Saelus suddenly appeared in the empty room where no one was. It was another abrupt appearance, just like last time.

“Ah… Saelus, how did you come?”

“Because it seems like you miss me?”

“Ah.”

“Isn’t that it?”

He smiled slyly and stared at me intently.

“That’s true, but… I’ve been hesitating. Whether I should ask you about the investigation and how it turned out. I kept thinking that maybe just calling you might be a burden to you.”

“You can call me comfortably. The investigation into the maids has already been completed. I didn’t know when to come. I prepared a way for you to call me, but I didn’t have a way to contact you.”

“Ah!”

“It’s kind of foolish. Suddenly appearing might surprise you, and there might be situations where I shouldn’t appear…”

He scratched his head, seemingly making excuses.

Anyway, the investigation is over.”

“Really?”

“If you want, we can go right now. If you’re okay.”

“Ah.”

I glanced at the door for a moment.

“If I leave you alone…”

“I’ll secretly come back. I’ll put a protective spell. In case Shasha looks for Isabella, I can come back immediately.”

“Can you do that?”

“I can provide after-service with certainty.”

He quickly moved his hands. Like him casting magic effortlessly, the surroundings sparkled.

“Did it work?”

“Yes. Then let’s go.”

Saelus reached out to me. As if telling me to take his hand. I looked at the door once and then at Saelus before grabbing his hand.

“Now we’re going. Close your eyes for a moment. The destination is the outskirts of the imperial capital, where the slums are. I hope you won’t be surprised.”

Slums. As I was silently watching him, Saelus put his hand on my eyes.

And not long after, the surrounding air changed. Unlike the warm and static air that lingered in the palace, now I could feel the cold air with a musty smell.

“You can open your eyes now.”

When I opened my eyes at his words, the surroundings were more miserable than I had imagined. The slums on the outskirts of the capital were a place where people struggled to live day by day.

Those living here had no chance to rise. The too-low ceiling was the problem.

People in the slums, who had little education and nothing, found it difficult to get a job. Even living a normal life was challenging.

Since it was a place where people without money could reside, incompetent people gathered here. However, most of the makeshift houses had only ceilings to be called homes.

Maintaining the minimum livelihood was also difficult in the slums. It was not clean, and there was no food to eat.
Of course, the health of the people here was not good, and when such people gave birth, the health of the children was also not good. It was a place that was becoming more like hell, like a Möbius strip.

“Is she here?”

“Yes.”

So, it was even more puzzling. I knew that the maids of the Count’s residence received a considerable amount of money and left. I thought they wouldn’t live in the slums, even if they didn’t live well…

For a moment, Saelus, who was looking at me, moved his hand again. Then, a black hood appeared out of thin air.

“It’s better not to show a clean and beautiful appearance here. It’s too noticeable.”

Now that I think about it, there were hoods attached to Saelus’s clothes. He put the hoods he just created on me.

“Ah…”

“From now on, stick close to me. We’re just going to see the destination. Don’t pay attention to the looks or words of others.”

“Yes.”

“I’m worried. In case the delicate Isabella gets captivated here.”

I shook my head nervously.

“It’s okay.”

“Then, let’s go.”

What is he so afraid of? In fact, I and Isabella only had a rough idea about the slums, and we knew nothing about how the people in the slums lived.

So far, I hadn’t been interested in the slums. On the contrary, Isabella insisted on eliminating the slums. So, I thought Saelus might be exaggerating a bit.

But as soon as we came out of the alley, someone ran towards us.

“Please have mercy on us.”

“Our baby is dying because it can’t eat. Please throw us something.”

“Please save us… Please save us.”

Each voice was different. They begged me for mercy in different voices. My heart trembled. Among them were children of the same age as Shasha and Noah.

“Their words are almost all lies. Don’t be fooled by such words. If you really want to live, get out of here and work. They are just people who want to live comfortably without doing anything.”

For some reason, Saelus seemed a bit excited.

Different from usual, he pulled me closer to him.

With strongly spoken words and actions.

“Don’t come any closer. Before I kill you.”

I thought he was showing sympathy for the poor, but Saelus threatened them, and with his unsheathed hand, he created fire. After seeing that, the people in the slums quickly disappeared one by one.

After they passed, we could finally stop in front of a house.

It was an extremely shabby house. It was a place so doubtful that one would wonder if anyone lived here.

“Here we are.”

“Is she here?”

“Yes. Let’s check it out.”