Chapter 138. Underworld Roafra (2)
Samwell was a native of Roafra.
Born in the underground underworld, he had crossed over to Aurofl aboveground countless times, but not once had he ever gone beyond the city walls. It was because of the fear of demi-humans and abnormal species that he had been told about since childhood.
He was more timid than most.
But even that was a talent in this world.
Samwell had studied on his own which places in the underworld were dangerous and which were safe, and so, he had managed to survive intact in the underworld for decades. As a bonus, he had become so knowledgeable that he could walk the vast, complex Roafra with his eyes closed.
He applied the knowledge and experience he had accumulated over the years directly to his business.
Safe underworld tours!
It was an odd phrase, yet the result was successful.
Word spread quickly thanks to satisfied customers, and he even came to be hired by wealthy men or nobles who wished to make use of the underworld's auction house.
Of course, there had never been an accident during any of his tours.
No accidents.
That was Samwell's motto and pride.
"Hmmhmm, hmhmm."
Samwell hummed to himself as he took a spot near the city gate.
He didn't know exactly when the customer would arrive. Situations were always changeable, so it was rare for a plan to unfold precisely on schedule. That was the way of things.
'Still, since he said he was going to the auction house, he'll probably be here soon enough.'
This client too was by no means an ordinary person.
What commoner could possibly participate in an auction where hundreds of millions were traded so easily? It was only natural to think so.
Samwell knew neither the name nor the identity of his client. All he had was a minimal description to recognize him by. This was his iron rule.
'If you show curiosity recklessly, you're bound to end up dead.'
That was common sense in Roafra.
So, as always, the only thing to do was to faithfully carry out the task entrusted to him.
Samwell spent mornings and afternoons sitting in his chair, waiting for the client who might arrive at any time, and at night he stayed at a cheap inn nearby.
He had already received the deposit, so his heart was at ease.
After several days had passed, an outsider clad in a light green robe passed through the city gate.
'Oh, is that him?'
He resembled the description Samwell had been given.
What's more, even from a distance, his appearance was far from ordinary. And at that very moment, he was looking around as if searching for someone.
Samwell, from experience, was certain this was the client.
He quickly raised his placard and waved a small flag toward him.
The outsider, having spotted it, walked over to Samwell. It seemed he was indeed the right person.
The outsider, Verden, asked,
"Are you Samwell?"
The voice matched the youthful appearance.
Yet, there was a clear force behind it. Very likely a noble.
Samwell bent his back so deeply his head nearly touched the ground.
"I am Samwell, appointed guide of the underworld Roafra. I will serve you with my utmost dedication."
When he raised his head, he smiled brightly.
***
Samwell's guiding routes were divided into Aurofl and Roafra.
Verden chose only Roafra.
A quick glance told him Aurofl was no different from Rines. And besides, his destination was solely the auction house in Roafra.
At the customer's request, Samwell began his polite guidance.
"Between Aurofl and Roafra lies an underground passage. There, you will board a high-speed magic power elevator and enter Roafra."
"Sounds quite deep."
"Yes, indeed. The thinner the ground between them, the higher the chance of a catastrophe occurring exponentially. Since the lives of at least tens of thousands are at stake, it has been designed with utmost care for safety."
Samwell then added further explanation about Roafra.
"Thus, the Aurofl aboveground and the Roafra underground are divided, not only physically but socially as well. For instance, in terms of national regulations."
"Regulations… you mean, the law is different?"
Samwell nodded.
"Roafra is literally an extraterritorial zone. It is not under the Estiria royal family, but under the effective ruling power of Vintert, who enforces their own laws."
Steal, commit violence, even murder, there was no punishment.
There was no state authority to regulate crime.
Well then.
"Quite a mess, it must be."
"Haha, most think that way, but it's not entirely so. It is because of fear."
The fact that one could kill another so easily also meant one could be killed without reason just as easily.
Not being protected by the law applied not only to others but to oneself as well. That very fact served as a powerful deterrent.
What developed by exploiting that fear was the security business.
