Page 121

(Mart)

In the pitch-black cellar,a blood red-colored liquid dripped slowly down to the ground, each time the drop hit the ground, the sound would echo around the cellar, sounding like a funeral bell.

My body is in excruciating pain, so much pain that I'm on the verge of passing out.

Right now, I'm bound to a chair, barely holding on with my battered body.

I was too greedy, truly too greedy.

Due to me yearning for immense profits, I carelessly disregard the risks that may be hidden behind the profit.

They're all dead, all dead... my comrades from the Chamber of Commerce... Aguo, Dashu... because of my greed, they're all dead! All dead!

If I hadn't been so driven by personal gain, if I hadn't sold the potion to the church...

This potion, capable of changing the world... but I absolutely shouldn't have, under any circumstances, sold it to the church...

The potion can change the world, but I... I don't possess the capacity to change the world...

My body twitches slightly, but I can hardly feel the pain anymore... The excruciating sensation I felt when the poison was forced into me seems to have diluted over time.

A young boy's story seems to flicker before my eyes,

The story of a self-made young boy.

The story of a young boy falling in love with a girl.

The story of a young boy establishing the Mart Chamber of Commerce.

The story of a young boy finding happiness.

The story of a young boy gradually becoming power-hungry.

At the end of the story is a merchant who acquires a potion symbolizing immense wealth, a miraculous potion capable of healing everything.

And there, the mysterious boy who brought that potion.

"My Lord Priest, how can I dare to trouble you by personally visiting this filthy cellar? Let me handle the interrogation..."

"No need for further words. This concerns my future ascension to the position of bishop. I must supervise this kind of matter in person to be assured."

...

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry... I've said everything... being tortured like this is too agonizing...

Walson... his name was Walson, right...

It's my fault... for involving you, I truly apologize...

"Hey! Don't you really know the origin of the 'Miracle Water'?"

"..."

"Speak!!!!!!" In the next moment, my abdomen receives a heavy blow.

I feel my center of gravity shift, and I crash heavily onto the ground, yet I feel no pain.

"...You didn't extract any information?"

"My Lord Priest! For such matters, let me handle them! Don't soil your feet! Regarding this... I only found out the name 'Walson' and some contracts. The guy didn't say anything else."

It seems I've been kicked a few more times.

"Then isn't that fine? Capture that person named Walson and extract the information."

"But... My Lord Priest... I investigated a bit, and found that Walson is just a [Villager]... But the people he serves are extraordinary in their status... Moreover, according to the information, he's just a transporter for the water."

"How extraordinary are they?"

"He serves the renowned hero team in Teigitan City."

"And then?"

"Reportedly, they seem to be currently traveling and heading to the Nonokuta Town. Even that person was taken along to drive for them."

"Ha, probably some kind of slave, taken by someone else... Well, direct confrontation would be troublesome. Let's do it this way."

"Send someone from the 'Sacrament Wardens,' I will give you a lot of budget for this operation. Quietly abducting a [Villager] should be more than enough with that... They are going to the Nonokuta Town, right? Just tell them to kidnap the kid there"

"Yes, I'll handle it immediately."

"Make sure to bring the person back alive. If we can obtain detailed information about the 'Miracle Water,' I'll definitely become the cardinal bishop."

The sound of footsteps fades away from my side.

Finally, in my field of vision, the story of the young boy remains in the cellar, gradually dissolving.

The memories dissolve, the emotions blend, life dissolves.

And finally, all that is left is me, who are dissolving as well.