HPL 11

chapter 11

When we started doubting his identity, Wayne shrugged.

“Didn’t you hear my origin story? Everyone in Zeil knows it. I’m the illegitimate child of a count. I lived in the back alleys until I was fifteen.”

So the rumor that Count McCullin frequented the red-light district like it was his own home was true.

Jack and Tom each chimed in, confirming it. Even though they called him a devil, they still seemed to consider him a friend.

To summarize their words: Wayne’s biological mother died giving birth to him while working as a prostitute. Wayne was raised by a thief who was a friend of his mother. When he grew up a little, he sought a way to make a living and joined a dark organization. There, he met Tom and Jack, who were orphans.

“Alright. Your identity is one thing… but now tell me who tried to kill me and who bought Roy.”

When I asked the most important question, Wayne shook his head slightly while still tied up.

“I can’t tell you that easily.”

“If you don’t want to tell us, why call us here? Go catch some passing ants if you’re bored.”

I crossed my arms and snapped, while Roy frowned. Wayne, however, replied cheekily:

“Playing with ants might be fun, but playing with someone who has cheated death and a runaway slave is also fun.”

You need a good hit.

I channeled my divine power into my right hand, which began glowing blue. I raised my hand high, and Wayne quickly spoke.

“What’s with that strange light? Can people who cheat death do that now? And I’m not saying I won’t tell you, just that I can’t right now.”

“Isn’t that basically the same thing?”

I swung my hand, and Wayne spoke again.

“Just as you don’t fully trust me, I can’t fully trust you. You might have already sided with that man, you know.”

“That man?”

When Roy questioned, Wayne nodded.

“The person who tried to kill Dyna and the one who bought you, and the person I want to kill… happen to be the same.”

We furrowed our brows at Wayne’s words.

The person who tried to kill Dyna is the same one who bought Roy? And Wayne wants to kill him?

“You expect us to believe that? Isn’t that a bit too coincidental?”

I gave him a skeptical look, and Wayne disclosed a bit more.

“If I were lying, I’d make it more convincing. There’s a tea party soon at our family estate. That person will attend too.”

“So?”

Roy asked sharply, and Wayne smiled.

“You two come to the tea party too. You can confirm his identity and then decide whether to join forces with me or not.”

“You called us here, but you might be setting a trap. You don’t exactly give off a trustworthy vibe.”

Roy’s cold remark made Wayne adopt a serious expression for the first time. His bright, youthful charm shifted into a sharp, heavy aura.

“If you doubt me, bring Jack and Tom and come to the tea party together. Honestly, I don’t care about anyone else. But these two are different.”

Up until now, Tom and Jack had been complaining constantly, but they didn’t object even when the discussion involved potential danger to themselves.

Well, a friend is a friend, after all. Hm, time to organize my thoughts.

I’ll attend Countess McCullin’s tea party anyway. Even if I refuse, the Countess and Ariel will drag me there to appease her.

The issue is Roy. I don’t care if my face is recognized, but Roy is different.

“What if he recognizes Roy, just like you recognized me?”

When I raised the concern, Wayne said confidently:

“Don’t worry about that. Just wear a hood and say you’re childhood friends with Tom and Jack—nobody will come near you.”

Makes sense. Most attendees at the Countess’s tea party will be nobles or wealthy people. No one would approach a shady-looking stranger. Still, it’s better for Roy to make his own judgment.

When I glanced at Roy, he slightly nodded. That meant he was okay with it.

Of course, missing a chance to get close to her would be a waste. At a tea party, there won’t be any attendants nearby.

After consulting with Roy, I looked at Wayne.

“Alright. Let’s go with your plan for now.”

“Good choice. But I’m actually interested in you, sis. I want to talk to you alone, without these ropes.”

Wayne gestured to the ropes binding him, giving a seductive look my way. When he gave a flirtatious smile, Roy stepped in front of me, speaking stiffly.

“Don’t try anything.”

“Hmph.”

Wayne made a strange sound, then scanned Roy up and down.

“She seems like a wolf who bites anyone who comes close. That’s why it’s fun to make her submit. But you’re different. Has her taste changed, or is it you who changed?”

Roy flinched.

Wayne’s words didn’t seem enough to cause that reaction. Why was he so startled?

I leaned forward and looked at Roy’s face. Unlike usual, it was stiff and rigid.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing.”

Roy avoided my gaze as he replied.

Hm, seems like it’s not nothing. The mood is darker than usual. But it’s best not to pry into what he doesn’t want to discuss.

I signaled Jack and Tom and said:

“Then get up and follow me.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Where should we go?”

Aren’t you two a bit too eager?

After that, Roy and I returned to the mansion with the two of them.

