Chapter 15: The Tower's Trial: 3rd Floor. The Villagers
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 15: The Tower's Trial: 3rd Floor. The Villagers
"This should be good enough, right?"
Just as the viewers suggested, I put my panties and pants back on, pulling them up to cover my stomach. Then, to prepare for this infiltration, I made a small cut on my left thigh and tore a sleeve from my discarded clothes to wrap around it like a bandage, creating the appearance of an injured person.
- Yeah
- Good
- Way better than before
- This much at least makes you look like an adventurer
- A reasonable amount of exposure is fine
"Alright... I'll try to infiltrate as an adventurer."
- But being a prostitute seems like the most efficient way. Are you sure you're not going to do it?
"A prostitute... I agree it would make it easier to find the culprit, but I have to prepare for unexpected situations. What if the opponent is stronger than me, or if he already knows the investigator's face? I have to account for the risk of being caught so easily."
Going in completely defenseless was too dangerous.
An asymmetry of information.
It was the reason so many people died on the 3rd floor after carelessly infiltrating the village.
'We don't know how much information the culprit has.'
The culprit might know the face of the investigator who was chasing him. And it was 99% certain that he knew an investigation had begun.
There was no way he'd be lazing around after raping a noblewoman, right? I also had to consider the fact that he'd raped over twenty times and never been caught.
And what if he cleverly used that fact? What if he had already spread a rumor throughout the village that an investigator would be infiltrating to frame an innocent person?
"To prepare for something like that, I need to be carrying a weapon. But wouldn't a prostitute carrying a weapon be even more suspicious?"
- Her brain suddenly started working again
- Why is she being so logical
- Where did the dumb bitch Lee Do-hee go?
"You all can play a big part in this trial, too. I'll check the chat whenever I have time. If you see anyone suspicious, try to deduce who it is."
Alright, I'll be honest.
I wasn't exactly a genius in my past life, either.
But I wasn't an idiot.
I considered myself a little smarter than the average person. That's why, in my previous life, I made many friends who were quick-witted and always listened carefully to their advice.
'Though I did ignore them sometimes when I had to make a decision... Is that why I was betrayed?'
Of course, that was all based on the calculation that I could handle it with my own power... Anyway, the point is, I admit my brain isn't exceptional, and I'm prepared to listen to the opinions of smarter people.
- Wow! Audience participation!
- Detective Kim Pan-bung is on the case!
- Fuck, I feel like we're doomed if we listen to these guys
- Audience participation my ass lol
- This is actually how guilds give advice and info
- Let's get serious, guys
- Just trust us~
Honestly, they weren't very trustworthy, but it was better than nothing, right?
*
First obstacle: entering the village.
Perhaps because monster invasions were frequent, a two-meter-high log fence completely surrounded the village residential area without a single gap.
"Hm? Who goes there?" a militiaman in leather armor and holding a crude spear called down from above the fence gate.
"Ah, hello. I'm a passing adventurer. I've injured my leg, so I was wondering if I could stay for a few days?"
"No! Our village doesn't accept outsiders... but, ahem... I'll go ask. Just a moment."
He was about to refuse, but then his eyes scanned my face and body, and he changed his tune.
"Looks like I'll be able to get in, at least."
Naturally, if a burly male adventurer carrying a spear had shown up, he would have been rejected. But right now, I was an injured female adventurer.
A helpless woman who stimulated men's protective instincts just by standing there.
I glanced at the chat.
- That guy's a pervert, he must be the culprit
- He looks like a serial rapist
- That's the one!!
- Guys, how is that the culprit...
- Suspect everyone, suspect them all!!
- These bastards are all paranoid lol
"......"
So far, no useful information in the chat.
A moment later,
Creeeak—
The gate, made of woven logs, opened, and three armed men walked out.
"Oh... We don't normally accept adventurers, but with goblins appearing nearby so often, we couldn't just turn a blind eye. Please, come in."
A middle-aged man in his fifties, who seemed to be the decision-maker, welcomed me with open arms.
Unlike the militiamen on either side of him holding crude spears, he was properly equipped with chainmail and a sword.
