Playing the Perfect Fox-Eyed Villain Chapter 61

Episode 61. Bloodthirsty Group

When I heard that the repairs to the Moon Sword were finished, I headed straight to the 'Twilight Flame'.

Blacksmiths running around busily.

The hot air in the blacksmith shop cooled down with my appearance.

“……Yurien?”

“Are you here to investigate the ‘black knight’?”

“That could be true. Even though he helped Lupina, it was ultimately just a reckless act by a vigilante.”

Did I come to investigate the 'Black Knight'?

That party is me, you know.

By the way, the staff at 'Twilight Flame' here seem to know quite a bit about the 'Black Knight'. I thought there wouldn't be any rumors since it was only on page 3 of the newspaper.

“This guy can do anything! He saved Lupina, and now he’s a vigilante!”

“Yes! It would be an understatement to call him a great man.”

“You know how hard it is to help others without any reward. What do you mean by vigilantes to such a great person! Vigilantes!”

“Ahem.”

I found myself coughing in vain at the unfamiliar remarks of my coworkers.

I didn't feel bad because of the ego of 'Yurien' who had a sense of duty, but that doesn't mean I wasn't ashamed.

“……Look, it seems like Lord Yurian doesn’t like this story very much.”

“Well, that’s because it’s an action that wasn’t authorized by the royal family.”

It wasn't exactly like that, but the cough sounded threatening.

The blacksmiths who had been gathered together and talking began to bow their heads and move away from me.

"hello."

Meanwhile, Lupina approached and was holding the scabbard of the 'Moon Jang Sword' in her hand.

'hmm.'

I let out a short sigh inwardly. There was no way Lupina could know that I was the 'Black Knight', but I couldn't help but flinch.

Lupina asked, noticing the strange atmosphere.

“Why, why are you doing that?”

“It’s nothing. I don’t see Elder Ruger.”

“Grandpa Ruger has something to do, so I came out.”

“Is that so?”

It was the same last time, and it's the same this time, Luger seems to be quite busy. Well, he's the best general in the system, so that's understandable.

Anyway, it was none of my business. All I had to do was get back the 'Moon Jang Sword' that I had entrusted to him.

'But since when did I start calling Ruger 'Sir' instead of 'Kyung'?'

As time went by, I felt like my personality and Yurian's personality were getting mixed up.

“The repairs were done neatly. My grandfather said that since he introduced a new construction method, cracks won’t easily appear like they used to.”

Lupina continued speaking with an awkward smile, as if she hadn't seen my startled expression.

“But since it’s a sword made of jewels, it won’t be as hard as steel. You know that, right?”

There's no way I wouldn't know.

In the first place, this 'Moon Jang Sword' is not used for its strength, but because it matches well with my mana.

After all, if you can make the 'Aura' work well, you can make it stronger than steel.

“Please give it to me, I will check it.”

When I reached out, Lupina flinched. Above her head, the color of 'fear' was rippling, but she seemed to be afraid, even though she didn't show it.

I saw with my own eyes that Yurian was causing trouble here before, so it makes sense.

“Hey, over here.”

After receiving the Moon Sword, I took it out of its scabbard and examined its blade. The frosty appearance of the Moon Sword seemed to be slightly different from before.

'Is it because you have experience making it once that you have accumulated know-how from that?'

There's a reason he's called a master.

I started to send auras to the Moon Sword.

The faintly shining appearance of the sword reminded me of moonlight whenever I saw it.

"ah."

Lupina, who was watching the scene from right next to her, let out a short sigh.

For some reason, the feeling of 'fear' that was visible above my head seemed to be fading away.

… … Why? I can’t figure out why at all.

“Why are you doing that?”

“Huh? Oh, no… It’s, it’s nothing!”

When I asked out of curiosity, Lupina was startled and waved both her hands. Even as she did so, her gaze followed my hand that was holding the sword.

‘… … How mysterious.’

Even when I put the Moon Sword on my waist and left the 'Twilight Flame', the strange atmosphere did not disappear.

***

As soon as I put the Moon Sword on my waist, the empty feeling I had been feeling since earlier disappeared.

It seems that people have to use what they are used to.

“You, I was waiting for you when I heard that Sir Yurian was coming.”

When I returned to the palace, I did not return to the building with the 'closed eyes', but instead headed to the prison set up in the basement of the first gate, Gyeongcheonmun (敬天問).

As I entered the place, I was greeted by a musty smell and a gloomy atmosphere, and a manager with a matching, sullen look on his face greeted me.

“Ha, haha… But, Sir Yurian, we have finished preparing the prisoner for release as you suggested, but, what is that…, So-jeong’s…, haha.”

The manager rubbed his hands together and moved his lips. Looking at him like that, I wondered if this guy had lost his mind.

I couldn't tell if he was brave or stupid enough to try to get a bribe from that 'Yurien'. I smiled at the manager and said,

“Oh, I didn’t notice. Would you like to see something I’m good at?”

With those words, my hand went to my waist where my money pouch was.

The manager's smile grew wider at that sight, but soon my hand reached for the scabbard instead of my pocket.

