Dusk deepened, and the last rays of the sunset painted the streets in a warm gold.
A young man with yellow hair sat before Subaru and Emilia. Before they could speak, he beat them to it.
"You're here for Felt, right?"
Emilia was slightly taken aback, but Subaru understood immediately and followed the lead, saying to the yellow-haired youth, "If you mean the thief who stole our property, then yes, we're looking for her."
The youth's previously uncertain expression instantly brightened, and he straightened his back, saying, "I knew it. Nobles come here for only two reasons: either to find someone, or to find Felt..."
Seeing that he was about to launch into a long speech, Subaru interrupted him at the right moment, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but we're in a real hurry. Can you tell us where she is now?"
The interrupted youth paused, then shrugged. "Just go straight to the end. I hope you survive with strength."
Although those words were confusing, they had finally obtained the key information.
Thus, Subaru clapped her hands and turned to Emilia. "We have to hurry and find it before the stolen goods are sold."
Emilia nodded vigorously. "Yes."
The two set off again.
On the way, Puck returned to his medium to rest due to insufficient energy, leaving only the two of them walking together.
However, with the Spirit Arts User Emilia present, dealing with a thief shouldn't be a problem.
Following the directions, they soon arrived in front of a fairly large tavern. Although it was only dusk, the tavern's doors were tightly shut, exuding an unusual atmosphere.
Subaru whispered, "This place matches my image of a fence's den perfectly, Lia."
They exchanged a look, both certain they had found the right place.
At this time, Tsukasa was feeling an unprecedented exhaustion because the Cursed Energy in his body was being converted into mana that conformed to the rules of this world. He had already returned to Subaru's consciousness space.
'It seems nothing unexpected will happen. It should be fine to rest for a bit.'
Thinking this, he manifested a soft, large bed and lay down. Then, he sent a telepathic message to Subaru. "I'm going to rest for a while. If you need me, I'll appear immediately."
Subaru, who was about to knock, stopped her movement upon hearing this and replied easily, "It's just a petty thief, don't worry."
Hearing her confident tone, Tsukasa slowly closed his eyes. This exhaustion stemming from the depths of his soul might be a price the system hadn't mentioned. With this thought, he soon fell into a light sleep.
Looking at the door in front of her, Subaru unconsciously gulped, her fingertips tightening slightly.
Behind her, Emilia had already secretly gathered mana, with ice crystals flickering in her palm. She was ready to cast magic at any moment if Subaru encountered any danger.
The two exchanged a glance. After receiving a firm nod from the Emilia, Subaru finally raised her hand and knocked on the mottled wooden door.
Knock! Knock!
"Excuse me. Is anyone there?"
There was dead silence inside the door.
She took a deep breath and knocked again. "Excuse me! Is anyone there?"
This time, a raspy and irritable voice came through the crack in the door. "Kid, you need a password to come here. Speak up."
A password?
Subaru was startled, but then a flash of inspiration hit her.
She remembered the reaction of those three punks to Spirit Arts User and immediately had an idea.
"We're here for Felt. As long as she returns the item, we won't press charges. We have a Spirit Arts User on our side, please let us in."
There was a short silence behind the door, followed by the sound of a bolt sliding.
"Come in."
Half the plan was a success!
Subaru breathed a sigh of relief and whispered to Emilia, "Lia, just back me up from outside. It's dangerous for a magic user to be approached in close quarters."
Before she could finish, the ice spike in Emilia's hand had transformed into a spear with a chilling glint. She gripped the ice spear, her eyes firm. "I'm not just a warlock who only knows long-range magic. Besides, I absolutely cannot let you face danger alone. Otherwise, I'd feel guilty for the rest of my life."
Looking at her unquestionable gaze, Subaru felt a warmth in her heart. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she said, "Then let's face it together."
The two smiled at each other and stepped side-by-side into the tavern that looked exceptionally gloomy in the twilight.
Pushing open the door, the expected ambush did not occur. This rumored den for stolen goods was unusually quiet—the spacious tavern was empty, except for a tall, sturdy old man over two meters tall standing behind the bar. His thick build was like a humanoid tyrannosaur, and he was silently wiping a glass.
Sitting in front of him was a yellow-haired girl with a striking red scarf around her neck and a brown jacket—undoubtedly the Felt they were looking for.
Seeing the two enter, the elderly, sturdy man only glanced at them before continuing his work.
But Felt, sitting before him, curled her lips into a smile, tossing and catching a badge with her fingertips. "So you really found your way here. Tell me, how much do you plan to pay to buy back this insignia?"
Hearing the girl's words, both knew she was being a rogue.
Emilia then furrowed her brows and said, "That was mine to begin with. Although I was also negligent, since we've found you, it should be returned to its rightful owner."
Subaru immediately added pressure, "And Lia is a Spirit Arts User. If we start a fight, this place probably won't survive. Better to return it obediently so everyone can leave in peace."
"Ha?!"
Felt sneered, "Once it's in my hands, it's mine. If you want it back, you have to follow the rules of the Slums—equivalent exchange."
She ignored Subaru's angry gaze and turned to ask the large man, "Old man Rom, the employer should be arriving soon, right? It's already the appointed time."
Rom glanced at the pendulum clock on the wall and nodded silently.
"Someone hired you to steal the insignia?"
From the conversation between the girl and the man she called Rom behind the bar, Subaru keenly caught the main point.
Emilia held her breath, waiting for the answer. She too was desperate to know who was pulling the strings.
Felt shrugged nonchalantly, "Consider it compensation for you. Yes, but that's all I know. If you don't want to trade, then leave quickly, the employer is coming soon."
But Subaru and Emilia exchanged a look and instead stayed where they were even more firmly. They wanted to see exactly who the mastermind was.
"Then just wait and see how your stuff disappears."
No sooner had Felt spoken—
Knock! Knock!
The heavy wooden door was knocked on once again.