Chapter 213

“King of the Underworld? What’s that about? Our Elidore family has a tight grip on the continent’s commerce.”

Luri reacted sensitively to my conversation with Anette.

The continent’s commerce.

Naturally… there was also an underworld market.

If it couldn't be eliminated entirely, it was normal to at least control it.

For that reason, the Elidore Ducal Family also had connections to the black markets run by the underworld, so it was understandable that Luri, its heir, would be surprised by the sudden appearance of a King of the Underworld she knew nothing about.

“He’s from the lawless zone.”

Anette replied with a sigh.

Anette and I were just as frustrated.

“I don't know which of the many lawless zones near the border of the Cosmos Empire it is, but he seems to already have considerable influence over the underworld and black markets across the continent. His identity is unknown.”

As the two masters of Extra, we were in the position of governing the slums of the Imperium Empire’s capital.

The underworld was inextricably linked to the slums.

The existence of someone calling himself its king was unsettling.

I glanced at Adela, wondering if she, who had built a close relationship with the underworld in the original story, might have any relevant information.

“There are imperial informants dispatched to the lawless zones, but there’s no record of this in any of their reports. To deceive the eyes of the Imperial Family, what an insolent fellow.”

Adela shook her head and answered firmly, indicating she knew nothing either.

The Imperial Family, the continent’s top merchant guild, and those who controlled the capital’s slums all knew nothing.

Utterly clueless.

Like being lost in a dense fog, there was no information about the King of the Underworld.

A lawless zone near the border?

There were more than just one or two of those.

“…How dare he take advantage of the empire’s chaotic state due to the demon attacks to seize control of the underworld from the outskirts…! Despicable!”

Anette fumed.

“Perhaps.”

As the conversation reached this point, a piece of information came to my mind.

“Have you heard of Angel Medic?”

It was the information recorded in the booklet Bianca had compiled.

“Angel… healer?”

Luri tilted her head.

That was certainly the literal translation.

“It seems to be a panacea being traded on the black market among young nobles.”

“It’s a drug.”

“It’s a drug.”

“It’s a drug.”

As expected of smart people, a long conversation wasn't necessary.

“In any case, I think we need to investigate the connection between this self-proclaimed King of the Underworld and this suspicious Angel Medic.”

“A self-proclaimed King of the Underworld and a new, rapidly emerging drug. The timing of their appearance is the same. I agree.”

“Angel Medic, I will keep that in mind. I and the Defardly Knights will search the slums.”

“I’ll also use the full extent of the Elidore Merchant Guild’s information network to find him. But it will be difficult since it’s a black market in the lawless zone.”

It was a good thing I brought Adela and Luri.

Especially Luri.

“I, too, will stir up the Imperial Intelligence Department. …Tsk, what a shame.”

‘Adela returned the Shadow Knights.’

It was a change that occurred as Prince Kazaks' succession became certain.

“Martin! I’ll do my best!”

Luri’s eyes burned with enthusiasm.

It was no exaggeration to say that this case was Luri’s stage to shine.

The four of us discussed for a while longer before returning to the classroom.

It was just before the morning assembly was about to start.

Hailey was already standing at the teacher’s desk.

“Ahem! You all were almost late. Hurry and sit down.”

Hailey, with her fiery eyes, was as cute as a pink chick flapping its wings.

As I was about to go to my seat, Hailey suddenly shrieked.

“Cadet Martin! And Cadets Adela, Luri, and Anette! I have nothing to say about your relationships, but a four-way relationship is not allowed!”

“…?!”

I was so startled that I answered reflexively.

“That’s not it!”

Then I turned my head as if to tell them to say something.

“Ahem…, so Martin and I look like that, do we…?”

“Oh my, Teacher Hailey, you’re so…”

“U-uh? I-I, I’m not mentally prepared yet…!”

I had to explain for a long time that it wasn't true.

* * *

It would be foolish to try and count how many facilities the Imperium Academy has.

Of course, you could find out by going to the administration building, but that’s how many there are.

There were even five teahouses just for the cadets.

Among them, I sighed in a certain teahouse at the Academy that cadets didn't even know existed, located on a high hill and with a strong old and worn feel.

“Ha.”

Drinking the lemon tea the owner had made, I felt my anger rising.

‘I don’t know about other things, but this one thing is definitely more delicious than our cafe’s. It’s enough to make me jealous.’

I had never tasted such a perfect lemon tea anywhere.

Even the Gothic style of the teahouse.

There were quite a few things to learn from.

It was strange that there were no people.

‘I should come here with Lilac next time.’

She would love it.

Just the thought of it brought a smile to my lips.

‘No, no.’

I shook my head.

‘First, the other problem.’

It was a complicated matter.

As soon as things like Know-It-All and the Humanity Preservation Agency were resolved, something else came along.

‘The King of the Underworld. I’ve never seen this in the original story.’

As Know-It-All reached Master level, the details of the original story began to come back to me more clearly.

Of course, that too was just a fragment of the future prophecy seen by the Star Maiden.

In any case, I had never seen such a grandiose character as the King of the Underworld.

“I don’t know.”

I gently bit my lower lip with my upper teeth.

Like a fishbone stuck in my throat, it was unusually bothersome.

He was a villain who didn't appear in the original story.

That made him an exception and a variable.

Now that the scales were stable, any future that could weaken the continent’s power and give the Demon Lords another chance to attack had to be nipped in the bud.

Maybe I was overreacting.

In other words, maybe he was so insignificant that he didn't even appear in the original story.

It could be Ben’s bluff.

But for some reason… my intuition kept warning me.

‘Angel Medic. King of the Underworld.’