The startled manager bowed his head, apologized, handed over the key, and left.

I smiled faintly at that sight and continued on my way into the prison. The dull air and heavy atmosphere were surprisingly familiar.

“It’s been a while.”

When I arrived at my destination, I put my hand on the iron bars and looked at the incarcerated prisoner.

“You, Sir Yulian?”

Inside, Baron, the last of the three dark organizations that divided the slums into three parts, the 'Six Fingers', was imprisoned.

There was a look of bewilderment on Baron's face as he stared blankly at me.

“Why is Your Majesty in a place like this……?”

“Didn’t the manager tell you to get ready for duty? Didn’t you hear?”

Institutions affiliated with the imperial family can release prisoners and use them as laborers as long as they follow the procedures.

Of course, the same goes for the 'Closed Eyes', an exclusive agency of the imperial family.

The day after I read in the newspaper that the 'Black Knight' had appeared in the world, I applied for Bayron's release.

“No, I heard about it, but I never imagined that it was something you asked me to do…….”

Somehow, Baron looks afraid of me.

This is the guy who turned himself in after being frightened by threats that weren't threats when he visited Linne and the slums before.

If it's all because of the fear of 'Yurien', then this kind of reaction is understandable.

“But, but… what should I do when I go out?”

“Are you curious?”

When asked if he was curious, Baron shook his head vigorously from side to side. No, I didn't mean to scare you.

“I can’t explain it in detail. It’s closely related to the imperial order. It’s confidential.”

Although he mentioned that it was confidential, in reality it had nothing to do with the royal family. It was simply a matter of personal gain.

When it's difficult to explain in detail, if you sell the name of the 'royal family', no one will be able to say anything.

“Imperial secrets…….”

But how could Baron know that fact?

The guy looked at me with a strange, amazed expression.

Crunch.

I put the key in the prison door and twisted it. The bars opened, revealing Baron's shabby appearance through the gap.

“Please come out first.”

Baron nodded to my words and slowly crawled out of the cage, cowering.

***

As I walked ahead, I felt Bayron glancing at me.

It was only natural that he felt strange that the person who had captured him in the slums was now taking him out of prison and making him do something.

“You’re too tense. Considering what you’re going to do next, I think you should relax a little more.”

“Ah, yes! I understand. Sir Yulian…….”

Baron, who had answered sharply, soon trailed off. After that, a questioning look appeared on his face. It seemed that he had no idea why he had been released from prison.

“Your Majesty, what should I do?”

Eventually, the question was on Baron's lips again. Instead of answering, I turned my head and looked at him.

“I clearly remember you as belonging to the slum’s dark organization, ‘Six Fingers’.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then, not only ‘Six Fingers’ but also other organizations know your face.”

“Well… that’s highly likely. I’m such a pushover.”

Baron, who shows confidence in the word 'yard ball'.

When I saw his smile, I started laughing too.

“It’s just right.”

Without stopping, Baron and I started walking outside the system. A look of wonder appeared on Baron’s face, as if the direction was familiar.

“Isn’t this direction towards the slums?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The slum scene came into view with the sign. The gloomy atmosphere was no different from before.

I deliberately pulled the hood up over my head. My golden-gray hair and my flashy coat were a sight to behold in the slums.

'Besides, it's better not to reveal your identity.'

A little further into the slums.

Shortly after passing the sign that said 032A, a sign that said 040A came into view.

“……Over there, Sir Yurian.”

Then, Bayron's face darkened.

“Why are you doing that?”

“From here on out, this is no longer the territory of the ‘Six Fingers’. This is the territory of the ‘Blood Demons’.”

“Yes, I know.”

"yes?"

Baron was startled when he heard that.

Blood Demon Group.

One of the three dark organizations that divide the slums into three parts.

The 'Six Fingers' that this guy belongs to are in charge of anything that is profitable, such as slave trade, smuggling, security, and gambling, whereas this 'Bloodborne Group' is dedicated to just one thing.

It is the operation of a restaurant.

Of course, it is different from a typical restaurant.

It is a place often frequented by so-called 'high-ranking people', and is where many secret receptions and negotiations take place.

'This area is the territory of the Bloodthirsty Guys who run the fairies.'

Of course, fairies are not located in this slum. If a 'higher power' were to come to such a shabby place, wouldn't they stick out their tongues and say that it is low class?

“Surely…… Sir Yurian, have you come to see the ‘Vampire’!?”

Baron didn't seem to want to hide his confusion. With trembling hands, he uttered the word 'vampire'.

It is the nickname of the leader of the 'Blood Demon Group'. When there was a fight between members over territory in the slums, the leader of the 'Blood Demon Group', who was 9 feet tall, is said to have spilled so much blood that it covered his large body.

The slum people were afraid of him, saying that he looked like a blood-sucking monster, and the rumors grew and eventually he was given the nickname of 'vampire'.

“You seem to be quick-witted.”

“Tch, thank you for the compliment.”

I am so grateful.

“Then would you like to cause a ruckus here?”

I pulled my hood down low and said to Baron as if it were a given.

“Huh? What are you saying…….”

“I’m going to call it ‘Vampire.’”