Those hired with money protected shops from indiscriminate violence, guarded patrons, and sometimes carried out revenge on their behalf.
Primal strength.
That was the order of the underworld.
Verden narrowed his eyes.
"So as long as you have strength, you can do anything you want?"
"That is the underworld. Meanwhile, the weak are always trampled upon. Because they are weak. If they lack power, then they must rely on connections, wealth, or whatever means to survive."
A wild environment.
Yet, not so different from the reality outside. In the past and now alike, the world had always belonged only to the strong. It always would.
Verden knew that truth better than anyone.
"Now, I shall tell you the precautions. First, you must follow my guidance as much as possible. And second, never speak the name of Vintert carelessly in Roafra. As long as you keep those two rules, you'll be fine."
Even the name?
Samwell answered Verden's doubt.
"There are many factions in the underworld. But the one absolute ruler is Vintert. That fact never changes."
Vintert's eyes and ears were hidden everywhere.
Speak out of turn, and you might vanish without a trace.
Samwell had seen, more than once, people who boasted and mocked Vintert, only to be found as corpses in back alleys.
Roafra was a place where chaos itself was concentrated.
You could walk down a dangerous street and nothing might happen, but you could walk down a safe street and suddenly be stabbed to death. That was the underworld.
At that moment, Samwell thumped his chest.
"But you need not worry at all. Not once have I ever caused harm to my clients. That is how much emphasis I place on safety in my routes. I will provide more than your money's worth, so I ask you to trust and follow me."
Guide Samwell bowed once again.
'A guide skilled in flattery.'
Verden gave a slight nod.
Soon after, they arrived at their destination.
The entrance to the underground passage. Following Samwell down the stairs, a wide corridor appeared, with crowds lined up at each checkpoint.
The soldiers of Aurofl were inspecting the people.
"That passage is mainly used by commoners. The inspection isn't particularly strict. But if you dare smuggle drugs from the underworld and spread them outside, it's immediate execution."
Samwell pointed to a corner.
"And over there is the VIP-only passage. Mostly, only the renowned figures of the underworld use it. You, my lord, will be using the central elevator that lies between these two passages."
Three magic power elevators stood beneath the central stairs.
It was a passage permitted only to associates, yet once granted permission by a manager, it could be freely used. If you had connections, you didn't have to wait around like the others.
As they descended the stairs, a mustached man clad in a steel cuirass approached.
Samwell bowed his upper body deeply.
"Oh, much appreciation for your hard work, Commander Dalisian."
"Samwell, is it? At work again today? Hah, you're doing quite well for yourself, aren't you."
"All thanks to your grace, sir. I'll be sure to host you properly one day. If I've received favor, isn't it only right that I repay it, even a little?"
"Hmhm, that is true."
The commander cleared his throat and smirked.
The thought of drink and meat made him grin. The occasional token of appreciation he received for granting convenience was a nice side income.
The commander turned his head.
Seeing Verden, he stroked his mustache.
"Hm, this time you've brought quite the unusual client. With that face, going to a place like Roafra seems a terrible waste… well, someone else's business is none of mine."
The commander stepped aside and jerked his chin.
It meant they were free to pass. There would be no inspection.
"Many thanks, Commander. I'll see you again later."
"Yes, yes. I'll be expecting it, so let's meet again."
Samwell bowed several times, then boarded the high-speed magic power elevator with Verden. The door closed, and the elevator descended underground.
As the elevator departed, a soldier checking its operation spoke to the commander.
"Wow, never in my life have I seen someone that unfairly handsome. Could he be a noble?"
"None of the kingdom's nobles I know look that good. He might be a foreign noble, but that's none of my concern…"
The commander furrowed his brow and tilted his head.
"Gray hair and blue eyes."
It was a familiar impression.
He dug into his memory, but couldn't quite recall. One thing was certain—he wasn't a wanted criminal.
'Still, perhaps I should make a report.'
***
Vrrrm.
A faint noise hummed as the elevator descended.
The surroundings were made of reinforced glass, giving a clear view outside. Soon, the underground scenery spread into sight.
