Chapter 73

“You were… part of a pack of traitors?”

At my question, Malik gave a cheerful nod.

“Yep. To be precise, I was the son of the faction’s leader.”

“What on earth were you doing that led to a rebellion…?”

“Oh, you didn’t know? I thought you’d be well aware. Use a little imagination.”

He continued.

“The fief’s situation has always been a struggle, back then just as much as now. But then a war broke out. Military service, taxes… you get the picture, right?”

“So you’re saying that’s why the rebellion started?”

“I wanted to stop them, too. There was absolutely no chance of winning. But I couldn’t stop it.”

“Why…?”

“Because fighting to the death is more stylish than starving to death.”

I fell silent.

Was the desperation really at that level?

Malik spoke as if he had read my thoughts.

“Yeah, it was desperate. But the ending was a real masterpiece.”

“…The ending?”

“We actually succeeded in seizing the castle while Alejandro was away. But do you know what happened then?”

Malik slowly spread both hands.

“There was nothing in the castle. Truly, nothing.”

“Nothing…?”

“Storming the castle was fun. We killed innocent guards. We hung passing servants. We searched everywhere for the wine cellar the Astrier family was supposed to have hidden deep inside. But no matter how hard we looked, it wasn’t there.”

As he spoke, Malik’s eyes stared hollowly into space. He seemed to be reliving the scene from back then. Like a man chanting an incantation, he listed their movements through the eyes of the rebels.

“The kitchen, the dining hall, the barn, the servants’ quarters. We wandered through the court like ghosts. Eventually, we had our noses to the floor like starving dogs, searching for anything to eat. But we soon realized. There was no food in Denabi Castle either.”

“So, what did you do?”

“We started fantasizing. We told ourselves the expeditionary force Alejandro took with him had stolen all the food. That was why there was none. We stoked the fires of our rage and hatred while waiting only for the moment of their return. You can guess the ending… even without me telling you, right?”

Malik smirked as he said this.

I replied.

“The expeditionary force that returned must have been just as starved.”

“Bingo.”

He pointed both index fingers at me.

“From the ramparts of the Denabi court, we saw the faces of the returning expeditionary force. Every single one of them was gaunt.”

“After seeing that, did you open the gates and surrender?”

“Yeah. After my father threw himself off the ramparts and died, that is.”

I was appalled by Malik, who rattled off such things as if they were just old stories from the past.

“Don’t look at me with that face. I was sad, too. I really didn’t think my father would actually do that.”

He offered an excuse, but my stiff expression showed no signs of softening. Malik seemed to realize this and shrugged.

“Anyway… the merciful Lord Alejandro forgave us. Whether it was because he understood our situation or because of my father’s suicide. It was probably both.”

‘The trip down memory lane ends here.’

Malik tilted his head as if to signal the shift. I asked him.

“But why are you doing this now?”

“Doing what?”

“You are threatening the upper district. You attacked carriages, kidnapped people, and even planted your own people under me!”

“I figured you’d think that way.”

He let out a deep sigh. I pressed him further.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“That wasn’t my doing.”

“Am I supposed to believe you just because you say so?”

“It’s your loss if you don’t. I happen to be an ardent supporter of Alejandro.”

He picked up a liquor bottle from the table and popped the cap. The sharp scent of cheap alcohol wafted through the air. It was similar to the smell I had encountered in Izack’s underground distillation facility.

“Do you think I’m running some grand business here in the lower district? I told you. I’m nothing more than a general manager hired by Alejandro. I owe him my life, and I’ve lived with the thought that I must spend my whole life paying him back.”

“Then what were all those incidents that have been happening?”

“Kuuuh.”

He wiped his mouth after taking a swig.

“Well. Maybe the residents are finally getting sick of the trashy moonshine in the lower district? I mean, even I agree the taste of lower-district bootleg isn’t exactly pleasant.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You say that, but you’re just refusing to answer even though you know.”

His eyes narrowed into crescents. A devious smile played across his lips.

“From where I’m sitting, you’re trying too hard to only see the bright side of the lower district. Want a drink? You’ll realize the bitter taste of this place in a single go. Haha…”

I scowled instead of answering.

“No? I thought so.”

“Is all you have to say just a denial of the charges against you?”

“I suppose it would make you feel better if I said every bad thing happening in the lower district was orchestrated by me. I don’t blame you. The lower district workers you’ve met so far, Mr. Izack, and his family—they were all probably decent people. So it’s only natural for you to see me, someone you’re meeting for the first time, as a Great Demon King and believe that if you just eliminate me, the robberies and kidnappings will all vanish.”

He spoke again, this time with all the laughter drained from his voice.

“But unfortunately, in this den of vice, I’m the only one on your side.”

It was a statement without any proof. Yet, for some reason, I felt there was some truth to his words. It was difficult to accept immediately, but…

‘If only Mr. Izack were by my side… maybe I should have brought him after all?’

Just as I was mulling it over, Malik spoke.

