Chapter 22

This time, it will be in third person from Kōga's perspective.

It's a bit long, but please bear with me as it leads to a new development.

Kōga Tsukishima was born in a far-eastern island nation. As the eldest son of a prosperous silk merchant, the Tsukishima family, Kōga was supposed to have a smooth and prosperous life.

However, Kōga's fate did not allow it.

"Filthy plague-bringer..."

The words, spoken with a look as if he were seeing a bug or feces, came from Kōga's father.

While the relationship between father and son was not always harmonious, the abnormal hostility and hatred were rooted in the secret of Kōga's birth.

Kōga's parents, a young couple running a silk shop, were known in town for their affectionate relationship. They visited a mountain shrine daily to pray for a healthy heir.

But no one could have predicted that this would lead to a twisted fate.

On their way back from a routine visit to the shrine, the couple was attacked by a band of thieves. Not only were they stripped of their belongings, but Kōga's mother was also taken captive.

Though she survived, the incident left her mentally scarred. To make matters worse, it was later discovered that she was carrying a child—the long-awaited new life, Kōga.

Kōga's father was torn. He wondered if the child in his wife's womb was truly his. He considered aborting the child with medicine, but feared the consequences if it were his own. As he agonized, his wife's belly grew, making abortion impossible.

Thus, Kōga was born. A few days after giving birth, Kōga's mother took her own life. Whether it was due to her mental state or the unwanted child, no one knew.

Kōga's face resembled his maternal grandfather, and while his eyes seemed to take after his father, it was not certain enough to say definitively.

It was understandable that Kōga's father became suspicious. Once he started doubting, everything seemed suspicious. He began to see similarities between the thief who attacked him and Kōga, even imagining similarities where there were none.

In time, suspicion turned to hostility and hatred. Despite Kōga being innocent, his father began to blame him for everything.

Still, Kōga's father was a rational man. He only once lashed out at Kōga, when he was drunk and his emotions got the better of him.

However, he was far from a good father. He treated Kōga as if he didn't exist and never showed him paternal affection.

The same went for the rest of the family. While they didn't openly abuse him for the sake of appearances, they left all his care to the servants. Despite living under the same roof, they treated him like a stranger, or rather, a household pest.

Kōga grew up in this household for six years. By the time he was old enough to understand, he knew he was an unwanted presence in the family. Despite being unloved, he still yearned for affection and tried to connect with those around him. He suppressed his dissatisfaction and anxiety, always smiling and trying to be kind to others.

"One creepy kid, always grinning. That daughter-in-law left a troublesome legacy. If she was going to die, she should have taken him with her..."

The words his grandmother whispered to his father made Kōga realize that all his efforts were in vain.

One day, Kōga woke up to find himself tied up in an unfamiliar place.

"Hey, you're awake, kid."

An unfamiliar man looked down at Kōga.

"If you don't want to get hurt, stay still. You don't belong anywhere, and no one will come to your rescue if you struggle."

Kōga didn't understand what the man was saying. As he froze in fear, he was taken to a port and loaded onto a ship.

On the ship, there were other bound people, both men and women of various ages, all lamenting and crying.

It was then that Kōga realized he had been kidnapped. Or rather, as the man had said, he had been handed over to kidnappers. His family, unable to deal with his existence, must have arranged it.

He was sad, but more than that, he was angry at his family. However, the long and harsh voyage wore down his emotions, and by the time they reached their destination, he felt that just being alive was a blessing.

In fact, more than half of the kidnapped people died during the voyage.

"You're lucky, kid. Kids like you are supposed to die, but you survived. Well, try to keep up the good work wherever you end up."

The ship carrying Kōga was an eastern slave ship. The destination was Soldeil, the southernmost city of the Vellnante Empire.

Kōga, bought by Miguel, a half-ling affiliated with the D'Arbelle family, spent the next twelve years fighting as a gladiator in the underground arena, even before his abilities manifested.

---

"Um, what's your name...?"

In a luxurious room, a young man with golden hair, leaning on his elbow on the desk, looked at Miguel standing next to Kōga.

"Miguel of the D'Arbelle family, Boss."

A tall man with short black hair standing nearby answered for him.

"Right, Miguel! I remember now!"

The man, called Boss, pointed at Miguel.

"Miguel, you're in trouble. You stole the family's money, right? That's unforgivable. The D'Arbelle patriarch is furious and asked my father to hand you over as soon as you're found. So, the arrest warrant for you is already circulating among the Luciano family's affiliates."