Even though they were in a hostages’ situation, they didn’t wipe the smiles off their faces. I hadn’t untied Wayne as we left the house.

“When I saw that guy’s face while tied for an hour, it felt like ten years of bad luck lifted off me.”

“No kidding. You’re wise, sis. That guy would have followed us secretly otherwise.”

As they excitedly chatted, Tommy looked bewildered.

{They don’t even consider what might happen to them.}

Indeed. The hostages seem way too carefree.

Back at the mansion, I considered where Jack and Tom should stay.

The annex rarely had visitors, but just in case, Roy stayed in the dress room. I couldn’t put Jack and Tom there too—it was too small for three people.

More importantly, Roy doesn’t trust others easily. Putting the ambiguous Jack and Tom in the same space would keep him on edge all day.

After deliberation, I had them stay in the adjacent room. But since outsiders shouldn’t know there were guests, I took special measures.

{You should have seen the humans shivering as they tried to enter the annex! Especially the terrified women—it was satisfying!}

The demon inside the orb was delighted, laughing gleefully. He was doing his role as a security alert perfectly.

The demon hadn’t been cooperative at first. He protested, asking why he should act as an alarm.

I gave him two choices:

“Do you want to be the practice target loved by novice priests?”

“Or enjoy scaring humans who try to enter the annex?”

The demon rolled his eyes and chose the latter.

I adjusted the orb so anyone could sense the demon’s presence and hid it at the entrance. Initially indifferent, the demon became ecstatic as it sensed fearful humans.

Tom observed the demon, giggling:

{No one comes here, maybe because of rumors that a demon lives in the annex.}

Two days after installing the demon orb, the annex became known as a cursed place among the mansion’s inhabitants.

Dark even during the day, strange laughter, eerie winds—it kept everyone away.

Unaware of the orb, Jack and Tom nostalgically remarked that it reminded them of the house where they lived with Wayne as kids.

Roy understood the change in the annex but preferred it to humans approaching. However, when I suggested they could stay in the empty room instead of the dress room because of the demon, he strangely refused.

I told the demon to step up, then headed to the kitchen.

Upon seeing me, the maids, pale with fear, brought out the prepared food.

After installing the demon orb, they feared me even more. They probably assumed I had done something.

The food’s quality and quantity were overwhelmingly better than usual. I smiled in satisfaction. I should have installed the demon orb sooner.

Returning to the room with the food, I found the three boys waiting. While they ate, I glanced at Tommy and silently said:

“Tell me only the rumors about Wayne that you’ve heard.”

Tommy had a newly learned skill: he could remember all newly acquired knowledge. So he recalled every rumor about Wayne I’d half-heard.

{To summarize: ‘Born from a reckless count and a prostitute, raised in the back alleys, yet kind, polite, and virtuous. More noble than those taught from birth.’}

Kind, polite, and virtuous, the young master? Seemed more like a cunning fox.

While I moved my lips, Tommy continued sharing information about Wayne:

{The Countess gladly accepted Wayne and took care of him meticulously. Wayne treats her like his own mother. Oh, he is nineteen years old.}

Nineteen? I paused.

He seemed to know Dyna to some extent, so why did he call her “sis”? Dyna is nineteen too.

“Wayne is nineteen, right? Why did he call me sis? I’m nineteen too.”

Tom swallowed his meat and replied:

“Sis, he does that sometimes. He acts cute to charm people.”

That explained the prior question, but a new one arose:

“Why do you call me sis?”

“Sis or bro is determined by feeling, not age. Growing up in the back alleys, you can immediately sense the aura of a sister or brother.”

Jack chewed so hard his cheeks puffed as he explained.

Hm, I see.

I shook my head and regained focus.

You two are hostages, yet eating so well? The meat’s all gone!

The piles of meat had vanished. As I stared at the empty spot, Roy handed me a small plate.

“What’s this… hmm?”

I blinked at the plate. The supposedly gone meat was neatly on it.

I looked up at Roy.

“You set this aside?”

“I couldn’t eat it earlier; I was thinking.”

Roy said casually, but I covered my mouth, moved, and was touched.

I’ll give you a proper blessing once this is over.

{Is it okay to be so moved by a single piece of meat?}

Tom twirled his hair with his fingers.

You don’t understand. Being in a human body makes him act human. Haven’t you heard the saying, “No one who gives food is a bad person”?

I gratefully accepted the plate Roy offered and ate. Tommy sighed deeply.

{Phew, you remember unnecessary things well.}

It’s the same principle as remembering curses vividly.

I focused on eating the meat Roy had prepared. Yet at some point, I felt Roy’s gaze on me.

I looked up, but Roy turned his eyes elsewhere, lost in thought.

Why is he like that? Seems like he wanted to say something…