Chapter 13

“The night has completely fallen.”

As the leader of the thieves’ guild, Columbo strolled through the streets after leaving the Lord’s Castle, feeling quite pleased. The deal he had once thought was risky had turned out exceptionally well, securing a massive advance and even creating a stepping stone for greater things ahead.

His subordinates would surely praise his achievements, and even more thieves would want to join his ranks. Columbo was more than willing to share what he had earned.

He was greedy but not stingy because he knew that the money he spent would give him even greater power.

At the largest establishment in this city, he ordered extravagant dishes to fill the table and prepared a mountain of alcohol that wouldn’t even reveal the floor after everyone had drunk themselves into oblivion, all while spending a delightful night with beautiful women.

Columbo genuinely intended to do just that—until he checked on his base, which had become a complete wreck.

The heavy stench of blood and the foul odor of entrails filled the air. Tables and chairs lay scattered, wrecked by the chaos of the fight, and walls, floors, and ceilings were unrecognizable, drenched in blood. In between the carnage, the corpses of his comrades welcomed their fellow thieves to this gruesome scene.

“What the hell…?”

“Ugh!”

Columbo’s subordinates, returning from the castle with him, turned pale. Some were even gagging.

They were thieves, not just petty criminals targeting unsuspecting passersby, but bandits who would brandish swords to steal lives, wealth, and dignity.

They had seen brutal deaths countless times and had often been the ones to create such horrific scenes. Like most villains, they never thought they would end up in a similar predicament.

The sight before them shattered any false confidence Columbo’s gang had held.

The faces of their dead comrades, stained with fear, pain, and despair, seemed to serve as a grim reminder that they, too, would soon meet a similar fate.

“Which bastard dared to…!”

Columbo grit his teeth. The pride and joy that had swirled around him moments before had evaporated entirely, replaced by rage.

“They’ve been completely wiped out. Not a single survivor.”

“Those bastards, they didn’t just eliminate everyone, they made sure to finish off even the incapacitated! Vicious scum!”

“Boss! The basement is empty! All the slaves inside have disappeared!”

Columbo listened quietly to the stream of shocking news. At his feet lay the body of his deputy, Vesparo.

Columbo’s gaze fixated on Vesparo’s face, which, unlike the distorted faces of the other thieves, appeared relatively peaceful. It looked more like resignation, as if he had finally accepted that his time had come.

Columbo didn’t like that one bit.

He lifted Vesparo’s body and spoke, “Ves, Ves. Oh, Vesparo. My diligent and timid friend, what were you thinking in your last moments? Did you think the sins of the past had come back to haunt you? Did you believe you finally paid your dues, and died peacefully, like some foolish notion?”

Columbo’s grip tightened on Vesparo’s shoulders, the veins on his skin bulging as his voice trembled with intense emotion.

“No, that’s not it. There’s no such thing as karma in this world. No such thing as paying for sins! That’s a fairy tale made up by the high-ups who rob and pillage us, creating a false reality! It’s their natural right to take whatever they want, but it’s a crime for us lowly ones to take even a morsel! So they claim it’s noble of them to punish us! It’s all nonsense! Why can’t you see that, you foolish friend!”

Columbo’s tears flowed freely.

His subordinates, taken aback by their leader’s tears, couldn’t help but feel moved, their own eyes glistening.

Columbo, regaining his composure, drew his curved sword from his waist and shouted, “Gather all the surviving comrades! Find out what happened here, who the hell is responsible for this atrocity! If they took all the slaves from here, there are surely witnesses! We will hunt them down and avenge our fallen brothers!”

His passionate cry was met with a unified response from the remaining thieves.

“Yes! Boss!!”

***

After the ruckus subsided, you headed over to the Black Pig Tavern.

Initially, you intended to return to your usual lodging, but given the substantial increase in your party’s size, the original accommodations simply wouldn’t suffice.

The tavern keeper, who had already been busy removing the bodies of the Columbo thieves that littered the first floor and was barely finishing up, froze upon seeing you again but accepted the heavy leather pouch you handed over and welcomed you as a patron.

After all, the previous ‘guests’ had all transformed into ‘former guests’, so there was plenty of space available.

Not long after, Dorothea came looking for you.

You tilted your head, wondering how the ‘Tin Knight’ knew you were here.

Dorothea answered with a deadpan expression, “Who do you think controls the magical power that moves you? Finding your magical signature isn’t that hard. More importantly, what the hell have you been up to? It seems like you’ve been causing quite a stir.”

You met her incredulous gaze with poise, confidently replying,

“I only targeted those who could be slain without tarnishing my reputation!”

“That’s not what I was asking.”

Though you were the one being scrutinized, it was Roni beside you who fidgeted and offered an explanation.

“I-I apologize. I should have managed the Knight better, and it escalated into chaos. But had the Knight not been there, neither I nor anyone else would have made it out alive. We wouldn’t have been able to rescue the captured feudal lords, either.”

The tavern was filled with the ex-slaves rescued from the thieves’ hideout, supporting Roni’s words.

“Mommy!”

“Yes, yes…! I’m glad you’re safe. I’m just so relieved!”

“Patricia! Oh, divine ones! I never thought I’d see you again!”

“Jack. What happened to your left hand?!”

“It’s fine, it’s nothing. The fact that we’re both alive is a miracle.”

Those who succeeded in reuniting with their lost families embraced each other, crying tears of joy.

The smiles on their faces confirmed that their tears were not of despair but of happiness.

“D-Did you happen to see my little sister? She’s a girl with brown hair named Mary.”

“…That girl was captured along with me. But I couldn’t hold on because she developed a high fever on the way… In the end, she couldn’t hold out. No matter how much I pleaded, they didn’t even give us water.”

“Ah, ugh…! Those bastards! Those inhumane scum! They should have suffered far worse!”

Of course, not everyone was so fortunate.

Several had died due to injuries sustained during their capture, some had collapsed from exhaustion, and many were sold off immediately upon reaching Albert City because they couldn’t keep all the captives in one place.

Watching the painful reality unfold, Roni managed to speak through his anguish.

“Had the Knight not acted decisively, far more of us would have suffered tragedies. Of course, the Witch also played a significant role in helping us enter this city. Thanks to both of your kindness, we were able to receive great aid. So please, don’t quarrel.”

He tripped over his words, trying to defend you while also praising Dorothea, fearing that she might get annoyed if he only lauded you. This resulted in a rather half-hearted excuse.

His lack of effective rhetoric didn’t go unnoticed; however, Dorothea merely made a slight sulking expression and didn’t press you any further.

Instead, she remarked, “We should prepare to send these people back to your territory as soon as possible. Starting right now, it’d be best to move the moment the castle gates open tomorrow.”

Roni looked taken aback, glancing at you as if to think, ‘Why the rush?’

Yet, despite having gained experience from acting alongside you, Roni didn’t simply say ‘no.’ He asked for clarification instead.