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As soon as Dioge agreed, a bomb was installed in the blue-roofed house.
The plan was to completely blow up Dioge’s house along with all the trash inside.
The decision came from the reasoning that it would be better to demolish the house and rebuild it rather than spend time and manpower cleaning the trash, disinfecting, and repairing the contaminated home.
Otherwise, full cleanup would require significant personnel and time—so in a way, it was an efficient method.
But the biggest reason was Calix’s order.
“Make sure Mari never has a reason to visit this trash heap again.”
Calix glared at the foul-smelling house with cold eyes.
If she hadn’t run into Mari by chance on the street today, she would have surely stormed that trash-filled house herself.
Marianne Whitehouse in a place like that?
It was almost unimaginable.
“Dioge Sanders. It wasn’t you, but your sister who was suffering from depression. She apparently had hoarding tendencies, and the two of you often fought over trash removal.”
“Really? Then what did Dioge do while his sister was like that?”
“Well… she wouldn’t listen and only threw tantrums, so he spent most of his time outside and rarely came home.”
“I see… Then what happened to the sister?”
“She… seems to have passed away recently.”
After his sister’s death, Dioge drank every day, unable to maintain a clear mind.
Yet he was strong enough to beat anyone who tried to clean up the trash.
“After she died, he apparently sank into guilt and alcohol. And he wouldn’t let anyone touch the trash, calling it his sister’s belongings.”
“I heard the house had already gone into debt.”
“Yes. She bought and collected whatever she could. The money he earned was all spent on her depression treatment.”
Bang!
With a terrifying roar, the blue-roofed house was engulfed in smoke and completely vanished.
The foul-smelling house was gone without a trace.
White dust swirled where it had once stood.
“Wow!”
“Finally! That trash is gone!”
Although neighboring buildings suffered unavoidable damage, the homeowners who came after hearing the news were overjoyed.
The Duke of Bloodstone had paid a substantial compensation.
It was money that ordinary people could barely earn in a lifetime.
“The Duke of Bloodstone paid compensation…? He’s not demolishing our houses too, right?”
“Exactly. We should just be grateful he removed that eyesore.”
“Is it really okay to just accept this?”
People who had been nervously watching Calix now accepted the compensation, half in disbelief.
The next day.
Dioge Sanders awoke to warm sunlight after a long time.
Fresh air tingled his nose.
“…?”
Somewhere, he thought he could smell the savory scent of baked bread.
A familiar scent.
Like the bread his sister used to bake.
“Diona…?”
Dioge rubbed his eyes and got up.
He was lying in a cozy bed with crisp white sheets.
“…!”
It had been ages since he’d slept in such a clean bed.
Looking around, he saw a simple but comfortable room.
A strange place.
“Where… am I?”
He panicked and sprang up.
Cool air brushed his face.
Touching his chin, he realized his familiar beard was gone.
“…!”
He noticed that his clothes were unfamiliar as well.
A subtle scent of soap lingered on his body.
He couldn’t even remember the last time he had bathed.
“What… what happened? Ugh…”
A sudden headache hit him as he held his head.
He remembered drinking far too much again last night.
Knock knock.
At that moment, the door opened.
“Oh? You’re awake!”
A red-haired man entered.
“Y-You are…?”
“I am Josh Calvin.”
“W-Who are you?”
“Hey, shouldn’t you have tidied up a bit? Do you know how much trouble everyone went through cleaning the trash and disinfecting the house?”
Dioge yelled angrily.
“What… what did you do to my house!? Ugh!”
A wave of hangover pain made him clutch his head again.
After days of not eating and drinking heavily, the headache was unbearable.
“You should’ve drunk moderately. The doctor said if our lord had been even one day late, you would have died.”
“Ugh…”
“Here. Drink this. It’s good for hangovers.”
Dioge took the drink without hesitation.
Judging by the care with which he was bathed and brought here, it didn’t seem poisoned.
