-- and it ended up being morning.
　I only got about an hour's sleep.

　All the time, I was thinking in my head, in circles.
　What should I do? What to do. What's the best option?

　Of course, there are no easy answers.
　So I decided to be a little more careful.
　You could say I've shelved the conclusion: .......

　There's a lot we don't know about the Dida case, to be honest.
　We don't even know what he was really, really thinking and acting on in the first place.

　I'm told that Mr. Hetty has already taken Dida into custody.
　That means he didn't do anything wrong in capturing her, but he must have had some slave fighters with him.
　If someone runs to pass on the information, they might eventually find out.
　Even if they killed him in secret and buried him, if he was suspected as the culprit, it would seem to be a loss of consequence.

　Of course, I want to take care of Aeon and Rebecca's feelings as well.
　According to the story, Dida is Isaac's avenger.
　Dida was also the one who caused Aeon to live in hiding for two years as a fugitive carrying a prison crest on his back.
　It was a long time ago - it wouldn't be easy to say.

　But still--.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to convince people ...... to do this. I don't know if people will agree with me ...... or if it's going to be difficult.

　I turned over one and muttered to myself.

　I was inexplicably modern and Japanese.
　If you call my brain peaceful, that's as far as it goes, but I'm still not ready to kill you.

　I even wanted to be killed without my knowledge, even if they called me a coward.
　If it's my responsibility to kill them, I want to abandon it.
　If someone else was going to do it for me, I wanted to ask them to go ahead and do it.

　I couldn't hate him enough to want to kill him. In a nutshell, that's all there is to it, but it's also true that he's not someone who should be left on the loose.

　So, if I'm going to kill him, I'm going to get a good reason to kill him from him.
　All I need is for Dida to draw out a motive to kill from me.


　◇◆◆◆◆◆.


So let's hear all we can get out of him. I'll decide whether or not to kill him, depending on that.

　I finished my preparations and went to Rebecca's house and told Hetty, who was waiting out front for me to tell her the policy.

'You're asking for ...... stories now?　The other party is a great merchant of the sea and mountains. I don't think he speaks the truth.
'Yes. So, if you speak a lie, you'll have to sign a spirit contract that will strip you of your blessing before you speak. If you lie and the blessing flies off, then we can kill you then, right?　On the other hand, if it wasn't ......, I'd like you to let me handle it.
You may do so, Lady Giraud, if you wish: ......

　To be honest, Hetty's not too happy about it.
　Let's just go ahead and kill them!　Maybe she thinks it's a good idea.
　But even Hetty's feelings like that haven't really been properly heard yet.
　It's easy to kill them, but it's not easy.
　If you're going to do it, do it, but you have to be more determined before you can make that decision.

　Everyone - well, me, Marina and Deanna, Rebecca and Hetty. Aeon and Mr. Shamash. The rest of us are Shero's, a total of eight people.
　Elepippi and Etowah asked for the store and didn't invite them over. Neither did Orica.
　Whatever the outcome, it's not very pleasant or necessary to get involved.

　I've asked Aeon to wear a mask.

　After making sure we are all there, we head to the stable.
　There was Dida lying there with her hands and feet bound and gagged.

'Mmm!　Mmmmmmmmmm!　Mugu Mugu!

　Maybe it's because he noticed me, or maybe it's because Dida is straw-covered in expensive-looking clothes and ranting about something.
　I ask Rebecca to remove the gag.

'Kid!　You're alive!　I know it's your difference, but you can't get away with this for free: ......
Well, well, well, just relax for a minute.

　When I silently pulled out my magic sword and flashed the pitch black blade, Dida gulped and fell silent.
　I'm sure he knows all too well what the current situation is like.
　Of course I, too, suddenly giggled with my sword!　I don't intend to be.
　I'm not, but I am intimidated.

'What about it, actually, Miss Hetty? Can't you get away with it for free?

　To kill or not to kill, you can see that the karma has already started.
　I honestly don't want to be a nebulous revenge, and I'm scared.

''The information channel was sealed off, and all the slaves were erased. There will be no evidence left. ...... No, I'll take care of the case, basically. If-- if anything should happen, I will take full responsibility.

