It’s Been 500 Years as an Extra, and the Original Story Still Hasn’t Begun - Chapter 93
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
500 Years as Just an Extra,
The Original Story Still Won’t Begin
Episode 093
Baron Gavin immediately grasped the severity of the situation and hardened his expression.
He had been focusing on information gathering ever since the Noid Warren collusion incident.
Recently, he had even taken on sponsoring the Second Prince in Retis, monitoring the movements of the entire Imperial Capital and the Imperial Palace.
“That bastard Zeke still refused to talk?”
“According to Lord Dayford, truth serums and torture didn’t work on him.”
“Perhaps he underwent some special procedure.”
“Special procedure?”
“Using drugs and magic to forcibly alter one’s constitution. It should have been abandoned due to severe side effects, but if there’s still a place using such methods…”
Baron Gavin, who had been pondering something, clicked his tongue briefly.
“Even if I have a place in mind, there’s no physical evidence. This is troublesome. I’ll discuss this case separately with Lord Dayford. What brings you to Parzan Street?”
“The source of the necklaces worn by the poachers is suspected to be from there. I plan to go and see if there’s anything suspicious.”
“Your Highness is going personally? Surely not alone?”
“I have a guardian here.”
When Ailesia cheerfully answered while raising her hand, the two men’s expressions split in opposite directions.
“What guardian? I’m not a child.”
“If Teacher accompanies you, that would be reassuring. It’s a hundred times better than having all the Tigel Knights in the Imperial Capital swarm there.”
Unlike Termion, who frowned with clear displeasure, Baron Gavin continued with a good-natured smile.
“Even if you visit the Adventurer’s Guild or Mercenary Guild, you won’t get much valuable information. They’re legitimate organizations recognized by the Imperial Palace, so they don’t do anything illegal on the surface.”
“By ‘on the surface,’ you mean they actually do otherwise?”
“Their main source of income isn’t commission fees. There are three most representative places.”
“Three places?”
“The black market, fighting arena, and secret auction house. All places that cater to wealthy magnates and nobles.”
Baron Gavin slowly began explaining about Parzan Street.
“They also operate entertainment districts and gambling houses, but those aren’t very large in scale. Such places operate openly in downtown anyway.”
“I can roughly guess what the black market is, but what are the fighting arena and secret auction house?”
“The secret auction house is where they auction rare items that can’t be traded openly. And there are no restrictions on the items.”
“No restrictions?”
“They trade things other than objects too. Like slaves or rare magical beasts.”
“…Excuse me?”
As if recalling unpleasant memories, Ailesia slightly frowned.
“I don’t know about here, but the secret auction houses in the Northern Continent had all sorts of things. Demi-human slaves were common too.”
“…How horrible.”
“Fortunately, such things are rare here. There are hardly any demi-humans living in the Southern Continent. However, the rare magical beasts Teacher mentioned do appear occasionally.”
“Then what about the fighting arena?”
“That place is truly the largest gambling den and a place that drives people mad.”
Humans fight humans, or humans fight magical beasts on stage in solo duels.
Spectators bet money on the participant they support and take home winnings if they win, with the possibility of striking it rich instantly if they’re lucky.
“Among poachers, those who capture magical beasts alive are mostly doing it to supply the fighting arena. Especially ogres and trolls are traded at high prices.”
“Can ordinary people actually beat ogres or trolls?”
“That’s exactly why gambling is established, isn’t it?”
It was literally a place where lives were bought and sold with money. Termion, who had been listening, unconsciously clenched his fists.
“…Anyway, our primary targets would be the black market and secret auction house.”
“Yes, Your Highness. If you have time, it wouldn’t be bad to look around the fighting arena too, but the possibility of direct connection to black magic seems slim.”
“Really? I think a bit differently.”
Ailesia recalled the necklaces confiscated from the poachers.
If those items were magical tools that enhanced ordinary people into aura users, the most useful place to use them would be the fighting arena.
There was no better item for manipulating match odds. They could just check the amount of money bet by spectators and the odds, then send out the side they want to win wearing the necklaces.
“However, even if the fighting arena manipulates matches with such magical tools, I don’t think they would manufacture them directly.”
