Rei would have preferred to keep explanations about this incident to a minimum.
If word of the Dolan Workshop situation got out, it would unquestionably spark a massive uproar.
What's more, most of the guests staying at the Star River Inn had come specifically for the Dolan Workshop's golems.
Who could say what would happen if those people learned the truth.
That said, having dragged them this far into his own affairs, he couldn't very well offer no explanation at all.
In the end, Rei decided to leave out the matter of necromancy and speak only about the illegal slaves.
"Long story short, there were a large number of illegal slaves inside the Dolan Workshop. I was asked by the family of someone who'd been enslaved to rescue them. But the Workshop can't just let us walk away knowing what we know, and they want their slaves back."
The reactions to Rei's blunt explanation varied.
Some looked incredulous at the words "illegal slaves," while others acted as though he were making a fuss over nothing.
People's responses differed, but several immediately slipped away from the group.
(They're probably going to inform their employers or masters about this.)
The Dolan Workshop collecting illegal slaves was undeniably a scandal.
It wasn't as bad as the necromancy, but it was still disreputable without question.
Among the nobles and wealthy merchants, there would certainly be those who felt it was unwise to do business with such a party.
On the other hand, it wouldn't be surprising if others decided a problem of that degree posed no real threat and chose to continue their dealings.
Either way, the final call belonged to those who hired the bodyguards.
Given that, trying to relay Rei's information as quickly as possible was hardly a poor decision.
"That's the gist of it. Sorry, but I've got things to do, so I'll be taking my leave."
With that, Rei turned from the group and headed for the stairs.
A few of those left behind looked like they still wanted to ask him something, but as far as Rei was concerned, he had fulfilled his minimum obligation. Staying any longer wasn't an option.
He made straight not for his own room, but for the room where Maruka and the others were staying.
Since Maruka was the one sheltering Camila, that was the obvious destination.
"Maruka, Nicky, you in? It's me, Rei."
He knocked, and the door opened immediately.
Nicky had probably sensed who was on the other side through their presence alone.
Not that Rei had made any particular effort to hide his.
"Brother Rei, you're safe!"
Nicky's voice carried what sounded like genuine joy from the bottom of his heart that the man he admired had returned in one piece.
Honestly, Rei had no idea why Nicky was so fond of him.
But not understanding it didn't change the fact that having a friendly ally was never a bad thing.
"Yeah. A lot happened... seriously, a lot. But for now, everything's fine. Not just me—Lindy's safe too."
"That's good. Then Camila will be happy too. Come on in. I want to hear all about it, and I'm sure the young miss is brimming with curiosity as well."
"Speak not of unnecessary things!"
Maruka's scolding voice rang out from inside the room.
She wasn't genuinely angry at Nicky's remark, though—there was a casual warmth behind it.
Nicky understood that perfectly well, which was why he paid no particular mind to the scolding and ushered Rei inside.
Once inside, Rei spotted Camila asleep on the sofa.
Given that it was the middle of the night, it was hardly surprising that a child like him had dozed off.
...Though Maruka, who wasn't that much older than Camila, was still wide awake.
Probably a difference in upbringing.
(Then again, I remember reading somewhere that sleep deprivation is bad for a child's growth.)
How had he been at that age?
The thought crossed his mind as he looked down at the sleeping Camila and spoke.
"What should we do about Camila? Should we wake him?"
Camila was the one who had come to Rei with the news about Anne.
And Camila was without question worried sick about her, so Rei figured it might be better to let him know she'd been safely rescued. When he asked, Maruka thought for a moment and nodded.
"Indeed. Normally, I would not wish to wake him after he finally managed to fall asleep when worry had been keeping him up... but when it concerns an acquaintance who was enslaved, it is better to tell him as soon as possible."
"True. He was really worried."
With both Maruka and Nicky in favor of waking him, Rei didn't object.
If he'd been in Camila's position, he would have wanted to know about Anne as soon as possible—no question about it.
"Camila, wake up. Camila."
He gave the boy a gentle shake, and within seconds, Camila's eyes fluttered open.
"Huh? Um... oh!"
At first he seemed groggy, unsure of where he was or who was standing over him, but after a moment the picture clicked into place.
"You're awake."
"What about Anne!?"
That was the first thing out of his mouth—proof of just how worried he'd been.
Rei nodded, as if to put him at ease.
"Don't worry. Anne's been rescued. She's hiding with Lindy somewhere the Dolan Workshop can't find her. I came here to let you know that both of them are safe."
"Eh? Why didn't you bring her here?"
He wasn't doubting Rei's words, but he couldn't understand why Anne was hiding instead of coming here with him.
A perfectly natural question.
"There are a few reasons. The big one is that Anne wasn't the only illegal slave—there were quite a lot of them. From what I could tell of Lindy's reaction, some of them were from Buldan."
