—–
Of course, only twenty people as slaves looked like rookie numbers for these guys, which I had turned into zombie friends for now and made them come into my shadows.
Who would even sell so little slaves? As an experienced slave rescuer, I know very well that that’s too little.
Obviously, these slaves, which were all handsome and beautiful looking and were even healthier, were the big merchandise they would most likely sell tomorrow.
Meanwhile, all the others that they don’t find attractive enough to sell for a good amount of money are down there, in the underground. They’ll be either sold in mass as slave soldiers, workers, or in the worst case, slaves for rich guys that love to torture. There are a couple in every duchy.
Partner and Emeraldine were currently underground. They had found a door that led underground where over 50 more slaves were being held captive, with a few guards there.
I was about to move down as I was done here, but the door suddenly opened behind me, and a group of knights led by a beautiful little girl with pink hair and sharp emerald eyes entered. She had a little crown over her head and was dressed in a pink dress with silver armor on top. It was a bit over the top. She even had a royal-looking blade.
Shit, are these paladins?! They caught me!
“We found you! At long last, you’re all going to jail- Huh?”
The girl looked at me with a puzzled expression on her face.
“Hello…” I said while waving my hand.
“Eh? Are you alone? Who are you? Wait, where are all the other slavers? We just got a report from an insider that this was their hideout… And the slaves are gone too! You…! Are you involved in this?!” She asked.
“Wait, no! Are you actually good people? Did you come to save them? Holy shit, there are actually good people!” I said.
“Eh? What is this woman talking about? Catch her and put her in jail for now! We have many questions to ask her!” Said the girl, pointing her regal blade at me.
The knights rushed at me and pointed the tip of their spears at me, surrounding me.
“Please don’t fight back,” Said a man, holding handcuffs.
Should I escape, fight back, or let them catch me?
I can escape at any moment, but if I let them catch me, interesting things might happen, and I could get more info about who she is.
“Sure, I am not a bad person. I actually came here to rescue the people. I killed the slavers inside and rescued the people. They’re… inside of my shadow,” I said.
“What? You, a single woman, did all of that? Pff! What ridiculousness you’re talking about? Quickly bring her with us!” She said.
“Wait, there’s an entrance there. It leads to the underground! There are two of my friends down there. They’re helping the people and beating down the bandits. Please tell them that I told them to give up and come with you,” I said.
“Hm? If what you’re saying is the truth… then you might have gained a good ally, but if that’s a trap, then I’ll roll your head in the ground!” Said the girl.
“Ah… I bet you’re a Duchess?” I sighed.
“Eh? How could you tell, woman?” She asked.
“Well, the crown? The obsession with cutting people’s heads?” I asked.
“T-That’s not a thing of the family! My uncle was a wicked man… But I won’t follow in his footsteps… Anyways! Men, go down and do as she said,” Said the girl.
“Very well!”
The people rushed downstairs as the girl stared at me rather intensively.
“You’re strange. Are you a magician, a witch, perhaps?” She asked.
“No, I am a spiritualist that is closer to dark spirits. But I am good-aligned. The goddess of the underworld has blessed me,” I said.
“Ohh… Well, we’ll see about that,” She said while crossing her arms.
Meanwhile, Partner and Emeraldine were crushing down bandits down there and had already rescued all the people out of the jails and cages they were confined in, alongside stealing all the goodies around too inside dimensional pouches, which were like small inventories but into items.
A group of knights quickly reached down, finding all the slaves they came to rescue, running away while being led by two women. I was there too as a small snake on their shoulders.
“Knights!” Said Partner.
“D-Did they find out?! Damn it…!” Said Emeraldine.
“No! Hold on, girls, this is good. Let them catch you,” I said.
“Eh?!”
“W-What did you say?”
“Trust me on this one,” I said.
“…”
“…”
The two girls were left speechless. I can’t blame them. What I said was pretty weird.
“But it is true, let them catch you! It will benefit us if we get caught doing a good deed rather than a bad one,” I said.
“Okay… Master, I trust you,” Said Partner.
“A-Alright…” Sighed Emeraldine.
“Halt! Don’t fight back, and we won’t harm you!”
“Let go of the slaves!”
“Quickly take these handcuffs and don’t move,”
“We come from the woman above. She said that you should let us apprehend you….”
“Very well,” Said Partner.
“Do as you may,” Said Emeraldine.
“Very well, you seem cooperative, just as she said….”
The knights quickly brought the two upstairs alongside all the slaves, and it was confirmed that everything I said was the truth.
The girl looked at me with surprise as she quickly decided to take off my handcuffs and those of my friends.
See? I knew it. She’s a good girl. It is extremely rare to find an actual good person in this world, but they exist.
“Y-You were telling the truth… I am sorry for not having believed your words… Let me reintroduce myself. I am the new Duchess of the Duchy of Affnaria, Julia Memendin Albraun, the past Duke, that got assassinated by a mysterious person, was my uncle,” Said the girl.
—–