I woke in the middle of the night.
It wasn't morning yet. I could tell by the leaden weight of my eyes that I hadn't been asleep for very long. I needed to use the bathroom and then try to crawl back into bed.
I’d apparently gone a bit too hard last night.
All that exertion had left me parched, and I’d overcompensated by chugging water under the guise of hydration. Now, my bladder was paying the price.
This was entirely my own fault. Amber is a fearsome thing indeed.
"Master?"
It seemed Roxanne had woken up because I’d stirred. What a sweetheart.
"I’m just going to the bathroom. Go back to sleep."
"No. Let me get the candlestick."
Roxanne prepared a candle and its holder for me.
I lit it using magic. Magic is an incredible tool, but it's surprisingly inconvenient for something as simple as borrowing a flame. You can't just manifest a tiny, delicate spark.
I cast Fire Wall into an empty space next to the bed. It was extreme overkill. If I had misjudged the distance even slightly or left something sitting in that spot, the house would have been a funeral pyre.
I lit the candle and headed toward the kitchen.
The sight of my own massive shadow, cast by the flickering candle, swaying eerily in the dim room was unsettling. I could finally understand why people in the old days, back when there were no electric lights and only tiny flames to pierce the dark, believed so fervently in ghosts.
Not that I thought anything would actually appear, of course.
I reached the kitchen. The room was only vaguely illuminated by the candlelight, my shadow dancing gloomily against the walls. It was creepy.
No.
That wasn't my shadow.
Something was moving.
Something small, dark, and blurred.
I stared. I shouldn't have, but I couldn't help it.
There, prowling the midnight kitchen, was a certain black lifeform.
A specialized creature that runs faster than it flies.
A black devil that, should it take to the air, would plunge all of humanity into the depths of despair.
A true... ter-roar.
It was there. It was undeniably there.
I saw it. I saw it with my own two eyes.
The ultimate biological calamity. An emissary from the pits of hell. The black lightning.
Even if a red organism moved at three times the normal speed, this black horror moved faster still.
In an instant, it vanished into a corner where my eyes couldn't follow.
But there was no doubt. It was in my house. It was in my kitchen.
I fled.
Retreat. A strategic withdrawal. A tactical repositioning.
I had thought the enemies of humanity in this world were monsters and Labyrinths, but I was wrong. I had thought that humans, who infested both Earth and this alternate world like cancer cells, were the primary threat, but I was wrong about that too.
An organism even more powerful and tenacious existed on both Earth and in this world.
The enemy of humanity, the strongest, worst, and final biological weapon.
Humanity would find no sanctuary in this world. Eventually, we will lose the struggle for existence and be driven from this land. Because they—and only they—are the absolute peak of all living things.
"Uwah!"
I scrambled back into the bedroom in a panic.
I sat on the bed, trembling, and clung to Roxanne. As long as she was with me, I could feel safe. Yes, as long as I had this warm body beside me, I had nothing to fear.
"Um, Master? Did something happen?"
Roxanne gently wrapped her arms around my back and asked softly.
"He was there. He was there."
"He?"
"Gleaming black. Running around."
"Ah. That would be..."
"Don't!" I whispered. You must not speak its name.
Never. Absolutely not.
I covered her mouth before the forbidden word could escape. What would we do if the creature were summoned by the mere mention of its name?
In any case, it seemed that creature was known in this world as well. At least I hadn't been the one to accidentally bring them here with me. There was a chance I’d brought over some bacteria or viruses, but there was no point in worrying about that now.
"Let's just sleep."
I closed my eyes, but I could feel it nearby. It was there. It was moving. It was crawling toward the bed...
Gyaah!
I... I couldn't sleep.
I was too preoccupied. I felt like it was everywhere.
Damn it. If that's how it is, I'll show it that humans are the dominant species here. I'll make it known that we are very much active.
Come, Roxanne. Let us be active together.
Truly active.
Very active.
"Master, good morning."
Roxanne woke me.
After our late-night "activities," I had apparently fallen asleep, overcome by a pleasant fatigue.
Waking to a sweet, gentle kiss after a bout of intense passion—it was wonderful.
Or so I thought, until I pathetically twitched and surveyed the room. The devil. He was still out there.
For now, the bedroom seemed safe.
