Chapter 53

“Hmph.”

Have they already forgotten that their heads were nearly lopped off just a little while ago?

Or is it rather that it’s a deeply ingrained habit and way of thinking?

It’s really stressing me out when I’m already in a bad mood.

‘…No, that’s not it.’

Walking around cutting the heads off nobles and officials was merely a purge due to charges of treason or corruption.

I haven’t been going around yelling and rampaging, telling people not to oppress the commoners.

Perhaps this situation is natural, then.

They lived in their grandeur, so it’s not easy for them to correct their behavior.

‘Even so, it’s not right to openly disregard the city guards.’

If this continues, how will there be any proper law enforcement?

This is actually good timing. I should see what kind of fellow this is. I’ll deal with it for the guards as well.

He quickly moved his steps into the crowd where the commotion had arisen.

Pushing through the dense crowd, he moved forward, and the chaotic sight of the scene came into view.

In front of the shop on the floor were shattered glass bottles, burst sacks, and the spices that had spilled out were strewn about, releasing their distinct aroma.

‘The shop owner is the victim.’

At the center of the chaotic floor, there was a woman with black hair.

Her tawny eyes were filled with worry as she observed someone. Following her gaze, an unconscious guard lying on his side and his colleagues who had surrounded him came into sight.

And then, a group of people being watched tensely by both the guards and the surrounding crowd.

‘It’s likely the son of a noble. He seems to be a greenhorn. The crest… With its green border, it’s a baron. I don’t know the family though.’

Only officially appointed nobles can wear crests on their collars.

The one without a title usually indicates their lineage through necklaces or other accessories.

The blond young man in front of him had a crest on his necklace. It wasn’t the baron himself but his son.

‘Could he be immature?’

Behind him was a knight, and three soldiers for protection.

He was at that age when youthful vigor runs high, with a solid backing, so it only made sense that he could afford to act frivolously.

However, it might really be the case where the noble’s heir is the victim. From the surrounding reactions and the attitudes of the involved parties, it might appear as typical unruly behavior from a young noble, but…

While observing the situation, a haughty voice of the blond carried through.

“Know your place, commoner. Just because you wear that uniform doesn’t mean our blood runs the same.”

At the taunting voice of the blond, the fallen guard lifted his head.

A face twisted in pain, and the eyes looking up at the blond contained both resentment and fear.

Another nearby officer then stepped forward to block the scene and spoke.

“Please accept my sincerest apologies for the rudeness. I am Hunts, a sergeant of the Second Guard Team from the South Gate Guard Bureau.”

Hunts bowed courteously, speaking calmly. Having seen this, the blond snorted condescendingly and nodded lazily.

Unbothered by the blond’s obnoxious behavior, Hunts continued.

“We are following an official report under the orders of Baron Wolfhen, the South Gate Bureau Director. May we inquire about the situation, if it’s no inconvenience?”

“Are you implying that I am a criminal by asking me to cooperate in the investigation?”

“…No. We merely wish to seek your esteemed opinion, as you’re the highest authority at this scene.”

“Hmm, good work.”

The sergeant who introduced himself as Hunts was clearly a commoner.

He was a squad leader, yet seemed to be handling himself well without provoking the blond or overstepping his boundaries in a way that would draw rebuke.

‘He’s competent. I might consider recruiting him later.’

In his late thirties, with stubble on his face, Hunts’ composed tone, despite underlying anxiety, caused the blond to smirk.

“Very well, I, as a noble, shall enlighten you ignorant fools out of a sense of duty.”

The insolent blond then pointed with a finger at the shop owner.

“That woman dared to pass off rotten materials as fresh ones. Her deception, misleading a noble, deserves her tongue and both arms severed before being thrown to the beasts.”

The blond arrogantly gestured with his chin at the black-haired woman.

Following his gesture, Hunts and the guards turned their heads to look at the woman, who immediately protested her innocence.

“…That can’t be true! The spices sold were all acquired only two days ago. Spices rotting? That’s nonsense!”

“You wretched woman! Are you implying that the young master is lying?”

“That… that…”

As one of the guardsmen yelled, the woman flinched.

Their naturally coercive stance suggested they were well-practiced at such behavior.

“Really… it’s untrue.”

“…Hmph.”

The woman muttered unhappily, while Hunts sighed softly.

The guard who had been struck in the stomach was slowly getting up with the help of another officer.

Looking around, there were no higher ranking individuals than the blond. It was a situation where the guards should have called the captain at minimum, but the circumstances didn’t allow that.

It was a situation where the blond could manipulate at will.

‘However…’

A subtle irritation had been building ever since this started.

A faint, yet familiar sensation.

A shadowy, clandestine feeling that became more troublesome the more one thought about it, accumulating stress and causing discomfort.

The presence of an assassin could be felt.

A presence so subtle that if he didn’t focus properly, it might slip past him entirely.

The trouble was…

That this presence was emanating from the black-haired woman, the shop owner.

‘…She’s an assassin, probably.’

For some reason, the presence felt somewhat familiar…

There was no sign of any fire innate within her. Meaning she was not a mana practitioner.

