Chapter 216

Chapter 216 – Clink Clink Clink

Prior to making our way toward the Black-White Slums, we decided to secure some mounts.

‘A two-hour journey by horse, if I recall correctly?’

Honestly, covering that sort of distance on foot wouldn’t have been much of an issue for me.

The real concern was Evelyn, however…

‘A two-hour trek would simply be grueling for someone in her position.’

Granted, her capabilities at Jenion Academy were highly regarded, but she remained nothing more than an undergraduate student at the moment.

Because of that, renting horses was a necessity, though I hadn’t restricted my arrangements solely to transportation.

“Put this on, just as a precaution.”

“What exactly is this…? A disguise?”

“Walking around with your true face exposed isn’t an option. This has been imbued with magic to distort people’s perception and alter your voice. Pretty useful, wouldn’t you say?”

“…Ah, thank you.”

With those preparations out of the way, we rode out from Jenion Academy.

Our travel proceeded without any incidents.

The path connecting Hazen to the Second Black-White Slum consisted entirely of expansive prairies, and given its proximity to a major metropolitan area, we didn’t encounter a single outlaw.

Following an uninterrupted ride, we pulled our mounts to a stop just as the borders of the Second Black-White Slum were coming into view.

“We should secure the horses right here for now.”

“Ah, understood. Though…”

“Are you wondering if this extra step is truly necessary?”

“Yes, even within the Black-White Slums, would people actually target horses? Don’t the local establishments watch over them for a fee?”

Her line of reasoning was perfectly logical.

It was a completely normal thing to assume.

However.

“A few coins aren’t worth risking your life over, right?”

“What do you mean by… Ah.”

No matter how diligently a stablemaster attempted to protect the livestock, what could they really achieve when staring down the edge of a blade?

Naturally, such a scenario would be unthinkable within the boundaries of a civilized town.

Who would dare threaten a shopkeeper with a weapon in broad daylight there?

‘The law enforcement personnel exist for a reason, after all.’

Yet, our destination was the Black-White Slums.

It was an environment stripped of rules, where one could be stabbed in the midsection and left to die without a single soul caring to investigate.

At any rate, I hammered the wooden posts I had brought along deep into the earth and firmly fastened the leather straps to them.

‘As for nourishment… there is an abundance of greenery around here, so that’s taken care of. Now for hydration… let’s see.’

I hollowed out a small trench in a convenient spot and poured water into it. That amount ought to suffice until our return.

And to finalize our security measures…

Sssss.

I activated a concealment field.

This was accomplished through a magical tool—an item I had deliberately purchased after learning that the outskirts of the Black-White Slums consisted of wide-open terrain.

Once the primary arrangements were settled, we continued the rest of the journey on foot.

Before long, we set foot inside the Second Black-White Slum.

It was precisely what one would anticipate from a place bearing that name.

‘The environment feels incredibly familiar.’

Though this marked my absolute first time visiting the Second Black-White Slum in both my previous existence and my current one, the overall vibe didn’t feel foreign in the slightest.

Grime gathered heavily along the edges of the paths, debris lay strewn about, and impoverished children were passing the time by playing with discarded garbage in the narrow walkways.

Glancing into the dim recesses between buildings revealed intoxicated individuals completely passed out, dead to the world—a stark contrast to the orderly streets of Hazen.

Steering clear of these nostalgic reminders of the underbelly, we made our way into a local eatery.

“Bwahaha! So I tell him straight to his face, that idiot’s head is gonna—slice!”

“Did you catch the news about Kevin? That fellow ended up losing his entire arm when all was said and done.”

“Hey, counter keep! Bring another round! Keep the drinks coming!”

Just as one would expect, rowdy patrons were boisterously sharing their tales.

We claimed a spot in a poorly lit corner of the establishment and requested some basic dishes to satisfy our appetite.

Predictably, the culinary quality left much to be desired.

The concept of a genuinely delicious meal inside the Black-White Slums…

‘…Come to think of it, I have no clue.’

I had never actually spent money on high-quality dining during my time in places like this.

Regardless, once we had taken care of our immediate hunger, we pivoted to the core reason for our trip and began analyzing our strategy.

Though, prior to that, I needed to establish a privacy ward.

“Alright, shall we review our itinerary for the day?”