The man pulled out a piece of paper from a drawer. It was a wanted poster with pictures of Miguel and Kōga.

"This is the warrant. So, you're in our hands now."

About half an hour earlier, Kōga and Miguel had been approached on the street by men who looked anything but law-abiding. They were surrounded in an instant, and before they could escape, they were half-abducted to a mansion in a high-end residential area.

Miguel had anticipated this. However, the cunning and shrewd half-ling was confident that he could talk his way out of any situation, even if he was caught.

Yet, Miguel was now pale and trembling, drenched in sweat. A man who could negotiate business even with a gun to his forehead was completely overwhelmed by fear.

Miguel had repeatedly said since entering the capital:

"It's fine, I can handle anyone. The only one to be wary of is that mad dog Gambino. If I don't fall into his hands, I can handle anything..."

The repeated words were not for Kōga but to reassure himself. Even Kōga, unfamiliar with the capital's situation, understood the significance.

Albert Gambino, the young boss of the Gambino family, a secondary organization of the Luciano family.

This was the name and title of the golden-haired man in front of them.

A slender, delicate-looking man in his early twenties, wearing a red shirt with gold embroidery, slouched in a way that exuded no strength. The large man standing nearby had more of a boss's presence.

However, Miguel, who was so terrified that he almost wet himself, was undoubtedly afraid of Albert.

Kōga had often heard about Albert in the underground arena.

A true madman. A true rogue.

The Luciano family also had a mad jester called Finocchio. While Finocchio was at least sincere in his duties as a boss, Gambino was a madman who spread chaos as he pleased.

There was a story that during a tea party, he stabbed the brain of a seated companion with a knife for no apparent reason, simply because the tea had gone cold.

Gambino was not bound by rules.

Recently, a dangerous drug with severe side effects had been circulating in the capital, and the Gambino family was selling it. Apparently, he had a friend, an alchemist, make it.

This was a reckless act that spat in the face of the parent organization, the Luciano family. However, it was being overlooked because the late Gambino's father, the former boss, had shared a brotherhood cup with the Luciano family's president. In other words, it was a matter of honor.

Understanding this, Gambino acted as he pleased, making him one of the most troublesome individuals. Of course, if he went too far, punishment would await, but Kōga and Miguel would never see it.

"Well, our Gambino family has successfully captured a bad half-ling, but to be honest, it's not very interesting to just hand him over."

Albert smiled wickedly.

"Why should we work for a rural gang like the D'Arbelle? What do you think, Miguel?"

Miguel swallowed hard and forced out a response.

"Y-Yes, you're absolutely right! A great man like Mr. Albert, the most excellent among the Luciano family's direct subordinates, should not be used by the likes of the D'Arbelle! Yes!"

Miguel's desperate flattery pleased Albert, who nodded in satisfaction.

"Right, you're right. Miguel, you're a reasonable man despite being a half-ling. You're too good for the D'Arbelle."

"R-Really!? Then, can we stay with you—"

"So, here's what I'll do. I'll stuff you and your slave into a taxidermy and hand you over."

"…What? T-Taxidermy?"

"Yes, taxidermy! I'll skin you alive, stuff you, and send you to the D'Arbelle with your insides processed into ham and sausages. They'll be shocked! I'm looking forward to it! Miguel, don't you think it's a good idea?"

Miguel, asked for his agreement, shook his head vigorously.

"No, no, no! Alive taxidermy!? Such a dangerous joke, please spare me!!"

"I'm not joking. I'm dead serious."

But Albert said it with a straight face.

"Then, that's how it is. Rios, take care of it."

"Understood. Right away."

Rios, the large man, bowed politely.

"No... No..."

Miguel stood there in shock. No matter how smooth his tongue, it was useless against a monster who didn't understand words. This was the end of the line, and it included Kōga.

Kōga was prepared to die, but being skinned alive was too much. Was there any way out? No, there wasn't...

Just as Kōga sighed in resignation, there was a knock on the door.

"Boss, I've brought a debtor who has fallen behind on payments. He's the mayor of Mints Village."

---

The man who entered the room was a middle-aged bald man with an eye patch over his right eye.

From the conversation, it seemed he was the mayor of Mints Village. Normally, a boss like Albert would not meet with a mere debtor. Moreover, the mayor had borrowed money from a branch of a loan company in Yudra, so any issues with repayment should have been resolved there.

However, the mayor had something he wanted to appeal directly to the boss, so he had come all the way to the capital.

"---I see. So, you planned to repay the money, but you were robbed by a group of explorers called 'Cyan Beyond'?"

