“Hm… and you are sure they will be here? All three of them?” 

On top of a roof, a few blocks from the hidden tavern sat three people. An intrigued Salem, a terrified Elisabeth, and an ever bored Priscilla. They all wore the same black cloak to help further hide them in the shadows as they thought about the current “mission”. 

Salem looked around her slightly disappointed. All around her, lamps were lit by fire, not magic tools. Roads were not paved but dirt with no clear indicators on the driving path. Most of the houses and buildings were also subpar. This was between the slums and the market place so the quality wouldn't be excellent, but…

I expected something better than this at least. No wonder Elisabeth looked at me like I was crazy.

But she would keep that title if that meant destroying the slums and rebuilding a safer space for everyone living in it. She was not planning on hiding but starting an artistic revolution. A renaissance. This continent has already made contact with the southern continent and has yet to advance drastically. The slums was the worst off but even the upper areas were behind.

It was definitely because the southern continent wanted to make a profit as much as possible…

A train of thought Salem agreed with wholeheartedly. As such, she was planning to make them dependent on her, not the southern continent.. This revolution would drastically revolve around the arts and technology industry. They had large companies but no guilds. Guilds would provide laws and regulations. And most importantly taxes.

Everyone will have no choice but to join. Simply because everyone wants to feel part of an exclusive club…

But to execute her plans, she needed the people. Salem’s red eyes took in the various patrons who entered and left the pub. By midnight, no one was entering the pub anymore. And as the hours went by, like a slow trickle, the patrons inside began to wobble and stumble out. It was now reaching 2 am. 

“There they are.” Elisabeth’s once bleary eyes, focused instantly as she took in the unmistakable sight of two women and one tall but thin man giggling and stumbling. 

All three of them stood up and stretched. With keen eyes, they followed the movement of the drunken friends before ultimately following them physically. 

“My research showed that all three of them are talents that are purposely being stomped on by higher-ups so that they could make a quick profit and better name for themselves.” Elisabeth, The Jack, explained. “The tall man is a chef. Can cook almost anything and has a tongue never before seen. Also, keen on cleanliness. The girl with the light orange hair is a seamstress apprentice and repeatedly has her work stolen by her seniors and most often Madame Tyson.”

What kind of The Devil wears Prada boss does she have?

“Lastly, the last woman with the ice blue hair is tricky. For some reason none of the smiths and inventors in the capital recognize her, but she is most definitely the daughter of Count Hamm. A well-known smithing family from the Smirnov Duchy in the north. They are famous for producing amazing works. The trademark of the family is even the white-blue hair or pure black eyes. Both of which she has.”

The group jumped from roof to roof following the drunken group. 

“The only thing I can’t figure out is why she gave up her title and came to the capital…” Elisabeth was out of breath and she was in Priscilla’s arms. Priscilla wasn’t breaking a sweat.

 Elisabeth stayed quiet as she observed the beautiful girl’s features. She understood why countless people peeked out their broken windows to catch a glimpse of the twins and Salem. Not one for attraction, even she felt like a princess as she stayed still in the girl’s well-toned arms. 

“Doesn’t matter why she left, it matters whether or not her potential is real.” Salem leaned forward as she took a longer look at the group.

“Also, what happened to the carpenter I asked for?”

“Ah! I found one. He will be coming to-”

“Mama, they're going inside.” Priscilla interrupted.

Elisabeth, still in Priscilla’s arms, became dead still.

Di-did she just say…

“Mama?!?!” Elisabeth furiously whispered. 

Priscilla frowned and adjusted Elisabeth in her arms, “Yes. Mama. Quiet, please. We are going to enter.”  

Elisabeth’s mind was racing at this newfound information. 

Does she mean mama as in mother or is that just a nickname? How could someone from the southern continent have children who look like children of the empire? I guess they have a tanned skin tone… But Salem looks to be in her mid-20s. The twins are at least 16… I’m losing my mind. 

While the jack was having a mental breakdown, Priscilla and Salem had successfully jumped from the roof to the floor. The level they were currently on, was the housing district for the lower-class citizens. Small homes with minimal amenities.

Salem scowled at the putrid smell wafting up to her nose.

“Do they not have plumbing or running water?” She hissed.

“The plumbing and running water stop at the market level.”  A daunted Elisabeth mumbled. 

Salem’s frown could not get deeper as she took in the neighborhood. 

In anime and manga, when people are summoned to a new world, they instantly begin to bring life to things that make life easier. All those saints they used me to summon and they are still in the medieval stages of public health, fashion, and food… Technology is kind of advanced thanks to alchemy but even then…

Salem’s mind was racing as all the things she needed to do for the slums and red-light district piled up and expanded past their boundary. She would set a precedent for basic living standards. She’d be damned if left them like this. She didn’t like this world, but her humanitarian habits were getting the better of her once again as she stood in this place. Priscilla and Elisabeth took in Salem's frown quietly. While the latter had not known Salem long, even Elisabeth could see Salem’s disgust for the current state of the capital's lower class. 

Priscilla on the other hand was exasperated with her mother who had become a busy body all over again. 

And she wanted to stay in the forest to be a mystical witch? When her eyes have that sparkle? Priscilla let a knowing smirk creep onto her face as she ignored her mother’s frown and just looked at the spark of challenge in Salem’s eyes. Salem’s daughter kept her fond smile on for one more second before turning her attention back to the shabby cabin in front of her.