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“Is it a question for those who just got freed from captivity? Surprisingly, I haven’t even been here for a full day after transferring into this body.”

So, it wouldn’t be strange if the recently freed slave knew the way better than me.

“Phew~ I finally made it back somehow.”

But I really didn’t expect to find someone who truly knew the way.

Since they also have to pass through the Empire to return to where they came from, they tagged along with me.

Of course, I did get stopped by the soldiers at the checkpoint by the city walls, but those folks were just victims and were called aside later for statements by the Guard Captain.

I just showed my Adventurer’s badge and breezed through.

‘Well, it should be fine.’

As soon as I got through the checkpoint, I headed straight for the Adventurer’s Guild.

“…It’s good to see you safe.”

Upon my return, I was greeted by none other than the receptionist, Adela, who I had seen several times today.

The definition of “greeting” implies feeling happy or warmly welcoming, but Adela’s gaze seemed less than pleased.

It’s a shame that my favorability dropped so low just for one disassembly show.

It seems like entertainment in this world has totally died.

“I brought back all the goblins.”

“You took longer than expected this time.”

“I got caught up in some annoying business along the way.”

If I had just caught the goblins, I could have finished it sooner, but I also got lost and encountered a Golden Goblin on the way, which delayed me.

Thanks to that, I set out a bit after lunch, but when I arrived, it was already close to dinner.

“Did you resolve all the requests?”

“Of course.”

“…Huh?”

“Of course.”

“Haah…”

Maybe it was really tough work; Adela sighed and rubbed her forehead.

I wished to put on another disassembly show despite the prohibitions, but unfortunately, I caught too many this time, and I decided it was too bothersome to do all that.

“So, you only brought back the ears, correct?”

“Yep.”

“Then could you please submit them?”

I opened my Inventory and reached into the slot where ‘Goblin Ear x19’ was displayed.

And when I pulled my hand back out, my empty hand now held a Goblin Ear.

“I was surprised earlier and couldn’t ask, but are you… a user of Storage Magic?”

Storage Magic?

Is there such a thing?

If the Inventory counts as Storage Magic, then I guess it does.

But I can’t use magic since I’m bad at magical power, so it’s too bothersome to explain; I’ll just say yes.

“Yep.”

“This is my first time seeing Storage Magic; it’s fascinating… I heard that people who can use it are rare. You must be amazing since you’re from the Academy.”

Hearing “from the Academy” reminded me.

‘Now that I think about it, this is an Academy story.’

I had forgotten it after dropping out the moment I transferred.

But if Storage Magic users are rare, why is my Inventory F-rank?

It seems like the author has never experienced having weight in the Inventory, so they put it at F-rank.

‘Tsk tsk. This is why uninformed people…’

While I was thinking that, Adela, having counted the ears, asked.

“You brought back quite a few, didn’t you…?”

“I was lucky to find a Goblin Den.”

In reality, I found it by tailing them, but there’s no need to say that.

“Huh? You went alone into a Goblin Den…?”

“Why? Is that a problem?”

“…It’s nothing but problems!”

Is there a problem?

Am I going to get kicked out of the Adventurer’s Guild for an hour again?

“You went into a Goblin Den alone! That’s way too dangerous!”

“It’s just goblins; what’s so dangerous about it?”

“Exactly 53 adventurers have entered alone and died in Goblin Dens.”

That’s more than I expected.

“To be precise, 53 were found dead, but there were likely more.”

Wow.

Is it that many?

If they opened a Goblin club like me, everyone would be dancing themselves to death from exhaustion; they wouldn’t stupidly charge into the lair and fight, right?

“Monster dens of that level should be tackled in parties of at least three. The risk is high.”

“Right.”

I felt like it would be annoying if I didn’t answer, so I did, but where’s my party?

I should just sneak off alone next time and grab the loot.

Not sensing sincerity in my reply, Adela looked skeptical, sighed, and began counting the ears she had given me.

A few seconds passed.

“The ears are an odd number?”

She asked.

Goblins have two ears, so it should come out even no matter what.

But since I had 19—neither 18 nor 20—it seems she’s confused.

