Chapter 71 : Chapter 71
Chapter 071
I sat down and looked at Eluna. She was entertaining the guests with remarkable skill. Before any of their cups could run dry, she was already offering them more.
“One more drink?”
“Sounds good. While we’re at it, I’d love to go on a date with you sometime. Surely there’s something else you can give besides liquor, isn’t there?”
A strange feeling came over me. How dare that potbellied bastard hit on my woman...... no, my subordinate, with such a sleazy line? When I shot him a glance, Eluna smiled.
“Oh my. Aren’t you impatient? That comes after we get a little closer.”
“Hahaha! I have no idea how much I’m supposed to pour into this place. You’re really driving me crazy.”
“I’ll bring your drink soon. Please wait.”
Eluna left with a captivating smile. Was it because she had inherited elven blood? She probably had never worked in a tavern before, yet she was astonishingly adept.
A book about elves I had once read in the mansion library had said the same thing. Elves were skilled at everything, and they built proficiency in no time.
On top of that, Eluna had a strong sense of mission. I had not known her for long, but she clearly wanted to achieve good results somehow.
She probably thought that even selling drinks here was part of her mission. That had to be why she was giving it her all.
I should praise her later.
With that thought, I drained another glass in one go and, while keeping my gaze elsewhere, focused on the conversation flowing beside me.
“......Did you hear? There was a massive Tax Audit in the Commercial District a while back.”
“Hmm? So it was true? I thought it was just a rumor.”
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Looks like the businesses under the Black Pig Gang got hit one after another. I heard they all got slapped with Suspension of Business orders and hauled away. The whole place has been like a funeral house because of it.”
“The Underworld really isn’t what it used to be these days. After the Scorpion Gang, is the Black Pig Gang next?”
“That’s what they’re saying. From what I heard, the businesses tied to other gangs were left alone, so it must have been a targeted investigation.”
“Seems the rumor that the lord is going to clean out the Underworld completely might be true after all.”
“Those bastards must be sweating bullets.”
“Good riddance, if you ask me. Bad people ought to be punished.”
“Keep your voice down. What if there are gang members around? Getting your throat slit takes no time at all.”
Stories about the Tax Audit poured out from all sides. I listened to every word with keen interest. It was a moment that let me gauge my own influence indirectly.
A fair number of people had apparently suffered at the hands of the Black Pig Gang, and quite a few were saying they could finally sleep with their legs stretched out thanks to this Tax Audit. It made me feel all the more strongly that I needed to clean those bastards up as soon as possible.
I had no intention of playing the hero, but if I could build up my strength while cleaning out some of the filth too, would that not be killing two birds with one stone?
Of course, it was impossible to root out evil entirely wherever humans existed. I was the sort who believed more in the wickedness of human nature than in its goodness. But it could be suppressed by force. And that was exactly what I intended to do.
The conversation continued. Then an unexpected name popped up.
“Have you heard of the Avengers?”
“What’s that?”
“Sounds like some new organization has appeared in the Underworld. That rumor’s been spreading lately.”
“A new organization? That’s the first I’ve heard of it. Go on.”
“For free?”
The middle-aged man with the scowl ordered another drink from Eluna. Only then did his companion let out a chuckle and continue.
“I hear it’s an organization created by a mysterious man wearing an Iron Mask. Rumor has it he’s quietly building up power somewhere out of sight.”
“Ohh. Interesting. Tell me more!”
“They even say there’s a highly skilled female member in it. The rumors are everywhere that they’re about to rise as a new force in the Underworld.”
That’s right. That pretty woman standing in front of you is that female member.
Anyway, I could tell people were starting to take an interest in our organization. As expected of a place where information gathered, there was quite a bit worth picking up.
Kalmond must be the one who spread that rumor, right?
I raised the glass in my hand to my lips and drank. The liquor tasted especially good today.
“You’re drinking quite a bit today.”
At that moment, Eluna came over to me. Even after making the rounds among the guests, her lively smile had not faded.
Dealing with rough men through sheer wit was no easy task. Yet she carried out the work entrusted to her without complaint.
“Just listening to people talk makes the drinks go down on their own. It’s an interesting place. I should start coming here more often.”
“Would you like something to eat with your drink?”
“I’m fine. This one’s my last glass.”
Even so, Eluna held out a plate. Thinly sliced cheese and jerky lay on it. Cheese had to be a fairly precious food here, but I did not bother refusing.
“It’ll be shift change soon. Please wait just a little longer.”
“Go do your work. Don’t mind me.”
Eluna returned to her place once more.
This place doubled as an inn. Once evening came, the overnight guests started coming downstairs one by one looking for dinner. Other employees soon joined in, and Eluna finally had a little time to spare.
I paid for my drinks and went around to the back of the tavern to wait. Eluna came out after me before long.
She lowered her head.
“I’m sorry. You waited a long time, didn’t you? We’ve had quite a lot of customers lately.”
It was true that I had waited a while. Normally, we would have gotten straight to the point right there at the bar. But I had been idle myself, so the rest had been nice.
“What is there to apologize for? I enjoyed the drinks too. Though I bet Kalmond must be pleased. There were a lot of customers. If sales go up, that means his pockets get fatter.”
“I do not think that is really the case. He usually distributes it to his subordinates.”
“So he’s frugal in an unexpected way.”
If he took good care of his men, that only made him seem more trustworthy somehow. It would have been nice if he took especially good care of me too, but I supposed that was just greed.
