Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Innate Nature
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Nighttime at the southern harbor.
The moment we arrived, a single thought crossed my mind.
'Well, shit.'
The harbor was locked down tight.
Torches blazed like daylight even in the dead of night.
The guards' eyes gleamed with the intent to miss not even a single ant.
Even the Kaintrea family's private soldiers, who weren't usually seen, were blocking the entrance.
"Inspection! Halt the carriage!"
"ID out! Hat off!"
They weren't sparing passing travelers,
nor even poking through every single piece of luggage with spears.
Break through that brutal encirclement?
Might as well ponder the simplest, quickest way to off myself right then and there.
What was it from my past life?
Switzerland had those euthanasia pods or something.
Still, if I could choose my own death,
I'd want to squeeze every last drop out of sluts like rags before kicking the bucket.
"......For now, let's hide."
We ducked into a dark alley corner,
slipping into the shadows amid rotten barrels and piled nets.
"No angle."
I clicked my tongue.
Then came the whispering,
rat-like ASMR right in each other's ears.
"Dawn... yeah, let's aim for right before sunrise, when it's darkest."
"Guards lighten up then?"
"Won't lighten, but even they gotta get sleepy."
Of course, that was just wishful thinking.
But charging in blindly wasn't an option, so all we could do was wait.
I squatted down, racking my brain.
Smuggler's ship... yeah,
smugglers or illicit vessels headed west.
No matter how tight the crackdown,
there are always guys spitting seeds who slip through.
Just like how, no matter how strict the DUI checks,
some cars always get caught, more or fewer.
In this atmosphere, there had to be unofficial ships bound for the western continent.
Harbors are backdoor havens by nature,
crawling with sailors who sell their souls for coin.
The real issue was money.
"How much we got now?"
"......My money."
"I know, bitch. So how much?"
Baekrin scowled but,
aware of the gravity, hesitantly opened her pouch and counted the gold coins.
"About 50 gold, a bit over."
"You fucking bitch?"
When I first met her,
I had over 100 gold on me.
After raiding that viper's safe.
Anyway, prepaid her over 1 gold,
spent about 40 silver pounding her meat,
converted 10 gold to silver and copper for Meso Explosion,
and handed her the rest when I slipped up.
Damn it, should've been at least 80 gold left.
She even picked up every dropped coin.
"Where the hell did you blow it all?"
"Shut up. Didn't blow it."
Baekrin declared shamelessly,
"Spent it. Properly."
"So, where and how'd you spend it down to this?"
"Eating and drinking?"
Ah, eating and drinking. Got it.
Fucking hell, dining at some Michelin three-star?
Or room service with wing nights and deluxe BJs?
"Claws like a dog when prying cash, spending like a lord now?"
Baekrin didn't flinch at my sarcasm.
Instead, she tsked like I was clueless and rummaged in her bosom.
"Idiot. Wasn't just food."
"Then?"
Rustle.
What she pulled out was
a crumpled scrap of yellowed paper.
"Look."
"......What's that."
"Talisman."
Baekrin proudly shoved it in my face.
"Brings luck and fortune."
"......?"
"Eastern Mountain talisman. Good effect. 10 gold's a steal."
This ink-smeared scribble for 10 gold?
"Scammed. Dumb bitch."
"No. Real Taoist wrote it."
"That Taoist rocking a mustache at a shell game?"
"How'd you know?"
My neck vein throbbed.
Blood pressure spiking through my skull.
Her head's clearly packed with tofu.
Out of genuine concern, I said sincerely,
"Any guy marrying you later, if there is one, is truly pathetic."
"No plans to marry."
"Keep that thought forever."
Please. For humanity's peace.
"Hmph. My money, I spent it. Why's the slave bitching."
"Time to divvy yours and mine? And fuck, it was mine originally."
Anyway, spilled milk.
50 gold left.
Normally, jaw-dropping sum.
But my bounty?
300 gold. Six times over.
"Haa......"
