Chapter 3 – Volume 1
1
Edited 4/13/23
“It’s a trap.”
Laud, the Second Prince of the Kemened Kingdom looked back at the person who said this. He didn’t know the name of this person, but it really didn’t matter. He was simply called ‘a guide‘, and he has been an assassin working for the Kemened royal family since his father’s generation.
Prince Laud asked with a frown.
“And?
“Leshak Caliph doesn’t buy prostitutes. He has never visited brothels before. It’s obvious, Count Custer went to the brothels and as soon as he did, he died. And now the Prince is suddenly visiting the brothels?”
Laud put down his glass of wine.
“But, your saying that Leshak Caliph came out as bait, right?”
“I am, but……”
“Then proceed.”
“… …”
The guide shut his mouth. He was a seasoned assassin. There were countless enemies of Kemened who had been purged by his organization. With the outbreak of the Seven Years’ War, even an important asset like the ‘Basilisk‘ could be obtained.
It was Radan who killed the target, but it was the guide who led Radan to the opponent. The fact that Radan has been able to keep his identity a secret while carrying out so many assassinations had far more to do with the guide than anything else.
He was convinced that it was a trap. Laud’s words were giving him something to think about.
“Aren’t you concerned about the ‘blue snake‘ returning?”
The Blue Snake was used to refer to Radan. The royal family of Kemened was extremely reluctant to mention Radan’s name. Even now, most people believe the Third Prince died when he was born.
“The death of Leshak Caliph is more important than the Blue Snake.”
Laud ground his teeth. It was not clear where the anger was directed at. Maybe it’s for Alsanu III, who now has dementia after having started a never-ending war? Or perhaps it was directed towards the Crown Prince of the Empire, who has been steadily trampling the Kemened Kingdom for seven years? Or is he thinking about the youngest brother who killed his own mother with his cursed eyes?
“But if it fails, you could lose the Blue Snake. The Blue Snake is the most essential person for the war right now……,”
Laud threw his glass at the guide.
“Shut up! Don’t think you think I already know that!?”
The silver cup was crushed but it did not break. The Guide was hit on the forehead by the glass, but no blood flowed. Instead, his clothes were soaked in red wine. The Guide quietly wiped his forehead.
“……Forgive me, My Lord.”
“Damn it!”
Laud kicked the table. The luxurious, but precarious posed triangular pediment fell and the wine jar placed on it was shattered.
“Did you hear what I said? Is there anything more important than killing Leshak in this situation?”
“Of course not.”
“Then do it! Do it!! I am the one who speaks in the King’s name!”
“… …“
Prince Laud was not yet king. The day he can safely be crowned king will probably be very far away. He didn’t know if the current war would end if he killed Prince Leshak. However, he could bet that as soon as the war with the Empire is over, the five small countries will start the war again over what remains. The Guide did not dare to say such a thing. It wasn’t his place to advise him. He was only ‘A Guide‘, a subordinate to the royal family of Kemened, and he just killed the people as they told them to.
“Well, isn’t the return of the Blue Snake an absolute condition?”
Laud, who had been struggling to breathe for a while, answered.
“You do your best. However, if the situation is not favorable, I will not blame you for that. Now get out.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
The Guide wore a black mask over his face. And he became like a shadow and disappeared.
Absolutely no one going to and from the palace noticed his entrance, except for one man, Radan.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
2
“It’s already the third day.”
It was Abadd’s speaking.
“I’ll bet my gauntlets that the assassin knows that it’s a trap and isn’t coming.”
Abadd tapped Karum on the side.
“What are you going to bet?”
“Um, I……”
Sidris snorted and intervened in Karum’s troubles.
“Shut up. Don’t get caught up in it, they won’t show up anyway.”
“Hmm?”
Karum thought for a moment and shook his head.
“No, it can’t be. If they won’t show up then why are we here? And above all else, the Crown Prince wouldn’t be here for prostitutes.”
“His Highness would not expect the Unknown Assassin to appear. You’re too smart to believe that.”
“Then why……?”
It was the third day after infiltrating Merv’s brothel district. For three days Leshak had been acting as bait and assumed the role of a prodigal Prince. In fact, even Leshek’s Guardian Knights doubted for a moment as to whether the purpose was to catch the Unknown Assassin or to satisfy their accumulated desires.
“He wants to know how things work here, how the information leaked from here is passed on to the Unknown Assassin. It’s impossible to just cover your ears when your opponent screams so loudly.”
Abadd silently clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“You are too generous with His Majesty. It may be within his nature to want to play around like this,”
“His Majesty!?”
Sidris’ sneer cut off Abadd’s words.
“Stop talking nonsense. His Highness would never embrace a prostitute. That will never happen.”
