Chapter 205

Chapter 205

Episode 205: 『Fragments of the Past』 // A knight is a troublesome opponent. Not because they are strong, but because of their high rank. It’s obvious that someone of high rank is important, and the more important they are, the less easily you can kill them. That’s why I couldn’t help but feel reluctant about Maxen appearing before me now. But I couldn’t show it now. Looking at Maxen approaching, I forced myself to make a shameful expression. “…Ugh.” “Hmm…” However, Maxen didn’t care and carefully examined me. Did he notice something familiar? I shrank under his gaze, covering my chest and genitals. “Ugh…” Of course, it didn’t matter if I exposed them. It would be ridiculous for a woman in a brothel to cover herself at this level, and I would rather welcome a lingering gaze. But that role could be done by someone other than Maxen. For now, it was better to put on a little act. ‘…Huh?’ However, Maxen’s gaze wasn’t directed at my chest, but somewhere else. “Ah…” Specifically, at the branded stomach. I had forgotten about the brand because Seran had brushed it off so casually, but when I thought about it, it was obviously unusual.

-Swish.

Realizing this, I hurriedly covered the brand, but that wouldn’t solve anything. I wondered if it was a dilemma to consider which to show, my chest or my genitals. But whatever I chose, the fact that I had already shown the brand didn’t change. “….” Maxen carefully observed my stomach with a suspicious gaze and then asked me. “Hey, whore.” “…Yes?” “Was your name Lyla?” Huh. Does he remember? I looked up at Maxen, involuntarily nervous at the thought, but there was no sign on Maxen’s face that he remembered me. “….” Is he just managing his expression? However, lying in this situation wasn’t a good choice. Seran knew me anyway. In the end, after a moment’s thought, I nodded quietly in affirmation. “…Yes, that’s right.” It wouldn’t be a situation that could be glossed over with a lie, would it…? Seeing me nod honestly, Maxen nodded as if he understood. “Hoo.” “….” What does that ‘hoo’ mean? I sighed inwardly and complained. I didn’t like that he was being so bothersome. “…Interesting.” “….” I felt like something had been discovered, but it didn’t matter. It’s not like he found out about my plan to steal the Etheric Herb, and he wouldn’t know that my identity was a half-demon from another world who practiced martial arts. Moreover, as I was having this pointless battle of nerves, I felt a slight dissatisfaction welling up. It’s nothing special, if he’s not just going to fuck me, I wish he would hurry up and do his job. As I was thinking about this and that, Maxen finally opened his mouth. “Hey, soldier.” Not to me, but to a passing guard. “Yes?” “Dress this woman and leave her in the interrogation room.” He grabbed a guard passing by in the hallway, pointed at me, and ordered. “…Understood.” The guard looked back and forth between the naked me and Maxen with a flustered expression, but he wasn’t the only one who was flustered. I couldn’t help but be taken aback by Maxen’s sudden words. “Excuse me…?” Interrogation? I did do something… but how did he know? To my question, Maxen kindly answered. “You know the name Rockerd, right?” Of course, I know. Not just because I kicked him and knocked him out. Rockerd was the one in charge of the Black Rose Manor when I was there. There’s no way I wouldn’t know. “….” That was the problem. Whether the Maxen in front of me remembered me or not. Both were possible, so it was difficult to make a decision. Did he understand my silence as affirmation? Maxen got up again and ordered the approaching soldier. “Take her to the interrogation room and watch her carefully so she doesn’t escape. And don’t touch her.” “…Understood.” The soldier looked at my body with a regretful expression after hearing Maxen’s order, but I was already ignoring his gaze and lost in thought. Perhaps the most plausible assumption is this. ‘Rockerd was arrested and told everything.’ Maxen Handelphon, the commander of the East Gate Guard. If there was a disturbance in the underworld, he would be the one who had to act first to deal with it. If the Rockerd Family was shattered by a fight, and Maxen heard my name in the process of cleaning it up, I could guess why he wanted to interrogate me. …What should I do? Should I just slip away quietly? // After putting Lyla in the interrogation room, Maxen Handelphon spurred his horse towards Count Lantain’s mansion. His destination was the Count’s study. “Is the Count in?” “He is… but what’s the matter?” To the maid standing in front of the study, Maxen spoke his purpose in a gentle tone. “I am Maxen, the commander of the East Gate Guard. Tell him I have something to report.” Maxen, a knight who had sworn an oath, had the right to report directly to the lord of the city. “Understood.” The maid knew this as well, so she readily opened the door and conveyed Maxen’s message to the Count. And after a while, a familiar voice flowed out from inside the study. “Yes, come in.” It was the voice of Count Lantain, the ruler of Lakers. “….” Count Lantain, whom Maxen faced, looked a little thinner and more haggard than the last time. The elderly Count with half-white hair was originally a lean man, but perhaps because he was on edge about what was to come, his already sharp expression looked even sharper. “Yes, what is it?” He put on his round glasses, read the documents on the desk, and glanced at Maxen as he asked. “It’s about the matter I urgently contacted you about this morning.” “…Ah, that’s right.” At Maxen’s report, the Count withdrew his nervous gaze and sighed. “Are those insignificant things causing trouble again?” Insignificant things. As Count Lantain said. From the perspective of the nobility, the underworld is just that. In a huge group like a city, filth is bound to come out, and the underworld is a pit to throw that