LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 51
Chapter 51
In the city of Mencani, a haven for nightlife and pleasure.
Of course, as a city on the fringes, its infrastructure didn’t quite match the central system, but it had its charm.
This city was far from the restraint and piety encouraged by the system. Nor was it thriving with brothels like a port city.
Gambling.
That was it. Gambling alone.
Mencani was home to the grand casino ‘Katrani,’ and by the lord’s decree, gambling conducted there was not illegal.
As a result, gamblers who sought out this frontier numbered in the hundreds daily. They spent their days eating, dressing, and living in Mencani.
Surprisingly, this did not sicken the city but instead breathed life into it.
“Still, for a city of its size, it’s quite lax in security, isn’t it?”
Ruby remarked, to which Mori replied.
“Cities where outsiders’ spending is the main income tend to be like this. Is this your first time outside?”
“Yes, I’ve always been with my clan.”
“That’s too bad. It’s about time you experienced the cold air and indifferent stares of the outside world.”
“Oh…”
“Not me, that guy.”
Mori waved his hand dismissively, and Bill approached Ruby.
“Ruby, the cities of humans will differ greatly from what you imagine. The years spent with your clan might make it harder for you to adapt here. You’ll need to learn the culture here, one step at a time.”
“Ugh… Got it.”
“But first, this.”
Swoosh…
“What’s this?”
“Have you forgotten why we came here?”
“Clothes?”
A worn garment stained with blood was in his hand.
“This was left by him.”
“Ah, let me smell it!”
Sniff sniff…
Sniff sniff…
Ruby, with her keen sense of smell, sniffed the lingering scent on the clothes and tilted her head in confusion.
“Hmm… It’s puzzling.”
“Is he not here?”
“No, I can’t be certain. A bath and some perfume, and the scent is gone.”
“Hmm…”
“If he commits another murder in the city, we’ll find him.”
“He’s not that foolish… Hmm?”
Bill nodded.
“Well, we don’t know what he might do, so let’s stay here and gather information.”
At that, Ruby’s gaze shifted to the fruit displayed on a stand.
“Wow… Can I eat that?”
“No.”
“Why not!”
“Eating before a meal is inappropriate.”
“Do humans do that?”
“They seem to. It’s better to restrain yourself if you want to blend in.”
“Ugh… Fine.”
Mori watched their interaction and shrugged.
“Ruteo, where are we staying?”
“A bit away from the city center.”
“And the horses?”
“The inn only takes care of them at night, so we’ll leave them at a nearby stable during the day.”
“…Good thinking.”
After securing their lodging and stabling their horses, they discussed their next move. They had a purpose for coming here, after all.
Ching.
It had been about five days since they started tailing one of the disagreeable trio more aggressively. He appeared here and there like a flash of lightning.
The sporadic sightings of him were due to his incredible distance covered each day, often moving further than anticipated.
On the other hand, the ease of tracking him was due to the murders he committed as naturally as breathing.
He caused trouble whenever he met someone, from simple violence to murder, recently forcing a brothel to close down.
His appearance was unforgettable.
Shaved head, deeply wrinkled forehead, face covered in tattoos, missing a few teeth, and a body full of solid muscle—who could forget him?
“Could he have entered Mencani now?”
“Before we arrived in Mencani, we received word of a body found in a nearby village, face smashed to a terrible state. Perhaps…”
“…If he’s still on the move, he might be here now.”
“…There’s an easy way to find out.”
Bill pointed to the largest building in Mencani.
The beautiful casino.
Katrani.
“Let’s go there and see.”
“…I have no interest in human gambling.”
“Neither do I, boss.”
“…Let’s just go and see.”
* * *
“Hole, White Scale.”
“…Congratulations.”
“Muahahaha! I can’t believe my luck!”
Mori cackled, unable to contain his glee at the sudden windfall.
Elsewhere, another gamble was underway.
“Congratulations, miss. You’ve won.”
“Uwahahahaha! Maybe I have a knack for this, what do I do now?”
Before they knew it, Mori and Ruby were utterly engrossed in gambling, their earlier claims of disinterest exposed as nothing but lies.
“Those fools…”
Bill groaned, clutching his head as he cast a sidelong glance.
Ruteo surveyed the gambling hall with a calm demeanor, neither too hastily nor too sluggishly.
“It seems Ching has not visited this place yet.”
“Why do you think so?”
“None of the guards here look stronger than you, Lord Bill. If Ching, whom you’re wary of, had appeared, there would’ve been an incident… and the guards wouldn’t be acting so nonchalantly.”
“…You have a point. Perhaps we’ve come too early.”
“Maybe. But after such a long journey, a brief rest wouldn’t hurt.”
“…”
Bill had only recently been introduced to this Ruteo. Mori, who rarely cared for possessions or attachments, insisted on bringing Ruteo along for this mission.
“I see now.”
“What do you understand?”
“You’re from the stronghold, aren’t you?”
“…Regrettably, yes.”
“What did you do before becoming a bandit?”
“A trivial job. I managed the archives of a small library.”
“Why would someone like you…”
“Everyone has their circumstances.”
Ruteo looked sad as he said this.
He murmured while watching Mori and Ruby, still merrily chattering away at the gambling table.
“It’s true for all of us.”
Just as Ruteo said.
Each bound by their own reasons, they serve as familiars to Faust.
