Ch.52Chapter 52. About Sewage Alley (7)

# “Retreat! Retreat!”

Finally, unable to hold out any longer, Rina gave the order to withdraw.

Unable to overcome the flood of Ravin’s gang, Rina’s group scattered and began fleeing back to their hideout.

“Gotcha! Caught one!”

“Rina! Help me!”

Ravin was cruelly taking one or two prisoners in every battle.

The captured child desperately called for Rina, but she turned away, telling herself it was a sacrifice for the greater good.

It’s not like they’re mistreated when captured by Ravin anyway.

The only problem was that the next time they met, that child would have become a perfect member of Ravin’s gang.

“Damn it, we lost again!”

“We couldn’t help it. The enemy has more numbers…”

“Yeah, they have more people and they’re better fighters! We’re up against those kinds of kids! But you know what? Who charges in when they know they’re going to lose?”

Though they protested fiercely against Rina, she had no response.

Every time they boldly went out and got thoroughly beaten, the excuse was always the same.

“If Ravin had really gone all out, we’d all be dead. Arsil used to hold him back before.”

“So what am I supposed to do about it!”

When Rina exploded and shouted, the children flinched but quickly adopted expressions of contempt.

“I’m going over to their side.”

“Me too.”

They turned without hesitation toward where Ravin was.

Lin tried desperately to stop them, but they shook off his arm roughly and disappeared into the distance.

The remaining children dragged their tired bodies to their sleeping quarters.

Left alone, Rina collapsed into Lin’s arms and burst into tears.

“I’m doing my best…!”

“I know. Rina is doing her part.”

“Effort alone isn’t enough. We need something more definitive.”

“Yes, the struggle is painful, but we’ll find the answer in the end.”

Encouragement about trying hard had somehow become as predictable as Rina’s excuses.

She wanted to snap at him to stop saying the same things, but she held back.

What was going wrong?

She had returned with Lin and succeeded in forming a group and becoming its leader, seizing the opportunity.

She had become the leader of a group she had dreamed of.

She even had the respected Lin under her command to prevent any thoughts of rebellion and solidify loyalty.

With the stupid Arsil gone, she finally had a stage where she could move according to her own strategy, but she realized the tide of victory had already turned against her.

Lin, who had offered somewhat useful strategies at Arsil’s side, now only spouted foolish and obvious words, keeping her busy correcting him daily.

She could feel the change in her subordinates’ gazes because of this, but it didn’t matter since they kept losing all the important battles anyway.

At a time when they desperately needed to put their heads together, Lin was leisurely trying to farm.

“If we show that crops can grow, everyone’s minds will change.”

Crops, of all things!

How long would they have to wait and grow them before they could eat?

Did he really believe that would make the entire Sewage Alley prosperous?

If he truly thought so, Rina saw that as Lin’s limitation.

And now, she had to admit, whether she liked it or not, that she too had reached her limit.

“What is this? I’ve even tempered my attitude when they called me arrogant. I’m clearly trying to change, but no one appreciates it or follows me.”

“I know you are.”

Your acknowledgment doesn’t help at all.

It would have been better to have Ravin under her command.

In the end, as Rina had initially judged, there were no useful people around her.

Despite her noble bloodline humbling herself like this, the situation wasn’t improving, and that was the fault of those around her.

She was sick of these incompetent fools.

“Rina?”

“I want to be alone for a while. I need to cool my head.”

“Alright. Don’t stay out too long, it’s dangerous.”

When there was no response, Lin withdrew on his own.

Though he was hurt that she hadn’t called him by name even once since then, her attitude had clearly changed, so Lin consoled himself and hoped she would soon emerge from her depression.

“Damn it…!”

Under the moonlight, Rina took deep, ragged breaths.

How long would she have to live like this, how long would she have to endure so miserably in this place? The bleak future left her feeling suffocated.

As she gazed at the white moon, lost in melancholy, an unfamiliar voice reached her.

“Lady Rinasien.”

A respectful, pleasant baritone.

But a somewhat youthful voice.

“Who’s there!”

