did dragging people away happen regularly?"

Before the Inquisitor could spout something with a furious face, a stern voice struck first. It was the Archmage with a serious face.

"Yes, yes. Two or three times a week, a Heresy Inquisitor roams around at a set time. So I've restricted anyone from going out at that time."

A bipedal white lion over 2 meters tall gives off a terrifying feeling even by just stiffening his expression slightly. The NPC trembled as he affirmed. The Archmage's face instantly turned fierce.

"Could it be... sacrifices to a demon...?"

He seemed to adequately picture the worst-case scenario just from this testimony alone. Well, it was the same for me.

"What does that mean? Sacrifices!"

"... It is merely a hypothesis. However..."

"The Order would never do such a thing!"

CLACK.

Anyway, I shoved the dagger I was still holding into the mount inside my pocket.

"There's nothing as useless as the phrase 'would never'."

"...!"

For reference, this wasn't strictly for my concept, but a phrase that came from my life experience. I found there was truly nothing as untrustworthy as the phrase 'would never'.

Still, since I had to maintain my concept, I muttered while stroking my right arm. The sound of gulping breaths coming from behind was a very satisfying kind.

"Does anyone know where they dragged them off to?"

"W-Well, I don't know..."

That was the answer that came back when I asked while acting like a block of ice. Seriously, I wonder what this bastard actually knows. Well, all quests are like this though.

"I-I know!"

At that moment, someone shouted from behind. It was the pickpocket who had guided us here.

I thought he would've run off immediately, so it's a bit surprising he waited until now. It really is the story, right?

"To be exact, it's not that I know, but I know someone who would know... but seeing as a demon was brought up, this is an important matter, right?"

Receiving our gazes, the guy stammered for a moment but spoke firmly. Our first impression was a mess, but he was a really likable guy.

CREAK, CREAK.

I turned my back on Wanggae and walked toward him. Every time I did, the old wooden floor made a bizarre sound, but that rather created a subtle atmosphere.

The guy who had shouted courageously stepped back and gulped.

"Wh-What."

Did I set the mood too much? But that's the 'con.cept'.

"Guide me."

"... Follow me."

I followed him. The twisting alleys welcomed me again.

"Let us go, Inquisitor."

"... Yes."

The Archmage and the Inquisitor naturally followed me as well.

* * *

"The place I'm taking you guys is the roughest back alley even in these parts."

Had we passed about two alleys? The pickpocket NPC spoke to me. It was an unexpected action, so I almost missed it.

"So... be careful not to pull out your sword there. The people there are incredibly sensitive. Especially to that Heresy Inquisitor! They absolutely hate Temple people, so make sure to warn her."

I appreciate the advice, but I don't think the latter part is something you should be telling me, hey. Still, the Archmage seemed to have heard it, so it should be fine.

"I also have no intention of associating with thieves—."

"Inquisitor."

Look at that.

"I'm telling you not to do something stupid and put me in danger too! Got it? I-I'm just trying to help because it seems like an important matter for everyone!"

More importantly, now that I look at this pickpocket, it seems he has a bit of a tsundere streak. Reminds me of my younger cousin who had no manners but was cute.

"Even if things go south, I'll let you out alive, so guide me without any complaints."

"Hmph, you seem to be showing off your skills, but you won't survive unless you're a knight, you know?"

Is that so. But coincidentally, I'm an ex-knight.

I furrowed my brow looking at the pickpocket who began chattering, wondering how he had held it in. To be honest, I wanted to keep listening to his chatter, but my concept hates noisy things. I have to express my displeasure like this to avoid breaking character.

RUSTLE.

"You need to be careful from here on. Don't draw your sword, just in case..."

But the moment we entered a certain pathway he guided us to, I instinctively placed my hand on the hilt of my sword.

[A target harboring hostility exists within a 20m radius.]

"Fuck, what are you doing! I told you not to draw your sword!"

"If you don't want me to draw this, relay a message. Tell them to sheathe the blades they're harboring first."

It was a good thing I raised Enemy Detection by one tier. The increased radius is nice, but more so the fact that it tells me the location of the closest target with a mark only visible to me.

"What?"

"Come out."

I cast my gaze one by one, counting the single clearly visible target and the number of faint breathing sounds I could hear if I listened closely.

"... Are they here?"

The Archmage and the Inquisitor didn't seem to hear the breathing.

Well, it's understandable for the Inquisitor who is a healer-tank, but shouldn't the Archmage be good at soundplay? Aside from his class, he's of the Shaggy race. Shouldn't his ears be better?

"Do you want me to go to you?"

Also, why aren't they coming out even after I gave them a hint.

"... Hoo."

Just as I was about to put my hand in my pocket, wondering if I should throw a dagger at them, someone stood up on the roof of a shack.

It was the hostile target closest to me, a guy with dark green cat ears popping out from between his deeply pressed hood.

Seeing that he had animal ears but his lower half of the face had human features, his race was probably 'Cutie'? If he were a Shaggy, his lower face would have been animal-like as well.

"I've heard talk about a guy like you sometime before, you know."

But if that figure feels somehow familiar, could it just be my imagination?

"Two-toned hair. A gauntlet worn on only one arm. A covered right eye."

Probably not.

Because there's no way a thief of the Cutie race, with dark green fur and an untrimmed scruffy beard on his chin, would be common.

Let alone when you add that cocky tone.

"Demon Knight, right?"

That guy, with a high probability, is the representative character for the Thief class.