　Hetty says with her usual cool face.

　I guess that means there's a chance they'll find out somewhere, after all.
　Dida is a big guy. He should have at least told her where he was going and come out.
　If the communication is lost and he doesn't come back, it's obvious that he's suspicious.

'Dear Jiro. I've been fighting with the house for a long time now. They all know that I don't like my uncle Dida. If I had done it, that would make sense.
Convincing: ......

　Convincing in this case is convincing in the sense that Henrietta (Hetty) could do it.
　She's the kind of person who created a group of mercenaries to get in her father's way.
　It might be convincing, but it's still a bad idea.

''Hmmm. I'm going to have to rethink it. It's fine for this guy to die, but you can't put the blame on Hetty-san.
'So, but ......'
'Well, for now, go to ....... Mr. Dida.

　I turn my attention to Dida.
　As expected of a great merchant, the light in his eyes is not dead, even in this situation.
　Maybe he insults women and children after all. Or, is there some kind of a secret plan?

I can kill you now. Well, I don't think you need to tell me now to understand the situation.
'Hmm ....... I don't think there's anything to be gained by killing them. I've already informed my men of my situation, and that the culprits are you guys. There's still time to forgive them, you know?

　Dida, who looks like a spare shakiness.
　Hetty tried to say something, but she stopped it with her hand.
　It doesn't matter if you're bluffing or not, it doesn't matter either way.

'I see. Then I'll ask your forgiveness. I'm afraid of the consequences.'
Huh. ...... Huh. That's right. That's good, isn't it? You know, I'm a merchant too, and I know what it means to buy my own life. I'll do no wrong.

　I can't hide my relief that he was surprised that I suddenly broke down.
　Well, you would have thought that the only thing left to do in the situation was despair.

''Killing him won't cost you a dime, you know.
Yeah. That's why I'm not getting paid to kill him.

　Hahaha and laugh at each other.
　Everyone - even Marina - has a quizzical look at me like that.
　I haven't told everyone in detail. I just told them to trust and leave the negotiations with Dida to me.
　The truth is, both Hetty and Rebecca would have liked to interfere, but they're keeping quiet about it.
　Of course, I'm not going to forgive them for free either.

But just forgiving is no small feat. We're both merchants, you understand.　This is a business meeting. Well, let me ask you, ......, in case you're not sure, Dida, are you an errand boy?
...... Right. The Barbacro Chamber of Commerce distributes arms to the Empire.
Then let's do business. As a matter of fact, there is a guidance for me to do business with the customer. In other words, this is the Great Spirit's plan. A lot of things have happened, but if it's a connection from the Great Spirit, I have no choice but to forgive you.

　Everyone looks at each other.
　Including Dida herself.
　But it's a stunt.
　I don't know how to make a choice that everyone agrees on.
　So you have to do what you think is best.

...... So, let's start with. Before we discuss business, let's sign a spirit contract. It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you can get your blessing. Of course, you have no veto power.''
'Lie to ......?　But ......
'...... Mr. Dida, please remember that you are trying to kill me once. No, precisely because you killed me once, I have the right to kill you once. ...... Well, that's okay. It's just a matter of you not lying to me. Besides, it's just a pledge we make to each other.

Not being able to tell a lie is not the same as having to tell the truth. But it's also true that it's as close as you can get.
　Dida looked flustered with a greasy sweat on her forehead.
　What we're going to do is just a business meeting. In other words, we can ask each other questions, and since we can't lie to each other, it should be completely even.
　The fact that you are upset about it so much may mean that you are that good at lying in negotiations.

''Yes. Well then, I'm going to make a spirit contract.

　Deanna pastes a smile on her face and begins to chant contract magic.
　I seem to remember Deanna saying that she couldn't use spirit contract magic, but apparently that's not the case.
　It's just a little unusual, otherwise the spirit contract magic itself is fine even during 'special guidance'.
　Dida probably doesn't know, as she watches from the sidelines as Deanna chants the magic.
''Even though she knows that 'Spirit Contracts don't work on High Elves', to the horror of the Spirit Contracts used by High Elves.