- Know-It-All (Master) recalls that Angel Medic was popular among young nobles and suggests starting an investigation. This is the Imperium Academy, a school attended by the children of high-ranking families.

- Wild Instinct (Master) says it can detect drugs just by looking. The unique bittersweet smell emitted by a drug-addicted person is easy to identify.

It would be good to take a look around.

‘No, wait.’

I don't need to move alone.

This is the Imperium Academy.

A place where a supporter acknowledged even by the Star Child reigns.

I took out my Cadet Handbook.

[Martin: Principal Lukfels. I have something to inquire about….]

I roughly wrote about Angel Medic and the King of the Underworld.

I thought the principal, being a busy man, would be slow to reply, but.

[Lukfels: I’ll look into it. Thank you for the report.]

He was the kind of principal who would even consider raiding the Humanity Preservation Agency for his cadets.

I figured he would naturally help with the investigation since drugs were involved.

[Lukfels: But since I’ve fallen for your ploy, it’s only fair that you help me too. Do you remember the law of equivalent exchange, the core of magic engineering and alchemy?]

Hah, what a crafty principal.

[Martin: I’ve heard it enough to be sick of it in Magic Studies class. Go ahead.]

I hoped he wasn’t going to suggest raiding the Imperial Palace this time.

[Lukfels: I’d like you to visit someone again.]

A name I hadn't heard in a while popped up.

[Lukfels: I’d like you to visit the Animas family and try to persuade Cadet Matthew, whose spirit was broken during the Brahmus terror incident, one more time. I’ll arrange for you to be accompanied by Teacher Faris this time as well.]

I ask for an on-campus drug investigation, and in return, I get a request for a home visit.

Well, this isn't a bad deal.

[Martin: I’ll do it.]

[Lukfels: A few days from now, on Christmas Eve, you will depart with Teacher Faris.]

The contact ended.

‘Matthew…’

He was actually a meaningful connection.

He was the first one to open his heart to me in my early days of possession.

…Excluding Lilac and Sebastian, of course.

I also remembered giving Matthew one of the Extra Privileges, the secret manual of the ancient druids.

I hadn't heard from him since, so I figured I should go see him at least once.

‘Tomorrow, my schedule for today is clear.’

I might not have time between helping at the cafe and doing Peacemaker work, but I had to make time to train as well.

‘Should I visit the Ulvhadin family….’

Ulvhadin’s Vow Bullet.

It was a family secret technique, but it was a waste not to be able to use it because I hadn't learned it.

‘If I send a letter of visit…. No.’

I sighed, put down my teacup, and pushed it away.

‘There’s a guest.’

At that moment, something like sparkling sand began to rise from the floor.

No, it was sand.

Golden sand.

It gathered and gathered, eventually taking the form of a letter.

[Let’s meet in front of the Maid and Butler cafe after school.]

It was a very short message.

After I finished reading it, it turned back into sand and disappeared.

‘Hmm. Her proficiency with the Desert Hierophant is improving day by day. Princess Adela.’

It was something to congratulate.

In any case, she had agreed to stand with me on the opposite side of evil.

‘But why?’

Why in front of our cafe?

If she had business, we could just meet at the Academy, couldn’t we…?

Tilting my head in confusion, I stood up from my seat.

“Thank you for the drink, owner. Your skill in brewing lemon tea is superb.”

The elderly owner smiled faintly as he wiped a teacup.

“Don’t mention it, cadet. I’m just grateful that you recognize it.”

Lunchtime would be over soon.

* * *

“Alright, let’s move it, quickly!”

“Be careful with that!”

“Finish up before the next carriage arrives!”

I stared blankly up at the new building.

When I turned my head, the cafe, Maid and Butler, was right next to it.

‘Hmm.’

Let me explain about Maid and Butler.

It’s a two-story building; the first floor is the cafe, and the second floor is the living space.

There’s a park in front, giving it a perfect atmosphere for a cafe.

There were also shops to the left and right.

One was a flower shop.

It was run by the park manager, a sort of public institution.

They were good neighbors who helped me out when I needed to quickly procure edible flowers or herbs to put on top of drinks or tea.

The other one was a shop run by an old woman alone.

You know, the kind of corner store you often find in parks.

She was an old woman of excellent character who would carve wood with a knife and give the carvings to children.

Just yesterday, she had called me ‘the young cafe owner’ in a friendly manner and had even given me a carving of Sebastian.

‘But what is all this…?’

In the short time I was at the Academy, the corner store had undergone a dramatic change.

The shabby building had been torn down, and in its place stood a stylish three-story house.

The scale of the workers involved in the move was also unusual.

‘What is this.’

Naturally, I thought of the old woman who owned the shop.

‘I didn’t think she would move the shop.’

She had said it was a corner store she ran as a hobby in her old age.

She had said she would do it until she died.

Or perhaps something had happened to her.

‘Was she being threatened by loan sharks without my knowledge…?’

As I stared blankly at the transformed corner store, I heard a sound from behind me that was clearly aimed at me.

A passing carriage had stopped exactly behind me.

“…?”

With wide eyes, I turned my head to see a large, luxurious carriage, painted black with gold leaf.

It was a six-horse carriage, drawn by no less than six horses.

In Earth terms, it was practically a limousine.

Who on earth….

“Aigoo, young cafe owner!”

“…?”

I looked up to see the carriage window open and the old woman from the corner store appear.

Wearing sparkling sunglasses, the old woman looked unfamiliar today.

“Excuse me, ma’am? What is this…”

“Eung. Someone just bought this old woman’s shop and land, you see?”

Shop buyout?

The corner store?

And they built a large mansion?

Not in the city center, not on the main street, but in a quiet place like this?