Rina sharply surveyed her surroundings.

The moonlight accentuated her beauty even more.

The young knight in a hood, seeing her posture worthy of a female ruler, secretly admired her.

“Forgive my rudeness for this sudden call. I have come to serve you.”

“That manner of speech, you’re a noble. But even the filthy alley boys know better than to blindly trust someone who hides their identity.”

The knight smiled slightly under his hood.

Unlike the imperial ladies who focused only on adornment due to their sheltered upbringing, she was different.

Her beauty, sharp senses, and high dignity befitting her bloodline greatly pleased him.

The knight removed his hood and knelt on one knee.

“I have committed a discourtesy.”

When the knight raised his head, Rina unconsciously held her breath.

Well-combed blonde hair with strong, distinct features.

Undoubtedly the most handsome man she had ever seen.

Lin couldn’t even compare.

“Morgan Rainfold, eldest son of House Rainfold. I am honored to meet the Imperial Crown Princess.”

“Do you mean to insult me? Me, a Crown Princess? Does His Majesty even know how many children he has?”

“Yes, I do know.”

Children, her vocabulary has become rough due to her environment.

Rainfold’s straight gaze fell upon Rina, no, Rinasien.

“The only legitimate heir to Emperor His Majesty is Rinasien Karrun. Only you.”

“Nonsense! I have more than five siblings.”

“You did. But not anymore.”

“…What?”

“The first prince died of illness, the second prince fell in battle against the demon army, the third princess died from a fall, the fourth prince from being thrown from his horse, and finally, the fifth prince passed away early this year from the recent epidemic.”

Rinasien’s eyes widened.

All five of her elder siblings died from various causes?

That means…

“Your grief at losing all your siblings must be great, but regrettably, we have no time. This too is the tragedy that comes with imperial bloodline.”

Rainfold put on a solemn expression.

That alone was enough to captivate Rinasien.

And he too was captivated by Rinasien’s beauty.

“We’ve been searching for His Majesty’s only heir for over half a year. No wonder it took so long. I, Morgan, am impressed by the Crown Princess’s foresight in coming to this place where hardly anyone would know you, to escape from assassins.”

“How did you find me?”

“I had my subordinates disguised as merchants travel everywhere.”

“Merchants?”

“Yes, that’s right. One of the outsiders who visited this alley on the day the power shifted was my subordinate.”

Rinasien’s eyebrows rose.

“You must have heard what almost happened to me that day! Are you saying your subordinate just watched?”

Of course.

If a woman doesn’t suit his taste, she has no value.

But meeting her in person, she was of very high quality.

Top quality, enough to please his extremely discerning heart.

With a snap of Rainfold’s fingers, ten men in black hoods appeared behind him.

One of them pulled out someone’s head from his chest.

She flinched but didn’t turn away.

Rinasien had spent years in Sewage Alley.

She was past the point of trembling at corpses or severed heads.

This pleased Rainfold even more.

A woman he wanted to keep seeing, unlike other noble ladies.

Feeling his blatant gaze, Rinasien chose to blush slightly rather than point out his rudeness.

“This is the head of the one who showed such outrageous behavior then.”

“How would I know whose head that is? I didn’t even know who it was.”

“Would you recognize it if I offered the heads of everyone here?”

“The living are more useful than the dead. I believe the rudeness of that day will be repaid gradually.”

Gradually, life entered Rinasien’s voice.

Yes, subjects prostrating themselves and begging for mercy.

And herself, reigning over them.

This is how it should have been.

This was the dignity given to her from birth.

“What do you intend to do with me?”

“To escort you properly to the imperial palace, to announce to His Majesty the Emperor and all the imperial subjects that here is the legitimate heir.”

“The legitimate heir who was left to rot in this filthy sewage alley until now?”

“What are you saying?”

Despite her direct resentment, the knight remained calm.

Pwuuuuuuuuu-!

“What is this?!”

The sound of a horn signaling an external attack.

Only then did Rinasien take her eyes off Rainfold and look toward the hideout.

“The Crown Princess has no history of being in such a filthy place as Sewage Alley.”

