Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Bandits in the Sewers
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Thanksgiving.
The Harvest Festival, a time to share the year's bounty and pray for abundance.
Every year, countless people flocked to the county to joyfully celebrate the festival.
But what if something unpleasant were to happen during such a festival?
Yes, for example, what if someone were to invade, taking advantage of the thinned manor security?
*'And what if that intruder was a raid by some unknown band of thieves?'*
Allen remembered.
The incident that had occurred around this time.
An unprecedented event where they had used Julius to draw the city's attention, even mobilizing a mercenary band and making a bet with a noble.
*'In the chaos, the manor's treasury was plundered, and we became the laughingstock of the neighboring nobles.'*
In the end, Julius had hunted down and annihilated the culprits, recovering the stolen goods, but the family's tarnished honor could not be restored.
"Father, this is clearly a setup!"
The voice that pulled him from his thoughts was one he had grown all too familiar with.
"I know. It would be more ridiculous to say it was a coincidence."
As soon as Allen returned to the manor, he was summoned to the study. Julius was already there, waiting.
"If you know, then..."
"Then what of it?"
Gaiel didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow as he listened to Julius. He remained composed, maintaining his usual imperturbability.
"We must punish the ones who orchestrated this immediately."
"How."
"If we interrogate them..."
Gaiel pushed aside some documents and sneered. *His vision is still so narrow. Good. That makes him easy to use.*
"No, that won't be possible."
"Why not?"
"Then what would you do? Kill them to silence them?"
"...Pardon?"
Julius's face went slack with confusion.
Allen silently watched the conversation, inwardly scoffing at his brother's lack of insight.
"That's..."
"Too many of the domain's people have already seen. And now, the mercenaries have gotten involved."
"That wasn't my doing..."
"What did they say? That they stepped in to protect the weak? Hah."
Julius's face turned red, as if enraged by the words.
With a strange expression, Allen recalled the rumors he'd heard upon arriving in the city.
To protect the weak from the ruffian?
*'How audacious.'*
Even for a pack of jackals driven solely by profit, to accept a job involving a noble family...
Then again, these were the kind of people who would deliberately pick a fight with a noble's second son to draw the city's attention. They were anything but ordinary.
"Once the festival is over, this incident could spread throughout the entire county—no, depending on how the mercenaries spin it, the entire kingdom."
He was right.
It was impossible to silence all the merchants, mercenaries, and the transient population that had come to the county to enjoy this season.
"And it's already too late to handle it discreetly."
"...Yes, that's true."
As Julius fell silent, at a loss for words, Gaiel let out a short laugh and replied.
"So... you handle it yourself."
"By myself?"
Seeing the confusion on Julius's face, Gaiel spoke, subtly goading him.
"I hear there's an artifact for resolving disputes between mercenaries..."
"Ah!"
As Julius nodded in understanding, Gaiel smiled with satisfaction.
"Now, go on. You have much to do."
"Understood."
With that, he bowed his head and immediately left the study.
-Click-
In the room, now silent with Julius's departure, Gaiel quietly turned his head toward Allen.
"Allen, what are your thoughts?"
"Well..."
"Do you believe someone else is involved in this incident?"
Allen could think of two people who were likely behind the incident, but he quietly shook his head.
"I'm not sure."
"Can you surmise the objective of those who caused this mess?"
*Of course.*
*'The bandits will attack the manor's treasury through the sewers.'*
Most likely to forcibly take that 'item' in the treasury.
"Perhaps... they intend to use Julius's infamy to tarnish the family's honor?"
Gaiel gazed at Allen's face for a moment before replying.
"...Hmm, yes. Thank you. You've only just returned, and I've been too thoughtless."
"Not at all."
"Have you made progress with your magic?"
"Yes."
"Good. Congratulations."
Gaiel nodded nonchalantly and turned his attention back to his documents, a clear dismissal.
"You may go now. Ah, and don't forget to visit the treasury."
"Yes, I understand."
With the same impassive expression he'd had upon entering, Allen gave a polite bow and slowly exited the study.
*'Now then...'*
Shall I go and see the faces of those audacious enough to attack the manor?
Allen smiled coldly, thinking of the men hiding in the sewers.
