Chapter 59 – The Pawn Shop on Daedalus Street (POV: Hestia)
Daedalus Street wasn't what I'd imagined.
It wasn't some filthy back alley like that tavern from before.
But it wasn't a bustling commercial district like the Guild area either.
This was some gray-zone street—wide enough, lined with old buildings that looked decent enough to live in, but there was something wrong in the air.
Even though I felt like something was off, I couldn't put my finger on what it was.
The smell hit me first—this mix of dust, sweat, and rusted metal mingling with cheap cooking from roadside stalls.
Footsteps echoed softly between stone walls that had gone black with age and grime.
Made everything feel even weirder.
I walked side by side with Eina, pulling my hood deeper to cover my face.
My hair was still a bit damp from my bath earlier and felt cold against my neck, water droplets occasionally falling onto my shoulders and making the fabric stick to my skin.
The blazing midday sun made the air feel humid and stuffy.
On both sides of the street, weird shops lined up with faded, cracked signs.
There was a used weapons shop with rusted swords in the display case, metal that used to gleam now covered in suspicious reddish-brown stains.
Potion shops with bottles full of suspicious colorful liquids lined up on rotting wooden shelves, some bottles seemed to contain smoke that moved on its own.
Taverns with dark windows you couldn't see through lined the street, loud laughter and clinking glasses occasionally echoing from inside, followed by crude words that made me wince.
What bothered me most were the stares.
Everyone we passed looked at us with suspicion.
Their eyes followed our every step like predators watching prey.
Adventurers with scars on their faces and eyes that had lost their innocent sparkle, their bodies sturdy but their posture showing high alertness.
Merchants with snake-like eyes that moved quickly, scanning whatever goods we carried.
Probably calculating how much they could get if they managed to rob us.
And some women in indecently revealing clothes standing in front of doors while smoking.
Cheap tobacco smoke curling from their bright red painted lips.
Staring at us with a mix of curiosity and hostility.
"Goddess," Eina whispered as she moved closer, her voice trembling slightly.
"I feel uncomfortable. Like there are eyes constantly watching us from every corner."
"Me too," I answered quietly, my eyes constantly moving to scan the numbers on building walls that were mostly unreadable due to peeling paint.
This place was full of negative energy.
Even though the place where I met my informant was also full of negative energy.
But I didn't feel this heavy there.
Could it be because Gareth was there to ward off the negative energy for me?
I should've brought Gareth along.
But it was too late to regret it now.
"But we've come this far. Can't back down now." I muttered under my breath.
Number 43...
Number 45...
Each building looked older and more creepy as we walked deeper into this street.
"Over there!" Eina pointed to a building at the end of the street.
"Mordecai's Used Goods" pawn shop
looked...
pretty ordinary from the outside.
Too ordinary, actually, and that's what made it suspicious.
A two-story building with faded brown paint peeling in several places, revealing the blackened old wood underneath.
Dusty windows with "BUY - SELL" writing that was barely readable, some letters completely gone.
The shop sign hung crooked, held up by just one rusty nail.
What confused me were the items displayed in the window.
A ring with carvings I recognized, and also a dagger with a gold-plated handle that was clearly too expensive to be sold in a shop like this.
And what stood out most was a necklace with an eye-shaped pendant that looked like a goddess's eye...
Wait.
Wait!!
"Eina," I grabbed her arm, "that necklace. I've seen it before."
"Which one?"
"The one in the left corner of the display case. That goddess eye pendant... that belongs to Goddess Athena."
Eina followed my gaze, her eyes widening.
"Goddess Athena?"
I felt something cold creeping up my back.
"Why would Athena's sacred necklace be in a pawn shop like this?"
I was so confused!
No matter what, with Athena's personality, there's no way she'd sell something that belonged to her.
Could she be so poor outside Orario that she'd abandon her belongings?
For some reason I felt sorry for her.
I felt lucky that Hephaestus took me in.
Not wanting to linger on random thoughts.
Before Eina could answer.
A small bell rang as I pushed the entrance door.
Whatever happened, I had to get answers.
TING!
The atmosphere inside was quieter and stuffier than I'd imagined.
