Volume 11 Chapter 4 Dance And True Feelings
What welcomed us after traveling in the bone carriage was the largest mansion in the bazaar, secured by the Empress Yor.
"Even if it’s rotten, it’s still a merchant guild of big traders, huh?"
I thought we had dealt quite a blow to them with the recent series of robberies, but it seems they can still prepare a place like this.
As we got off the carriage, polite attendants greeted us with, "Welcome, Clay and company," while rolling out a red carpet.
We walked past the line of bowing attendants and entered the mansion. At the entrance, the woman in question, the head of the merchant guild, Empress Yor, welcomed us.
"Well, well. Everyone, I’m so pleased you could come in this snow. Allow me to introduce myself again, I am Yor, the head of this merchant guild."
She had sharp, slanted eyes, a forked tongue, and snake-like scales peeking from her sleeves. All of this was wrapped in luxurious clothing.
She was the woman who once looked down on Clay and attacked us with insults and violence.
Today, at this moment when everything is ready, we will strike her with a fatal blow.
"Please, this way. Other big merchants are also preparing to welcome you."
Yor said, turning on her heel and starting to lead us. Clay walked beside me and quietly asked,
"What do you think, Wade-kun?"
"I think she’s trying to catch us off guard. Toxy and I will taste the food first, so wait to eat until we check it."
"Got it."
After finishing our quiet exchange, we moved forward as if everything was fine. But deep down, we all had the same thoughts.
This guy still won't apologize for the insults and violence from before. And it’s about Clay, who is related to the store's name.
Yor still looks down on us.
So I understand. There’s definitely a plan in motion. Yor only sees us as pawns to be used.
However, in a way, this works to our advantage. We can crush this worthless woman without feeling guilty.
"This is the dance hall. Please, take your time."
With that, Yor stepped back inside. On the way, she turned around and said to Clay.
"I will properly thank you and greet you again later. Until then, please enjoy the party."
After finishing her words, Yor quickly disappeared. We watched her back with suspicious eyes.
"...That’s the situation."
"Plan A, huh..."
Ice said, and I replied, "Yeah. Everyone, do your best." Following the plan, each of us started to move.
Plan A. This is the strategy where if they leisurely give us time, we will spread out and examine the mansion, destroy any traps, and set our own traps if we get the chance.
Honestly, I had also thought about Plan B in case they immediately try to divide us...
After all, they are just merchants. They probably aren't used to this kind of conflict.
So, it was decided that Clay, Ice, Rollo, and I would stay in the dance hall.
The others are working behind the scenes. Once things start moving, I hope they will do their job well.
Toxy secretly checked each item and whispered, "These are off-limits, these are okay, and that one might make you feel uncomfortable," before disappearing.
"What's with these love potion being mixed in?"
"It's because they're a merchant."
I sighed at Clay's word, realizing that sl*ves have various uses, probably due to the widespread sl*ve trade in Nilfheim.
Nonetheless, we need to be visible but not too noticeable since we might be targeted with traps. We need to navigate this situation skillfully.
"Alright, what should we do?"
I asked as the music in the dance hall started playing.
Clay suggested,
"Let's dance for now. Can everyone dance?"
"For the past few days, Clay has been drilling the dance knowledge into our head."
Everyone, being adventurers, were physically fit, but they were exhausted from Clay's tough training.
"Okay, you guys have great muscles. I'll mingle with some demons and gather info while dancing. I'll join you later, okay?"
He then left to join the dancing. I brought up the idea,
"So, should we dance?" and saw Ice and Rollo standing there.
"I, um... Yeah, let's dance, Wade-kun," Ice said, looking a bit flustered.
"Rollo is good~. I just fell in dance lessons!"
Rollo didn't seem too thrilled, probably remembering how she'd fallen during dance lessons and their clumsy sibling performances with Renril.
I took Ice's hand and said,
"Ice, shall we dance?"
To Rollo, Ice added, "Rollo-chan, let's not get separated so much... You know, to avoid attention."
The two of them seemed to have become pretty close, so Ice expressed concern for Rollo with those words.
Rollo gets kidnapped all the time. It’s like she gives off a pheromone that attracts kidnappers.
"I can’t be kidnapped that easily~! Take that~! *Pfft*."
Rollo stuck out his tongue and started eating the snacks that were prepared a little further away. I wonder if she’s going to be okay. There was about a 50-50 chance that the drinks we got already had poison in them.
For now, I started dancing with Ice to the music. I stepped lightly to the rhythm of the slow music.
Ice seemed to enjoy it and looked at me with a dreamy expression. I said to Ice, "You look like you’re having fun."
"Yeah... I’m really happy right now. The plan in the slums mostly worked out, and we’re all safe like this, plus I can dance with you, Wade-kun..."
"That’s true. Looking back, it was a risky plan. We did something pretty flashy."
But it definitely became a good experience. When aiming to destroy the city, I learned that there are ways to do it like that. It will help when I eventually take down the Roman Emperor.
