Chapter 96 Cunning Twins and the Dungeon Dialogue꞉ A Plot Unfolds
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The guardhouse stood squarely in the central district of the town ¹, and it was a dreadfully long walk to reach it. All the while, the eyes of the townsfolk were fixed upon us, their stares prickling against my skin in a way that made me feel quite exposed and unsettled.
Eme-chan, however, appeared entirely unruffled, as though being the centre of public scrutiny was a common occurrence for her. I must say, her steady presence helped me keep my own wits about me. Ami-chan, on the other hand, looked as though she were watching a particularly entertaining play.
And that brings us to the present. Without so much as a by-your-leave, we found ourselves unceremoniously shoved into a dungeon cell beneath the guardhouse.
”Why on earth have we been thrown into a cell so suddenly…?” I asked.
While the cell was barred with iron, the gaps were wide enough that Ami-chan could have easily slipped through whenever she pleased. They had not even bothered to separate us, which led me to think their security was remarkably lax – until I realised there was likely another reason for their lack of concern.
”Ami could simply fly away on her own if she really wanted to, couldn’t she?” Eme-chan remarked. “I expect the guards thought it better to leave her be as long as she was willing to follow us, rather than risk a botched attempt at catching her.”
”I suppose that makes sense…” I replied.
After all, I was the one they suspected of being a person of interest. Ami-chan’s presence was probably incidental to them.
”Besides, in this world, fairies are often seen as fickle creatures,” Eme-chan continued. “They likely believe Ami is only staying with humans on a whim, and that she will simply flutter off once she grows bored.”
”Tee-hee! Humans truly are foolish creatures, no matter which world you find them in!” Ami-chan chirped.
I couldn’t help but wonder exactly whose side she was on with a comment like that.
Things had certainly taken a turn for the worse. I had only come to town to sell a bit of fruit, never imagining I would be swept up in such a mess.
”Oh dear… they’ve even taken our goods… what are we to do now?” I sighed.
”We shall manage fine,” Eme-chan said. “In times like these, there is a certain freedom in not having an official status to maintain.”
”Do you really think so?” I asked.
”Certainly. In the absolute worst-case scenario, we can simply use Ami’s teleportation ² to escape. Though, as teleportation sorcery ³ doesn’t exist in this world, it would be best if we kept that particular trick up our sleeves for as long as possible.”
She had mentioned that earlier. Her words sparked a memory of our previous conversation.
”That reminds me… you said earlier that they were after us from the very beginning, didn’t you? What did you mean by that?” I asked.
”We are in a foreign land, so I cannot be entirely certain… but they were quite unwilling to listen to reason, weren’t they?” Eme-chan replied.
”Yes, they were,” I agreed.
”Indeed,” she added.
They had surrounded us with such speed, shouting and hauling us away without giving us a single moment to explain ourselves. It had been a forceful abduction, plain and simple.
”Perhaps if the guards held an unusually high social standing, such high-handedness might be common practice,” Eme-chan mused. “But even so, this was far too aggressive. I suspect that no matter what we had said, they were determined to drown out our voices and take us into custody.”
”So you believe they intended to capture us from the start?” I asked.
”I do. Though their true motive remains a mystery…” Eme-chan said.
It was only a short while ago that we had heard rumours of the guards being wary of us.
”If they look as though they mean to do us real harm, I shall use my powers as a Magical Girl ⁴,” Eme-chan stated firmly.
”I understand,” I replied.
We spent the next while discussing various scenarios and deciding on our responses. In every case, if things became truly dire, our final plan was to simply teleport away.
We also agreed that Eme-chan would take the lead should any unexpected negotiations arise. Amidst this, Ami-chan, in a fit of playfulness, came up with something she called
Quite some time passed before the cell door finally creaked open, and we were led out for questioning.
[]
”Iris…! This is…!”
”……! Yes… it is certainly sugar… isn’t it…”
As soon as the report arrived that the humanoid demon monster had been apprehended, we made our way at once to the guardhouse. I had expected them to turn up eventually, but things had proceeded far more smoothly than I could have hoped!
In this town, the guards were essentially the private henchmen of the Kelna merchant guild ⁶. Over the last few days, we had carefully laid the groundwork to seize the very land where that creature cultivated its fruit.
We had spread rumours that it hailed from the Demon Forest ⁷, stirring up fear among the populace. We pointed out the suspicious nature of the crops it claimed to have grown there. We even whispered that the young girl with it might have been abducted.
By feeding these concerns to the guards, we ensured the creature would be seized. Once it was behind bars, it was as good as ours.