Behind Rainfold’s gentle admonishment, flames were rising in the distance.

—

As always, incidents and accidents begin in an instant.

Ravin’s gang, standing guard at the alley entrance, spotted an army approaching in formation.

“Look at that, white cloaks and armor!”

“Could it be from the Church?”

The children immediately called for Ravin.

Hearing that the Church’s army had arrived, Ravin rushed over in great surprise.

Within that surprise was a glimmer of hope.

The hope that Arsil’s, the Church’s support had finally arrived.

“Ravin! It’s been a while.”

“Sir Casty?”

“It’s Sir Casty! Everyone, it’s Sir Casty!”

The children, recognizing Casty, the Church knight who particularly liked children, greeted him eagerly.

Casty smiled and raised his hand in return.

But at that moment, Ravin saw it.

On this night with particularly bright moonlight, Casty’s waist held a sword without a scabbard, gleaming blue in the moonlight.

“Sir Casty, why did you come only now? We were so hungry!”

“I’m sorry. The preparations took too long.”

“What preparations? What kind of meat and bread did you bring this time?”

“Oh my, oh my.”

Casty smiled awkwardly at the children’s barrage of questions.

“That’s the problem with lowborn brats. Once you treat them well, they think it’s their due.”

“Sir Casty…?”

“Listen well, little ones.”

He sensed movement.

Barely managing to lower his posture, a sword passed over him.

Men in black hoods with weapons had somehow approached the children.

“Gak!”

“Urgh…!”

The children, seized in an instant, died with daggers piercing their chests and throats.

“Now, let me apologize once more.”

Casty smiled kindly.

“Cleaning is simple but not easy, you know? It needs thorough preparation to leave no dust behind. From now on, I’ll clean this place spotlessly!”

Just as Agreus had done before, he spread his arms, and the white army began charging toward Sewage Alley.

“Jack, Lapham! Secure Lee!”

Ravin shouted urgently, but there was no response.

Jack, with his neck already torn, approached Ravin and took a stance.

“Jack…?”

“We’ll handle this. Ravin, you go to Lee.”

“Lapham! Your stomach…!”

Clutching his spilling intestines, Lapham also raised a club.

“Go, escape with Lee. That’s what you wanted.”

“But you guys!”

“Go, Ravin.”

Lapham smiled sadly.

“I guess we’re just sewage pooled in this alley after all.”

Skak

With those final words, Lapham’s head fell.

The white army, which had approached silently, took his friend.

He didn’t scream.

Instead, Ravin drank a potion that glowed reddish.

The same potion that Grum had drunk on Liberation Day.

“Urrrgh!”

The world slows down.

In this world where only he moves faster, his breathing can’t keep up.

Enduring the burning pain, Ravin ran toward the hideout where Lee was.

Leaving behind devastation and sorrow, solely to protect Lee.

“Rina!!!!!”

Lin had already seen the fire starting at the entrance and was searching for Rina.

He shouldn’t have left her alone!

Cursing his complacency for this major mistake, Lin gritted his teeth.

Fortunately, he found Rina where they had first parted.

But Rina wasn’t alone.

Knights in black hoods and a blonde young man.

Seeing they were armed, Lin rushed in without hesitation to save her.

“Let Rina go!”

And was immediately knocked down by a gauntlet.

Despite seeing Lin collapse from the heavy blow that showed no mercy, Rinasien didn’t even blink.

“Kill him.”

“Wait.”

Rinasien stepped forward, stopping Rainfold.

“I told you, didn’t I? That I have noble blood.”

“Rina… danger…”

“There’s no danger. These men are knights escorting me.”

“Knights? I don’t understand at all.”

“Well, it would be difficult for your stupid brain.”

Look, this incompetent one can’t even touch a hair on her subordinates.

It was indeed the difference in the caliber of those they served.

“I’m different from you all. I’ll rise to a higher level and achieve more. When that day comes, I’ll personally bestow favors upon you.”

“What are you saying? Weren’t we equals? Weren’t we supposed to protect and care for each other?”

