Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Saint Sein of Grima
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Sector 8's city, Grima.
Like any lower sector, it wasn't one of the three great dark underworld territories, but it was a city permeated by Demorus's influence.
Grima's finest inn, the Dancing Rose.
“Shh.”
Strangers pressed fingers to their lips as they scoped out the inn.
“Over there, right?”
A few days earlier, they'd heard rumors from the guards about the odd fugitives who'd slipped into the city.
-Gave us gold coins without a word, can you believe it?
Stories about a young man and a girl.
-Ahem, the guy seemed decent enough. If he hadn't gotten down on his knees begging to let him in, I could've squeezed him for more.
The rumor had already spread like wildfire among the back-alley thugs tight with the guards.
But everything had its priorities.
“Still, they're fugitives.”
The top spot went to the Desera Family, the biggest outfit ruling the back alleys.
And right now, they were the ones staking out the Dancing Rose, where the fugitives were holed up.
“Staying at the Dancing Rose means their pockets are still fat.”
The inn's owner, a woman, had seen several gleaming gold coins too.
Paid upfront.
Desera, the boss of the Desera Family, grinned.
To him, they were no different from golden goblins out of legend.
The kind that cried golden tears the more you beat them.
And moreover.
“Don't lay a scratch on the little girl.”
The guards had made it clear.
-She didn't look the type, but that kid's got some looks on her.
-Tch.
Desera grinned wider.
Treasure of treasures.
This could elevate the Desera Family from just a decent-sized crew in Grima to the unchallenged kings of the back alleys.
And as the night grew darker.
Whoosh.
A torch flared to life on the wall of the Dancing Rose inn.
That was the signal.
“Let's move.”
The Desera Family sprang into action.
Step, step.
It was just one young man and a little girl, but they were fugitives.
Most fugitives were small fry, but every now and then, a scary one slipped in among them.
'No way. At worst, they're thieves who raided their master's jewel box and bolted.'
If not that.
Grin.
'Or some lunatic who ran off with the master's daughter.'
Anything else, and that pair wouldn't fit in a city like this.
A real monster wouldn't hole up in the Dancing Rose for days, too scared to even see sunlight.
“Innkeeper.”
Desera said as he entered the inn.
“No worries. I loaded their food with enough sleeping pills to knock out an elephant.”
They'd spiked the meal sent up earlier.
“Nice one.”
“What about our deal?”
Desera scowled at the woman's words.
“I'll check first.”
“You promise?”
“It's me, Desera. Keep nagging, and...”
Desera's face twisted.
“I'll burn this dancing dump to the ground?”
“...Just confirm it.”
“Fine.”
Sleeping pills strong enough for an elephant.
“If anything happens to the girl, no payout.”
“They ate separately, so she should be fine.”
Desera gave a hand signal.
This caution was what made Desera the boss of Grima's biggest family.
“Hee hee, Papa. You two go in first.”
“Got it, boss.”
“Tutu. You take the window.”
“Okay.”
Plan set.
Desera headed upstairs to the second floor with his men, where the fugitives were staying.
Thump, thump.
Desera's heart pounded wildly.
But not from fear—from visions of the wealth and woman awaiting him.
'Please.'
Just let them have ten gold coins.
Desera stood quietly at the door, signaling his men.
And finally.
Creeeak.
The door eased open carefully.
One by one, Desera's men slipped into the room.
Everything going to plan.
But.
Boom!
In that instant, the door slammed shut on its own.
“W-What?”
Desera yanked at the door in panic, but it wouldn't budge.
“Kiki! Papa!”
He called to his men who'd gone in first.
But only eerie silence answered.
Then.
Creeeaaaak...
The door creaked open again.
Gulp.
Tension gripped him for no reason.
“If this is a joke, I won't forgive you.”
The two fugitives should be out cold, soaked in sleeping pills.
He'd sent dozens of men in for them.
What could go wrong...
Squelch.
Desera's shoe stepped into a sticky puddle inside the room.
'A puddle?'
The Dancing Rose was Grima's top inn, even in Sector 8.
And the fugitives' room was the premium suite.
No puddle like this should exist—let alone be tolerated.
“You're late.”
The voice made Desera's heart freeze.
