Episode 12
"...A hero?"
When I introduced myself as a hero, the little girl opened her eyes wide and asked back.
"Yes, just remember it that way."
"...Yes!"
She was so cute that I was smiling a fatherly smile and petting her head when the information search system I had activated displayed her information before my eyes.
And seeing that window, I soon frowned.
[Name: Glare]
[Ability: Strength 1 / Mana ??? / Intelligence 5 / Mental Power 6]
[Special Note: Unknown Potential]
[Disposition: Pure]
'...Is it trendy these days to have question marks in information windows?'
Feeling momentarily confused by yet another question mark, I was only able to understand why the question mark appeared after seeing her special note.
'...This little kid is a raw gem.'
According to the ancestor's words left in the prophecy book, the 'Unknown Potential' characteristic appears in very young children at a very low probability.
If there is some kind of trigger, that characteristic blooms and develops into a powerful ability.
Of course, without a system, one cannot know whether this characteristic exists or not, so most children with this characteristic fail to bloom, but the little girl before my eyes seems lucky.
'Since this little one has a question mark for mana... she probably has powerful magical talent, right?'
I opened the item shop window to give a final gift before parting with the little girl, but soon slapped my head and sighed.
- Potential Elixir LV1 700pt
Description) This mysterious potion may draw out the potential of the person who drinks it. (Purchase limit 0/1)
'...Right, I can only buy this once, can't I?'
To save Kania whose curse is rapidly worsening, I need to feed her younger sibling the 'Potential Elixir' to quickly awaken healing abilities.
So... unfortunately, it seems I cannot give the Potential Elixir to this cute little girl.
"...Little one."
"Yes?"
"Listen carefully to what oppa says from now on."
"...Yes!"
I was going to hint to her about the 'Unknown Potential' to increase the likelihood of her ability blossoming...
[Congratulations! You have successfully cleared
[As a reward, you can choose one of the following three items!]
When the system window and reward list appeared before my eyes again, I closed my mouth for a moment and began staring intensely at the list.
1. Evil Points 500pt
2. Gold Coins 150
3. Ring of Fortune
.
'...Ring of Fortune?'
There was an item with a quite attention-grabbing name in the 3rd reward, so I reached out my hand unknowingly, and the item's description began to appear before my eyes.
- Ring of Fortune
Description) May bring luck to the wearer...?
Looking at the item whose effect was in question form despite being a reward, I fell into thought for a moment.
'...Still, this ring is worth as much as 500 Evil Points and 150 gold, isn't it?'
I'm in urgent need of Evil Points right now, but since I've been working hard on evil deeds recently, I have some leeway.
And I still have plenty of gold. I brought my entire fortune today to secure 'items'... and 150 gold isn't that much money to me to begin with.
Then what remains is this suspicious ring... how about giving this to the little girl as a gift?
Although I couldn't give her the 'Potential Potion' as a gift... if I give her the 'Ring of Fortune' which is a clear reward, it might bring her luck as the description says.
And if that luck becomes the trigger to awaken the 'Unknown Potential'... there would be no better gift than that.
"...Um, Hero-nim?"
"Hm?"
"What were you trying to say that you're taking so long?"
"Ah, sorry. I made you wait."
"Ah, no! It wasn't boring at all!"
"I didn't ask if it was boring though?"
"...Heup."
The little girl, whose weak point was struck by my words, opened her mouth and subtly turned her gaze to the side.
Laughing at that cute sight, I selected the Ring of Fortune as the 3rd reward and held it out to the little girl.
"...Here, a gift."
"A-again!? P-please stop...! If you do this, I won't be able to repay you even if I die...!"
"I told you, you don't have to repay me?"
"B-but, mom said if you owe a debt you must repay it..."
At her crestfallen words, I was about to ask where her mother is now, but then recalled why the children wandering in the market came to be abandoned here.
Surely this little girl was also abandoned by a mother who could no longer endure, or left her deceased mother's side to beg in the market streets.
So let's not bring up such trauma again.
"Then, come find me later when I become famous and repay me then."
"...When you become famous?"
"Yes, the time will soon come when the entire empire will praise the hero's name. If you really want to repay, do it then."
"Yes, yes!! Definitely!! No matter what happens, I'll come find you and repay the debt!!"
"No, don't force yourself to repay if you can't afford it..."
"...Yes, yes."
"Then, can I give you the gift now? Come on, hold out your hand."
At my words to hold out her hand, the little girl hesitated, then carefully held out her hand.
Looking at her hand that was thin from not eating, I carefully put the ring on her bony fingers, worrying they might get hurt, and began to speak.
"...This is called the Ring of Fortune."
"...Ring of, Fortune?"
"Yes, if you keep wearing this... luck will come to you soon."
"R-really?"
