Chapter 19: Reunion with the Spider Princess (01)

  To start with an expnation, svery was currently prohibited within the kingdom.

  However, this ban applied only to humans and demi-humans. As for chimeras or monsters, transas involving them weren’t strictly outwed, provided certain safety measures were in pce.

  It wasirely legal, but her was it ht illegal. Such a gray area was exactly where the underground sve market operated.

  “Of course, it’s illegal anyway.”

  Officially, they cimed to sell chimeras crafted by wizards to meet demand, colleg issions in a legal manner. But one could imagine what the actual situation looked like without even seeing it firsthand.

  “Still, sending a sed-year trainee knight? The Magiights Order’s prestige must’ve hit ro.”

  The sve market iion was supported by the thieves' guild and several nobles, so sending a senior knight could provoke signifit political troversy.

  Moreover, the faces of senior knights were already well-known, making covert infiltration nearly impossible.

  Even so, sending a trainee knight, despite the avaibility of external knights, made no seo me.

  “That’s because the ditions matly you,” came the answer.

  “What ditions?”

  “You’re not publicly reizable, and you have the skills to protect yourself without the Magiights Order’s equipment.”

  Ah, well, if I’m that exceptional, what I do?

  The mana saber I carried now wasn’t one of the supplies distributed by the Magiights Order but a regur mana saber anyone could buy on the market. If I got caught, the Order would deny any e to me and cim it ersonal misstep.

  Truthfully, I wouldn’t face much disadvantage even if I refused or messed up the mission. But the reason I was tag this task with enthusiasm...

  “Sves... sves, huh?”

  It’s just one of those things.

  Call it a... fantasy about resg sves?

  Like in those old knightly tales where captured elves are rescued from sve traders, and the protagonist wins over their mistrust to bee their lover.

  You’d say that’s just a story?

  For the record, Professor Pandel’s parents got married in such a way.

  His knight mother disguised herself as a sve, infiltrated the market to firm the elves’ capture, then requested external reinforts while leading the sves to escape. She ended up marrying an elf she bonded with during that process. Their union gave birth to Professor Pandel, a half-elf, and his younger sister. So, it’s irely an absurd story.

  The alley between the capital’s bustling streets—normally lined with food stalls—was unusually ay today. Acc to intelligence from senior knights, this alley led to the underground sve market.

  “From now on, watouth,” I was warned.

  “Got it.”

  “Actually, just shut up. That’s safer.”

  Dane pouted but nodded, seemingly aware of his poor ag and lying skills.

  “ you give me your name?” asked the guard.

  “Ban,” I replied.

  “Dane.”

  Given Dane’s ck of ag ability, we avoided using aliases or fake identities. Instead, we disguised ourselves as mere knight trainees.

  After all, we were knight trainees. We only cealed our affiliation with the Magiights Order. Even Dane, a simpleton, could manage such a basic cover story.

  “There’s no invitatiistered, though...”

  'Invitation? Was that necessary?'

  “Huh? I thought we could just walk in like st time.”

  His tone was so obviously fake that I gred at Dane, who promptly cmmed up like a shell.

  “My apologies. Things have been teely. Those knights have been fervently trag us, and who knows if they’ve sent spies?”

  “Then wouldn’t it be standard procedure not to hold aus?”

  “But we have some exquisite goht now!”

  “And what kind of goods would that be?”

  “Heh heh... wouldn’t it be better to save that as a surprise for ter?”

  This gatekeeper sure knew how to toy with people.

  'From the way he’s expining things, it seems they io let us in.'

  “Holy, the invitation thing was just a lie. How could we hand out invitations without risking exposure? The whole point was to make spies flustered while searg for one.”

  “That does make sense.”

  “Go ahead. You may enter.”

  Apparently, they were cautious about spies from the Order.

  I mao maintain a poker fa front of the gatekeeper, avoidiion. Meanwhile, Da his mouth shut as instructed, which also helped.

  “One small verification, if you please.”

  “What is it?”

  “You must have at least oem that matches the theme of our association, don’t you?”

  ‘Association...?’

  The goods traded here were monsters.

  In other words, they wanted proof that we were carrying a moo ensure our credibility. Fortunately—

  “Will this do?”

  I had Molng.

  She wasn’t in her humanoid form in front of others but appeared as a squishy, round slime resting on my hand. Seeihe doorman’s face broke into a bright smile, aepped aside to let us through.

  “A slime saves the day for us.”

  “It’s not what you’re thinking.”

  Thanks to Molng, we passed the checkpoint effortlessly. I patted her on the head and tucked her bato my coat.

  Normally, Molng was stored in a teen issued by the Magiights, but given the circumstances, she was temporarily stashed in my inner pocket.

  After clearing the checkpoint and stepping into the alley, we were greeted by a byrinth of narrow backstreets that seemed perfect for thieves’ guild activity. Members of the guild stationed here guided us deeper toward the underground sve market.

  ‘This pce is massive.’

  The twisting alleyways were like a spiderweb. I kept track of our dire and the number of steps we took, quickly realizing they were deliberately leading us in circles.

