Chapter 149 – Glasses boy and Adyll return to the brothel district
“Alright. Let’s go home, Elle.” Old lady Adyll said.
I had been looking at the entrance that Zett had gone through, and that Beckenberg went through shortly after.
Old lady Adyll, who hadn’t reacted to all the violence that happened in front of her, finally rose from her seat.
“Elle…?” Lisse muttered. Her expression clearly showed that she was more suspicious than before.
I suppose that can’t be helped, since this name is very similar to the name of her glasses-wearing acquaintance.
Well, said acquaintance is none other than me, so it’s natural that she feels suspicious when both my current appearance and my current name are similar to my actual appearance and name.
“Let’s.” I nodded to old lady Adyll’s words.
I have no reason to be here anymore, after all.
The inside of the restaurant was a mess though, and the clerks that had been serving food and alcohol have all disappeared.
For a moment I wondered if it was okay to leave this place like that, but it’s probably alright.
Beckenberg made plans to kill Zett specifically inside this restaurant, so he probably made arrangements to clean up the mess after things went wild.
“This was a really lousy night…” Old lady Adyll sighed, “His plan was filled with holes. It doesn’t feel like something that that cunning, sly, fat guy would come up with. It’s honestly disappointing.”
Disappointing, huh?
So, old lady Adyll was probably aware that Beckenberg was planning on doing something today.
That’s probably why she spent so much time drinking without saying a word, even after the conversation was over. She must have been waiting for something to happen.
Well, whatever the truth is, it doesn’t matter anymore.
Hold on… A plan full of holes?
“I overheard Beckenberg mutter something as he left. He was complaining about his Gift Seal being stolen.” I told old lady Adyll.
That was probably what caused the hole in his plan.
I could barely hear it as he passed by me, so old lady Adyll most likely didn’t hear it herself.
As if to confirm my thoughts, she nodded, “Ah, I see… He lost the core piece of his plan right when it was in its final stages? Now that’s some bad luck.”
Yeah… He was probably preparing this for quite a while now, and the item was stolen when it was too late to cancel the plan, so he was forced into action with half-baked measures.
As a hunter, I can understand the feeling.
Sometimes I may have spent hours, or maybe even days preparing for a hunt, but everything ended up being in vain because I lacked something crucial right at the last minute.
Those situations weigh heavily on my mind to this day.
One day the weather was unexpectedly terrible; another time me and my master got into a fight because he nibbled some meat from my lunch box, which led to the prey noticing us; then there was the time a bee stung me and the prey fled as it heard me writhe in pain; not to mention the day when a stag beetle that my sister secretly hid in my luggage pinched my finger, and my pained shout alerted the prey…
Some of those were really unavoidable, but others were just trivial mistakes that led to failure.
Though really… A Gift Seal?
I heard about this kind of thing in fairy tales, but it actually exists?
I suppose Beckenberg was planning on sealing Zett’s Gift to kill him, but the essential Gift Seal was stolen, which led to the plan’s collapse.
Moreover, since he had to bring his forces here to kill Zett, the security of his home was weakened, which allowed Zett’s comrades to attack his mansion.
It feels like they’re kicking Beckenberg after he is already down at this point.
“Let’s talk as we move. We should hurry to a safe location.” Old lady Adyll told me.
The threat is already gone.
However, it’s possible that Zett might return.
The chances of this happening are low, but it’s not impossible.
After all, I cannot read the behavior of this kind of guy. He seems to act primarily on his whims.
And also… He seems to have gotten attached to me.
I think there is a possibility of him coming to old lady Adyll’s place just to see me… How bothersome.
“I have already called for Dynawood. We’ll leave once the carriage is ready.” Old lady Adyll told me.
Oh, alright? So we’re gonna wait until Dynawood comes fetch us?
… How did she call for him though? Is this related to a Gift, somehow?
“So, what are you going to do? Should I take care of you?” Old lady Adyll asked Lisse.
Lisse stood still with an expression that made it seem like she wanted to say something.
She seemed to have broken her tie with Beckenberg, as she didn’t go after him as he left, nor did he try taking her with him.
They must have realized that they had no reason to be together anymore.
“I… I’ll be looking for my companions.” Lisse said as she stared at the glasses I gave her, “I’ll search for them with my own eyes and ears. I’ll figure out if they’re dead or alive.”
I’m alive. I’m here. Please don’t look so serious as you’re saying that; I’m almost laughing at you.
Old lady Adyll nodded to Lisse’s words, then replied, “Alright then.
