Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: A Small Disturbance in Bachran (6)
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The next day at noon.
I met Kalrix in the square as promised. Since he wanted to talk in secret, we slipped into a secluded alley.
Confirming no one was around, Kalrix cut straight to the chase.
"Lend me some money."
"What?"
I scowled, and Kalrix hurriedly explained.
"You've heard about the Masked Gang, right?"
"Yeah. They got smashed by the Thieves Guild, didn't they?"
"Exactly. Totally wrecked. All because of that damn bastard Harold or whatever his name is."
Kalrix badmouthed the man named Harold. Having bet everything on the Masked Gang, he must have resented the one who ruined it. I listened half-heartedly before cutting him off.
"So what if the Masked Gang's done for?"
"I got acquainted with a Thieves Guild executive. Mid-level, but still."
He'd already made new connections? No way Roxy would let someone close to the Masked Gang leader slide, unless she was crazy.
"Did you sell out the Masked Gang boss?"
Kalrix grinned.
"...You're consistent, I'll give you that."
"The Masked Gang had to fall anyway. Sticking to loyalty won't bring it back. Might as well jump on a rising star, right?"
"Yeah... fair enough. So you want money for bribes?"
"Heh... yeah. You have those 30 silvers saved up. That should be enough to catch a mid-level exec's eye. Oh, wanna come say hi? My previous offer still stands."
"No need. No money."
Kalrix crossed his arms and furrowed his brow.
"No money? You spent all 30 silvers already?"
"Yeah."
"Don't lie. Those 30 silvers were what you scraped together over two years. Not like you to blow it all."
"It's my money. What business is it of yours?"
"You... sigh..."
Kalrix flapped his mouth before sighing and rubbing his face. Then he tried persuading me.
"Listen up, Han Yuseong. This Thieves Guild is different from the Masked Gang. They're organized, run real businesses. Small now, but they'll grow big someday. Maybe even as huge as the Dark Society."
"Thieves Guild, Dark Society, whatever. I said I have no money. Get it somewhere else. I'm out."
As I turned to leave the alley, Kalrix grabbed my shoulder and persisted. I shook off his hand.
"Think it over once more! This is your chance to turn your life around!"
"No money."
"Hey, you idiot! They're not like the Masked Gang thugs. Their boss takes great care of his underlings. You'll be too late later!"
"Hoo..."
It was starting to go from annoying to irritating.
I grabbed Kalrix by the collar and shoved him roughly against the wall. As he hit it, I pinned his neck with my forearm so he couldn't escape.
"Hey, asshole. Did you leave money with me? I said no money, so why keep yapping?"
"No, what I mean is..."
"And what? They take good care of underlings, so let's go? Bullshit... Even if they treat their men well, you think they'll treat a traitor who sold out his old boss?"
"..."
Kalrix glared at me silently. I pressed harder on his neck.
"Gah... c-can't... breathe..."
"What're you glaring at? Still haven't figured it out? Wake up, punk. You could strut around because the Masked Gang boss protected you, not 'cause you're hot shit. Keep your eyes open if you don't wanna die out there."
I released my arm. Kalrix slid down the wall, coughing and sputtering.
I almost kicked him, but stopped when I saw people approaching. Even in this alley off the square, plenty of folks passed by.
"Don't come find me again. Show your face once more, and you're dead."
With a light threat, I left the alley.
Three days passed.
Whether he'd heeded my warning or not, Kalrix stayed out of my sight after that.
I spent those three days tracking down bards and listening to songs about Hero Zekeheart. Each bard's version varied slightly, but the core was the same.
-500 years ago, when humans were persecuted by other races, Hero Zekeheart appeared.
-Zekeheart, wielding overwhelming power from the goddess, saved humanity alongside his companions.
-Unwilling to Stain the continent in blood, Zekeheart sought peace treaties with other races. But he fell victim to the demon king's vile schemes.
-His wife, Esika, inherited Zekeheart's power, and vengeance began.
-The hero's death united humanity further, leading to the downfall or decline of countless races. Thus, the era of humans dawned.
That was it.
No special tales in the songs, lots skipped, and crucially, nothing about the demon king.
Just drinking songs, really.
"Haa..."
Not my sigh.
It was Kara, slumping her shoulders after finishing work.
"Only 41 copper now..."
Her earnings over the past 11 days. Even with breakfast and lunch from the inn, and saving on lodging by crashing at our place, that was it.
Kara moped about never becoming an adventurer this way. But true to her word, she worked diligently and didn't ask Seris for help.
I admired that a bit. I'd planned to let her stand on her own for two months before lending money, but cut it to one.
"Hwaaa... so tired..."
Over the three days, Kara had gotten comfy treating the hut like home. She flopped onto the floor.
"Kara, you sure you don't want something to eat?"
"I'm good. More sleepy than hungry..."
Kara dozed off right there. Seris glanced at me.
"What about you, Yuseong? Want something?"
"Whatcha making?"
"Potato soup."
"Pass."
"Hng."
Leaving sulky Seris behind, I closed my eyes.
Hours later, noisy racket outside jolted me awake.
"This the way?"
A plump man, thoroughly drunk, slurred. Kalrix bowed hastily.
"Yes, yes! Definitely this way."
"A fine woman in a dump like this? You sure you're not lying to me?"
"How dare I lie to you, Mr. Alvis?"
"You never know. Follow you and maybe some thug jumps me."
Kalrix flailed his hands in panic at Alvis's joke.