Abadd pouted like a child. Although he was also a handsome man, he had a feeling of inferiority next to Leshak. The sullen expression on his face didn’t suit him.
“No, that’s…well yes, I think so too. But isn’t it too much to tell us to play as pimps? I’m tired of watching drunks in heat, for the past three days.”
Abadd muttered. Sidris’ reaction was cold.
“If you don’t like playing a pimp, play a prostitute.”
“….play. Damn it, you shouldn’t talk.”
The Guardian Knights were disguised as pimps and pimps’ messengers, respectively. They roamed through every nook and cranny of the Red (Light) Streets observing the movement of money and people. This was only possible because Leshak bought a brothel in the streets of Merv.
While the Guardian Knights scoured the underbelly of the Red Streets and pretended to be the real pimps who run a real brothel, Leshak was drawing people’s attention by serving as a ‘high-roller guest‘.
Then someone knocked on the window of the brothel. He was a native errand boy who had always worked at the brothel. His role was to hang around at the entrance of the Red Street and grab new guests when they enter Merv and guide them to the brothel.
“Hey there, new master.”
Abadd opened a small window.
“Yes.”
“Why, are there rich customers coming and going here these days?”
This was about Prince Leshak.
“He just went into the house across the street. Damn, I rushed all the way here to bring him to our place. I feel awful.”
This messenger did not know that Prince Leshak was the one who bought the brothel where he worked. Abadd replied with a short smile.
“It’s okay. You’ll have a chance next time. So, you know what to do now?”
“Sure, you’re asking me to go and see what prostitutes they bring in to him?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
The errand boy shook his head.
“But why……judging from what I’ve seen so far, he doesn’t have any particular tastes. If you’re just going to buy any ol’ woman, he should just come over to our house.”
Abadd reached putout of the projected window and rapped on the messenger’s head.
“Because that’s what I’m asking you to do. Go and look at the prostitute’s face.”
“Hey, this is the first time I’ve seen new Masters do this kind of groundwork. This way doing things doesn’t really happen here….anyway, I’ll get going there .”
“Yes.”
The projected window closed and the messenger ran down the alley like a flying squirrel.
“I’m glad we have that kid. Monitoring just got easier.”
The messenger boy, who was born and raised in this alley, said that he knew the faces of the prostitutes in other brothels to some extent.
It was the task of the messenger to check the faces of the prostitutes going into Leshak’s room.
If he was a prostitute who had an unknown face, then there was room for doubt.
“Your making sure that His Majesty is profiting from buying a brothel. How much money did he make?”
“Don’t ask me that. Incris is the one who’s in charge of all the money calculations, right?”
“Aha. That’s why you’re looking so gloomy these days.”
“Is it? He’s been pouring money into the battlefield for seven years.”
“And His Majesty doesn’t know the concept of economizing.”
“Because he’s perfect at everything, I think he can be allowed to be flawed in that way.”
“Can you say those words to Incris?”
“……Give me a break. I don’t want to be hated by Incris. With that kind of personality, he would be quick to cut me off from my share of the bounty.”
“You. If you’re going to joke about His Majesty, then leave.”
Abadd and Karum shut their mouths. If there was someone that you should not be hated by more than His Majesty, it was Sidris.
“Are you cognizant of the fact that His Majesty is acting as bait right now?”
“Uh, um……”
lt was a moment, as Abadd and Karum looked at the window with troubled expressions,
~Bang Bang!~
There was a loud knocking on the projected window.
At that moment, as Abadd immediately opened the partition,
“Oh, yes! Did you check?”
The face of the messenger boy seen through the window had turned white.
“I,I think there’s big trouble!”
“What has happened?”
“That, that…….I heard that sister Yeni would be in the guest’s room, but…….”
“What is it?”
“Yeni was excited……she asked me to go borrow a hair tie from Lena…….she said she wanted to be the prettiest, so……so l……”
Abadd tugged the messenger’s clothes through the window.
“Speak to the point, so what happened?”
The errand boy said in a trembling voice.
“Yes, sister Yeni¹ is dead.”
“What?”
“To tie the braid…..so I went back, I went……..no, sister¹ is dead…….”
“God damn it!”
-Bang!
The door to the brothel opened, and The Guardian Knights, including Abadd, ran towards Prince Leshak. The reason why the prostitute named Yeni died was obvious. The assassin is now disguised as the dead prostitute.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
3
“Damn! Caught too soon!”
The guide grabbed Radan’s arm and dragged him. It was he who killed the prostitute named Yeni. All he had to do was push Radan, now dressed as a woman, into Leshak’s room and his role would be over. However, Leshek’s Guardian Knights were faster.