'The guard captain... so this is what he's like.'
"Thank you so much!!!"
I bowed my head deeply and entered the village, trying my best to ignore the focused stares.
"Ahem... Follow me. You two stay here."
Leaving behind the two militiamen who were smacking their lips in disappointment, I slowly followed the guard captain.
*
"Oh my... who is that woman?"
"Mommy!! I've never seen a woman with such big boobs before!!"
"Oh... an outsider?"
"There have been a lot more monsters around lately."
It was a rural village with a common, rustic landscape.
There seemed to be no tyrannical rule from a lord; everyone appeared to be living reasonably well.
The children were energetic, and the women showed signs of caring for their clothes, hair, and makeup. The men seemed to have time left over after farming, as they had even built a small training ground nearby.
'Right. They must be well-off enough to travel to other cities and commit sex crimes.'
I couldn't forget.
In this peaceful village lived an unprecedented serial rapist.
"First, let's go greet the village chief."
Drawing the attention of the villagers, we arrived at the two-story house of the village chief, where a windmill was slowly turning.
Just as I opened the door and was about to head up to the second floor—
"Hm? Captain Michael? Oh...!! Where did you find a woman like this?"
A young man with his red hair spiked high in the air emerged from the next room.
"Ah, she's an adventurer from out of town..."
Smack!!
"Kyaa!?"
A sudden, unexpected blow.
A thrilling sensation shot up from my buttocks.
Time it took to grasp the situation: 0.1 seconds.
"You son of a bitch, what do you think you're doing!"
I immediately threw a punch at his face.
Time needed to punish him: 0.3 seconds...
Or so I thought.
Thwack!
"Oh, my apologies! Paul!! What is the meaning of this rudeness to a guest you've just met!!!"
The guard captain, who was standing beside me, blocked my fist.
'Whoa... he blocked that.'
"Huh? A guest? I'm sorry... I thought Dad had called for a traveling prostitute..."
More shocking than the fact that his father apparently called for prostitutes was the incredible speed with which the guard captain had blocked my punch.
'Is he really just an ordinary villager...?'
I think I screwed up the difficulty on this one...
In any case, I got the feeling that the village chief's family was a complete and utter mess.
- That bastard is definitely the culprit
- Can we just decide he's the culprit?
- Gotcha, you bastard!
- The guard captain is fast
- Slapping a stranger's ass on first meeting lmao
- This is a no-brainer, right? Just kill him!
- These guys are fucking useless lol
I wanted to pull down his pants right then and there to check for the scar, but I had no definitive proof yet.
I decided to watch him a little longer, accepted his half-assed apology, and went up to the chief's room.
*
"Hmm, an adventurer, you say?"
"Yes, elder. I injured my leg and stopped by to rest in the village for a few days."
The village chief was a bald old man in his sixties with a kind face and a long white beard.
It was funny to think that a man his age had the energy to buy prostitutes, but at a glance, he seemed polite and befitting of a village chief's dignity.
"Ahem, now that you mention it, there is an empty house standing alone to the north... You can stay there for now. It's inside the fence, so it should be safe."
"Thank you, elder! How can I ever repay this kindness..."
"There's no need for repayment. Ah, you said you were an adventurer?"
"Yes, elder."
"Later, I'd like you to accept a request to subjugate the monsters nearby. The goblins have been running rampant lately, and the women can't go outside..."
"I understand. I will be sure to keep my promise."
'As if I would...'
All I had to do was catch the culprit to clear the trial. But a little lip service wouldn't hurt.
Following the guard captain's directions, I arrived at a shabby, isolated hut.
Furniture was scattered about and dust had collected everywhere, but for me, this was an excellent shelter.
'I've been homeless for ten years. This is more than I could ask for.'
"Rest for now. Ah... and if you're looking for medicinal herbs to treat your wound, you should look for Mrs. Rodney in the house with the green roof."
"Yes, thank you so much!"
Thud.
When the door closed, a quiet stillness fell over the room. The guard captain was gone, and I was finally alone.
