"So you were the Red King's assistant."

"Y-yes Master Danial."

"What's your name?"

"I-it's Emali~."

Her voice cracked like a hyena. She looked like she wanted to apologize for being scared. I don't know why I'm here, to be honest, I just happened to be here when the warrior brought her over.

Her face is red, blue and bulging. She looked sore all over. The flesh underneath her left eye is torn, which draws my attention quite a bit, I can't ignore it. Fucking gross. It looked like whoever did this really enjoyed beating up women. You can't get this kind of work without someone really enjoying it.

It's not work if you're having fun.

What the hell's wrong with me? I just don't want to be here.

"I been looking around for a report, but I just can't find it. Perhaps you know where it is since you were his assistant."

"Here clear your throat."

Ilmey offered her a cup of water. Her blue eyes were as cold as the water she offered. I don't know the actual temperature of the water so it's hard to judge, but it looks very cold.

The Sorcerer was kind enough to wait for her to take a sip, matter of fact it looked like the conversation wouldn't continue unless she drank the water. She held the cold cup with both hands, allowing it to drain her warmth, she took a small sip. She made gulping it down look painful.

"Now, the report I'm looking for should have come from one of the guards, perhaps one of the guards stationed near my estate. This report should have come around a week ago, maybe a little bit earlier. Do I need to elaborate anymore?"

She's purposefully trying to not make eye contact with the Sorcerer, staring at the cup, the water rippling from her trembling. What she's thinking I can't tell, but whatever it is, probably isn't something she could tell the Sorcerer.

The air turns heavy with every second, uncomfortably dense, everyone waits. The warrior standing behind her, Zejimal on the other side, the Sorcerer, the apprentice, and me, we all waited for her response.

"-"

Her mousy voice cracked something inaudible to the human ear.

"Ms. Emali I didn't catch that, do you mind repeating it?"

What a gentle smile the Sorcerer wears. It's good she didn't look up to see it.

"I don't know."

Her mousy voice barely made it to our ears. But we did hear it, and it wasn't something the Sorcerer wanted to hear. His smile turned to a frown.

"Then perhaps you know someone who does?"

"I don't know."

She shook her head, repeating her favorite phrase. She has a very cute voice, despite the occasional cracking.

"Then what do you know!?"

His anger made her spill some of the water.

"Look at your Master when he's talking to you!"

She was trying to hide behind the cup in her hands, still looking down, but the warrior standing behind her didn't like that. He pulls her by the hair, to revile her teary eyes to all of us. Golden eyes, same as her hair. She would be beautiful if she wasn't so dirty.

"That's enough Manerk."

I didn't think the Sorcerer would sound like the reasonable one.

Manerk, so young yet so cruel. He looks about the same age as Omewa, they're just teenagers but already part of a military coup. I suppose I shouldn't judge them by earth standards. At least Omewa looked softer, this guy looks like a barbarian. I suppose it suits his warrior title.

"Now Ms. Emali I'm willing to make a deal with you. Tell me where the report is and I can set you free, I'll arrange for a carriage to take you anywhere you like. What's important to me is who send the report. If you can help me, then I can help you."

For a race hating preacher of human supremacy, you're pretty good at interrogating. She looks at the Sorcerer's eyes for a few moments, then closes it. With tears flowing down, she whispers.

"I don't know."

Clear without a crack for everyone to hear.

"Manerk, take her to Lagose. Tell him he can stop, when she wants to talk."

So it's back to torture then. The good cop act didn't last long. Then again it wouldn't have worked, given he's trying to turn her and her entire kind into slaves for humanity. There isn't much 'good' there. Well, what're you going to do? If at first, you don't succeed, try, try again.

Manerk took her away by the hair with the cup in her hands.

"Why did you offer her freedom, she clearly knows where it is and she was one of the Red King's closest aides."

The conversation started the moment the doors closed behind them.

"Hmm... I think the same, but Danial, you must have a good reason."