After all, in such a position, that humanoid demon monster would never see the light of day again unless it begged for our mercy. It would have no choice but to do exactly as it was told.
Our plan was already in motion. We would send agents to ‘investigate’ the suspicious fruit, and in doing so, we would secure the land, declaring it a restricted research site for the Kelna merchant guild.
Once the land was ours, the creature would be useless. We would cast it out of town and keep the profitable soil for ourselves. What a magnificent gift it would be for Father when he returned from the capital…!
I hadn’t originally intended for us to deal with the creature directly. I didn’t even want to look at the thing; there are few creatures that inspire such deep-seated revulsion.
I thought we would simply inspect the confiscated fruit and let the guild representatives handle the rest… but the discovery inside a certain wooden box changed everything.
”I have never tasted sugar so white, so pure in its sweetness…” Aris murmured.
The seized cart had been filled with various fruits – the apples and peaches we had heard so much about. But hidden at the very bottom, beneath the piles of fruit, was a beautifully decorated wooden box.
Inside was a brilliant white powder. Thinking it might be another item for sale, I had Luizef taste it, only to discover it was sugar.
We have had white sugar before, of course. It is an incredibly expensive luxury, produced only in the Holy City of Ragnarond ⁸, and accessible only to a select few.
While our Republic is a rising power among the great nations, our financial strength is formidable – certainly far beyond that of the neighbouring Emmeld Kingdom ⁹.
Consequently, we purchase more white sugar than any other nation. We are well-acquainted with the confections made from it.
And that is why I knew. This sugar was entirely different from the kind made in the Holy City. Its quality was far, far superior.
”How could a humanoid demon monster possess such a thing…?” Aris wondered aloud.
”…I don’t know. But… this might be even more important than the fruit,” Iris replied.
”……Indeed,” Aris agreed.
White sugar is expensive not just for its purity, but because its manufacturing process is a secret guarded jealously by the Holy City. It has never once been leaked to the outside world.
If that creature knows how to make this sugar… we cannot simply let it go. We must keep it for ourselves, monopolizing its skills for a lifetime.
The Holy City maintains its influence through several such advantages. To hold a card that could break one of them… my grandfather, the councillor, would be absolutely delighted.
”Heh… hee-hee-hee… Iris. We must ensure we get the full story from that humanoid demon monster, mustn’t we?” Aris said with a smirk.
”We must, Aris. But… might this be a bit too much for us to handle on our own?” Iris asked.
”…Nonsense. Let us settle this ourselves… before Father returns,” Aris insisted.
”……Very well,” Iris conceded.
I understood Iris’s concern. This sugar, clearly produced outside the Holy City, could be a powerful tool in international negotiations.
But that was precisely why we, the future leaders of the Kelna merchant guild, had to firmly establish our presence now.
(That humanoid demon monster… though looking at it is sickening… it seems it might just show us a future of bright prosperity…!)
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Summary:
The protagonist, Eme-chan, and Ami-chan are abruptly arrested by the town guards and thrown into a dungeon. While imprisoned, they discuss the likely possibility that they were targeted intentionally and plan their escape via teleportation if necessary. Meanwhile, the twin daughters of the Kelna Merchant Guild, Iris and Aris, reveal their plot to seize the protagonist’s land and resources. Their scheme intensifies when they discover high-quality white sugar among the confiscated goods, realizing the protagonist holds a valuable secret that could rival the Holy City’s monopoly.
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Character Insight:
This chapter highlights the sharp contrast between the protagonist’s group and the antagonistic twins. While the protagonist remains reactive and focused on safety, Eme-chan shows her experience by staying calm under pressure. Ami-chan’s detachment from human affairs adds a layer of whimsical unpredictability. On the other side, Iris and Aris display a ruthless ambition; they see the protagonist not as a person but as a ‘monster’ to be exploited for political and economic gain. Their discovery of the sugar shifts their goal from simple land-grabbing to industrial espionage, showcasing their predatory nature.
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Behind the Scene:
The author uses this chapter to transition from a peaceful slice-of-life merchant story into a more politically charged narrative involving guild corruption and international power dynamics.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Ami – A palm-sized fairy-like being from a world separate from both Earth and the isekai realm. She has light blue hair tied in a ponytail, mischievous blue eyes, and tiny wings that flutter behind her. Her outfit consists of a provocative high-cut leotard and a short jacket that looks like a miniskirt from the back, leaving her legs bare. Despite her playful appearance, she is actively searching for a contractor who can protect her from dangerous pursuers in exchange for the powers she offers.
• Luizef – An elderly gentleman accompanying Aristina and Iristina, dressed in attire suggesting a butler or senior attendant.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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