Moonlight now streamed through the open window, illuminating the room.
His trusted men.
The ones he'd done every dirty deed with.
“Huh, huff...”
They lay bisected on the floor.
“Where should I cut you?”
A beast.
That gaze—he'd never forget it.
“Neck? Waist?”
Even if he died.
“Pick one. Didn't have time to ask the others.”
Beast—no, monster.
In his final moment.
'Guards, you fucking bastards.'
Desera could only curse the guards who'd spread the false rumors.
*
*
*
Grima was in absolute chaos.
“H-Huff.”
Because a noble being utterly out of place in Sector 8 had arrived.
“L-Lord Demorus!”
“Lord Demorus!”
Everything proceeded smoothly.
When they entered through the gates, the lord himself came out to greet them.
“W-We are deeply grateful for your visit to Grima...”
But he was ignored.
“Stay out of our way.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
Demorus's visit.
One word from him could obliterate the entire city.
Everyone held their breath, watching their movements.
No.
“What the hell is he doing here?”
They speculated why he had come.
Grima was a nothing town.
Unlike Borpeo, which had some redeeming features.
But one suspicious thing stood out.
“Isn't it that?”
Before Demorus's blood showed up, Grima had already been rocked by one massive scandal.
The Desera Family, the biggest in the back alleys, wiped out in a single day.
The Dancing Rose inn, one of Grima's better-regarded spots, had burned down, and its owner found charred in the street.
Shocking enough on its own—but the real issue started the next day.
“Didn't those fugitives... come to hunt them down?”
Grima's back alleys had been cleaned up in under an hour.
Word was.
-Gather every last parasite in the back alleys.
At that one command, the families assembled.
That day marked the first unification of Grima's back alleys in decades.
A fugitive no one even knew by name.
He became the back alleys' boss.
Step.
Demorus strode with clear purpose.
“That's it! Right there!”
The back alleys.
To the Desera House, former home of the Desera Family.
“L-Lord Demorus!”
The back-alley families, having heard the news, were already gathered, prostrating on the ground.
“Lord Demorus!”
They'd heard the rumors about the one before them.
Which only made them bow their heads in greater fear.
But at the far end, a young man lounged on a crate, chin in hand.
Daring not to greet Demorus, staring him straight in the eye.
And then, the unbelievable happened.
Thud.
A small echo.
“...!”
Everyone there gaped, eyes nearly popping out.
Some eyes actually tore; others stopped breathing.
And for good reason—Demorus, who had come to Grima.
“Boss.”
Knelt on one knee before the unknown fugitive who'd conquered the back alleys.
He...
-Saint Sein!
Demorus's Sein, called a saint!
“I came as soon as I got your letter. Sorry it took so long.”
“No need.”
No one could even breathe.
Imagine the fate of interrupting this exchange.
“You haven't waited too long, though.”
Everyone here wanted to gouge out their own eyes and ears.
“Are these your people, boss?”
“Nah. Dead weight.”
The price for seeing and hearing what they shouldn't.
Shatter!
Death.
In an instant, everyone present shattered into pieces and scattered.
They were all the ones who'd be thrilled to hear every summoned lackey had died.
“I've had a lot of stress lately.”
The fugitive stretched and stood.
No—Sein eyed the other Sein Demorus before him.
“Cleaning up trash makes it bearable.”
He said to Derun.
“No one caught on?”
“Yes. I completed the mission and avoided contact with outsiders as much as possible.”
“Your mimicry's still low-level, so no choice.”
Sein walked out with Derun.
The streets were empty.
Sein had already cleared them.
“Didn't want things getting more complicated, so I stopped there.”
“Well done.”
“So, anyway.”
Sein halted.
“What's the status.”
If he'd contacted Borpeo, or Otlmeo, he might've gleaned some intel.
But Sein hadn't.
The rampage in Grima could be covered up easily, but those sides knew Grima was Sein's turf—unnecessary suspicion.
“The holy sword heist failed. The guy from Demorus who went on the mission...”
Derun reported.
“Lost one eye completely and got grounded.”
That was the outcome.
“And Immortal?”
“Pelpero's gone missing.”
And.
“The church has raised its banner.”
At last, the church made its move.