Volume 1 Chapter 2 Unjustified Revenge
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Hey, Klock.”
The sun had just gone down.
Inside a bar tucked in a corner of the royal capital, loud laughter rang out.
Rough folks with big voices filled the long rows of tables.
They laughed without caring who heard.
The air was thick with the smell of food and the stink of liquor.
Sweat from working bodies mixed in, making a smell that fit this kind of place.
”You done something? The kingdom’s asking about you.”
”…Huh?”
Orange light from a magic stone lit up the shop inside.
At the edge, where the light didn’t reach too well,
a big-built barkeep talked to a man drinking sake all by himself.
”What are you saying? I didn’t do nothing that’d make them come after me.”
”Is that so? Patrolmen been around. Asking folks if they’ve seen a guy named Klock, ’round thirty years old. Sounds like they been asking lots of people.”
”…You serious?”
The barkeep’s face looked doubtful, like he was trying to see if the guy was lying.
The man stopped shaking his glass and set it down.
It wasn’t funny. Not at all.
He didn’t remember anything like that.
But if it was true, things were going to get real bad.
If the military police were moving, it usually meant something serious.
But this—this felt different.
Something wasn’t right about them looking for one single man.
Cold sweat ran down his back.
The name Klock wasn’t rare. But it wasn’t common either.
So maybe it was just a mix-up.
Still, if they were looking for a “Klock” around thirty,
there was no doubt he’d be a suspect.
”…Master. Just remembered. I got urgent business.”
”That so? Tough luck. Good luck with it. I’ll put it on your tab tonight.”
The truth didn’t matter. What mattered was what they needed.
If all they wanted was someone to blame, it didn’t matter if he was innocent.
If they found him, he might just end up swinging from a rope.
The risk was too big.
That meant there was only one thing to do.
The man stood up.
The barkeep took the empty plate and walked off to the back, not saying much.
They’d known each other a long time, but there wasn’t much feeling in it.
Well, that’s just how it is with old men.
First, disappear.
And then, it’s best to lay low till things cool off.
The man slipped past the other customers’ stares and left quick.
* * *
He left the shop trying not to get noticed.
Once he was gone, the barkeep walked over to the two who had brought up the name.
”So, was it really him? Did he do something at a noble’s place?”
”You think that guy’s got the guts for that?”
The two glanced at each other and raised their hands like it was a joke.
A story like that made a good snack with drinks.
”If he had real power, that’d be something fun to watch.”
”Ha! If he does, I’ll hand him to the MPs myself.”
Laughter exploded. Loud and wild.
That weird little rumor became just another tale to chuckle over.
When the barkeep went back to serving drinks, things calmed down.
Klock was already out of mind.
The usual sounds and faces returned.
That’s how it always is.
Peace doesn’t break easy.
”National military police! Owner, you here?!”
Not long after, they came bursting in.
Boots stomping. Armed and armored.
The noise sent a chill through the room.
They said they were looking for a certain man.
They said this was one of his usual spots.
The place—popular with adventurers—was filled fast with soldiers.
Something strange was in the air.
* * *
He looked up at the moonlight.
Clouds hung loose above.
The sky looked gray—maybe because of the booze.
It felt kind of dreamy.
If he laid down, he might fall asleep right away.
Klock had rushed out fast, but now he walked slow.
He didn’t know how far things had gone yet,
so he figured it wasn’t time to panic.
The buzz from drinking still hummed in him.
Like trying to recall what he ate yesterday,
he tried to remember what he’d done wrong lately.
Nothing big.
Just some pickpocketing.
He hadn’t been caught.
There shouldn’t be anything that’d get the kingdom on his back.
So he figured it out easy—
Wrong guy.
Had to be.
He didn’t do anything that would tie his name to a crime.
He wasn’t the kind to forget something like that, either.
No way it was him, right?
Still, he couldn’t brush it off.
If it was just because of the name, then it was real possible.
Best to hide out and use a fake name for a while.
Pray no one talks too much.
Stick to the shadows.
Leaving the capital tomorrow sounded smart.
His face should look different enough from the other guy.
Just hold on till the real Klock gets caught.
”…Alright. Time to sleep.”
He walked down the stone road.
Neat and clean.
He saw the inn he was staying at.
That’s when he finally felt like the day was done.
And then—
”Good evening.”
It was a soft voice.
Beautiful.
Thin like a thread in the air.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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