A bald man covered in tattoos snapped back to reality pretty quickly.
“…Ugh.”
Is this guy feeling a headache? He put his hand on his forehead, blinking at his surroundings. When his eyes landed on me, his face turned pale, almost green with fear.
Well, I did knock him out, but come on, do you have to look at me like that…?
Shouldn’t he be thanking me instead?
Pouting in frustration, I thought, wasn’t this bald dude the one who charged at me first?
I was just defending myself from his blind attack!
‘Right, exactly, self-defense!’
Besides, if I hadn’t knocked him out, Nameless would’ve definitely pulled out a wooden sword.
Who knows what would have happened then…
As I pondered, nodding to myself, the bald guy forced out a quivering voice, trying to mask his shaking.
“Are you trying to kill me…?”
What now?
Blinking in confusion at this nonsensical question, I pointed back and forth between him and myself.
“…Me? Kill you? Why on earth would I do that?”
What even led him to think that?
I’m not restraining his body, and I’m not surrounding him so he can’t escape.
And if I had those intentions, I would have acted on them way earlier.
Frowning at his ridiculous assumption, I waved my hand dismissively.
“Tch, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s not what you think.”
In short, this guy was just misunderstanding everything, and giving up all on his own.
After hearing my words, the bald guy’s pale face was nowhere to be seen as he started shouting in anger.
“After making me look like this, you dare say that?!”
Pointing to the back of his neck with a trembling finger.
Hm, why is he suddenly yelling…
Pouting my lips, I reluctantly shifted my gaze to the back of his neck.
It was swollen, making it look like he had two heads like an ogre.
…Did I go a bit overboard?
Well, to defend myself, this guy’s fighting skills were so weak that controlling my strength was tricky.
I felt a hint of sympathy but shook my head to dismiss it.
No matter how I think about it, this wasn’t my fault.
If we’re assigning blame, it’s definitely the bald dude’s fault for being weak.
I nodded to myself.
Speaking of which, I can’t keep calling him ‘bald guy.’ Should I at least ask for his name?
Isn’t self-introduction the usual way to start a conversation?
With something I needed to hear from him, this seemed like a good topic to kick things off.
“Um, can you tell me your name?”
The bald guy seemed astonished, rubbing his forehead in disbelief.
“Ha! You really don’t know who I am?!”
Feeling a bit wronged, I frowned and replied in a slightly sulky tone.
“Didn’t I tell you from the start? I came to know what this place is about.”
“Ah… right. Hahaha!”
Why is he suddenly laughing? Has he lost it finally?
Looking at him with eyes wide in disbelief, he suddenly bowed his head deeply.
“Ha… what have I done…?”
Somehow this called for a comforting pat on the back, but just then, Nameless entered the room like a ghost.
“Master, has the bald guy recovered?”
“…Bald guy?”
“Yup, he looks lively right here.”
I felt the bald guy’s incredulous gaze on me, but I felt no shame.
Well, whatever.
Now that Nameless is here, it’s time to get this conversation actually started.
I pulled out my wooden sword and smiled widely.
That ogre-looking bald dude’s name is Carlson.
Currently, he’s involved in drug trafficking in the slums, and according to him, he holds a significant position in his organization.
Anyway, the reason Carlson works in the slums is that the empire tends to neglect them, and most of the people there, lacking any blood ties, end up getting sold as slaves or coerced into his organization if they look decent.
When I asked why he exploits people to gather money, he admitted that while he has an important position in his faction, the funds they provide him aren’t that great, so he just wants to live a little comfortably.
I was about to hear another boring backstory when I interrupted him by shoving my wooden sword at him.
“So you are a villain, huh?”
Sure, it might be a quick judgment, but honestly, I don’t find it worth listening any longer.
Drugs, slavery, exploitation.
What tragic story could possibly justify this?
Carlson gave a self-deprecating smile and finally lifted his head.
“So, what’s the deal? Are you going to kill me? What do you want?”
