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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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Chapter 97: It’s Better If Your Employer Is Handsome
This is exactly the kind of scheming that took place during this Allenvert’s process of leaving the castle.
‘The trap is set well.’
There were other things to do besides that. Since I was out as bait, I also intended to check on Zizek’s handling of matters.
‘By the way, I’m being followed today.’
They were so stealthy that I could barely sense their presence only after keenly focusing my senses and spreading them wide.
‘It wouldn’t have been easy to detect them a few days ago.’
The battle with Mordecai that had happened in the meantime, and the results of the training I had diligently put in, had created a small but definite difference, like a single sheet of paper.
Therefore, it was only natural that the swordsmen of prestigious families & clans who trained every day would eventually become masters.
‘If I had honed my sword more fiercely.’
I wouldn’t have suffered such a defeat 17 years ago.
But it was alright. I was able to seize the newly given opportunity from that day’s death and change the destinies of two men, Karzan and Allenvert.
‘It’s rather a good thing.’
Anyway, I headed to Peter’s house, completely unconcerned, while feeling the gaze of surveillance.
‘Keep watching me there to your heart’s content. I’ll get a good night’s sleep.’
There is nothing more enjoyable for the one being watched than the fact that he gets to sleep soundly while the one watching him can’t. I even hummed a tune as I headed to Peter’s house along the familiar street.
“Good. There aren’t any bastards sticking to me today.”
Even the thugs who used to try to steal the poor boy’s money now only stared at empty air with gentle eyes, as if they had heard the rumors of the men who got what they deserved for messing with me.
Without me even knowing, Peter had become the absolute strongest in this area.
‘That’s a good thing. It also means that Zizek’s influence reaches this far.’
In any case, I walked leisurely as if I had completely forgotten about being followed. From far away, the fishy smell of the sea mixed with the stench of the slums and drifted over.
‘Either way, if this surveillance continues, my movements will be restricted.’
However, I don’t currently have the skill to completely shake off their gazes and disappear.
Compared to Karzan’s power when he went to the depths of the Dark King and stole the wooden box, I am still an endlessly weak man.
‘Brother Verdzig.’
Even if today’s operation goes well and we manage to catch the spy named Gemini, I needed to prepare a separate method to shake off this surveillance.
‘I need some kind of method.’
What could it be? A few ideas came to mind, but none were perfect yet.
“Mother! I’m home!”
At the sound of her son knocking on the door at a time when everyone was about to fall asleep, there was soon a response.
“Peter? What brings you here….”
I looked at Peter’s sickly and pale mother.
‘Hmm, her complexion….’
Was quite bad. This was supposed to be improved.
“Brother!”
A small boy, who had also peeked his head out, smiled brightly and hugged me.
“…Brother?”
The girl, who came out last, tilted her head with a slightly doubtful face.
‘She certainly has a good sense.’
Like when I gave her the wafers last time, only this child showed signs of feeling a sense of incongruity from me.
‘She seems smarter than her brother.’
“Let’s go inside and talk! It’s cold outside.”
As soon as I entered, I took out the money from my pocket.
“Actually, the Young Master gave me a bonus today.”
“A bonus? Why?”
“It’s hard to explain in detail, but I did something worthwhile. Hehe.”
I scratched the back of my neck, laughing like Peter. In short, it meant I was smiling foolishly like a local idiot.
“Oh, is that so? That’s really commendable.”
His mother smiled gently.
“Brother, really?”
“Really.”
“Amazing.”
The second child exclaimed in admiration—
“Brother, the Young Master seems to be a really good person.”
The youngest child also said with a somewhat excited face.
“He’s not just a good person.”
“Huh?”
I became serious.
“He’s handsome, capable, virtuous, erudite, considerate, and not only is he honing his genius-like martial arts talent with the whetstone of diligence, but he is also a person who combines a warm heart with cold and absolute reason.”
“……?”
I used Peter’s mouth to praise myself and then gave the bonus to his mother.
“Mother. The Young Master promised that our family won’t have to worry about food or living expenses from now on.”
“Ah, really….”
His mother teared up with a moved face. Her heart, which had endured in the freezing cold of poverty, had become so fragile as to shed tears so easily.
“Colin, Bridget.”
I took the hands of the two children.
“When I’m not here, you two have to protect Mother.”
“Yes, Brother.”
“Okay, Brother.”
It was actually a redundant thing to say. These children were already doing well.
“You’re reliable.”
I stroked the heads of the two children.
Today, I intended to take care of his family as Peter.
***
Everyone had fallen asleep, and it was the early dawn when the surveillance would have weakened.
I fell asleep for a while, surrounded by the two little ones who had clung to me to sleep together, and then opened my eyes.
‘Wow, I slept like the dead. Was I that tired?’
It was an expression that I could sincerely use as a comparison, having experienced death once.
“Brother, are you asleep?”
At that moment, Bridget whispered like a sparrow.
“……Uh, I just woke up.”
The second child, Colin, was said to have weak stamina, and as expected, he was sleeping soundly as if he had fainted. But Bridget seemed to have been awake the whole time.
“Weren’t you asleep?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I had something to think about.”
Had she been staying awake with her eyes open all this time? It’s natural for someone with a lot on their mind not to fall asleep easily, but…
This time, I felt something strange.
“Brother.”
As expected, I felt a slight unease in Bridget’s lowered voice.
“Why?”
“I know this is a really stupid thing to say.”