The smell of dust, metal, and something that hadn't been cleaned in ages filled the air, making my nose itch.
There was another more disturbing scent—
The metallic smell of old dried blood.
Even though I couldn't see any stains on the dark wooden floor.
I knew it was blood.
Items were piled up on rotting wooden shelves, from cheap jewelry to used weapons that looked like they'd been used to kill, suspicious dark stains still clinging to some of the metal blades.
Flickering candlelight provided inadequate lighting, creating dancing shadows on the walls that made the room feel more frightening.
Some items on the highest shelves I couldn't see clearly, but their shapes looked strange and disturbing, like small statues or maybe preserved body parts.
Were those preserved monster bodies?
Looked like monsters from outside Orario.
Behind the counter, a middle-aged man was cleaning a dagger with a dirty cloth that had turned brownish-black.
His body was sturdy and muscular, a sleeveless shirt showing off brawny arms with a snake eating its own tail tattooed in a spiral from wrist to shoulder, the details incredibly intricate and looking like artwork.
A long scar on his left cheek looked deep and old, the result of an attack from a sword or monster claws.
And his eyes...
Like a wolf assessing whether we were easy prey or a threat.
Made me a bit annoyed—I'm a goddess being looked at like prey by a human so blatantly!
Before I could get angry, Eina was already speaking.
"Good afternoon..." Eina said in a professional tone, a fake smile on her lips though I could see nervousness in her eyes.
"We... uh, we're looking for antiques. Could you help, maybe?"
That man was Mordecai we were looking for!
Hearing Eina's words, he didn't stop cleaning his dagger.
His hand movements were trained and experienced, like someone who'd performed this ritual thousands of times.
His eyes scanned us from top to bottom with an assessing gaze that made me want to punch his face.
I don't know how many times today my hands have itched to hit something.
Earlier it was a man with bad breath, now a man with annoying eyes.
"Hah? Antiques?" his voice was hoarse, like someone who smoked too much or yelled too much.
There was a mocking tone that was barely audible.
"You two look like people who can afford new stuff. A Goddess and a Guild girl in neat clothes. Why would you want used and dirty stuff like the goods here?"
"We're collectors," Eina answered quickly, her voice slightly trembling but still controlled.
"Antiques have historical value that—"
"We're not here to buy your junk."
I stepped forward, unable to stand this useless small talk.
The patience that had been wearing thin since morning finally ran out.
My voice came out louder than I'd planned, making some items on the shelves vibrate slightly.
"We're looking for two kids. One small, one older. They work for you. And don't try lying because I have ways of knowing the truth."
Mordecai stopped cleaning the dagger.
His hand movement froze in the air, and he stared at me with narrowed eyes.
The atmosphere in the room became more tense, like before a fight begins.
Then suddenly he laughed...
A rough sound like a wild animal threatening.
No... More like a horny wild animal.
Absolutely disgusting.
"Hahaha! Goddess and pretty lady, I don't know what you're talking about."
He placed the dagger on the table with a sharp metallic sound, like a veiled threat.
"I'm just an honest shop owner. Buy stuff, sell stuff. Simple and uncomplicated. Why are you accusing me of doing weird things?"
Lies.
I could feel it clearly.
As a goddess, I have one ability that even other gods don't possess—
Even though my power is sealed.
I can sense human sincerity... or more precisely, smell their lies.
And so far, this ability has never been wrong.
The energy this man radiated was full of lies and malicious intent.
And this man...
He was lying through his teeth with an innocent face, as if he was used to doing this every day.
"You're lying," I said flatly, my tone turning cold and dangerous.
His smile shook a little, his confident expression cracking for a moment before he quickly covered it up.
"Eh? Goddess, I—"
"Mr. Mordecai." Eina pulled out her Guild badge.
"I'm Eina Tulle, official Guild advisor. We... have reports. They say you're involved in selling stolen goods... stolen by children. This is serious, you know... your business license could be revoked. Even... yes, you could be imprisoned for a long time."
Now he looked at us seriously, his playful expression immediately disappearing.
But instead of being scared, he smiled cynically while leaning back in his wooden chair that was already cracked in several places.