“Well, I’m not really sure what I want exactly…”
I put the wooden sword back at my waist.
‘Do I even have the right to judge his sins?’ Of course, that hypocritical thought crossed my mind, but honestly, my true feelings were a little different.
If people like him, who have committed unforgivable sins, were to lose their souls, isn’t that okay?
Couldn’t I use his soul as a stepping stone to achieve my goals?
Maybe using Carlson could be the easiest way to reach my goal.
Suddenly, I felt a wave of self-reproach.
‘Have I been this dirty and selfish all along?’
I don’t know.
I don’t know anything.
I’m just a fool who wasted his life and grew old.
I’m a coward.
I’ve never made a decision based on my own heart.
I sneakily turned my head to see Nameless, who must be disappointed in my pathetic appearance.
Yet, contrary to my expectations, Nameless still looked at me with trust in his eyes.
Ah, right.
I can’t show my ugly side to someone who believes in me like that.
I bit my lip to regain my composure, the bitter taste lingering in my mouth.
They say parents are a mirror for their children.
Well, I’m a master, but there’s a saying that a mentor is a mirror too, right?
Anyway, the gist of what I’m saying is if I send this guy off without a care, and my selfish goals lead me to exploit him…
Nameless would surely learn from that.
‘For your own goals, you don’t need to care about someone else’s sacrifices,’ like that kind of thing.
That can’t happen.
Feeling a bit clearer-headed, I let out a bitter smile as I pulled out the wooden sword.
“Master, I’m ready.”
“Alright… let’s go.”
Following the plan, Nameless and I climbed on top of the inn, sitting on the edge of the roof, looking down with a smug posture.
I wonder if Nameless had done a good job; the people I had scouted previously were gathered below, looking up at me, confused.
“Ahem, cough.”
I lightly cleared my throat and started the prepared speech.
“From now on, I’ll give you two choices.”
I held out my hand, forming a V sign to express what I wanted to say.
“First.”
I folded one finger down.
“Live peacefully, eating filth in a slum where dreams and hope are nowhere to be found for the rest of your life.”
The slum dwellers seemed to have concentrated on my words, as the noise that was just a few moments ago completely faded away.
I grinned at their attentive silence.
“Second.”
Now my hand was completely clenched into a fist.
“Live a life where it might be a little dangerous, but you can dream, have hope, and eat decent food instead of filth.”
Resting my hand on my knee, I propped my chin up.
“Make your choice.”
They had the freedom to decide for themselves, a truly democratic approach that didn’t fit with this empire.
As I finished speaking, the people gathered there exchanged glances, hesitant to say anything.
Hmm, that reaction wasn’t what I expected…
After a long moment of silence, a young man with messy red hair raised his hand.
“What is it? Have you decided?”
“Uh, um, no! I mean…”
His eyes darted around before he nodded, seeming resolute.
“W-We’re all hostages of Carlson’s group and can’t do anything…”
Ah, I forgot to mention that.
I felt a cold sweat trickle down my back, but I didn’t show it.
This wasn’t the right time for that.
I’m perceptive; I can read the atmosphere well.
Probably.
“Nameless!!!”
“Yes, Master.”
Nameless, who was among the crowd, leaped up onto the roof at my call.
“Bring that idiot here.”
“Yes.”
Nameless entered the inn, wearing a face that looked like he was trying to hold back laughter.
“W-Wait a minute…”
I hurried to speak so they wouldn’t leave.
Fortunately, everyone nodded with uneasy expressions and stayed put.
After a brief moment, Nameless dragged someone in.
Naturally, it was Carlson.
I caught Carlson that Nameless handed me and threw him in front of the crowd.
“I have no grudges against him; I spared him for now… but I’m not so sure about you.”
I gave a wicked smile.
“I’ve severed all ties, so now it’s up to you what you want to do next.”
The people’s gazes filled with resentment all focused on one point.
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