Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Idol's Idol
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The very moment I thought about heading to the relief center, I end up picking up a street vagrant.
This feels downright fateful.
Of course, the classic setup is usually a man scooping up a dying beauty from a back alley, or a woman rescuing a handsome hunk—but unfortunately, the one I picked up is a scruffy-bearded old man. That's the problem.
"Hey, are you coming around?"
Why won't he respond?
I tapped the man's cheek to get his attention.
"Ugh..."
With a groan, the man opened his eyes.
And the instant he did, Clue appeared at my side like a gust of wind, grabbing his wrist.
Clang. A dagger fell to the ground.
"See, Master?"
Clue let out a small sigh and continued.
"Eh? How did you... so fast...?"
The man stared at Clue in bewilderment, mumbling to himself.
"People don't always repay kindness with gratitude."
Ignoring the man, Clue turned her gaze to me.
"No matter how much you try to help someone, Master, they might betray you like this and make things harder."
She sighed as if lecturing me, locking eyes with mine.
"Don't jump to conclusions."
I told Clue that as I took the dagger and simply looked at the man.
"Were you trying to stab me?"
"..."
"I'm just asking if you were trying to stab me."
"..."
The man stared at me silently before lowering his gaze.
"I'm not the kind of guy who forgets a debt like that."
"Good to know."
I'd half-thought he was.
With that in mind, I met the man's eyes.
"Pulling a dagger means you're probably not in the same line of work as most folks."
"Prince... Theo."
Maybe out of consideration for not revealing my name or status, Lucy spoke calmly, looking at me.
"No need to worry. My father and I discussed this place thoroughly, so..."
"It's fine."
I replied to Lucy while giving the man a sidelong glance.
No matter how I looked at him... well.
He didn't seem harmless, per se.
More like...
He couldn't beat Clue no matter what he tried.
So it felt like I could just leave him be.
"...Sigh."
Clue seemed to pick up on my thinking and merely sighed softly, looking at me.
"Care to explain?"
Now it was time to talk to the man.
I met his eyes.
"..."
The man averted his gaze upon meeting mine.
"...I can't say."
"Shall I kill him, Master?"
"Clue, people might think you're a real monster if they heard that."
"That's not what I—"
"Let him go."
"Pardon?"
"Huh?"
Clue's eyes widened at my words, and Lucy looked at me in astonishment too.
Was it that surprising?
"It's fine. Don't worry about it—let him loose."
"No, Master. This man..."
"Yes, Your Highness... Theo. This man..."
"Let him go."
I nodded at the man.
He was the kind who'd shown up like it was planned, dagger in hand, ready to stab me—but didn't, because he knew the debt he owed.
Capturing him here probably wouldn't gain us anything.
Of course, this was just my hunch...
"Go."
"Master!"
"Theo... sir!"
"I'll take responsibility."
I replied confidently to Lucy and Clue.
I was sure of it.
This man wouldn't do anything to harm me, at least.
And there was a test I wanted to run on that front too.
The boy left, and the man just stared blankly after him.
A dream?
That was the only thought that came to mind.
Otherwise, there was no way some kid would've suddenly saved him and then left without a word.
The man's gaze drifted to his wrist.
A small handprint bruise had bloomed purple there.
What a little monster. If he'd twisted even a bit more, she'd have snapped his wrist for sure—so tight was her grip.
Cursing inwardly, he rubbed his wrist and started walking.
After a long trek, he arrived at a spot where several people were waiting for him.
"What took you so damn long?"
"Got caught up in something."
"Something?"
A woman furrowed her brow at his words.
"What kind of something?"
"I got nabbed."
"You? Nabbed?"
"Yeah."
"Then... right now, you're not saying..."
The woman and the others started glancing around, ready to bolt, but the man sighed and shook his head.
"I get what you're worried about, but I didn't bring any lackeys."
"...That's a relief."
The woman let out a breath.
"So, who nabbed you?"
"Didn't get nabbed. Nearly died in the street, though."
"What?"
As the man began explaining, the others leaned in to listen.
Soon enough, he finished, and the group exchanged looks.
"...Blond, with holy power?"
"Yeah."
"What'd he seem like?"
"Seem like what?"
"You know—like a spoiled brat, or..."
"Or maybe he looked loaded, something like that."
"Or looked the part?"
The man pondered briefly before speaking.
"Seemed like a good guy."
"A good guy?"
"Must be for sure."
The others murmured in unison at his words, and without paying them any mind, one pressed on.
"Stay the hell away from him, no matter what."
"Good or bad, nothing good comes from tangling with his type."
"...Wasn't planning to anyway, but what's the deal?"
The man muttered in confusion, prompting sighs from the rest.
"Probably Prince Theodor."
"Prince Theodor?"
Theodor Castina.
The empire's most popular royal, a saintly figure, beloved by all.
"...Better not touch Prince Theodor."
It wasn't just about power.
Public sentiment too—and there was no upside to messing with him.
Even among their righteous outlaw band, Prince Theodor commanded respect.
"...Anyway."
A woman muttered excitedly, glancing away, while the others blinked and nodded.
"Just once..."
"Hey, I just said don't bother with Prince Theodor—"
"Shall we go take a peek?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, he's the empire's most popular royal, right?"
The woman's eyes sparkled, and the others nodded along.
"Just to look. Just looking."
"..."
Their faces were those of devotees heading to glimpse their idol.
"Can't be helped. We'll watch from afar, then."
"Good plan."
The man sighed and nodded too.
Truth be told, he was curious about Prince Theodor himself.
"Where is he, anyway?"
"Prince Theodor can't pass by the sick without helping, so he's definitely at the relief center."
"Man... what a guy."
The man scratched his cheek, murmuring, as the others nodded.
"Saving the world in his own way."
"Unreal."
"..."
The man sighed faintly and started walking.
He'd said all that, but he couldn't help his own interest.
Finding the relief center was easy enough.
It seemed like everyone in the area had gathered there.
Pushing through the throng, they finally arrived amid waves of complaints.
"Ah, if you're not hurt, get lost!"
"No more just coming to gawk at His Highness!"
So many people, it felt like every guard in the territory had shown up.
And naturally, the righteous outlaws were no exception.
"...Sneak in?"
And so, the outlaw band made their first-ever choice to infiltrate a relief center.
"...Never thought I'd be sneaking into a relief center in my life."
All to see one prince.
The man sighed softly, but the others seemed thrilled, practically skipping along.
How long had they been crawling across rooftops?
"There he is."
The woman whispered, pointing.
A boy was reaching out, murmuring something.
White light poured from his hand, and the patient before him began to heal.
"...Like a miracle."
The man murmured, watching.
The mysticism, far beyond any holy power he knew, held their eyes captive for a moment.
"..."
Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine.
Come to think of it, that little girl who'd grabbed his wrist...
"...Not an ambush, right?"
A eerie voice whispered in his ear. He whipped around—and locked eyes with a beaming girl staring right at him.
A beautiful girl with black hair.
"Let you go, and you crawl right back in?"
And just like that, Clue subdued them and dragged them before Theodor in under a minute.