His posture became more relaxed, but I could sense he was nervous even though it was hidden behind his casual attitude.
"Wow, the Guild came personally to my little insignificant shop. I'm so flattered."
His tone became mocking, almost like he was belittling the Guild's authority.
"Go ahead and report to whoever you want, honored Advisor Miss. You don't have any concrete evidence. And I... I have good friends in important places. Friends who won't be happy if my small business is disturbed."
A veiled threat.
This man was openly threatening us.
If this man was so bold, there was only one possibility.
This man must have strong backing, that's why he dared to oppose the Guild so confidently.
Maybe there was a Guild official or even a member of a major familia protecting him.
For some reason I was a bit nervous too.
After all, I didn't know who his supporters were.
When I thought of Kaen still waiting for me, all my nervousness disappeared.
I stepped forward with slow but determined steps, carefully releasing a bit of my divine aura.
The air in the room immediately became heavy, like before a big storm arrives.
The spiritual pressure I emitted made the atmosphere oppressive and suffocating.
Items on the shelves vibrated slightly, some glass bottles clinked against each other making thin tinkling sounds.
I don't know how many times I've lost control in this past month.
"Listen carefully, human." My voice came out low and dangerous, each word spoken with clear emphasis.
"I don't have time for your stupid games. Tell us where those children are now, or I, as a goddess who has the power to destroy this place in the blink of an eye, will consider your shop a den of crime and will 'clean it up' my own way."
My divine aura grew stronger, making the air feel like it would explode.
I could see cold sweat starting to flow down Mordecai's temples.
Mordecai's face immediately paled.
Sweat began appearing on his forehead and flowing down his cheeks, and his hand that had been casually cleaning the dagger was now trembling slightly.
His breathing became labored, as if he was having trouble breathing under the pressure of my divine aura.
His eyes that had been full of confidence were now moving restlessly, looking for an escape.
The Guild he might be able to fight with money and connections.
But an angry goddess?
That was a different story.
That meant facing power that could destroy this entire district if I wanted.
No, more precisely, Orario.
"O-okay, okay!" he raised both hands in panic, his voice becoming trembling and uncontrolled.
"Listen... Listen, I don't know where they are now! Really! They just come here to sell their stolen goods. I don't employ them directly!"
"Their names," I said while approaching the table.
"And don't lie again. I can sense your lies like a rotten smell. One more lie and I'll show you why humans fear a goddess's wrath."
"Rick! The older one's name is Rick, his little brother... his little brother I don't know his real name."
Mordecai wiped the sweat on his forehead with the back of his dirty hand.
"They just call him 'the little one' or sometimes 'Tim'. Rick is around thirteen, his little brother maybe ten or eleven, still innocent but clever at hiding stolen goods. They come here two or three times a week, sell small jewelry, leather wallets, sometimes knives or daggers they steal from careless adventurers."
"Where do they live?" I pressed again, not letting him dodge.
"Ah! That... Don't know! Really don't know!" his voice was becoming desperate.
"They always come in the evening around five or six, sell stuff quickly, take the money, then leave in a hurry. I never asked where they live because it's none of my business. What matters is they bring good stuff!"
Eina approached carefully, her tone still firm but more controlled than before.
"When was the last time they came? And what did they sell?"
"Three days ago, evening as usual. Rick sold a silver brooch with nice carvings, said he got it from... from..." He fell silent, as if hesitant to continue, his eyes moving restlessly between me and Eina.
"From where?" I pressed with increasingly impatient tone.
"From an adventurer he 'worked over' near the Guild. A female adventurer, he said she was easy to fool because she was too kind-hearted and trusting."
That wasn't Kaen.
A silver brooch...
Kaen doesn't have a brooch.
I was starting to have some doubts.
Were Eina and I targeting the wrong person?
No!
I think it must be that little kid who stole from Kaen.
"Listen..." Mordecai continued while still wiping sweat, his voice trembling with fear.
"I-I don't know what your problem is with those kids. But they're not just ordinary thieves. They... they have a 'protector'. Someone far more dangerous than me, someone even major familias don't dare mess with."
"Who?" Eina asked quickly, her eyes sharp with attention.