''Then, Dida-san. ''It's better than dying, isn't it?　Just don't lie to me. ......
Okay. That's it.

　Dida reluctantly agrees.
　After confirming that, me, Dida and Deanna held hands for the contract.
　The spirit contract is only exercised when the three parties agree to the same contractual content.
　So there can be no mistake in itself .......
　Usually (・・・・).

''Then begin.

　Light flooded out of the linked hands and the spirit contract was completed with an assault.
　The spirit contract magic of the high elves blessed by the spirits.
　In other words--.

'Oh!　Hey!　That's not what it's about!

　Dida rambles on, confirming the contract.
　I open the vocation board and check it, too.

'It's true. It's strange.
The genie is a prank.
"I'm in a bind, ha ha ha.

　As a High Elf, Deanna cannot use straightforward spirit contract magic.
　This is because if you are on the shoulders of one of the contractors, the content of the spirit contract will be rewritten on its own in favor of that one.
　The 'High Elves', a race loved by the spirits.
　This is also the reason why the spirit contract doesn't work on Deanna herself. The content of the spirit contract between me and Deanna was even rewritten without permission.
　Deanna is the one who acts as a go-between for the spirit contract.
　It seems there is no intervention of her own will, however, there is no fairness at all.

　By the way, the content of the contract that was altered here.

''Dida Barbacro, speak only the truth. If you say anything else, your blessing will be lost and you will incur a prison sentence.

　It is.

　worse than I thought.
　Deanna's hatred is all over the place in the spirit contract.

'Such ...... such a stupid ......'
''Well, now that we've successfully (...) concluded the spirit contract, let's talk business. Dida-san.

　In this world, blessings are something you should never give away.
　And even more so if you are a merchant in the credit game.
　Of course, even if you lose the blessing, you can still switch to another god like Ion.
　But Dida would be difficult to switch to paganism due to his position.
　Most of the people of the empire are followers of the Great Spirit, and there's even a kind of temple headquarters in the imperial capital called the Great Temple.
　Furthermore, the Sun God and the Night Goddess are both gods worshipped by enemy nations in the eyes of the Empire.

　But still, it's better than dying.
　Blessings are just a bonus in life.
　It would be hard for him to see it that way, though.

'I won't take your life if you answer me correctly. I promise.


　◇◆◆◆◇


Mr. Dida. What made you want to kill me?

　I ask a quick question.
　The plan to get the knights, or to get Deanna, was too zuzan, no matter how many times he thought about getting the knights, or how much he wanted to get Deanna.
　Dida was swearing a lot, but she accepted the situation rather quickly or became quiet. With the terms of that contract, there's only one way to go, either get my good mood and have the contract terminated, or give up and take on the prison crests.
　Dida seems to have chosen the former.

''I thought that if I killed ...... you, I would get Princess Diana and the elven village.
The Knights of the Order?
'Yes. The knights are just a bonus, though.
What made you think you could get it if you killed me?　As for the Knights, I'm certainly the owner.
'What a stupid thing to do ....... You're the one paying for it, aren't you?　If the money runs out, though, we'll have to find another sponsor.
Oh, so you decided to be a surrogate?

　I can understand that part.
　It's just that our knight squad is special from the reason for its inception, so it won't be, and if the knight squad itself has a more proper meaning, we need sponsors, and if there's a rich man who's willing to fund our activities, we'll jump on it.
　Really, it's just that my relationship with the Knights was a bit special.

'What about Deanna?　That's not exactly what you're going to get by killing me, is it?

　That was the biggest mystery. Or is it that I'm a conceited Sun.
　It's embarrassing to say it myself, but Deanna is all over me. It's hard to imagine that she's going to follow this chubby old man now, just because I'm dead.
　Or do they have some item like a reoccurring trip (・・・・) for elves?

"Princess Diana is probably in the midst of her 'special guidance'. That destiny always moves in the right direction.
That's true, but...
'So, if you die, it would have been the right fate, wouldn't it?　After all, ...... only confirmed that that fate wasn't for me, though.
"Are you doomed ...... ......?

