Living as an Incubus. 7
Ah. That wasn’t directed at you. Don’t misunderstand. I said it to them.
It’s obvious you’re the victim.
I stepped closer to the man slumped on the ground.
He flinched and glared at me warily.
I hurried to add, “Sorry, I was just telling them that.”
But the answer that came back hit me like a brick wall.
…Why did you help me?
I have nothing to offer you. If you want my body, just kill me already.
The exhausted man tugged at his torn clothes and warned me.
Even talking to the person who saved him like this felt wrong.
“I wasn’t trying to help you specifically.
I don’t know what you’re thinking, but your body doesn’t interest me.”
“Eh… really?”
The shocked voice came right from beside me.
Yuse’s face twisted in disbelief as his voice rose.
“Th-that’s impossible.
Then… did you waste five million gold coins for no reason?!”
The old female owner of the street stall nodded subtly, as if she agreed.
If I hadn’t been annoyed, I might have laughed.
But first, I helped the man stand up.
“It wasn’t for no reason.
Yuse, you said it yourself.
If this man is caught by those women, he’ll face a terrible end.
They’ll probably turn him into a live experiment or use him in some noble’s game.”
When the word “live experiment” left my lips, the man started shaking his legs and hands.
Yuse glanced at me and answered, voice trembling slightly.
“Th-that’s true, but…”
I gently patted his slumped shoulders.
“Hey, do you have anywhere to go?”
“……”
It was only natural.
Someone who had just run away blindly probably didn’t have a safe place left.
I couldn’t take responsibility for him either.
But at least I had tried to help.
That was the best I could do.
“What should I do? I can’t take you with me.
Honestly, I’m also just a burden right now.”
“I’ll take you!”
Is he serious?
He didn’t look like a beggar, but the situation wasn’t that different.
The man’s expression was sharp as he rejected my offer.
That face made me suspect there were complicated reasons behind it.
“That’s good, then.
Just go your own way.”
“Really? You won’t take anything in return?
I’m not heartless.
Someday, I’ll definitely repay this kindness.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
I wiped the sauce from my hands and robe with the handkerchief Yuse handed me.
They were already stuck together and hard to clean.
“…Thank you for saving me.”
The man hesitated, as if he wanted to say more, then finally spoke again.
I didn’t pay any attention and just waved my hand.
“Wait.”
Just as he turned to leave, the stall owner called him back.
She forced an old robe into his hands.
“You’ll be in danger walking around like that.
And this too.”
She stuffed several pieces of meat into a bag and pressed them into his palm.
The man stared at the meat for a moment, then gave a small bow before dashing off.
As the man disappeared toward his destination, Yuse and I also started moving quickly.
The weapons shop with its sharp swords and sturdy armor display was breathtaking.
“Seonghyun-nim, why did you save him?
Can you really tell me the reason?
To be honest, I can’t believe it.”
It wasn’t anger or resentment in his voice.
I looked at Yuse’s worried face and spoke after thinking for a long time.
“Well, honestly, there’s no big deal about it.
For example, you have a trait, and that man has one too, right?
Everyone has traits, right?”
“Y-yes, but Seonghyun-nim has no trait and still…”
“I know.”
I smiled faintly.
The pleasant breeze brushed my cheek.
“Just this.
I saved a normal guy with no trait at all.
That’s pretty impressive in this world, right?”
“…”
The fantasy world city stirred up my childhood memories.
It was so different from where I lived, and every moment was a new experience.
My heart swelled with something filling me up.
If I returned to the original world, I definitely wanted to go on a trip to Europe.
I glanced at Yuse’s ambiguous expression and said now was the time to go back.
Today’s fun ended here.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The way back to the palace was led by Yuse.
It was fortunate we could ride a carriage with the spare gold we still had.
“We’re back.”
When we approached the imperial palace, the gate guards’ mouths curled into sly smiles.
There was a strange feeling in their attitude, completely different from when we left.
Clang. Clang—!
It seemed someone had been hiding there.
Soldiers suddenly jumped out and surrounded us.
The number was not small at all.
“W-What is this rudeness?!”
Yuse shouted angrily.
But I was left bewildered by the situation I’d never experienced before.
A knight who seemed high-ranking stepped forward.
His eyes held hatred and murderous intent as they fixed on my face.
He looked ready to draw his sword any moment.
“Immediately throw the criminal into the prison!”
At the command, my body was instantly bound with ropes.
I twisted my body as hard as I could and shouted while cursing.
“Wait a moment. What crime am I supposed to have committed?
We were just out for a short walk in the city.”
Then she smiled slyly.
The soldiers gripping my body from both sides pressed harder on their palms.
“That’s what you call talking.
You dared try to assassinate His Highness the Prince and then fled, not knowing who would be blamed.
“…What?
Understanding was impossible.
My heart shook uneasily and my mouth burned.
It couldn’t be.
Why would I have to be accused of something like this?
This must be a terrible nightmare.
“Drag him away!”
“Yes, understood.”
She turned her body away as if she didn’t need to hear more.
I had to stay calm.
I stomped hard on the soldiers’ feet as they tried to drag me.
When they staggered, I sat down on the floor.
I shouted until my throat burst, but my voice trembled like someone in fear.
“No, no!
Did you properly check?
I could never have tried to kill His Highness the Prince.
I don’t even have a trait.
How would I have done it?!”
The knight walked on calmly as if my words were unheard.
Yuse ran to her and stopped her.
