Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The Second Checkpoint
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Judge Jesty and Enoch walked between the iron bars. Their hearts were heavy as they told the pleading prisoners that guards would come soon.
“The bad guys I’ve locked up in the past always managed to escape prison. But this time, they won’t.”
“That’s right. I can’t forgive him for treating people like this.”
“Same here. That’s why I’m grateful to His Highness the Second Prince for giving me this opportunity.”
The two escaped the area where people were imprisoned.
Enoch expanded his senses to find a place with no people and soon reached a corridor lined with a red carpet.
Opening the corridor door revealed a break room.
Confirming no one was in the break room, they took out ornate outfits from the bundles on their backs.
“Let’s change here.”
The two took off their church robes. The outfits from the bundles were just two: a flashy dress and a tuxedo.
Enoch, who had to put on the dress himself, let out a sigh.
“It’s for saving people. Don’t make such a fuss.”
“Yes, you’re right.”
With the judge’s help, Enoch put on the dress and hid his sword inside the crinoline.
He put the wig back on and covered his face with a lavish masquerade mask, looking every bit the noblewoman.
“You suit it well.”
“I see.”
Enoch replied in a dry voice. Even though it was part of the plan, now separated from Rachel, his heart felt urgent.
“No matter how safe it is until midnight...”
He knew Rachel would be fine until the appointed time, but he couldn’t suppress his worry.
“This has been the plan from the start.”
Rachel would act as bait to keep Paris Emporus occupied, while the two scouted the interior and gathered evidence.
This had been planned even before Judge Jesty arrived.
“I know, but now that the moment is here, my heart is racing.”
“You’re young.”
Judge Jesty uttered those words at Enoch’s inner thoughts. Enoch’s golden eyes showed puzzlement.
“From what I see, Sir Enoch seems to like Miss Rachel.”
“What? She’s just my precious friend!”
“Unrealized feelings—how innocent. Sir, look closely at your own emotions. Is it really just friendship? Let’s get out of here now.”
Before Enoch could ask more, Judge Jesty donned a white mask that exposed only his chin and opened the break room door. He strode forward confidently and bumped into someone presumed to be an insider.
“We’re lost. Guide us.”
Judge Jesty didn’t beat around the bush and demanded directions outright.
The guide led them as if it were natural, mistaking the judge and Enoch for invited guests due to their fancy clothes.
“Then, have a pleasant time.”
The guide left. The judge muttered bitterly.
“Doesn’t look like it’ll be a pleasant time at all.”
The place they were led to was the arena’s spectator seats.
Those in fancy clothes and masks shouted at the fighters in the arena to kill each other.
Enoch’s fists trembled. The veins bulging on the back of his hands spoke to his emotions.
“It’s worse than I imagined. I thought it was just slave auctions or gambling—I was naive.”
Judge Jesty took out a cigar with a troubled look and chewed on it without lighting it.
“I need to quit these, but with so many bad guys around, it’s hard.”
He chewed until half the cigar was mangled, then faced reality.
The more diligently he observed, the more crimes piled up against Paris Emporus. To fulfill his duty, he etched the horrific scene into his heart.
As Judge Jesty organized the charges in his mind, Enoch spotted a glass-enclosed room.
“Rachel!”
Inside the glass room, Rachel was looking down at the arena alongside Paris Emporus.
But her expression held no excitement—only calm observation.
Her blank face resembled a porcelain doll.
Seeing that unfamiliar expression, Enoch realized how emotionally vibrant she was in front of him.
“Now that we’ve found Miss Rachel, things won’t be difficult. Let’s wait for the soldiers His Highness Carion is sending. It won’t be long.”
“Yes.”
Enoch bit his lip inside the mask, suppressing the impulse to rescue Rachel right away.
Soon, the atmosphere grew hectic.
A staff member hurried to the glass room and whispered something to Paris Emporus.
He stood up abruptly, grabbed Rachel’s wrist, dragged her out, and ran somewhere.
“Let’s go.”
Enoch grabbed Judge Jesty and headed toward the exit Paris Emporus had taken.
Emerging into the red-carpeted hall, they saw people in similar outfits running ahead.
Keeping distance and running carefully, they reached upward stairs.
After climbing the stairs and running down another corridor, a door leading outside finally appeared.
***
A carriage bearing the royal crest raced along the well-maintained stone path, followed by many soldiers.
Panting from rushing over at the news of the royal carriage’s approach, Paris Emporus caught his breath.
While hurriedly adjusting his clothes, he failed to notice.
That Rachel, who had run alongside him while being dragged, wasn’t even out of breath.
‘Got scolded for acting. It’s almost time.’
Unaware of Rachel’s anticipatory gaze, Paris Emporus watched the approaching royal carriage.
He firmly believed the Third Prince, Demian, would step out of it.
With the Third Prince here, neither the holy knights nor Evelyn coming for Rachel would be a threat. The prince’s guards and knights would be his shield.
But when the carriage stopped and the door opened, Paris Emporus’s face stiffened.