When she asked with wide eyes at my words, I answered with a confident voice.
"Of course, it's certain because I, a hero, am saying it. So, keep wearing it from now on."
Hearing my confident words, the girl looked at the ring on her finger for a while, then tilted her head and asked.
"Um... doesn't the hero need this more?"
"Hm?"
"If you're a hero... you'll have to fight bad people... wouldn't luck be necessary for the hero?"
At those words, I answered with an enlightened expression.
"I'm a bad person so it's fine."
"...What?"
"Ah, no... I have a lot of these things. You know I'm rich, right? So you don't need to worry."
The little girl quietly nodded at my words, and I gently stroked her head one last time, then headed toward the bar's exit while giving final advice.
"And, you have talent in magic."
"...Me?"
"Yes, and it's a very outstanding talent. So after treating your younger sibling and getting a house, learn magic diligently."
"......C-can I really do well?"
The little girl hurriedly threw her last question from behind me after I had completely gone outside, and I also gave her my last answer.
"Yes, I, the hero, guarantee it. You will be able to do well."
"......!"
"Then, take care."
With those words, I left behind the brief connection in the back alley and began hurrying my steps to return to my original plan.
.
Glare, the wandering girl who had been blankly staring at Frey's retreating figure for a while, began muttering quietly when he completely disappeared from her view.
"......I had, talent in magic."
Saying that, she began caressing the ring on her finger, a gift from her savior, the hero.
"I'll, work hard. Hero-nim."
Then stopping her caressing for a moment, the girl carefully removed the ring from her finger, worried it might get damaged.
"I'll work hard and..."
Soon putting the ring back on her left ring finger,
"...when you become famous, I'll definitely come to repay the debt."
She finished speaking with a slight smile.
"...The interest, is it okay if I substitute myself?"
From her body, a faint light was leaking out.
It was the moment a new turning point that even the previous hero, Frey, and even the System couldn't predict was being carved into the world line.
.
"Frey!! Where on earth have you been!!"
"...I just went to get some fresh air for a moment."
"Nonsense!!"
I'm being scolded by Isollet right now.
Because I left her alone for a long time.
Actually, I received a quest from the System to save the world, raided an illegal human trafficking ring, eliminated the Succubus Queen who was the Demon King's confidant there, and freed all the kidnapped women and children, but if I told Isollet that, my life force would be cut.
"Really, you...!"
"Why, were you worried?"
"...Shut up. I'm not in the mood to joke with you right now."
"Hehe... youth, isn't it?"
I was quietly looking at Isollet who was speaking dishonestly, then turned my gaze to the dying voice coming from behind.
"It's a good time... a good time..."
The shop owner who was speaking in a dying voice while collapsed on the floor saw me and started speaking with a sly expression.
"So who is that young lady?"
"...Academy professor."
"Oh, forbidden love. But that makes it even more... kuhak!"
The owner who was desperately trying to speak even while dying was eventually hit on the head by Isollet's scabbard and collapsed limply.
"...You didn't kill him, right?"
"...I just knocked him out for a moment."
"Isn't that excessive force?"
"...It was appropriate action."
At the moment Isollet answered coldly, the magic tool shop that had at least some remaining structure collapsed with a crash.
Looking at the owner who suddenly became homeless with pity, I realized Isollet's cold gaze was still directed at me.
"...Tell me where you went, Frey."
"I told you, I went to get some fresh air?"
"If you don't tell me, I'll tell your father about the brooch incident."
"...That's petty."
When I frowned and grumbled, Isollet said with a stern expression.
"It's better to tell the truth. I can tell whether you're telling the truth or lying even with my eyes closed."
"...Alright, alright."
With an expression of resignation, I began telling her the scenario I had prepared.
"Actually, I went to the information guild..."
"Information guild?"
"Yes, a place where information is bought and sold. There are legal places too, but the information guild in the back alley has the most extensive information."
"...So, what information did you obtain?"
"Um... Today, the largest auction house that opens once a year is being held in the back alley... I got information that a terrorist attack might occur there."
"...What?"
When she heard the word terrorism, her eyes went wide, and I smiled internally while adding more details to my story.
"Well, I have a lot of money, you know? So I asked for the highest grade information they had. Each piece of such information becomes a weapon, you see."
"And?"
"But the highest grade information happened to be this. The auction is starting in just a few minutes... I completely wasted my money."
Isollet listened to my words with a dumbfounded expression and said,
"People might die from a terrorist attack... and you're regretting wasting money right now?"
"I wasted 11 gold coin pouches! Do you understand how serious this is..."
"Enough, tell me the location of the auction house right now. You leave this place as is."
"What, you're worried about me...?"
"Frey!!!"
At her shout, I stopped speaking for a moment, then scratched my head and opened my mouth again.
