Ch.162Outside. The Lottery That Brings Happiness (1)

A mansion with a garden in the 2nd District of the Imperial Capital.

‘Those parasites are playing around again.’

Hans, the winner of the Empire’s first lottery, the protagonist of a 57 billion jackpot, and one of the most famous commoners in the Empire, muttered with a distorted face.

The targets Hans referred to as parasites were none other than his bodyguards.

They were personnel he had reluctantly hired after suffering hardships due to a “minor” mistake he made when he was too excited right after winning.

‘Elite background? What bullshit.’

Honestly, their credentials did look impressive.

They were former knights who had each served for over 10 years in the Royal Order and Black Iron Knights. Trusting those credentials, Hans had paid expensive security fees and entrusted his own safety to them.

But now, after more than 7 months, he questioned whether he should continue employing them.

They did too little work compared to what they were paid. Even now, they were just chattering among themselves while snickering.

“Ramsey. Come to think of it, shouldn’t you be dead by now? It’s truly amazing your head isn’t cracked open.”

“What nonsense are you suddenly spouting?”

“During the height of Cordana, you and Selin conspired to rob that person… I heard you not only demanded money but even planned to use force?”

“No, it wasn’t robbery. We just thought of the idea because there was no sign of getting any Cordana… Sigh, thinking about it now, I don’t know why I did that.”

“Thank the Beast King for nicely cutting off your arm. Maybe he spared you because he felt sorry for your crippled arm.”

He couldn’t understand why he found their snickering about old stories so irritating, as expected of retirees.

Moreover, they weren’t just giggling among themselves. They were even arbitrarily interfering in matters related to him, their employer.

“Oh, right. There was an invitation from the Theobalt family. Should we let Hans go?”

“No. We should decline. They’re worthless except for having some royal blood mixed in. Their intentions are obvious, so why bother associating with them?”

“There are nearly thirty lottery winners now, but Hans is unusually famous. Everyone seems to probe him once in a while when they think people have forgotten.”

“What can we do? Hans brought it on himself. …But thanks to him setting a clear example, subsequent winners are careful on their own.”

“Yeah. I heard they even manage things now so relatives can’t know about the winnings.”

Now they were even arbitrarily rejecting invitations from prestigious families with royal blood. And they didn’t even ask for his permission.

This was blatant overstepping of authority.

Having gone through hardships, Hans could see through their sinister intentions.

‘They want to prevent me from forming my own connections. That way, I’ll have to depend only on them for years.’

How much of a pushover did they think their employer was to do such things?

Though they might fear losing their livelihood as disabled people, he couldn’t tolerate behavior that made him look like a fool.

At this rate, he might really end up serving those two as his masters.

‘Yes. Let’s make a decision now.’

Hans took several deep breaths and approached the bodyguards. He was finally going to say what he had wanted to say for the past few months.

“Excuse me, you two.”

“Huh?”

They just turned their heads while sitting in relaxed postures.

This was no longer the attitude toward an employer.

Thanks to that, he could strengthen his resolve.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can continue with you anymore.”

“What…? No, listen, Hans.”

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m just saying I don’t need high-caliber personnel like you anymore. Of course, until 4-5 months ago, you were somewhat reliable.”

“Are you saying we’re not now?”

“I’ve grown during that time too. I was thinking of just telling the security association, but since you’ve helped me, I’m telling you directly.”

Hans notified them as formally and politely as possible. It was right to be careful, as these armed men might seek revenge if they parted on bad terms.

‘Yes. I should accommodate them this much.’

Hans carefully managed his expression, hoping the two bodyguards would leave quietly. If he showed weakness now, they might try to intimidate him with force. Losing the psychological battle would be the end.

Fortunately, Hans’s conduct seemed appropriate.

The bodyguards surprisingly didn’t resist.

Instead, they clicked their tongues, shook their heads, and just sighed. Then Ramsey, scratching his seaweed-like hair, chided him.

“Will you really be okay without us?”

“Yes. Don’t worry, I won’t have my money stolen by wandering into strange places.”

“That’s not what I was worried about. …Anyway, fine. If that’s your wish.”

The two promptly relinquished their positions as bodyguards without any apparent regret.

“…Thank you for agreeing so readily.”

Although he had to pay a certain amount as a penalty, he didn’t particularly mind.

Rather, he felt he had dismissed them at the right time. This was much better than regretting after being endlessly drained of money.

‘This is what they call a wise cut of losses.’

In fact, he had been uncomfortable all this time, unable to properly meet women or even drink alcohol at ease. Even when he went to a succubus tavern, he had to seat a pretty succubus next to each of his bodyguards. And even those succubi preferred the has-beens.

The feeling of sending off these uncomfortable men was refreshingly pleasant.

***

Now he could enjoy living the life of a lottery winner.

Hans’s face, which had been smiling with anticipation for a free life, soon contorted.

“Long time no see, Hans.”

Just as he was leaving home thinking of embracing a succubus, the people he least wanted to meet appeared in a group.