Verden's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
A massive cavern, large enough to swallow two great cities with ease.
Metal pillars, protected by magic power, held aloft the towering ceiling, while huge mana lamps embedded throughout the roof bathed all of Roafra in a soft glow.
It was a sight he had never before encountered.
'And…'
Verden turned his head forward.
Beyond the underworld, far away, against the cavern wall by the underground lake, stood a gray stone fortress. It was too obvious who resided within.
'The head of Vintert, the king of the underworld lives there.'
Indeed, that much deserved to be called a king.
Possessing a fortress rivaling any royal castle, it was as if he were looking at the capital of a small underground nation.
Samwell added an explanation.
"Long ago, the first leader of Vintert built that castle using slaves. Beneath that lake, they say, lie the bones of slaves who either died from overwork or fell to their deaths. A truly horrific history. Only recently was slavery officially abolished."
"I've heard there are still illegal slaves in the underworld."
"That is correct. You may or may not know, but since Count Plishr was imprisoned not long ago, that trade has faltered somewhat. However, that was hardly the only supply source. More importantly, as long as Vintert desires it, slavery will never disappear from Roafra. The same goes for many other things."
This entire enormous underground underworld, swayed by the will of a single organization?
'What immense power.'
Verden turned his gaze back to the streets.
A group that had ruled the underworld for generations like a dynasty, Vintert.
From the guide's reactions, from Perne's intelligence, from Calia's remarks, he could sense indirectly just how vast and formidable they were in Roafra.
Though, that was all it was to him.
…Thud.
They reached the underground.
The elevator doors opened, revealing the people bustling about the streets.
As Samwell had said, the order seemed better than expected. It felt less like an underworld, more like the night streets of a great city.
"On the surface, it doesn't seem so different. But the moment you step a little deeper, the true underworld reveals itself. That is why you must be very careful."
There was no physical boundary to mark it, making it hard for outsiders to recognize.
Under Vintert's reign, hidden factions fought their wars, shifting territories beneath the surface.
But for Samwell, it was no issue.
There was a reason his motto was 'no accidents.'
The two men stepped off the magic power elevator and into Roafra.
***
Roafra was a city of pleasure.
A street overflowing with delights unseen in other cities. For first-time visitors to the underworld, the destination was usually the same.
Namely—
"The casino."
"A gambling den, you mean?"
"Exactly. It is one of Roafra's core businesses, and the place most often visited by outsiders. Since there is still plenty of time before the auction begins, you may enjoy yourself there. But… if it is not to your taste, I will guide you elsewhere."
Verden had never once gambled in his life.
Nor did he have any interest. Rather than wasting time on such frivolities, it would be far more useful to familiarize himself with Roafra's geography.
"Let's go somewhere else."
"Understood."
Samwell nodded and stepped forward.
In that moment, something brushed Verden's senses. He instantly stretched out his arm and yanked Samwell back by the scruff of his neck.
KRRRRAAANG!
The casino wall exploded outward.
The half-smashed body of a man came hurtling past the spot where Samwell had just been standing. His heart pounded with the realization he had narrowly avoided a disaster.
Verden's gaze turned toward the casino.
A coarse voice rumbled from within the building.
"You worthless bastard. Who the hell do you think you're playing tricks on? I'll crush you dead."
'That voice…'
It was all too familiar.
Soon, the one who had destroyed the casino wall revealed himself.
A hulking giant with jet-black cropped hair and a beard.
At his waist hung a massive, razor-honed axe. His ferocious expression showed not the slightest attempt to conceal what was clearly a foul temper.
Across his neck and chest were great scars Verden had never seen before, yet he knew the man without doubt.
The giant rolled his shoulders as he stepped outside.
"Already pissed off from a rotten hand, and now this? Perfect timing. I'll beat someone half to death…"
Verden's and the giant's eyes met.
After a brief silence, both spoke, almost in unison.
"…The Butcher?"
"Asher?"
The Butcher, Galliark.
Once, together with Verden, he had subjugated the Wailing Knight, a Platinum Rank adventurer.