Chapter 29
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Breaking Through the Trap
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Naturally, I had no intention of moving alone.
The gateway to the inner castle was closed, so I couldn't ask Shan for help.
But I could rally the other adventurers working in the outer city.
"Go on back home first. I'll definitely check out the back alley in District 11."
"Y-Yes, yes!"
I clicked my tongue as I watched the auntie flee like she was escaping.
Even though I was drunk and operating on the off-chance assumption, my basic mindset was one of distrust.
I moved to gather the adventurers standing guard.
"Something like this happened. Would you mind helping out?"
"How much?"
"Not money, but I'll buy you two days' worth of meals. Whatever you want."
"Well, even if it's a danger zone, it's just a place where they fight among themselves and everything goes to hell."
It wasn't designated a danger zone because of some particularly dangerous entity.
Just because security was poor—that made it a danger zone, so to adventurers, it wasn't a big deal.
"...We don't need food. If you put in a good word for us with Shan, we'll go."
"Sure."
They wanted to look good to a silver-rank adventurer.
I could package that nicely for them.
Shan had said it was fine to use her name, so no issue there.
"More than that, a trap...? You've only been here a few days. What grudge did you rack up?"
"I'm telling you, it's unfair. I didn't do anything."
I headed to the back alley in District 11 with three fellow bronze-rank adventurers.
This should be enough to overwhelm ten ordinary people.
The adventurers followed at a slight distance, not wanting to stand too close to me, chatting casually as we arrived at the back alley where signs of life could be felt.
"I'll take the lead now, so follow without getting spotted. If it's a trap, I want to catch the ringleader."
"...And after we catch him?"
"I'll double the number of his arm and leg bones and throw him in jail."
If they'd just jumped me, I would've stopped after giving them a moderate beating.
But if they'd dug a trap to lure me in and do something to me, I'd see it through to the end.
"You're hardcore... Anyway, got it. If you screw up here, the residents will start seeing us as pushovers too."
"Thanks. I'll speak well of you to Shan."
I walked deeper into the back alley.
Without making a sound.
Scanning the surroundings.
The back alley was like a maze; one wrong turn and you could wander for hours.
All the windows were shut tight, and filth was scattered everywhere on the ground, reeking.
In the dark night, relying only on moonlight, how long had we walked?
Oddly, a bright light came into view.
"...So you came, you little shit."
"...Oh."
I widened my eyes in surprise at the man with splints on both arms, who spat the words at me.
"For you to come charging back after getting wrecked like that... your tenacity is no joke."
If it were me, I'd quietly give up with both arms broken.
This guy, even with both arms busted and his friends beaten badly, was trying again—his grit was something even I could learn from.
"So, what'd you prepare this time?"
"...Don't underestimate me. Everyone, come out!"
In an instant, people sprang from the alleys.
Faces masked, clutching butcher knives.
"...You gonna kill me?"
"Nah, we're gonna chop off your limbs and sell 'em to some perverted noble."
Such a gruesome idea—truly fitting for this world. Nothing to say to that.
I'd felt like something like this might happen soon since things had been too peaceful lately, but I didn't expect them to say it right to my face.
"No matter how strong you are, you barely beat three unarmed guys. How do you plan to handle all seven of us?"
"Did I do something hugely wrong to you?"
The first time was justified as an example.
The second was too—they came at me first.
What was the problem exactly?
"If this is about justified punishment, then your daughter's situation sounds more like a blessing."
"...What?"
"Better to reincarnate and get better parents than grow up under a father like you, right?"
I shrugged and flashed a twisted smile.
What sin did kids have, growing up under wrecks like this?
Death was tragic, but escaping a father like that might be a good thing in its own way.
Whether he broke after his daughter's death or was broken from the start, I didn't know.
And it wasn't my business.
"Seven armed guys... yeah, that's a bit scary."
If I'd come alone carelessly, I'd have lost limbs and been sold to some freak with weird tastes.
Listening to them, they didn't plan to kill me, which made it even creepier.