Gulp gulp
His parched throat made the drink taste like honey.
“Phew… that was good.”
After finishing the drink, Dioge regained his senses.
Looking around, he noticed another unfamiliar person had entered the room.
“And you are…?”
A tall man with black hair, wearing a black half-mask and dressed entirely in black.
A familiar fear gripped him.
The Duke of Bloodstone of Cliff Castle…!
He realized that the man in front of him was the one whose terrifying reputation preceded him.
“W-Why… are you looking for me…?”
Josh spoke in a tone of disdain.
“Why were you carrying your deceased sister’s trash around? You didn’t even care about her while she was alive, so why now?”
Dioge’s face burned with anger.
“Don’t speak recklessly if you don’t really know!”
Josh narrowed his eyes at him.
“Oh, thinking about digging through that trash heap…!”
Dioge flinched.
Josh gritted his teeth inwardly. If Dioge didn’t understand immediately, he’d give him a proper beating later.
“I mean, your sister is already dead. You’re not even a particularly good person. Stop torturing yourself unnecessarily.”
“…!”
“Even your deceased sister would have forgiven you by now. That’s enough. Now get your mind straight and return to what you were doing.”
“My work? I have no family left—what’s the point of making money?”
Dioge gritted his teeth.
Josh replied calmly.
“No. You must.”
Dioge lifted his head, suddenly remembering money.
“Wait! I tried cleaning the trash before, but gave up because of the cost. If you cleaned my house… you must have spent a fortune?”
“No need to repay. You can pay with your own body.”
“W-What…?”
Dioge’s confusion turned to a scream, as if crying.
“L-Lord! You didn’t sell me as a slave, did you?!”
“What…?”
“You cleared my debt with loan sharks and bought me! This isn’t right! Even though I signed a bodily waiver…!”
“Bodily waiver…?”
“Lord! I may have no wife or children, but I’m still a living being! A slave?!”
Calix quietly observed Dioge during their conversation.
He was clearly a man with extremely extreme delusions.
‘Why would Mari even want to work with someone like him…?’
Surely there were plenty of competent people she could use instead.
But then a somber thought struck him.
‘…I’m the same in a way.’
After all, he was a woman working alongside a monster called heartless and merciless.
‘Perhaps damaged people are drawn to her like moths to a flame.’
Like wounded beasts instinctively seeking a sanctuary.
“….”
But this one was drunk and incoherent.
Josh had learned he was superstitious and somewhat emotional.
‘If such a person drinks…?’
Dioge’s eyes welled with desperate tears.
If he couldn’t control himself, he would be a walking weapon around Mari.
Subordinates’ actions would inevitably affect Mari’s honor.
‘This is going to be troublesome.’
It didn’t matter how he misunderstood him.
But for now, it might be best to let him believe whatever he wanted until he sobers up.
“You know your place.”
Calix spoke, and tears of despair streamed down Dioge’s face.
“Gah! Y-Yes…!”
Josh glanced back quietly.
“L-Lord…?”
Calix ignored him completely.
“Have you heard what I’m called?”
“…Gah…”
Dioge turned pale.
In the slums where he lived, rumors about the Duke of Bloodstone of Cliff Castle were terrifying.
‘A murderer? Arsonist? Monster?’
The masked Duke was rumored to enjoy torturing his servants.
Hanging people on iron hooks and…
“Eeek…!”
Dioge’s voice choked in fear.
“N-No…!”
“Will you obey orders?”
“Yes! Yes! I will obey!”
“I’ve heard site supervisors can be rough-mouthed due to hard work. But in front of your lord, you must always show proper respect.”
“Of course!”
“…Then consider this a warning.”
“If you take even a single sip of alcohol…”
Calix’s red eyes glowed intensely.
His cold, slow voice continued.
“Do you understand?”
Josh, standing behind, made a slashing motion across his neck at Dioge.
“Ugh!”
Dioge’s eyes widened in terror.