"Of course, it's Master Danial."

She immediately retorted to save face. To them both, he had a simple answer.

"Who ever said I was going to keep a promise with a demi-human." They both had Os plastered across their faces. "It was just a small lie."

Both their faces turned red, even the brutish brown faced Zejimal was trying to hide his embarrassment. The old Sorcerer gave them a sly smile.

Finally, he turned to me.

"William, you wanted to know how long this was going to last?"

Yeah, that's why I came here in the first place. When can I go back home, with my Golem?

"Yes, how long are we going to be stuck in this castle?"

"Didn't you get the news?"

I don't know what you're talking about, so clearly not.

"Right you went to bed quite early yesterday. And then we didn't get time to talk, did we?" Yeah... we didn't. "Well, the Lithawk came back. Troops from Nolybab will be arriving in 3 days. So perhaps in 4 days the city can start functioning again. That might be a bit early but we can start moving around the city more freely at that point."

"I see." Then I'll see you in 3 days. "Then if you don't mind, I'll be spending some time in the castle library."

♦♦♦

"So they want me to make her talk?"

"Yes, Mr. Lagose, that's what Master Danial said."

Now, how am I supposed to make her talk? I already have enough trouble dealing with the new ones they're bringing in every minute. The City's a buffet of all kinds of products right now.

Ca ca ca, I have to give it to the Red King for gathering them all for me.

"Bring her here."

What did they do to her face? These are going to leave some permanent scars, what a poor job. This isn't salvageable, even some of her teeth are gone. She could have sold for 100, now I'll be lucky to get 10.

"Who did this? The woman shouldn't be handled like this. This is terrible."

"Gary, Mr. Lagose, I got her from him."

"Who the hell is Gary!? Tell him not to touch any of the slaves!"

"Yes, Mr. Lagose."

What're you standing there for?

"You can go! I'll take care of this."

"Y-yes."

This is what happens when amateurs try to break in slaves. Right now the only one I can trust is Flubo; getting myself a few more trainers is the first thing on the list.

♦♦♦

Knock* knock* knock*

"Come in."

"You called me Master Danial."

"Yes. Omewa, I want you to do me a favor… Can you read?"

"Yes, Master Danial. My mother taught me to read, she used to work for a merchant, so-"

"That's good, Omewa. Now, I want you to go through every single one of these files and separate any that mentions me or the estate. You don't have to look through these, this pile's already been checked. Everything else still needs to be looked through thoroughly. I don't mind you taking your time, but I don't want you to rush and skim. Take your time but don't miss anything. After you’re done this, there are more in the king's chambers. Now I'll be just outside. If you need anything don't hesitate to ask. Any questions?"

"No... Where should I put the separated files?"

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

"Just put them here. If you find any with my name or any mention of the estate just put it here."

"Alright, will do Master Danial."

"Good, now if you don't have any more questions, I'll be just outside."

"No, I'm good."

"Um. By the way, good job with escorting William, and the maids as well."

"Thank you, Master Danial."

"Alright, now get to work."

"Yes."

♦♦♦

"Good job. That was certainly a level 5 spell."

He still needs to improve his control, but I'll let him have it for now. I don't want to rain on his parade just yet.

"I did it!"

"Yeah, you did."

For this world's standards reaching level 5 in Mage is pretty amazing. This kid might have unbelievable talent. If someone who underwent normal training to become a Mage saw him they might be able to evaluate him better than I can. Since he's my first student, I don't know where to set my scales.

"Now we can start Summoner?"

"Yeah, now that you're a level 5 Mage we can start your training in Summoner."

"Yahoo!"

The kid really wants to be a Summoner, and I thought I'll need to bribe him into doing what I want. Well, it's fine, but after he learns how to Summon he better go out there and join the Drug-Ring.

