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Chapter 2
“Cough, ptoo!”
“Hey, idiot! If you’re gonna spit phlegm, go do it over there!”
“It just came up at the perfect time!”
“You want to go back inside again?!”
“Oh, is that place an inn now?! You keep throwing people in there!”
“And you think it’s a hotel? You keep coming back! Get lost already!”
Fresh out of the holding cell, Maddy dusted herself off with a few casual pats before setting off.
She strode confidently through the narrow alleyways, twisting up her long brown hair as she made her way to her favorite tavern.
The faded green sign creaked eerily every time the wind blew.
Loose strands of hair poked out from the hastily tied bundle on her head.
She brushed the falling strands back with confidence, flung the tavern door open, and shouted,
“Mister! A beer! Over there!”
“You’re gambling again the moment you get out?!”
“I’m just trying to cheer myself up! It’s not like I’m drinking for free, so why are you nagging?”
“Good grief. You little brat…”
The tavern owner grumbled as he started pouring her beer.
By then, Maddy had already made herself comfortable at a table.
Everyone seated around it with cards in hand greeted her.
“Isn’t that Maddy?”
“Hey, is the holding cell your second home or something?”
“Maddy! How long were you locked up this time?”
Looking thoroughly annoyed, Maddy dug a finger into her ear and banged the table for her cards.
“I was only in there for one day! I drank too much and blacked out. Damn it, I was only planning to have one drink before heading home.”
“I thought you got caught stealing someone’s wallet again.”
“As if I’d ever get caught doing that~”
“You bring gambling money?”
“Of course. Would a soldier go to war without bullets?”
Grinning shamelessly, Maddy pulled some money out of her pocket.
That was when she noticed someone unfamiliar sitting at the table.
Fiddling with the cards dealt to her, she glanced at the stranger.
“Haven’t seen your face before.”
Just then, the owner brought over her beer and a wet towel before flicking her forehead.
“You think you own this place?! Why are you acting familiar with every customer who walks in?”
“Hey, don’t hit me! Thanks for the towel, though.”
Even while yelping in protest, Maddy immediately flashed the owner a cheeky wink.
“You little menace…”
Still complaining under his breath, the owner brushed the dust off her clothes before returning to the counter.
Maddy roughly scrubbed her face with the wet towel before taking several huge gulps of beer.
Even so, her eyes never left him.
Though somewhat disheveled, his noble silver hair looked soft. Combined with his blue eyes and strong jawline, he had the unmistakable features of an aristocrat.
Maddy sniffed once before asking him,
“From the look of you, I don’t think you’re the type to be sitting around playing cards.”
“Mind your own business and play your game.”
The man’s brow furrowed.
But a glare like that wasn’t enough to intimidate Maddy.
She was the bold little stone that had rolled into this hostile back alley years ago, shattered everyone’s cold treatment, and firmly established herself.
The people of the slums secretly called her Crazy Maddy.
From simple errands to finding lost items, even transporting dangerous goods—sometimes illegally—
As long as someone paid her, there was nothing Maddy wouldn’t do.
More accurately, there was nothing she couldn’t accomplish.
No matter the job, she always saw it through to the end.
She was fast with her hands, too.
Just like now, when she quietly switched one card beneath her hand.
“Guess the holding cell suits me. Every time I come out of there, I end up winning money.”
“You little punk. You didn’t cheat, did you?”
“People always say that after they lose. Go ahead! Check me!”
Maddy slapped her tattered clothes confidently, daring everyone to search her.
Apparently unable to stomach watching her any longer, the nobleman stood up.
“Heading home already? You should’ve left me some more money first.”
Ignoring Maddy’s teasing, the man promptly paid for his drinks and walked outside.
Watching his retreating figure, Maddy tossed down her cards.
“I’m folding. I’m leaving.”
“So soon? You just got here.”
“Hey, I spent the night out yesterday! I should sleep at home tonight. See ya!”
“What home? You don’t even have family! Hey! Brat! Leave your winnings behind! Hey!”
Ignoring every shout trying to stop her, Maddy kicked open the tavern door and hurried outside.
Immediately, her sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.
The man hadn’t gotten far.
His silver hair gleamed under the moonlight, making him easy to spot.
“Ahem! Ahem!”
Maddy hurried after him, deliberately clearing her throat loudly.
Sensing her presence, the man spoke first.
“If you’re planning to squeeze money out of me, get lost. I’m not in the mood.”
“My, how vulgar. Such harsh words from a refined noble gentleman.”
