Ch.350Side Story 1 – Journey to the Southern Continent (5)

The morning sun was rising, its gentle rays illuminating the meadow near the carriage.

Despite the refreshing weather with its warm ambiance, a figure completely at odds with this atmosphere was limping toward the carriage.

“Haah…”

It was none other than Jawill Wilson.

He approached the carriage with uncharacteristically slow and heavy steps.

But rather than simple fatigue, it was because his entire body was battered.

One look at his face revealed just how miserably he had trained for the past two days.

His lips were swollen and cracked, bruises had turned various parts of his body bluish, and one eye was half-closed and puffy.

Every slight movement of his lips caused him to tremble faintly, letting out short groans like “Aigoo…”

“I was a fool to trust the young master. Urgh…”

Jawill Wilson staggered as he took another step toward the carriage.

A pleasant journey to the Southern Continent, he said?

An exciting adventure to look forward to, he said?

He’d let me enjoy time with women, he said!?

How could he possibly leave my face in this state at a time like this!!

“Damn it.”

As soon as he boarded the carriage, Jawill Wilson glared at Selden Alphonse with an aggrieved expression.

Selden Alphonse was already sitting comfortably inside the carriage.

Unlike when they departed from the Eastern Continent, he looked refreshed as he calmly sipped his tea.

“I’m dying here, but you look quite radiant, young master.”

As Jawill Wilson plopped down on the seat with a thud, Selden Alphonse took another sip of tea and replied nonchalantly without even looking at him.

“What are you complaining about now?”

Jawill Wilson blinked his swollen eyes with difficulty and demanded in a voice full of resentment.

“You said we were going to the Southern Continent like it was a vacation, so how could you leave my face in this state?!”

Only then did Selden Alphonse glance at him.

However, his eyes didn’t contain even a gram of remorse.

Instead, he examined Jawill Wilson’s face with interest, then chuckled softly and said:

“Oh! Your already ugly face has become even uglier?”

“Y-young master! Is that what you should be saying right now!?”

“It’s not like I’m saying anything untrue, right?”

“When we left, you said you’d let me enjoy time with women in the Southern Continent, but what is this all about!?”

Jawill Wilson despaired as if his life was over.

However, Selden Alphonse maintained his composed expression, took another sip of tea, and responded with utter indifference.

“You were training without your transformation skin anyway. Doesn’t that make it irrelevant?”

“…Pardon?”

“When we arrive at the Southern Continent, you can put on your transformation skin again. What’s the problem?”

Jawill Wilson stared blankly at Selden Alphonse with his swollen lips.

After pondering for a while, he nodded awkwardly as if just realizing something.

“…Y-you’re right.”

At that, Selden Alphonse looked Jawill Wilson up and down as if he couldn’t believe it.

Eventually, he let out a deep sigh and gave him a look as if he were gazing at the most pathetic creature in the world.

“…So do you think you’ll be able to enjoy time with women like this?”

At those words, Jawill Wilson flinched and straightened his posture.

“No, but you’ve seen my face with the transformation skin, young master. I’m so handsome… surely I can enjoy time with women?”

“It’s not all about looks, you know.”

“…Pardon?”

“If you want to attract women, you should at least avoid doing stupid things like this.”

“If I’m handsome… won’t they overlook a bit of stupidity?”

Selden Alphonse’s eyes widened slightly, seemingly surprised that Jawill Wilson was admitting his own stupidity.

“It’s good that you acknowledge it, but shouldn’t you aim to enjoy time with the most beautiful women?”

“But… brothels can be handled with money anyway, right?”

“We’ll certainly visit brothels, but I also plan to go to the famous Blue-Red Street in the Southern Continent.”

“What kind of place is Blue-Red Street?”

“You could call it a place of harmony? It’s where young noble heirs and mercenaries often gather to drink and have fun.”

“A-are you planning to arrange meetings with women on the spot there?”

Selden Alphonse tilted his head at Jawill Wilson’s shocked expression.

“Why? Not confident even with your handsome transformation skin?”

“…I thought we were just going to brothels… this is too sudden.”

“Paying for pleasure can wait until after we’ve had our fill of fun at Blue-Red Street.”

At that moment, the carriage gradually slowed down and came to a stop.

Both men looked out the window simultaneously.

A gentle breeze brought in the characteristic warmth of the Southern Continent.

Knock knock-!

At the same time, the coachman politely knocked on the door.