"Alright, calm down. What do you want your first Summon to be? A slime is probably the simplest, swarm of cockroaches are a lot scarier against an opponent, a Picakhu might be more fun, there are a lot of them but I think these three are the best. So which one do you want to learn?"

Don't just hold out your arm, if you want the book, then ask.

"You want to see for yourself?"

"Yeah."

I hate kids. You let them stay at your home for a few weeks, and they just make themselves at home. Fine, here.

What are you looking for?

Don't- Careful that's a one of a kind, and very rare grimoire.

"Where's the Dark Knight you summoned before?"

"That's a level 8 Summon, this book only has level 1 Summons."

"Oh."

Yeah, 'Oh'; you have to start with these ones, you don't expect to have that much power from the get go.

Why am I letting a kid get to me?

"Yeah, so now pick which one you want to learn from the ones in this book."

"But I didn't notice any I liked in here."

Are you serious? I'll strangle you to death, kid. You do realize, I'm not keeping you around out of the goodness of my heart right? No, no he doesn't. Calm down Verra, I mean Derraacs, just calm down.

"Look, Emmanuel you have to start form-" Wait, there might actually be a way. He always gets wide-eyed whenever I take out anything from my Slots. "This book is a little different from the one you're holding. You can gain level 1 in Summoner using this too, the process is just a little bit different." Ask! God dammit, don't just hold out your hand. "Give me that one back first." Good boy. Let me put this back in the Slot it belongs. "Alright, here you go."

This has level 1 Summons too, but they're a lot harder to learn. All the creatures in there are taboo.

♦♦♦

"Master William, what a coincidence to see you here."

Yeah, I didn't think I'd see a maid in the library.

"I'm glad to see that you made it safely."

I heard Omewa escorted them, wonder if they ran into a nutcase on their way here too.

"How kind of you to be so concerned."

I'm not, it's just a figure of speech. Well if you're happy I don't really care.

You're going to sit right beside me, why? Is this common courtesy or do you just like sitting awkwardly and quietly beside someone.

Just ignore her and read your book.

"May I ask what you're reading Master William?"

No.

"It's a history book, criticizing the Omron Church's Crusades."

"Has Master William ever been to the Kingdom of Nolybab?"

Technically no... But the collector William should have traveled all around the world. Also, my clone is there right now, so yes.

"Yeah, I've been there a few times."

"I want to visit the Casinos. I heard from a friend that her mother's friend's son's wife hit the jackpot there. She used to be a maid like me but she runs a business now. She even divorced her husband and got married to some younger guy."

I don't care. Why are you telling me all this?

"That sounds like a hectic person."

"Ch ch ch, yeah she's nuts. Master William, can I ask when you’re going back to..."

"Back home?"

You don't know where it is because I don't want you to know, but if you ask I'll have to say one of the islands up north. Those islands seem hard to get to for most people, and a nice place to isolate anyone who might come from the mainland. I thought about it and that's the best place to have a fake home.

"Yes, I heard Master William's from..."

"I own an island up north."

Amazement, shock, envy, those eyes are full of them.

"Master William owns an entire island." Technically, yeah, Verra has taken over multiple islands up north so yes, I do own an island. "That's amazing."

She seems to have come out of it with skepticism. It's true, I do own an island.

"Is it that hard to believe?"

"...If Master William says so, then I'm inclined to believe." She doesn't seem to be staring at me but into space, trying to connect some invisible dots. "That Golem is very powerful."

It is…?

"Thanks?"

She nodded her head and went back to reading some book. I want to run my fingers through it, but that would probably seem weird. We sat there for some time, in silence reading our own books of choice.

▼▼▼

"Master William, I think I better be off. My break time has ended."

"Is that so? Well, take care."

"I'll be going back to the kitchen. Would you like me to get you anything?"

"No. I'm fine."

"... Alright."

Did she want me to ask for something? So she could come back here, and sit with me till I finish whatever it is. It would be work and she would get to do what she wanted. Sorry, I didn't realize. I would have asked for something if I knew. I'll ask for something the next time if she comes back.