But.
"...Then help me out a bit."
Thud. Thud.
Footsteps approached.
The adventurers I'd asked for help—sword, spear, and mace in hand.
"...Wh-What the?!"
"You saw the trap plain as day but came alone like an idiot?"
"...Man, there are some real morons out there."
"They don't even know he's tight with a silver-rank adventurer?"
"If something happens to him, Shan'll come looking... What, he got like a hundred friends?"
Not quite that many, but no need to correct them.
"Thanks for the help."
"Easy peasy. The way these idiots hold their knives? Palms'll get sliced first, morons."
"If we can impress Shan with this, we can do it a hundred times."
"Thought she was a pain, but she's a lucky charm... Heh heh...."
I gave a light smile and drew my sword.
They said they'd chop off my limbs and sell them, so I could take one of theirs.
I wouldn't kill them.
That'd be too easy and lenient.
They charged with eyes gleaming, and collapsed in seconds.
The next morning, I handed them over at the guard post.
One intact, the rest missing an arm or leg.
If I'd handled them alone and killed a few to survive, explaining would've taken forever.
But fellow adventurers gave matching testimonies, and the one whose limbs we spared explained the situation too.
They'd tried to murder an adventurer on security duty—death sentence for sure.
With everything wrapped up, I parted ways with the adventurers.
Under the blue sky, sleepless, my shift was starting soon.
"...Double shifts are brutal."
Right after yesterday's mess, straight to duty.
My head felt fuzzy; condition was shot.
More importantly, what to do with this kid.
I looked down at the boy tugging my collar.
I hadn't punished that auntie for lying—not because she did, but because she hadn't.
The boy really had been tied up tight in a corner.
From what I heard, they'd used him as a hostage to make her do it.
That made her a victim, not a perp.
"When you hear they've been punished, come find me. Wait a bit."
"...Okay."
"'Okay'? That's informal."
Snap—I flicked his forehead, and he clutched it, replying politely, "Yes...."
He thought we were the same age because we were similar in build.
"I'm your big bro."
"...Aren't you a sis?"
"......Sis it is."
I hadn't dealt with anyone younger lately, so I kept slipping up.
"...Sigh."
I sighed but stretched anyway.
Crack— an improper sound from my young body rang out naturally, bringing a cool relief with slight pain.
"Here's some money. Go buy a snack or something. And don't wander into weird places and get kidnapped by creeps again."
"...Yesss."
"Good boy."
I petted his head like praising a puppy, and his blushing face was both funny and cute.
"Hey."
"Y-Yes?!"
"Am I pretty?"
"...Are you crazy?"
"Why does everyone say that...?"
Just asking, and they treat me like a weirdo.
"Then why'd your face turn red?"
"...C-Can I be honest?"
"If it's bad, I'll hit you."
"...I-It creeps me out, but you're pretty...."
"Did you have to say 'creeps me out' first?"
I snorted and shoved some copper coins into his hand.
"But you were honest, so here's a reward. Buy whatever you want, and for me... an apple's fine."
"I'll be back!"
"Yeah, yeah."
I waved him off and leaned against the wall.
Killing an innocent kid felt so heavy and sticky with guilt.
But these non-innocents dying because of me? No real feelings.
Death's the same either way, but feeling like this meant I'd adapted to this world somewhat.
Word of yesterday must've spread.
The residents' gazes held even deeper fear.
I knew it'd be like this.
Five empty spots in my district alone.
Out of those seven, five were in my area.
"Did I look that easy?"
Ridiculous.
The system must've deemed it too trivial for dice rolls—no rewards even.
But not nothing gained.
For the next two months, anyone thinking of messing with me was gone.
Time to swing the sword.
No real work till the nearby monster subjugation anyway.
I drew my sword.
As I swung it a few times, the boy I'd sent for snacks returned.
Bread and apple in hand.
"...Already?"
And who's these kids behind him?
He brought five?
"......Wh-What?"
This was seriously bewildering.