They were his relatives.

His brother who had harassed him for money, his cousin who had occupied his room in protest, and so on. He couldn’t understand why they suddenly appeared after being quiet for the past few months.

Hans backed away saying, “Uh,” but… his relatives had already surrounded him. With unpleasantly smiling faces.

“Let’s talk, Hans.”

“Cut the crap. What talk?”

“Tsk. We’re seeing each other after so long. By the way, no sword-wielding people beside you today? So that rumor was true.”

What to do now.

Fortunately, some guard soldiers were passing by.

Indeed, the 2nd District where real nobles lived was different. Hans beckoned to the patrolling soldiers with a triumphant smile.

“Hey, there! Please quickly remove these people.”

Hans expected the soldiers to move swiftly, but they just looked at him incredulously and approached slowly.

“Remove? Are you talking to me? Who are these people?”

“They’re my relatives. But that’s not important. They’re very suspicious people, so just quickly remove them from my sight.”

“…They’re not carrying weapons or breaking into your house. And you, who do you think you are? Next time you bark orders like that, you’ll get slapped.”

Bark? What?

Hans frowned in disbelief.

But the soldier didn’t even care. Meanwhile, Hans’s relatives just smiled innocently saying, “Yes, we’re just visiting.”

“No, why are you speaking so rudely? Do you know who I am?”

“Who are you? Just the guy who went crazy after winning the first lottery.”

“……”

“Is the guard your servant? Be careful how you act from now on.”

The soldier gave him a contemptuous look and then left abruptly.

Hans felt a surge of bewilderment.

Can a guard treat a resident of the 2nd District like that?

He wanted to rush to their unit right now and complain. If possible, even have them disciplined…

“…Ah.”

Hans belatedly realized he had no such authority.

Regardless of his wealth, he was still a commoner. Just a commoner with a lot of money.

There was one reason he had momentarily forgotten this fact. It was because he had unknowingly become stiff-necked while being accompanied by bodyguards on both sides. They were both nobles, and they were connected to most officials and soldiers within one or two degrees of separation.

But now those bodyguards were not by his side.

Immediately after, his relatives approached again with sparkling eyes.

Knowing that causing a disturbance where high-ranking people lived would lead to sanctions, they neither used violence nor raised their voices.

They just stuck to him with bright smiles.

“Hans. Let’s see each other more often from now on. Is it right to live estranged from your family over mere money?”

“…You call that talking? I remember all the times you demanded money from me.”

“Yes, I admit it! Don’t you understand that your brother acted in a way that could be misunderstood? But that’s in the past, and now I truly just want to restore our brotherhood. And you, do you really plan to never see your nephews and nieces for the rest of your life?”

That behavior of grinning while asking for reconciliation.

Hans could feel how much they had been waiting for this day. It was much scarier than when they just yelled for money.

“No, I have urgent business to attend to.”

“Can’t we help you with that urgent business? I’ll even clean your bathroom.”

They definitely weren’t going to back down easily.

It was suspicious that they all came as a group in broad daylight despite being ordinary lower-class people. It meant they were willing to impact their livelihoods to pressure Hans.

“Brother. Happiness grows when shared, right?”

This was muttered by a relative whose name Hans barely knew, firmly grasping his hand. It was too strange that this happened right after dismissing his bodyguards.

‘These bastards. Did they observe me, waiting for me to be alone? For those few months?’

After contemplating, Hans finally pushed away those surrounding him, saying, “Fuck.” The pushed relative, far from getting angry, just snickered.

“Leave me alone, please…!”

Hans managed to fend them off after much struggle. He also somehow prevented them from entering the garden.

Or to be honest, it was more like the relatives retreated at an appropriate point. As if there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

Because of that attitude, Hans felt a sense of despair.

‘Maybe I should move somewhere secluded. …No, no. Ramsey said it becomes more dangerous outside the Imperial Capital. Then should I hire new bodyguards? That’s also… …By the way, why is everyone doing this only to me?’

A situation where he had cut ties with all relatives and friends and couldn’t trust anyone. Although he still had plenty of money, there were strangely many holes through which it leaked.

Hans, who collapsed weakly, finally sat down in the garden and sobbed aloud.

I just want to be happy, I thought I would really be happy if I just had money. How did it come to this?

He could only shed tears.

…

In the end, Hans rehired Ramsey. He tried to rehire the other one as well, but that person had left to teach children at an elementary school established in his hometown.

Even rehiring Ramsey wasn’t easy. Bodyguards with verified backgrounds were rarer than expected.

To change Ramsey’s mind, who said, “I don’t need to be a bodyguard anymore,” Hans had to spend nearly 50 million on gifts. Not only that, but he also had to write a contract guaranteeing employment.

“Let’s get along well from now on?”

“…Yes. Please.”

Hans greeted Ramsey, who walked confidently into the mansion with an “Hmm!”, with a hollow expression. Now he really couldn’t tell who was the master.