So the 3 days went by in the same way, with Alex finding me in the library during her breaks. Even though I didn't want anything I learned to ask for something when her break ended, that way she got to come back to the library and continue her reading till I finished the snacks she brought over. The 3rd level in my Deathless class allows me to live without any food, so I mostly just let it go cold. And when it becomes far too cold, she takes it away after giving me a bow.

As the 3rd day came to an end, and the sun shimmered by the horizon, the 50000 soldiers from Nolybab made it to the front gates of our Castle. I was curious enough to step out of the library, where I got a glimpse of the Sorcerer greeting a very old lady. She wore a very gaudy dress adorned by gems, but none of that could distract you from that bagging face and boobs. She might have had a fine tanned complexion in youth, but it has clearly darkened with age.

There was no way I could have forgotten that face, it was the same grandmother introduced to me during the party a month ago. Now her name is a complete mystery to me. The two disappeared into the tea room, the doors closed and they were left alone to chat.

♦♦♦

"So when do you plan to keep your end of the deal, Danial."

You're still not old enough to be calling me 'Danial'. But since you look like that I'll let it go, ha ha ha.

And what is this about my end of the deal.

"Lameriy I am thankful for your help, without that little letter you help sent, the king might have been a tougher opponent." After seeing that Golem in action, I don't think that's true anymore. Even without Nolybab's letter, I think we would have done just fine. "But was that not a favor for saving your son's life."

Did you already forget that I was the one who saved your son's life? Without me, he wouldn't have grown up to be the fine little turd that he is today.

"Sorcerer, you!"

"I'll keep true to the rest of the deal when you help me retake the city and round up the slaves."

"You're not trying to pull a fast one again. Are you Sorcerer!?"

"Again? When did I ever pull a fast one, to begin with?"

"Then what was the Vanishing Temple!?"

"Did I not cancel before anything could happen? In what way did I pull a fast one, we merely talked. It was just a discussion, did you have to take any actions."

"You!"

And it's been so long since then, let it go.

"Now, Lameriy I care about you, I've known you since you were a young girl. Don't you know me well enough to know I wouldn't do something like that to you?" Don't give me that look of 'No, I don't know.' "I need your help, help me retake the city and I'll give you a quarter of the land like we agreed."

"I don't care about that, at my age money means nothing, and you know that very well."

"Yes, I do. Here."

"What's this?"

"A list of everything we need for the ritual." Yes, read through it carefully. Some of it might be a bit difficult to obtain but with your connections and wealth, it should be simple. "Don't worry I didn't forget. When I'm crowned King, quarter of the city, and my magic will be yours."

"Very well, but you are warned if you try some-"

"You have no reason to be concerned."

Where is that gambling Lameriy that I've come to know? You're sounding more and more like a mean old lady.

We came in this room so hastily that we don't even have any tea.

"How about we have some tea, and I'd also like to introduce you to someone of my new friends. Maybe you remember, I was trying to introduce him to you at the party." Will you just put that piece of paper away for now. You don't need to memorize it, I'm not going to snatch it away from you. "Also don't let Karkasa, or that Witch Ena see it."

"Why not!?"

"With the ingredients alone they won't be able to create my magic, so it's best if you keep it away from them."

I understand they're your trusty aids, but they won't be of any help to you. I'll take your silence as a 'yes'.

▼▼▼

"Lami, were you waiting out here the entire time."

The maids behind you too.

"Yes, Master Danial, we didn't want to disturb you."

So you just waited out here.

"I'm happy to hear that Lami. I'll let you set it all up."

This room is becoming less and less of a tea room and more of a booze room.

"All done Master Danial."

There isn't even enough room for everything on the glass table. Are they going to stand there holding their trays the entire time?

Ha ha ha, they are. This is how servants should act.

"Lami, can you go tell everyone to come to the tea room."

