Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Capital, Magnet
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A carriage with its windows tightly shut, sealed off from the world.
Inside, away from prying eyes, we were receiving the utmost hospitality.
Following behind us were two wagons crudely modified from supply carts, rattling along.
Riding alongside were six mercenaries on horseback: Hairy, Rat-like Guy, Flounder-like Guy, and the others.
They were the group that had left Perpen.
There were still days until the recruitment deadline, but I ignored it and pushed the schedule forward.
Naturally, no one dared complain.
We had departed amid tearful farewells from the families of those leaving.
That had been two days ago already.
Whoosh.
Suddenly, Allen opened the window and peeked back.
He seemed worried about Daisy, occasionally cracking the window to gaze at her in the wagon.
His pitiful expression was quite the sight.
"What's wrong? Why not ride with her instead?"
"Would that be okay?"
At my words, Allen's face lit up.
I smacked him on the head without mercy.
Thwack!
"Gah!"
"Think before you speak."
"Urgh, I was just kidding!"
Allen stuck out his lips in a pout.
Iriel took his side from the seat next to him.
"Why do you have to be so mean? How do you expect to have a proper relationship like that?"
Allen chimed in, agreeing.
"You've never loved someone this deeply, Jenes, so you can't understand my feelings."
They say love makes the eyes go blind.
That was Allen right now.
"Cut the nonsense and behave."
"I'm already behaving as much as I can. I'm not doing anything in this carriage."
Iriel grumbled in disbelief.
That's when someone knocked on the window.
Tap tap.
I opened it to find Hairy, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep, cautiously reporting the plans.
"Lord Creon, I was thinking we could set up camp in that forest area up ahead. Is that alright?"
"Are you a child?"
"Pardon?"
"You pathetic fool. Do I have to micromanage everything? You should be able to decide something that simple yourself. This is exactly why I despise mingling with lowly rabble. Get lost."
"......Ah. Yes, underst—"
Slam!
I shut the window before he could finish.
"That felt good, but you're really something else."
Iriel stared at me like I was a demon.
Allen added his admiration.
"Right? How do you bully people so masterfully?"
They reacted this way for good reason.
For starters, I was once again in the guise of Creon Bastiga.
They believed my words without question.
When you have the power, turning fake into real is child's play.
If I say so, what means do they have to verify?
But Allen and Iriel weren't impressed by my flawless impersonation.
Yesterday, when the guy had set up camp without reporting, I'd chewed him out for not asking me.
Today, he'd asked me, and I chewed him out for that.
From Hairy's perspective, he must be wondering which tune to dance to.
I tormented Hairy, Rat-like Guy, and Flounder-like Guy relentlessly like this in everything.
It pained them so much they'd lost weight.
For me, it was a most satisfying outcome.
I leaned back against the seat and closed my eyes.
Focusing my senses on hearing, various sounds filled my ears.
"Ugh, that son of a bitch."
"Why, what now?"
"Fuckin' hell."
Their voices, badmouthing me from afar, came through crystal clear.
I paid it no mind.
I'd just torment them more.
This time, I focused my hearing backward.
To check on those following behind.
Their chatting voices drifted into my ears.
"What kind of work do you think we'll be doing?"
"No idea. Nothing specific was mentioned, right?"
"Yeah. It'll be tough, won't it?"
"Probably. They're paying well, after all."
"I heard women usually get assigned to nursing duties."
"Oh, really? But I'm scared of blood..."
The women huddled together on the wagon with the bench seats, chatting away.
The first wagon behind the carriage held the women, the second the men.
At first, a heavy silence had reigned, but by the second day, they'd adapted enough for light conversation.
They knew full well the work ahead wouldn't be easy.
Still, they'd endure the brief hardship for the money.
Unaware that their endurance would last a lifetime.
They'd handed their lives over for a pittance, knowing nothing.
Poor souls.
That night, those bastards had mocked them.
Rage bubbled up again, twitching my eyebrows.
First thing when I get out of this carriage, I'll crack their skulls.
Who dares mock their choices?
Their lives must have been gaunt and hollow.
They'd merely grasped the lifeline offered to escape it.
Their presence here wasn't from ignorance.
They were people who wanted to live more fiercely than anyone.
For themselves. For their families.
For a better life.
The governor's office exploited that very psychology.
Those fuckers were the problem.
I suppressed the urge to behead the scum who'd mocked them, holding back with deep patience.
To uproot the ones behind this scheme, root and all.
* * *
The mercenaries bustled about, setting up camp.
Jenes, Allen, and Iriel, who had stepped out of the carriage, watched with deep hoods covering their faces.
To avoid showing their faces to the others traveling with them.
Iriel spoke to Jenes, who was staring intently at the group.
"What are you thinking?"
"How to torment them in a way that spreads my reputation as a master tormentor."
"You're already a craftsman at that."
"That's why I'm pondering it. Why?"
