Read Novel Full Chapter 283
Chapter 283
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Chapter 283 – Guinier Cleanup Operation
It was the inconspicuous hours of dawn.
I carefully surveyed the entire town from above, but the brothers didn’t appear in my Investigation.
I had checked several times yesterday at different times, too, but the brothers’ and the lord’s whereabouts remained unknown.
Ideally, I would have smashed their heads first thing, but if I couldn’t even find their location, there was nothing I could do.
Frankly, it was starting to seem possible that they weren’t even in this town.
(If that’s the case, I’ll just have to tear them limb from limb.)
It would inevitably get messy, but if they weren’t here, I’d have to stir up a commotion to lure them out.
Steeling myself, I exhaled deeply and checked several key locations.
I would carry out my next-best plan, concealed within the darkness.
▽ ▼ ▽ ▼ ▽
“Ah, sleepy…”
“What? Have you been drinking too much? Don’t fall asleep in the middle of this!”
“Nah, it’s just that ‘Meat Day’ got me all hyped up.”
“You mean… you dragged someone out of the underground brothel again?”
“Heheh, the thrill of trying to escape even though you can’t is irresistible. Don’t worry; I didn’t take her outside the walls.”
Caught yawning widely, the gatekeeper gave me a hard look. I knew deep down that this was a bit much.
Sensing that I might actually pass out, I popped an herb meant to ward off sleepiness from my pouch into my mouth.
Ugh…
The bitter taste was familiar, but maybe I had been taking it too often lately. I was getting used to the flavor, and it wasn’t working as well anymore.
I’ll have to find some stronger stuff next time.
“Hey, Tyrann. Where are you going today?”
“To the town of Malik. I’ll be back the night after tomorrow.”
“Got it. Don’t you dare fall asleep on the way.”
“Everyone keeps saying the same thing. That’s the fourth time today.”
“I’m saying it because your eyes are half-closed! If you lose the cargo, Ash-sama will—… Hey! There’s a kid riding in there!”
“S-seriously? Is that an escape?”
“Huh!?”
My drowsiness vanished instantly.
The fact that the checkpoint guards were yelling at me meant that the kid had snuck onto my carriage.
If they think I helped an escapee, I’m definitely…
“Th-this is no joke!”
I jumped out of the driver’s seat and went to the back of the wagon just as the others blocked the entrance with their weapons.
I peered inside and saw an unfamiliar kid.
He had filthy clothes and a filthy robe.
He was hidden in the gap of a wooden box, hugging his knees and trembling like a leaf.
No matter how you look at it, he’s just some town brat trying to use my wagon!
“You little shitty brat!”
“Hey, Tyrann! Just checking, but you weren’t planning on helping this kid, were you?”
“Of course not! What would I gain from taking some random kid out of town?”
“But isn’t it the cargo handler’s duty to ensure there’s no extra luggage before leaving town?”
“W-well, yeah, I guess…”
If I admit to slacking off, it’ll only make things worse for me. But honestly, I don’t see anyone else doing that.
What happens if someone tries to force their way out? Everyone in this town knows, from the oldest to the youngest.
“It’s the rules, Tyrann. Today’s cargo run is canceled. Explain yourself at the inspection later.”
“W-wait! I don’t know anything about this kid!”
“”…””
The guys who usually chatted with me casually were now avoiding eye contact as if I were a sore spot. They were trying to force the kid off the wagon.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the gatekeeper I’d just spoken to advancing toward me with a rope in hand.
This is no joke… no joke…
“THIS IS NO JOKE!”
Of all the people who’ve been interrogated, only a handful came back in one piece.
Then, at least, let me prove that I’m not one of them!
“Are you trying to kill me?”
Even as I gripped the knife tightly, the kid being dragged from the carriage opened his mouth.
What…?
He stared intently at me, and the atmosphere felt different from before, but I couldn’t stop now.
It’s your fault. It’s because you snuck in here.
If I kill you here, then I can still—
“I don’t know you! Just die already!”
▽ ▼ ▽ ▼ ▽
(The first fork is right here.)
With that thought in mind, I snatched the knife that was thrust at me and lightly slashed his arm.
Horace-san, the guild master here, had told me what would happen if someone tried to force their way out of town.
The severed legs would be displayed at the town center where the main streets intersect as a warning to would-be escapees.
However, I didn’t know how deeply the people carrying goods or manning checkpoints were involved.
That’s why I chose someone from the Bernard brothers’ gang—a scumbag I wouldn’t feel a shred of guilt about killing if he got dragged into it and killed by his own crew.
He had deliberately tormented and toyed with a woman who had lost her legs.
He should be grateful that I didn’t execute him right then and there.
“Haaaahh!?”
“…Huh?”
“What just happened!?”
A man whose knife had been snatched from him pressed his bleeding wound, dripping blood.
“Y-you bastard!”
In this unexpected turn of events, the gatekeepers were the first to react.
Spurred by the sight of a man advancing with a spear thrust forward, the two guards at the checkpoint beside him also drew their swords. Deliberately and slowly, as if struggling with a knife, I began to slice away at the man’s skin bit by bit.
Then, some of the frozen coachmen.
The men with ugly faces who had been assigned as guards.
The merchant-like man who had been watching the situation also came forward.
Those manning the checkpoint on the other road also heard the commotion and ran over, weapons in hand.
At first, many watched with curious stares, as if they had found a rare toy.
“Guh… B-blood…”
But as the number of wounded allies grew, confusion set in.
“M-my leg’s been stabbed!”
Little by little, anxiety overtook them.
Finally, they watched as a panicked figure dashed into the town.
“Ah!”
With no further need for them, I disposed of everyone, including those who fled. I stowed away the corpses and abandoned carriages, leaving only the horses behind.
‘You have acquired Animal Training Lv1.’
‘You have acquired Brewing Lv1.’
‘You have acquired Mining Lv4.’
‘You have acquired Beast Language Comprehension Lv1.’
‘You have acquired Animal Training Lv2.’
‘You have acquired Swimming Lv1.’
‘You have acquired Escape Lv5.’
‘You have acquired Voice Amplification Lv4.’
—Investigation: Bernard Brothers’ Gang.
I see.
Several horse-drawn carriages with drivers were scattered about.
When I looked at one of the drivers, he wet himself, screamed, and collapsed onto the ground.
He was the only one who hadn’t grasped a weapon, and the rest were just ordinary merchants standing there in a daze.
Investigation isn’t omnipotent either. I couldn’t possibly know where the line was drawn for who counted as part of the “gang.”
Sometimes, changing the wording a little meant they wouldn’t react at all.
Then, I’ll leave it at that.
“If you alone have any desire to atone, please wait around here. If you try to run while still burdened by your sins, you’ll die, you know?”
After leaving those words behind, I stepped into the town to greet the reinforcements.
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