filth into. The underground sewer and the underworld. The two are ultimately the same. “How should we punish the ringleaders?” Maxen knew that too. He was the one who managed the sewers. At Maxen’s question, Count Lantain asked him back. “What do you think?” Count Lantain doesn’t make hasty decisions. He is the ruler of Lakers, but that’s why he knows how to handle the huge machine that is the city. There is a right person for every job. The Count knows that he cannot be the right person for every job, so he chose to ask Maxen for his opinion first. And Maxen gave the prepared answer. “…I don’t think we should punish them right now.” “Well, I think so too.” The Count nodded with a bitter smile after hearing Maxen’s judgment. “Yes… the timing is not good.” The underworld is a pit to throw filth into, but there are things that shine even there. Beautiful and poor women were the materials for making those shining jewels. The prostitutes in the brothels played a significant role in Lakers’ growth as a city without any special characteristics. And those brothels are operated under the management of the underworld. Normally, there would be no hesitation in punishing them. Filth is always created. But this time, the situation is different. “…In a week, His Highness’s knights will arrive.” The knights of the First Prince, Jersian. Like a young prince, he is full of energy and yearns for the sky. He owns his own dragon and is close to the dragon knights. If we build connections with them, we can create a connection with Jersian, and perhaps raise Lakers as a bridgehead to handle his business in the future. This time, he used dragon knights to transport goods, but that was ultimately a shortcut using Jersian’s personal connections. We cannot always use the dragon knights, who are the national power, and sometimes it is better for a business to appear inefficient. Especially for the Count, who wants to join hands with Jersian. “There must be no problems in dealing with them.” “…Understood.” Maxen and Count Lantain both knew. No matter how much of a dragon knight they are, they are still men. They are young men in their prime, who regard recklessness as courage and debauchery as boldness. The two knew that there was nothing better than brothels and banquets to entertain such people. We cannot use the maids of the mansion. The lord of the city is a position where popularity is more important than notoriety. We will not interfere with those who are attracted to each other, but sometimes dragon knights want different stimulation. “Rockerd is the leader of a group that runs brothels. He has been doing quite well so far, so I think it would be okay to give him a reprieve.” “Then so be it.” A reprieve means to postpone. It is clear that Rockerd, who has already caused trouble once, has already caught the Count’s eye. He has only been given a reprieve of one week. He will probably be grateful for the Count’s grace without knowing it. “And, as for Jin…” “Since we saved one, one must die. I trust you to take care of it.” “…Understood.” Maxen bowed his head and answered. But that was not the end of the matter. It was not Maxen’s business, but the Count’s. “And, Sir Maxen.” “Yes.” “You came at the right time. I have something I need you to do here.” Maxen silently received the document that the Count handed him. Maxen, who had been skimming through the received document for a while, gave a faint bitter smile. “This is…” “They don’t ride horses, do they?” The Count’s order was to organize a place near the East Gate Guard to store dragons. It’s not that Maxen himself has to sweat and work on the job, but it’s bound to be cumbersome for the guards, who have a job to do and a patrol duty. But, what can we do? It is the fate of a soldier to do what he is told. “I ask you.” “Understood.” Maxen had no choice but to nod at the Count’s words, which he said were a request but were an order. After all, it wasn’t like he was working directly. // After finishing his business at the Count’s mansion, Maxen returned to the guard’s barracks. And, there was one thing left for him to do. “Captain.” “…What’s the matter?” “About that woman in the interrogation room. Should we keep her there?” Lyla’s interrogation. Thinking of that, Maxen sighed softly and answered. “Yes. I was going to go there soon anyway.” “….Understood.” The guard leader’s expression was filled with regret. Maxen noticed that the regret was due to lust and gave a bitter smile. “Huh.” Is it because I untied her? I knew about the prostitutes who came on business trips, so Maxen could understand his feelings. But as Maxen nodded inwardly, he soon thought of a question. ‘…A business trip?’ Lyla. That name came from Rockerd. According to his testimony, Lyla was his subordinate’s lover and left the city two years ago. And, after returning, she was kidnapped by Jin, which became the starting point of the bloody battle. The important thing is that point. She left the city. Then she can’t be a prostitute. Anyway, she left because she found freedom according to the laws of the underworld. Then why was a woman who was no longer a prostitute tied up in a corner of the guard’s barracks? ‘…That part is a little strange.’ Of course, according to Rockerd, the important thing was not that the woman was kidnapped.

Given Jin’s lingering resentment from the last fight, this upcoming bloodbath was an inevitable issue. Lockard had argued that, lamenting his own unfair situation. ‘It’s a biased excuse, of course…’ Maxen somewhat understood Lockard’s intentions, but he chose not to care. With the Count’s orders given, the truth was irrelevant. There’s no need to care what wriggles in the filth. His job is to shovel dirt and cover it up. All that remained for Maxen was a trivial curiosity. That woman named Layla. Who brought her here? That was the only thing he wondered about. // [Author’s Note] Sorry for the delay.