Volume 2, Chapter 16 – Her Mother’s Whereabouts

“Before that, please let me confirm. Your mother’s name is Liera-san, and your younger sister’s name is Leia-san, correct?”

“Yes, yes! That’s right!”

Lu-chan leaned forward, answering almost before he could finish.

“To get straight to the point, we have identified where Liera-san was sold.”

“Really?! Where is my mom?!”

Lu-chan shouted, lunging forward. I watched with anxiety, worried she might knock over the tea.

“Lu-chan, please calm down. He’s going to explain now.”

“Ah, sorry.”

Looking crestfallen, Lu-chan flopped back onto the sofa with a dull thud.

“I understand how you feel, so please don’t worry about it. Liera-san was reportedly purchased by Lambert Batignieu, the head of the Batignieu merchant company and a wealthy merchant in Elmden, a port town in the northern part of the Blue Star Republic. Unfortunately, however, we haven’t been able to pinpoint Leia-san’s final destination. We only know that she was transported as far as Elmden.”

Aslan-san then apologized, saying he was sorry.

“No, this is already more than enough.”

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“Furthermore, the party selling Liera-san and the others was the Amistad Trading Company, a mid-sized firm that ostensibly sells liquor and such.”

“A liquor dealer selling slaves?”

“Yes. Their public business is to collect various alcohols from across the country and sell them in different regions. However, it had become a topic of conversation that they were suspiciously prosperous for such a business, so we had been conducting our own independent investigation. In that process, we discovered they were dealing with the underworld to engage in slave trading.”

I see. Since they handle alcohol, maybe they smuggle slaves by stuffing them into wine barrels?

“It was around that time that I heard Saint-sama was seeking the liberation of her attendant Elf’s family, who had become slaves. Consequently, we conducted another investigation, which yielded this information. That is why I came here to inform you today.”

“Thank you very much.”

It seemed that bringing it up to every important person we met was finally paying off.

“The Amistad Trading Company will likely be subject to an investigation soon, and the imprisoned slaves will probably be liberated. However, the dispelling of the Curse Marks is something only Saint-sama is capable of. Once this journey is over, would you be willing to visit this Lilun once more and grant your mercy to those who have been cursed?”

“Eh? Yes. Of course. I would be more than happy to help with dispelling the curse. But why is Aslan-sama doing this? The President I met yesterday didn’t mention anything about it.”

“That is because if the President were to make such a statement officially, he would risk being assassinated.”

“Eh?”

This is suddenly becoming a very heavy conversation. Did I accidentally pick a fight with someone dangerous?

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“Please be assured. No matter how ruthless the underworld is, they wouldn’t be so foolish as to harm Saint-sama. However, if a merchant like myself—or the President—were to threaten their profits, arranging an assassination would be easy enough.”

“It’s that bad…?”

“Yes. But I refuse to let the underworld continue to do as they please. I am, after all, the head of one of the leading merchant company unions in this country. As long as I do business in this land, I have a responsibility. Besides, for the sake of my dream, I can’t afford to let the underworld gain too much power.”

As he said this, Aslan-san wore a subtle smile.

“A dream?”

“Yes. As a merchant, I want to create a society where any citizen of the Blue Star Republic can travel freely.”

“Travel?”

“Indeed. Currently, the only people who travel are those who can afford it, merchants, hunters, and pilgrims. But through my own travels as a merchant, I realized that the world is overflowing with fascinating things.”

“I think that’s a lovely dream. Good luck with that. But what does that have to do with the people of the underworld?”

“No, it’s not a direct relationship; rather, the society as a whole needs to be a certain way for it to work. In a place where things like kidnapping people and forcibly selling them as slaves are tolerated, neither travel nor business can function properly. Moreover, the Enslavement Curse Mark is completely unacceptable.”

Ah, I see. He’s doing a good thing, but basically, it’s for the sake of his own goals. Yeah, that makes sense.

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“I see. That may be true. By the way, there’s something I’ve been wondering since I arrived in this country; may I ask you about it?”

“Of course. If it is something I can answer.”

“Why does everyone in this country welcome us so fervently?”

Aslan-san looked a bit troubled.

“That is… a matter of national character. It is quite regrettable, but for the past 500 years, including the era of the previous kingdom, our country has not produced a Saint. Therefore, I believe the longing for a Saint-sama is purer and stronger here than among the people of the White Moon Kingdom.”

“Eh?”

“Our country became a republic about 100 years ago, but it is told that when the monarchy—which had ruled harshly—was overthrown, a Saint-sama saved the weak and poor citizens. Even before that, during the great outbreaks of Zombie Plague and Mummy Disease, and the great famines that caused many deaths, Saint-sama swept away various calamities. Combined with that history, everyone in our country reveres and loves Saint-sama.”

“Ugh. I’m a different person from those people, though.”

Honestly, I’m not some great figure from the past, so it’s awkward to have an idol projected onto me.

But if this is how they treat a foreigner, things are going to get crazy if a Saint actually born in the Blue Star Republic ever appears.

“Saint-sama, you have already achieved feats that will leave your name in history, such as the Mummy Disease countermeasures in the Royal Capital of the White Moon Kingdom and the successful dispelling of the Enslavement Curse Marks. The citizens of my country cannot help but have high expectations.”

“Is that how it is? Well, I’m only a Saint Candidate, not a Saint. Besides, I’m not even human. I’m sure I won’t be chosen as the Saint.”

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“Yes, I am aware. I have heard you are of High Elf lineage. And I have also heard that despite possessing such a prestigious bloodline, you humor those around you by claiming to be a Vampire.”

“Ueeh.”

I’m not “humoring” them; it’s the truth. This might be one of those misunderstanding routes that’s basically impossible to clear.

Then again, since the existence of Vampires doesn’t seem to be particularly welcomed anyway, I’m starting to feel that just leaving it as is might be fine.

As I was thinking this, the two o’clock bell rang.

“Oops, Saint-sama. Much as I’d like to stay, it is time for me to take my leave. I will send Johanna over there if there is any additional information, so I ask for your kind cooperation at that time.”

“No, thank you for the valuable information. Wait, eh?”

We hurriedly looked toward the woman in the monastic habit who had guided us.

“It has been since last night, Saint-sama. My name is Johanna. Please remember me.”

As she said this and pulled back the hood of her habit, a face very similar to yesterday’s maid was revealed.

“Eeeeeeeh?!”