Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: She Took the Bait
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The sun had set, and in the evening, I was doing squats. Split workouts are ideal, but my still-weak body demanded consistent, simple exercises.
"Daron, you building muscle these days?"
My bunkmate, who'd been watching me for the past few days, looked at me with curiosity.
"Hamill, wanna join?"
"I'm good."
He wasn't a knight—just a regular soldier. Soldiers only needed to carry out their assigned duties. The tough jobs were for the knights, so basic abilities were enough for us grunts. I rubbed my now-firm thighs and pulled out the eggs I'd prepared.
Protein I'd gotten from Ray after dinner at the mess hall. She'd grumble, but whenever I asked for food like this, she always hooked me up.
Gulp.
With the quick workout done and two eggs down, I threw on my outer jacket.
"Where you off to?"
"Next barrack over."
The reason I was heading to the adjacent barrack was Tyke. Meeting him in prison was impossible, so directly asking about the aphrodisiac's source was out. That meant I had to investigate myself.
I entered the next barrack and arrived at the spot where Tyke had lived. After knocking a few times, someone inside opened the door first.
"Ah, you're here?"
"No need to call me sir."
"R-right."
This soldier had shared a room with Tyke and, from what I'd heard, suffered quite a bit. When I asked if I could look around Tyke's old spot, he looked scared at first and asked why. But when I said I was hunting for things that could send Tyke even deeper into the pit, he readily agreed.
Truth be told, with execution basically half-decided, there wasn't much deeper he could go... but how bad had Tyke treated him to react like this?
"Look around all you want! Uh, should I step out so you can see better?"
"Yeah. If I find anything, I'll let you know first."
"Got it. If you find something, tell me for sure."
Now I could examine the room alone in peace. There had already been a search of Tyke's belongings once, but some of his stuff was still there. Come trash day, it'd all get tossed.
That's why I'd come—to snag something before then.
Since it was just a simple murder case, they probably hadn't investigated for demon involvement. I pulled out an item infused with holy power and opened the wardrobe. I rubbed the divine insignia between the haphazardly hung clothes. At times like this, I had to focus on the sensation in my fingertips.
Even if demonic traces lingered, they'd be so faint.
Oh.
"Nice."
Things were going better than expected.
Living in this harsh world hadn't just thickened my bones—it had sharpened my instincts too. I hadn't really expected half-baked suspicions to pan out like this.
Every time I ran my hand back and forth, friction prickled from one single garment. I pulled it out. Civilian clothes, definitely his going-out wear. I called the soldier waiting outside.
"You know when he last wore this? Any recent outings in it?"
"Recent? Hmm... about a week ago?"
"A week ago? He didn't say where?"
A week ago. Perfect timing.
"He didn't say where, but I went with him."
"With him? Just you two?"
"Nah, four of us."
"Ah, Tyke and his two lackeys? Why'd you go with those guys?"
"W-well... to carry stuff..."
Oh boy.
Pack mules, huh.
"...You've had it rough."
"That's why I'm truly grateful to you."
"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, you went together. Know where you all visited?"
"Can I even tell you...?"
He hesitated a bit, so I patted his shoulder reassuringly.
"Won't let it come back on you."
"Truth is... we went to sneak some booze. I just carried it! Bringing alcohol into the barracks is true, but he forced me. I didn't even drink."
That's why he'd hesitated.
Smuggling booze with alcohol content into the barracks violated military law. Not a huge deal, but it'd cost several months' pay.
"Why would I bust you for something forced? Won't report it. And... anything else unusual?"
"Unusual?"
Now relaxed, he racked his brain. After a few seconds of recollection, his eyes lit up.
"Shady merchant. Yeah, there was a shady merchant."
"Shady merchant?"
"Some peddler in a black robe hawking his wares."
Black robe!
Reeked of suspicion just hearing it.
"Where? Tell me more."
"Knight Street. Said he had good stuff... come check it out... that kinda thing. Curse dolls, poison that kills in one drop..."
"What'd Tyke buy from him?"
"Right. Everyone else thought it was sketchy and ignored him, but Tyke went up and bought something as a joke. Can't remember what, though."
"I see. Doesn't sound like anything special."
"Yeah. Just seemed like a lunatic."
Bullshit.
Finally, I'd caught the tail.
Tyke must've bought the drug pitched as an aphrodisiac out of simple curiosity. Back at base, he probably tested a bit, realized it was the real deal.
