Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 158
>Chapter Title: Punishing Evil
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I moved toward the half-open door, intrigued by how things were unfolding.
I didn't forget to reassure the terrified, huddled server.
‘Shh.’
Did he understand my signal? The server nodded vigorously, his face pale as a ghost, hands neatly clasped together.
Meanwhile, the conversation between Ransi and that punk—what was it, Paijin?—was in full swing.
“Oh, that commoner kid Chenbi, maybe? Trying to get into the Young Patriarch’s birthday banquet?”
“That’s a matter I can’t discuss.”
Ransi gave no answer, but the punk seemed to get the message anyway and continued with a knowing ‘hmph.’
But the way he said it...
“Lady Gamo really is too kind, isn’t she? Inviting some lowly commoner nobody to the Young Patriarch’s banquet.”
“She’s a friend of the Young Patriarch. Please mind your words.”
“Ah, right, sure. Wouldn’t expect anything less. But I just feel bad for you. It’s the Great Blandoga Family Young Patriarch’s banquet—why invite a commoner? Huh? There’s a limit to dragging down the vibe.”
Ah, so this is what a noble house delinquent looks like?
I’d heard plenty of stories, but I didn’t expect it to be this textbook.
It was like... yeah, the perfect embodiment of every stereotype that comes to mind with “noble delinquent”!
But the punk’s rampage didn’t stop there.
“Come on, Ransi, don’t be like that. Huh? Just let me see her face. Who knows? If I like her, I might hook her up with something. I heard her whole family’s leeching off the Blandogas?”
“...Young Master Paijin.”
“Bring her here. Oh, didn’t that guy say she has a little sister? Hope she’s at least half-decent...”
“You’ve gone too far.”
A chill settled into Ransi’s already icy voice.
The atmosphere grew heavy in tandem. Even I, on the other side of the door, could feel the cold sharpness.
Then, suddenly, laughter erupted right around then.
“Haha, hahaha!”
Is he insane?
The punk laughed so hard the whole place shook, but just as abruptly, the laughter cut off, plunging everything into silence.
Immediately after, a voice sliced through the quiet.
“What did you say? Gone too far?”
“...”
“Haha, Ransi. You actually made me laugh for once. So, you’re saying I went too far? And you’re giving me advice?”
“If I offended you, I apologize.”
“Yeah, you should apologize. You absolutely should. But... this is something.”
A sudden commotion broke out right after.
Crash!
“Kyaaak!”
Something shattered, followed by a scream. At the same time, the punk’s voice boomed out.
“Enough of this crap! Fuck, yeah. You all think I’m a joke? You worthless idiots blocking my way... Now what? Ha! Yeah, I went too far. Huh?”
“...Young Master Paijin.”
“What, Mr. Ransi? Did I go too far again? Hold on. Since I already did, might as well wreck the whole damn place.”
With that, he started smashing everything within reach.
How long did the punk’s tantrum last?
As the sounds of breaking furniture gradually faded, the quiet space filled with his panting breaths.
“Mr. Ransi. No, Ransi. You’re under a huge misunderstanding, so can I offer some advice?”
“...I’m listening.”
“Sometimes, when you raise animals, they get these big delusions. Like their master’s prestige is their own. Right?”
“...”
“Being around great people doesn’t make a dog human. But look, there’s a dog right here who thinks he’s people. So, what do you do?”
“...”
“No idea? Me neither. Because if you punish the dog, the master gets mad. But you can’t just let it slide...”
Alright, decision made.
I kicked open the half-open door right after hearing that much.
Bang!
“Kyaaak!”
I threw my full force into it, and the solid wooden door slammed against the wall with a deafening crash.
Amid the servers’ shrill screams.
“Huh, what the hell’s that?”
“...Lord Aster.”
“Aster? Ha, no way that’s the Black-White Slums stray?”
I took in the punk, who was laughing in disbelief.
I had no idea who this guy was. But judging by how even Ransi was forced to grovel, he must be someone important.
But right now, none of that mattered—what his status was.
There was only one thing that did.
‘Evil must be punished.’
“Haha, I was curious since they say the Young Patriarch dotes on you, but getting to see you like this? Nice to meet you. I’m Paijin von Tulk, Young Patriarch of the Tulk Family, vassals to the Blandogas...”
I offered a perfunctory apology to the punk, who’d approached me.
“Sorry.”
“...?”
“My foot slipped.”
I swept my leg across the floor, and a sharp impact rang out.
“...Guh!”
The kick sent the punk flying into the air before he crashed down with a thud.
As he lay there gasping ‘gack, guh,’ unable to breathe from the impact to his back, I smiled and surveyed the room.
Everyone marveled at the executed justice.
“Eek!”
“Huh!”
Some were too overcome with joy to even speak.
[Lord Aster!]
Ransi shouted my name, practically bursting with delight.
Of course, not everyone was cheering.
“You crazy bastard...!”
Oh, he’s here too?
Must be the punk’s escort knight.
Reeling from failing to protect his charge in the blink of an eye, the minion of evil charged at me in belated despair. But who am I?
The righteous Troubleshooter.
“Don’t you know who I am?”
“...What?”
As the minion of evil faltered at my gravely imposing line, I flashed a grin and revealed my identity.
“Oh, I’m the friend of the Great Blandoga Family’s Young Patriarch, Damian.”
“...”
“For your information, Damian and I are best friends who share everything. And you’re drawing a sword on me?”
Can you handle this justice...?
“Think you can handle it?”
