Chapter 2: Slave Market Raid

Slave Market Raid

The magic academy's storage room. Even within this disciplined academy, it was a forbidden space, accessible only to a select few students.

However, this Mesugaki didn't care.

As night fell and silence descended upon the academy, a young girl slipped in, seemingly unfazed by the strict barrier.

Silver hair, reddish-purple eyes, and a small body. Her extremely youthful appearance made her appear to be no more than a child of around 10 years old.

But this girl was none other than the one who bore the moniker of "Strongest" in the history of that magic academy.

"...It should be around here somewhere,"

She rummaged through the shelves, humming softly.

She had two objectives.

One was a magical tool with the name "Arquillusia", a special item for disguise.

And another item is a "Phantom Authentication-Type Fake ID Card" for impersonating others.

These were originally high-secret items used in counter-terrorism and counter-intelligence missions. But for Nina, using them is merely part of her "Game."

Even her teachers are at a loss as to how to deal with her powers and circumstances.

Holding the tools she has acquired, Nina floats through the air. Without making a sound, she melts into the darkness.

"Hehehe, this time I have to make sure I don't get caught, right? ♡"

★

Alias: Nelly Le Carren.

Age: 14.

Affiliation: Daughter of the Carren Margrave, a noble family in the northern noble territories.

This was the new "mask" Nina had created.

Using the disguise magic tool, Arquillusia, she had transformed into a girl of her age—though still a sufficiently lovely-looking "young lady."

She had arrived at the trading city of Karzel, located in the border region of Everis.

At first glance, it appeared to be an open city bustling with merchants and travelers, but beneath it lay a "slave market" colluding with the Empire.

"Maybe there are some slightly suitable people here?"

She harbored a thrilling anticipation deep within her heart.

Could she experience that feeling of powerlessness again?

She wanted to experience that "real" defeat once more—a defeat where she resisted, struggled, and yet was still trampled upon.

Of course, reconnaissance was conducted beforehand.

The market's structure, the number of guards, the magical barriers being used.

She gathered as much detail as possible and deliberately chose the worst possible timing for her infiltration.

"I wonder what I'll do if some weirdo gets targeted me~♡"

She smiled playfully, but a look of madness flickered in the depths of her eyes.

★

The underground section of the slave market. A diverse array of slaves were being auctioned off there. Humans, beastmen, elves—young and old, male and female.

Nina—no, Nelly—entered the venue as a spectator. Thanks to her disguise magic, no one noticed her true identity.

"This girl, she's 'for sale,' yet she's glaring at me so much."

Her gaze met that of a girl, probably younger than her, chained in a cage.

But Nina didn't flinch. Instead, her smile deepened.

'Maybe I'll set her free later ♡'

Even as she thought this, her attention was focused on the "enemy."

The underground organization running the market. Behind it was the Empire. Several Imperial technical officers and soldiers were also present.

'What if I could make them serious here?'

That's what she thought. 

"...How boring ♡"

She deliberately acted in a way that would draw attention.

She pretended to make a minor mistake, bumping into someone, and playfully interacting with the men with a smile.

However, not a single person fell for her provocation.

Was it because she was a "noblewoman," or because she looked like a frail young girl?

No one seriously tried to harm her.

'No. This isn't right.'

'This won't do.'

Nina's smile vanished, and she let out a quiet sigh.

And the next moment, she pointed to the "cage" with her right hand.

"Open it."

The sudden command caused a stir among those around her.

One of the guards rushed over in a panic. 

"O-Ojou-chan, that's—"

"I said open it ♡"

Zap!

In an instant, lightning struck above the guard's head.

A lightning spell powerful enough to burn through his defensive magic circuits in a split second.

However, to her, it was merely a blow held back, not enough to kill.

The place fell silent. Everyone's gaze was fixed on her.

'It's finally starting ♡!'

★

From that point on, it was a one-sided crushing defeat, for the enemy, that's it.

"Shooting squad, take your positions!"

"Magic unit, deploy magic circles!"

"There's only one enemy; if we surround her and weaken her—"

The enemy wasn't just a bunch of thugs.

This was a place where people of some status gathered, and the guards were not poorly trained... but their opponent was simply too strong.

Men fell one after another, crawling on the ground. As if manipulating even time itself, Nina cast multiple high-level spells simultaneously without chanting.

Enemy soldiers fell in an instant.

A soldier with an imperial medal on his chest gritted his teeth and shouted.

"Who the hell are you?!"

Nina laughed defiantly. 

"I'm Nelly Le Carren ♡ The daughter of Carren Marquessate ♡"

A clear lie.

Her terrifying smile sent chills down everyone's spine.

But the Imperial officer still roared, deploying his battlefield auxiliary armor.

"This attack will be considered a declaration of war against our Empire!"

Nina paused for a moment, then chuckled.

"...What are you so cocky about, a weak nation that can be defeated by 'me alone' ♡ Come on ♡ I'm not scared at all, and next time, bring it all on me ♡"

'And there you go, sleep, the fainting magic ♡'

The slave market collapsed surprisingly quickly.

Nina then freed the slaves who had been hiding and recovered the evidence and recording magical artifacts.

As she had anticipated, she also freed the slaves who were being modified for military use in the market's underground warehouse.

"..... It didn't work after all."

She muttered to herself on a hill far from the market.

She had achieved almost none of the results she had hoped for.

'This is still not enough...'

But—

"Next time... I'm sure I will, right? ♡"

With the flames of the burning barracks behind her, "Nelly Le Carren" chuckled.

★★★

That night, at the Imperial Army Headquarters.

A report arrived at the heart of this nation, which promotes the reuse of lost technology.

"The Karzel slave market is completely destroyed. According to witnesses, it was devastated by a girl in her mid-teens."

"Has Luciferta's monster made a move?"

The Empire's sinister influence is closing in.