I Became the Narrow-Eyed Villain in a Dropped Novel

After a slightly awkward dinner, I returned to the guest room and spread out the map.

“There are two things we need to find: the Opio farm and the business leader.”

“I get the farm, but what’s a business leader?”

“Think of it as the person overseeing the entire operation. Usually, they manage production and distribution.”

Nothing was certain yet.

However, if Cesare referred to them as a competitor, it’s unlikely to be just a single village’s scale.

“They said we can stay another day, so I plan to at least get a clear outline by tomorrow. I’ll search for the farm, so Ede, you handle the inquiries.”

“Searching for the farm seems like the tougher job. Wouldn’t it be better if I did that?”

“Wouldn’t a countryside native be more approachable than a stiff-necked noble?”

I introduced myself as a minor noble, but a noble is still a noble.

Even in an ordinary village, they’d be wary, and in a village running an illegal business, they’d be even more so.

There’s also the issue that, having lived my whole life in modern cities, I have no idea how to talk to farmers in a fantasy world.

“Being from the countryside isn’t some truth spell that makes people spill everything. Whether you ask or I ask, it’ll be about the same, right?”

“That’s for you to figure out. That’s why I hired you, isn’t it?”

“Well… that’s true. Alright! I’ll treat it like a test and do my best!”

I’d prefer results over effort, but I didn’t say that out loud, not wanting to dampen her burning enthusiasm.

“Let me say again, our goal is to stop the drug distribution in the Imperial Capital. Don’t get worked up over small things.”

“Of course!”

Ede answered energetically, her face suggesting she didn’t understand why I’d even ask.

I considered pressing further but let it go.

I got her agreement, so if she messes things up, I can point it out then.

I turned my attention to the map.

Opio is a finicky plant, so there aren’t many places it could be grown.

If I can find the farm quickly, I’ll be able to keep an eye on Ede.

* * *

…Or so I thought.

“Where the hell are they growing it?”

A complaint slipped out of my mouth.

There’s no way I missed it.

With its grayish leaves, fuzzy stems, and spear-tip buds, it’s a distinctive plant that’s hard to overlook, especially since I even got a sample to confirm what it looks like.

Missing a few scattered plants in the wild is one thing, but a large-scale farm deliberately set up would definitely stand out.

Unlike real-world poppies, which grow fine in temperate climates, Opio is tricky to cultivate.

It needs a humid environment with frequent sunlight.

It’s extremely sensitive to temperature swings and cold, so it can’t be grown even slightly north of the Imperial Capital.

Most wild Opio grows in marshes or swamps by rivers, so farms permitted by the Emperor to cultivate it are typically near marshes or swamps.

So, I figured following the river would naturally lead me to the farm…

“Not a single trace.”

There wasn’t even a hint of cultivation around the village’s marshes or small ponds.

All I found while circling the area were fields lush with vegetables.

‘It doesn’t make sense that this place supplies most of the drug’s raw materials.’

Even if they used all the nearby marshes, it wouldn’t account for the volume circulating in the slums, and the marshes were completely empty anyway.

Considering the ridiculously long report, I ruled out the possibility that Cesare made a mistake.

Are they growing it somewhere far from the village?

If so, the increased traffic would’ve been noticed by Cesare or the guards.

So where are they hiding it?

It’s a plausible theory, but it’s just speculation if I can’t find where they’re growing it.

“Back to square one, I guess.”

Clicking my tongue, I stood up.

As I brushed the mud off my shoes, I heard a rustling sound.

It wasn’t just some wild animal.

It was the sound of human footsteps and breathing—multiple people, at that.

They weren’t even trying to hide the noise, which meant they were a ragtag bunch.

‘Coming to me on their own? Not bad.’

With a slight grin, I turned around, and the approaching sounds stopped abruptly.

That only confirmed they were a disorganized group.

“Who’s there?”

I asked as innocently as possible, so as not to scare them off.

“Grab him!”

With a loud shout, several men burst out of the bushes.

I casually raised both hands.

The men, who had charged out with determined faces, looked confused.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll cooperate. Just don’t hit me.”

I could beat them up and interrogate them one by one right here, but I preferred being peacefully taken to their base.

Of course, if they got cocky, I’d switch to interrogation mode.

“…Come this way. Keep your hands up.”

My sudden surrender made the men cautious.

Well, this was good enough to follow along.

Now, let’s see where they’re holed up.

* * *

“So, what did you do?”

“I didn’t want to hurt the guy unnecessarily. He was just some idiot, you know. So I did this.”

Ede lightly swung her sword, leaving a deep V-shaped mark on a tree.

“You cut off his legs?”

“No, no. Just his clothes. He stood there dumbfounded, then ran for his life when he realized he was in his underwear.”

Ede’s playful tone made the kids giggle.

She smiled naturally at the sight.

Playing with the kids was Ede’s way of gathering information.

Curious kids weren’t wary of strangers, and the villagers didn’t pay much attention to someone entertaining their children.

“Tell us another fun story!”

“No way, it’s our turn to talk.”

“But nothing exciting happens around here.”