“Right. There must be a supply source somewhere.”
“Then simply spying on the black market and secret auction house won’t be enough. There must be someone behind the scenes managing those places.”
“Nothing has been revealed that far, Your Highness. However, there are great nobles under suspicion. Most notably, the House of Duke Kaif.”
If the First Imperial Consort’s family was truly involved, the Imperial Palace, and even the Emperor himself, might be complicit.
“This could become bigger than expected. Ailesia, are you really sure about this?”
“I said I’m fine, didn’t I?”
Though Termion asked quite seriously, Ailesia chuckled and waved her hand dismissively.
If things went wrong, she could just smash everything—what was there to worry about? It’s not like they were openly attacking the Imperial Palace.
‘Parzan Street as a location name doesn’t even appear in the original story.’
In other words, it wouldn’t matter if she caused a ruckus if things went south.
“So, when are we going?”
Baron Gavin said he would organize the detailed information into a separate report, so now they just needed to set the time.
Termion immediately gave his answer as if there was no need to deliberate.
“Let’s move tonight.”
“Sweet dreams, Elly.”
“Good night, Uncle!”
When Termion left a light kiss on Elenora’s forehead and patted her shoulder, the child soon fell asleep peacefully with steady breathing.
After quietly closing the door, he headed to the adjacent room. Ailesia was waiting, having already finished preparing to go out.
“Is Elly asleep?”
“Yes.”
“You can change over there.”
Ailesia had connected large screens to create a temporary changing room in one corner of the room.
Termion asked her while taking off his shirt inside.
“Where did you get these clothes?”
“I mentioned it to the Chief Steward and he provided them. We can’t go to such a place looking like nobles.”
“What about this vest?”
“I prepared that separately. It’s blade-resistant, so wear it under your shirt.”
“Can something this thin really resist blades?”
“Don’t worry, ordinary blades will never pierce through it.”
It was a vest made by processing Yormu’s scales whole—there was no way it could be pierced. It would probably remain intact even if struck with aura.
“Oh, make sure to wear that necklace. It’s a magical tool that changes hair color.”
“You have all sorts of items.”
Before long, Termion emerged after changing clothes. His black hair had been perfectly transformed to faded brown.
“Oh.”
“…This feels rather awkward. It’s my first time wearing such clothes.”
Stained leather armor, moderately worn gloves, boots with frayed ends and worn heels. With a gray cold-protection coat and robe over it all, Termion looked exactly like an adventurer.
“It suits you better than expected.”
“You too. Are those also clothes the Chief Steward provided?”
“These are my clothes. What I used to wear during my adventuring days.”
Having changed clothes at some point, Ailesia was dressed similarly. The dagger at her waist and the whip hanging over her pants were particularly eye-catching.
Termion, whose face reddened for no reason, turned his gaze away and fidgeted with his sword hilt.
“…Let’s go. To see what exactly is hidden in Parzan Street.”
“Pfft, why are you speaking so dramatically?”
Anyone watching would think they were heading off to war. This was probably their first time doing something like this, so they seemed nervous.
Ailesia patted Termion’s shoulders reassuringly and threw open the terrace doors.
“Why the terrace?”
“Dressed like this, it’d be awkward to go out through the entrance, don’t you think? Just take my hand, Your Highness.”
“I won’t refuse.”
Holding hands firmly, the two of them jumped from the railing simultaneously.
“This way.”
After landing safely with Ailesia’s flight magic, Termion took the lead toward the manor’s back gate.
“The Chief Steward should have prepared a carriage in advance.”
“Is that really necessary?”
“It’s better to travel as normally as possible when going there.”
True, that would be better than unnecessarily drawing attention. And since she’d never been there, she couldn’t use spatial movement either.
Ailesia obediently followed his lead and started walking.
‘…But why is he still holding my hand?’
Normally, he would have let go first as soon as they landed, but Termion was walking slightly ahead while still firmly holding her hand.
So why didn’t she let go herself? Was there really any need to?
‘I’m wearing gloves anyway, so whatever.’
…To be honest, walking hand in hand with a handsome man in the dead of night felt rather nice.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————