The guide now thought that they might have bought the whole brothel. Otherwise, dozens of Leshak’s forces would not have been able to block the roads so quickly. He must have been hiding in a brothel. Sweat dripped from his forehead. It was the first time he had lost his way in this maze-like alley.
Shouting could be heard here and there.
“That way is a dead end!”
“They went that way!”
“They couldn’t have gone too far!”
“Find Them!”
Shouts were heard as the guide quickly shook his head.
“I have to leave here.”
He let go of the hand he was holding and pushed Radan’s back. Radan fumbled through the air, disoriented.
“I, I…..ca..nt, I don’t know the way……,”
“It’s more dangerous if the two of us go together.”
The prostitute he killed must have been found. If so, Leshak’s army will be looking for an assassin disguised as a prostitute. In that case, it would be safer to go separately so that he would be free to enter the brothel and pretend to be a guest. It was unfortunate, but Radan had to be given up.
But if he’s lucky, there will be a safe place for Radan as well. Few people would suspect a blind man as an assassin.
“Come on, go! If you get out of here safely, I’ll come and find you.”
The guide abandoned Radan and hurriedly ran away, just as he turned the corner…
The blade came in front of him. The guide raised both hands without saying anything. The road was already blocked. Abadd, who was at the forefront, grinned as he thrust the blade into the guide’s neck.
‘Whoa, where are you going?”
“… …!”
“I ran around like a dog because of you. Thanks to you, I’m winded.”
Sidris said from behind his back.
“Be vigilant! The opponent is the Unknown Assassin.”
“Stop worrying, because there is no weakness in my stance.”
Contrary to his usual countenance, there was not even the slightest bit of playfulness in his sword. There was not even a gap.
There would be no way to escape.
After understanding the situation, the guide deliberately changed his character and opened his mouth.
The only way left was to hide his identity.
“A,An assassin? What do you mean…… that’s an unfair accusation.”
The guide trembled skillfully.
“I have no intention of listening to whatever nonsense you have to say. Hey there, tie this guy up. His confession will be obtained before His Majesty the Crown Prince.”
“Yes, Sir Abadd.”
The soldiers came and bound the guide.
“Hey, why are you doing this!? What did I do wrong!? Ohhhh……!”
The guide pretended not to know anything as he flailed his limbs about.
“R,Radan!? Are you there!? Come on and stop them! What are you doing while I’m being treated like this!?”
Abadd and Leshak’s eyes turned to Radan, who was behind them.
Radan was terrified and clinging to the wall.
He listened to everything as he desperately tried to figure out what was going on.
The guide was caught. He was probably caught by Leshak’s men. Somehow, a familiar voice was mixed in.
-“Radan! How can you be so ungrateful? How can you betray someone you’re so indebted to?! I’ve only taken you around to make money because you can’t see! Don’t you know what your whole house would look like if it weren’t for me? How could your sick father and brothers have eaten!?”
“Ah…… “
Radan groped the wall and stepped forward little by little.
He knew there was no escape. He had to trust the guide. He will somehow pave the way.
“Huh……? Stay still…aren’t you…?”
Abadd saw Radan’s movements and remembered him. Today, he was dressed like a woman and he had a red cloth veiled over his head, meaning he was a prostitute, so he didn’t recognize him when he first saw him.
“Aren’t you that prostitute from back then?”
“Ah……then,”
Radan stood vacantly not knowing what to say.
He also remembered Abadd by his voice just now.
It was the Guardian Knight who was with Leshak. That meant……
“That prostitute is right.”
They turned their heads all at once at Leshek’s voice coming from behind Radan.
“The Crown Prince.”
Leshak to appeared at the same time.
“Ahh!”
Leshak’s hand stretched out and wrapped around the back of Radan’s neck and spun him around.
Radan let out a soft cry as he bumped his forehead against Leshak’s chest.
Leshak, who held Radan tightly so that he could not escape, removed the red cloth covering his head.
“Ah, uh……”
His shoulders began to tremble on their own.
Leshak looked into Radan’s face, which had on makeup now in order to look like a woman. Leshak took his thumb and rubbed his lips, as the red rouge was wiped away Radan’s face returned to the same appearance as when they first met.
Leshak let out a low, heavy voice towards his face.
“Then can you tell me now, who you are?”
If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
- 4/13/23 I originally wasn’t going to leave TN because they are a distraction, however, admittedly some things do sound weird or off without them. If you find them distracting just skip them.
- ¹ Word used is Noona- a Korean word literally meaning older sister, It doesn’t necessarily mean an actual relative, only a female that is within the age range of an older sister i.e. young enough to be an older sister but not old enough to be an aunt or mother.
Foolish Translations 