It wasn’t the Third Prince who alighted. Rachel, standing beside the baron, unwittingly parted her lips.
“Karl?”
The one stepping out was Karl in a splendid uniform.
She knew he was the Second Prince’s aide, but she hadn’t expected him here. Rachel was impressed in that sense.
‘But is it okay to send a bookish scholar?’
She had that doubt too. She was glad to see him, yet he felt distant.
‘Dressed up, he looks like such a high-ranking person.’
Rachel glanced at Karl, then turned her head. Paris Emporus froze in panic.
“Wh-what... how...?”
He was so flustered that his grip on her hand loosened. Rachel slipped her hand free.
At that moment, Karl’s voice rang out deeply.
“What? Disappointed it’s me instead of Demian?”
The man who used to slip through windows now spoke with a heavy air of authority—it was hard to get used to.
‘And casually calling the Third Prince by name? That’s the royal crest— even as the Second Prince’s aide, is that okay?’
Rachel felt doubts but timed her move. They were acquaintances, but she couldn’t ignore his solemn demeanor.
‘It’s all scripted anyway.’
“I heard rumors you were hosting quite the enjoyable event, so I came myself.”
“And His Highness Demian?”
“Who knows? Probably out hunting?”
Karl smirked mockingly.
Paris Emporus must have thought Third Prince Demian was coming here.
But the Third Prince wasn’t coming. The invitation to the baron had never actually gone to him.
The letter meant for the Third Prince had been seized by the church’s holy knights while searching Harpa Castle.
It passed through Enoch to Abyss, and Abyss and Rachel forged a reply pretending to be the Third Prince.
Then, the baron’s response was intercepted midway by an information guild agent.
Watching Paris Emporus’s dumbfounded expression, Rachel rubbed her freed wrist and moved her arm.
“I came to see what kind of party you were hosting, but your face doesn’t look pleased. Don’t like that I’m here?”
“No, not at all.”
“Actually, I came secretly to surprise you.”
“I-is that so?”
Karl relentlessly teased the baron, who was desperately trying to regain his composure.
‘Time to start?’
“Actually, I had some doubts, so I sent someone ahead...”
“Gah!”
Suddenly, Rachel drove her elbow hard into Paris Emporus’s side.
Karl was speechless at the sight, while Paris Emporus gasped in pain.
Seizing the moment, Rachel dashed to Karl and shouted.
“My name is Rachel Emporus. I accuse Paris Emporus!”
“What is this!”
Paris Emporus reached out to grab her.
But Rachel swiftly seized his arm and slammed it down toward her raised right knee.
The downward arm collided with the upward knee, striking his arm bone.
“Argh!”
Rachel shook off Paris Emporus’s interference and tossed her disheveled hair back neatly.
“This man has kidnapped the king’s subjects, illegally enslaved them for personal gain, and even forced them to take each other’s lives. Moreover, he’s wagered vast sums on their lives. This gravely disrupts the nation’s economy and undermines the king’s authority—a grave crime... I accuse Baron Emporus!”
Rachel’s voice boomed across the street.
Karl’s narrow eyes widened round.
“It’s slander! Nonsense from this mad bitch trying to ruin my family!”
Regaining his senses amid the pain, Paris Emporus bellowed denials, branding Rachel a mad bitch.
But Karl looked at Rachel with a serious face and asked.
“Is what you just said true?”
“Yes, it’s the clear truth. I saw it with my own eyes. Even this young girl, though family, knows it’s wrong and reports it to you, honorable sir!”
“No! It’s all lies!”
Paris Emporus cried out.
But right then, Judge Jesty pushed through the crowd. He knelt on one knee before Karl and shouted.
“Your servant Jesty greets His Highness Carion!”
At his voice, Rachel turned her head. Judge Jesty’s body was oriented toward Karl.
Only then did Rachel realize. Karl’s true identity was Cudas’s Second Prince, Carion!
‘Wh-what? Huh?’
Rachel’s mind went blank.
“So, what did you see?”
“Everything this girl said is true. I witnessed it too. Even now, inside there, people who were civilians are caged like beasts, and some risk their lives fighting for the nobles’ amusement.”
“I see.”
Carion’s previously mild face hardened instantly. His gaze turned to Paris Emporus sprawled on the ground.
“Baron, I hate worms that gnaw at the country built by my proud ancestors and father.”
The ‘worm’ he spoke of was Paris Emporus. His eyes held contempt.
Carion lifted his head and spread his arms. His red cloak fluttered with the motion.
“I command you: Arrest Baron Emporus immediately! Seal this place and begin the search! Capture everyone involved in this incident without exception!”
But Rachel didn’t hear Carion’s orders. A blue message window sparkled before her.
[Danger Level: 57%]
Down from 72% to 57%. She hadn’t even killed Paris Emporus—just accused him—and it dropped 15%.
The message didn’t stop there.
[All events related to Paris Emporus are now resolved as of this moment. Checkpoint updated.]
Turn 20, mid-April. Rachel updated her second checkpoint.