Chapter 87 - Exploration of Karluk Kingdom’s Capital part 1 (1/2)
Chapter 87: Exploration of Karluk Kingdom’s Capital part 1
Translator: “Pink Tea” Editor: ”Ryunakama”
Upon re-examining the town after our conversation with Leticia, I became aware of its more sinister side.
Take one step away from the lively streets into the back alleys and you’ll find starving people, orphaned kids, and even corpses lying around.
「Whoa… The dark side is scary……」
Muttering so I look around. Occasionally I’d encounter suspicious men and women that would stare at me without any restraint.
They are clearly not from your ordinary public. Their gazes were seedy, and they even leaked pretty creepy laughs from time to time. If I were to add, they also stunk really bad.
「The likes of vagrants, thieves, and murderers you’d find anywhere. Not a big deal.」
「It is a big deal, Aifa-san. 」
I naturally retorted to Aifa’s words. Just what in the world has to happen that murderers will get a higher encounter rate than stray dogs?
「……Hm? Which reminds me, I don’t see any dogs or cats.」
When I said so, Yuri replied with her usual expression.
「They probably became a food, didn’t they? For poor people hunting is about the only way to get meat.」
「Hunting…… For dogs? That’s weird. Isn’t hunting supposed to be about deer or boars……」
A shiver ran through my body after I said that. What a scary story. The difference in wealth was literally like heaven and hell.
As expected, I guess we should return to the cheerful world of the main street.
When I thought so and raised my eyes, the deeper part of the back alley entered my sight.
The dead-end of the dim back alley that was even gloomier than the back alley itself. Two men stood in front of a closed simplistic door.
No, they didn’t just stand there, they actually were kicking something at their feet.
「Hii, uuah…… I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry, please……」
With stern faces, the men kept kicking an elderly man in the head and stomach. They are wearing some light leather armor, but they appear nothing like knights or guards.
It doesn’t seem like they are punishing the old man that stole something.
「H-hey……!」
I involuntarily called out to them. To which the men turned around with scary expressions.
「……AAh? What are you?」
「Do you want to die in place of this geezer?」
The two had scars covering their hands and faces and were speaking intimidating words. Though they weren’t that tall, they were pretty muscular and both had frighteningly fierce looks, so they appeared surprisingly scary.
Unfortunately, being a grandma’s kid I couldn’t just ignore a scene of cruelty being done to the elderly.
Of course the same applies to women as well, I can’t bear the sight of those without power being oppressed.
「…Did this senior do something?」
When asked, the men narrowed their eyes with annoyed faces.
「……What’s up with this guy?」
「Wait a moment, he might be a son of some noble.」
In a pretty rude manner, the two exchanged lines while sneaking glances at me, then, and once again turned my way.
「This fellow snatched my food. And so we were punishing him that he won’t ever do that again. 」
「N-no…… I just picked the bread that you threw awa……」
「Shut up, you creep.」
The elderly man that tried to explain himself got kicked with full strength. Blood spilled onto the ground as he took a kick in his face that could cave his nose in. As that blood got on his clothes, the man once again raised his leg with an enraged look.
「a-A1!」
As I shouted, flustered, A1 flew past me with a roaring sound.
And just a moment before the man was about to hit the elderly person, A1 struck the man, blowing him away, and consequently slamming him into the wall.
As all that happened in just an instant, the second man just stood there blinking, completely frozen in place. A bit late but he soon understood the situation and with his face covered in a cold sweat he then took a step back.
「Wa-Wait a moment! We are men of Count Desperado’s right hand man, viscount Elmar Rich?! If you want to have a peaceful life in the capital you better not lay a finger on us!」
「Well, I already did……」
As I say a bit awkwardly, the man vigorously nods expressing his agreement.
「Y-yes, I know! We just had a bit of a misunderstanding! It can’t be helped since you knew nothing about us! Just an unfortunate accident! But now it’s different, right? Now, you are aware, right?!」