Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Assassination - [2]
"Grrk... Ack..."
Red Beard the dwarf clutched his throat and rolled around on the floor. Blood was streaming out between his fingers.
It wasn't a fatal wound right away. But... the fact that blood was coming out at all was the problem!
Blood from the neck, no less! I lost it completely and rushed over to clamp down on the dwarf's neck.
What the hell kind of bullshit was this? Anyone who saw this would peg me as the murderer!
"Snap out of it!"
I was pressing hard, but there was no sign of the bleeding stopping. If this dragged on, he could bleed out.
That was when it happened.
"Out of the way! Mr. Aiman!"
Rozina, who had been standing beside me, shouted with grim determination. She hiked up the hem of her dress and wedged herself in next to me.
"I'll stop the bleeding!"
I stepped aside in an instant. As expected of a noble lady! She'd studied magic, so maybe she knew recovery spells too?
Maybe it'd be like a saint's miracle, with pure white light descending to cradle the wound, fresh flesh sprouting right before my eyes!
The situation was dire, but I couldn't suppress my excitement. Rozina reached out her hand.
A red-hot heat radiated from her palm.
Oh my. She's a firecracker. A total spitfire. I'm falling for her. Hard.
Rozina immediately pressed her fingers to Red Beard's neck.
Sizzle...
"Arrrghhh!!!"
It sounded just like pork belly hitting a scorching grill. And soon, a savory aroma began to fill the room.
The smell of protein burning, of meat cooking.
"Did it... work?"
The dwarf screamed until he passed out from shock, eyes rolling back. But the bleeding had definitely stopped.
"It... worked, right? No more blood..."
Cauterize the vessels, the muscles, everything with that searing heat, and boom—problem solved!
"Hoo..."
Rozina wiped the sweat from her forehead, looking immensely pleased with herself. Uh. Um. And she was proud of that?
Yeah, she's definitely not right in the head. Scary woman.
"Miss Rozina."
"Yes."
"Is this... correct, though?"
I pointed at the dwarf's neck as I spoke.
"It was a bit extreme, I'll admit. But there was no other choice."
"True enough."
"So we're good?"
"Yes. Well..."
Felt like I'd been logically outmaneuvered somehow. But seriously, why had this dwarf come looking for me?
"Miss Rozina, do you happen to know why this dwarf with the striking Red Beard came to see me?"
Rozina furrowed her brow in thought for a moment, then lit up with an "Ah!"
"Ah. I ran into this dwarf at Haruna's workshop."
"Pardon?"
Rozina gave more details, and it clicked. So this dwarf had come here to attack me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I tied up the unconscious dwarf with rope, nice and tight. Lucky for me, I had some rope at home.
"Ugh..."
A little while later, Red Beard groaned and opened his eyes. Honestly, I was startled.
I'd figured it'd take ages for him to come to, but here he was already.
The moment he opened his eyes, he tried to grab his neck. Of course, with the bindings, it was impossible.
"H-Huh?!"
Terror filled his eyes.
His neck must have been throbbing with fiery pain, and his nose overwhelmed by the stench of his own charred flesh.
Sigh.
I let out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through my hair.
Auction house, played some piano, came home to chat with this odd noble lady, and now an attempted murder.
My whole body felt as heavy as if I'd been dunked in water, gasping for air.
'I wonder how I look right now?'
What I meant was, I probably didn't look all that friendly at the moment.
I knew my face was average, but I'd heard more than once that my expression turned downright nasty when I was in a foul mood.
"Alright. Let's hear the truth."
I spoke to the dwarf in a low, steady voice.
"Why are you here?"
"J-Just... to say hello..."
"Hello?"
Hello, my ass. What a lame excuse.
"Lying's gonna tire us both out. I'm pretty beat right now myself."
I pulled out the envelope I'd prepared—the one marked Serial Killer (Real). The bloodstains on the edges were still vivid.
Flutter, flutter.
I gave the envelope a light shake, and the dwarf's pupils trembled like there was an earthquake.
"See this? It's imperial certified. A personal gift from His Majesty..."
I shoved the corner right up to his eyes.
"Lie to me again, and it might pierce your heart instead of your neck next time?"
"I-I'm sorry!!"