“Gentlemen, we have arrived at the Valtican territory.”

He bowed deeply and spoke respectfully.

Selden Alphonse rose from his seat inside the carriage.

Jawill Wilson also carefully stood up and stretched his body.

Though his entire body was stiff from the harsh training of the past two days, the excitement of arriving at the Southern Continent made him somewhat forget his fatigue.

Creeeeak.

As the carriage door opened, Selden Alphonse stepped out first.

He adjusted his light cloak and looked around.

The streets were more vibrant than expected, bustling with various shops and people.

It was a street showcasing the Southern Continent’s distinctive ornate architectural style.

After surveying his surroundings with satisfaction, he turned to the coachman.

“You said you know the Valtican territory well, didn’t you?”

The coachman bowed respectfully and answered.

“Yes, sir.”

Selden Alphonse glanced around briefly, then blushed.

He asked the coachman in a low voice.

“…Do you know where Blue-Red Street is?”

*

Blue-Red Street, Valtican’s famous entertainment district.

Brilliant lanterns illuminated the street, and red and blue silk decorations fluttered in the wind on the tiled roofs.

At the entrance, women in neat attire were greeting guests with gentle smiles.

Their gazes naturally turned toward Jawill Wilson.

“What are you doing?”

Standing beside me, Jawill Wilson was looking around with a dazed expression, his mouth hanging open.

His eyes were filled with enchantment.

The magnificent buildings, noblemen dressed in luxury, elegant music, and the subtle scent of alcohol wafting through the air.

Looking at him, I let out a long sigh.

“Jawill Wilson!”

“Y-yes, sir!!”

“Stop acting like a country bumpkin and hurry up.”

At my words, Jawill Wilson jumped in surprise and raised his voice.

“Country bumpkin? I was just admiring—”

“That’s exactly how a country bumpkin reacts.”

“…I’ll be more careful.”

“Let’s go in for now.”

Stepping inside Blue-Red Street, it was even more splendid than the exterior.

The walls were adorned with golden decorations, and in the spacious hall, young noble men and women gathered in circles, drinking and chatting.

Jawill Wilson and I naturally took empty seats in one corner.

“Young master, isn’t this place expensive?”

“We brought plenty of money, didn’t we?”

“Well… that’s true, but…”

“Once you marry Clara, you won’t be able to enjoy things like this. So if we’re going to have fun, we should do it properly.”

At that, Jawill Wilson’s eyes sparkled with determination as he clenched his fists.

“I-I’ll keep that in mind!”

And then.

As expected, the atmosphere soon shifted subtly.

With his transformation skin on, Jawill Wilson had transformed into a truly attractive face, which began to draw attention.

As soon as we took our seats, women nearby began glancing at him.

-Who is that? I’ve never seen him before, but he’s so handsome.

-Judging by his clothes, he doesn’t seem to be from the Southern Continent.

-Oh my, not only is he handsome, but his sturdy build is just my type!

Jawill Wilson seemed unaccustomed to the attention directed at him, unable to manage his expression.

I also savored the cold gazes sent my way and smiled.

-…Who’s that person next to him? A slave?

-What slave in this day and age… probably just a butler.

-Looking at his clothes, he seems to be a nobleman.

The cold treatment and subtle disdain that an ugly person receives from others.

Moreover, no one approached to speak first, and I could even hear them gossiping.

‘…It’s been really tough.’

Perhaps it’s because this is a world from a novel, but I’ve often had women flocking to me and falling in love with me at the slightest word.

But how is it now?

I’ve quickly and clearly understood the position of ‘the rejected one.’

‘The transformation skin was worth the money.’

That’s when it happened.

A strange woman’s voice flowed softly into my ear.

“Hello, we accidentally ordered too much food. Would you like to join us?”

Her gaze was fixed solely on Jawill Wilson.

She was neither tall nor short, with an average build, but there was something different about her aura.

Her rich auburn hair flowed over one shoulder, and her sharp golden eyes were striking.

She looked more like a mercenary operating in the Valtican territory than a noblewoman.

“…Pardon?”

“Is it too presumptuous of me?”

Since women rarely approached him first under normal circumstances, Jawill Wilson momentarily couldn’t respond and looked at me.

I gave him a pathetic look that seemed to say, ‘I bought you the transformation skin, do I have to spoon-feed you too?’

Only then did Jawill Wilson rise to his feet, his eyes sparkling.

“Y-yes, that would be lovely!”