Chapter 335 : Darkan’s Mansion
As soon as our carriage started moving, the two guards who were disguised as bandits tied our arms and legs with rope so as not to arouse suspicion among the enemies.
I had been attacked by bandits many times and I think that they did an impressive job acting like bandits.
Before the mission started, we were taught to untie ourselves, so it wouldn’t be a problem, but honestly, I think I can just untie myself with magic. It will be much easier that way.
We are now heading to Darkan’s mansion, but instead of going there through the main street that leads to the center of the capital, we continue on crossing the outskirts to avoid people’s attention.
While being rocked back and forth as the carriage kept moving, I noticed Liane was trembling and breathing heavily.
I could tell because I was sitting next to her in this cramped carriage. She seemed to be nervous.
She was boasting that she would be able to carry out this mission without problem, but she was just a nine-year-old young noble lady who had never faced real criminals before. It was only natural that she felt scared.
On the other hand, Ester and I already had the experience of dealing with bandits. Maya, who was once an adventurer, must have experienced something similar, so we didn’t feel scared at all.
As the person who sat next to her, I thought it was my duty to make her feel better, so I brought my face closer to her ear and called out to her.
「Liane-saー I mean, Lia, are you okay?」(Mary)
「ー!!」(Liane)
She flinched when I called her. She then answered me while looking away.
「H, Hmph! I’m fine. You should worry about yourself.」(Liane)
I couldn’t see her face but I could see her ear turning red.
I see. She has been acting strange probably because she’s scared.
I wanted to say, “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you”, but I knew she would act though in the end saying, “I don’t need your protection!”
After traveling for about thirty minutes, Darkan’s mansion finally came into view. I could see it through the small window of the carriage.
Compared to his flashy magic tool shop in the center of the city, his mansion near the outskirts looked quiet.
After keeping an eye on the Phantom Mist criminal group for a while, the guards found out that the team that usually brings in slaves didn’t enter through the front gate, so we circled around along the high walls surrounding the mansion, heading for the back gate.
The back gate was small. It seemed that it was only wide enough for a carriage to fit through.
As expected, there were a few people standing by the gate. They looked like thugs instead of guards.
One of them shouted and approached us.
「Stop right there! This is the mansion of the wealthy merchant, Darkan-sama. What is your business here?」(gatekeeper)
「Yo, I came to deliver some “good products” for Mr. Darkan.」(Morrison)
Morrison replied in a typical thug-like voice. He has some good acting skills, it seems.
「”Good products”, huh? What kind of “products”?」(gatekeeper)
「Delicious liquor that is so delicious that it makes people think it’s not made in this world. It can even make gods drunk.」(Morrison)
「Hee~ How many bottles do you have?」(gatekeeper)
「Four bottles.」(Morrison)
「I see.」(gatekeeper)
It seemed to be some kind of a code that meant something like, “I’ve kidnapped four beautiful ladies who can be sold as good slaves”.
The code seemed to be different if the victims were males.
The guards learned about it after interrogating the thugs who worked for Darkan.
「By the way, where’s the usual guy? I’ve never seen your face.」(gatekeeper)
「Ah, that guy got sick after drinking too much liquor. I’m a new guy, but I have experience in this kind of thing, so he told me and my friends to do this job for him.」(Morrison)
「Oi, oi, seriously? I need to give him a good lecture when he comes back. Anyway, can I check the products?」(gatekeeper)
「Sure.」(Morrison)
As Morrison replied to the gatekeeper, the two guards who were with us opened the door to let the gatekeeper see us.
The gatekeeper, who looked to be in his mid-twenties, held his lantern forward and took a look at our faces.
「Hoo~ I see, I see. Three young ladies and an adult woman. But… Hmm… I think the adult one is a bit too old. What a shame.」(gatekeeper)
Maya flinched her shoulders a little when the gatekeeper said that. She looked really mad, but she tried as best as she could not to look too aggressive toward the man.
Bear with it, Maya-san! Suppress your killing intent!
「Wha… What did you say!?」(Morrison)
Suddenly, Morrison yelled at the gatekeeper as if he did it in Maya’s stead.
「”What a shame”, you say!? The hell are you talking about!? You might think that way because you’re still too young! A brat like you will never understand the rich sex appeal of a fine mature woman who has experienced the sweet and the sour of this cruel world! You don’t understand how fascinating women her age are! Their stimulating expressions, their alluring gestures, their matured skin that starts to lose its elasticity, their beautiful hair that starts to lose its natural color, everything about them is outstandingly charming! There’s no way a brat like youー」(Morrison)
「ーWhoa, whoa, whoa! Chill, dude! Alright, alright! I understand your tastes very well, and I’m sorry for offending you! Geez…」(gatekeeper)
「Aa… No, I should be the one who said sorry. I got a little heated up when it comes to mature women. Haha…」(Morrison)
Uhh… It seems that Morrison likes middle-aged women.
I don’t know how old Maya is, but Celine said that Maya was her senior, so I think she’s around 35 or so.
But, wait… Does it mean that Morrison has feelings for Maya? But… Maya likes Tryon, right?
Ugh… I think I’ve just learned the information I shouldn’t learn…
「Hahh… It’s alright. I know some people who easily get heated up when they talk about their fetish just like you. Anyway, I don’t see a problem, so you may enter.」(gatekeeper)
「Haha… Sorry about that and thanks.」(Morrison)
The gatekeeper finally opened the gate for us.
After our carriage went through the gate, he then led us the way to the back of the mansion.
「We’re here. You can put the ladies down. I’ll lead you to the entrance to the basement. I’ll go let Darkan-sama know once we put them in the cell.」(gatekeeper)
「Alright. Guys, put them down!」(Morrison)
As soon as Morrison said that, the two guards disguised as bandits untied our feet so that we could walk and took us outside the carriage.
I could see a huge garden filled with beautiful flowers and well-trimmed trees.
The gatekeeper led us to a hidden small stone building behind the trees.
He then inserted a key into the keyhole and pushed open the heavy-looking iron door with both hands, revealing a staircase that seemed to lead to the basement.
You can gain access to [Early Access] page and read up to ten chapters ahead by supporting me on [Patreon]
Fetishes are serious business. For real.