Chapter 91

1/2

"This isn't even enough for one meal. Get out, you penniless scum!!"

With a roar, I was pushed out of the room.

I tried to rush back inside, but the door was firmly shut, and I couldn't open it.

"Damn it!"

I cursed, driven by my anger.

It was a dim alley even in broad daylight. No, the road illuminated by the sun wasn't dark. However, the people passing by had a lifeless look in their eyes, giving an oppressive impression.

This place used to be a corner where commoners, not rich but not particularly poor, gathered.

It wasn't a place overflowing with laughter, but at least the people passing by didn't have such lifeless eyes.

When did it all start? Like a stone rolling down a hill, it kept sinking, deeper and deeper.

When did the shadows first appear?

This country is rotting.

The upper class cut wages, reducing income, but taxes remained the same.

With reduced income, consumption decreased, and the income of merchant families also declined. Since the merchants couldn't sell their goods, they reduced production. This negative chain reaction spread.

Relief efforts in the form of food distribution became widespread. But it was just a popularity stunt by the nobles.

If they're going to distribute food, why not give us jobs? Give us money. One meal is indeed necessary, but what if this sporadic charity dries up? Besides, food isn't the only thing we need.

Someone laughed, saying it was ridiculous.

If we can get food from the food distribution without looking for non-existent jobs, why not just do that?

It's even better, they said, praising the country for caring about the people.

But I think... it's the same as being kept by the upper class.

It's hard to believe that a capricious noble, like a pet that can't do anything, would keep us forever without any reason.

Are people not aware of this unstable situation, or are they just pretending not to see it?

It's rotting more and more.

In the end, the burden of the upper class's mistakes always falls on the people.

When the upper class makes a mistake, the people pay the price.

Anyway, there's no money. Without money, we can't buy medicine. This is something that can't be solved by food distribution.

"...You there."

A sharp voice echoed.

Looking at the source of the voice, I saw a hooded figure standing in front of me.

It was dark, and I couldn't see inside the hood, but from the voice, it was probably a woman.

"Yes, you."

What could a well-dressed woman want with me?

"Your name is..."

The name she said was undoubtedly mine. How does she know my name?

"Are you sure?"

"...Yeah, but what do you want?"

"Hey, aren't you frustrated?"

"...What?"

"Having everything taken away and being reduced to this. ...No, not everything. You still have something to protect."

A chill ran through my head, and I instinctively stepped back from the woman.

"You don't need to be so wary. I'm just one woman."

"I know better than to be fooled by appearances. Unfortunately, I don't trust others, especially not someone like you, whose true nature I can't fathom."

"That's true. Once betrayed, and still not learning from it, that's just foolish."

Her words made me bristle.

"I don't know how you found out, but I have no business with you."

"I have business with you."

"Try someone else."

I turned my back on her. Passing by the shop I was just kicked out of would be annoying, but it was better than continuing this conversation with her.

"Let me be blunt. Don't you want to get back what you've lost?"

"...I'm not interested."

"Really? At least, I think you could place your brother in a better environment, right?"

Her words made me stop in my tracks.

"...What do you want from me?"

"Everything. Your name... your existence, everything."

"You want me to wag my tail for you?"

"I don't need a pet. What I need from you is to work for me, to be my hands and feet."

"Hah... What do you want me to do?"

"I don't intend to make you do anything strange. I will help you get back what you've lost. You will work in a position that befits your restored status. That's all."

"I don't trust you. There's no such good deal."

"...He's a nuisance to me too."

Her voice, which had been gentle until now, dropped a few octaves.

"Buzzing like a fly. He pesters my guild, making a racket and causing trouble. It's so annoying. So, I want him out of the picture."

With a flick of her hand, she removed her hood. Her silver hair shone in the moonlight.

Her appearance was a beauty I had never seen before.

Why is such a woman here...?

"...My name is Iris. I am the head of the Azuta Guild."

Her words only deepened my confusion.

The Azuta Guild is one of the largest in the capital, isn't it?

And its head is... such a young woman?

"Whether you join me or not, I've already set things in motion. I can manage without you, but it would be easier for me if you worked for me. I don't want to take on more work."

She smiled wryly. Her harmless smile made my heart relax for a moment.

But the next instant.

"This is a deal. Use me. My name and power. I will use you too. Your name, your power. ...What will you do? You can run away with your tail between your legs if you want."

She smiled, but it was different from the one before.

I shivered.

It was provocative, and her eyes weren't smiling, cold and distant.

If I run away, I'll lose... or I can't afford to lose. I felt a surge of determination.

"...I won't do anything that goes against my will."

"That's fine. We have a deal. ...Follow me."