In My Second Life, I Rule from the Shadows

Chapter 16: Flick (4)

Carl and Laysis finished their tea time and stepped outside.

They had planned to visit the areas they hadn’t seen in the afternoon, so just as they were about to move, someone approached them.

“Laysis, here you are. I’ve been looking for you for ages….”

Yuria followed behind Laysis and saw Carl exiting the café, and she hesitated.

“…Why are the two of you together?”

She immediately turned her head and looked at Laysis with an expectant expression, demanding an explanation.

“It was because someone stood me up, of course? I was about to wander the city alone in loneliness, but along the way I met Carl-kun, so we were quietly having a date.”

But did she have some business?

Yuria paused at Laysis’s airily delivered expression, as if she had said something.

“…Ugh.”

She had been the one who stood Laysis up after promising to meet.

After that, it was no concern of hers who Laysis spent time with.

“So what is it you need?”

“…I needed something. And it’s a place that’s a bit difficult to go to alone.”

Then she subtly glanced over.

That hesitant manner clearly asking someone to go with her made Laysis utter a small smile.

Since she had come forward so politely, it seemed she should at least hear her out.

“Where is it? A place that’s difficult to go alone?”

“It’s Flick.”

“Oh.”

Laysis nodded.

Since Flick was the underbelly of the Empire, it was natural that it would be burdensome to go alone.

It was a lawless zone where imperial law did not apply, a place where a person could vanish without anyone knowing.

“But I think Carl-kun’s opinion matters more than mine. Because, unlike someone else, I don’t really like being stood up.”

“…Ugh.”

At Laysis’s remark that once again pointed out that fact, Yuria’s shoulders twitched and she looked toward Carl.

“H‑hey, can’t you not come?”

“……”

To the question directed at him, Carl made an uncomfortable expression.

‘I feel like she wasn’t like this at first.’

She was from the Euclid Count’s Household, a magic‑notable family and heir to the Gray Magic Tower Lord.

Like prestigious sects or families, she must have endured harsh training since childhood.

Such people usually have strong personal conviction and unyielding character.

NOX’s report also noted that she had a rather picky personality, and when they first met, the look in her eyes toward him was always tinged with irritation and a high‑handed attitude.

“No, no. There’s no need for you to necessarily go with us. You know Flick, right? The Empire’s underbelly, the underground city gathering illegal organizations. If it’s burdensome, just lend us Laysis, will you?”

As she said, there was no need for Carl to accompany them.

Coming and going in Flick was not superficially a good thing.

But Carl showed a calm expression and nodded briefly.

“I know what kind of place Flick is. It would be better if I accompany both of you rather than only sending you two.”

It was a perfect occasion to build relationships with key cadets.

Even if he said not to follow, he would have followed secretly.

‘Besides, I’m curious what she’s going to buy.’

The Gray Magic Tower was famous for researching magic that slightly deviated from normal trends.

In particular, Yuria’s thesis was said to be even more peculiar within the Gray Magic Tower.

“Magic automation system.”

It aimed to allow attack, defense, support, and other assists to operate automatically according to the user’s convenience.

Carl had also learned magic, so the topic was fairly interesting to him.

“…If you join, well, thanks.”

Yuria answered quietly while fidgeting her fingers.

The type of person whose world was firmly established had extremely few acquaintances.

On the other hand, once someone entered that boundary, deep friendships were possible.

Such rookie psychological tactics were completely within Carl’s palm.

“Then shall we head out immediately? I want to have dinner outside.”

“I got the permit.”

Yuria rummaged through her robes and produced something.

It was about the size of a palm, a standard entry card for Flick.

‘…There’s no logo? In that case it’s a gray zone.’

Carl furrowed his brow slightly.

Flick had three types.

The first was “Monopoly,” where a specific power dominated, like the place Carl and Queen had visited the previous day.

That kind had structure and order, and as long as one didn’t make enemies with the ruling power, one could enter without major risk.

The second, “Neutral,” meant a zone where multiple powers divided the territory.

That was still manageable.

As long as you only entered places allowed by the permit, there was little concern.

The problem was the final type, “Free.”

This also, like “Neutral,” had multiple powers dividing zones, but the balance of power was not maintained.

It was a zone in the middle of a current war, several times more dangerous than typical slums.

Truly a lawless zone.

Every action was permitted, and only overwhelming strength became law.

If the city’s type was “Monopoly” or “Neutral,” the permit should bear the mark of the ruling power.

But with no mark at all meant the city Yuria intended to enter was of the “Free” type.

‘Highly likely to be troublesome.’

What did she need that demanded going down to such a dangerous place?

He tried to bring up Flick indirectly, but then dismissed the thought.

She might suspect how much he knew.

‘On the contrary, it’s good for me.’

There was no better way to build a relationship than to create a debt.

This was the second time they had visited Flick.

But from the very start, the plan had run into difficulty.

The guide Yuria had hired with money refused to enter the city at the entrance.

“I’ll give you more money?”

“Even so, this place is….”