Still, he hadn't used it on Ray. No need, since she liked him back then anyway. ...If not, he'd have forced it on her no problem.
Ray, you lucky girl. Playing nice with Tyke ended up saving you. Thanks to that, she gave me her virginity.
"Got it. Nothing major turned up."
"Really?"
"Don't worry. I'll make sure he gets the harshest punishment."
"Yeah! Please do."
I already knew execution was basically set since I was tangled in the case. Official announcement soon.
"I'm heading out."
"Take care!"
Leaving the admiring soldier behind, I exited the barrack with some solid intel. Sky was darkening. Back at my barrack, I quickly changed.
"What? Where you off to? Outing? Bit late, no?"
"Yeah, late."
Peaceful times meant we could get permission to head into town. But prepping for an outing this late was pushing it.
"Then just overnight it."
"Those are limited per month. Using one now?"
"I'm going."
I wrapped up and left. Burning an overnight pass hurt, but the target was a mystery merchant. From the sound of it, he peddled all sorts of weird crap. Keep that up, and the palace would get suspicious, launch an investigation... he'd bolt.
Might be paranoia, but missing him by a day would sting bad. That's why the snap decision.
Apologized to my superior for the late request, got the overnight permit. Safely out the walls, I breathed in the cool air deep.
First time seeing the streets since returning. Lit up at night, the capital was stunning.
But I didn't forget my goal, moving briskly.
Knight Street, he'd said. I asked around for directions and arrived. Not midnight yet—plenty of pedestrians.
Catching my breath from the run, I scanned slowly. Too late? No shady merchant in sight. Decided to ask someone who'd likely been here awhile, like a street vendor.
"Seen a shady merchant around?"
"Shady merchant?"
"Yeah. Heard there's one in a deep black hood."
"Oh, that nutjob? Sold total junk, got reported. Soldiers showed, he apologized and packed up."
Shit?
Already bounced?
"When was that?"
"Today. Few hours ago."
Today—still a chance. Burned an overnight and miss him? Brutal.
"Know where he went?"
"How'd I know? Stop bothering me. No buy, then scram."
"Ah... haha. Of course I'll buy something."
"Oh? That's different."
Wrong thing to say.
Jewelry stall, duh.
Vendor probably haggles, but wrong stall—should've picked a cheap eats one.
"I'll take this. So, can you tell me?"
I grabbed a trinket at random.
"Cash first."
"Y-yes."
Asking if it was cheap would've led to haggling and wasted time. Paid up, pocketed the necklace.
"Ahem, that guy's probably at the park next door."
"Park?"
"How much cash you think a creep selling cursed junk makes? Rumor is he crashes in the park at night."
Merchant hyping curse items and killers. Outcast life.
"Thanks. See ya."
Bid farewell to the now-useless vendor and bolted to the park I'd passed. Magic lamps lit it bright—families and couples on evening strolls. If roughing it, he'd pick a dim spot away from lamps.
Searching with that in mind, I heard arguing from afar. Headed there and...
"Could I see your citizen ID, please?"
"I told you, I lost it!"
Someone arguing with soldiers.
"What's the big deal about just sleeping here!"
"If we can't verify your identity, we have to investigate. Mind showing your face first?"
A woman's voice leaked from under the black robe.
"No way! I have rights!"
"If you had a guardian to vouch for citizenship, fine—but if you really lost it, you need an investigation first, then reissue."
No idea what rights, but soldiers bought it.
"Keep this up, we'll have to take you in by force."
Oh no. If soldiers nab her, problem.
Suspected demon—I needed to catch her first.
"Might get rough, but—"
The speaking soldier froze. Others asked why, then shut up. Eyes glazed, entranced.
"Now, I showed my citizen ID, and you all report no issues. Got it?"
"Yes..."
With that, soldiers turned and shuffled off, hypnotized and listless.
The robed woman confirmed they were gone, grumbled, and started packing.
"Sheesh... They say leaving home's all hardship... Gotta bounce from here... Ugh, barely any mana left, and I waste it on this..."
Leaving?
Can't have that.
I approached her as she hastily packed. She startled at my sudden stop, looked up.
"Looks like you can't afford an inn. Want me to spot you some cash?"
Her white eyes peeked from the robe, staring blankly.
Whoa, too obvious?
Straight-up luring... gotta add conditions.
"Ahem. Not giving it free, of course—"
"Thank you!"
She took the bait.