Dark ve Trader


    Generally speaking, ve traders are not inherently evil. In viges suffering from poverty and famine, it can be a means to survive while helping to escape children. Individuals who can no longer work may also sell their bodies as their final asset.


    In a way, it functions as a safety.


    In our world, at a more advanced level of development, the negative aspects of very be more pronounced. But at this level of civilization, it also has its necessary evil.


    Well, ves are personal property, after all.


    There are surprisingly few people who would go out of their way to overwork and destroy them.


    "Liora, let''s get ready. We have enemies."


    "Yes! God! I''m good at this!"


    "You''re a good child. That''s what makes you a proper angel."


    "Yay!"


    The behavior of dark ve traders lies in kidnapping and selling those who didn''t wish for it. It seems that there are many brainwashing techniques in this world as well.


    An adventurer who can fight to some extent is very useful as a ve.


    The dark ve trader grinned as he spoke.


    "Well then, the meal I''ve prepared for you. It''s delicious, you know."


    "Thank you, I''ll take it."


    Instead of epting the offered bowl, Liora swiftly swung herrge scythe. With just that, the dark ve trader''s head flew off, rolling across the ground.


    The blood spurted out with a dy.


    I used the umbre from [Darkness Creation] to block the filthy blood.


    "It''s over..."


    The aplices of the dark ve trader were left speechless as they watched Liora murmur.


    In the dim light, Liora, d in an aura cker than ck, took a step forward. She had her head slightly bowed, so her expression was hidden beneath her white hair.


    However...


    Immediately after stepping forward, she raised her head, and in Liora''s eyes—there was a swirling madness of fanaticism.


    "Eek! K-kill her! Kill her! The enemy is just a C-rank kid! Surround and kill her!"


    It seems like the merchant has misinformed the aplice of Liora''s rank.


    Not that it matters now.


    "We even have someone as strong as a B-rank here!"


    Meaningless chatter.


    Liora danced wildly.


    Swinging therge scythe, she also spun her body to generate more power.


    Heads flew off one after another.


    A few managed to injure Liora, but she immediately healed herself with [Regeneration], [Lifesteal de], and [Vitality Steal de].


    When the magic users in the back attacked, she neutralized it with [Magic Severing de].


    The little reaper girl grinned as her lips curled up.


    "Everything...is futile."


    A chilling, unique pressure emanated from her, the kind only the strong can exert, crushing the surroundings.


    The once formidable ve traders'' bodyguards now keenly felt the vast difference in power and existence.


    "She''s insane!"


    "Isn''t she supposed to be C-rank?! Why is she healing so fast?!"


    "Is it even allowed to just kill us without question?!"


    "Help me! Please! I need money for my family! I''m sorry, forgive me!"


    Those attempting to flee were ensnared by Samurai tentacles, which had been set up to spread across the dark night.


    Eventually, Liora mercilessly severed the neck of thest remaining person.


    The secret mission [Uncover and Exterminate the Dark ve Traders]plete.


    Next to the mountain of corpses, Liora began to enjoy the meal that had been prepared for the ve traders. Meanwhile, Samurai was gathering the bodies into one pile.


    From the scene alone, it looked like a group of evil people.


    However, justice is on our side.


    Liora hurried back the way we came, carried by Samurai.


    Although we wasted half a day using the ve trader''s carriage, Samurai is incredibly fast. The downside is that Samurai''s speed is much faster than mine.


    When Liora is riding, I naturally end up being held in Liora''s arms.


    Being carried by a little girl feels somewhat like a humiliating.


    That said, the improved food situation has led to her gaining a bit of weight.


    I can feel a slight softness against my back. Liora is holding me tightly, so I won''t fall (not that I would, since I can fly anyway).


    Meanwhile, I was reading a book that I had brought in through microtransactions.


    This [PHO] system allows you to recreate and bring in real-world items through paid transactions. With the time flowing three times faster here, reading and watching movies goes by quickly.


    And you can save time too.


    Although, with the intense shaking, some people might find it tough.