Even when she showed gold coins right in front of them, the guide frowned and shook their head.

In the end, the person left after receiving only half of the originally agreed amount.

Yuria watched the retreating guide in confusion, unable to understand why.

“……”

Laysis pressed the hood of the robe tightly over her head to enter Flick.

Perhaps sensing the vague atmosphere, she narrowed her eyes and looked toward the inside of the entrance.

“Did the guide disappear, but do you know where the destination is?”

“Yes. I got a map. Since we made it this far, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Who told you about it?”

“A senior from the Magic Tower. It's an essential material, but if you go through normal channels, it takes at least half a year to obtain. They said we could get it immediately here.”

“Looks like they use this place often too. Then there shouldn't be any issue, right?”

“Yeah. I heard they've been here several times already.”

While silently listening to Laysis and Yuria talk, Carl twitched one eye.

‘Things don’t seem so smooth on their end either.’

Normally, magicians from the Magic Tower wouldn’t bother visiting places like Flick.

Especially not to a "free" city like this.

Even if it costs a bit more, they could get things safely through commissions, so why go in person?

To send an heir of the Magic Tower to a place like this was more than crossing the line.

Unless, from the start, they wanted Yuria to end up in trouble.

“What are you thinking about?”

“……It's just that this is my first time coming to Flick.”

“It’s fine. I was told nothing would happen. And even if it’s Flick, it’s still within the Empire’s borders.”

Yuria feigned calmness as she stepped forward and crossed the threshold.

The lack of guards at the entrance hinted at the condition of the city.

Despite her words, neither Yuria nor Laysis let down their guard.

They could feel the ominous atmosphere in their bones.

However, contrary to their cautious behavior, the inside revealed a completely normal cityscape.

“……See? I told you.”

“Looks like it.”

Though a bit more decadent than the upper district, the streets were crowded with people.

Vendors calling for customers, delivery runners running errands, passersby forming a stream, or groups roaming together.

Yuria and Laysis quickly blended in and slowly made their way toward their destination.

“……”

Carl also matched their pace, pretending to be unfazed.

While discreetly scanning the surroundings.

‘There’s a stench of blood all over the street.’

It meant a big fight had just occurred recently.

Indeed, the war was still ongoing, and battles seemed to erupt sporadically regardless of location.

Even so, their journey proceeded smoothly.

After winding through alleys for a couple of hours, they finally reached their desired destination.

Creeeeak.

As they opened the door of a cone-shaped building, thick smoke billowed from inside.

“Is anyone here?”

Yuria cautiously stepped inside and asked.

Laysis followed behind, with Carl entering last.

Inside the shop, an indescribably sweet scent wafted through the air.

Along the wall, display cases were lined with materials and items Carl had never seen before.

As Carl looked around in wonder and slowly moved forward, a figure emerged from the inner room.

“Oh my, young customers.”

She was a woman with a striking beauty mark near her eye.

From the faint magical aura rising from her entire body, she appeared to be a magician of considerable level.

Wearing a vivid violet dress, she approached them holding a smoking pipe in her hand.

“What brings you all the way to this corner looking for something?”

“We’re from the Gray Magic Tower. We heard that we could obtain Greskyle’s Essence here.”

“……Gray Magic Tower?”

Magic filled the witch’s eyes.

As if she were trying to probe them.

It was a subtle manifestation of magic, one that neither Yuria nor Laysis could detect.

“……”

Carl, who stood at the back of the group, grasped the hilt of his sword from inside his robe.

An unexpected encounter with a skilled individual.

When it came to magicians, you had to strike them down before they could even cast a spell.

But perhaps the witch was only probing, for she soon withdrew her magic and smiled faintly.

“You’re looking for something unusual. I’ll have to check if there’s any stock.”

“If there is, may I inspect it myself? I’d like to check its condition.”

“Follow me.”

The witch and Yuria headed upstairs at once.

“Look around for a bit. I’ll be back soon.”

“Got it.”

Laysis responded with a light nod, but Carl didn’t take his eyes off the two until they completely disappeared from sight.

Noticing his gaze, Laysis sidled up to him with a teasing smile and said,

“Is that your type?”

“……”

Carl gave a bitter smile at the sudden remark.

She knew it wasn’t true, yet still threw that kind of joke.

That witch was merely preserving her youth through magic—her actual age must have well surpassed seventy.

Carl had no such preferences.

“Let’s just look around. There’s a lot of interesting stuff here.”

Carl didn’t answer her question and instead turned his attention to the items placed on the display shelves.

The store had a slightly different vibe from a black market.

If anything, it resembled a curio shop.

Even in the Central Plains, there were sometimes shops that gathered all sorts of rare treasures.

The kind of place where, from the entrance, weapons worthy of divine ranks were stuck in barrels, the inner cores of spirit beasts and precious elixirs were scattered like snacks.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a stroke of destiny.

Carl narrowed his eyes and looked up toward the second floor.

‘This place has a similar scent.’

More precisely, it came from the witch who owned the place.