▼▼▼

"Everyone, tomorrow we take back our City and re-forge our alliance with Nolybab. Cheers." This little tea rooms now turning into a ballroom. I don't mind the maids but... "Manerk, come over here."

If you haven't noticed you're the only warrior here. Even the sorceress aren't here, and there is a reason for that, this is a gathering for us. You stick out like a sore thumb here, this isn't a place for commoners. Your job is to follow orders, without our guidance you'd be just a barbarian that can barely be considered a human. Like the commoners who sympathize with the demi-humans and beastmans, I'll need to figure out a way to separate them from the actual humans.

"Yes, Master Danial."

Give me that wine glass, they sever beer in the homes don't they, this is expensive.

"Go outside and keep watch no one else enters the room. Make sure to close the door behind you."

Only a nod, no 'yes, master'. Make sure no one comes in, including you.

♦♦♦

"I think both of you met for a brief moment last time, but you ran away before we could talk."

I didn't run away. That time, I didn't feel well.

"I'll introduce you both again. This is Lameriy Hctiblive, a noble woman from the Kingdom of Nolybab. And this is William, a collector of rare things. The Golem you saw outside is his."

It would've been better if you didn't say that.

"Hello, nice to meet you."

I don't like meeting people, especially in a formal setting.

"That Golem is yours? I'm intrigued."

She presented her arm to be kissed. It was wrinkly, old and squishy soft. This is gross, I don't want to put my lips on this. Endure Verra, I mean William, Endure. I performed the disgusting act, and she carried on firing inquiries about the Golem. The Sorcerer wasn't helping, he kept telling her more information than she needed to know. Thus one item after another came up, that was supposedly in my collection. Thankfully the Sorcerer filled in some of the gaps on how I got the items because I was starting to forget what I told these people. Got to read through my book of lies again.

I was somehow able to steer the conversation a little south, about her voyage. Apparently she likes to take to large voyages through the sea. The Sorcerer left us alone to chat, probably because she's told these stories a hundred times before and he didn’t want to hear it again.

Her travels are mostly taken to the south, or southerly directions.

"The first time I went on one of these voyages was the scariest, perhaps because it wasn't really a voyage." She got a very devilish grin on her face. That face can't look anymore gross, but it could apparently look creepier. "I was kidnapped as a small child. I think I was around 10 then, I was so cute back then." Happily smiling she rubbed her face in reminiscences. "By some pirates. Taken to the middle of the ocean, they tried to ransom me. For which they succeeded for a brief moment, before my father chased them down with the entire fleet of the Hctiblive family, massacring them all. Ko ko ko, but I found it to be fun. I got to see some amazing sights."

"That's nice."

"Now whenever I see some pirates during my voyage, I blow them up."

"That's nice." I know pirates aren't model citizens to be sympathized with, and I don't really care but it must suck if they ran into her on the ocean. "Do you have a flag?"

If she has her own flag that pretty much settles it; she's a part-time pirate.

"Yes, yes I do. Ko ko ko, it's a skull giving a wink. You know how those pirates love their skulls. So I thought I'll have some fun."

"Ha ha, that's funny."

She's a part-time pirate.    

♦♦♦

"What about you Stella? Where do you think we should build it?"

"I think this will be a good spot Mater Verra."

Did she just point to it, because it's the biggest island on the map?

"Because it's the biggest?"

"Yes, Master Verra."

I thought woman cared about more than just size.

"Because it's big huh?"

"Yes, Master Verra."

Let's move away from this topic.

"Did you finish editing the first half?"

I'm almost done the second half of the book when that's done... Well, there's still a lot to do before we can start spreading it around.

"I must apologize, I'm not completely through it yet. I apologize for disappointing Master Verra's expectations."

"No, no it's nothing. Don't worry about it. I'm not done writing the second half anyway... so take your time. I only asked out of curiosity."

"Thank you, Master Verra."

There's no need to thank me. Well, whatever.