"Ahh~~ This is going to be really easy, don't you think? Am I the only one who feels that way?"
- ????
- Do you know who the culprit is?
- Isn't it that bastard Paul from before?
- Nah, it's obviously the creepy-looking village chief
- Idiot, how would the chief get to the city?
- I think getting a list of people who travel to the city for trade is important
"No, guys. There's no need to do anything. Get a trade ledger? If I go around asking for that, rumors will spread that I'm asking strange questions, and I'll be mistaken for an investigator."
- Then what are you going to do?
- But you are an investigator
- ??
"I was worried I'd have to investigate myself if I stayed at an inn or with another resident, but in an isolated hut like this, the culprit will come to me. I think I'll clear this trial for free."
The opponent was a crazy serial rapist with an insatiable sex drive.
The risk of getting caught? Would someone like that rape a nobleman's daughter in the first place? He was probably quite smart, but it was highly likely he was someone who couldn't control his desires.
"The mystery novel ends here. Your deductions were not helpful at all. Thank you."
- What
- You bitch lol
- But for real, we weren't helpful at all lmao
- lol what a bitch
- An injured female adventurer... hmm, yeah, he can't possibly resist
- The audience participation segment is a bust
- Hey, we haven't even gotten started yet!!
- For real, if it were me, I'd go pounce on her too
"First, I'll treat my wound and pretend to be resting quietly."
I cleaned the house just enough to sleep in and then went to find the green-roofed house the guard captain had told me about.
The villagers stared at me as if I were a strange animal, but perhaps because I was still a stranger, they only whispered among themselves and didn't approach me.
'Is this it?'
Just as the guard captain had said, it was very easy to find.
Knock, knock.
"Hello? Is Mrs. Rodney here?"
"Hm? Who is it? Ooh...?"
"Huh?"
Where was Mrs. Rodney? Was this a bandit leader?
"Ah, the injured adventurer? A pleasure. My name is Rude. I'm studying herbalism under my mother. Please, come inside."
"Ah, a pleasure to meet you."
I took his large hand, greeted him politely, and stepped inside.
Inside his house, I could see shelves filled with various dried herbs and unknown plants.
"So, you wanted some herbs?"
"Yes. The bleeding has stopped, so I just need something for disinfection."
"Right, right, but I can't just give them to you for free... hehehe..."
He stood up with a sinister smile.
Thump... thump... He walked slowly toward me, his steps making the house shake. Like a predator hunting its prey...
"Eh?"
No way, showing his true colors this quickly? Come to think of it, I assumed it would be safe during the day, so I left my spear at the house.
'Dammit....'
And then, he...
Suddenly bent down and knelt before me.
'Hm?'
He peered closely at the wound on my thigh, placed a hand on his chin, and thought for a moment.
"Ah, my apologies. Were you cut by a blade?"
"Yes..."
'Fuck, you scared the shit out of me, you bastard.'
He was so huge that I felt threatened just by him standing up and walking toward me.
'I used to be as big as that bastard... haah....'
Anyway, he handed me the herbs I needed and kindly explained how to use them.
In return, he told me to go to the herb garden where his mother was.
'So I'm supposed to work off the cost of the herbs.'
But why was a guy like that sitting inside while his mother worked outside?
I couldn't understand it, but I headed toward the herb garden he told me about anyway.
Inside the fence. A small vegetable patch near the green-roofed house. When I got there, I saw five older women trimming the herbs they had grown.
'Ah...'
Well, with five women there, it probably would have been a bit awkward for a strapping young man to join in.
'This is a good opportunity.'
This was a golden opportunity to learn about the village without having to ask suspicious questions.
And it wasn't just about gathering information.
'I can also leak information.'
For example, I could let them know that I'm a deep sleeper, or that I'm a defenseless woman who lost her companions and has no one looking for her...
'Alright, let's get started.'
*
Starting with the women, I slowly introduced myself to the villagers one by one.
I never said anything that sounded like I was digging for information. Instead, I gave them information about myself.
A female adventurer wandering alone after losing her companions.
Weakened from an injury.
A deep sleeper, not sensitive, so she can sleep soundly anywhere.