*'If I wipe out the bandits who invade through the sewers, it will be an achievement comparable to whatever merit Julius earns.'*
Allen quickened his pace, recalling Julius's thoughtless actions.
Once he started to move, the bandits' raid would begin.
***
Even after Allen left, Gaiel did not return to his seat, as if waiting for someone.
How much time had passed?
The clock's minute hand had moved perhaps thirty times since Allen left the room when a knock came at the door.
*Knock, knock—*
"It is Reina."
"Enter."
She entered in an instant, without the slightest sound of the door opening. As if he had been waiting, Gaiel posed a question to her.
"Julius will be looking for you, so I'll be quick. This incident—was it your doing?"
"It was not."
Reina answered immediately, unfazed by his question. She truly had not received any orders regarding this matter.
Even if such a plan were in motion, she should have received at least some notice.
"This was not prepared by our side. Even if we were to orchestrate something, it would never be done without the Head of the Family's consent."
Gaiel replied with a cold smile.
"Couldn't your side have acted without the knowledge of its own master?"
He knew it was impossible. But he couldn't just let it go.
"That's..."
She couldn't be certain. Since beginning her service to Julius, she had only received indirect orders, never performing a direct role herself.
"Wasn't that our agreement? In exchange for providing the stage, you would carry out my requests."
"That is correct. But this..."
Reina bit her lip.
"No, excuses are unnecessary. This matter is..."
*Knock, knock—*
"I've brought the item you requested, my lord."
*She's here.*
Gaiel, realizing the person he'd been waiting for had arrived, calmly granted entry.
-Click-
The servant who entered knelt the moment the door closed. From the bowed head of the servant came a delicate voice, different from the gruff one at the door.
"Stop tormenting that child, Count. I will increase your support as you wish."
Despite the bizarre sight, Gaiel faced her without any sign of being perturbed.
"We'll see..."
"I'll double it for this month. Hasn't your fortune grown thanks to your new son, anyway?"
Gaiel, who had been smiling with satisfaction at her answer, stiffened at her taunt.
"And one more thing..."
As she trailed off, Reina immediately understood the implication, bowed her head, and left the study.
-Click-
"The cause of this incident is not our fault. Rather, it is highly likely the fault of 'that'."
"'That'?"
The servant, staring at Gaiel's hardened face, smiled faintly and pointed a finger downward.
"The legacy of your ancestor, which you so desperately wished to hide."
"......"
Gaiel remained silent, not reacting to her gesture. But his reaction seemed to satisfy her, as she spoke in a cheerful tone.
"Therefore, I would like to conclude this matter here. After all, we are not the only ones to blame."
"...Very well."
He replied in a heavy tone.
"Well then, you must have much to do... I shall take my leave."
-Thud-
"Wh-where am I..."
"You must have been very tired."
As he always did, Gaiel gave the servant leave and sighed, his expression complicated.
The servant, looking bewildered, left the study, contemplating his newfound vacation.
"There is too much to be done."
So much that there was no time to rest.
Gaiel picked up his documents again. The amount of work remaining was beyond imagination.
Through the wide-open curtains, the bright laughter of the festival drifted in.
But the study remained dark and gloomy.
***
A place filled with the horrid stench of the city's mingled filth and layers of accumulated trash.
The sewers, where the city's waste washed away and streams of water flowed.
In one corner, dozens of men were gathered.
"Boss, so when are we going?"
"Just wait, you bastard."
Mismatched gear and weapons brimming with personality.
Their bodies were covered in scars, proof of harsh battles, and though the magic flowing through them wasn't on par with a knight's, it was enough to be respected anywhere.
Karden spoke to Krogen, who stood apart from his subordinates.
"Hey, how many days have we been in this place? It's been ages since I smelled a woman's perfume."
"We're almost there, so just wait. If we pull this one off, we can cross the Great Desert and head straight for the Empire."
Krogen's build was immense. He was two meters tall with a body packed with muscle. An ordinary person would be scared stiff just by looking at him.
And what of the killing intent that flowed around him?
Karden suppressed his rising fear and spoke.
"It's not me, it's the boys. They're getting pretty restless."
Krogen turned his head to look over his men. Boredom and irritation were plastered on their faces. It was true they were reaching their limit...
