Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Villains Aren't for Bad Guys—They're for the Smart Ones
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‘What the hell?
What the actual hell?
What is this?!'
This was Viscount Konean, who had been forcibly hooked arm-in-arm by Sion.
'...A heterorace woman?
What the hell is he trying to pull now?
No, before that, what about all the times he came at me and got shot down?'
These were Lily's thoughts.
'Ahh!
Oh no, did I stick too close earlier and he smelled something weird? What do I do?'
Unlike the other two, Risikida was lost in worries completely unrelated to the current situation.
"Hahaha."
And the one laughing out loud was Sion.
Viscount Konean stared at Sion for a moment like that, then composed his expression with effort and subtly disentangled Sion's arm.
"Young Lord Sion.
That's going too far with the joke.
Surely you're aware of the kingdom's laws."
"I know.
I know them well."
"Then..."
"That's why I'm saying this to you, Viscount."
When you keep testing someone, you can tell who holds up and who cracks.
By that standard, Viscount Konean was at least making an effort to keep his hand from showing.
Unlike just moments ago, his voice was steady, and the trembling in his eyes had lessened.
If Sion knew nothing about him, it would have been extremely hard to spot the difference.
Just put on a decent poker face, steady your shaking body, lower your voice a bit, and you're good.
But things were different now.
Completely different.
Sion already knew that Viscount Konean secretly ran the slave market.
When you know the outcome and keep digging, the hand is bound to show.
"Viscount.
You've probably heard from the capital that most of the rumors about me are false.
Isn't that right?"
"...I know that you, Young Lord, defended this Hispania from Nudia's attack.
But..."
"People are fickle creatures—you think you know them, but you don't. They smile to your face while cursing you behind your back.
Truly ever-changing beings.
They fool others and even themselves without breaking a sweat."
Viscount Konean was in his early forties, a man who'd seen most of what the world had to offer.
And Sion Clauzen was a fresh-faced twenty-year-old who'd just come of age.
Normally, the viscount should crush the young man with the weight of his experience and eloquence.
That was the natural order of things.
It should be that way...
"Rumors aren't reliable, after all.
That's why I prefer to meet people face-to-face, talk, and see their true colors.
Like that Sefer Kashugar Count on the carriage ride to the palace—we chatted about this and that.
Ah, mentioning a traitor's name is awkward, so let's call him that dumb count."
"Such..."
The moment the Kashugar Count family name left Sion's lips, the tide had fully turned.
Viscount Konean already knew—the man now rotting in prison as a traitor had once been a powerhouse noble house, and a regular at the slave market buying heterorace slaves.
'You're fucked the moment you crossed paths with me.
And here you are, putting on this ridiculous act.'
The silver lining was that the devil in front of him was Sion, not Kim Yu-hyun.
One you could reason with, the other would blow up just hearing you out.
If Kim Yu-hyun were here, Viscount Konean might be taking a spin through the afterlife, writing a review before coming back.
Viscount Konean rolled his eyes frantically, searching for a way out.
Cheering him on inwardly, Sion smiled and tickled him with another devilish whisper.
"In the end, that guy's mouth spilled your name, Viscount.
Said if I was bored, head to Konean.
Guaranteed it'd be a hell of a good time."
"Th-that..."
"Of course, he got his 'merchandise' elsewhere, but said your place had some decent stuff too.
Heard a bunch of nobles frequented it..."
Right there—exactly there—was Viscount Konean's hand.
'Th-that damned Kashugar!
Useless to the end, you bastard!'
Kashugar had been a big spender in the trade, especially fond of young elf slaves.
He paid generously, tips included, so Viscount Konean had even imported a few elves hoping he'd drop by.
But that Kashugar had broken omertà and blabbed to someone else.
To Sion Clauzen, no less—the rising star saint of the kingdom lately!
'Damn it!
You son of a bitch!
Arrrgh!'
If you were gonna get caught, just die quietly!
Was he hell-bent on tanking not just the thriving market, but Konean himself?
He was a cowardly worrywart obsessed with his own skin, but quick on the profit-loss calculus.
And quicker still on knowing whom to embrace and whom to cut loose.
"...Young Lord Sion Clauzen.
You know what that means, right?"
"Of course.
Even though I know, I haven't reported it to the capital, so I'm not clean either.
But here I am, asking to see the goods—doesn't that tell you my true intentions, Viscount?"
War hero, rising saint or not, the rumors about Sion Clauzen up to then were all deeply negative.
On that front, at least, the one about being a womanizer felt true to Viscount Konean.
A handsome twenty-year-old cooped up in his territory without so much as a scandal? Only one reason.
No single woman could satisfy him.
Heroes were lechers too, they said. Konean felt his resolve tilting.
"But those two over there..."
"Hm?
Come on now.
That's not very professional."
Flashing a bright smile, Sion whispered in Viscount Konean's ear.
"Why do you think Nudia's high knight came to me?
For the sa―'same' reason, right?
And the mage next to her? She's got skills, and man, she's a freak in bed, so I keep her around."
"Aah."
Viscount Konean glanced at Lily and Risikida as if he'd caught on.