"Just... Lately, Allen's only focused on her, so I'm bored."
Allen, his robe pulled low over his face, had been staring at Daisy nonstop.
It was getting severe.
The reason he could only stare was the same as why we wore hoods.
No one here could know our faces or identities.
So he panted like a dog desperate to shit, gazing pathetically.
Yet every night, he whispered sweet nothings to her in secret.
Was that not enough?
"Seems like Allen really likes Daisy. Don't they make a great pair?"
Iriel glanced at Allen and Daisy, who were exchanging longing looks, a hint of envy in her eyes.
Jenes snorted dismissively.
"Lately, I'm scared he might say he's heading home."
"Scared? You should support it."
"Of course I would. But if he goes home, I'd be the only one tending to our great Lord Creon. The thought alone is horrifying."
At Iriel's words, Jenes eyed Allen steadily.
Given what he was doing now, he might indeed run off home with Daisy.
For the independence army, "going home" meant quitting the fight.
Once plunged into such fiery love, Allen would face that crossroads too.
Building a peaceful family with a loved one doesn't mix with independence activities.
Iriel must have seen plenty as an independence fighter.
People returning to normal life, yielding to reality.
Choosing family stability over independence.
Neither choice was wrong.
"It's his life. He'll choose for himself."
"True. I'll support whatever he picks. Allen would make a great husband. Unlike some people."
"Why say it like you're talking about me?"
"Why do you think?"
"Unbelievable."
"Je— I mean, Lord Creon, it's obvious how you'd treat a wife."
Iriel was confident.
Any woman marrying Jenes was doomed to a lifetime of misery.
Like this outside, imagine the nagging inside.
Constantly griping about improper cleaning, dust on the window frames, soup too salty, meat too tough, laundry not dry enough—driving her ears to bleed.
Whew.
Just imagining that nagging ringing in her ears made a sigh escape involuntarily.
But then.
'What am I even thinking right now?'
Iriel snapped out of her daydream. Imagining a woman married to Jenes, she'd unwittingly pictured herself.
The woman with blood streaming from her ears under Jenes's nagging had her own face.
"Crazy! I'm crazy!"
Jenes watched blankly as Iriel suddenly smacked her own head.
"Need help?"
"No thanks!"
Jenes had no clue why she was acting up.
He figured something must be wrong with that little head of hers.
But he ignored it.
He was used to Iriel's antics.
A bit later, with her mind somewhat calmed, Iriel approached again.
Embarrassed, she cleared her throat cautiously before speaking.
"Ahem. Can I ask something I'm curious about?"
"Just ask. You'll ask even if I say no."
"It's not some deep meaning. Just pure curiosity, so no misunderstandings."
"What is it."
"You turned down marriage to Cecilia, right? Why? Do you like someone else? Or is there someone you're already set to marry? Just curious."
"Just. Didn't like Cardron."
"So you did like Cecilia?"
"Nope."
"Answer properly. Why are you so boring? Anyone you like?"
"Nope."
"Anyone you're set to marry?"
Jenes paused at Iriel's question.
Someone he was set to marry...
He had been engaged once.
In his past life.
"Nope."
"Any plans to marry someday?"
Jenes stared at Iriel. Her face flushed under his gaze.
"W-Why? Pretty on my face or something?"
"Why ask that out of nowhere."
"Allen seems like he'll marry soon. Just wondering."
"Cut the idle chatter and go sleep."
At Jenes's cold response, Iriel huffed.
"Hmph! I was about to go to bed anyway! And I wasn't curious about that stuff at all."
Iriel stormed off, stomping her feet. Jenes shook his head at her retreating back.
"What a temper."
Iriel flopped down irritably, pulling the blanket over her head and swallowing her boiling anger.
Directed at herself.
'Idiot! Why do you keep caring about that guy? Do you like him? No! Of course not!'
It was absurd.
She knew full well that liking a man like that would make life hell.
From running the Clay branch, she'd heard from various noble ladies: men like him were to be avoided at all costs.
She soothed herself and forced her eyes shut.
'Get a grip, get a grip! It's all in your head!'
* * *
Clop clop. Clop clop.
Hooves beat a steady rhythm.
The journey proceeded without incident.
Those in the wagons had fully relaxed, enjoying the scenery and chatting.
"We'll arrive soon."
"First time in the capital for me."
"Are we working in the capital?"
"Did you sleep through the briefing? We're just stopping by before assignment elsewhere."
"Oh, right. Getting nervous now. Wonder where we'll end up."
"Hope we go together."
"Yeah, that'd be great."
I shifted my focused hearing to sight.
Scenery flowed in through the open carriage window. Neat roads flanked by vast green plains, dense forest beyond.
Horein Forest.
The rippling green waves evoked memories of fleeing the burning palace.
A bitter smile crossed my lips as I recalled it, then turned forward.
Far off, towering city walls came into view.
The capital, Magnet, finally revealed its grandeur.