“And a word of advice. Even if I don’t think you will have to deal with him again, be careful with Beckenberg.
“If you’re calm and collected, he isn’t a threat, but… Once your heart is shaken, his words become the words of a god.
“He has the power to make you believe in him, regardless of any contradictions.
“Even if his words are plain unreasonable and irrational, you still end up believing him anyways.
“I suppose those glasses belong to your friend? Was your heart shaken when you saw this? That was probably why you believed Beckenberg’s words.”
Lisse stayed silent, but she was clearly paying attention.
Old lady Adyll continued, “That’s his usual tactic.
“He finds someone’s weaknesses, exploits it, then manipulates the person as he pleases.
“If you aren’t aware of it in advance, you can easily get caught up in his tricks.
“He is especially dangerous to newcomers who just arrived at Krozheit.”
… So that’s what Beckenberg’s Agitator does? It sounds pretty troublesome for sure.
“Also, if possible, don’t kill that fat guy; let him live.
“Even if that man is like that, he is still necessary to keep this city running.” Old lady Adyll said.
“Wouldn’t it be better for this city if he was dead?” Lisse asked.
Ah, she is really angry, isn’t she?
Well, that’s unsurprising. Now that the truth has come to light, Beckenberg is just a guy who deceived and used Lisse.
Old lady Adyll replied, “Beckenberg has built up many connections over the years.
“The smuggling routes that are currently in use are heavily dependent on the trust that people have on him.
“If he dies, this will be reset to a blank slate. The logistics will come to a halt and people won’t be able to get what they need, which will lead to the death of many of the weaker residents of this city.
“I’m not gonna tell you that you cannot kill him though.
“This is the lawless country, after all.
“But you’re not a stupid or incompetent thug, are you? You understand that getting rid of him is different from killing a random guy on the streets.
“If Beckenberg dies, many will die. If you’re going to do it, then do it while being aware of that.”
I see… This makes sense.
“Then… Was Zett not serious perchance?” Lisse asked.
Zett actually tried to kill Beckenberg.
I was sure of it at least.
But looking back on it now, I can’t help wonder if I misunderstood his intentions at that moment.
Old lady Adyll denied it, “That’s incorrect, that boy was serious.
“That brat understands it too though.
“Killing in this city is not worth the risk. You end up losing way more than you gain.
“Which is why one shouldn’t take the initiative to kill somebody, regardless of the person being Beckenberg or someone else.
“However, things are different if one attempts to kill you first. There’s no way Zett wouldn’t fight back against this kind of attack, that brat hates being looked down upon.”
I see… So Zett won’t take the initiative to kill Beckenberg, but he is still willing to retaliate when his life is being targeted.
I suppose that’s why Beckenberg was able to return home with his life intact.
Zett’s Gift would have surely given him plenty of opportunities to kill Beckenberg while he fought me and Lisse.
However, Zett was not obsessed with ending Beckenberg’s life, so he did not prioritize that during our battles.
“Manager, the carriage is ready.” Dynawood said those words as he entered the restaurant.
Finally. We can go home now.
“Then, let me give you this, just in case.” Old lady Adyll gave me a small wooden tag.
… Ah, got it. I should give it to Lisse. Understood.
I gave Lisse the wooden tag that had something akin to a family crest engraved on it.
“If you ever feel like it, visit any big store on the brothel district, show this, and say that you have an appointment with the manager. I’m ready to take care of you.” Old lady Adyll said.
Lisse looked back and forth between my face and the wooden tag that she received.
“… I don’t know if I’ll go visit you, but I’ll take this.” Lisse put the tag in her pocket while staring directly at me.
Don’t look at me this much…
******
We left Lisse at the restaurant and boarded the carriage.
Then, we slowly started moving back towards the mansion in the brothel district.
And right now, I was feeling terrified about what old lady Adyll would say after seeing how I fought.
However, the words that came out of her mouth completely defied my expectations, “Being able to handle Zett is a pretty big deal.
“As a thank you for tonight’s work, I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything.
“So, stop looking at me with such an anxious gaze, like a child who had their prank exposed.”
I stayed silent for a small while after hearing that.
But eventually, I replied, “Just like Beckenberg, you seem very good at using people, manager.”
That was a reward that I was absolutely not expecting.
After hearing this kind of thing, it can’t be helped that I started wanting to support the old lady, even if just for a bit.
Old lady Adyll didn’t say anything in response. She just shrugged her shoulders and laughed.
Well, this should be the end of today’s troubles… I surely won’t wake up tomorrow to hear about yet another big incident that happened today, right?
