Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: 42. A Weak Sin (2)
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To the people of Brioll staying in the imperial capital, Gott Barkbar was a source of pride.
He stood out among the talents gathered at the Academy from various nations.
He was always at the top of the honor roll, and whenever Brioll exchange students clashed with groups from other countries, he stepped in to handle it personally.
But Gott had a secret.
"Hey. Gott."
"Edran."
In the underground training hall of the Academy, Gott met his classmate Edran.
"You look good these days. The stuff's working well, huh?"
"The goods?"
"You stash it?"
Edran jerked his chin, and the guard standing behind him stepped forward.
"Show me the goods."
The guard opened the pouch he was holding. It was filled with finely crushed blue crystals.
Gott's eyes turned bloodshot.
He couldn't tear his gaze away from the pouch as he said to Edran,
"I'll buy it. All of it."
Gott held out several silver coins.
But Edran didn't take them. The guard tied the pouch shut and stepped back.
"Why?"
"What's why?"
Edran poked Gott's chest with his finger.
"You think I'll sell it just because you ask, for that measly amount?"
"If you need more money..."
"No, not that."
Edran grinned.
"You've gotta do me one favor."
"Name it."
"I hear your Third Prince is coming to the capital."
Gott's expression hardened at his words.
He had a history with the Third Prince from long ago.
When he visited the palace with his father, he got into a fight with the young Third Prince.
He couldn't remember what started it, but things escalated. And the Third Prince resorted to dirty tricks like kicking sand at him.
When he complained to his father about the Third Prince's petty tactics, this was the response:
'The Third Prince won't die young on the battlefield.'
Young Gott hadn't understood his father's reaction back then. But now, he thought he did.
After all, hadn't the Third Prince shone brightly in the Allied Forces?
One thing the prince said before they parted stuck with him.
'No matter what situation arises, strive to see its essence.'
The more he reflected on it, the stranger the Third Prince seemed. His words and actions from childhood only made sense now, as an adult.
If he'd met him more before coming to the Empire, maybe none of this would have happened.
As he mocked himself inwardly, Edran continued.
"There's someone who wants to get close to the Third Prince."
"You planning to scheme against His Highness the Third Prince?"
"Oh, Gott. Didn't know you were a patriot. Swearing loyalty to the royal family or something?"
Edran gave a look, and the guard briefly opened the pouch again. Gott's eyes flicked back involuntarily.
As the pouch swayed, the crystals inside shifted, scattering a shimmering glow.
Gott's hands trembled.
He wanted to snatch it right then and there.
"No can do, nope."
Edran gestured, and the blue crystals vanished back into the pouch. Gott felt a despairing pang of regret.
Edran whispered low.
"It's not like we're asking you to bully him. Just create a chance for them to get friendly."
Edran went on.
"Refuse, and I won't sell you any more. Word might spread. That Gott Barkbar's actually a junkie hooked on drugs."
Gott couldn't think straight for long. Caught in his thirst, he simply nodded at Edran.
"Got it. Just like you said? Just introduce one person?"
"Exactly. Just a little help."
A jumble of thoughts swirled in Gott's mind.
Rationalizing it was easy. Just like Edran said, merely connecting the two. If any problem arose, it'd be the Third Prince's own lack of restraint.
Just as his own current state was entirely his fault.
Gott opened his mouth.
"Fine."
"Good choice. The Third Prince might even thank you. That girl's stunningly beautiful."
"So..."
"Here."
Edran signaled, and the guard placed the pouch in Gott's hand.
Gott immediately pulled out one blue crystal and placed it on his tongue. It dissolved in an instant, turning into a pale blue gas that lingered in his mouth before absorbing through the mucous membranes.
Gott's eyes rolled back.
His breathing quickened.
Watching the scene, Edran burst into laughter.
"Feels good, huh, Gott?"
Gott exhaled long. Drool dripped from his mouth.
"Gott, huh. Unexpected name."
Yuri nodded, arms crossed. He was sitting on Dale's back, who was prostrated on the floor. Groans came from below.
"Whoa, Your Highness. This is too much..."
"Collapse, and you die."
"Ughhh..."
In front of him, Pamia waited demurely.
"Why'd you do it?"
"I'm sorry. I don't know why he asked for this, but Gott's a good guy. So I trusted..."
"Quiet."
In his previous life, Gott had served as the Empire's frontman, opening the way for them. He'd even leaked every weakness of Brioll.
The guy deserved to be chewed up and spat out.
Still, Yuri hadn't cut him down immediately, giving him a chance. He thought this life might be different.
But Gott disappointed him again.
Yuri asked Pamia,
"Pamia."
"Yes..."
"You studied cards to seduce me?"
"Yes..."
"Well prepared. How long did you practice?"
"A week...?"
"What?"
"I have a knack for it..."
Yuri felt baffled.
To gain skill at Basragas enough to win money in just a week—if true, it was astonishing talent.
"Too good to rot in a brothel."
Pamia was a high-class courtesan working at a brothel. Edran was her client, who offered a huge sum to help with this job.
Winning a man's favor was routine for her, and when told the target was Brioll's Third Prince making waves across the continent, Pamia accepted without hesitation.
"If I'd known he'd be like this, I wouldn't have..."
"Cold and rational man?"
"A man who doesn't see women as women..."
"Your misconception."
"The rumors about dating the Holy Kingdom's princess are a front, right?"
"Overthinking."
"You're actually involved with Sir Rolang, the loyal knight, right?"
"No."
Putting it together, Gott seemed already in league with the Empire.
Even Yuri, who remembered his past life, hadn't known Gott studied at the Academy.
Maybe his intervention's butterfly effect, but since he hadn't influenced the continent until the Allied Forces, Gott had probably enrolled anyway.
