Chapter 10: Stepping forward to eradicate evil

"So, what is your goal in capturing us? Were you ordered by someone?" I asked the boss of the kidnapper who was currently tied up with his accomplice.

It's already evening, so if I can I want to end this matter as soon as possible. Thus, I'm currently interrogating them first before I give them to the city guards. I don't want this matter to continue, so I will destroy it at the root.

"Hey, quickly say something, why are you silent?" I asked again while stomping on the head of the kidnapping boss and continuing to press him.

I felt a cold stare from behind me, but I didn't want to turn my head, because I already knew who the gaze belonged to.

"Riku-san, you are overreacting, calm down a bit."

"Oh my, Elvy-chan. They are criminals, there is no point in even giving them mercy. Criminals will always be criminals."

"If you use that theory, it means perverts will be perverts forever."

"..."

I took my foot off the kidnapper's head.

It's not that because Alicia said that, I lowered my feet because I still had humanity in my heart.

True, even bad people can turn good if they try.

"Ahem, alright, I'll say it one more time… Who told you to?"

"Huh, did you think I would—"

'Sheesh—!'

"Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhh—!!"

"Boss?!"

"Hoy, what did you do to our boss?!"

Not letting the man continue his words any further, I immediately sprayed a liquid right in his eyes and it immediately made him scream hysterically.

Seeing this his men reprimanded me.

"Geez, don't get excited over just a squeeze of lemon. I just want you to answer all my questions, but if you still refuse, I will continue to play pranks on you," I said nonchalantly and kept looking for various items in my [Inventory].

At that moment, the kidnappers started taunting me.

"Don't dream, brat. We still won't tell you anything."

"Right, don't equate us like criminals out there. Despite this, we still have pride. There's no way we're just spreading information about our clients."

"Everything you do is for nothing."

"That's right, give up, brat."

They said whatever they wanted, but I ignored them and kept going through my [Inventory], looking for something useful.

After getting what I wanted, I looked at them one more time. "Okay, this is my final warning. Hurry up and obey me if you don't want to have nightmares. Besides that, from now on I am your 'master', so you have to obey everything I say," I said.

Hearing that, they stared at each other for a moment and then laughed loudly.

"Oy oy, what did this brat say?!"

"Ahahaha, could it be that his head has gone mad!"

"He really is stupid!"

It seemed they had no intention of surrendering.

I sighed tiredly. "Well, if you don't intend to give up, it can't be helped, I'll give you two choices," I said. Before continuing, I raised the two items I just took out in my [Inventory] to their faces and spoke in an even voice.

"Take your pick, do you want your back holes to be pierced with leeks that can squirt spicy liquid or these agile carrot monsters?"

"PLEASE ASK ANYTHING YOU WANT, MY LORD!!"

Right after I finished my sentence, they all excitedly fell to their knees before me.

Seeing that, I smiled. "Good, I like honest children. But, you don't need to be that excited, because that could disturb the neighbors," I said.

However, when I said that with a bright smile, I could feel cold stares from behind me again, and this time there were two people.

Ladies, can you not look at me like that?

My heart can hurt too.

***************

After gaining the thugs' trust, they happily told me everything I wanted to ask.

Of course, I believe this is because I lectured them to repent immediately and become good people, because bad people can change too.

"Okay, first, tell me your names one by one," I asked, and they were happy to tell me their names.

"I'm Wilson," said the bald man with scratch-like scars on his face.

"So, nice to meet you, Wilson. You can call me Riku-sama if you want. By the way, what's with that claw wound on your face? If you want, this woman beside me can heal you."

"Oh what do you mean by this? Well, this I got when I was trying to tame a beast, when it kept struggling and accidentally its claws hit my face."

"Ooh, that's cool. What is the name of that beast?"

"She's Meme, my pet cat."

"…."

"Khuku, this is cool, right? Whenever people see my face they get scared, and it's so much fun— He-Hey, brat, what are you trying to do? Stop holding me!"

"Alicia, can you heal the wound?"

"With pleasure."

"N-No! W-Wait a minute! This is the only pride I have! So stop starting to cast healing magic! Please, Riku-sama, please don't heal this scar! Because without this, my juniors won't scare me anymore!"