“……Uh-huh.”
“Are you perhaps not brother Peter?”
“……?!”
I almost bit my tongue while in the middle of a yawn.
“What are you talking about, Bridget?”
“Both times before, and sometimes, I feel a sense of incongruity.”
Had she seen through my perfect disguise? Something that his mother and younger brother hadn’t noticed?
I inwardly calmed my surprised heart and replied nonchalantly.
“People sometimes change.”
“It’s not that.”
Bridget, who firmly dismissed my words, suddenly changed her tone and asked.
“Are you perhaps Young Master Allenvert?”
“…….”
This was surprising.
I blinked for about 10 seconds and then asked.
“Why did you think so?”
“It’s not that you seem like a bad person. There is subtle difference between personalities like your confident attitude….”
“Did you think that based on only that?”
“More than anything, earlier, you praised the Young Master too much.”
“Did Peter usually not praise me well?”
“He does, but not to that extent.”
“Ah.”
So that was it?
‘I’ll have to give him some good thrashing when I get back.’
Anyway, I couldn’t help but be newly surprised by the cleverness of this little child named Bridget.
“You’re more clever than I thought. Keep it a secret.”
“Instead, please answer me just one thing, Young Master.”
“Yes.”
The child asked in an anxious voice.
“This, it’s not dangerous for Brother, is it?”
“……No matter what happens, I will protect him. I promise on my name.”
I stroked the child’s head and suddenly came up with a brilliant idea.
‘Wait.’
If this child named Bridget has this level of intelligence.
‘…There might be a way to solve the current difficult problem.’
“Bridget.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
I looked at Bridget, who was much more confident and audacious than Julia, who was a similar age, and asked in a whisper.
“Would you perhaps like to do some work together with me?”
“……Yes?”
Bridget’s eyes widened.
“To be precise, it’s something you and Peter will have to work together on.”
Perhaps I had just found the most perfect contact person of all.
***
Despite all these overlapping circumstances—deepest dawn, endless waiting, a surveillance target who had long since fallen asleep, no unusual activity—my conclusion was that there aren't many trackers in the world who can maintain a clear mind without dozing off even once.
If there were any, they’d probably be vampire bastards who sleep during the day and roam around at night.
‘As expected. The movement has disappeared.’
I thought, confirming the tracker I had sensed from afar with my perception. They must have definitely dozed off.
‘To fail at vigilance, what a pathetic fool. Failing a mission can be forgiven, but failing at vigilance cannot be forgiven.’
I was a man who had shaken off enemy pursuit countless times by utilizing the psychology and weaknesses of trackers like this. I had won this time as well.
“Then, Bridget. I’ll be back for a while, so please take care.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Bridget, having finished talking with me, nodded quite resolutely.
“Actually, clothes for disguise are hidden on the rooftop. They shouldn’t disappear, but please check on them occasionally.”
“Is it alright if I don’t do laundry?”
“Wouldn’t it be stranger for a grown adult man’s clothes to come out of this house? Don’t worry.”
“Understood.”
I rose from the bed without making even the sound of clothes or blankets brushing against each other.
“I’ll be back before dawn, so get some sleep. You must have had many worries in many ways, being so young.”
“……It’s nothing.”
“Bridget. Your brother Peter’s loyalty and your cleverness will change your family’s fate. So please keep your promise well. Keep the secret strictly.”
“I will keep it in mind.”
I felt sorry for having dragged this young child into such a fierce world.
But even if they weren’t of age, it was the destiny of the children born in this era to throw themselves into their respective front lines.
This was the same for both the children of noble families and the children of the slums.
“……Um, and.”
“Hmm?”
Bridget said hesitantly.
“Could you perhaps show me your face just once, Young Master?”
“Why is that? Do you perhaps need reassurance?”
Since she had only heard about my identity in words, there might be a sliver of doubt remaining.
“Ah, actually.”
Bridget cleared her throat in a way that didn’t suit a child.
“Brother boasted so much about how handsome you are.”
“Hmm.”
He didn’t praise me much, but he only bragged about my face all the time? Well, she was at an age where she would gradually become curious about such things. Rather, children like handsome and pretty things more.
“It’s not difficult. Follow me to the rooftop.”
After going up to the rooftop, I changed into Karzan’s clothes and briefly took off the mask.
“Wow.”
Bridget exclaimed in admiration after seeing my face faintly illuminated by the moonlight.
“Has your curiosity been resolved now?”
“Yes.”
Bridget said with a serious expression.
“I pledge my loyalty, Young Master.”
“……Are you already looking at men’s faces?”
“It’s not that, but it’s better if the employer is handsome if possible.”
“Why on earth?”
“Just because.”
“…….”
I thought she was only serious, but she’s also a bit quirky. Seeing her like this made me realize that Bridget was indeed Peter’s younger sister.
“Anyway, get some sleep. I’ll be going now.”
I said, putting on the mask and transforming into Karzan’s face.
“Ah!”
At that, Bridget exclaimed in shock and avoided my gaze.
“Why?”
“……You have a really scary face right now.”
“Is it to that extent?”
I was a little hurt. Karzan, what kind of life did you live?
“Earlier, you looked like an angel descended to the human world or an elf from the forest who came to the city, but now you look like a man of the underworld to anyone who sees you.”
“…….”
Right. Karzan’s face isn’t one that children would like.
“Alright, go to sleep now.”
I said a little curtly.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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