Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Morning After the Party
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The party came to a successful end.
Just the presence of rare underworld bloodlines turned it into a massive hit, and by later in the evening, it was packed with nobles who'd heard the news too late.
"Ooooh!"
Even if the underworld maintained close ties with the central nobles,
territorial wars and parties were entirely different matters.
Some even viewed attending such events as beneath the underworld's dignity, so their participation was truly exceptional.
-Is that so?
Sein recalled his conversation with Carnima.
An empty exchange.
It held no real meaning.
-I see.
Yet Carnima had left the strongest impression at the party.
As if they already knew each other.
"Thanks to you, we had such a wonderful time today. I look forward to seeing you again soon."
"Oho, splendid. Countess Remy. I've got a useless territory in my District 9—any interest in investing?"
"Please join us for the next party as well."
Remy had gotten exactly what she wanted.
She became the star of the party.
As Sein's dazzling partner—who outshone everyone—and the one who'd invited underworld lineage, she'd evolved from a mere monkey into a full-fledged person.
"It's an honor."
Remy curtsied lightly, lifting her dress.
Rumble rumble rumble.
The carriage sped along the well-paved imperial roads.
"Harcom! Harcom!"
Remy, who had kept a smiling face until moments ago, urgently called out to Harcom, who was acting as coachman.
"Stop!"
The carriage halted abruptly.
"Bluuuugh!"
Barely managing to open the carriage door, Remy began vomiting.
The sour stench of bile mixed with the aroma of alcohol rising up.
"Tch."
He'd noticed from the start.
That Remy had been drunk since midway through the party.
He could tell just from the wines she was enjoying.
The ones with the lowest alcohol content.
"Ah... I'm dying..."
Remy merely liked alcohol; she wasn't good at holding it.
Pure willpower.
That's all that had kept her going until the end.
"...Turn... Turn back."
Finally climbing back into the carriage, Remy slumped against the wall and muttered.
"Hey, what the hell are you...?"
"...?"
"How does some underworld bloodline know court etiquette so... damn well?"
Remy even pointed accusingly.
"Grew up polite. Knock you out before you regret it."
"Hmph."
At Sein's words, Remy clutched her cheeks with both hands.
"Nuh-uh, nuh-uh."
Maybe she was still a bit scared of Sein after all.
Or perhaps puking it all up had sobered her somewhat.
She seemed to regain some composure in the carriage.
"Would you mind escorting her?"
Later, completely passed out, Harcom pleaded with Sein.
A servant couldn't just manhandle a noble's body.
"There'll be extra pay."
"I'll pass it on."
Sein picked Remy up.
"Mmm... Mm."
Mumbling in her sleep, she snuggled into Sein.
Sein laid her surprisingly light body on the bed.
As he moved to leave,
"Don't you know the polite thing to do in a situation like this?"
Her voice was a bit slurred, but she seemed somewhat lucid again.
Grab.
Remy wrapped her arms around Sein's neck.
Her hot breath brushed warmly against his face.
"Am I that bad?"
"I think taking advantage of a drunk is pretty low."
Just as Remy leaned in closer.
Thud.
Sein leaned forward instead, bumping their foreheads together.
Heh.
A playful smile.
"You're not exactly great yourself."
"What...!"
Remy's flushed face jerked back in surprise.
But.
Whoosh.
This time, Sein grabbed her waist and said,
"Not familiar with it here, but where I'm from, mutual consent is key."
"..."
"Say it."
Pushed back onto the bed.
"Or I go."
"Stay with me."
Thinking back, it had been a long time.
No matter how much he'd rolled in the back alleys, his body had been that of a young boy.
But not anymore.
"Fine. Just know I won't take responsibility."
"...Next time, we need a contract or something."
*
*
*
As expected.
"I'm a Demorus too."
Sein briefly recalled that mad seed-spreader.
"You're awake?"
Sein spoke to Remy as she stirred.
She pulled the blanket over herself in embarrassment.
"Quit acting all innocent. What was that?"
The lord of District 8.
She knew how lords lived and what amused them.
To Sein, Remy's behavior was just funny.
"...First time."
"Save that 'it was my first time' bullshit for your future husband."
"You bastard."
Only then did Remy drag herself out from under the blanket.
"You heard last night—I brought you to bed, so that's extra pay. Deposit it yourself."
"Wow. Seriously."
Sein got up.
"I'll have you. Eventually."
"...?"
"You'll end up begging me for it one day."
"Ha."
Sein let out a hollow laugh.
"Even if I have to conquer the capital and go to war with Demorus, I'll have you."
"Still drunk?"
"I'll have you—!!"