"No way! I wouldn't..."
"Heh, kidding, punk. No way a loser like you has the guts. Lead on properly."
Alvis smacked Kalrix's head and guffawed as he walked. Kalrix glared at his back.
'Sloppy drunkard, even worse than rumors. Figures he'd follow just hearing about a good girl.'
The place Kalrix was leading Alvis to was Yuseong's hut. After meeting Yuseong in the square, he'd sent others to spy on him and his circle.
'One of Han Yuseong's girls was pretty decent. Means the guy who always hid his face isn't bad-looking either.'
Kalrix planned to offer the two women to Alvis to win his favor. He'd heard Alvis didn't treat women well, but that wasn't his problem.
'Han Yuseong... you dare ignore me? Some petty pickpocket thief?'
Screwing Yuseong over and climbing the ranks at once—that mattered.
"Hurry up!"
"Ah, yes! Coming!"
Kalrix scrambled after him.
"Hey. Come here."
"Yes?"
"You think a woman lives in this shithole?"
Alvis pinned Kalrix down and stepped on him. Yuseong's hut looked too pathetic.
Common sense said no pretty girl lived in a slum hovel like this— she'd have been passed around beggars long ago if she did.
"You bastard! Think I came all this way for some whore? Huh?!"
"N-not a whore! Han Yuseong wouldn't mess with whores!"
"Han Yuseong? Who's that punk?"
"Some tough guy around here. Year ago, there were these triplet brothers who ruled these streets. Yuseong killed 'em. No one's touched him since."
The slum triplets: Kan, Zan, and their brother.
With strong physiques and tight brotherhood, their combo attacks were infamous.
Smart enough to avoid Masked Gang turf, they extorted the poor. Cross their path, get beaten or worse.
At their peak brutality, Yuseong caught their eye. They stole his savings.
A week later, the triplets vanished.
Two weeks after, decayed bodies presumed to be theirs turned up in the sewers.
And Yuseong had his money back.
"Not that you'd have trouble, Mr. Alvis!"
Flattery aside, Kalrix truly believed Alvis outmatched Yuseong. Rotten or not, mid-level exec.
"Huh. Tough guy's woman... that'll do."
Alvis chuckled lewdly and reached for the door. But it wouldn't budge.
"What? Locked up like it's a real house."
"I'll get it. One moment."
Kalrix pulled a thin rod, slipped it in the gap, and fiddled until the latch gave.
"After you."
Alvis opened the door and scanned inside. Then froze solid.
"What's wrong?"
Wondering, Kalrix peeked past him.
"Wh-who are you..?"
The women inside were awake from the commotion. Beauties with brown and silver-blue hair. Kalrix's eyes locked on the silver-blue one.
"Holy shit..."
Breath caught in his throat.
Only when his body signaled for air did he gasp properly.
Heart pounding. Dingy hut felt like a white palace with her there.
"Heh..."
Alvis snickered softly. Kalrix snapped to.
'Damn! Bringing Alvis was a mistake!!'
He regretted dragging Alvis here. The brown-haired girl was cute, but the silver-blue one was leagues above.
'A beauty like that to a loser like Alvis?!'
She could've gone to nobility—no waste there. A noble would reward him handsomely, maybe even gold.
'How to shake this guy off?'
Alvis was trash, but no fluke mid-level. He had power beyond Kalrix.
'Maybe if I fight with Han Yuseong...'
Then stab Yuseong in the weary moment. Problem solved. Kalrix smirked vilely.
"Who are you, I said!"
The silver-blue girl shoved the brown-haired one behind her and yelled. Alvis approached slowly with a nauseating grin.
"Oh, s-stay back! Stay away!"
Seris hurled firewood from the firepit. Alvis dodged easily—she hadn't aimed to hit anyway.
"Yuseong! Yuseong, wake up! Yuseong!"
Dragging half-asleep Kara, she crawled to Yuseong. All she could think was reach him. No schemes, no plans.
But no matter how she shook, Yuseong wouldn't stir.
"Yuseong...?"
'Why isn't he waking? It's so noisy... no way he sleeps through... unless...'
Pretending not to hear?
Afraid it'd drag him down?
Seris stopped shaking him. Thinking it over, Yuseong had no reason to risk for them.
Even if he'd helped a ton, they were still strangers.
Seris felt stupid for instinctively relying on him. Grabbing still-dazed Kara's hand, she tried to run.
But Alvis was already upon them. His scary face and hulking build froze Seris.
Alvis grabbed Seris's hair, forcing her face up.
"Guh... up close, you're fucking gorgeous."
"L-let go..!"
"Prime pussy."
"...Huh? P-pussy what..?"
Seris thought she'd misheard. But Alvis clarified precisely.
"Pussy. You're top-tier goods. Could enjoy you forever... no boredom."
Alvis licked his thick lips with that sick smile, appraising her.
"Ah... aaah..."
That slimy gaze and raw human malice blanked Seris's mind. Her rising body slumped; limbs trembled uselessly.
"Now... shall we have fun?"
Alvis's hand reached for her. She had to swat it—but her body wouldn't obey.
Ten years as village head's daughter meant nothing now. She was just a terrified 22-year-old country girl.
'Ah... s-someone...'
Seris prayed for help. But she knew: no one would.
Alvis's hand closed in. Overwhelmed by fear, she squeezed her eyes shut.
As Alvis leaned in with his repulsive face to grab her, Yuseong swung his right arm.
The dagger arced, stabbing into Alvis's shoulder.