  Even though the actual distance wasn’t far, they were iionally disorienting us to make it difficult to pinpoint the location.

  ‘Of course, I remember everything.’

  For knights, this level of spatial awareness was sed nature. Although I briefly struggled with the rapid turns, Dane and I devised a method: I memorized the left turns, aook note of the right ones.

  ‘There’s a st.’

  Soon, the distinct smell of monsters wafted through the air, signaling we were nearing our destination.

  ‘270 meters north, 187 meters west from the right alley of the tral bank.’

  As I firmed our position, our escorts stepped back, and Dane and I finally beheld the hidden underground sve market.

  “...Whoa.”

  tless monsters were caged within.

  From gnolls, goblins, and trolls—formidable foes in their ht—to mias and harpies—monsters with human-like appearances.

  ‘These bastards are making a fortune.’

  Eveaurs, cssified as demi-humans and strictly prohibited from being traded, were imprisoned here.

  “What are you looking at?”

  A taur warrired at me with hostility, his expression brimming with defiance.

  Naturally, as a Magiight, I wasn’t the least bit intimidated.

  ‘They couldn’t have captured him by strength alone.’

  taurs, the ultimate mounted warriors, were incredibly hard to catch due to their speed. However, they were often sold as sve meraries after beied by rival taur tribes.

  ‘That’s probably what happeo him.’

  BANG!

  Perhaps interpreting my gaze as a challehe taur approached the bars of his cage, pounding against them with a ferocious expression.

  “Don’t stare at me like that, you two-legged bastard.”

  I hadn’t expected the number of legs to be used as an insult.

  ‘The crest on his neck shows he was defeated by another taur tribe and sold into svery.’

  Regardless of his circumstahe trade was illegal. Still, causing a se here wouldn’t end well, so I ignored him and walked further inside.

  “Chitter!”

  “Damn it, another web attack!”

  “Just kill it already. These things are useless.”

  CRACK!

  A merary with a long scar across his face smashed the head of a giant spider that had been spraying webbing.

  ‘...That spider.’

  Pieces of the giant spider, simir to the ohat had kidnapped me previously, were scattered everywhere.

  While some meraries were harvesting the webbing for its value, others were burning the carcasses due to the stench. Among them, one cage stood out, heavily guarded and veiled by a thick curtain.

  ‘Is this the prized item the doormaioned?’

  Uhe other monsters, which were openly dispyed for buyers, this cage was carefully cealed.

  ‘An elf, perhaps? Definitely something illegal.’

  Our mission was to gather ihe pn was to report any illegal activities to the Magiights, who would then anize a raid to elimihe market.

  “The private booths must be for VIPs.”

  Several rooms equipped with soundproofing and magical illumination lihe area, but our destination was a less opulent au hall further down.

  Most seats were already occupied, but to my surprise, the front row was entirely vat.

  ‘Why is the front row empty? Usually, those are the most desirable seats.’

  We sat down, puzzled. Soon after, the hall filled with over 200 attendees, leaving only our seats empty.

  ‘This many people? There’s no way this pce is a secret.’

  As I clicked my to the ck of discretion, a man with an impressive mustache stepped onto the stage, holding a magic orb that amplified his voice.

  “Ladies alemen, wele to our au! Let us first express ratitude to the knights and meraries who work tirelessly to ehese ‘tracts’—and I emphasize, not illegal—are brought to you.”

  Polite appuse followed.

  “Now, without further ado, let’s begin. Our first lot: harpy sisters captured directly from the yons of the Angry Winds!”

  Thunderous appuse erupted as three harpies, bound in s, were brought onto the stage.

  “Caw!”

  “Squawk!!”

  The harpies screeched loudly, f Dane ao cover our ears. The sound was so pierg it felt like my brain was vibrating.

  ‘Damn it! So that’s why no one wants the front row.’

  Unlike regur sves, these were monsters. Sitting up close exposed us to their uable behavior, as well as the physical and auditory risks.

  Looking at Dane’s seat, I noticed it was riddled with cw marks from previous attacks.

  “What is it?”

  “Nothing... never mind.”

  If things got dangerous, I’d throw Dao the wolves and make my escape.

  “These harpies belong to the parrot species, known for their vibrahers.”

  ‘There are different types of harpies?’

  “While they ck the bat prowess of raptor species, they are highly intelligent, long-lived, and even mimic human speech if properly trained.”

  The aueer lifted their feathers, treating them like exotic pets.

  “And as you all knoies are renowned for their... unique qualities. Not only that, but they y fresh eggs daily, making them an excellent addition to ae.”

  As the aueer extolled their virtues, he revealed their cloacas to the audience.

  Dane and I watched with curiosity, but the other attendees seemed unimpressed.

  “Perhaps a demonstration is in order.”

  At the aueer’s signal, a merary wearing gloves stepped forward, preparing something.

  “First, let’s induce egg-ying in one of them.”

  ‘Wait... here? Seriously?!’

  Ultimate-Harem-fan