As he was contemplating this presence, the blond’s voice cut through.

“To think you could deceive me for even a moment with your looks and words, you are quite the witch.”

The smirking blond glanced at his guardsmen.

“Having witnessed such wicked actions now, I cannot overlook this as a noble of the Empire. Restrain that woman.”

The guardsmen moved toward the woman, and in the midst of it, the blond leisurely scanned her from top to bottom and spoke.

“I’ll take her to the manor and appropriately punish her to reform her wickedness. It’s my duty and responsibility. She will no longer deceive the citizens of the Empire.”

‘No.’

He had momentarily thought he had caught the assassin, but this fellow’s true intentions came out as soon as he had the upper hand.

Did he lose his mind?

Attempting to bring a high-level assassin home?

‘He must not be aware of her identity.’

My understanding of the situation is complete now. It’s time to resolve this.

I need to hurry and buy ingredients and head back. I must start making pudding for tonight.

“Let go of me! Please, someone! Help!”

“Be quiet! Don’t resist!”

The shop owner was being dragged away like a powerless victim to the noble’s misconduct.

The crowd and the guards watched in silence with clenched lips as the blond casually laughed.

Thump.

Reaching out, he placed his hand on the shoulder of Hunts who had watched with distorted eyes.

Surprised by the sudden contact, Hunts turned his head quickly.

Seeing Hunts glance back with wary eyes, he slightly pulled down his hood to reveal his face.

Hunts’ eyes widened in recognition.

“M-Ma…”

He held up a finger to cut off Hunts’ words and spoke softly.

“There are too many eyes here. Dismiss the crowd.”

“…Yes. Understood!”

With firm resolution, Hunts nodded and quickly issued an order to the guards. The guards, though puzzled, swiftly began dispersing the onlookers.

In the confusion, the blond and his group could only look on in bewilderment as the previously dense crowd disappeared in the blink of an eye.

With the shop’s front now quiet,

‘Good.’

Have you had your fun, blonde? You don’t know me but I’m saving you today.

Start doing good deeds from now on.

First, lightly cracking his knuckles and neck, he stepped toward the guards and the woman.

The guard holding the woman looked up as a shadow loomed over him.

“What… huh!”

Startled, the guard took a step back, frowned, then moved forward again.

“What is this…? Hero play should be done with pilgrims, not…”

No need to listen any further.

He immediately extended his hand to twist the guard’s arm.

A mere guard, not a knight, couldn’t keep up with his movements.

Before the subdued guard could scream in pain from his twisted arm,

he was sent flying toward the direction of the blond with a casual kick.

Thud!

“Yargh!”

The shout drew the attention of the other guards.

He promptly disabled another guard with an appropriate strike before kicking him away.

“Koff!”

“Ouch!”

“What the… cough!”

He kicked the last one accurately at the blond.

Fortunately, the casual onlooker that was the blond caught his guard perfectly, rolling on the ground.

The brief situation.

The blond and his guards were all sprawled out, trembling on the ground.

Clang!

“You bastard! How dare you touch the young master!”

The metallic clash of swords sounded as the knight who was protecting the blond rushed forward.

A near-instantaneous draw and attack.

Despite the refined movements indicating thorough training,…

‘Maybe because I’ve been dealing with mana manifestation users lately…’

‘Slow.’

He grabbed the blade of the sword with his fingers as it split the air.

“What is this…!”

Ignoring the astonished knight’s shock, he pulled the sword toward him.

The knight, thinking he was about to lose his weapon, tried to resist instinctively,

“Kuff…!”

But received a punch to the stomach as he was dragged forward.

Since his assimilation of mana after dealing with Aidan, his strength control seemed off.

Fortunately, it seems he hit the knight appropriately. He was lying on the floor, only gagging.

His internal organs probably would have burst if he hadn’t modulated his strength.

‘This is annoying.’

I could easily kill someone with one punch now. I need to sort out the mess inside me quickly.

While shaking out his hand to calm the boiling irritation, the knight who had fallen rose again.

Shaking and steadying his trembling body,

“Who… Who are you?”

His voice quivered, but he forced it down with determination. His eyes brimmed with surprise, disbelief, and shock.

Well, it’s understandable that he’s shocked. He fell after just one hit despite his apparent fortitude.

Without answering the knight’s question, he slightly lowered his hood.

Nice to meet you. My name is Macbilian.

“…My, my prince!”

Gently, he whispered to the shocked knight.

“Since there’s no bloodshed, we’ll let this pass. Return with the blond.”

He glared at the knight, who trembled as if an earthquake had struck, and added,

“Tell him this: If he disregards the authority of imperial officials or behaves recklessly again, I’ll come after him with my sword.”

“Yes, yes! Understood!”

The knight, as if he had forgotten his pain, hurried away and whispered something into the blond’s ear.

The blond shoved the guards aside, stood up after listening to the knight, and turned deathly pale.

He quickly gathered his guards and the knight and departed without a backward glance.

“You should consider yourself lucky.”

With that, he turned his steps toward the black-haired woman.

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