Chapter 53: Because I promised to return (3)
B4wm3rThe Boy Who Cultivated Roses.fC5AvC
mKfFMThe night in the back alley was brighter than the day in the city.sMq
TZMcSince it was a place where those who could only live in the darkness gathered, most people who lived in the back alley were usually active at night.I9ABdG
dliRAmong them, if it were a member of Captain Hoover’s organization, which was dedicated to smuggling as its main activity, not much needed to be said.Dp9
VpZEjOne of Captain Hoover’s organization members, Lame Harven.h5kyEVK
zJHAt this moment, with a document in hand, he was suffering from a headache.Vaf2
TA1r“Jack One-Armed is going crazy…”AuCsg
Q2xV9The ledger he held in his hand was empty in many places now, but Harven, who had to fill it out, only felt overwhelmed by what he had to write on the documents.zBOeo
1irECJack One-Armed, who practically dominated the back alley.2bu8gS
MJj4BrJorge, the knight of the prostitutes, had fallen, and other organizations were also severely weakened, so now there was no organization that dared to challenge him.YXb7
EbmH3Even Hoover, who engaged in a special business like smuggling, was only slightly freer from Jack’s control, but even that was a thing of the past.aL2mKXE
NC0M“What are we supposed to do if you keep stealing so blatantly?”9mJx
d3maG7Harven sighed deeply as he covered his face with both hands.rklHCgC
kzQpJack One-Armed had always been someone who respected boundaries.RXd9
1nCAlthough he was an expert in squeezing a penny until it turned into a silver penny, he was not someone who would try to corner his debtors.Ovp2A
PYAuEHe wasn’t like he was raising geese that lay golden eggs, but at least he had no intention of sinking the ship of people who earned enough to be considered rats.ES6gU
iuumZFTHowever, since Jorge died, Jack had shown a completely different side.G4cs
RMdfQNHe robbed people so ruthlessly that even moneylenders wouldn’t dare, and as a result, the economy of the back alley was crumbling.AuN
6FMLqSomeone even said that Jack was immersed in alcohol and wasn’t managing the organization, and Harven really thought that might be true.MhX
xtFCIAeThe worms without anyone to control them were crumbling more and more.foF
j70OkzE“I must make a report first.”2VmO6
EIYIn the end, Harven had no choice but to report to Hoover about the goods looted by Jack’s henchmen once again today.HxMY
rzdUa2He might hear a reprimand, but it was inevitable.wGo9
5EX5sThat was the job Harven had been entrusted with.mnenprD
UvIWuvKnock-knock-OyN
okjComing out of a room large enough to contain only a desk, Harven encountered a young member of the organization entering.jwsJw
a9RCXy1“Harven, did you hear?”cd1ATVk
gHQ1O“What thing?”IU8zR0N
VtLCqPThe organization member in charge of patrolling the area opened his mouth to Harven with an expression indicating he was remembering something important.LjT
WQByQz“They said the back alley is blocked.”VLaH
UpE“Why?”ZkK5GN
WOt“They said they came from Sturma to catch Jack One-Armed. They say Shohara’s guards surrounded the whole place.”D44iYOz
Anv“Oh…”lBabMGE
e9CqHarven sighed as he heard those words.h4Bke
i0XkbAIt has finally come to this.yIpouO
sPA74dsJack One-Armed finally crossed the line.LEsiB
aYknNXHarven gripped the cane he held, thinking there would be much to handle after they caught him.4Zn63ql
6N1ZWc“But you know, weren’t you close to that guy?”owUmkNp
8JU“Who are you talking about?”ZXEo
L7KFbjAs Harven was heading to Hoover’s office, the organization member’s voice came from behind.2IB
FdxpSz“I’m talking about Vlad.”N9gMAEH
33aALnt“…Which Vlad?”ElcaBM
IaWtJPBWhen the name he hadn’t heard in a long time surfaced, Harven turned to look at the organization member who was speaking to him with a puzzled expression.xfR
yg5w1qT“It’s just that I didn’t see him directly, but…”8wB
tqntS7“They said the executioner who came from Sturma was blond. Furthermore, he said he himself was Vlad Of Soara. Could it be him?”JxerSMU
dFFsL“What?”xUK1J68
XIQH0z2Harven felt his cane tighten in his grip upon hearing those familiar words.8jB7
rax“…Is this real?”8eDbg
alnSk“Yes. Didn’t they just say they’re going to put a flag in front of the Smile of the Rose?”Tgc
C3ED“….”14DI
QO3x2e6Blonde hair, Vlad, and the smile of a rose.oDE
EPdjJPThey were all words related to someone.M5WzhU
7KAyHarven’s heart pounded hard.JluS
ZU7wVw“Take this.”RxQq
2IDJx“What?”LhVm
IxmwXRAfter handing over the stack of documents to the organization member, Harven began to walk out hastily.bxfqf
Lo8“Where are you going?”NoC2Ha
7JvLPV“I have to go. I have to go check it out.”nCc2O
0v0y5Harven, who was sensitive to information and news, already knew about the existence of Vlad Of Soara. The young sprout from Bayezid who showed his bravery in the Deirmar duel and stood out in the Deathworm hunt this time.pKbRYx
0Oj8O“Maybe it’s true!”qBVZkGR
zTTEBut just with rumors, he couldn’t be sure it was the Vlad he knew. He had done such amazing things.fLmPC
e3rBzThe Vlad he knew was definitely a plausible candidate, but it was hard to believe he had done something so big.iayV
b47NakW“And he might get whipped again!”0nop
9RctEYC“Just a little late!”QuN047h
