Chapter 70 : The girl’s room

“This town is still a piece of crap no matter how many times I see it.”

After a full day of travel, the appearance of Reinz was quite different from before.

It must be because we arrived at night, unlike last time.

As expected of a city of crime, whose appearance changes completely from day to night,

the distant view of the city was no less than the capital of a kingdom.

“So you’re finally done pretending to be some noble, huh?”

Amiter, leaning her head against the wall, quietly picked a fight with me.

She says she’s nauseous from the day’s ride, but still finds time to talk back.

“Why does it matter? It’s just us for now. We’ll be exhausted for a few days once we’re inside—because of you.”

When I snapped back, blaming her, she looked a bit guilty for a moment,

but soon put on her shameless expression again.

She wasn’t like this before. When did she start changing like this?

“We’re already here, what else is there to do now?”

“Damn it.”

The carriage didn’t go through the abandoned front gate like last time,

but instead entered through a back alley.

Apparently, that gate is rarely used and is more for show than function.

So unlike last time, as soon as we entered Reinz,

we saw a lot more beggars.

People in tattered clothes had made homes for themselves on streets

dirty with trash and stains.

“Ugh.”

Is this really okay?

Compared to the narrow alley, our carriage was overly large and just as luxurious.

We could easily trample those lying on the ground,

and if they reached out, they could rob us.

It felt like someone could yank the handle and we’d be kidnapped instantly.

“Anyone dumb enough to mess with something bearing the Cartel’s emblem is already dead.”

When I looked worried, Amiter pointed at the emblem on the carriage and answered.

Hmm. If she says so, then fine.

I don’t really want to know the details of this city’s history.

If safety is guaranteed, then now’s actually a good time to observe the outside.

In the slums surrounding Skulltown,

there were plenty of people matching the living conditions—

poor and uneducated folks.

Every turn of the maze-like alleys, zigzagging like a ladder game,

brought a new sight.

“Is that… screaming grass?”

“Don’t know the name, really.”

“They’re openly selling unpeeled screaming grass?”

Class 3 banned substances, illegal to store or sell by imperial law,

were out in the open like loaves of bread at a bakery.

A hollow-eyed man emerged from an alley,

shook the money from his pockets, bought it,

and disappeared again into another alley.

Unbelievable.

The scene unfolded so naturally and routinely,

I couldn’t help but gape in disbelief.

“There they are!”

“Get them! We’re not letting them escape this time!”

Before the shock even wore off,

three men with knives approached our slowly moving carriage.

Sharp blades ready to slice someone any moment.

“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen, just ignore it.”

“As if I was worried about something like this.”

At my wary glance, Amiter muttered with a bored face.

Just as she said, the thugs passed right by our extravagant carriage

without a second glance.

From the worn-down building they entered,

a small scream leaked out even before our carriage had passed.

On the way through the slums,

we encountered countless cheap prostitutes and a few dark mages.

But Amiter remained unfazed, arms crossed, dozing.

How horrible was her upbringing?

Despite this chaotic scenery, she seemed more bothered by motion sickness.

I felt a sudden wave of pity for her.

“We’ve arrived, miss. This is Skulltown.”

The small, old beastman coachman announced just as

the scenery abruptly changed.

The dirty slums vanished without a trace,

replaced by a clean, modern cityscape outside the window.

They say Reinz is brighter at night than during the day—

it wasn’t a lie.

Though the sky was dark,

each building was so brightly lit it was blinding.

As we approached our destination,

we could see the people who had come to greet us from afar.

Just before we stepped off the carriage to meet them,

Amiter and I had one final brief conversation.

“Remember? Just like last time, act like you’re my lover.

Take care of me, show up sometimes to pick me up. Be natural.”

“I act like that all the time anyway.”

“Yeah, right. I still regret calling you my lover back then…”

I scolded her to just follow instructions and fixed my expression.

Even if I wanted to sigh, I couldn’t let it show.

Once I step off this carriage,

I’m no longer Trea—I have to become Lady Rudbeck.

Amiter got off first and offered her hand to me.

At least she’s following directions.

“Welcome back, Ami. And it’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Rudbeck.”

Upon entering one of the Cartel’s territories—Tales District—

the matriarch greeted us.

It’s been a while, but I can’t say I’m happy to see her.

But I couldn’t let it show.

I shook her hand as naturally and confidently as possible.

“Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet one of the ruling powers of the night again.”

…This will go well, right?

My hand trembled slightly during the handshake.

“I had your room cleaned a bit.

Since no one else used it, there’s only some dust, but it’s just like before.”

Unlike our previous stay,

we were given a room on the top floor of a building

where Amiter used to stay.

Felt like we climbed more than ten floors.

When are we going to reach it?

Even if the city lights were bright,

this place was so high up that those lights felt almost pointless.

I’ve never been in such a tall building since coming to this world.

How high are we?

If someone like me stayed here,

I’d be stuck like a fairytale princess—trapped by the effort of going up and down.

Just as my legs were about to give out, we arrived at the room.

Good timing—I couldn’t pretend to be strong anymore.

“The match is in three days. Rest well until then. I’ll call again tomorrow.”

The matriarch disappeared right after showing us the room.

Then why bother climbing all the way up?

While I grumbled, Amiter casually opened the door.

Come to think of it, was this a girl’s room?

It used to belong to a young girl, didn’t it?

The room in my family’s house isn’t even worthy of being called a room.

Technically, this is my first time in someone else’s room.

“It’s just like before.”

Amiter muttered briefly.

When I asked how long it’s been, she said more than two years.

Maybe because it was cleaned,

but we weren’t greeted by any dusty smell.

No lingering warmth, no familiar scent of a girl.

Everything I imagined was missing.

A dull room with no tissues,

big and fancy like a dollhouse.

“At least the bed is huge.”

I expected something special in the top-ranked person’s room,

but it was just a big, nice hotel room.

Well, someone like her wouldn’t be training in her room anyway.

There were two beds—big and soft.

As I flopped onto one, Amiter scanned the walls and floor.

She found something.

“It’s still here.”

“What is it?”

Amiter pulled out a small box.

Inside were numerous whips.

The kind used to tame horses or punish slaves.

Ugh, kind of a mood killer.

I looked at her with a slightly disgusted face.

“Don’t tell me… you’re into this? Like, you enjoy getting hit or something.”

“…No. The exact opposite.

I hated even seeing them, so I hid them myself.

Can’t believe they’re still here.”

She snatched them from my hand,

stuffed them back in the box,

and crushed the tin container before throwing it outside.

She looked relieved as she slammed the door shut behind her.

“They were never used on me,

but just seeing them was uncomfortable.

Didn’t realize I had hidden that many away.

It doesn’t matter anymore though.”

“Bad memories or something?”

“I died once from being whipped.”

…What nonsense.

She probably meant it hurt so much it felt like dying.

Not wanting to continue that topic,

Amiter quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, what’s your plan now? There’s three days till the match.”

“I already have something in mind.”

Of course I planned ahead.

I refuse to waste even a day.

Do something productive—my motto.

I pointed to a huge building visible from the window.

Even from this height, it radiated noise and light like a giant stadium.

“I’m going gambling.”

I’ll need to spend a lot of money soon.

I’ve got plenty now,

but not enough to buy what I want.

I’m going to win big.

…But maybe I explained it wrong?

Amiter’s ears and tail drooped in disbelief.

Why? I’m seriously good at this, you know?