The man spun around and glared at her.
His towering height and broad shoulders were undeniably intimidating.
Maddy didn’t flinch.
“I don’t have time to deal with a crazy woman, so get lost.”
The nobleman slowly looked her up and down.
She wore several layers of ragged dresses that looked ready to be torn apart by the wind.
Her gloves were full of holes, and the hair she’d tied up carelessly had already come loose into a mess.
“Why are you staring so hard?”
Blushing shyly, Maddy waved her hand as though pretending to be modest.
She smiled.
He didn’t.
At that moment, a huge man burst out from the corner of the alley with a furious roar.
“Maddyyy!”
“Oh, damn. You scared me. And you are…?”
“I’m Josh from Haldikan Hardware, you little bitch! Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?!”
“For me? My, I’m honored.”
Judging by the disgusting stench pouring from his mouth every time he breathed, Josh had been drinking heavily.
The nobleman tried to walk around them.
Then Josh pulled a butcher’s knife from inside his coat.
“Hand over my wife while I’m still asking nicely!”
Maddy shrugged and shook her head from side to side with exaggerated flair.
“Why are you asking me for your wife? Sorry, but your wife and I aren’t that kind of close.”
“You crazy bitch! I know you helped her run away! Tell me where she went!”
“You should’ve treated her better while you had the chance. She showed up with bruises on her face every other day. It broke my heart.”
“That’s none of your business!”
“If she ran away, then she ran away. Why come throwing a tantrum at me? You’re barely worth one punch.”
The nobleman doubted his own ears.
Barely worth one punch?
The man standing before her was a fully grown adult wielding a massive knife.
Compared to him…
She was just a crazy woman still covered in straw from the holding cell.
Josh must have thought the same, because he sneered.
“How I keep my wife in line is my business! Who the hell are you to interfere?”
“If you’ve got a problem, then let’s fight. Stop wasting my time.”
The nobleman had no desire to involve himself any further.
Slum dwellers hurting each other in fights was hardly unusual.
Even the city guards never bothered coming.
Just as the nobleman completely turned away, Maddy hurriedly called out to him.
“Wait! Come somewhere quiet with me and have a cup of tea!”
“Get lost. You—”
The nobleman, who had been spitting the words out through clenched teeth, suddenly squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again.
He clutched both ears as though a piercing ringing had suddenly filled them.
He opened his mouth to continue, but couldn’t seem to force the words out.
Narrowing her eyes, Maddy silently observed him and filed the information away.
He might become a customer.
Meanwhile, the oblivious Josh continued shouting.
“Tell me where my wife is before I slice your body into pieces!”
“You’re awfully loud. Fine!”
Rolling up her sleeves, Maddy continued rapidly,
“I can beat someone like you with just one finger. If I win, you give up cleanly.”
“Haha! Crazy bitch. You’re shortening your own lifespan.”
Josh charged at her with the knife before the nobleman even had time to stop him.
Then—
Bang!
By the time he blinked, Josh had already dropped the knife and was rolling across the ground.
Blood quickly soaked into the dirt beneath him.
A bullet had torn through his thigh.
Clutching his leg, Josh screamed at Maddy.
“Aaaagh! That’s cheating! It’s cheating! Who brings a gun to a fight?!”
The gunshot drew people out from every direction.
Josh continued screaming that using a gun was unfair.
Maddy remained perfectly calm.
She casually fanned away the smoke rising from the barrel with one hand while coughing lightly.
Then she slowly walked over and crouched in front of Josh.
The still-hot barrel pressed against the back of his hand.
“Aaaargh!”
“Josh, pay attention. The only thing that pulled the trigger was my cute little index finger. Just this one, right? I told you one finger was enough. Was I wrong?”
After speaking, Maddy frowned at the gun as though she found it disgusting.
She carefully wrapped it in a white cloth before slipping it back into her clothes.
“Carrying such an ugly thing around makes me crave a drink.”
The slum residents, who had fallen silent, suddenly burst into loud laughter.
“Maddy’s right!”
“She won with her index finger!”
“That’s right! She beat him with one finger! Hahaha!”
After Josh finally passed out, Maddy searched through his pockets and pulled out his wallet.
Holding it high above her head, she shouted,
“Drinks are on this guy!”
“Woooo! Maddy! You’re the best!”
Amid the yellow teeth, flying spit, foul alcohol breath, and filthy blackened hands of the cheering drifters…
Only the nobleman looked at her with utter disgust.
She’s completely insane.
As though fleeing from her, he turned around and walked away.