　So the special guidance took advantage of the attraction of fate.
　So, if fate always leads you down the right path, then if "you could have killed me", then "I was destined to die", and if "Dida takes Deanna", then "Deanna's destiny is to be taken by Dida" - that's the theory.
　It's pretty forceful, but even my meeting with Deanna was forceful in hindsight.
　However, it didn't happen, which may prove that the compulsion of fate is still strongly at work.

'Nah ......!　What a ridiculous thing to do: ......!　The compulsion of fate was no longer working for me and your master!

　Deanna exclaims.
　Hmm?　Coercion not working?

'My guidance has already come to the very end. At this stage, the spirits will not lend me strength. If ...... if your master had died, ............ my guidance would have ended there... ...

　Dida's eyes widen in surprise.
　You mean he didn't know either. I didn't know either.

　The final step. So I guess that means it's linked to my "Great Wheel of Fate".
　The Great Wheel of Destiny is 9/10. It's just one more thing to accomplish.
　At the end, the spirits won't help me at the end.
　In other words, maybe it's a kind of parental love that says you have to take care of things by yourself in the end.
　From the point of view of the latest artificial intelligence, the Great Spirit, it might feel like a big sister who is my origin but also a handful.
　Well, when there's such a thing as the compulsion of fate, it can be considered spoiled enough, though.

Well, anyway, I understand what happened to Diana. But I'm not sure why you, a big merchant, would want Deanna now.
...... That's because you're a redneck. Do you have any idea how much that cloth you sold me ...... is worth?
Yeah, that one. Actually, I think it was more expensive than that. But as expensive as it is, it's still cloth.

　I once sold Dida some velvet fabric that I bought in Japan.
　At that time, I lied to Dida and sold it to her, saying that I got it from the Elf Village, which is how it all started in the first place.
　I remember that I sold it for six gold coins, but in reality it was worth more than ten times that, or something like that.

That cloth is the Ojofu of the night demon. It is one of the most expensive and rare pieces of cloth available in the world. Rather ...... it was woven with technology that was lost during the era of spirit civilization. In other words, there was no such thing as a new one that should have come out. That--
Some small-town kid in a small town had it.
'Yes. The elven village is a mystery to begin with. Elves are secretive, and when it comes to high elves, they're often non-interventionist with humans. But what if there was a fledgling merchant who took that high elf as a slave and took possession of the treasures of the elven village, and also didn't know the value of the ......?
I'm sure you're thinking of hijacking it... ......

　He thought he was taking it easy when he sold the velvet, but it seems that Dida's ambition was ignited at that moment.
　I thought I was being discreet, but it still looks like this.

'You know that originally, the reason the Solo family supported the High Elves' 'special guidance' was to get the High Elves' treasure, right?　Even a single piece of that Night Demon King's Upper Cloth is worth the price.

　That much.
　As I recall, Diana secretly told me a long time ago that it had been decided to give away an item called 'The Alchemy' for Diana's support this time.
　Is it a magic item of the same caliber as a magic item from a thousand years ago?
　No, it's not a magic item, it's just a Japanese cloth.
　Well, I don't need to spoil the story that much.

　Well, now I know why we're doing this in relation to Deanna.
　Now that we're here, let's ask some other questions, shall we?

　But it's only about Aeon.

　Dida didn't know that Mr. Hetty was in the Knights. Well, she was masked for the parade, and it was only last minute that she decided to join the Knights in the first place, so it was only natural.
　But he should have known about Rebecca and Shero-san. And that they were members of the mercenary group 'Scarlet Wedge'.
　And that he was the one who crushed that group.

''Dida-san, do you know about the Scarlet Wedge [Scarlet Wedge]?
''Of course I know. It was the best group in the Imperial City that saved the Empire many times, you know.

　Dida glances towards Mr. Shero.
　Is she half sycophantic? No, he must really think so, seeing as the blessing is not lost. In fact, I've heard that he was a lioness in many battles, I've heard stories about him.

'It's gone now, isn't it? I wonder why?
...... because the Commander-in-Chief is dead.

　This isn't a lie either.