Still, I don’t think I could ever try to summon an evil god on the surface. The difficulty of preparing sacrifices would be way too high.
"But you know..."
I asked Ice.
"It was only you, right? Who couldn’t properly summon the evil god. And that thing that got summoned instead..."
"...Are you worried about me?"
"..."
I turned my face away. I was told not to worry.
But I can’t help but be worried. If something strange happens to my beloved wife, there’s no way I wouldn’t care.
Then, while continuing to dance, Ice leaned in a little closer.
"Wade-kun, I said 'overprotection is no good,' didn't I? I didn't say 'don't worry about me at all,' did I?"
Ice giggles and says this.
"So, I'm happy... Wade-kun is worried about me."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah... I can tell Wade-kun is thinking of me, and that's why."
Ice teases me and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek.
I widen my eyes in surprise, and Ice's face turns bright red as she says, "Ah, it's just a thank you..." and runs away.
"I'm still getting flustered from a kiss even though we're married."
My lovely wife is so cute. I'm getting flustered too, and I mutter to myself.
"Oh, Ice is okay, but where's Rollo?"
I look around and find Rollo being carried by a demon.
"Got kidnapped again."
I approach them and say, "Hey, can I take her back? She's ours."
"Huh? Oh, you mean the slave from your place? I thought she was a slave discarded at the dance party since no one was taking care of her and she was just lying around."
"That's a crazy assumption."
Is there a person who would abandon a slave like that? Yeah, there is. It's hell.
When I say this, the demons easily return Rollo to me. Rollo is drooling blue-black liquid from her mouth and has a white-eyed stare.
She probably ate something without thinking and got poisoned. She's having convulsions.
"I'm glad I got an antidote from Toxy."
I take out a medicine from my pocket and give it to Rollo. After a while, Rollo takes a deep breath and says, "Puhah!"
"Uh...? Master...?"
"Rollo, do you remember anything? What happened? You probably ate some poisoned snacks or something."
"...?"
I squinted at Rollo, wondering if she's okay.
"Maybe~... muffins~?"
"Good, your mind is getting clearer."
If she moves a bit, her consciousness should sharpen too. I made Rollo drink the safe drink I had nearby and headed toward the center of the dance hall.
"Huh? Master?"
"Rollo, since we’re here, let’s dance a bit. Unlike Renril, you won’t trip with my lead."
Ever since eating that Don Fen, Renril hasn’t felt quite right. He often misjudge his strength and end up falling.
As the music played, I gently led Rollo. Although Rollo was moving her feet a bit frantically at first, she gradually got used to my lead and started dancing with "Oh, oh!"
"Master, I’m dancing~!"
"See? Your moves weren't weird at all. I really thought it was Renril's fault."
"Big brother... well, whatever. It’s not like he just started being clumsy~."
Rollo is surprisingly kind towards family.
Just then, while we were dancing, Rollo looked up at my face, staring at me.
"Is something wrong?"
"Hmm? Not really, but~♡."
Even while saying this, Rollo seems happy. She might be more excited about dancing than I expected.
So, I took Rollo’s hand and spun her around to the music. Rollo spun around with a cheerful "Oh~♡" and then came back into my arms.
"Initially, I was really upset, but now I'm having so much fun, Rollo."
"I thought I couldn't dance, but since you taught me, Master, it's been really enjoyable! ♡"
"That's great."
We laughed together and started dancing.
After a while, Rollo asked me,
"Hey, Master, why are you so nice to me~? I don't do anything to serve you~."
"What do you mean by 'serve'?"
"I mean, serve you~."
Rollo started swaying her hips, and I felt uncomfortable, so I shook my head to clear my thoughts.
"It's not like I have a special reason to be nice to you. I just treat you normally, without being too cold or too friendly."
"Reall~y?! You're not being nice to me, Rollo~?!"
"I guess I just treat you like a regular person. But yeah, it's been helpful, and I think it's a good thing."
"Hmm..."
Rollo stared at me for a bit, then gave me a sly, charming smile and said,
"So, it's not that I'm being treated nicely, but rather, Master is just a really cool person ♡."
I didn't expect Rollo to praise me directly, so I blinked several times in surprise.
Then, Rollo took my hand and gave me a tight hug.
"It's just that I got a weird feeling, and it's fun, so I'll just follow you ♡. It's like I'm getting serious or something ♡."
"What's going on, Rollo?"
"Hehe ♡."
Rollo looked up at me from my waist, still with a mischievous smile, but his face was bright red.
"Hey, Master? Rollo's getting a bit carried away, so when we get back..."
Just as Rollo was about to say something, the hall suddenly went dark.
"―――Rollo, it's dangerous, so just stay close to me."
"O-okay...♡."
I hugged Rollo tightly and kept watch around us. Then, the lights at the back of the dance hall came on, illuminating the stage.
And there, with a sinister smile, was Empress Yor. It's finally started, I thought, and I laughed.
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