"Eh?"
That was clearly unexpected.
Camila's drive to act was well beyond his years, but at the end of the day, he was still a child living at the orphanage.
And while Buldan wasn't a large city, it still had a fair number of residents.
If this were a small village, everyone might know each other by face. But a city of that size made that virtually impossible.
That was why even if other Buldan residents had been enslaved alongside Anne, Camila wouldn't necessarily have known them.
"On top of that, some people on our side inside the Workshop escaped with us, so we ended up with quite a crowd. That's why it's better for everyone to stay hidden rather than move as a group right now."
Hearing that, Camila had no choice but to accept it.
He was disappointed that Anne wasn't here, but if what Rei said was true, it couldn't be helped.
"So, Brother Rei. Who are those guys hanging around outside the inn?"
As expected of someone chosen as Maruka's bodyguard, Nicky had naturally noticed the people lurking outside.
The reason he hadn't gone down to the first floor like the others was simple—Nicky was Maruka's only bodyguard.
He couldn't leave her side.
"Dolan Workshop pursuers. Their target is..."
Rei paused, and his gaze shifted—naturally—toward Camila.
Noticing the look directed at him, Camila blurted out in surprise.
"Eh? Me!?"
Clearly not expecting to be named, Camila stared in dumbfounded shock.
"The Dolan Workshop holds significant influence in Egginis right now. That being the case, word that Camila came to see Lindy would have spread quickly. If so, it wouldn't be surprising for them to target Camila as Lindy's weakness, given that Lindy infiltrated the Workshop tonight."
At Rei's explanation, Camila's face flickered with surprise and fear... but almost immediately shifted to a look that said he'd be damned if he let them get the better of him.
Heh.
Rei was impressed. That was a strength of will hard to believe from a child.
Or maybe he just didn't grasp what it meant to be targeted by the Dolan Workshop? But no—the fear had been there at first. He understood, and he was still standing firm.
"So what should I do?"
"I'll take you to where Lindy and Anne are. You'll lay low there until this whole thing is resolved. Though I should warn you—no going outside where you'll be hiding. That alright with you?"
"Of course!"
Camila had come all the way to Egginis to get Anne rescued in the first place.
Being together with the Anne he'd helped save was hardly a bad outcome for him.
"Good. Then as for preparations... you probably don't need any, but I have something to discuss with Maruka and Nicky. Give me a little time."
"Eh? Okay. Got it."
"Once we leave the inn, we'll probably be running. So rest up now. I know it's sudden, but if you run out of stamina mid-flight, I'll just carry you over my shoulder."
With that, Rei drew Maruka and Nicky toward the corner of the room.
Setting aside the illegal slave business, the necromancy—using human souls to create golem cores—was something he'd rather Camila not learn about if he could help it.
"What is it?"
"This isn't something I want Camila to overhear."
Maruka's room, befitting one rented by Duke Quento's House, was quite spacious.
Even with everyone in the same room, a quiet conversation in the corner wouldn't normally reach Camila's ears.
Once they were gathered in the corner, Rei explained what was, in a sense, the real issue—that the Dolan Workshop had been using necromancy, binding human souls into golem cores.
"How... is that true?"
Naturally, Maruka had come to Egginis specifically to purchase the Dolan Workshop's golems. Being told those golems were made from such things—it would have been harder not to be shocked.
Nicky's expression had gone stern and tight as well.
"Yeah, no doubt about it. And this is a secret the Workshop absolutely cannot let anyone discover."
"...Why would you tell such a secret to me?"
"If something happens and I can't make this public myself, I want to leave it in your hands. But obviously, I don't intend for that to happen. We're fairly close, so I just thought you should know."
"That is... a delicate matter. I'm not sure whether I should be grateful."
On a personal level, Maruka felt she could trust Rei's words completely.
But that was Maruka as an individual. As a duke's daughter, the sheer magnitude of what Rei was claiming made it a far more delicate question whether she could accept it at face value.
"Well, it's up to you what to do with this information. I won't push you either way."
"Mm..."
Being told to do with it as she pleased only created another dilemma.
"In any case, the information has been passed along. The reason they were collecting bandits and illegal slaves probably traces back to this."
"An unpleasant story, indeed."
Maruka murmured, looking thoroughly displeased.
Beside her, Nicky remained silent.
But his silence was the kind born of desperately trying to rein in the anger seething inside him.
It looked like he might explode at any moment.
Why Nicky had suddenly ended up in that state was obvious enough to Rei.
It was clearly what Rei had just told them.
"Nicky."
Concerned, Maruka called his name.
After a brief silence, Nicky spoke.
"Young miss, I have a favor to ask..."
Maruka, somehow sensing what that favor would be from Nicky's demeanor, nonetheless prompted him to continue.