Chapter 149 – Glasses boy and Adyll return to the brothel district
“Alright. Let’s go home, Elle.” Old lady Adyll said.
I had been looking at the entrance that Zett had gone through, and that Beckenberg went through shortly after.
Old lady Adyll, who hadn’t reacted to all the violence that happened in front of her, finally rose from her seat.
“Elle…?” Lisse muttered. Her expression clearly showed that she was more suspicious than before.
I suppose that can’t be helped, since this name is very similar to the name of her glasses-wearing acquaintance.
Well, said acquaintance is none other than me, so it’s natural that she feels suspicious when both my current appearance and my current name are similar to my actual appearance and name.
“Let’s.” I nodded to old lady Adyll’s words.
I have no reason to be here anymore, after all.
The inside of the restaurant was a mess though, and the clerks that had been serving food and alcohol have all disappeared.
For a moment I wondered if it was okay to leave this place like that, but it’s probably alright.
Beckenberg made plans to kill Zett specifically inside this restaurant, so he probably made arrangements to clean up the mess after things went wild.
“This was a really lousy night…” Old lady Adyll sighed, “His plan was filled with holes. It doesn’t feel like something that that cunning, sly, fat guy would come up with. It’s honestly disappointing.”
Disappointing, huh?
So, old lady Adyll was probably aware that Beckenberg was planning on doing something today.
That’s probably why she spent so much time drinking without saying a word, even after the conversation was over. She must have been waiting for something to happen.
Well, whatever the truth is, it doesn’t matter anymore.
Hold on… A plan full of holes?
“I overheard Beckenberg mutter something as he left. He was complaining about his Gift Seal being stolen.” I told old lady Adyll.
That was probably what caused the hole in his plan.
I could barely hear it as he passed by me, so old lady Adyll most likely didn’t hear it herself.
As if to confirm my thoughts, she nodded, “Ah, I see… He lost the core piece of his plan right when it was in its final stages? Now that’s some bad luck.”
Yeah… He was probably preparing this for quite a while now, and the item was stolen when it was too late to cancel the plan, so he was forced into action with half-baked measures.
As a hunter, I can understand the feeling.
Sometimes I may have spent hours, or maybe even days preparing for a hunt, but everything ended up being in vain because I lacked something crucial right at the last minute.
Those situations weigh heavily on my mind to this day.
One day the weather was unexpectedly terrible; another time me and my master got into a fight because he nibbled some meat from my lunch box, which led to the prey noticing us; then there was the time a bee stung me and the prey fled as it heard me writhe in pain; not to mention the day when a stag beetle that my sister secretly hid in my luggage pinched my finger, and my pained shout alerted the prey…
Some of those were really unavoidable, but others were just trivial mistakes that led to failure.
Though really… A Gift Seal?
I heard about this kind of thing in fairy tales, but it actually exists?
I suppose Beckenberg was planning on sealing Zett’s Gift to kill him, but the essential Gift Seal was stolen, which led to the plan’s collapse.
Moreover, since he had to bring his forces here to kill Zett, the security of his home was weakened, which allowed Zett’s comrades to attack his mansion.
It feels like they’re kicking Beckenberg after he is already down at this point.
“Let’s talk as we move. We should hurry to a safe location.” Old lady Adyll told me.
The threat is already gone.
However, it’s possible that Zett might return.
The chances of this happening are low, but it’s not impossible.
After all, I cannot read the behavior of this kind of guy. He seems to act primarily on his whims.
And also… He seems to have gotten attached to me.
I think there is a possibility of him coming to old lady Adyll’s place just to see me… How bothersome.
“I have already called for Dynawood. We’ll leave once the carriage is ready.” Old lady Adyll told me.
Oh, alright? So we’re gonna wait until Dynawood comes fetch us?
… How did she call for him though? Is this related to a Gift, somehow?
“So, what are you going to do? Should I take care of you?” Old lady Adyll asked Lisse.
Lisse stood still with an expression that made it seem like she wanted to say something.
She seemed to have broken her tie with Beckenberg, as she didn’t go after him as he left, nor did he try taking her with him.
They must have realized that they had no reason to be together anymore.
“I… I’ll be looking for my companions.” Lisse said as she stared at the glasses I gave her, “I’ll search for them with my own eyes and ears. I’ll figure out if they’re dead or alive.”
I’m alive. I’m here. Please don’t look so serious as you’re saying that; I’m almost laughing at you.
Old lady Adyll nodded to Lisse’s words, then replied, “Alright then.
