Volume 9 Chapter 11 Genuine Kindness
Although our acquaintance is short, we must fulfill our obligations.
We repay the favors we've received. Since we've worked at the store and received compensation in the form of information and labor, if the store gets attacked, we'll take revenge.
That's why we're observing the store owner's rival store from the shadows.
"It's bustling, isn't it?"
The store along the main street has good public safety, and as a result, there's a lot of foot traffic. Especially this store, with customers and employees coming and going, it's a large-scale commercial establishment that can handle it all.
"It's different from Barcow-san's store, and it seems they're doing business on a larger scale, too..."
Ice analyzes the situation, glancing at the items the surrounding customers are carrying. It seems to be a department store-like shop that doesn't just deal with antiques.
Although we call it a rival store, it seems to be a shop that only deals with antiques. Well, even so, if we're going to compete with this, Barcow would also be a formidable opponent, I think.
"Hmm..."
To be honest, it's easy to destroy the store with sheer quantity and power.
Either I or Ice could easily raze the store to the ground. However, on the other hand, if we do that, it would lead to trouble, which isn't hard to imagine.
One of our biggest advantages is that our true identities as Demon King Hel haven't been exposed.
That's why we can walk around freely in the city, without hiding our faces, and even plot in secret. But if our identities are exposed, we'll become wanted criminals before we can even deal with the ten towers that protect Demon King Castle.
In a human city, if you kill someone, they're dead, but in this demon-infested city, even if you kill someone, they'll just revive. No matter how many times you kill them, the enemy won't decrease.
In that case, if we keep fighting, we'll eventually wear ourselves out.
So, we can't afford to stand out. While personal squabbles are one thing, being recognized as a presence that disrupts public order is bad news.
"We should come up with a strategy."
"I want to avoid standing out, you know...?"
"Yeah. We came here based on a hunch, and if we're not the culprits, it's not good to cause a ruckus. If we're identified as the culprits, we want to avoid being found out."
"Yeah...that's right..."
The 2 of us fold our arms, thinking "hmm." Ice says,
"Maybe we could use another power...or...?"
"That's a good idea. We can invest in the slums too... no, that's no good. We don't have any way to make money."
"Circus, I don't really get it either..."
"What about... should we frame the Demon King's army?"
"! Wade-kun, I think that's a great idea...! It's like having a guard, and it seems easy to manipulate...!"
I got a good idea, and I'm feeling confident. "Alright," I said, raising my voice, but then I muttered, "Wait a minute..."
"The Demon King's army is weird, they don't move according to normal values. They don't act like ordinary criminals..."
"Was it the Demon King's rebellion crime...?"
"And obstruction of the Demon King's army's public duties. It's like they'll crush anyone who gets in their way, saying 'if you defy the Demon King, we'll crush you'..."
It's easy to understand, but hard to grasp. It's more like a powerful organization than a government. Hmm...
"Should we plan a treasury heist, and then fabricate evidence and report it anonymously?"
"That's possible, I guess..."
"Yeah, that's it. Let's go with that plan."
The 2 of us cheered, "Ei ei oh!" and then peeked out from behind the objects again, observing the store.
"...So, first, we'll sneak in, right?"
"Uh, yeah..."
We came out from behind the objects and started walking around the store. There were many people passing by, so we wouldn't stand out.
We put on a customer face and entered the store. Inside the sturdy, brick-built store, there was a warm and cozy atmosphere.
The wooden floorboards had a wooden grain pattern, and a warm fire was burning in the fireplace, with a chimney stretching up. The products were displayed in a spacious area, with a warm and inviting atmosphere.
It's hard to describe, but the whole place, including the outside, had a Christmas-like atmosphere, Nilfheim.
We walked together, looking at the products on display. They weren't antiques, but rather artifacts and sorcery tools.
We were searching for the employee entrance, the door that led to the work area. There were demon employees scattered around, but...
Just as I was thinking that, I heard a loud thud and a scream from behind me.
"You're just a sl*ve, don't get too cocky, you trash!"
If you looked, a demon customer was beating up a demon employee, trampling him multiple times.
"I'm a free citizen! I can talk to you however I want! You're not worthy of my conversation!"
The demon customer continued to trample the demon employee. The other people around them glanced over, then quickly went back to their conversations as if nothing had happened.
Being a free citizen means you're not a sl*ve. If 8 out of ten people are sl*ves, does being a free citizen automatically make you a high-ranking citizen? I thought about it for a bit.
Then, I chuckled to myself.
I caught Ice's eye and started walking. Ice nodded and followed me. I stood behind the demon customer, positioning myself to intercept their movement.
The demon customer bumped into me while trampling the employee. They glared at me with intimidating eyes.
"What's with you? If you're not needed, then scram!"
"You're the one who came at me for no reason! Just because you're a free citizen doesn't mean you can pick fights with other free citizens!"
I punched the demon customer mid-intimidation. Even with a light touch, my fist was too powerful, and the demon customer flew backward, rolling on the floor.
"W-what...? Are you going to k-kill...?"
"No, no way... Just freeze like that, okay...?"
Ice slipped in a quick follow-up attack, freezing the demon customer. The demon customer quietly turned into an ice sculpture, unable to move.
This exchange was seen as an extension of the earlier commotion and didn't draw much attention. I exchanged a look of approval with Ice.
Then, I reached out to the demon employee.
"That was a close call. Let me help you with your injuries. Ah, but which hand is better? This one or that one?"
"Ah, that one, please..."
I helped the demon employee up, put them on my back, and headed in the direction they pointed.
Since I was carrying the injured employee, the other employees didn't stop me, even though they did glance over.
And so, we smoothly made our way to the back of the store.
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