* * *
Having quietly subdued the minion of evil, Aster turned his gaze to Paijin.
“You okay? Sorry about that. Foot slipped.”
“You dog... Do you even know who I am!”
Paijin spat his rage at the sudden humiliation and twisted around to stand. But that was the wrong move.
“I get shaky legs when I’m scared.”
“What the— guh!”
Aster dropped an elbow into Paijin’s back as he fell over him!
The full-weight blow struck dead center, choking Paijin silent once more.
‘Th-this... this...’
What kind of bullshit situation is this!
He was the Young Patriarch of the Tulk Family.
One of the seven vassal families serving the Blandogas!
The legitimate heir, who bowed to no one outside the Blandoga bloodline, proud and...
“Ah, you good? Sorry. Foot slipped again.”
Paijin ground his teeth at the brazen question.
‘That damn... Black-White Slums stray.’
At least he had some learning capacity and didn’t voice it out loud.
He just steadied his breathing and swallowed his fury at the filthy stray for now.
But Aster, the righteous Troubleshooter, was an expert at sensing evil vibes.
“Ahem, sorry. Let me help you up.”
“Just leave me...”
“No can do.”
Paijin felt like dying as Aster grabbed his collar and yanked him upright.
His breathing hadn’t even settled, and the forced movement made his head spin like anemia had hit.
But it didn’t end there.
“Whoops, my hand.”
“Guh!”
Aster suddenly let go, and Paijin face-planted into the floor.
Somehow, Paijin dragged himself up.
But the humiliation was far from over.
“It was an accident, so you’ll forgive me, right?”
“What the fu...”
“Dog? Dog, what? Am I the one with the big misunderstanding here? Should I give you some advice?”
Paijin’s eyes twitched at the grinning face.
He couldn’t tolerate it.
He, the Young Patriarch of the Great Tulk Family, beaten by some lowly Black-White Slums stray and rolling on the floor in front of onlookers?
Murderous intent boiled up naturally.
That’s when his awkwardly standing escort knight stepped forward.
“...Lord Aster, was it? Even as a friend of Young Patriarch Damian, I can’t stand by any longer.”
As a knight of the Tulk Family, he couldn’t watch his Young Patriarch be toyed with anymore.
Aster burst out laughing with a ‘paha!’
“Won’t stand by? What? What’ll you do?”
“...I’ll cut you down.”
“Cut me down? Cut me down, you brainless fuck! Grab this bastard and make him kneel ri— guh!”
“Sh, shut up.”
Aster’s fist slammed into Paijin’s solar plexus.
No excuses this time.
As the Tulk knight spasmed to draw his sword, Aster’s voice rang in his ear.
“Mister, you’re free to come at me. But your Young Patriarch’s in my hands right now? Is your sword faster than my hands?”
“Grr... You bastard, I’ll... kuh!”
“Ah, hey. I said shut up. Huh? Mister, that fast?”
The Tulk knight was speechless.
In an instant, the opponent had his Young Patriarch’s throat gripped.
He might cut before the hand snapped the neck, but it was no easy gamble.
What if his sword was a fraction too slow?
What if the Young Patriarch’s neck snapped as a result?
There weren’t many knights willing to bet their lord’s life, and this Tulk knight was no exception.
With the Tulk knight clamping his mouth shut, Aster eyed the gurgling Paijin.
It didn’t take long for his mouth to open.
“Hey, what about the commoner?”
“Guhk, ugh.”
“What about Chenbi’s family? Her little sister? And what the fuck did you call them? Ugh, fuck. Even for you, dragging family into it is crossing the line. Right?”
“Y-You... think you’ll get away with...”
“Get away? What, you gonna kill me?”
“E-Even the Young Patriarch... won’t cover for... this outrage...”
As Paijin stammered on, Aster let out a soft chuckle.
“Ha, really. Hey, you think I’m doing this banking on my friend? Yeah, I’m hitting you. But...”
There was one thing Paijin was wrong about.
Aster wasn’t the type to start something relying on anyone.
He set up his boards meticulously when needed, but once things kicked off, he leaned on nothing.
“Alright, I’m giving you a chance now.”
“Bull... shit... hng.”
Paijin abruptly stopped breathing mid-stammer.
He’d glimpsed the emotionless void in those clear eyes staring at him.
Not killing intent or hatred—just pure, colorless neutrality.
Those eyes were like emotionless glass.
As Paijin froze at the eerie sight.
Aster grinned loudly, calling everyone over.
“Alright! The delinquent young master of the Tulk Family has something to say! Everyone, gather in the lobbyyy!”
His booming voice echoed through the entire restaurant, drawing out those who’d been huddling in fear of the commotion, shuffling into the lobby.
Even Ransi stared in stunned confusion at the bizarre turn.
With the lobby filling up.
Aster whispered in Paijin’s ear.
“Announcement time.”
Announcement?
“Confess your sins here one by one and be reborn. This is the first and last chance I’m giving you.”
“What... guh!”
As Paijin tried to retort.
Aster kicked his leg out again.
“No questions.”
“...Young Patriarch!”
The Tulk knight lunged forward in panic, but Aster’s voice halted him.
“Approach denied—stop!”
“...”
“From this moment, no one moves from their spot until our delinquent young master finishes his announcement. Got it?”
Of course, no one replied.
Ransi alone shot a worried glance.
[Lord Aster, what in the world...]
[Executing justice.]
And so, the announcement ceremony of Tulk Family Young Patriarch Paijin began.