'How did you die?'
...... because he was crucified for eloping with the Imperial Princess.

　That's true, too.

'Whoa, hey!　This is not a business meeting.　It's none of your business!
'Well, that's fine. I'll tell you about the business when I'm done asking questions. As long as you answer me correctly. ...... says that the imperial princess and the mercenary leader eloped with each other. ...... Is that true (・・・・・)?
..................
Why can't you just answer the question?
Because the ............ secret is .......
'Well, let's change the question. Mr. Dida. You were pulling the strings behind me, weren't you?

　Dida looks up at the question with a bang.
　Rebecca, Hetty, Aeon, and Shero are looking at her.
　Of course, Aeon is hiding her face behind a mask.

　It's Oshirasu.
　Oh, oh, oh, oh!
　Don't tell me you don't recognize this Lucreion.

　No, Aeon didn't take his mask off, though.
　I don't know what's going to happen now, but it's too risky for Aeon to reveal his true face.

'Well, it's all basically exposed, Dida. ...... Just thought I'd ask you to admit it, since you're so busy. I'd like to hear the truth from your own mouth, wouldn't you?
..................

　Dida goes silent.
　Well, it's not like it's a new thing, but it's like admitting to a crime.
　Or rather, if I admit it here, Rebecca-san and Shero-san might not forgive me, let alone me. Even Dida would think so.

'Do you consider silence to be an affirmation?
You can go to ............ for yourself.
''Well, since we're here, let me ask you one more thing. You were also the one who killed the former emperor in some way, right?　It was either you or ...... or the head of the Solo family, or it was directed by the Solo family head. Or was it at the direction of the current Emperor?
'Is ......?　Hey, why ......
''No, former emperor, you died at the right time. From the sequence of events, it's normal to assume that someone was up to something. Dida-san is good at using strange cursed magic tools, right?

　I heard that Aeon's father, the former Emperor, died of an unexplained illness.
　There may be unexplained illnesses in this world, however, this is a game world. As for the disease, it's apparently pretty strictly controlled. It's the same for NPCs.
　And it would be limited if it was something that could not be cured by an elf.

　Half of it was a bluff, but judging from Dida's reaction, it was a bingo.
　After all, he's an arms dealer, and he probably has a lot of weird items like the doll in the example, so I guess I was right.

　Besides, if you are wrong, it's free to ask.
　I'm sure they have some kind of information.

"............

　Unable to deny or affirm, Dida just keeps silent.
　She's sweating so hard her clothes are soaked, and she's in the biggest panic of the day.

"I won't know unless you say something.
..................

　In fact, silence is an affirmation and an agreement.
　There would be no excuse for this with such a spirit contract.

　That said, I had no intention of using this as an excuse to threaten the Solo family or anything like that.
　Just to Mr. Shero, Rebecca and Hetty. Most of all, I wanted to give Aeon a chance to find out the truth.
　What they would do about it is another story.
　Maybe it was completely unnecessary.
　Maybe this is just a way to bring back the resentment and hatred that we had almost forgotten.

　Dida is dripping with fat sweat and seems to be trying to figure out a way to get away with it.
　A poor excuse won't work. And later on, it doesn't get through that I didn't say that.

'Wa...... I am ......'

　Dida mutters in a shaky voice.
　It's so stiff and the roots of her teeth don't fit together.
　Her face is drawn with fear, but there is something like determination in her eyes.

...... I am.

　I knew at that moment that I had pushed myself too hard.
　It's not like I was desperate, but you can see that if you weigh what's in it for you and what's out of it.

I don't know about that!

　Dida shouted.
　At that moment, the sound of something popping from inside Dida resounded with a pang.
　It's the sound of a blessing bursting through in violation of the spirit contract.

'Oh, you ......'
'I don't know, I don't know, I don't know!　What the hell do you mean by that?　I don't know anything!

　Dida screams out as if she were delirious.
　Meanwhile, a dusky fog that came out from somewhere clings to Dida's body, and then it is absorbed. It leaves a dusky stain on the body from the tip of the sucked in.

............ hell...... crest.

　Ion gasped and muttered in a small voice.