“And a word of advice. Even if I don’t think you will have to deal with him again, be careful with Beckenberg.
“If you’re calm and collected, he isn’t a threat, but… Once your heart is shaken, his words become the words of a god.
“He has the power to make you believe in him, regardless of any contradictions.
“Even if his words are plain unreasonable and irrational, you still end up believing him anyways.
“I suppose those glasses belong to your friend? Was your heart shaken when you saw this? That was probably why you believed Beckenberg’s words.”
Lisse stayed silent, but she was clearly paying attention.
Old lady Adyll continued, “That’s his usual tactic.
“He finds someone’s weaknesses, exploits it, then manipulates the person as he pleases.
“If you aren’t aware of it in advance, you can easily get caught up in his tricks.
“He is especially dangerous to newcomers who just arrived at Krozheit.”
… So that’s what Beckenberg’s Agitator does? It sounds pretty troublesome for sure.
“Also, if possible, don’t kill that fat guy; let him live.
“Even if that man is like that, he is still necessary to keep this city running.” Old lady Adyll said.
“Wouldn’t it be better for this city if he was dead?” Lisse asked.
Ah, she is really angry, isn’t she?
Well, that’s unsurprising. Now that the truth has come to light, Beckenberg is just a guy who deceived and used Lisse.
Old lady Adyll replied, “Beckenberg has built up many connections over the years.
“The smuggling routes that are currently in use are heavily dependent on the trust that people have on him.
“If he dies, this will be reset to a blank slate. The logistics will come to a halt and people won’t be able to get what they need, which will lead to the death of many of the weaker residents of this city.
“I’m not gonna tell you that you cannot kill him though.
“This is the lawless country, after all.
“But you’re not a stupid or incompetent thug, are you? You understand that getting rid of him is different from killing a random guy on the streets.
“If Beckenberg dies, many will die. If you’re going to do it, then do it while being aware of that.”
I see… This makes sense.
“Then… Was Zett not serious perchance?” Lisse asked.
Zett actually tried to kill Beckenberg.
I was sure of it at least.
But looking back on it now, I can’t help wonder if I misunderstood his intentions at that moment.
Old lady Adyll denied it, “That’s incorrect, that boy was serious.
“That brat understands it too though.
“Killing in this city is not worth the risk. You end up losing way more than you gain.
“Which is why one shouldn’t take the initiative to kill somebody, regardless of the person being Beckenberg or someone else.
“However, things are different if one attempts to kill you first. There’s no way Zett wouldn’t fight back against this kind of attack, that brat hates being looked down upon.”
I see… So Zett won’t take the initiative to kill Beckenberg, but he is still willing to retaliate when his life is being targeted.
I suppose that’s why Beckenberg was able to return home with his life intact.
Zett’s Gift would have surely given him plenty of opportunities to kill Beckenberg while he fought me and Lisse.
However, Zett was not obsessed with ending Beckenberg’s life, so he did not prioritize that during our battles.
“Manager, the carriage is ready.” Dynawood said those words as he entered the restaurant.
Finally. We can go home now.
“Then, let me give you this, just in case.” Old lady Adyll gave me a small wooden tag.
… Ah, got it. I should give it to Lisse. Understood.
I gave Lisse the wooden tag that had something akin to a family crest engraved on it.
“If you ever feel like it, visit any big store on the brothel district, show this, and say that you have an appointment with the manager. I’m ready to take care of you.” Old lady Adyll said.
Lisse looked back and forth between my face and the wooden tag that she received.
“… I don’t know if I’ll go visit you, but I’ll take this.” Lisse put the tag in her pocket while staring directly at me.
Don’t look at me this much…
******
We left Lisse at the restaurant and boarded the carriage.
Then, we slowly started moving back towards the mansion in the brothel district.
And right now, I was feeling terrified about what old lady Adyll would say after seeing how I fought.
However, the words that came out of her mouth completely defied my expectations, “Being able to handle Zett is a pretty big deal.
“As a thank you for tonight’s work, I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything.
“So, stop looking at me with such an anxious gaze, like a child who had their prank exposed.”
I stayed silent for a small while after hearing that.
But eventually, I replied, “Just like Beckenberg, you seem very good at using people, manager.”
That was a reward that I was absolutely not expecting.
After hearing this kind of thing, it can’t be helped that I started wanting to support the old lady, even if just for a bit.
Old lady Adyll didn’t say anything in response. She just shrugged her shoulders and laughed.
Well, this should be the end of today’s troubles… I surely won’t wake up tomorrow to hear about yet another big incident that happened today, right?