*'Can't move until we get the signal, damn it.'*
To be honest, he was just as annoyed.
Why was this job so damn complicated? If he had his way, he'd just charge in, but he couldn't do that to a noble family.
*'Damn it, if it weren't for my injury, I never would've taken a job like this.'*
No matter how famous he was in these parts, he had no desire to carry out the insane plan of raiding a count's family, not some small territory.
"Yeah, but..."
-Vmmm-
"Hold on."
Karden immediately shut his mouth. He was one of the few who could speak directly to Krogen, partly because he was an early member, but mostly because he was quite clever.
But even with his position as second-in-command, it was unthinkable for him to show even the slightest defiance to Krogen.
*'All the guys who crossed the line thinking they were close friends ended up dead.'*
He didn't want to die like that.
Krogen, oblivious to Karden's thoughts, pulled a vibrating glass orb from his coat. The orb, the size of a newborn's fist, emitted a faint crimson light.
[The time has come.]
The voice belonged to a middle-aged man. He spoke in a commanding tone, as if accustomed to giving orders.
"Finally..."
[Tomorrow afternoon. When the city's attention is focused on the duel between the mercenary band and the ruffian, enter through the location I told you.]
"Wait, what about the payment?"
[...If you bring the item safely to the designated location, you will be paid immediately.]
"For real?"
[I do not lie. We even made a mana oath, did we not?]
Krogen grinned. Who would walk into an obvious trap? Just as no one trusts a bandit, bandits trust no one.
With such a terrible public perception, who would ever trust a bandit?
*'But a noble who believes himself so high and mighty is actually going to deal fairly with a lowly bandit?'*
*Not a chance.*
Nevertheless, the reason he took the job was simple. Things were tough. The once-infamous bandit group had been drastically weakened after several subjugation campaigns a few years ago.
He needed to take a risk to overcome the situation.
"By the way, what's this item we're supposed to grab used for? I think we could find it better if we knew its purpose..."
[Don't worry about such things. Just make sure you bring what you're supposed to bring.]
"Alright then. All I need is for his lordship to pay up."
*'If it looks like I'm about to be betrayed, I'll just take the item and run.'* An item worth raiding a count's manor for couldn't be ordinary. Still, he needed some side income.
"But... I can control myself, but my men are a bit stupid. I'm not sure how they'll act if they see some shiny gold coins while looking for the item..."
[...Take what you want. I don't care what you grab, as long as you bring me the item.]
The corners of his mouth began to rise. It was risky, but if he succeeded, the reward would be unimaginable.
"As expected of a noble lord, so generous. I'll make sure this is a success."
[Yes. Your forces may have dwindled, but you once clashed with a knight order. I'll trust you.]
*Clashed, my ass. We were nearly wiped out because of that, shit.*
After those words, the crystal orb returned to its transparent color. Krogen stretched his stiff body and shouted loudly.
"You all heard that? Get ready! Our life in this stinking gutter ends today!"
The subordinates, who had been listening quietly to their conversation, roared in celebration at Krogen's cry.
Karden felt a pang of regret, thinking he should have waited a little longer before speaking up.
After all, the call had come while he was talking.
"Oh...! Finally!"
"Fuck, how many days has it been since I smelled perfume?"
"I swear, I'm never setting foot in a sewer again."
Krogen's eyes glowed red as the device embedded in his chest burned hot. Even if he was slightly weakened by a permanent injury, he wasn't so feeble that he couldn't sneak in and retrieve an item.
*'If I can just pull this off and escape safely, everything will be solved.'*
*Heal my injury, recruit new members.*
Krogen burst into loud laughter, imagining a successful future.
Whether he was drunk on the prospect of success or it was simply his nature as a bandit, Krogen had become far too careless.
"Really?"
"Yeah, once we finish this job..."
The consequences fell squarely upon him.
BOOM!
"Aaargh—"
"Ambush! Fuck! It's an ambush!"
Screams echoed.
A violent roar shook the ground, the sound amplified in the enclosed sewer.
And amidst it all, a single voice rang out clearly.
"Found you."
You filthy pack of bandits.
From the deep shadows, a black figure charged in fiercely.