Albert repeated the story to confirm, and the mayor nodded vigorously.

"That's right! I resisted with all my might! But they took my wife and daughter as hostages and ended up blinding my right eye! With no other choice, I had to hand over the money!"

The mayor pointed to his eye patch and pleaded desperately.

Kōga, an outsider, found the story suspicious. If the mayor's story were true, he should have reported it to the capital's military police.

The empire encourages explorers but also strictly enforces laws against problematic ones. If he reported the incident, the authorities would surely resolve the issue. The fact that he didn't suggests that the mayor had something to hide.

"That's not all! The leader of Cyan Beyond, Noel Stollen, said this: 'If you have money to give to a small-time gang like the Gambino family, it's better to throw it in the gutter. I'll take it instead!' I heard him say it with my own ears! It's true!"

Kōga almost burst out laughing.

The truth of the matter was unknown, but the mayor was clearly exaggerating. He harbored a grudge against the explorer Noel and wanted to use the Gambino family for revenge.

"...You're overdoing it, you fool."

Miguel muttered under his breath.

Indeed, the mayor was overdoing it. Such an easily exposed lie would never deceive the Gambino family. Normally, the mayor would be the one to face the wrath of the Gambino family. It was terrifying to think that he didn't realize this.

"Small-time gang, huh. That's harsh. We're trying our best, but it makes me want to cry."

Albert's words were flat and clearly insincere. It was obvious that he saw through the mayor's lie. However, the foolish mayor seemed to believe his lie had worked.

"Mr. Albert, there's no time to cry! To uphold the great honor of the Gambino family, we must bring justice to the wicked explorers!"

"Alright, alright, I'll bring justice to this Noel Stollen. I'll wait for your debt. Is that okay?"

"Thank you! Thank you!"

The mayor bowed repeatedly in gratitude.

"Good, that's settled. Next, it's your turn to take responsibility."

"Huh, take responsibility?"

Albert laughed through his nose at the confused mayor.

"Yes, take responsibility. No matter the reason, you broke your promise with us. You must take responsibility for that."

"But, but, I don't have any money right now..."

"I don't want money. Instead, how about this... Yes, I've decided. I'll take your right arm. The explorers took your right eye, so I'll take your right arm."

The mayor's eyes widened in shock at Albert's unreasonable logic.

"No, no! If you take my right arm, I'll die!"

"That's where you need to show some spirit. You can do it if you try."

Kōga thought it was impossible, but Albert didn't care about the mayor's life. He just wanted to see him suffer.

"Hey, you."

Albert called out to Kōga.

"I hear you have the ability of a swordsman, specialized in cutting. Is that true?"

Kōga nodded. Combat ability, swordsman. That was his ability. He was ranked C but had been an undefeated champion in Soldeil's underground arena.

"Hmm, interesting. I wonder how it's different. Since you're here, cut off the mayor's right arm with that stick."

Albert pointed to the stick Kōga was holding.

"Me?"

"Yes. Do it quickly."

There seemed to be no option to refuse. Kōga turned to the mayor.

"Mayor, extend your right arm."

At Albert's command, the mayor shook his head with tears in his eyes.

"Do it quickly, or I'll kill you."

The low, threatening voice made the mayor give up and extend his right arm.

"Good, that's it. Wait, hold on. I'm not ready yet."

Albert took a small, transparent crystal from a drawer and placed it on the desk. He crushed it with a hammer and inhaled it through his nose.

"Kaaaaaa~! Kikuuuuu~! This is it! When you enjoy violence, you have to inhale this first! Kuuu~! It's the best!!"

Albert's pupils dilated, and he became excited. The substance he inhaled seemed to be the rumored drug.

"Alright, you can do it now. Cut off the mayor's right arm."

It was a simple command. Kōga, who had been a gladiator, had cut people countless times. But he never did it willingly. He didn't want to cut anyone, especially not a pitiful weakling like the mayor.

"Hurry up, cut it."

Albert urged, and the mayor forced a strained smile.

"Haha, there's no way you can cut it with that stick..."

Albert, irritated by the mayor's laughter, slammed his fist on the desk.

"Didn't you hear me say to cut it!? Hey, you, Oriental! What are you ignoring me for!? Say something!!"

Kōga, in a whisper but clearly, said:

"...I already cut it."

"Huh?"

Albert's confused voice. At the same time, the mayor's right arm fell to the floor.

"Huh? ...What!? U-U-U-My right arm!? My right armaaa!!! GAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH