Chapter 7

Arriving at the place after tracking the goblin, it was a room resembling a warehouse with old iron cages scattered around.

I could immediately guess that the things inside were beings called “monsters” in this world.

In addition to the goblin that stole the underwear, there were kobolds, orcs, harpies, and lycanthropes… Along with various circus tools and toys scattered around.

I roughly understood. What kind of work he was involved in before the current situation arose.

“Were you running a circus using monsters?”

There are those who tame ferocious beasts and put on performances, so it’s not unreasonable to think that someone in a world where monsters exist would do the same.

As if confirming that my speculation wasn’t wrong, the man presumed to be the caretaker of the monsters didn’t deny my words but only threw out a warning.

“If you don’t leave right now, I can’t guarantee what will happen!”

*Creak.* The lock on the cage I was holding was about to come undone.

If it opens, the massive monster trapped inside will soon break free.

Even so, I deliberately didn’t step back and intended to confront him.

“If I leave, you’ll be in trouble too.”

“Me? In trouble?”

“If I go back and report this, the security officers will storm this place. But for you, running away with the monsters here or finding a new hiding spot won’t be easy.”

“Ugh…!”

The caretaker, realizing his predicament late, trembled.

I chuckled at him and quietly took a step forward.

“Well, even without that, the reward from just a testimony isn’t enough to satisfy me, so I have no intention of leaving.”

And another step. Slowly closing the distance, I intended to suffocate him.

“So, what will you do now?”

“W-what…?”

“If I don’t back down here, you only have two choices. Surrender, or…”

I wanted to test him.

To see what choice a cornered human would make.

To see if a man determined to take revenge on the world had the resolve to easily give up everything he had achieved.

“…Isn’t it obvious what you have to do if you don’t surrender?”

“Y-you…!!”

The devil’s whisper fueling his conflict.

Finally, as if snapping the thread of reason, he unlocked the cage and released the monster inside.

“Come out, ogre!”

“Uoooh…!”

A massive figure emerged from the cage.

A monster called an ogre, incomparable in size to a goblin.

In terms of sheer strength, it was unmatched among non-human races, described as extremely dangerous even in games.

“Uoooh, uoooh…!”

Despite being such a creature, it stood in front of its caretaker, ready to confront me, as if protecting its master.

Yes, even a ferocious monster knows to follow its master.

As someone who serves, it’s a commendable sight.

“Y-you brought this on yourself. You provoked me…!”

No matter what, I can’t let everything go to waste because of someone who suddenly showed up.

Shaking off his hesitation, he pointed at me and shouted angrily.

“Take him down, ogre!!”

“Uoooh!!”

The ogre, hearing the command, began charging at me.

Slow but with a massive body. If I don’t step back, its hands will grab the human in front of it and crush them without leaving a trace.

“So this is the choice of a cornered human.”

Accepting the danger, I extended my hand toward the incoming fist and concentrated magical energy.

“Still, I pay my respects to your humanity for struggling until the end.”

*Bang!* A burst of magical energy.

The ogre’s hand was flung upward by the pressure, and I leaped up, aiming my fingertips at its head.

And *crash!* A powerful punch to the head.

The ogre, staggering from the blow, finally collapsed and lost consciousness.

“O-ogre!!”

“Don’t worry. I only knocked it out.”

I only kill those who must be killed to end things.

If he gives up here, I have no intention of killing anyone.

“So, will you resist further?”

“…Ugh.”

He tried to say something to my provoking words but eventually hung his head.

The voice that followed was filled with genuine resentment.

“Why… I just wanted to live an ordinary life with my children.”

“If you wanted to live an ordinary life, you shouldn’t have turned to crime.”

“But without this, I couldn’t get the money to take care of these children! I spent years taming them after hearing it could succeed, but the nobles only saw us as a momentary amusement, and the investors abandoned us because it wasn’t profitable! What was I supposed to do!!”

Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to abandon the monsters and turned to crime, and repeated crimes gave him the confidence to seek petty revenge against the nobles.

He dreamed of success but only received ridicule, and having raised them with genuine care, he couldn’t easily abandon them. It was only natural that he turned to wrongdoing, unable to bear the reality.

Given that he didn’t think of killing me to eliminate a witness until I provoked him, he wasn’t a bad person by nature.