“You? For me? By my side? Ah!”

Rinasien clapped her hands and then extended them.

“Fine. If you insist, I’ll appoint you as my chamberlain. Then you can serve me by my side, right? You can care for me normally and protect me in emergencies. Right?”

“Your Highness.”

“Morgan, this is my will.”

“Rinasien.”

The two, a man and woman, already calling each other by name despite having just met.

Even to Lin, they seemed like a well-matched pair.

A handsome couple he would have conceded defeat to, if not for the way they were treating him.

“It would be wise to choose well.”

At Rainfold’s threat, Lin rose to his feet.

Blood trickled from his mouth, but he felt no pain.

His heart pounded for a different reason than before.

“You haven’t changed at all! You’ve been harboring this arrogance all along, just waiting for this moment!”

“It was indeed a long, long time of patience. See? The world was on my side after all.”

“I was on your side from the beginning!”

“A useless ally. I’m offering you the excessive position of chamberlain because you’re good at menial tasks. It’s a position that can’t be held without someone of verified status. You have no idea how unprecedented it is for a male chamberlain to a noble lady.”

“Fine, I don’t know. I didn’t know what kind of person you were at all!”

Even seeing Lin completely enraged, Rinasien didn’t back down.

She was no longer the Rina of before.

She was Crown Princess Rinasien Karrun.

“Are you refusing my offer?”

“I’d rather die than be your subject! Wait, I’ll become someone who can look you in the eye as an equal! I’ll rise higher than these people you call your subjects and become someone who can face you proudly!”

“Haa.”

Sighing, Rinasien approached and caressed Lin’s cheek with the hand she had extended.

This pity was her first genuine emotion since coming to Sewage Alley.

Thunk

“Then die.”

“…Rina?”

A sharp sensation piercing his stomach.

“Noble ladies always carry a stiletto to protect their chastity.”

Rinasien kindly explained to Lin as he collapsed helplessly.

“This is my final mercy. Mercy for being my only ally in this place. I’ll admit it. You were the best companion here, but utterly useless.”

I’ll call you by the name you wanted to hear, one last time.

“Goodbye, my Lin.”

Lin couldn’t move.

An unfathomable despair and frustration weighed him down.

Looking into his lifeless eyes, Rainfold whispered to him.

“I’ll let it pass since it’s Her Highness’s final mercy. Judging by your appearance, you’ll amount to nothing in the future, but I’ve memorized your face well.”

The end.

From the moment she stabbed him, the relationship between Lin and Rinasien was over.

Though he wouldn’t die from just a stiletto wound, the pain gave Lin deep regret and anger over the days he had spent with Rina.

Had he liked her?

“Lee!”

Yes, very much.

“Everyone’s dead… Jack… Lapham…!”

So was it a foolish love?

“I saw Rina at the hideout on my way here. She was with the men who killed Jack and Lapham!”

It was unrequited love. Rather than foolish, he was young.

“She said it herself. Kill everyone in this alley!”

Too young to know his place, to be mature in the face of unrequited love.

“We need to escape. There’s no hope here anymore. Get up, Lee!”

Let’s admit it. It was first love.

“Please get up… I checked everything… Everyone’s dead except us…”

And now she was a mortal enemy who had killed his friends.

Clutching his bleeding stomach, Lin stood up.

Looking around, he realized he wasn’t where he had fallen.

Ravin must have carried him on his back and run to escape the army.

“Let’s part ways here.”

“Lee?”

“I have something I must do.”

It wasn’t just because of Rina that he had awkwardly sided with Arsil back then.

“Let’s go together!”

“They’ve memorized my face. It’s dangerous if we go together.”

“I’ll protect you! Lee, I’ll protect you! Please, please!”

Finally, Lin looked at Ravin.

She was bleeding from her mouth and nose, and tears were streaming down her face.

“You’re all I have now, Lee…”

Though those words pained his heart deeply, Lin turned away.

“Lee!”

“I have something I must do.”

I’ll definitely get back at Rina, that bastard.