Unlike me, he wasn’t restrained by the soldiers.
That was the only bit of good fortune.
“Seonghyun-nim would never do such a thing.
And the crime isn’t even confirmed yet, right?
We can’t treat him like this.”
To be honest, Yuse’s actions moved me.
Of course, his words were true.
If I had really tried to kill the prince, he wouldn’t have known.
After coming to this world, Yuse was the closest person to me.
“Yuse Calento, you have fully played your role.
Now stop pretending.”
Whaaat?!
It felt like I had been hit on the head with a hammer.
What kind of nonsense is that woman saying?!
“The merit of informing about the plan to assassinate His Highness the Prince is truly great.
His Highness the Prince will be pleased.
Moreover, you didn’t bring back the criminal who fled, Lee Seonghyun.”
“What…?”
Yuse’s panicked expression appeared.
I shouted at him, feeling like the axe had struck my back.
“So that’s why you told me to go out today?
To frame me like this?
Why? I was just trying to live quietly.”
“No, Seonghyun-nim.
P-Please believe me.
I-I misunderstood.
There must be some… mistake…”
The knight grabbed the powerless Yuse like a glass bead and supported him.
With a mocking laugh, she ordered the soldiers.
“Don’t try to cover up such heinous criminals.
What are you all doing?
Drag them away immediately.”
“No! Let go! Let go of me!!”
Thud--!
Along with a dull sound, a huge pain hit my head.
In the blink of an eye, I fell into darkness.
Eventually, I had to lose consciousness.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Splash, splish splish!!!!
“Aha. Ugh. Fuh!!”
When cold water poured over my whole body, I blinked and my senses returned.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I shivered and looked around.
Cold temperature and a faint stench.
From the torches and iron bars visible in the dark space, it seemed to be a dungeon prison.
There was such a facility inside the palace.
“He woke up. Your Highness.”
Heavy steps approached.
I struggled to lift my head to see the figure coming to me.
My body was already bound to a chair and unable to move.
“…The unpleasant face is still there.”
Karsen smiled lewdly and pinched my jaw with his finger.
His hair and eyes were the same color as Elina’s, but the image was completely different.
“I never tried to kill His Majesty.
This is a false accusation.
Please, believe my words.
Your Highness.”
“Huh? Ahahaha. I know.”
At Karsen’s relaxed answer, the thoughts in my head stopped for a moment.
He knew, but why did he do this to me?
“That’s right, I did it.
For some reason, looking at you makes me feel unpleasant.
Even hatred.
I just handled it on the side.
Well, you don’t need to know the details.”
So. This state I’m in now is something you planned.
Surge of anger flooded my brain without a filter, and words came out.
“Hey, you bastard!!!”
Thud-!! Thud-!!!
“How dare you speak to His Highness the Prince like this?!”
My cheek was stinging.
The pain was bigger than expected, and tears kept falling.
It hurt, but I couldn’t hold back tears of injustice and anger.
The person who hit me was the earlier knight.
Karsen patted her as she trembled.
“Rika, I’m fine.
More importantly, what do you think we should do with your punishment?
Hmm. What would be good?
Karsen is really troubled.”
I swallowed hard.
From what I knew, medieval punishments were quite harsh.
Of course, this was another world, but my expression hardened from fear.
“Just kill him immediately.”
The knight named “Rika” asked Karsen as if consulting for opinion.
But he shook his head and spoke.
“Hmph. That’s too pitiful.
Choose.
Should I tie your limbs and tear you apart?
Or pierce your genitals and anus.
Ah. After coating your whole body with honey, the punishment would be released.
What’s good?
How should I kill you?”
So cruel words made me almost forget to breathe.
But Karsen listed various opinions like choosing lunch menu and chuckled.
“Or strip him naked in the street and whip him until he dies.
Poison is too boring, though.”
“…I am a clear guest of the imperial palace.
You cannot treat me like this without a proper trial.”
When my words ended, Karsen laughed maniacally.
His mad appearance made cold sweat run down my back.
“That was until yesterday.
You are nothing more than a common criminal who dared to try to assassinate a royal.
Do I look that sloppy?
Of course, you couldn’t think of anything so stupid.”
“……”
“Lee Seonghyun, who was a guest of the imperial palace, acquired his trait belatedly.
The arrogant otherworlder used it to swallow the imperial palace while the princess and dragon lord were apart.
A foolish and stupid plan.
It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t make sense.
The empire is now mine anyway.”
After listening to Karsen’s words, I despaired.
It made no sense at all, but who would argue with what the prince said?
The terrible punishments he described were terrifying.
I never wanted to experience scenes I had only seen in internet and historical dramas.
Tears ran down my cheek and onto my thigh.
It was humiliating, but I didn’t want to die like that.
“Please save me.
Please.”
“Hmm. What to do.
Ah! By the way, you said you bought a male incubus for five million gold and let him go?
That’s all the people’s tax money.
Ah. I thought of something a bloodsucking insect like you could do.
Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“I-I don’t understand.
Your Highness, I was just…”
“So~.
I’ll recover the damage caused by you.
Enjoy more pain than death.
Rika!!”
The tears blocked my vision, so I probably couldn’t open my eyes properly.
My ears rang and my head throbbed at the same time.
“Ah. Wait, wait a moment!!”
The knight called Rika quickly cut the ropes binding my legs.
Then, just as I had waited, the people in black suddenly appeared and I lost consciousness again.