They had agreed to take turns telling interesting stories, but the kids’ supply of tales had already run dry.

It’s not like a remote place like this would have many thrilling events.

“Hmm… how about this? I’ll ask about something I’m curious about around here, and you guys answer.”

“That’s it?”

“Yup. Sometimes locals know things that outsiders find interesting.”

The promise of more outside stories made the kids beam.

Ede felt a slight pang of guilt for using the kids.

“I heard there are a lot of red flowers around here, is that true?”

“There are way more white ones than red.”

“I’ve never seen them.”

“I saw some by the river before.”

The varied answers left her puzzled.

Are they growing them somewhere the kids don’t know about?

Opio’s defining feature is its bright red flowers, so they couldn’t have mistaken it.

“I-I’ve seen a lot!”

The quiet kid from the mill family suddenly raised their hand.

“How many?”

“So many I couldn’t count them all!”

The kid drew a big circle with their hands to emphasize the amount.

“Where did you see them?”

“Um, at our mill…”

The kid’s eyes darted around, trailing off.

It seemed like they had more to say but were holding back.

“Alright, shall we continue this at the mill?”

““Yes!””

With loud agreement, Ede led the village kids toward the mill.

The villagers they passed only looked at the children’s procession fondly.

‘Could these people really be making drugs?’

Ede shook her head vigorously.

“Don’t trust people just by their faces.”

That’s what she’d been told repeatedly before leaving the Chartras.

Most of that advice was aimed at Count Valheit, but it applied here too.

“Now it’s your turn, big sis!”

“Yeah, tell us a fun story, sis!”

“Alright, alright.”

While thinking of a story, Ede checked the mill.

Fine red powder lingered on the millstone.

‘Didn’t they say that drying and grinding Opio fruit produces red powder?’

“Out of stories already?”

“No, no.”

Ede skillfully launched into a tale about being dispatched to catch bandits.

She added a bit of embellishment for excitement, but it was mostly true.

At the part where she caught the leader, the kids clenched their little fists.

“So, after catching the guy and hearing him out, it turns out there was an even worse villain behind him.”

“Then what? Did you go catch that bad guy too?”

“I’ll tell you next time. Now it’s your turn.”

Groans of disappointment rang out, including from the mill kid.

After a moment’s hesitation, the kid spoke up.

“I know where there are more red flowers.”

“Besides the mill? Where?”

“If you go down the river, there’s a cave with a lot of them.”

“Alright. Show me.”

After walking along the river for a while, the mill kid pointed to a spot thick with bushes.

“If you clear those bushes, there’s a tunnel connected to a cave.”

“Hmm, let’s see if that’s true.”

Ede grinned playfully and pushed through the bushes.

Soon, a tunnel just big enough for an adult to crouch through appeared.

“Wow, it’s really there.”

“Told you. I don’t lie.”

“Guess I owe you another story, huh?”

The promise of another story lit up the kids’ eyes with anticipation.

It was a heartwarming sight, but there was an interruption.

“Stay here and play for a bit. I’ve got something to take care of.”

“Aw, you’re not running off because you don’t have a story, right?”

“Don’t worry. I don’t lie either.”

Despite some grumbling, the kids soon started splashing around in the river.

As their attention shifted, Ede’s bright expression hardened instantly.

‘They’re starting to make a move.’

Someone was watching her, likely someone connected to the drugs.

She wrapped mana around her legs.

It was an acceleration spell that boosted movement distance and speed for a short time.

For an average swordsman, it might add a few steps to a lunge, but Ede’s skill was far from average.

With the sound of tearing wind, Ede caught up to the fleeing figure.

“?!”

The startled figure fell on their rear.

Ede tilted her head as she looked at their face.

“You don’t look like a criminal…”

“Criminal?! I-I’m just a passerby! Who are you? I’ll report—!”

The man, brushing off dirt as he stood, froze.

He felt the cold edge of a blade against his cheek.

“Passersby carry Opio drugs in their pockets these days?”

“What?”

The man frantically checked his waist pouch.

Red powder was spilling from a torn seam.

“Damn, do you know how much this costs… Oh.”

“They say most drug dealers are users themselves. Are you one of them?”

“No, no, no!!! I mean, I’m a user, but not a dealer! Absolutely not! I'll just transport it, that’s all!”

The user, now flat on the ground, clasped his hands and begged.

“Transport?”

“Yeah, they make the drugs here and sell them around. I’m just a small-time guy who gets some to sell!”

The user, spewing words rapidly, glanced at Ede and clamped his mouth shut.

He thought she’d already investigated everything, but she clearly had no idea.

“Where do you get the stuff?”

“You didn’t know that either…? The cave. I got it from the cave.”

“Get lost.”

Clutching his torn pouch, the user scrambled away.

Ede returned to the river where the kids were.

Only one of the six or seven kids remained.

Seeing Ede, the lone kid ran up.

“They said something big happened in the village, and we should go back. I stayed to tell you, sis.”

“Thanks.”

Ede smiled but was inwardly alarmed.

‘Did Count Valheit get caught?’