"...No, but even if you go there, there's nothing you can do?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"There's powerful magic cast there that only allows people with passes to enter. Even if imperial mages came to dismantle it, it would take hours."
"Tsk..."
At those words, Isollet began quietly biting her lip. Knowing she was about to give in, I began my final acting to drive the wedge in.
"...Ah! Now that I think about it, there is one way to get in..."
"W-what is that?"
When she asked urgently, I answered calmly.
"You and I... professor become lovers."
And when those words ended, a brief silence flowed between us two.
- Shing...
"W-wait, wait! This isn't a joke, it's real! It's real!!"
When she slowly drew her sword in that silence, I stepped back and spoke urgently.
"...Explain."
When she finally put her sword back in its scabbard and opened her mouth, I breathed a sigh of relief and began to explain.
"So, actually, I have a pass."
"That's convenient. Hand it over right now."
"It's useless even if you take it. The pass can only be used by the owner."
I continued speaking to Isollet with a sly smile.
"But if we register as lovers or a married couple in the auction house system, we can enter together."
"...Isn't that too lax a system for such tight security?"
"It's because they don't give passes to just anyone. Only those from verified families, and only those who possess wealth and honor are carefully selected, so that special privilege is given."
".........."
"In other words, if you really want to go, you have to act as my lover inside the auction house. Otherwise, you'll be suspected."
I smiled at Isollet whose chronic condition was activating and her face was turning red, and threw out a short remark.
"Then I'm counting on you, Isollet."
And the next moment, I was hit hard on the head by Isollet's scabbard.
.
"Please register Frey Raon Starlight and Isollet Arham Baiwork as a couple."
"...Surprising. Have you finally reconciled?"
"Just try selling this to the information guild. I'll bury you in the basement of our ducal house tomorrow."
"That doesn't sound like a joke so it's becoming scary. Please enter."
Having safely passed the person in charge, Arham Baiwork and I entered the auction house wearing the black robes we had prepared and the masks given by the person in charge.
"...D-do we really have to link arms like this?"
"Look at what the people who came in pairs are doing... those over there are even hugging."
"Ugh..."
Seeing the couples' displays of affection, Isollet made a pained sound and deliberately turned her gaze away.
"...You're too stiff, try linking arms more naturally."
"...I would know if I had done it before."
"...Sigh."
Feeling like I had something like a stiff piece of wood under my arm, I sat down in the auction house seats and began examining the people inside.
Of course, people were hiding their appearance with black robes and masks, but my information search skill doesn't mind such things.
'...Count family, magic tower elder, and even the imperial finance manager... the empire's key figures have gathered in one place.'
Quietly scanning the auction house, I discovered that people who are well-known in the empire had gathered in this narrow auction house, and I chuckled to myself while muttering internally.
'Well, the item I'm after has almost no known value at this point in time... but what matters is not the internal competitors but the external ones.'
I brought Isollet here today to have her stop the Demon King's unit that will soon come to raid for the item I'm targeting instead of me.
I'm already having a hard enough time as it is, and if I use my 'Blessing of the Stars' here, I might suddenly die an untimely death.
That's because the Demon King's unit that will soon raid this place isn't a small elite force like before, but has numbers, so the consumption of power would be great.
Of course, since it's a numbers game, someone of Isollet's level could handle it easily, so while she deals with the terrorism, I comfortably secure the 'item.'
If I secure that item, I can definitely secure the 'commoner dormitory raid incident'...
"...Huh!?"
"Hwet!"
When I discovered someone while searching and exclaimed in surprise, Isollet who was stiffly sitting next to me also let out a strange scream.
""............""
Because of that, the people in the auction house began quietly looking at us, and Isollet and I had to keep our heads down for a while.
"...Why on earth did you do that?"
"............"
After a while, Isollet whispered to me with a resentful voice, but I ignored her and held my head with a bewildered expression.
'...Why is Kania here?'
I don't know why, but Kania's information came to mind when I saw the person sitting next to Isollet.
I hoped it was someone with the same name, but even the values and special notes were the same. What on earth is going on?
".........!"
Thinking it might be a hallucination from being too tired, I raised my head to check the information again, but this time, the Saint Perlotche's information came to mind from the person sitting in front of me.
"...Excuse me, just a moment..."
"...Ah, yes. I understand...!"
While I was blankly looking at that information, someone tried to sit in the seat next to me, so I pulled my body to the side and looked at that person, and this time Princess Klana's information appeared before my eyes.
"...Is something the matter?"
"...No, it's nothing."
I answered urgently with my voice lowered to the princess who was tilting her head and asking, then looked at Isollet who was watching me with puzzled eyes, then looked at the main heroines who appeared in the auction house once each, and muttered internally.
'.......This is seriously a total trainwreck of a game.'
Something has gone wrong, terribly wrong.