"Good morning, Roxanne. Good morning, Sherry."
"Good morning. Is something the matter?"
Sherry had clearly noticed my suspicious behavior.
"N-no. I just caught a glimpse of 'him' last night."
"Could it be... the black one that moves with a rustling sound?"
"That's the one."
As expected of Sherry, she avoided the forbidden name. She understood.
"I see it has finally appeared. As long as we are renting a house, I knew this would happen eventually. The war begins now."
"We’re going to fight it?"
Can we even win?
"Please purchase some Love Shrub leaves at the guild. If you chop them finely and boil them into a paste to make dumplings, they become a weapon for battle."
Oh. So they’re like boric acid dumplings. It seemed insecticides existed in this world too.
"Then we’re safe."
"They are a weapon, yes, but they aren't perfect. Shrub leaves are basically odorless and tasteless. To lure them into eating it, we must add flour, sugar, various vegetables, or soup broth. However, the enemy is clever. They will soon learn the scent and stop eating. Because of that, we must gradually repel them while constantly changing the recipe. This battle is long, and it will continue forever."
"That sounds like a lot of work."
"We cannot expect a complete victory in this war. Still, if it goes well, we can make it so we rarely see them. We can gain a moment of peace."
A moment of peace was more than enough. If we stopped seeing them, I’d consider it a total triumph.
"How reliable. Shrub leaves, huh? Can we not gather them ourselves?"
"Shrub leaves can only be found once you reach about the 50th Floor of a Labyrinth."
So they were found in Labyrinths. They must be a drop item from some monster. That’s why we had to buy them at the guild.
The 50th Floor was the level at which a Labyrinth opened its entrance to the surface. If the entrance opened, "they" got in. Therefore, the world provided a weapon to counter them. It seemed even the Labyrinth was troubled by their presence. They truly were the strongest organisms—stronger than the Labyrinth, stronger than monsters.
"Understood. I'll leave that entirely to you, Sherry."
"As you wish. I will do my absolute best."
Sherry was motivated. I could leave the pest control to her without worry.
This morning was busy. There was much to do.
First, we entered the Labyrinth. After returning around sunrise, I had the two of them put on their Kohaku necklaces before we warped to Pelmask. Moving via the Labyrinths made the trip effortless.
"I’m counting on you two."
I gave each of them a silver coin for the entry tax, and I handed Sherry sixty silver coins and the raw stones. Gold coins weren't necessary for this trip.
"Um... are you not coming with us this time?"
"I’ll have the two of you handle it."
"Including the necklaces, this is quite a fortune."
True, the total value of the amber they were carrying exceeded 100,000 Nahl. Since it would likely sell for even more in Pelmask, it was a significant sum. However, since I’d given them gold coins last time, it wasn't a massive jump in risk.
"It’ll be fine."
Finally, I jumped from the Zabil Labyrinth to Pelmask and sent them off.
The sun was already high in Pelmask. It seemed to be located quite far to the east. I killed time in the Labyrinth and then went back to retrieve them. When the two returned to the Adventurer Guild, they were safely in possession of the mirrors.
I warped directly home, then immediately moved to the Labyrinth to recover my MP. I’d have to do this four more times.
"The raw amber all sold for forty silver coins each," Sherry reported once I’d recovered enough to take a break.
"Oh, you did it! Great job."
Selling for five times the purchase price? That was even better than I’d imagined. That was a serious profit. If my 30% increase had applied, we would have been rolling in it.
Well, I shouldn't get greedy. I didn't even know if the skill worked on trade.
"The workshop master said it was a special case because he saw Roxanne’s necklace. He said he couldn't offer that price a second time."
"I see."
The master was likely the head of the workshop. Did they sell to him directly? It seemed my skill wouldn't have applied anyway. But why Roxanne’s necklace?
"...He should just perish."
Sherry spat out the curse.
I see. I had a pretty good idea of what happened.
The master was a man, and he’d been staring at Roxanne’s necklace—or rather, what was under it. Damn him. How dare he look at my Roxanne with those eyes?
"Indeed, he should just perish."
"I also spoke with the master's wife. She said she would buy a Kohaku necklace for up to twenty-five gold coins. She called it a 'punishment' for her husband."