“Ah, did I neglect to brief you on it?”

“You’ve been incredibly overwhelmed with your responsibilities lately.”

And that was an understatement—she truly hadn’t possessed a single moment of leisure.

She spent her daylight hours pushing her academic limits to maintain her funding, followed immediately by consultations with me once her courses concluded.

After those sessions, she had to prepare for upcoming lectures, review past material, and conduct the necessary analysis to facilitate the sale of the ancient artifact—she was operating like a clockwork device.

I had offered to ease her burden…

• This falls under my purview. I appreciate the sentiment, however.

She had rejected my assistance firmly, ensuring I couldn’t interfere with any aspects of the commercial transaction.

Consequently, my role was limited to sitting silently and listening to her updates regarding the documentation she had compiled.

‘Hmph, framing it that way makes it sound as though I contributed absolutely nothing.’

Of course, I wasn’t genuinely bothered. It was simply the reality of the situation.

In any case.

“My understanding was that our goal today was a basic assessment of the local market.”

“Ah, precisely. Though… give me a moment. Hmm. Perhaps we should relocate to a more tranquil setting? The ambient noise here is rather disruptive.”

I gave a silent gesture of agreement and, keeping the exhausted Evelyn in mind, guided us toward a nearby, less chaotic establishment.

Calling it a proper café would be a stretch—it was essentially a tavern that happened to serve hot brews.

“One mild blend, one extra robust, here you go.”

We accepted the containers from the harsh-looking proprietor. The potent blend was designated for Evelyn, while the lighter option was for myself.

“Sigh, I finally feel like a functioning person again.”

Evelyn consumed half of her concentrated beverage in a single gulp before diving straight into our objectives.

“To begin, this is the inventory of variables we are required to look into…”

I accepted the parchment she had compiled prior to our arrival.

The surface was densely filled with categories such as ‘merchandise,’ ‘quality tier,’ ‘valuation,’ and similar metrics, which Evelyn promptly began to clarify.

“The ultimate objective is determining the exact compensation a specific tier of artifact commands. Furthermore, if the opportunity arises, we should identify the specific categories of artifacts as well…”

She broke down each point with meticulous care, resembling an instructor guiding a novice.

I had to dedicate my full concentration to the explanation, though the briefing concluded much faster than I anticipated.

“Your responsibilities, Aster, are actually quite minimal. I intend to manage the bulk of the interactions myself. Naturally, I will request your assistance if the workload becomes unmanageable…”

“So I am to remain strictly on defensive assignment?”

“Yes, and please don’t misinterpret this as a lack of confidence… You comprehend my meaning, correct?”

I understood perfectly.

She was emphasizing that I should only step in when it was entirely vital, rather than utilizing me to evade her own duties.

And acting as her shield was precisely my designation for the day.

“Still… are you certain you can recall all of those details? I don’t mind repeating the explanation if necessary.”

“I grasp the core concepts. The process isn’t overly intricate.”

“True, I can always provide additional guidance as we proceed.”

With our objectives firmly established…

Right before we departed, there was an administrative detail I wished to iron out.

“As an aside, we need to address how we speak to one another.”

“…Our titles?”

“We are currently utilizing disguises—if we openly utter our actual names, the entire masquerade becomes pointless. We require appropriate aliases.”

“Ah, your reasoning is sound. I’ve been addressing you normally without a second thought…”

Evelyn abruptly recognized her oversight and scanned our immediate surroundings anxiously.

However, there was no cause for alarm. I had already sealed our conversation with magic.

An expression of relief washed over her features once she confirmed our isolation, prompting me to speak once more.

“I actually have a specific designation in mind.”

“Oh? What would that be?”

“Knight.”

“…Knight? As in, a literal armored warrior?”

I offered a nod and parted my outerwear slightly to reveal the blade fastened to my hip.

“What is the reasoning behind that choice…?”

“Because your role is that of a spellcaster.”

“…?”

Evelyn tilted her head to the side, looking utterly perplexed.

Yet, it wasn’t a entirely irrational decision.

‘When selecting code names under these circumstances, simplicity yields the best results.’

In truth, I fully intended to rely heavily on my blade while managing affairs within the boundaries of the Black-White Slums.

While I didn’t claim to be an unmatched grandmaster of the sword, my capabilities were certainly respectable.