A novice adventurer with only about a year of experience.
No experience with men.
I casually shared the profile that the viewers and I had created with the villagers.
- There's no way he can pass this up
- For real, if he ignores this, he's not a man
- Hehehe... but how far are we going with this?
- Just catch him the moment he shows up
- No, the definitive proof is his semen....
- Hmm... let's just let the streamer handle that;;
"Guys, stop saying weird things. The moment some bastard comes in at night, I'm going to beat the shit out of him as soon as he opens the door."
- Too bad
- Tch
- What did you bastards expect? lol
- Ah
- My porn...
- That's going too far
- Where's the sex scene?
- Too bad, too bad
- Ah....
And I didn't stop at just spreading information.
What if the culprit didn't know I had arrived? I also needed to wander around the village with an air of innocence.
Wearing a thin one-piece dress I received from the women, I strolled through the village, swaying my hips as if to seduce men.
"L-like this?"
Perhaps because my measurements were larger than average, the contours of my luscious buttocks were visible through the thin fabric.
- Yeah
- That's it
- Fuck, that's so hot
- I really want to do that thing
- If he doesn't come pounce on her after this, he's not a real man
- Wow, holy shit... I'm getting hard
- Krrrrgh, I can't take it anymore!!
- Fuck, what if some other guy attacks her first?
Of course, there was an unexpected incident.
"Ddong-chim!" [A Korean prank similar to a Kanchō or goosing]
Poooooke!
"Kyaang!?"
A surprise attack from a mischievous village brat!
These kids were at an age where they didn't know how to control their strength. As his finger pushed up my thin skirt and went inside, my whole body went stiff, as if I'd been electrocuted.
"Kyahahahaha~~ Sister is a ba~bo~~!" [A simple Korean insult, like 'dummy' or 'idiot']
"We defeated the butt monster~~!!"
"The butt monster has fallen!!!"
"Hngh...! You... you little brats...!!"
Dizzy from the shock, I covered my rear with one hand, stuck my butt out, and tried to chase after them in an awkward pose on my tiptoes, but...
"Kyahaha, run away~"
"Retreat! The butt monster is angry~~ Kyahahaha!"
...they zipped away in a flash.
"Fuck....."
- lolololol
- Those brats show no mercy
- Makes me want a massacre ending, fuck
- How does a brat's ddong-chim feel?
- lol did your butthole feel good?
"Shut up. It's hard enough to even stand....."
My butt trembled, and cold sweat ran down my back as I clenched my sphincter.
Besides that, I did other things like accompanying the militiamen to the well outside the village and eating dinner with everyone at the village hall to make my face and my defenseless body known to the entire village.
*
Before I knew it, evening had arrived.
As it grew dark, everyone except the militiamen on duty went into their homes, and the village became quiet.
"Shall we review a bit? I only have a feeling about a few people."
People who could have committed the crime.
First, I excluded the ones who blushed like virgins and the ones who looked weak. Finally, after excluding those who only farmed, I was left with:
The chief's son, the red-haired Paul.
The guard captain, Michael.
The herbalist, Rude.
"That's about it...? There might be more, but based on what I've gathered today, these three seem the most likely. They all have a decent amount of strength, and they seem to have been outside the village a lot. They also gave off the vibe of having a fair bit of experience with women."
Deducing the culprit wasn't that hard. The bigger problem was how to catch him.
- It's probably Paul or the guard captain
- Why not both?
- The chief is also a possibility
- That seems about right
"For now, I'm going to sleep here tonight. I'll have to pray he falls into my trap."
- You think he'll come tonight?
- The atmosphere is so scary, whoa
- You're gonna beat him up the second the door opens, right?
- But how far are you going to wait?
"Yes. I'll beat him up first, then pull down his pants to check for the scar. What, you want me to wait until I have a baby?"
- What
- Huk
"But there's a high chance he won't come tonight. Still, just in case, I'll stay awake. I'll also turn on donation alerts so they can wake me up even if I do fall asleep."
From now on, the viewers were my living alarm clock.
And so, the night slowly began to fall.