Vol-san adjusted his glasses that were almost falling off before sitting down on his sofa.
I don't know why he was so surprised when he heard that our purpose for coming here was to cleanse this kingdom from Barbara's hands.
Shouldn't he be happy to receive help from us?
"Is something wrong?" Hime asked again after seeing his surprised reaction, she had no intention of letting her guard down.
"N-no problem..."
Vol-san only replied in a rather quiet voice while looking restless and playing with his fingers.
"Vol-san, is something happening in this group right now?" I asked.
With so many books scattered around the front room, that alone was already a sign that something was happening here.
Maybe those books had something to do with Vol-san's current anxiety.
"M-me and my comrades are very happy to receive help from one of the Hero Parties... However..."
"For now, I cannot accept your request and take part in writing a plan to bring Barbara down from the throne."
Hime looked at him with a confused expression because the answer she heard sounded like the answer of someone who wasn't part of the anti-kingdom group.
"Why?"
"Right now, I am the only one who still remains in this residence... And the only member of the anti-kingdom group who is still active..."
"The other members, without me realizing it, have already gone somewhere. They didn't talk about it with me."
He said that while lowering his head. He must be feeling sad and confused about why this group suddenly lost its members.
....
——
"Luke, should we do it ourselves?" I asked.
"Hmm... Looking at the condition of this group, I suggest the four of us act on our own."
"I agree too, we can't move forward if we keep dealing with them," Yuu-chan replied as she joined the conversation.
Hime was still thinking about several things, maybe she was choosing what she should do now after seeing the condition of this group.
But yeah... I started to feel a little sorry for him. The name of the anti-kingdom group now leaves only him to bear that responsibility.
Even if he wants to step down and dissolve this group, people's reactions would surely be confusion.
They would continue to live under the threat of Barbara's slave system that has already spread throughout Nakuso.
The disappearance of this group's name could make them lose hope, because there would no longer be an organization that could give them hope to bring Barbara down as soon as possible.
There are still many things that must be taken care of if we manage to bring Barbara down, such as who will replace her, and how to make sure that system never happens again.
How to make Barbara suffer and lose her desire to continue maintaining that system...
Ahh! There are too many things that the four of us haven't discussed yet, but we have already stopped here and must decide our next action.
"Vol-san, even so, I still want your help. We truly need it."
"At the very least, is there something you can do on your own? Or if not, please at least join our planning discussion and give us some input."
Hime tried to keep asking for Vol-san's help, and the reason was already very clear why she did that.
I also have to help Hime convince Vol-san. He wouldn't be able to believe it if only Hime asked him.
"We don't know much about this city and the past stories related to this slave system."
"I know the main goal of your group is to abolish the royal selection system and replace it with a leader chosen by everyone in Nakuso."
"Because of that, your help is very necessary for this. You want to see this continent become better too, right?"
At the very least, what I just said might move his heart a little.
He clenched both of his fists on the table while still lowering his head and thinking deeply.
All of this still depends on his choice. We will not force him to accept our offer if he truly does not want it.
Vol-san finally let out a rather heavy sigh before looking at the four of us with the same expression as when we first met a while ago.
His face was filled with many things. He must have had many responsibilities while serving as this group's secretary.
"I will consider it. Can you give me a day? You can come back tomorrow morning, how about that?"
Hime immediately accepted the offer without thinking twice, as she should.
"Of course. Take your time. We'll come back tomorrow."
—
....
That's what he said yesterday... But what is this? I'm the only one who came to Vol-san's place.
....
"Yukito-san, Yuu-chan and I want to go somewhere. Maybe we'll catch up with you at noon."
"Yukito, I also have something to take care of somewhere else. I have to do it. Only I can do it."
Even Luke ended up having his own business, doesn't this feel like it was already planned?
They all left at the same time and on the same day. This is too perfect for me to call it a coincidence.
Well... who cares? I guess I have to talk with him myself.
"Vol-san, are you inside?"
Tok, tok.
Silence... There was no answer from inside. Is this like what happened yesterday?
I should wait here. Even though maybe I would be allowed to enter without permission, I won't do it—
"Ah, you've already come?"
I heard a voice that sounded familiar from behind me, and when I turned my body to look, it was indeed Vol-san.
He had just returned from somewhere, carrying a small box in his hand. Oh right, what exactly was inside the cardboard box he showed yesterday?
I approached him while wondering why he had gone outside.
"Did I come too early?" I asked.
He shook his head before walking toward me.
"No, no, I just had a small matter somewhere. By the way, where is the Hero?"
It was only natural for him to ask why I didn't come with Hime and Yuu-chan, even though I hoped he wouldn't ask about that.
"They suddenly had something to do, so I'm the only one who came. How about you? Have you already decided?"
"...Before I give you my answer, it would be better if we talk inside. We can't discuss this outside."
He glanced around in several directions, making sure that no one was spying on us.
——
"Yosh," he muttered quietly as he placed the box on the table before opening it and showing what was inside to me.
"...What is this?"
There was a pitch-black collar, with a small red light circling around it.
Its size was quite large. Could it be that this wasn't a collar used on the wrist?
"A slave collar. This is your first time seeing one directly, right?" Vol-san immediately told me what the object was.
My eyes widened. I didn't expect to see a slave collar this soon.
I pointed at the red light that had been confusing me for a while.
"What is this light? Why do I feel uneasy when I look at its red color?"
For some reason I began to feel slightly uneasy when staring at it more closely.
"As you know, this collar is used by someone to make another person become their slave and obey whatever their master wishes."
"Look at this part... If we press it, the collar can be opened very easily, right?"
"But... once the master has made a contract and places the collar around the slave's neck, the slave will suffer if they refuse their master's orders."
"When the slave refuses, their body will feel like it is burning from the inside. Only for a few seconds, but the strength of the effect depends on the user's magic."
"What do you mean?" I said.
"The more anger or pleasure the user feels in certain situations, the stronger the burning effect becomes, even though it lasts for less than five seconds."
I wasn't too surprised when I heard it, but I could imagine how much the slave would suffer if they were ordered to do inhumane things.
Maybe I felt uneasy because that light seemed to show me how painful it was to become a slave.
"But quite a lot of masters are kind and buy slaves for daily work. In that case, the slave will feel comfortable because of the kindness of their master."
However... there must be far more masters who are very cruel. I am very sure of that.
"I thank you for telling me about this. So what exactly do you want to say?"
He was slightly startled before smiling faintly because I already understood that what he mentioned earlier wasn't the main point.
"That collar cannot be removed without the master's touch, and it would feel very restrictive even after the slave is freed if they still have this collar around their neck."
"Right now, there is no magic or technique that can destroy this collar. You understand what I mean, right?"
I see... Because yesterday we said that our goal was to abolish the slave system, this collar has a huge impact.
If we only save them, there is still a possibility that they will feel restrained as long as the collar remains.
They won't be able to return to normal lives even if they are free to decide what they want.
While I was thinking, Vol-san suddenly stood up and invited me to go somewhere.
"Sahiko Yukito-san, I want to show you one more thing. The place is on the top floor of this building," he said while standing behind the door.
"Please change that way of addressing me, it sounds too formal."
"I see. Sahiko-san, do all members of the Hero's party always want to be called according to their preference?"