The women I set free are obsessed with me

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The Peacock's Night Gathering, a tavern in the city of Noctar.

Its exterior was quite different from ordinary taverns seen everywhere. It was a sophisticated bar, a place where only nobles or wealthy merchants were allowed entry.

It was a space for socializing among the affluent and for sharing information not circulated outside.

Just like now.

Men wearing expensive clothes and lavish accessories sat at the bar, chatting as they sipped their drinks.

"Have you heard the rumors?"

"What rumors?"

"They say a Grim Reaper has appeared! A Reaper showed up in Fracture and Agartha, killing people and reaping their souls!"

"Good gracious!"

Reaping souls.

This was on a different level from an ordinary death. Forget reincarnation, those souls might still be screaming in lament even now.

"But the creepiest part is, all the victims were deeply involved in a witch hunt."

"Are you saying it's the work of a witch?"

"Isn't it obvious? They messed with a witch and got cursed."

"They kicked a hornet's nest. Aren't there barely any witches these days anyway? Why bother them? As long as they're not causing harm, let them live their lives. If anything, those mages are worse nowadays."

The man nodded in agreement.

While there were records of witches rampaging across the continent and massacring innocent people, that was in the distant past. It was a time when only witches knew how to use magic.

Now, hundreds of years later, what was once considered a miracle had been reduced to a slightly unusual talent. It was foolish to even try distinguishing between mages and witches.

"Besides, aren't all witches supposed to be beautiful?"

"What are you talking about? I heard they're all wrinkly old hags."

"They're fucking adorable."

An unfamiliar voice abruptly joined the conversation. The men turned their heads towards the source of the sound.

It was a handsome man with black hair sitting two seats away.

He was lounging casually, savoring a pale ivory-colored wine.

"What did you just say?"

"I was just talking to myself. This wine glass is pretty cute."

"It looks like an ordinary glass to me?"

"My, how unfortunate that you can't see the difference. It's truly tragic being unable to share my appreciation with you."

The man let out a disingenuous laugh.

Exchanging glances, the two men shrugged, as if to say 'What a weirdo,' before losing interest.

"Where were we?"

"Dunno. Forgot cause of that guy. Oh right, have ya heard? The Desert Rose Merchant Group successfully hunted an elf!"

"What? Is that true? So Roperman finally succeeded, eh."

Roperman, who ran the Desert Rose Merchant Group, was a famous collector with a mad obsession for acquiring rare items.

That included elves.

Though elves possessed breathtaking beauty, they lived hidden behind barriers deep in the Great Forest, making even a chance encounter remarkably rare.

Even if you were lucky enough to encounter one, their extraordinary physical abilities made capturing them nigh impossible. Because of this, elves were exceedingly rare. On the rare occasion they surfaced in the market, nobles would frantically outbid each other, with starting prices rivaling the cost of a castle.

To think they had succeeded in hunting such an elf.

This was beyond a jackpot.

"I'm jealous."

"I hear they're transporting it now. Let's at least go take a look when it arrives."

"I can't wait, looking forward to it."

Another voice also chimed in.

The man's head snapped around.

"Are you eavesdropping on our conversation?"

"Pardon?"

"You've been butting into our conversation, both earlier and just now!"

"I'm not too sure what you're talking about."

Unable to contain his anger at the man feigning ignorance, he stood up abruptly.

Information was sometimes more valuable than money, yet this stranger was getting it for free. True, they were in a public area where some overhearing was inevitable, but to be so blatant about it was indeed galling.

"You going to keep playing dumb? Then what did you mean by looking forward to it? You're not gonna deny saying that now, are you?"

"I meant I'm looking forward to seeing the bubbles rise. There's carbonation, so more bubbles form than usual. Look here."

The man put his mouth to his wine and exhaled. Bubbles fizzed up vigorously. Then, looking at the men,

"Ta-da."

He spread his hands as if he had performed some grand magic trick.

His brazenness elicited a scoff.

"Are you seriously expecting me to believe that?"

"Haha, gahaha."

"W-Why the sudden laughter?!"

"I have a condition where I laugh when I see bubbles. Sorry… Kekeke."

Bubble bubble.

Hehehe.

The man repeated these actions, laughing to himself.

"Look, let's just go. He seems a bit off. Nothing good comes from getting involved with those types of people."

As much as he disliked it, those words were a hundred percent correct.

The people who could enter the Peacock's Night Gathering were all influential figures. That was why you could recognize them just by their faces, but this man was a stranger.