Put myself in the captain's shoes, crunch numbers.
Risk smuggling shady guys for 50 gold?
Or chop their heads, hand to kingdom for clean 300?
I'm a hotshot celebrity too.
Tip-off alone gets duke family commendation and bonus bounty.
Buyout's dead.
Plan to slap cash for passage scrapped,
my head price too steep.
'Smugglers might hesitate to snitch since they're guilty too?'
'Nah. Might silence us to protect their own asses.'
Heads or tails gamble either way.
End up haggling or slashing on-site...
"Daddy."
"......What now. Hungry?"
Noy tugged my pant leg from behind, rubbing against me.
His face yellowed to blue.
"Pee."
"What?"
"Peee... gotta pee."
One's a mobster spendthrift scammer,
the other's a regressing toddler past his age.
Family? What a harmonious bunch.
"Hold it. Grit through."
"Ugh... gonna come out... waaah..."
"Agh, shut up!"
I clamped Noy's mouth shut.
Cry here, game over.
Noy's face yellowing further. About to burst.
"......Fuck."
Deep sigh, I signaled Baekrin.
"Hey, watch our backs."
"......Bossy much."
Baekrin tsked, turned away,
I took Noy to a secluded wall corner.
"Quietly. No forceful splash."
I lifted Noy, spread his legs,
squatted, positioned him.
Careful no splash, no sound.
Drip... trickle...
Faint water sounds in the dark.
I stared blankly at the wall, pondering.
Why, national anthem echoing in my head.
Then.
Thud, thud.
Footsteps from the darkness.
Heading straight here,
heavy, rhythmic. Single person.
"......"
Baekrin turned. Her eyes chilled.
"Coming."
She silently drew her curved sword.
Gestured at me.
'Stay put.'
Whoosh-!
Baekrin shot out like a shadow.
Toward the alley mouth of the footsteps.
I held Noy, held my breath.
Thud! Clang-!
Dull impact. Sharp metal clash.
Short. No screams, no shouts.
Just noises, then silence.
'......Done?'
Clean work.
Thick skull, but skills solid.
I sighed in relief.
"All done..."
"Good. Feels better, huh."
Noy finished refreshingly.
I straightened his clothes, pulled up pants.
...
.....
......Baekrin's late.
Gonna turn grandpa waiting?
"......Where's that bitch?"
"Mommy?"
"Who’s your mommy."
Your mom's long in heaven.
I hoisted Noy again,
headed where Baekrin went.
Situation's tense, finish quick and toss, why dawdle.
Can't control hands, stripping for loot maybe.
Dare she? Looting's this slave's specialty.
"Hey bitch, you handle the..."
"......face."
Couldn't finish.
In the dark, someone sprawled.
Gray cloak. Black hair.
"......Baekrin?"
It was her.
That monster bitch writhing on the ground.
Curved sword snapped in two beside her.
And.
A massive shadow standing over her.
"......Huh?"
Shadow slowly turned.
Moonlight lit his face.
Tousled white hair.
Scarred, grim mug.
And...
"......Long time, punk."
Left sleeve flapping empty in sea breeze.
He grinned crookedly.
"Told you we'd meet again."
Kain.
The old man stood there.
"Explain."
Sharl's voice was low, calm.
All the more chilling.
"......"
Her guard knight, Kain, couldn't answer.
Head bowed, staring holes in the office carpet.
"Explain, I said?
You won't say you didn't know, right? Kain."
"......No excuses."
Kain's reply was curt.
No excuses. No pathetic dodges.
Won't work on this shrewd girl anyway.
Smash!
Crash-!
Sharl's teacup flew, smashing his face to shards.
Drip. Drip.
Bright red blood burst from torn brow and cheek,
scalding hot tea steaming down his skin.
But he didn't flinch.
"Not dodging?"
Sharl wiped tea from her hands with a handkerchief, smiled coldly.
"Guilty conscience."
Click-clack,
heel steps to his nose.