    So here I am, gracefully reading while being carried on horseback by a little girl.


    Ah, I see, I see.


    A creature that walks on its nose, huh?


    By the time I finished reading, we had already arrived at our destination.


    This is the first city of the third field, the City of Morning Star, Mari.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    In this third field, the Chaos Metropolis, many cities stand side by side. Each one is a walled city, functioning like a small country.


    Each city has its ownws, so we need to be cautious.


    "Liora, we''re not going to the reception desk, but directly to the Guild Master''s room."


    "Yes, God."


    "Being an A-rank adventurer sure makes things easy."


    Originally, the quest was to "verify the truth about the dark ve traders and report to the guild." But verifying the truth is difficult.


    Investigation missions take time. Stay updated with empire


    That''s why Liora rewrote the mission to "if judged as guilty, you may kill them at your discretion." This is a special privilege granted because of her A-rank aplishments.


    If we were C-rank, it would have been like, "You can''t just kill people based on your judgment."


    By the way, we brought the corpse back in the item box.


    It seems that having a body makes it possible to extract information. I don''t know what kind of skill or item is used for that, but it''s certainly convenient.


    In this world, the dead speak louder than the living.


    There was a bit of trouble inside the guild (the usual "What, a kid''s going to the Guild Master?" kind of hassle), but a couple of punches with the handle of the scythe to their stomachs seemed to silence them.


    I mean, it''s amazing that anyone would even think of bothering Liora at this point.


    After all, she''s got a halo above her head, wings on her back, and she''s carrying a huge scythe. I, with my ominous appearance, am apanying her. Even if it were a beautiful little girl, I wouldn''t dare approach her.


    We climbed the stairs and reached the Guild Master''s room.


    When we opened the chocte-colored door, there was an intellectual beauty wearing sses seated inside. She was dressed in something close to a business jacket, neat and tight. However, both her hands were equipped with what seemed like sturdy gauntlets.


    This person is Ernest Jacks, the Branch Manager of the Adventurer''s Guild, Mari branch.


    "Wee, Liora. How did the mission go?"


    "This."


    I ced the dark ve trader''s corpse on the desk I created with [Darkness creation]. Although only the head was needed, I brought the body just in case.


    Ernest''s eyes glinted under her sses.


    "Hmm… So this is the dark ve trader. Well, I''m not that familiar with the details. The quest isplete. That''s good enough, right?"


    "Aren''t you being a bit careless?"


    "Heh, we''re not that smart here. The details don''t really matter. As long as it looks the part. If you were lying to me, I''d juste and kill youter."


    Despite her appearance, Ernest seems to have quite a bold temperament. It makes things easier for me.


    With that, the quest waspleted.


    The dark ve trader apparently got back to work the moment the time freeze was lifted. If only it were a cleaner job, perhaps he would have been praised for being a diligent worker. But unfortunately, the nature of the work was too dark.


    Well, right now is a time of confusion, with the sudden lifting of the time freeze.


    In such times, money is in demand, and it''s understandable that people would find work more easily.


    It was a stroke of bad luck that Liora happened to show up just when they were already under suspicion.


    The reward was good, and it was a rtively simple quest to take on. If we keep stacking up aplishments, bing an S-rank adventurer won''t just be a dream.


    Liora is a powerful character, but she doesn''t have any backing.


    To avoid getting caught in troublesome conflicts that aren''t based on pure strength, having a strong position and backing is essential. The Adventurer''s Guild provides us with both.


    All it takes is that ticket of power.


    Ernest spoke up.


    "About the next quest… Will you ept it here? Or will you move to another city? We prefer younger adventurers to experience various adventures, so I''d rmend heading to a different city."


    "Is it okay to stay here?"


    "It''s not ideal. We do have a few quests that could use an A-rank adventurer. But any adventurer bound to this ce wouldn''t be worth much."


    "I see."


    Liora nced at me.


    Generally, her decision is mine as well. As I floated idly, I pondered for a few moments.