Escalating things without knowing your opponent could lead to irreversible consequences.

Moreover, even now the man was caressing the top of his wine glass with his fingers, gazing at it lovingly as if admiring a lover's skin.

Those types were especially dangerous.

"Tsk."

The man clicked his tongue loudly enough to be heard and left his seat.

Even after they had left, the black-haired man continued to rub his wine glass, never losing that sickly sweet smile.

"Free information is the best."

Karami tilted his glass in satisfaction. The elderly bartender who had been wiping glasses looked down at him with disdain.

"You've got plenty of money, so why do you keep eavesdropping on others and getting yourself an earful?"

"Why spend money when valuable information just falls in my lap? Every little bit counts, you know."

"And why, must you do it in my establishment?"

"Master, don't be so petty. I even saved your granddaughter's life."

"That's precisely why I can't throw you out."

Though Karami spent his days lounging at a bar like a layabout playboy, his outward appearance and true nature were worlds apart.

It was also the reason why a mere slave trader, neither a noble nor a merchant group leader, could be here.

Victor, the Master of the Peacock's Night Gathering, reminisced about his first encounter with Karami.

***

It was raining.

On a night when rain-covered buildings softly reflected the moonlight, Victor was closing up shop as usual.

Splash.

The sound of footsteps was pressing down on the water's surface.

Victor could tell it was a man without even looking. Those footsteps stopped next to the shop.

"We're closed for the day."

"Is that so? What a shame. I heard the drinks here are fantastic."

A light voice.

One he had never heard before.

"I'm sorry, but our establishment is very selective about its customers. Even if you come again tomorrow, I can't guarantee you'll be allowed in."

"Oh my~ That works with everything, doesn't it? Emphasize exclusivity and the rich come running to throw their money at you. Gives them a cheap sense of superiority."

"If you don't like it, you don't have to come. There are plenty of other taverns besides ours."

There were often troublemakers, so this wasn't worth getting upset over. Victor silently closed the wooden door. The faint sound of the iron chain in his hand mingled with the sound of rain each time it touched his fingertips.

Splash.

As Victor showed no interest, the man seemed to lose interest as well and started walking away, hands clasped behind his back.

Just as he was about to brush past Victor.

"Twilight fades, and the peacock ceases its dance."

BANG!

Victor's figure cut through the rain. He grabbed the man and slammed him against the wall. Pressing his arm against the man's throat, a dagger appeared in his hand with lightning speed, aimed at the stranger.

"Who the hell are you? How do you know that password?"

Only then did Victor properly look at the man's appearance for the first time.

Black hair and black eyes were uncommon features, and he was quite handsome. Despite having his throat pressed, which should have been painful, he looked down at Victor with an amused expression.

"Hmm, how strange. The password I know is different. I must have mistaken you for someone else."

"No, I'm exactly who you think I am. Now quit dodging and answer the damn question."

"Even if you say that, I can't be sure…"

"…"

Victor paused for a moment.

"…But the shadows keep dancing."

"On a rainy night, where does the peacock go~?"

"To where darkness lies, a place the moonlight cannot reach."

The corners of the man's eyes curved wickedly.

He smiled, pleased.

"Oh my, so you are indeed the person I thought you were. I wanted to hear it directly through your voice, and thanks to you, my wish has been granted."

"Now answer my question properly. Who are you? How do you know this?"

Of course, this password was used by the Assassin's Guild.

Victor was the Guildmaster of the Assassin's Guild.

But on the day they fell for a trap and his comrades were wiped out, the guild was disbanded, and Victor ended up running a tavern in Noctar.

There should be no one left in the world who knew of his existence. The password too, should have been buried in the depths of his mind, along with the memories of his departed comrades.

Yet this man he met for the first time had recited it.

"I am Karami, a slave trader. The world knows me as Slave Reaper. As for how I know Mr. Victor's identity… it's because I'm his biggest fan."

"A fan? Do you expect me to believe that?"

"Haha, you might not believe me, but I'm telling the truth. It's not like I can show you my inner thoughts."

"Don't worry. Whether you're sincere or not, I'll find out once I open you up."

Victor moved his hand.

Prick.

The dagger pierced Karami's neck. A single drop of blood trickled down the blade.

"Hmm, wouldn't killing me be more troublesome for you, Victor?"

"I wonder. Wouldn't it be more troublesome to let someone who knows my identity live?"

Karami grinned at that.

He added one more thing.

"If I die, it seems there'll be no one left to cure your granddaughter's illness. Are you really okay with that?"