"Leon's one thing.
Fear of Father, tricked me. Fine."
Sharl's silver eyes bored into Kain's.
"Suddenly bedridden injured.
Now jailed? Prime suspect in Paradise Dust spread.
And Father issues apology, donates funds."
Her usual sly smile,
"How perfectly timed?"
Interrogating the old knight.
Her finger poked his cheek.
"You knew, Kain.
Why not a word to me?"
Sharl's voice rose.
"You know how much I treasure him, my toy.
Dared trick me, side with Father?"
"......"
Kain bit his lip.
Which made sense,
"15 years ago,"
"Where's the knight who swore loyalty to Sharl de Kaintrea?"
He wasn't family knight now,
but sworn to the girl before him.
15 years ago, pulling that wild kid from the slop bucket.
The young lady begged her duke father,
demanded new oath from Kain.
Since then, his sword existed solely for Sharl.
Above patriarch's orders, family rules,
this young master's will first.
That was the promise, the vow.
Yet,
[Anyway, I'll fob off the lady suitably.]
Not patriarch's command,
nor loyalty to his lord,
he chose silence for that wild punk.
No words left, even ten mouths.
"......Grievous sin."
"Yes. You should die."
Shing.
Surrounding knights drew swords, encircled Kain.
Lethal blades at his throat.
But Sharl raised a hand, halting them.
"No, death's too easy.
Atone. For that silent mouth, broken vow."
Staring straight into Kain's eyes,
she issued the cruelest knightly order.
"......"
Heavy silence filled the room.
Kain blinked bloody eyes, slowly raised head.
He drew his sword from waist.
Heavy bastard sword. Lifelong partner.
"As Lady wills."
No hesitation.
Kain slammed sword into desk,
laid his arm under the sharp edge.
Gripped hilt with other hand.
And,
Crunch!
Smashed down in one go.
Bone crushing, flesh tearing horror.
"Grrgh...!"
Kain clenched teeth, swallowed groan.
Cold sweat poured like rain, vision red.
But he didn't stop.
Slice. Drip.
Last tendon severed,
forearm thudded limply to floor.
"Hahk... hahk..."
Stump spurted crimson, soaking carpet.
Kain steadied trembling body, looked up at Sharl.
"This... pays my debt."
Sharl eyed the rolling arm, bloodied Kain alternately.
Disgust crossed her face,
and odd satisfaction.
For a knight, bodily harm isn't mere pain.
Losing arm to enemy blade in battle? Medal.
But self-mutilation before lord?
Ends knightly life,
honor by own hand.
Worse than death, cruelest punishment.
Sharl demanded it,
Kain accepted willingly.
However,
"Left arm, huh. Shrewd as ever."
Sharl nodded at the floor arm, snapped.
Kain steadied wobbling body, bled a mixed smile.
"......Mercy. My nature's always been thus."
Right-handed.
Sacrificed left, kept sword arm.
Atoned, but clung to last rice bowl. Shameless, desperate calculus.
"True. Why I liked you."
Sharl chuckled.
Even his shrewdness was her possession.
But,
"Still, no use for armless knight."
She tossed him a handkerchief.
"Scram. You're fired."
Guard dismissal.
That ended it.
Sharl turned coldly, added,
"Call a priest for treatment."
"......Thank you."
"If conscience remains, won't beg reattach?"
Thus Kain left, staggering, unstaunched.
Futile.
Born gutter trash,
bone-grinding effort to knighthood, lucky break.
Served this mighty house, shrewd girl long.
Left with severed arm, ragged old husk.
'No family, no kids... what a end.'
He smiled bitterly.
Nothing left now.
"......No, there was one."
A face flashed: brazen, shrewd, base like him.
"Family-ish punk."
But that one doomed soon too.
Locked up, neck for chopping.
"......What now."
He staggered on.
Priest treatment needed.
Dishonor, shame aside,
dying wasn't on his mind.
His innate nature forbade it.