Lily looked different from her true form due to transformation magic, but still a beauty.
Risikida, knight or not, in a dress could pass for any noble lady—beauty distinct from Lily's.
To anyone watching, it was a noble playboy with his personal harem.
"Ahem.
Won't those two get mad?
What I provide is strictly 'merchandise,' after all—they might feel uncomfortable."
"They'll understand.
If they want to stay in my arms, that is.
Ahaha!"
Crazy bastards.
This was Lily's thought.
Ah, I want to cling to Sion-nim again.
This was Risikida's.
'This old guy's dragging his feet.'
Getting impatient, Sion decided to prod Viscount Konean from a new angle.
Light threat done, planted "we're the same kind" solidarity—now, time for some subtle rivalry.
"Hm.
Dragging this out—don't tell me the quality's dropped."
"Eh?"
"That dumb count said his usual spot always had top-shelf goods and premium service.
I come here knowing full well, practically begging, and you keep stalling? Sounds like you're a step below."
"...Not at all."
Whether good deeds or bad, nobody likes hearing they're inferior.
There are places to flaunt pride and places not to, but for Viscount Konean—who clawed for wealth and power any way he could—running the slave market was plenty worthy of pride.
"We import only the finest quality here and sell to discerning clients.
I don't know exactly what he said, but we're second to none."
"Good to hear."
Stroked his pride, drew out the truth.
Now, dangle the bait, rattle the prey, and reel him in.
"As you know, we won the war with Nudia—beyond the reparations, they slipped me a hefty 'personal' sum.
Wasn't sure where to spend it, saved it up, but looks like I found the spot."
Mention money, and the greedy ones' eyes spin.
Sure enough, Viscount Konean perked up, so Sion chuckled and continued.
"I'd like to see the goods myself first.
That okay?
I can pay handsomely."
"...You must keep it absolutely secret.
Not a word to anyone close about today."
"Rules like that, huh?
Then why'd that guy tell me?"
"Light lips like his? No loyalty—must be why he tried that ridiculous treason."
With that, Viscount Konean said to wait a bit and vanished somewhere.
Confirming he was gone, Sion spoke up casually.
"Slave market—cool with that?"
"...You call that a question now?"
"M-Master.
D-don't tell me I'm not enough for you..."
"What the hell's with her?
I've done it with Sion more than you—never less, got it?
That's not for you to say, Rishi!"
Risikida moping over something weird, Lily fired up with rivalry over the same weird thing.
"What's this sudden slave market talk?
You really that hard up for women like Rishi says?"
"No way.
I'm already worried about dying handling you two."
"Then?"
"I'm thirsty for cash.
Cash."
Cash?
Lily and Risikida turned to Sion in unison.
As he opened his mouth to answer, footsteps approached from afar. He clamped shut, slung arms around both their waists, and flashed a light smile.
"You two worry too much.
Relax.
Buying one thing won't make me ditch you."
"...What?"
"D-ditch?"
"Not ditching, not ditching.
So chill out."
Spooked by "ditch," Risikida burrowed desperately into Sion's chest.
Lily let out an "eh" of exasperation, then growled "Don't hog him!" and scrambled to claim her half.
Viscount Konean returned to this scene.
"...Ahem."
Thanks to them, Sion nailed a perfect act unintentionally.
"Shall we?
Normally a steward guides, but first time and you're a war hero—I'll lead personally."
"Quite the honor.
Ready, ladies?"
The kind of line you'd hear from a street thug or gangster.
But with his looks putting them to shame, he just looked like a guy taking beautiful women out on the town.
Viscount Konean led Sion's group to the inner training grounds of the castle.
Unlike the outer ones for territory knights and soldiers, these were exclusive to castle staff and their VIPs—perfect for secrecy.
Glancing around, the viscount opened the door to the sparring gear storeroom next door.
Inside: wooden swords, staffs, wooden shields neatly arranged.
Passing those, he pulled another door beyond.
Stairs to the basement appeared.
"Neat spot for an entrance.
Gateway to pleasure right in the martial training area."
Viscount Konean beamed: "Quite the insight! Haha!"—already in customer service mode.
Lily muttered behind him, tiny: "Humans, impressive. Worse than demons, even."
They descended another ten minutes or so.
The silence turning awkward, Viscount Konean launched into unsolicited history.
"This business has been running a good long time..."
I know, idiot.
Sion nodded vaguely, recalling the novel.
Long ago, amid kingdom wars, Konean Viscountcy built secret castle passages and underground shelters as refuges.
Peace came, they became useless.
Then demand for heterorace slaves surged; traders wanted safer, nobler access.
The viscountcy's shelter? Perfect.
It morphed into a secret slave market via shelters and emergency passages.
'VIP entrance through my castle for security, slaves shipped via waterways opposite.'
Now, what to do next?
Sion pondered, eyeing the beaming Viscount Konean.
He thought Sion knew it all and was pushing hard, so he spilled truth in kind—but unfortunately, Sion wasn't that straightforward.
―――――――Author's Note―――――――
Ah, recommendations.
Almost forgot, huh?
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