So the master had a wife. And yet he was looking at Roxanne with lecherous eyes? Since she called it a punishment, he must have been caught. Well, if Roxanne mentioned she got a high price for her stones, the wife probably filled in the blanks herself.
"Sherry, well done."
"Yes. As for the mirrors, after extensive negotiations, I managed to get them down to twenty silver coins each. Factoring in the advance payment and what we’ve already bought, we will receive a total of fourteen mirrors. Subtracting this batch, the remainder is ten mirrors, including the ones with stands. The total count increased slightly, though."
Since I’d given three gold coins as an advance, twenty silver coins each meant fifteen mirrors. Since we’d already bought two at thirty silver each, the remaining 240 silver bought twelve mirrors—meaning we were effectively buying them at twenty silver each now.
The "free" mirror we were supposed to get was gone, but she’d obviously used that as a bargaining chip. It was an incredible result.
"Don't worry about the number increasing. It's not like we're paying extra. Regardless, getting the price that low is impressive."
"A workshop run by a man like that doesn't deserve a profit. He should just perish. I told the wife we wouldn't be doing direct sales to them anymore, but the price wouldn't budge further. This seems to be the absolute floor."
"I... I see."
She had really strong-armed them. Cutting the price by a third was no small feat. Sherry was proving to be a terrifyingly tough negotiator.
"Since they wouldn't go lower, I naturally made sure to speak with the wife again. Evil has been vanquished."
She really was merciless. The master not only lost his profit margin but got ratted out to his wife. Even if she didn't explicitly "snitch," Roxanne’s presence alone was enough to do the job. Sherry was a scary girl.
"Truly, evil never prospers in this world."
"Yes. I have the four gold coins right here."
Having finished her report, she opened her Item Box and produced the coins. I opened mine and accepted them.
Between selling the mirrors to Gosler and the necklace to the workshop master's wife, our coffers were going to be overflowing. Once the mirrors were all sold, we’d have enough to visit the Slave Merchant House in the Imperial Capital.
I had to admit, though, I felt a little conflicted about earning so much outside the Labyrinth. Was it really more profitable to be a merchant? Maybe I should just switch careers to international trade.
But then I remembered that the only reason I could reach Pelmask at all was because I’d leveled up in the Labyrinth. When I first tried to warp, I was exhausted just by jumping to a nearby Labyrinth in Vale. Without the Labyrinth, this income wouldn't exist. Not to mention the seed money required to buy the mirrors and amber in the first place.
Once my MP was restored, we left the Labyrinth and headed to the Adventurer Guild. We finished our shopping and returned home.
I left breakfast to Roxanne and Sherry and flew to Bode carrying one of the mirrors.
"I’d like to request an audience with Lord Gosler."
"Yes. Please, come this way."
When I spoke to the same knight as yesterday, I was immediately ushered into the back. We were heading straight for the Duke's office, even though I’d asked for Gosler.
"Enter."
It was Gosler's voice. He answered the knight's knock immediately.
"Pardon the interruption. The Captain has a guest."
The knight entered, and I followed.
"Ah, Lord Michio."
In the office, the Duke and Gosler were seated across from each other at a desk, buried in paperwork. They were clearly in the middle of a workday.
"Pardon my intrusion."
"If you'll excuse me," the knight said, bowing out.
"Oho. Is that it?"
As the knight left, the Duke’s eyes locked onto the mirror. Since I was carrying it with such care, it was obvious what it was.
"Yes." I placed the mirror on the desk.
"Hmm."
"It is indeed a mirror without any ornamentation," Gosler noted.
"I have one in my audience chamber, but the clarity of this reflection is truly superior," the Duke added. He then rang a bell.
Immediately, an attendant appeared. There had been no one in the hallway when I’d entered. Where did they come from? If they doubled as guards, staying hidden was likely part of the job.
"You called, Your Grace?"
"Fetch Cassia."
"At once."
The attendant took the order and vanished.
"I’ll have my wife look at it. When it comes to mirrors, her eye is far sharper than mine. I’ve already briefed her; she should be here shortly," the Duke explained.
I suppose even in this world, women had a keener interest in mirrors. Then again, the only reason I’d gone through the trouble of getting one was for Roxanne and Sherry.
"They said they can provide various sizes," I noted.
"Exactly what we hoped for."
