Chapter 66: Poar (2)

‘Medal of National Honor.’

Jack lifted his haggard face. Standing before him were the employees of the Charlotte Law Office. The woman in uniform, with a sharp face, staring at the wall, was named Alice. And the man standing next to her was Allen. Allen stroked his beard and repeated the name of the medal once more.

‘Medal of National Honor.’

‘What is this?’

Alice cautiously asked Allen. Allen patted his thick belly and said,

‘This is an award given by the kingdom to individuals who have acted most honorably as knights. It was 10 years ago. Jack was the knight among knights back then. He refused the pressure and enticements of the nobles and exposed the kingdom’s worst bribery scandal at the time.’

Jack bowed his head deeply. Explaining his past glory to him now was like shining a light on a shadow. Just as a shadow knows shame and shrinks away, he twisted his body, realizing the disgrace of his current state.

Allen said,

‘And then, a few years passed. While investigating the corruption of the Hero’s party, who had seized power, he was ousted on charges of accepting bribes from demon worshippers.’

Allen didn’t tell the rest.

Jack’s current appearance explained what had happened to him more concisely and clearly. As the justice he believed in crumbled, he fell into drinking and gambling. He spent all day drinking, lamenting the world, and immersed himself in gambling to forget his despair. He sold off his household assets one by one, eventually ending up in this countryside village far from the capital.

‘I am ashamed.’

That was all Jack could say. Allen spoke to Alice.

‘Alice. The Charlotte Law Office wishes to give a chance to clear his name to a man who once burned himself for this country’s justice.’

Alice looked at Jack again. She couldn’t fully trust Jack yet. After all, it was true that he had spent money from an unknown source as he pleased. Seeing Alice’s gaze, Jack trembled and said,

‘I, I admit I lost my mind momentarily when I saw the money. It’s proof that I had gone mad enough to lose my self-control over a few measly bucks. The moment I saw the money, I should have run somewhere and reported it. I admit I brought suspicion upon myself.’

Jack’s face was stained with tears. Seeing him cry, Alice frowned even more.

‘But, I swear on this medal, I did not personally commit theft or sell off livestock. Truly, one day I just woke up and the money was there by my head!’

Alice turned her head. Allen looked at Alice and said,

‘Alice. You must not let personal feelings interfere with the case. Understand?’

‘…..Yes.’

Only then did Alice nod and take Jack’s hand. Jack clasped Alice’s hand tightly and shed even more tears.

‘Hmph…. P, please…! F, for my daughter’s future, please clear my name!’

Alice didn’t look at Jack. She only stared at the family photo visible over Jack’s shoulder. It showed Jack and a young girl. The girl, who looked about Alice’s age, wore an innocent smile.

‘Please…!’

The moment Alice saw that photo, she could only despise Jack even more. He was the same kind of person as Carson. People at the bottom always blamed circumstances and inflicted sins upon their children.

Thinking of Carson still made Alice feel sick. The more she thought about him, the more her stomach churned and her body trembled with hatred. Alice suppressed the urge to slap Jack’s face and turned away, leaving.

She had enough information about the case.

‘Hello.’

Jack’s daughter was a prettier child than I had expected. She was currently working at another farm, earning daily wages. During a break while drinking water, I sneakily entered the farm and greeted her.

‘Oh, hello. Are you a traveler?’

As soon as she saw me enter, she put down her water and smiled brightly, nodding her head. Even at a glance, she had a firm and well-proportioned figure. Muscles were visible on her straight arms, extending from the overalls she wore for farm work, and her smooth armpits were visible as she lifted her arms. Her breasts were so ample they made the overalls look tight, and her hip line stood out whenever she bent over.

I nodded, leering at her physique.

‘Ah, yes. I decided to stay nearby for a while.’

‘Oh, really? Should I give you a tour right now then?’

‘Ah, would you?’

I stood beside her naturally, pretending to be a tourist. Jack’s daughter casually tossed aside her pitchfork and stood up. The muscles in her arms stood out as she stretched them. Her warrior-like physique reminded me that she was indeed a knight’s daughter.