Since he was desperately begging, I let him go. Then, forgetting everything that happened just now, I moved on to the next villain.

When I glanced at the blonde haired man in front of me, he gasped, his body starting to shake with fear.

"Okay, next you. State your name?"

"I-I'm Ron."

"Is that so? By the way, your blonde hair is fake, right? Why did you paint it?"

"Eh! T-That… N-No particular reason, it's because I think it's cool."

He answered in a trembling voice when I suddenly asked about him fake blonde hair.

Well, there's no particular reason why I asked, so you don't need to be that scared, I won't scold you.

But, different from my reaction, all of his friends looked surprised.

"Wait Ron! So your blonde hair was fake all along?! Didn't you say before that it's a direct descendant of yours?!"

"I don't believe it. Whereas before you arrogantly boasted of your blonde hair in front of me just because I didn't have hair."

"Even you said before that you were descended from a famous noble, and that hair was a direct inheritance from a noble family. So you've been lying all along huh, dammit?"

"N-No this… I…"

Seeing all his friends who started glaring at him with anger and suspicion, the man could only surrender while lowering his head gloomily, without being able to refute the slightest, he started crying.

I-It seems I've done something wrong.

W-Well, forget it, let's move on to the next person.

"So, next you-"

"—No, this is enough. How long are you going to keep doing this stupid thing?"

"Huh?"

Just as I was about to resume the introduction of the four thugs, Alicia suddenly came forward to cut me off and protested.

"Could you hurry up a bit? Because of you, we have wasted too much time. Besides, why do you need to ask their names, you can do it when the main problem is over! Hurry up, just ask what you need and get this done right away! I'm sleepy you know! A goddess like me needs at least 18 hours of sleep a day to maintain her beauty!"

"Isn't your job all this time just being lazy, what is 'For the sake of maintaining beauty'. I don't want to hear that from someone who's been drinking late into the night."

Alicia and I had a fight, but Elvy immediately stopped us, so I reluctantly let go of the goddess and thought again about the matter.

It's true what she said, we wasted too much time, whereas I have to finish this quickly before the guards find us first.

So, I corrected my posture once again and stared at them firmly.

This time, I asked seriously.

"Okay, this is the last order from me, tell me everything you know about what your goals are and who is the mastermind behind all this?" I asked, finally getting to the heart of the matter.

At that time, they started telling me everything they knew honestly. But, after they told me everything they knew, inevitably, after hearing it all, my eyes constricted with anger and disgust, we were all left speechless.

"—So, that's all we know, are you satisfied?" said the boss of the gang after he told us everything.

"…."

But, I just kept quiet while lowering my head.

The atmosphere immediately changed to complete silence.

"Riku-san…"

Just then, Elvy looked at me worriedly, she tried to say something, but as soon as she saw my expression, she couldn't help but fall silent.

Beside me, Alicia just snorted while crossing her arms, she looked very tough. Maybe she didn't really think much of what the thug was saying, or maybe she was just pretending to be tough.

Well, who cares.

That's not important now.

After the atmosphere fell into silence for a few moments, I finally raised my head and looked towards Alicia and Elvy.

There, with a faint smile, I asked. "Alicia, Elvy-chan, I'm sorry, but maybe I'll end up in jail again. Even so, do you guys want to follow me?"

Hearing that, the two of them fell silent and stared at each other. But, a moment later, they smiled gently and answered me.

"Oh my goodness, you really can't do anything without me. It can't be helped, when we're in jail later, I want you to serve me every day."

"Riku-san, I will follow you wherever you are. I will never leave you, so you don't have to worry."

After I heard everything they had to say, I let out a short sigh and raised my head confidently.

Then, with a big smile, I smacked my own palm and said in an excited voice. "Alright, let's teach the fat noble a little lesson again!"

"Oooh!!"

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When I first arrived in this world and adventured with them. I have decided my own way of life, that I will live peacefully without getting involved in any trouble.

But, the peace I want is not to live alone with glorious treasures. The peace I want is to live with the people who are precious to me while continuing to have fun with all of them.

To me, they are like my own family.

That's why…

—Anyone who intends to disturb my peace, I will exterminate them all from this world, even if it's a Demon King.