Chapter 103
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Royal Palace (6)
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"By any chance... do you know a woman named Yanagiya Riki?"
As soon as I mentioned Yanagiya Riki, Yun Yeon's expression changed.
"...How do you know that name?"
'...Are they acquaintances?'
Judging from Yun Yeon's reaction, she clearly knew the person.
Her response wasn't just casual recognition of a name—it was something more.
"Ah... well..."
"Tell me quickly. Did you... meet Yanagiya Riki?"
'What's with her?'
".... No, not that. Actually, the clan backing the drug distributors this time is one led by a woman named Yanagiya Riki."
"... What?"
"So, since our clan essentially ruined her operation, I figured I should know what kind of person she is. Do you know her?"
"......"
"... Sister Yeon?"
"... Ha, so Yanagiya Riki is behind the drug distribution?"
Her reaction was anything but ordinary, so I had no choice but to watch her carefully.
'Damn... what's going on here?'
"So... you've had direct friction with Yanagiya Riki?"
"Not exactly...? We didn't pick a fight with them first; from the Neutral Nation's perspective, it was just the obvious thing to do. Our clan simply fulfilled the Neutral Nation's request... Though honestly, I have no idea how they see it."
"... I see..."
"... Is there a problem?"
Her unusually intense reaction put me on edge.
'Just who the hell is this Yanagiya Riki?'
"... As long as there's no direct conflict, it's fine. But my advice—no, my warning—is to avoid getting involved with her as much as possible."
"..... Why?"
"Because she's one crazy bitch."
"... Crazy bitch?"
"Yeah. Yanagiya Riki is infamous for her brutality, and pretty much every shady dealings in the Eastern Alliance are tangled up with her like a spider's web."
"What... like the queen of the underworld?"
Yun Yeon shook her head at my words.
"Not quite queen, but close. Though it's not like she's just a total asshole with a shitty personality..."
"What do you mean?"
"She viciously pays back anyone who harms her or opposes her, but she definitely repays both grudges and favors."
"Repays?"
"Yeah, grudges and favors. She gets revenge without mercy, but she always remembers and returns kindness too. Like... double for revenge, double for favors?"
"Ah, I get it."
"Anyway, you know those outlaws running wild in the Eastern Alliance, right?"
"Of course."
"Even those outlaws avoid clashing with Yanagiya Riki as much as possible. Got a sense of her personality from that?"
"... Sort of. So... if you and Yanagiya Riki fought, who would win?"
I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth.
".... That's pretty insulting to my pride."
'Damn it... it slipped out.'
"Ah... I didn't mean..."
Yun Yeon chuckled at my excuse.
"Heh... no need to overdo it. It's natural you'd be curious."
It was natural to wonder. Among the players I'd seen, the strongest were Kang Sung-jun, Yun Yeon, and Gu Yeon-jeong.
Kang Sung-jun and Gu Yeon-jeong were dead now. In my view, Yun Yeon was currently the strongest player alive.
"....."
"I clashed with Yanagiya Riki a few times back when I was in the Eastern Alliance. What do you think the result was?"
I'd never seen Yanagiya Riki in action, but I couldn't picture Yun Yeon losing.
"... You'd win, Sister Yeon."
"Hmm... flattery?"
"Not flattery... You're the strongest person I've seen."
"Nice to hear. Sorry to disappoint your expectations, but surprisingly, it was a draw."
".... A draw?"
"Yeah. The fight fizzled out before it could really conclude, but honestly, I'm different now from back then. She's probably stronger too, but if we fought now..."
"....."
"... I don't think I'd lose. Might sound arrogant, but I think I'd win. I have no confidence in losing."
Her words nearly made me swoon for a moment. They were just that cool.
"But win or lose, she's not someone you want to fight. She's a tiring type to deal with."
"I can imagine."
"Anyway, point is, avoid getting tangled with her. Lucky there's no direct conflict."
"... Got it, thanks."
"Thanks for what? It's no big deal."
After hearing her out, avoiding Yanagiya Riki as much as possible seemed wise.
'Maybe after Seo Yu-ju grows stronger, but not yet.'
"No more questions?"
"Nah, I think I've got everything."
"Then let's get moving."
"... To the underground prison?"
"Yeah. You're coming too."
Following the maid's guidance with Yun Yeon, we arrived at a dungeon that carried an intensely unpleasant aura.
It felt completely opposite to the palace we'd been staying in.
"This is the place."
"Yeah... Sister Yeon, I have a favor to ask."
"What? Speak freely."