‘What’s your name?’

‘Lorena. I’m Lorena.’

Lorena smiled broadly, her face tanned dark by the sun. Her brown skin, combined with her lively and bright personality, exuded an even more refreshing charm. Looking at her smiling face, I was certain.

It’s her.

Lorena is the woman truly worthy of being my servant #1 in this village.

‘You must train a lot. You look just like knights.’

‘Oh, really? Actually, I used to train to become a knight.’

‘Is that so?’

Lorena shook her head with a wry smile.

‘…But they wouldn’t let me take the entrance exam. My father was a knight, but he quit under rather unpleasant circumstances.’

‘That must have been tough. You trained so hard.’

Lorena nodded and continued,

‘Yes. Father felt very sorry too. He seems to think he blocked my path. Though I don’t mind not being a knight.’

She really was a good woman. Was Jack a good knight in the past too? I nodded at her words and said,

‘What are your plans from now on?’

Lorena glanced around briefly at my question and said in a low voice,

‘Actually, my father is currently under suspicion.’

‘I know. About that livestock disappearance case, right?’

‘Ah, yes.’

I didn’t bother mentioning that my daughter, Alice, was in charge of the case. Lorena blinked once, perhaps slightly surprised that I knew, and said,

‘Everyone suspects Father did it, but I believe he’s not the type of person to do such a thing. Right now, he’s just… wandering. I believe he’ll regain his spirit someday and return to his old self.’

I’ve seen many people who were upright individuals but fell into drinking and gambling due to a single mistake, walking down an irreversible path. Most of them ended up sold as slaves alongside me, and there were times when former masters, deep in gambling debt, sold me off.

Those people always had someone who believed in them, and they dragged those people down into the abyss with them.

I don’t trust people obsessed with alcohol and gambling.

In truth, I was half-convinced that Jack really had stolen the livestock.

But, does the world change if Jack really stole the livestock? Just as the Hero’s party engages in corruption, representing all the evil in the world, yet the kingdom doesn’t fall, does it matter if someone other than Jack is the culprit?

In the end, it’s none of my business.

Whether Jack learns his lesson and commits more heinous thefts, or sinks deeper into alcohol and gambling, it’s none of my business.

If I make it seem like Jack isn’t the culprit, and if Lorena develops feelings for me and arranges time alone with me, that would be enough.

Lorena will come to like my cock more than Jack’s.

‘Lorena. Do you really believe Jack isn’t the culprit?’

‘Huh?’

She looked flustered when I suddenly changed my tone. I glanced around again and asked Lorena once more.

‘What if I find evidence that Jack isn’t the culprit, and he’s acquitted? What would you do?’

‘W-what…! Are you… talking about?’

Lorena struggled to finish her sentence, flustered. Was her brain stiff from all the exercise? I explained it in a way she could understand.

‘My daughter is in charge of investigating this case.’

‘Y-your daughter?’

Lorena scanned me up and down with a suspicious expression. I reminded myself that my appearance hardly suggested I could have a daughter like Alice, and added,

‘…I remarried. She’s my wife’s daughter. So, we get along like friends.’

‘…Ah.’

Only then did Lorena nod, seemingly understanding. I said,

‘Let’s keep this between us. I’ll help you. I’ll investigate thoroughly for you. And you…’

‘I, I…’

Lorena looked at me with an anxious expression. Her fists clenched, giving the impression she’d punch me right in the jaw if I misspoke here. I raised my pinky finger and said,

‘Let’s be friends.’

‘F-friends?’

Lorena relaxed her hands. I took a natural breath and said,

‘I got married young, so I didn’t have many opportunities to make friends. You look about my age. Let’s be friends. Lorena. Will you be my friend?’

Lorena glanced around, then asked me in an even quieter voice, cautiously,

‘Is, is that really all you want…?’

I gave her a wide smile.

‘Of course.’