The hideout was in a corner of a favela. It was in a building that looked almost abandoned.

　It was a two-story building made of half stone and half wood, and looking at the old furniture, it was probably originally used as a home by someone reasonably wealthy.

　Now it seems to be used secretly as a resistance hideout, and the windows are boarded up so that you can't see inside. Normally it would be completely dark, but several oil lamps illuminate the dimly lit room, and a reasonable amount of light was secured.

''No, you are the very model of a good old aristocrat.

Really.

'If everyone was like Master Tiki, this country would be a much better place.

　That's what they said to me, and I'm sitting in a chair with an affectionate smile called a bitter smile.

　We were ushered into a back room and made to sit in a chair surrounded by fifteen resistance members from the hideout.

　Apparently, the old man known as Ray was quite outspoken, and we were quickly accepted by them.

'In other words, just because we were born differently, Lord Taiki said that kings and nobles are all the same person!

Oh....

Like that...

　Richt keeps talking at length like it's an election speech, but the content is all in my praise, so I'm uncomfortable and embarrassed.

''If a nobleman like Taiki-sama is on our side...''

Yeah. You can consider yourself a winner.

　I can even hear such mysterious conversations. What on earth would I win?

　When I was silent, not knowing what to answer, a middle-aged man came forward.

''........Lord Taiki. Please lend us your wisdom. What can we do to reduce the number of slaves? If it is a punishment for a crime, it can't be helped. However, people from countries that have lost a war or poor villages without the ability to defend themselves can be forcibly enslaved. Isn't this too much to ask?

　When the man appealed to them, they all turned to look at me again.

　No, no, no, no, I don't know how to answer such a heavy question, do I?

　That's what I thought, but I can't say I don't understand in front of everyone. Or rather, I'm not in the mood to say it.

''Well..........''

　I close my eyes, pretending to think calmly. There are many things going around in your head, and it's hard to put them together.

　Should I raid the slavers and take their slaves? No, you can't do that, not even if you are a bandit.

　So, do you want to stop all wars to get rid of war slaves? No, it's impossible.

"...how will the slaves be sold?

　First, prisoners of war, debt slaves, and criminal slaves would be official slaves in a sense in many places.

　The rest would be those who are forced into slavery by being set up in a kata, or those who are illegally enslaved by slave-hunters, as was the case with Maia and her friends.

　As for this one, since they are illegal slaves, I think it's fine to free them, but I guess the problem is that it's difficult to determine who is such an entity?

''Well as far as this country is concerned, slaves are always confirmed by the royalty, right?

　If I can just hold one spot down, maybe I can do something about it.

　Thinking that, I unconsciously came to a conclusion.

''Shall I go see the king of this country?

　That one word was powerful enough to stop the time of the place.

'Ta, Taiki-sama?'

An audience with the king?

How is that possible...?

　I can hear a voice with a whispered confusion in it.

''No, I thought for now it would be a dialogue.......I'll try to say it in words and if not, I'll think of a different way. Oh, it's okay. I won't ever say anything about this place.

　When I said that, they all nodded in bewilderment.





　After we left the hideout, we headed back out of the city again with Licht's guidance.

　And when I returned to Leticia, she rolled her eyes when she heard what happened.

''........Directly to His Majesty the King, huh? That's another terrific story.......I'm sorry, I don't know how to answer......

　I laugh and shake my head from side to side at Leticia's confusion.

'I'll just say it. It's probably not going to work after all. At any rate, it's the biggest industry in this country, so you definitely can't interfere with it first.

''Well I guess it's hard to just say that, but...''

　Letitia muttered with a dumbfounded look on her face.