That's ridiculous.
I was so disappointed that I didn't even feel embarrassed.
Nike turned around hesitantly, glancing nervously at me, who was speechless.
Since I'm caught up in the mood, I'll just do it...!
"No..."
It feels like you can read my mind.
I was so disappointed that I didn't even feel embarrassed.
Nike turned around hesitantly, glancing nervously at me, who was speechless.
Since I'm caught up in the mood, I'll just do it...!
"No..."
It feels like you can read my mind.
"It’s not even my face right now."
"It doesn't matter to me."
"It matters to me."
Nike stood up. I followed him, staggering to my feet, completely drained of strength.
"I held onto you because there was something I hadn't finished explaining yet..."
"Yes."
“...”
Nike, who had been looking down at me, feeling dejected, quietly took my hand.
“Hey… let’s just get down to business.”
“...Yeah. Later.”
“...”
Later...
I kept walking.
Thump, thump.
A small laugh was heard from the side.
Nike cautiously reached out with his other hand and touched my protruding lips.
"Is it a duck?"
...Cute. At his softly murmured words, my disappointment melted away.
"You have to be careful because I can't go in with you."
As the casino building drew closer, Nike spoke in a serious voice.
“As I said, there might be more people with supernatural abilities inside, and binding abilities are tricky.”
"Yes."
I just need to go inside the gambling den, find Richard, suggest moving to a different location to talk, and then bring him out.
Although it was such a simple task, Nike, who was fed up with the Wassenberg family, had many unnecessary worries.
Concern that Richard might show aggression contrary to expectations.
A variable where there might be another person with supernatural abilities.
Considering those two things, I decided to go in alone.
Because if something happens, Nike has to write the <Poem of Regression> without being subdued by the ability user.
“If you don’t come out within 25 minutes, I’ll assume there’s a problem and rewind the time.”
Nike becomes amnesiac if he regresses for more than 30 minutes, but we don't need more time than that for this job.
We are even close enough to share memories when we return from a distance, even without physical contact.
The building wasn't very big, and it was a distance where Nike could easily bring us back together, even from the outside.
“But it won’t be a problem. It’s not like this is an illegal gambling den. We can just go in, find you, and then come out to talk. Wouldn’t about 10 minutes be enough?”
“Still, just in case. I’ll return immediately if anyone comes out the back door. Even if nothing bad happens to you.”
"The back door?"
“There are two back doors here. One to the northeast and one to the northwest. I’ll wait on the north side where I can see both back doors.”
"Have you been here before?"
When I asked in surprise, Nike paused, stroked his neck, and spoke.
“...Well, Elliott Basenberg frequently distributes goods to places like gambling dens or entertainment venues.”
Ah.
"This isn't an illegal gambling den, so we haven't extended our reach yet, but we still need to familiarize ourselves with the internal layout of the places we're concerned about."
You've memorized the geography of a gambling house you haven't even visited because you were busy cleaning up the mess at my house.
I felt awkward for no reason, so I cleared my throat.
Even though it had been quite a while since I left home, I felt embarrassed and sorry whenever I heard Nike talking about cleaning up my brothers' shit.
"The back door of this gambling den is always closed. If it is open, there is usually a reason why it is difficult to get out through the front door. Even if you say it has nothing to do with you, it is suspicious, so I’m going to close it right away."
"Do we really have to go that far?"
Even while I am searching for Richard without any problems, it means that time can rewind every time someone goes out the back door.
“Sorry. I’m just saying this because I don’t know what might happen. Please follow me just this once.”
Why go to such lengths just to meet one person in a gambling den open to everyone...
“This isn’t a place where Elliott’s shit is on, is it?”
“Still. Please. That guy has a lot of connections. You never know when, where, or how he might cause trouble. There is no such thing as a completely safe place.”
Nike didn't seem to have any intention of changing his mind. I did think he was worrying too much, though.
'Sigh, who else would be to make this happen?'
Isn't he the type of person who has become this sensitive after spending his whole life cleaning up Wassenberg's shit? I should just keep quiet and go along with it.
"Yes. Then I'll be back."
"Yes."
I was about to leave when Nike grabbed my hand.
Thump thump.
I looked back, but of course it wasn't something like a kiss, and I was worried again.
“Be careful. Don’t get hurt."
***
Finally entered the casino!
“Cough, cough!”
...As soon as I did that, I was shocked!
I thought I had mistakenly walked into a raccoon den instead of a casino.
The hazy cigarette smoke filled the entire room, making it difficult to see.
I covered my mouth and looked around.
