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Chapter 194 – A Middle-Aged Knight’s Night Life

A Middle-Aged Knight’s Night Life

Around the time Lavia stumbled upon East, Hikaru infiltrated the Tower once more.

Now, then... Where to go next?

Hikaru delivered the letter in an unbelievably short time—seven days—as some sort of a test to see if they would make a move on him. It wasn’t as though he would gain anything out of it. This was more of a practice to determine if the other party were enemies or not. As a matter of fact, they did make their move. But who was behind it, he didn’t know.

It could be the Pope himself, or Conia was simply acting alone. I think it’s someone in the middle, though, like a Purple Aristocrat or a Red Priest.

As he searched for information in the Tower, he happened upon Scott Fairs notes. He also found holy mana items and a huge magic circle underground.

Hikaru’s interest had shifted. These things had his attention now. If he gathered information about them, he could have the upper hand, no matter who he was up against. He had no doubt that they were from the Church, though.

The problem is, there’s too many places I can’t enter.

Security in the Tower was surprisingly tight, as evidenced by the surveillance room underground. But not only that; even the Priests’ private rooms used magic locks. They must have secrets they don’t want anyone to know about.

Infiltrating rooms would be easy if windows were opened, but unfortunately, it was winter season. Everyone had their windows shut.

Security near the Pope was even tighter. Magic traps were laid out all over the place. During cleaning time, a Magic Item Specialist would accompany the maid, deactivating the traps one by one.

The Pope, however, left his room at times, when messengers from other countries arrived, or if he had a meeting with Purple Aristocrats. Traps didn’t trigger whenever he passed by. It most likely had something to do with a magic item he wore on his person, but there were too many of them that it was hard to tell which one was for the traps.

I’m pretty sure the Pope has a secretary he works closely with. They probably have a magic item that allows them to walk freely without triggering traps too. Other servants can only seem to walk around certain areas.

The traps were most likely the kind that sounded an alarm. Hikaru didn’t bother trying to deactivate one himself. That would only make them wary.

I should go after the secretary. As luck would have it, she’s heading this way.

Hikaru set his eyes on the Pope’s secretary. He could sense her coming with his Mana Detection.

I have to find out what this magic item that nullifies traps is... Hmm?

Hikaru was walking down a dark path located between the staff building and a huge chapel. In this distance, he spotted a familiar face, a cool-looking middle-aged man with brown hair and a goatee, his blue cloak swaying. The Blue Knight who went further down the magic circle underground.

「Oh, if it isn’t the most exalted lady.」The knight bowed to Katina.

「You’re overexaggerating, Mr. Gabranth. I’m a mere secretary.」

「Right back at you. Please, just call me Gilbert.」

While he appeared to be a refined man, he was ogling at Katina’s shapely hips, his mouth curved in a lecherous smile.

Katina heaved a sigh.「Good grief. Act more decently, would you? You’re a Blue Knight, adored by the citizens.」

「If I was as earnest as Conia, His Holiness wouldn’t entrust me with my job, would he?」

「Ssh, keep it down.」

Katina eyed their surroundings. They were in a rather dark path, which wasn’t exactly a shortcut to other areas of the Tower, so people rarely passed by here. Only country bumpkins unfamiliar with the place would end up here.

「It’s fine. If someone comes, we can just make it look like we’re having a tryst.」

「That would only be a huge problem for a single woman like me.」

「Wait, you have plans to get married?」

「.........」

「Oops, my bad. I’m really sorry. Just a slip of the tongue.」

Gilbert bowed repeatedly to the woman who was clearly more than ten years younger than him.

「Forget about it. Anyway, here’s your pay.」Katina said as she handed him a bag of coins.

Gilbert accepted it with a twisted smile.「Hehehe. Now that’s what I’m talking about. Can’t survive the month without this.」

「Now, then. Let me hear your report.」

「Hmm? I already told the researchers.」

「I want to hear it from you personally as well. What did you find?」

Gilbert’s expression suddenly turned tense.「That thing’s bad news. It looked like a creature with four limbs, but it was simply a black figure. Darkness. Like the product of something evil.」

「Did you kill it?」

「I did. I got black sticky goo all over my body, though. I had so much trouble washing it off.」

Katina frowned. She knew intuitively that it was something foul.「You’ve explored the place before, right? And you didn’t find anything?」

「Nope, nothing. Until now. I wasn’t really surprised since I already heard something was in there.」

「Nothing less from Mr. Gabranth, the best swordsman among the Blue Knights, I suppose.」

「Please. Just call me Gilbert.」

「Anyway, Mr. Gabranth. Did this black figure drop anything?」

「Nope.」

「Really?」

「Drop what? Its guard or something?」

「No, that’s not what I mean. What happened after you killed it?」

「It turned into a black puddle.」

「That’s it?」

「Yup. Come on, just give it to me straight. What is this about?」

「If there’s nothing, then forget about it.」

「Okay, then.」

The man looked puzzled, but Katina ended the subject there. After thanking him, she left the scene.

「.........」

Gilbert stared at her for a while. He then pulled himself together and started walking the opposite direction, humming as he tossed the bag of coins in his hand.

Later that night...

As white and ordered Agiapole was, it still had pleasure districts. The outside might appear sophisticated, but upon entering, one could still find vulgar places, outlets for men’s desires.

One such place was an establishment named Blue Butterfly. Cheers rolled from within, as its massive, soundproof doors opened. The semi-basement was furnished with round couches and tables. The moment someone sat on the sofa, a butterfly—a woman wearing risqué outfit—would appear out of nowhere and take a seat beside them.

This establishment, an affront to all the teachings of the church, could survive without much of a camouflage because Blue Knights often came here.

「Hahahaha! I’m loaded today! Keep the booze coming!」Gilbert exclaimed.

The employees knew the man and treated him well.

「Wait, where’s Kyankyan? I don’t want to drink without Kyankyan around!」

As Gilbert threw a tantrum, the place’s number one woman arrived, a strained smile on her face.

「You’ve had too much to drink, Sir Gilbert.」

「There you are!」

And so the night went on.

A lodge was built next to the Blue Butterfly for customers who wanted a good time with the establishment’s women. Completely wasted, Gilbert lay face down on the bed, snoring loudly.

The woman called Kyankyan chuckled as she took the heavy bag from Gilbert’s pocket and checked its contents. It was filled with gold coins. She then left the room with the bag.

「Ah, my head hurts. I may have drunk too much. Crap, I can’t actually remember anything.」

Gilbert woke up around the time the sun came up. He felt around his pocket, but found nothing.

「What the... I’m out. Did I really spend that much?」

Scratching his side, Gilbert got out of bed. He seemed familiar with the lodge. After gulping down water from the jug, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and left the room. He raised his hand at the man at the reception, and the guy bowed until Gilbert was out of the building.

「Ugh, too bright..」

The light of the morning sun pierced Gilbert’s eyes. After blinking a few times, he started walking. He moved at a quick pace, embracing his own shivering body, shielding it from the cold breeze.

「Damn. I put my life on the line for that money and it’s all gone after a night. I must be, uhh... quite the sophisticated man. Or not... Achoo!」

The man hurried on his way home.

「.........」

In the distance, a boy watched him go and started walking the opposite direction.

「I see. That’s an interesting way to spend money.」Hikaru yawned.「I should probably not tell anyone about this.」