“Of course, whether you believe me or not is meaningless now. I’ve become a person who can be of no help to you. Because of you—and no one else.”

He pointed at me playfully. I asked.

“What does that mean?”

“It means I’m a hollow shell with no power left. Forget being a ruler; I’m in a position where I have to give up my manager’s seat. Why?”

He twirled the hand he was pointing at me in a circle.

“First, you destroying the moonshine market in the lower district was a big hit. The local bigwigs are now in a position where they have to worry about how to make a living. And I’ve exhausted almost all my political influence trying to cover for you.”

“But that was a necessary step for the dungeon conquest! If that conquest fails…”

“I know, I know. You’re the Hero of Denabi.”

He waved his hand dismissively.

“But wouldn’t it be great if things worked out just because you and I thought that way? Regardless, you made your move, and it was a massive blow to the lower district’s influential figures. Of course, if you had stopped there, I might have been able to clean things up somehow. But then you went and opened the gates. Thanks to that, the lower district black market, which lacks price competitiveness, is facing a crisis where they have to shut down.”

“That was the choice of the lower district people! You can’t deny that!”

“No matter how much you try to convince me, it’s meaningless. I told you, I agree with you! I thought you were a genius. Economically, at least. But like I said, what does it matter if only you and I think that? The people who made their money through moonshine and the black market probably break out in hives just hearing your name.”

“…!”

Cold sweat broke out on my brow. Malik continued.

“Your choice might have been a brilliant move economically, but politically, it was a blunder of the highest order. Now, I can no longer shield you, nor can I control the rascals of the lower district.”

As he spoke, he swept aside the documents he had been reviewing and propped his feet up on the table.

“What I could do for you ended completely with getting you out of that ambush earlier. I’m not going to do anything now. Truly, nothing.”

“You… really…”

“Doing what? Hurry up and get going. I guarantee it’ll be better for you the faster you return.”

Just then, a commotion erupted outside.

I shot up from my seat and flung the door open.

There stood Adele Simoni, with Bard kneeling before her.

“…You.”

Adele looked back at me.

I brushed past them and spoke to her.

“Leave him alone…!”

I immediately scrambled down the stairs and ran outside.

The acrid smell of burning drifted on the wind, tickling the tip of my nose.

Adele, who had followed me out, spoke up.

“It looks like a fire broke out near the gate. Those bastards definitely…”

“No.”

I cut Adele off.

“It wasn’t… Malik.”

At that moment, the sound of footsteps swarmed in from all directions.

Once again, we were surrounded by thugs in the middle of the main road.

Adele pulled me toward her.

“…Stay close to me.”

Her mace smashed the ground.

She warned the thugs.

“Get back.”

But the thugs only responded with savage smiles.

Judging by their appearance, they looked like members of the Guild’s Vigilante Association. Every one of them was armed with proper weapons.

I realized that the ones I needed to worry about were not ourselves.

“Get lost unless you all want to die! This lady is an Emperor’s Hunter!”

—What?

Along with someone’s brief exclamation, a gust of wind blew.

The hood Adele was wearing fluttered in the wind, revealing the white cloak hidden beneath. And unfortunately for the thugs, Adele did not show a second mercy as she had before.

She pushed me down to a seated position on the spot.

“Ugh!”

—Whoosh!

—Crunch!

The sound of air being torn apart.

It was followed by the gruesome sound of flesh and bone being crushed.

I could only watch the scene with my eyes wide open.

‘Because I don’t dare dream of stepping in!’

It was closer to a one-sided slaughter than a fight.

The thugs’ momentum was brave only at the start; after Adele instantly blew the heads off two of them, the atmosphere changed completely.

However, whether they charged or hesitated, the end they faced was the same.

Adele showed no forgiveness to either side.

—Whoosh!

—Crack!

One skillful warrior managed to block the mace with his shoulder armor, but he was sent flying regardless, slamming into a wall.

Adele never let a single opportunity go to waste. Every time she swung her arm, the thugs were invariably knocked unconscious or fell into a sleep they would never wake from.

“Dammit, is this some kind of crazy monster?”

“She’s a real Emperor’s Hunter…?”

The thugs were now keeping a distance of more than five steps from Adele, gauging the space. It seemed they had finally figured out a safe distance from her.

Still sitting, I turned my gaze and looked around at them.

At this rate, they would all really die. These people are probably citizens of Denabi too…

But that was a naive thought.

A few of the thugs who had distanced themselves pulled out loaded crossbows. Their bolts were aimed not at me, but at Adele.

‘I knew this would happen.’

They must have calculated that if they neutralized Adele, I wouldn’t be a problem.

Should we have just barricaded ourselves inside Malik’s building instead?

There was no time for such regrets.

I swallowed hard.

Then, I pointed two fingers at one of the men aiming his crossbow at Adele’s back.

“…Distance, confirmed. Position, confirmed. Target set.”

I felt a subtle heat emanating from my completely crystallized right arm.

It was time for a gamble.