Prada: A Devil Race maid working in Village Five. Miyo: A Little Girl Maid from Village Four working in Shashato City. Bron: One of the Beastman Boys living in the Royal Capital.
My name was Prada.
I was technically a subordinate of Lord Gucci, though I was currently employed in Village Five. As for why that happened... well, it didn't really matter, did it?
Village Five was a wonderful place. Above all else, the food was delicious. It made me quite happy that I could enjoy a decent level of gourmet dining even within my allotted food allowance. There was also plenty of entertainment. The event venue at the foot of the mountain was particularly delightful; if time had allowed, I would have visited every single day. If you were ever looking for a place to relocate, I highly recommended putting Village Five at the top of your list.
Now, it was recently decided that I would travel to Shashato City. I was to participate in an upcoming event as a representative of Village Five. I had wondered why I was the one chosen, but apparently, they wanted advice regarding the city's economy and had nominated me specifically. It made sense; despite my appearances, I was actually quite skilled in economic matters. Since all my expenses during the stay were being covered, I saw no reason to refuse. I planned to stay for about a month and enjoy their hospitality.
Perhaps it was a mistake to be so carefree.
The moment I arrived in Shashato City and finished my greetings with Miyo, who had come to meet me, I sensed it. A strange, unpleasant presence. It was a sensation I remembered all too well.
I could have pretended not to notice, but if it ever came to light that I had sensed the danger and done nothing, I would be the one getting scolded. I doubted anyone would find out, yet for some reason, these things always had a way of being discovered. I had learned my lesson the hard way. Therefore, I decided to take action.
"Miyo-san. This is an emergency. It's unfortunate, but I won't be able to participate in the event after all."
"Eh?"
"By the way, are there any people in this city whose deaths would be particularly problematic?"
"Huh? What's this all of a sudden? It would be a problem if anyone were killed."
"Ah, let me rephrase. Please tell me which individuals would make the Village Head or the Dragons angry if they were to die."
"Um, you're... not joking, are you?"
"Ahaha, of course I'm joking. Mostly. So, who is here?"
"...Regarding the Village Head, there are the employees of Maruura and Mr. Michael of the Goroun Company. Bron-san is also scheduled to visit shortly. I'm not sure about those related to the Dragons. However, the instructors and students of Ifuls Academy are connected to the Village Head's wife, Lu-sama."
"That's quite a list. Well, the timing of the event is actually quite convenient. Please gather those people at the venue as much as possible."
"What do you plan to do?"
"Nothing special. It's just that if something happens, I won't have to go around searching for them, right? That's all."
"..."
"Please don't look at me with such scary eyes. I simply don't want to cause any trouble for the Village Head or the Dragons."
"...I understand. I'll arrange for our own security measures as well. Do you need reinforcements?"
"I want them more than I can say, but please be extremely careful with the selection. There's a high chance they'll be killed, and I absolutely cannot afford to be resented by the Village Head or the Dragons for that."
"To be honest, Prada-san, I don't quite grasp the level of threat you're sensing. Just how dangerous is this?"
"Hmm. It feels like watching a novice adventurer trying to poke a sleeping Dragon with a rusted sword."
"...If it were me, I would run away as fast as my legs could carry me."
"I'd love to do exactly that. But things aren't quite so simple... Please just pray that nothing happens."
"Understood. Please stay safe."
"Thank you. I'll do my best."
I headed toward the source of that strange presence. It was located on a major thoroughfare in Shashato City. It was a fairly conspicuous spot, yet there it was, laid out in plain sight: a magic circle.
A Recognition Inhibition effect had been applied to it, so to the uninitiated, it looked like nothing more than a decorative pattern. However, it was an Ancient and True Magic Circle. Just passing over it would drain one's life force. The absorption rate was kept low to avoid immediate detection, but staying in the area for an hour would cause someone to collapse. Two hours, and they would likely be dead.
I neutralized the circle by erasing a portion of the script. I didn't have the time to erase the whole thing. According to my senses, there were nearly forty such circles hidden throughout the city. I decided to start neutralizing them from the harbor side where the event was being held.
I had already used several communication methods to contact Lord Gucci. He would surely arrive with his forces before long. My current role was to neutralize the circles while searching for the person who had placed them. I really wanted to avoid actual combat, considering the nature of the opponent.
I wasn't entirely certain yet, but judging by the placement and style of the magic, it was almost certainly the woman herself. Or perhaps her disciple. If it was only a disciple, I might have stood a chance. I prayed fervently that it was just a disciple.
I was about halfway through neutralizing the circles when...
I found her.
It was the woman herself. She had apparently come out to investigate after noticing her magic circles were being deactivated. Had she not noticed me yet? There was no way that was true.
"Yes, yes, please don't glare at me like that. I'm not really the combat-oriented type, you know? Ah, since this isn't exactly the best place for this, shall we move elsewhere? I'd prefer to go outside the city. It would be a hassle if we caused a scene here."
We moved to a meadow northwest of Shashato City. The city was still visible in the distance. I had wanted to go further, but given the opponent, I didn't have much of a choice.
"Prada. Do you intend to interfere with my plans?"
"Whether I intend to or not, I can't exactly leave such dangerous magic circles sitting around, can I?"
The woman standing before me was a member of the Devil Race, just like me. Her name was Beton. Beton Guri Anon. She was the one who had once fought Lord Gucci for supremacy. Lord Gucci had won, of course. In other words, she was of a lower rank than him. Yes, a lower rank, a lower rank.
"Prada, do you really want to see me get serious?"
"No, I haven't said anything at all."
"You were thinking something insulting, weren't you? I can tell."
"Oh? Am I really that easy to read?"
"Obviously. Listen, Prada. Why don't you help me?"
"Help you?"
"Yes. If you do, I'll forget about what happened in the past."
The "past" referred to the time I had interfered in her duel with Lord Gucci. One could say my interference was what decided the outcome... which was why this was bad. She almost certainly held a massive grudge.
Would it be safer to side with her now? Just kidding. There was no way someone like Beton would forget the past just because I helped her a little. She was a Devil made of pure, unadulterated tenacity. However, to buy time until Lord Gucci's forces arrived, I decided to pretend to consider her offer.
"All right. What should I do?"
"Prada. Are you mocking me? I told you that you were easy to read."
Just as the shadow extending from Beton's feet vanished, it surged up from behind me, attempting to swallow me whole. This was bad. She had lured me to this spot precisely because she had already prepared a magic circle here. And I had walked right into it like a fool, thinking I could stall for time with conversation. I couldn't help but laugh at my own stupidity. Ahahaha.
To compensate for my carelessness, I had to pay a price. I decided three Gold Coins would be a fair start.
I drew the coins and tossed them. They erupted in a brilliant light, forcing Beton's shadow back. In that opening, I repositioned myself to a safe distance. Having fulfilled their purpose, the coins turned into mere mud and fell to the ground.
"Tch. For someone who's always complaining about being broke, you're quite willing to throw money away. Did you find a high-paying job?"
"No, no, I'm being worked to the bone for a pittance. However, I make it a point to keep my living expenses separate from my combat funds. I won't run out of resources in the middle of a fight."
"Oh, really? Then let's see just how much you've managed to save."
"Ahaha. I'd really rather you didn't."
I wondered if I could handle an unactivated magic circle with just Silver Coins. But if I used silver now, Beton would just laugh at me. To keep up appearances, I gripped my remaining Gold Coins. Appearances were everything for the Devil Race, after all.
I had seventeen Gold Coins left. That was fewer than I'd thought. I wondered how long I could hold out. I really hoped Lord Gucci would show up before I ran out of money.