There, he made rotten Empire friends, or abandoned Brioll's honor to become their dog.
Either way, a problem.
Thinking of Gott's father, the loyal knight Tusen Barkbar, Yuri pondered how to handle this.
The most extreme punishment was even crossing his mind.
Then Pamia suddenly asked,
"You plan to kill him...?"
"Pardon?"
At her words, Dale startled and collapsed. The impact of Yuri's weight on his back doubled his pain, drawing groans.
Yuri patted Dale's hunched back before standing.
"Why ask that suddenly?"
"I saw killing intent in your eyes for a moment..."
"You sensed killing intent?"
"I'm quick on the uptake..."
"Maybe."
Yuri agreed. Depending on the situation, he might kill.
"If she sold me out, she pays the price."
Reason enough, and plenty.
Leave her be, and she'd betray fully. Better to nip it early.
Yuri didn't hesitate to spill blood when needed.
If necessary, even assassination.
Gott Barkbar would go missing for some reason or die in an accident, forgotten by history forever.
"Dale."
"Y-yes?"
"Where's Gott?"
"Probably at home..."
"Let's go."
"Now?"
"Yes."
Dale glanced nervously. Yuri then said to Pamia,
"Pamia."
"Yes..."
"We shared cards, so I'll let you go."
"Thank you..."
"Become a great gambler."
"Mm..."
Yuri decided not to punish her and let her leave.
Pamia had approached on Edran's request. Finding Gott was urgent now.
Yuri signaled Dale.
"Up."
"Y-yes."
When he couldn't stand properly, Yuri grabbed his arm and yanked hard. Dale's body wobbled and leaned into Yuri.
Yuri clicked his tongue.
"What the hell are you? What's your major?"
"Swordsmanship department..."
"Makes sense?"
"I, I didn't want to go. But it's family tradition..."
Yuri understood why Dale clung to Gott.
The rough swordsmanship students wouldn't leave frail Dale alone. Gott must have shielded him from bullying.
But aid without cost soon becomes debt.
Yuri slapped Dale's back hard.
"Pathetic weakling."
"S-sorry."
"Just lead the way."
"You planning to kill Gott?"
"No. Why would I? We'll talk it out."
A lie.
"Good thinking. You'll see. Gott's a good guy."
"To you, maybe."
Yuri took them out of the room.
The corridor was silent as when they arrived, devoid of people. But as they descended the stairs, a casino staffer appeared, greeted them, and headed up past them.
Basragas Casino had a bizarre underbelly matching its fame.
Yuri smirked.
"Fun stuff right after arriving in the capital."
After sending Pamia off, Yuri headed to Gott's place with Dale. He rented the entire second floor of a multi-unit house in the capital's center.
"Sir Barkbar must be working hard."
Johannes's finances weren't that ample, yet he seemed zealous about his son's education.
Yuri followed Dale up the stairs, then glanced up through the railing.
A foreboding scent wafted from above.
A unique sensation only he, who mastered Heart-Soul Severing, could feel.
His fingertips brushed Guilty at his waist.
"Here."
Dale stopped at the entrance.
The iron door had a small peephole to see outside, but not vice versa.
Dale knocked.
"Gott."
No response.
"Gott?"
Dale knocked harder. Still silent.
Yuri asked,
"He come and go often?"
"No. Gott hates surprise visits..."
"I see."
The odd sensation from earlier was stronger beyond the door.
Yuri circulated Heart-Soul Severing through his body. Feeling the mana pressure, Dale stepped back.
Yuri ripped off the doorknob.
"It's open."
A foul, unidentified stench poured out as the door swung wide.
Strong enough for Dale to notice; he wrinkled his nose, peering around.
"What is this..."
Yuri entered with shoes on. A room presumed to be the bedroom was slightly ajar.
Yuri kicked the door open.
What a sight.
Gott lay on the bed.
Pale blue smoke billowed from his nose and mouth, his eyes unfocused, drool spilling from his lips.
Clearly drugged out of his mind.
Dale, following, froze.
"Wh-what the..."
Gott slowly turned his head toward them and grinned. The calm reaction, unfit for the situation, was eerily creepy.
"Dale."
"Gott..."
"Looks like you did as I said. Good job. Good..."
He staggered to his feet.
Judgment impaired. In a dazed voice, he kept talking.
"Long time no see, Your Highness. Prince Yuri. Haha..."
Yuri sighed.
After pulling this stunt, he'd expected some defense, but nothing.
The situation was more sordid than anticipated.
He knew at first glance.
Gott was addicted to drugs, and likely blackmailed into becoming the Empire's dog because of it.
"Gott."
"Yes. Hahaha..."
"Long time."
"Right. Long time. But when did we last meet..."
"When we were kids."
"Ah, yeah. That's right. Back then..."
Suddenly, his demeanor shifted.
"I owe you one..."
Common trait of the drugged: moods flip instantly, thoughts erratic.
Gott suddenly grabbed a vase from the bedside table and hurled it.
"Like this!"
Yuri caught it barehanded.
"Hoo..."
How much had he taken? He was thrashing wildly. Even without getting caught now, he'd have caused trouble eventually.
Gott didn't stop, charging with sword drawn.
"Well now..."
The pale blue aura leaking from Gott's nose and mouth looked ominous.
Not just addiction—it seemed to ramp the body into frenzy, triggering dangerous reactions temporarily.
"Whoa, Your Highness?"
Dale paled.
Yuri stood still as Gott rushed in, laughing maniacally.
"Time to move."
Yuri launched a flying kick.
Gott couldn't even swing his sword, rocketing out like a cannonball, smashing through the window and plummeting. A dull thud followed as his body hit the ground.
Wind rushed in, sweeping the wrecked bedroom.
Dale, swallowing nervously, choked and coughed violently as if dying.