“Hmm, I suppose that makes a modicum of sense. Then what about my designation? I would prefer something that carries a similar weight…”

Evelyn’s voice faded as she immersed herself in contemplation.

Her period of indecision didn’t last long.

“Would Master be acceptable for me?”

“Master?”

“Yes. Rather than appearing as individuals of identical standing, presenting ourselves as an authority figure and a subordinate creates a far more commanding impression…”

That was a valid perspective.

‘Employing the title of Master definitely conveys the impression that she commands an entire organization behind the scenes.’

That exact logic was why I frequently presented myself as a ‘Tower Lord’ during my various endeavors.

Hold on—did this arrangement imply that Evelyn was suddenly my commanding officer?

“Um… Is that choice inappropriate?”

She must have picked up on my subtle hesitation.

Evelyn inquired with a touch of apprehension.

An alias like that could certainly offend someone’s pride, depending on their interpretation.

However.

“Hmph, it matters little. Master it shall be.”

“…Are you certain?”

I gave a composed nod of assent.

Within the confines of the Black-White Slums, Evelyn was the one who needed to dictate our path regardless, so elevating her perceived status was a beneficial strategy.

If we ever managed to establish a proper magical spire…

‘Well, we can handle that particular situation when it actually presents itself.’

“It appears our planning is complete, so shall we make our departure?”

Following that conclusion, we exited the establishment with an air of assurance.

We left the beverage house behind and began navigating directly through the heart of the Second Black-White Slum when Evelyn suddenly addressed me.

“Um, As— I mean, Knight?”

“What is it?”

“No, if we are going to commit to this, you must maintain the persona. What sort of disciplined warrior responds with ‘what is it?’ to their superior?”

“…Understood, my apologies. What are your commands, ma’am?”

In all honesty, her continued reliance on formal language with me was an inconsistency in itself, but I chose to overlook it.

She had consistently spoken to me with that level of respect anyway.

Regardless, that wasn’t the pressing concern at the moment.

What exactly was the issue?

“Have the illicit marketplaces always been positioned directly along the primary thoroughfares?”

“…?”

I tilted my head in confusion.

“Why exactly are you directing that inquiry toward me…?”

“Weren’t you supposed to be familiar with the route?”

“…I was simply charting my path based on your lead?”

“…? I was tailoring my movements to follow you, Knight?”

“…?”

I tilted my head.

Evelyn mirrored my expression, tilting her head as well.

An uncomfortable quiet settled over the pair of us.

I was the one to break the standstill.

“…My oversight, perhaps?”

“…?”

What kind of ridiculous scenario was this?

We possessed no guide, merely two individuals who had operated under the assumption that the other was directing the way.

We exchanged blank expressions for a moment before resuming our conversation.

“Master, did you fail to perform the preliminary reconnaissance?”

“Well, you see…”

The reality of the situation became clear.

With the sheer volume of tasks occupying her mind, the specific coordinates of the illicit market had completely slipped through the cracks.

“…I am deeply sorry.”

Evelyn offered her regrets in a thoroughly discouraged tone.

Mapping out the location of the market had been assigned to her during our initial breakdown of responsibilities.

My presence was intended strictly for protection, meaning the operational schedule for the day was essentially her independent undertaking.

However, it wasn’t a fatal mistake.

“There is always an alternative solution available, Master.”

“In what manner…?”

“Do you happen to have any standard pouches on your person, Master? Not the spatial distortion varieties.”

“I possess one, though I fail to see…”

“Relinquish it to me.”

I retrieved a basic cloth container from Evelyn, deposited several high-value metallic pieces inside, and began moving forward.

She followed along filled with curiosity, attempting to decipher my strategy, and quickly voiced her thoughts.

“Are we… making our way toward a local information collective or a similar establishment…?”

Well, that approach would certainly yield results.

However, I shook my head to indicate otherwise.

“What reason do we have to seek them out? They will willingly come to us.”

“…?”

The outcome would manifest shortly.

Consequently, within a dimly lit corridor of the Second Black-White Slum, the distinct, rhythmic resonance of metal striking metal echoed outward.

Clink clink clink.

The strategy produced immediate results.

“Hey, you youngsters. Step into the shade for a moment.”

…Our targets had manifested.

We had successfully secured ourselves a highly capable guide.