“A goblin… ate one.”

So, I answered honestly.

I did barf it back up immediately, but picky eaters are not a good thing.

You need a balanced diet to grow up well. Unfortunately, the good goblin who didn’t pick his food is no longer a monster in this world.

“Is that so? Fascinating… I thought goblins wouldn’t eat their kind even in starvation.”

“Hahaha. Right?”

While I did give it food, eating it wasn’t me, so I didn’t lie.

Adela looked a bit weak-stomached during that disassembly show, so there’s no need to tell her the truth.

After confirming the number, Adela took out some tokens from beneath the reception counter and handed them to me.

“Goblin ears: confirmed 19. You’ve received 19 tokens.”

Earning money through hard work.

Finally, I can eat!

“But… while you were hunting goblins, you also brought back something else?”

“Huh?”

What? How did she know?

Did I have a camera on me or something?

No, in this Otherworld, maybe there’s a miniature crystal ball installed?

But what do I do? I didn’t cut any human ears off.

As those thoughts crossed my mind.

“That person behind you keeps staring.”

Behind?

Do modern receptionists have to be psychics too?

Could it be that the ghost of the man I killed is watching me from behind?

When I turned to look behind me.

‘What? Who is this person? Why are they here?’

I locked eyes with a woman who had dark blue hair and silver eyes.

*

“So, you’re saying that you almost got kidnapped and sold as a slave, but an adventurer rescued you and brought you here? Is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Haah… Since others have all said the same, it doesn’t seem like a lie. Alright, this interrogation is finished, so you can go.”

“Thank you.”

It seems she was able to finish her questioning quickly, having said the same thing as everyone else before her.

After finishing her interrogation with the Guard Captain at the checkpoint, she was allowed to enter the Empire.

‘…Now what do I do?’

She had entered the Empire but had already lost her purpose and was merely wandering about.

The place she once lived was a small village far away from the Beastman Kingdom.

She had been living peacefully with her family and friends when suddenly attacked by humans, with all the men and adults killed, and a few young girls being kidnapped.

She was one of those captured, and although she initially hated humans to the core, seeing other humans trapped in cages made those thoughts lessen over time.

Returning to where she came from would leave her with nothing, and there would be no family to welcome her back.

‘Moreover, I have no way to return…’

Just having escaped from a cage, her essence as a slave lingered.

To return from here, she would need to use a cart, yet she had no money for it and no longer had a reason to go back.

No amount of pondering would yield an answer.

All she could do was zone out and wander throughout the Empire aimlessly.

As someone who openly displayed her ears and tail among throngs of humans, it was inevitable that she would catch people’s eyes.

Especially those who had less discrimination against her kind seemed to be particularly drawn to her beautiful appearance.

‘I feel like I’ve turned into a spectacle…’

She was already supposed to be taken to a place unknown and sold at a slave auction, so the gazes were expected.

However, her destiny changed with the intervention of one man.

‘…Now that I think about it, where did that person go?’

Just as she thought of him, the image of the man who saved her arose.

She had parted ways with him while being interrogated at the checkpoint, but he must be somewhere in this area as well.

With that fleeting thought, she hastened her steps.

She didn’t have time to hesitate if she wanted to find him before the sun completely set.

The first place that came to her mind was the Academy.

The Academy of the Empire was so well-known that even those from the Beastman Kingdom were somewhat aware of it, and as she retraced her memories, she recalled that he had been wearing the Academy uniform.

But…

‘Is he really an Academy student…?’

It doesn’t make sense for an Academy student to be in the middle of a forest alone.

Moreover, his actions…

Luke himself was not aware, but she had seen him kill the mercenaries there.

Not just her, but all the women present had witnessed it.

To an average person, the scene was quite brutal, but whatever happened to those trying to rape her was none of her concern.

In fact, it was rather satisfying.

Thus, she checked out all sorts of buildings—restaurants, lodgings, weapon shops, and more.

While wandering within the Empire, a building came into her view.

The Adventurer’s Guild. Excluding the Academy, it was the place where he was most likely to be

 

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