Leaving Remy's shout behind, Sein slipped out.
Pfft.
He couldn't help chuckling.
'Been a while.'
Not talking about the night with Remy.
"Guess I needed it."
His whole body felt refreshed, like he'd truly rested.
Partly because of Remy.
Partly because it had been so long.
And partly because of District 2's air.
"Were you coughing, sir?"
Harcom greeted Sein.
"She'll have a brutal hangover—bring some tomato juice or something. Ah..."
He thought of something for a moment but shook his head.
No way it was really her first time.
As he tried to pass Harcom,
"Got something to say?"
He noticed Harcom staring at him without leaving.
"A letter for you, Sir Sein."
"A letter?"
The party had been just last night.
He'd even returned to the mansion with Harcom.
"Demorus?"
Only a few would send one.
But.
"Let me see it."
Demorus wouldn't bother with a letter.
Harcom finally handed over the envelope from his pocket.
Blood-red sealing wax, firmly stamped—it evoked someone specific.
"It's a letter from Duke Carnima."
That brief encounter last night.
And the intense one.
Sein broke the seal right there and read.
-I'll see you again soon.
She'd sent a letter just for this short message?
No.
Heh.
Carnima was flaunting her influence.
For later.
-We could be on the same side!
For that one moment.
"Interesting."
Finally, a connection with the shrouded New Empire.
The suspiciously deep New Empire, where digging could unearth yams as thick as legs.
"Tell Duke Carnima to contact me through Remy."
And this was a gift for the night.
"Countess Remy will be thrilled."
Would she, really?
*
*
*
There was still some time left on the mission.
No issue heading back to Demorus first, but District 2 wasn't a place you visited easily.
Wouldn't it be a waste to just leave?
"I did think about it."
He'd wondered if any remnants from the past lingered.
Not chasing nostalgia, but from District 2 onward, there were quite a few pieces of gear he hadn't recovered.
Outer city of Forshe.
Sein wandered through it, sifting through memories.
'Nothing.'
Gone.
The graveyard site had become a road.
The statue spot now had a mansion.
Even if they dug up the road, no gear would turn up.
'Assuming the New Empire has them is more realistic.'
It made sense they'd salvaged the gear he'd left behind after tidying everything up.
"Rather refreshing, actually."
Truth be told, he'd been greedy for the gear and held out hope.
Unavoidable, given they could shake the continent—but obsessing over something you couldn't resolve right now was foolish.
Then, suddenly.
"..."
Sein stopped in the middle of the street.
"...?"
He turned his head.
For the first time.
Ding-a-ling.
He stepped into a certain shop.
"Welcome! This is the Walnut Tree General Store!"
A cheerful voice greeted him.
"A n-noble?"
The imperial capital had no back alleys.
But its citizens feared nobles just as much.
"You the owner?"
A spunky-looking girl.
Her twin braids suited her well.
"W-what if I am?"
"Name?"
The owner of Walnut Tree General Store, Irne, felt an odd vibe.
Business had been dead lately, flies buzzing around, so she'd greeted the rare customer warmly—only for him to hit her with informal speech and demand her name.
'Handsome face, though.'
What a jerk.
"N-noble... sir?"
"Complicated."
The three great underworld families didn't have separate titles, after all.
In the capital, asking if he was noble got an ambiguous answer.
"Hah. Some guy who isn't even noble playing pretend—must be from some fallen house. Same as me, whatever."
Meaning he'd had noble blood but not anymore.
Most Forshe citizens were like that.
"...?"
"What do you need my name for? Buy something or get lost."
"Huh."
"What? You started with the informal crap first. Think I'm a joke? I am! I'm Irne of Walnut Tree General Store! Don't you dis—huh? Huh?"
Sein strode right up.
And then.
Grip.
Sein lifted both her braids with one hand.
"Aaack! Let go! I said let go!"
"Must've seen some weird discipline video or something, but that's only for places with clear laws and order, idiot."
"Let go!"
"In this dog-eat-dog world, pull that and..."
Shake, shake.
Irne dangled like a reed in Sein's grip.
"You'll end up like this."
"Aaaaah!"
Irne thrashed in fury, but it was useless.
Even she, who prided herself on strength, couldn't budge Sein an inch.
That's when.
"What's... all the commotion, Irne."
A frail elderly voice drifted from the back.
"!"
Sein was so startled he dropped Irne.
Clang!
Irne whipped out a dagger from somewhere.
"Don't come closer!"
She aimed it at Sein and yelled, but it was pointless.
"Out of the way."
Sein grabbed the dagger by the blade and shoved Irne aside, heading toward the voice.