Though their devotion may differ.
“How tragic.”
“It’s not necessarily a bad thing, is it?”
“…Right.”
Bill strode confidently to the gambling table.
“Huh? You’re joining in?”
“Yes. Where are you betting this time?”
“Hole, Black Scale.”
“I’ll bet on the same.”
“What? But if you lose, you’ll lose big!”
“If I win, I’ll win even bigger.”
“…”
Clatter.
The dice, larger than a palm and hidden under a porcelain cover, were revealed.
“Hole, Black Scale.”
“Uwahahahaha! See? See that! It’s my destiny to win big today!”
“Yes. It seems so.”
Bill smirked.
* * *
“Behold this, Ruteo.”
“I am witnessing it.”
“I’ve struck it rich. This haul is easily several times the wealth back at the stronghold.”
“Fortunate, indeed. They say beginners usually lose at gambling.”
“These humans, they have more amusing pastimes than I thought.”
Ruteo pondered over those words.
Mori, not being human and lacking memories of blending in, could enjoy this so freely.
“And Lady Ruby…”
“She’s gone to grab a drink with Bill. She won big too.”
“…That’s understandable.”
“We won’t have to worry about money for a while. At least not while we’re out here.”
“Luck was on our side.”
Despite the bland response, Mori found Ruteo’s composed nature to his liking.
…To his liking?
No, it was more accurate to say he found him useful.
Ruteo murmured a change of topic.
“The faces of those Ching killed… they were all crushed, weren’t they?”
“That’s right.”
“Seeing it in person, it keeps haunting my dreams. And I’m not usually squeamish.”
“Tsk…”
Murder was not a difficult task for Mori, and he couldn’t quite empathize with the fear and distance Ruteo felt.
“Why haven’t the heroes of the world caught such a scoundrel?”
“Well, that’s why you, a bandit, are still roaming around freely, aren’t you?”
At Mori’s words, Ruteo gave a sly smile.
“I’m just a small fry, am I not?”
“A small fry, indeed.”
“A small fry lives longer than most if they’re observant.”
“Heh… Ignorance is bliss. Well, not wrong though.”
Ruteo was a competent bandit.
He knew his place and had a knack for flattery. Had he not been affiliated with the stronghold, he would have easily found his role in a village.
“Then, I shall retrieve the horses we left at the stable. They need to be moved to the inn for the night. Will you head to the inn first?”
“I’ll stay here.”
“Give me just five minutes…”
Mori was lost in thought, breathing in the night air. Sometimes, it was all so bewildering.
‘Why am I so diligent?’
Doppelgangers don’t live in packs. They have a strong independent streak and don’t usually mingle with other entities.
‘I must be an oddity.’
Not bad.
Yes, he felt this night was not bad at all.
Even if such days continued, he might complain, but he wouldn’t consider himself unhappy.
Yes.
If only he hadn’t been waiting for Ruteo, who had gone to fetch the horses, for over ten minutes.
Thud…
Thud…
The footsteps approaching Mori didn’t carry the sound of horseshoes hitting the ground.
A face rough as crags, a body twice the size of Mori’s.
Forehead creased with deep wrinkles and bizarre tattoos. Approaching Mori was likely…
Ching.
“…Did you kill him?”
“I did.”
Mori replied with a sly grin.
“That’s troublesome.”
“…Why have you been tailing me?”
“Because you have a long tail. Besides, did you know?”
“Shut up and answer. Who sent you?”
“It was a commission, but it just became personal. I don’t like it when someone messes with what’s mine.”
“Heh… Foolish thing.”
Vrooom-!
Ching’s fist seemed to stretch before Mori’s eyes.
Boom…
Crash-!
Mori, attempting to block the attack with crossed arms, was shocked as if hit by a slab of iron.
He hastily transformed into Ching’s appearance.
[Mori uses Mimicry: Mirror Gaze.]
[He rapidly imitates the appearance of the opponent in his field of vision.]
[It can only be used on a limited target.]
[He can use some of the opponent’s abilities.]
Whoosh-!
Mori, spinning with a hand on the ground, drew three daggers from his cloak.
Flick-!
Swoosh!
Flick-!
He dashed forward, releasing the daggers at intervals, and summoned an alien energy called Qi, spreading his palms.
[Mori uses Crimson Flow Palm.]
[It deals physical damage to the target and has a high chance of causing bleeding.]
[This bleeding hinders any healing performed on the target.]
The power to mimic form.
It’s also the specialty of the doppelganger Mori.
However, its effectiveness is extremely limited.
Humans are almost the only race he can copy, and his physical abilities remain as his own.
Meaning, against a true powerhouse, he’s helpless.
Boom-!
At the moment of impact, Ching used a strange arm movement to restrain Mori’s arms. With the other arm, he subdued Mori’s neck.
“Gah…”
“Did you really think such tricks would work on me?”
Mori’s abdomen exploded with the impact of a punch.
Thump-!
“Ugh…”
“Speak, was it another noble who sent you? Who is it?”
As Mori writhed in agony, trying to find a way out, it happened.
Boom-!
With a heavy thud, Mori tumbled to the ground. And so did Ching.
“Cough… Ack… Now that I think about it…”
Mori murmured softly.
“I had allies on my side.”
Against the backdrop of the moonlit night, Bill and Ruby slowly approached.