From a human perspective, he was someone deserving of sympathy.

“…Are you prepared?”

But seeking revenge on the world out of resentment is like walking a thorny path.

The enemies only grow in number, and as public opinion turns against you, the legitimacy of your actions diminishes.

Yet, those who continue to seek revenge must have the resolve to bear the consequences.

“Are you prepared to bear the responsibility for the harm you’ve caused to many people and the enemies you’ve made?”

“……”

The caretaker silently looked around at the monsters.

Sensing his sincerity, I quietly placed a hand on his shoulder and advised him.

“If not, it’s best to end your revenge against the world here.”

It was sincere advice.

I knew that the end of a vague desire for revenge against the world only leads to self-destruction.

“If you accumulate more karma, you might cross a river you can’t return from.”

I sincerely hoped that this advice would someday reach the one I serve.

*****

The underwear theft case that stirred the city was successfully concluded.

After completing the process of handing over the criminal, I received a pouch of money from Carly, the detective in charge of the case.

“Here, your reward.”

“Quite substantial.”

“The higher-ups put up a bounty. From noblewomen to popular stars… He stole from quite a variety.”

She said, pulling out a cigarette and putting it in her mouth.

As she lit it with a match, she glanced at me and offered one.

“Want one?”

“I’ll politely decline. The smell might bother the one I serve.”

“…You’re a decent guy. Despite your dark appearance.”

Dark? I thought I looked quite like a proper butler. As I pondered, she exhaled smoke and continued.

“Anyway, thanks to you, the troublesome case was resolved. Now the remaining issue is what to do with the monsters he was raising while he’s on trial…”

“Just asking, but are you planning to euthanize them?”

“Use the nicer term ‘euthanasia,’ not ‘slaughter.’ Though, with the Non-Human Rights Committee gaining influence recently, there will be strong opposition.”

“…Non-Human Rights Committee?”

“You know about them?”

“Yeah, I’ve heard rumors.”

They were a group that appeared in Romancing Academy too.

A group advocating for coexistence between humans and non-humans, but their non-human groups caused chaos at the academy, which the protagonists had to resolve.

Considering this is a past timeline from the main story, they haven’t caused trouble yet… Well, even if they do, it’s an academy problem, not something to worry about now.

“Anyway, I’ve received the reward, so I’ll take my leave. Then…”

“Ah, wait. Before you go, I have something to ask.”

Carly stopped me as I was about to leave.

I stopped and turned, and she immediately asked.

“How long have you been in this city?”

“I was originally from another region, hired and brought to this city recently.”

“So, you don’t have any immediate means to prove your identity, right?”

Identity proof? Like a resident registration card?

Feeling uneasy, I asked.

“Will I be arrested if I can’t prove my identity?”

“Of course not. There are so many people in this city; how could they check everyone’s identity?”

Good. That’s a relief.

Come to think of it, even in my original world, many countries don’t use resident numbers, so it’s not strange that a fantasy world doesn’t issue identity cards.

“But if you plan to operate in places other than the back alleys, it’s better to have a public identity. It helps gain trust from others.”

“Public identity? Like what?”

“Something anyone can have, like a mercenary or a problem solver. They take on various jobs, so anyone can do it… Especially if you get an ID from the guild, higher ranks can even take requests from the higher-ups. If you’re ever short on money, consider that.”

Money-making.

Indeed, serving Jeremiah will require spending money here and there, so her advice to work as a problem solver for a steady income seems good.

“Thanks for the advice.”

“Don’t mention it.”

As I thanked her for the useful information, Carly chuckled and added.

“I think we’ll be seeing each other often. In places where many incidents happen, people who can solve them are rare.”

“Haha, I hope to have a good relationship with you too, Detective Carly.”

After the farewell, I walked away, looking at the pouch of money in my hand.

With this much, I won’t have to worry about food expenses for a while.

Hoping that the meal I prepare will help smooth things with Jeremiah, I leisurely headed to the market.

And as I bought some ingredients and was returning to the mansion…

“Kyaaaah!!”

A woman’s scream from not far away.

My nerves tensed because I immediately recognized whose voice it was.

“Miss?”

Jeremiah Anderson.

Why was she, who should be at the mansion, screaming in the middle of the street?