Chapter 53
And so, here we are.
We had just returned to the Count's mansion after shutting down our sixth slave trader of the day.
"We successfully subdued another slave trader today, too!"
When Lady Eva gave her report with gusto, the Count gave a faint smile and
"I see. Good for you."
That was the same exchange as always.
The only difference was that the Count's "report meeting," held once every ten days, came next. Since Lady Eva was about to have dinner, Sebas, the head butler, led her away.
Only the Count and I remained in his office.
The walls were paneled with beautiful wood, and the broad, lengthy panels were absurdly expensive for something that was merely a wall. Despite the room's simplicity and lack of artwork such as paintings or vases, I still felt intimidated.
The Count spoke as he took out the usual report.
"Unfortunately, regarding someone named Lulusha—"
There had been no noteworthy information on either the search for Lulusha-san or Talent Jewels with five or more stars. Since the Count was bound by Contract Magic, I didn't think he could be lying.
After the Count finished his report, I told him that the name "slave-trader crackdown" was taking on a life of its own. But, as usual, the Count merely said, "I see," in his toneless voice.
"Count... Isn't this strange? If we go around unilaterally shutting down employment agencies, society will be thrown out of balance."
"You say interesting things, Reiji-san. Do you have a grasp of the entire Holy Capital?"
"Anyone could see it with a little thought about economics, and there is no way someone as intelligent as you could have missed it."
"You appear to possess some specialized knowledge, Reiji-san."
"Don't dodge the question. Count, what's happening with the guards' investigation into the employment agencies we've visited?"
The Count then handed me five investigation reports, apparently having prepared them in advance. Plant-based paper also circulated in this world, but its quality varied, and printing technology was mediocre, so everything was handwritten.
...The words "Strictly Prohibited from Removing from the Premises" are written in the upper-right corner of these documents, aren't they?
"I obtained proper permission to bring them here."
The Count said it as though anticipating my question.
I skimmed the documents. The agency heads had apparently agreed beforehand on their statements: "We knew that treating the people we dealt with like slaves was illegal, but we believed this work was a necessary evil," and, "We deeply apologize for calling people slaves." They had also said, "We didn't know she was the daughter of Count Slyries."
(Indeed, it had been permitted all this time precisely because it was considered a necessary evil. Since they'd called the people they handled "slaves," we'd been able to neutralize them and hand them over to the guards.)
I couldn't help sighing.
Even if we went around shutting down employment agencies, unless the demand to "sell oneself" disappeared, second and third agencies would simply emerge. This time, they would be operated by people who were even more cunning.
What Lady Eva and I were doing was nothing more than a futile effort... Maybe the Count understood that much and was letting us do as we pleased? So Lady Eva could have it her way.
When I raised my eyes from the documents, the Count was staring intently at me.
...What was with that look? Was he intensely curious? No, it was more like he was trying to sound me out...
He had always been a man whose face showed little emotion, which made him difficult to read.
"Your Excellency. Could it be that, by letting Lady Eva do as she pleases—"
"Reiji-san. I'll answer questions concerning your duties as a guard, but I won't accept questions about the relationship between father and daughter, all right?"
Hmm...
"Then I'd like to sit in on the slave traders' interrogations."
"...Very well. I'll write a letter to the guards' station."
Oh? That was easy.
I left the Count's office with an odd sense of discomfort—a queasy feeling that I was overlooking something.
(I should get in touch with Zelly-san.)
During the slave-trader crackdowns, Zelly-san watched over us from the shadows. Normally, she worked as an adventurer. She had been in the Holy Capital for four years, so she apparently knew several information brokers as well.
I'll have her discreetly look into the employment agencies.
Lady Eva's schedule was packed with studying, cultural lessons, and the slave-trader crackdown, but today she had an appointment unlike any she'd had before.
It was an evening gala she would attend as a guest in her own right, rather than accompanying the Count.
Although she had previously been no more than the Count's "accessory," now that she was twelve, she was going to make her debut in noble society as a member of the nobility.
The "New Sprouts and New Moon Banquet," hosted by His Majesty the Holy King, brought together noble boys and girls who would turn twelve that year. In this world, which had no school entrance or graduation ceremonies, it was the first—and last—grand occasion for noble children to shine. Wealthy nobles ordered their dresses more than a year in advance, while even poor nobles went into debt to borrow one.
For daughters, it was a dress; for sons, a treasured sword hung at the waist.
Though dazzling and excessively ornate, it had a genuine blade and was fully capable of killing. Wearing it marked the first step into adulthood.
The atmosphere throughout the mansion had been buoyant since morning.
"Amazing..."
"How beautiful."
The maids were gazing at it in rapture.
Lady Eva's dress, made by a top-class designer and top-class seamstresses whose schedules had been booked two years in advance, was spread across the table.
The dress was made from pale-pink fabric based on Third Silk, woven in the "High Elf Forest," located in a territory directly governed by the Kingdom of Geffert within the Kisgran Federation.
The "High Elf Forest" was a vast woodland region containing the "Third Forest," which produced Talent Jewels. Trade from there was conducted through only a very limited number of routes.
Third Silk, infused with a high concentration of magical power, took a long time to dye, but apparently Count Slyries had somehow taken care of that.
Nobles are incredible.
Incidentally, the maids had told me all this without my even asking.
"Lady Eva has finished her bath."
"Then let's bring her dress."
"Yes, right away."
The door to the adjoining room opened slightly, and I caught a glimpse of Lady Eva. Wrapped in a soft bathrobe, her white skin was flushed from the bath, but her expression was stiff. As I thought that even Lady Eva got nervous sometimes,
"Reiji-san."
"Oh, yes. What is it?"
The head maid shot me a sharp glare.
"Lady Eva has preparations to make for the banquet."
"Yes. Of course I know that."
"...Then?"
"............'Then'?"
"Are you planning to peek? Get out!"
I hurriedly fled the room. Of course. Even though I was her guard, that didn't mean I could stand there watching her change clothes and put on her makeup.
Normally, I was supposed to wait outside the room.
...Apparently, I'd gotten a little carried away, too. Well, it was a banquet, after all, and I was curious about what kind of food they would serve.
When I stepped into the hallway, Maxim-san was there, still wearing his bulky armor even inside the mansion—apparently security had been heightened since the attack on the Count.
"Oh, Reiji. I've been looking for you."