“Lee! Let’s just disappear together. The two of us, living normally in a normal place. Peacefully! Just as you wanted!”

Peace? I did want that once.

“Ravin. I have something I must do.”

Revenge. I must become someone important and see Rina’s shocked face, to receive her apology and retribution.

Though he didn’t say it aloud, Ravin could guess.

The once gentle man now desired the most destructive method.

A boy’s resolve cannot be stopped by a girl.

“Then I’ll make a place for you to return to. After you accomplish that, I’ll prepare a place where you can live comfortably, normally, peacefully. If you come to where my name is heard, always say those words to me. The words only you can say to me. Then I’ll come to meet you.”

“…I’ll look forward to it.”

That was their final conversation.

She didn’t have the courage to stop him as he dragged his body away slowly.

Watching his back disappear into the distance, Ravin wept bitterly.

Hearing Ravin’s sobs for the first time, Lin also choked up, but he had to go.

And so, Ravin was only able to reunite with him in Valtercruz after five years had passed.

With him, whose heart had died.

—

“So that’s it. Quite long, wasn’t it?”

Though only enough time had passed for night to turn to dawn, Lucy somehow felt as if she was seeing Ravin after a very long time.

Her own childhood as a fallen noble who earned her living with just a sword couldn’t even compare.

Lucy could now understand.

The look Lin gave Rinasien wasn’t affection but resentment.

“I’ll give you one compliment.”

Ravin stroked the sleeping Lin’s hair.

His deeply asleep appearance was cute.

“Thanks to the mask you told him to wear, Lin wasn’t recognized by Rainfold.”

Lucy flinched, knowing the mask hadn’t been offered out of pure goodwill.

After hearing Lin’s past, her own wrongdoing felt even more vicious.

“For the first three years, Lin just moved from city to city doing odd jobs. Ha, because of that, the observer attached to him went elsewhere. Maybe they were short on people, but that observer bastard entered a noble house opposed to the imperial family as a servant.”

Even Ravin, who knew Lin’s every move after Sewage Alley’s destruction, got goosebumps.

“Then Lin, being good at his work and taciturn, was offered a position as a hero party’s porter. Can you believe they requested a hero party like a guild quest? Lin seized the opportunity. As he told Rina, he needed a title to be on equal footing.”

“As you know best, the hero party was just doing odd jobs at the time, right? Until they achieved great feats, only their job classes were known publicly. Shield Knight, Hero, Mage, Archer, Saint, like that. So Lin joined the party not knowing the Shield Knight was Rainfold.”

Is that enough to answer all the small questions?

“Does Arsil… know nothing?”

“What would a slum girl know? She was probably just pushed around.”

Unlike her tone about Lin, Ravin showed no interest in Arsil at all.

Shallowly, Lucy felt slightly relieved that Arsil was ignorant.

And Ravin never missed such an opening.

“Why are you sitting there looking relieved?”

“Huh?”

“Are you relieved because Arsil is stupid?”

“That’s not it…”

“Luciana Estel. Don’t you understand what situation you’re in?”

Suddenly sharp, Ravin’s tone left Lucy flustered and unable to respond properly.

“The Lin I know would hate Rainfold terribly. He knew the man’s true face from the beginning.”

Lucy froze completely.

“How do you think Lin would feel about you, who fawned over Rainfold?”

Her whole body began to tremble like an aspen leaf.

“All the wrongs you’ve committed, and now your behavior toward Lin? That? Rina did it first. In Sewage Alley.”

She couldn’t breathe.

“Luciana, do you know that your actions in the City of Romance have become a famous love song among minstrels?”

“Ugh… ah…”

“Think carefully about that stubbornness to stay by Lin’s side. From my perspective, you would have acted the same way toward anyone who pulled you out of the gutter. Whether it was Arsil or any other man.”

“That’s not…!”

“Hey.”

Ravin held Lin’s head tightly in her arms.

“Lin is mine.”

The thief’s declaration was resolute and filled with hostility.

Like a statue, Lucy remained frozen until the sun rose and Lin woke up to call her.

Without a single movement.