I got right to the point.
“How are those Black Pig Gang bastards?”
“As you probably expected, they asked for the negotiations to be extended by a week.”
“As expected.”
I nodded. They had clearly taken a hit during the last Tax Audit. They had lost half the amount we had set as the ransom, so filling that gap would not be easy.
“What’s the mood like over there?”
“They tried not to show it, but they looked very pressed. And if possible, they say they would like to meet the Boss one more time. What should we do?”
“Tell them to fuck off.”
“Wouldn’t that be too vulgar? You do have your dignity as Master, after all.”
“Do I?”
Eluna laughed. Somehow, that put me in a better mood. It felt like having a highly capable secretary at my side. Once my rank rose later, I ought to bring Eluna into the mansion.
“There will be no renegotiation. Tell them to meet us at the place we originally agreed on. And tell them that if they do not show, we will cut off Blackship’s head as planned. Of course, we need to prepare thoroughly as well. They will be gambling with their lives too.”
“All right. However......”
Eluna looked at me and hesitated. I nodded, telling her to speak freely. Only then did she continue what she had left unsaid.
“I saw the people from the Adeline Marquis House carrying out the Tax Audit in the Commercial District myself before. Kalmond told me to go take a look. And there was someone there who looked strangely like you, Master.”
I was startled. So startled that my heart nearly dropped. But I tried not to let it show on the outside.
Come to think of it, I had forgotten. She was a woman who carried elven blood in her veins.
If she was an elf, then not only nature but even spirits would be familiar to her, and she would likely be able to sense the unique aura each person possessed.
“Is it really that strange to find someone in the world who looks like someone else? I do not think that is so odd.”
“The appearance was completely different. But the feeling was almost the same. The atmosphere, the voice, even the color of the soul. It was as if...... it was you, Master, with the Face Mask removed.”
Chills ran down my spine. She could even see the color of souls? Eluna kept staring at me as she said it. She looked as though she was already certain. At this point, there was no real answer, was there?
But for a moment, I turned into a politician and blandly denied it.
“You must have seen something wrong. At the time, I was rolling around in bed with a man.”
“Will the day come when you tell me?”
“You’re not going to ask whether men were my type all along?”
My little joke did not land. Faced with her utterly serious attitude, I simply nodded. It meant she could think whatever she liked.
Only then did Eluna smile.
“If that was an impertinent question, I am sorry. It seems I made you uncomfortable, Master.”
“It’s fine. I like people who ask a lot of questions. Still, I prefer people who know how to keep their mouths shut.”
“I will remember that.”
She pledged her loyalty once more. I gave her shoulder a light pat and turned away.
Her Status Window was still as beautiful as ever.
***
D-Day was drawing near.
But my daily life remained utterly peaceful. As always, I attended to Young Lady Sapiela, taught her lessons, and exchanged a few words of casual conversation.
Then in the afternoon, I had lunch at Rosetta. Since I had earned a few merits there, I got treated to things that the other Butler Apprentices would not even dare hope for.
Arwen’s cooking was improving by leaps and bounds. Back then, I had felt Chef Ramsay’s dishes were far tastier, but these days there were moments when I could no longer tell for sure.
There was a reason even the picky Young Lady Sapiela had become a regular.
Then evening came.
A Butler Apprentice’s duties lasted only until just before dinner.
After the meal, we generally attended to our personal affairs. Of course, comrades who had been given special duties sometimes kept working, but all of my tasks were finished for today. That was, unless the Young Lady grew capricious and made me stay up all night.
The Young Lady was leaning back against the sofa, gazing out the window as though somewhat drowsy. Even the sight of her spacing out was beautiful.
“Young Lady. I apologize for disturbing your rest, but it is time for me to conclude today’s duties. Do you have any further commands for me?”
“Has it become this late already?”
The Young Lady looked at the clock. There was a trace of regret on her face when she confirmed the time.
“If you wish, I can stay a little longer.”
At my words, the Young Lady seemed to think for a moment, then shook her head. It seemed she too remembered that there were many eyes watching.
“No, that is enough. We even studied today, so you must be quite tired. Go down and rest.”
“I shall obey. I wish you a good night.”
“Dilen.”
I had been about to straighten from my bow, but I bent again. Then I waited for her to speak.
“Do you have something going on today?”
“Nothing in particular. Why do you ask so suddenly?”
“You seem a little different than usual.”
An excellent observation. Tonight, I was planning to wipe out those Black Pig Gang bastards. Had my excitement shown?
“As always, I plan to eat dinner and train.”
“You are diligent.”
“There are many skilled people in the world. If I am to protect you, Young Lady, I must work even harder.”
Young Lady Sapiela nodded with a satisfied expression. In the past, she had done nothing but radiate coldness, but lately, the way she occasionally showed her feelings made her seem far more human, and I liked that.
I returned straight to the quarters.
Fortunately, Rohan was not there today. If he had been, he would have held me up and wasted a great deal of my time.
I opened the wardrobe, gathered my weapons, and draped a robe over myself. Then I left the mansion.
“The moon is especially bright tonight.”
My gaze was drawn up of its own accord to the moon shining brightly overhead. It was large and luminous.
Of course, my appreciation ended there.
Snap!
The Face Mask clung coolly to my skin. My eyes narrowed more sharply than the scar across my cheek. Now it was time to transform into Suhyeon and sweep away my enemies.