"Can I go in alone? Just until the clerk arrives."
"Sure."
"......"
I opened the iron-barred door and stepped inside. There sat Shariss, bound and with her eyes closed.
Her appearance was quite different from what I remembered— this must be her true form.
Her hair was long and pink instead of short brown, and her eyes were a ruby red.
She slowly opened her eyes, perhaps awakened by my footsteps.
".... Who are you..."
"....."
"You're... from the Eternity Clan... Lee Yun-seong...?"
I debated speaking casually or politely, but old habits made me polite.
"Long time no see, Maid Shariss."
".... Why are you here...?"
"Who knows. Things just turned out this way."
"..... Was it you?"
She seemed to have pieced something together from my presence in the prison.
"....."
"Did you... do this to me?"
"... Doesn't that sound weird? As if I personally turned you into this. The phrasing is off."
"Stop calling me 'maid' like it's casual. How did you find out?"
"Find out what?"
"... How did you know my real job and what I do!"
'... Her personality's definitely different from at the mansion. That ditzy act was all fake, huh.'
"Good question. How did I know? About you, the parasite sorcerer Bahn, and all the other accomplices?"
".... You... how?"
She looked shocked that I knew not just her secrets, but everyone else's too.
Whether it was camaraderie or whatever, as far as I knew, Shariss had only confessed about herself.
It was no wonder she was stunned that I knew the unconfessed secrets as well.
".... I thought it was suspicious how a dark sorcerer like you escaped the dungeon unharmed. So there was something... Did Bahn confess everything?"
"That dumb bastard? Surprisingly, I nearly died because of the guy you call a dumb bastard."
"What..."
"And... should you be doubting your comrade so carelessly, Shariss? Contrary to your worries, Bahn didn't confess a thing."
"......."
"But things are different now. Bahn's dead, but you're alive, aren't you? Looks like it's your turn to confess."
".... What do you want?"
"Everything. About the group you were in—or should I say, used to be in? Anyway, tell me everything you know about the organization and its members."
"......."
"Hm... I don't like silence. You didn't seem to have much camaraderie before, so why clam up now?"
"......"
"Back then, you ditched your comrade without hesitation. Calling him dead weight, bitching about the margrave's territory and all that. Now you're pretending to have loyalty?"
"W-what did you say?"
She looked horrified as I recited her exact past conversation.
"Who calls their ally a 'crazy old fart'?"
"You... what the hell... how...!"
She switched from "you" to "you bastard," losing her composure.
No surprise—if someone quoted my secret past talks word-for-word, I'd lose it too.
"I get the excitement, but calm down first. You haven't answered my question yet."
"Who the hell are you? What do you...!"
"... This conversation's getting tough. Why not listen when I speak nicely?"
Shariss looked flustered at my sudden shift in tone.
This couldn't drag on—it was just wasting time.
Her dodging my questions was getting on my nerves.
"Better to listen now. Isn't it smarter to talk before torture?"
"....."
Her face paled the instant "torture" left my mouth. No human can endure torture forever.
Claims of willpower overcoming it are bullshit.
Especially here, where the strong don't die easily—interrogators don't need to hold back to avoid killing the subject.
She knew that, hence the pallor.
"What matters isn't what you're curious about. It's whether you answer obediently. If you get it, start talking. My patience is running thin..."
"... What do you want to know?"
"As I said, the identity of the 'old fart' you mentioned, your group's location, and all their info."
Shariss fell silent for a while before quietly speaking.
".... Fine. But... I have a condition too."
"... What condition? Can't grasp the situation?"
"I'm... innocent. I washed my hands of that stuff ages ago! I just wanted to live quietly!"
She suddenly screamed, sounding furious.
She must feel wronged, having quit only to get caught like this.
I understood, but...
'Not my problem.'
".... Shariss. Whether you quit or not isn't the point. This attitude is troublesome."
".... I just want assurances..."
"What kind?"
"I'll tell the palace everything they want... so guarantee my freedom."
'... She wants to live?'
"You want your life spared?"
"... That included, but I want the right to live normally."
"Right to live normally... you say?"
"Yes. I... just want to live quietly. Build a normal family, grow old peacefully, and die like everyone else."
'... Is she serious?'
It was hard to believe someone with her abilities aimed for such a mundane life. But her expression seemed genuine.
"... I never harmed the Neutral Nation. I was posing as a maid in the margrave's mansion just to live quietly. No malicious intent, I swear..."
".... Alright. I'll put in a good word with the higher-ups. But only after you give the full info."