I couldn't see an inch ahead, so I had no choice but to go further inside to find Richard.
Some of the gamblers visible nearby are wearing masks.
Looks like a non-smoker.
'Ha, if I'd known this would happen, I should have brought some for myself too.'
At that time.
"Excuse me, Lady."
A female casino employee wearing a purple vest uniform approached from the counter at the entrance.
She was also wearing a mask.
"Did you come here to play games? Or are you looking for someone?"
A question was asked, assuming it is naturally the latter.
There were probably more than one young woman like me coming to look for her family members who had lost their minds.
“Yes. Cough! There is someone I am looking for, but..."
“What kind of person could it be?”
There is no need to go out of my way to mention Richard's name. I made that judgment instantly and shook my head.
"I'll just go inside right away and look for him."
“Ah, I see...”
The female staff member glanced into the dangerous raccoon den, looked at me with pity, and said.
"In that case, I'll at least get you a mask."
"Oh, yes! Thank you"!
What a welcome gesture to hear!
I followed her toward the counter.
She quickly found the box of masks and took one out for me.
I quickly wear it.
The moment I wear it.
At the same time, I felt that there was a strange smell...
And then...
My vision went dark.
***
Poke! Poke! Poke!
"Ah!"
I opened my eyes at the sensation of being stabbed.
Actually, the older sister who gave me the mask was poking my arm with a needle.
As if trying to awaken my lost mind.
"She woke up!"
Madness hung over her face.
What on earth is going on?
I quickly look around.
Inside the casino, it looks like some kind of warehouse.
It probably hasn't been 25 minutes yet.
"Oh my goodness, so pretty!"
My older sister—no, that damn female employee—scrutinized my face closely, covered her mouth with her hand, and marveled.
“Excuse me... are you out of your mind?”
I asked right away.
“Do you know who I came here looking for to do this? There must be plenty of nobles around here.”
It was really absurd.
It’s not even an illegal gambling den, yet they blatantly knocked someone unconscious at the entrance and dragged them in?
It is such a bold act that I can't believe they even think.
Is this a dream?
It’s not like this is Wassenberg or anything, openly disregarding laws and order like this...
'Uh?'
Come to think of it, then it must be Wassenberg.
"You're here?"
Soon, a huge man entered the warehouse, and the female employee greeted him.
I immediately checked the man's neck.
Ⓧ
"Wow."
I burst out laughing right away.
“This isn’t a place where Elliott’s shit is on, is it?”
“Still. Please. That guy has a lot of connections. You never know when, where, or how he might cause trouble. There is no such thing as a completely safe place.”
Today's lesson.
Let's listen to the old-timers when it comes to cleaning up shit.
“Wow! You’re the best, aren’t you?”
“How much are you going to give me?”
"This is about... ten million?"
“Ack! Really?”
Roughly speaking, it looks like a shady deal between a local estate gambling den employee and Elliott's human traffickers.
'But that's ridiculous. Didn't they usually target people without family ties?'
Just as the ointment was left behind 600 years ago, the handsome prince was also snatched away in the blink of an eye.
While I was deep in thought, a man came closer, grabbed my chin, and turned it this way and that, speaking as if he were answering.
“We can’t possibly meet the demand now, even if we die. You have no idea how many powerful people those damn Imperial bastards have gathered!”
...So it was because of Nike.
Not a few, but just one person wearing many disguises!
Since Nike was persistently interfering, he must have been anxious about not being able to meet that damn supply quota.
After abandoning the capital and expanding into the surrounding area.
It looks like they intend to grab the target and take them away regardless of their background or anything else.
"Could you please move your smelly hands?"
Even though he was in a state of ignorance, there was no way he could tarnish the 'product' by acting cocky.
“You know, you...”
It seemed like there were about 10 minutes left, so the moment I opened my mouth to dig up some more information.
“Y- Young Master!”
It seemed like a commotion was heard outside the warehouse, and then someone burst in.
I was surprised to see the man who broke in.
'Brother?'
It was Richard.
Pretty milky hair, and green pupils that widen in surprise the moment they see me.
He was much less lively and thinner than in the last memory, but his face was as handsome as ever.
We stared at each other blankly.
“Excuse me... aren’t you Master? What brings you here?”
When the man asked in puzzlement, Richard finally turned his eyes toward him.
"What are you doing?"
"Yes?"
"What are you doing?"
“Me? Um... well, I’m... working, right?”
“Fuck, what’s going on?”
Eek.
Did you just swear?
From Richard's mouth?
I froze, doubting my ears.
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