"However, the total number of mirrors might end up being a bit higher than planned."
While we waited for the Duchess, I continued the business talk with Gosler. The original order for ten had turned into thirteen.
"As long as the quality is authentic, I do not mind. Even if we cannot frame them all as gifts, we have other uses for them."
If they couldn't find enough frames, they couldn't use the mirrors as official gifts from the House of Anhalt. I’d effectively forced them to buy thirteen, so they might end up with surplus. Well, if he said it was fine, I wasn't going to argue.
"Also, regarding the amber, it seems I can sell it in Pelmask. Thank you for the introduction."
I made sure to thank him for the lead. I said it "seemed" like I could sell it, rather than "I already made a killing," but there was no need to be too specific. I’d gone to Pelmask before coming to Bode this morning just in case I needed to report any issues. It wasn't a bad thing for the Duke or Gosler to hear that local products were in demand elsewhere.
"My Lord."
"Ah, you're here."
"Pardon me."
A knock came from the door, followed by a woman's voice. The Duke's wife had arrived.
The door opened, and a beautiful woman in a dress appeared.
She was stunning.
Wait... are there three of them?
No, it was the one in the middle. The woman in the center. She was breathtaking. An absolute, peerless beauty.
Being Elves, all three were certainly attractive, but the woman in the center was in a class of her own.
Her beauty was so radiant I almost thought the sun had suddenly broken through the clouds and entered the room. She had bright golden hair, skin as pale and translucent as fine porcelain, large, clear eyes, and lips the color of cherry blossoms.
She was like a single, magnificent rose blooming in the middle of a bouquet. Even among the beautiful Elves, she was a level higher—no, two levels higher. There really was always someone better.
The two women flanking her were likely her ladies-in-waiting.
"Allow me to introduce you. This is my wife, Cassia. And this is the adventurer, Lord Michio."
The Duke introduced the beauty in the middle. Just as I’d suspected.
"I am Cassia."
She curtsied, moving her foot back gracefully. When a woman that beautiful does it, even a simple greeting becomes a work of art. Her beauty was different from Roxanne’s; it was a sense of total, flawless perfection. She looked like a Greek sculpture or an exquisite porcelain doll.
So, being a handsome Elf Duke meant you got a wife like this.
In the end, it really was power that mattered. Power was everything.
How hateful. How envious. How jealous.
What kind of class system was this? What kind of stratified society? What kind of blatant inequality? Should such exploitation be permitted? Should such tyranny be allowed? Should such absurdity be tolerated?
It was unfair. It was irrational.
Revolution!
Let the ruling classes tremble in fear. The proletariat have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workers of all lands, unite!
From this day forward, I shall live as a Red Fighter. I shall live for the struggle! I shall live to fight those who exploit the masses! I shall live with nobility! I shall seek justice, freedom, and equality!
Down with the crown! Power to the people!
"A pleasure to meet you. I am Michio."
I bowed deeply before Cassia.
One must always act as a gentleman in the presence of a lady.
"The Duke has told me much of your exceptional talents."
A benediction was bestowed upon me from her lips. It seemed the Duke had been praising me behind my back. I’d clearly misunderstood him.
The Duke was a wonderful man. Revolution was entirely out of the question.
"You're too kind."
I took the opportunity to use Appraisal.
Cassia Nordbraun Anhalt, Female, 29 years old. Wizard Lv 41. Equipment: Substitution Misanga.
She was still young. In her twenties. Truly in her prime. A sweet, succulent fruit at the peak of ripeness. Moreover, they say Elves age so slowly that to a human like me, she wouldn't show a sign of it for decades. Cassia would remain young and beautiful in my eyes for another twenty or thirty years.
Unbearable.
Her Wizard level was surprisingly high, though. Then again, considering someone like Gosler wasn't even a Wizard, perhaps this was the standard for the elite.
"Is this the item?"
"The mirror Lord Michio brought us."
"Allow me to see."
Cassia approached the desk. Even her walk was elegant and refined. She moved with a graceful, swaying gait. A true noblewoman. Every step was a poem.
She peered into the mirror. Her profile was stunning; her eyelashes were long and delicate.
"Well?" the Duke asked.
"Yes. The reflection is perfect. There is no doubt," Cassia declared after a moment of scrutiny.