Red Beard burst into ugly sobs. Ugh, gross.
"I'll talk! Everything!"
Snot dripping, he spilled it all.
"Just wanted to stop you from performing..."
"Stop me from performing?"
"Yeah. Break a few fingers or your wrist, and you couldn't play... Haruna's rep would tank, and we'd feel better..."
I got the picture. Dwarf Guild jealousy. Couldn't stand seeing Haruna thrive, so they sent him to wreck the hands of her pianist.
Pathetic. So damn pitiful. Hollow. Utterly deflating. Not even enough energy left to get angry.
"Ha... that's it?"
I could only click my tongue.
"Mister. This is a world with magic and holy power, you know?"
"Y-Yes...?"
"Broken fingers? Take 'em to the priest next door, slip him a few coins, and the bones knit back in ten minutes. Or chug a healing potion."
If you're gonna do it, do it right.
"What kind of revenge is that? You'd just burn some cash. Terrible return on investment. And then you'd end up in jail for the crime."
Red Beard's face went rigid at my words, and suddenly Rozina cut in.
"Mr. Aiman intends to dispose of this dwarf, I take it. As for the cleanup... I'm no expert, but I'll assist however I can."
"?"
I looked at Rozina. She looked back at me. The dwarf's eyes darted frantically between us, trembling.
"P-Please spare me!! I beg you!!"
Red Beard smashed his head against the floor in panic.
"I won't do it again! I'll do anything you ask! Please, just spare my neck...!"
"Ah. Not killing you. Misunderstanding."
"Please... my life!"
Agh. Not killing you, damn it. I sighed and addressed Red Beard in an exhausted tone.
"Ah, shut up. Stop crying."
Red Beard tried to stifle his sobs—hic, sob—but it wasn't easy.
'Let's take stock...'
Current mess: floor soaked in blood, air thick with the smell of charred meat.
Ahead of me, a bound dwarf bawling his eyes out. Beside me, Rozina with eyes sparkling.
Total disaster. Absolute clusterfuck. My head throbbed.
'Ah... I just want everyone to get the hell out.'
Piano, imperial concert—screw it all. I just wanted to flop into bed.
Hand him over to the guards. They'd sort it out.
That was when it happened.
Bang—!!!
Today's the day my front door just won't survive. It burst open violently once more.
No one knows how to knock anymore? I felt like punching whoever it was.
"Who the hell now. Seriously."
I wasn't usually this irritable. I turned toward the door and saw a stranger.
O... ridiculously handsome. Golden hair gleaming like sunlight, blue eyes deep as a mountain lake.
Fine clothes, lute slung on his back—like he'd stepped straight out of a shojo manga.
The kind of pretty boy you'd shower with compliments. And suddenly, I was furious.
He glared at me and spat.
"You're Aiman! The one with that piano thing! I'm Lucian...?"
His words trailed off like a question mark. His blue eyes scanned the room.
Blood pooling on the floor, a dwarf tied up tight with a charred-black neck, bawling.
The air heavy with the smell of burnt flesh and savory roast.
He froze.
Snapped his mouth shut, spun on his heel, and bolted like a bat out of hell.
"What the...?"
I could only stand there dumbfounded. Wait, Lucian? That was the name I'd just heard.
I made eye contact with Rozina. She tilted her head, clearly lost too.
"Lucian?"
"You recognize him, so... is he perhaps your fiancé?"
"Ah... yeah. That's him."
"Why would he come looking for you?"
"...He's in charge of the Imperial Academy concert, right? I heard Serika went to him and talked about your piano. Something like it's better than his lute."
"So...?"
"Provoked, Lucian shows up to challenge you to a duel...?"
"What kind of bullshit... Sorry, nonsense?"
Our back-and-forth devolved into a chain of bewildered questions.
As we stood there spacing out, my head gradually cleared. And reality sank in.
Alarm bells blared in my mind.
"Wait! Stop right there!"
I just hauled ass after him.
"It's not like that! Misunderstanding!!"
A midnight chase scene? What the hell!
1v1 duel, whatever—I'll do it! But can we talk first?
Stop now, or I throw the envelope?
I gripped the Serial Killer (Real) envelope tight.