"I don't know their identity! And I don't want to know!" he shook his head so hard sweat flew off.
"What's certain is someone with great power who can protect them from the Guild, from any familia, even from city authorities. Those kids said if anyone dares to bother them, their protector will come and... and..."
He swallowed hard.
"And there won't be anything left of that person!"
"Where can we find them?" I asked with increasingly threatening tone.
Even though I had doubts, I had to meet that kid and try to find out.
"East warehouse! They often hang out in the east warehouse area near the old port. There are lots of hiding places and street kid networks there. But you should go look for them there and don't involve me again! I'm just a small merchant who doesn't want trouble with anyone!"
East warehouse.
Exactly the same as what the bad-breath informant mentioned.
Two clues pointing to the same place, this wasn't a coincidence.
Before I could ask more about this mysterious 'protector', the bell above the door rang again with a louder sound than before.
TING!
Three men entered with heavy steps that made the wooden floorboards creak.
The sound of their boots echoed in the quiet room.
They were all ordinary people.
But the way they moved with trained coordination.
And also the aura they radiated showed considerable fighting experience.
The one in front, a bald man with a diagonal scar on his face that looked like claw marks from a large monster, stared at us with a cold gaze that made the room temperature feel like it dropped several degrees.
"Mordecai," his voice was deep and threatening, like distant thunder.
"Is there a problem here? Are they bothering you?"
I glanced at the tattoos on their arms more carefully.
The same snake shape as Mordecai's, which made me more wary.
They must be in the same group as Mordecai.
And from the level of tattoo detail and quality of their weapons, this was clearly some kind of organization.
Mordecai immediately became tense, his posture becoming stiff and formal.
But he shook his head quickly with almost panicked movements.
"No, no problem at all, bro. They just wanted to buy something. Just regular customers."
The bald man stared at me and Eina alternately with small sharp eyes like eagle eyes, full of suspicion and calculation.
His gaze moved from my robe, to the Guild badge still held by Eina, then back to my face.
"Goddess... and Guild advisor. Very interesting combination. It's rare for a goddess to come to a place like this with Guild personnel. Usually when a goddess comes here..."
He didn't finish what he was saying and ignored us.
The two men behind him started moving slowly, positioning themselves to block the exit.
Their movements looked casual, but I knew this was an encirclement tactic.
Their hands were also moving closer to weapon handles at their waists.
I was a bit shaken—they should know I'm a goddess.
But they dared to show they weren't afraid of me!
Even though I could defeat them, I couldn't do it.
If I used my power, I'd be forced to return to Tenkai.
Feeling our position wasn't advantageous right now, I took a deep breath.
"Haa... We're done here," I said while pulling Eina's arm.
"Thank you for your... help, Mr. Mordecai. Good afternoon," Eina said politely while bowing slightly, though I could see her hands were a bit nervous.
We walked to the door with normal steps.
"Goddess," Eina whispered as we walked quickly away from the shop.
"Their tattoos... I've never seen them before in Guild files."
"Looks like... They're in the same group as Mordecai." I glanced back with an inconspicuous movement.
Those three men were still standing in front of the dirty glass window, staring at us without blinking until we disappeared around the corner.
Even from a distance, I could still feel the threatening aura they radiated.
Honestly, I was a bit scared.
Clearly they weren't afraid to kill gods!
"What now?" Eina asked while occasionally looking back to make sure no one was following us.
I stopped for a moment at a busy street corner, taking a deep breath to calm myself.
We had escaped that snake's den and brought back valuable information.
"East warehouse. We're going there right now." I looked at Eina who seemed tired.
"Rick and his little brother must be there. And this time, nothing will stop us from getting the truth. I'm sick of these games."
I wasn't lying.
I was really fed up.
When was the last time I worked this hard?
If Kaen gets out, he has to pamper me.
I want to lie down and do nothing for a whole week!
Eina nodded, though I could see worry in her eyes.
"Goddess... if that group is involved, this could be more dangerous than we imagined."
"I know." I pulled my robe tighter.
"But Kaen-kun is waiting for us. And I already promised to bring him home."
I said while dragging Eina toward the east warehouse.