U1x9Harven stepped out into the closed street to confirm if it was the blond boy he knew.JDVvY
lXFPPLNLeaning on his cane, his faltering steps were surely clumsier than before.A4axNy
pgJoqG***jlsF4
htM3“Throughout all this time, you could have replaced your teeth.”CScHYi
nqXe“Hm…”q9c50a1
UFzJjhVlad looked at the man lying helpless at his feet. It was the man who had entered with Jack One-Armed during his time as Jorge’s right-hand man, knocking over crates of wax.BajtM
hqnThe man still had empty sockets from the blow.OCIbZ
cMRmks“They’re no longer needed.”bFwmQ
nZxxfRGVlad silently pushed his sword into the man’s chest as he lay fallen.K1dZ5
R2qWi74“Ah…”iwZR
VYxUl9NThe man, unable to properly groan, let out a bit of foam as he slowly dropped his head with a bleeding neck.b2YCrM
bdz“Stop…”kmnTQ4s
jiPVlad sighed for a moment as he looked back along the path he had traveled. A hallway filled with blood. Broken stairs. Quiet prostitutes’ rooms.9ViYBUR
TWW9hUAll of Jack One-Armed’s subordinates, more than fifty, were dead from the boy’s sword piercing them. None were able to breathe anymore.oraG1l
7CdIv0[That’s enough.]Fydej
K7S“…”wEGJZVn
awfa1Listening to the voice’s words, Vlad wielded his sword to clean the blood.4GyD
pz4XlThe young man had pushed himself onto a path of suffering. With the aim of assassinating the blue moon knight, Vlad also had to closely follow the steps the man had left behind.Kx4P3
EVur“Yes, this should be enough.”MTw
6EQ9XAnd although it wasn’t perfect, Vlad was able to recreate to some extent the scene of that day. It was filled with roses that the young man had cultivated.gAWdZ
T82“I have to finish this.”sjh73XX
uxl9cVlad, wiping the sweat or blood from his forehead, looked at the stairs leading to the fourth floor as he leaned against the wall.CZ6xh
mUf6yvThe first floor was the lobby. The second and third floors were bedrooms. And the fourth floor was the organization members’ space.ElBT3
rZztqwThere used to be Jorge the knight of prostitutes who always sat with the same appearance, eating his designated meals.Urp
WjRlQx“…”vy2o
bGrgVlad climbed the stairs leading to the fourth floor one by one.2E3
hAl2CcLKnock-knock-8cRmk6
0MxzogThe ominous sound from that day still echoed here. Though the stairs needed repair, the fact that they had been left unrepaired for half a year also meant that the smile of a rose had not been properly attended to during that time.v9KM4t5
kqGqQZC‘Marcella would be scared.’w8XLd
4RvClimbing the stairs he missed, Vlad had a casual thought as he did before. But the boy climbing the stairs was no longer the Vlad who sold candles.V39uFb
5kZnf6C“I’m here. Boss.”Bns5Ww
35T6z9“Oh, yes. Promising boy. Come here.”uzVjA
nQy4ROn the fourth floor, where all the subordinates had crowded, only Jack One-Armed was seated.w7NxjX
yCZJack turned his head as if glad to see him, but Vlad didn’t move an inch.JbGnCHa
hLG8D“It’s boring.”NnVH1f
hZE79zsWhen Vlad, without saying a word, stood there with a grim look, Jack chuckled to himself and raised his liquor glass.HyS5K
bwRgThis would be his last sip.YnXA
pUbTMCP“You’re really Vlad Of Soara. I heard the rumors.”JlTP
yxUokvq“Did it spread all the way here?”3U2T
b8JqBI“I should have brought you here two years ago. Who was in charge back then?”dAtmVkz
yRCQJack frowned, thinking for a moment before laughing.5gzo
EKQ“Well, that bastard’s already dead.”9Ek9se
OuVopDrinking from his glass, Jack, who was standing with difficulty, positioned himself in front of the young man.LuFH
4CFJ“Still, it’s good to meet someone familiar.”QFdfBC
hbgkWith one hand on his hip, Jack, dressed cleanly, held a short sword that looked like a knife in one hand and a hook in the other as he looked at Vlad.GaC16z
9LhLR“Although I didn’t want to leave you alone, I’m someone who always finishes what he starts.”7gB
yly35KAn intertwined fate. A world devouring its own world.ciA1PYc
imL3x7RBut the Jack One-Armed that Vlad found in front of him didn’t seem to have the presence that the young man was looking at right now.7l4muI
C1r1TrdThough he had also fallen, the young man’s world had expanded so much as to explain that downfall.5Vs6I6
39zJack One-Armed’s world could no longer contain the young man.bKmyJ7f
4Cb“I’ll do it.”XHZY3
IU4nq3ZThough he was someone like a mortal enemy, Vlad decided to show the last respect to Jack One-Armed.FzYe
HF39i8oClang!kgW
amtThough it was a rough gesture like that of an alleyway, it was a courtesy.lea
GuXeVYT“Ugh!”jOKQ3sx
3djquVJack crossed his sword and hook to block Vlad’s sword.0ddf4
8FCBpHe thought he should do something like this to block it, but Vlad’s strength that he faced head-on easily exceeded his expectations.QAIt
UMGdxd“That’s it! You’ve come this far already!”GC1
HQz6AbJack was sincerely impressed seeing the boy’s growth.d6HOAdp
iy9ev2Jack also had dreams. He too was a man who had stars in his heart, though in a different way. That’s why he could understand the hardships the boy had faced.fd2
7hfB“Impressive!”54NslY
wC3qSparks flew as the swords clashed.JvDq6u
tsOc43The young man fought desperately against the world that had bound him for so long. He knew he could no longer be trapped by Jack’s world.i6WV
wJJUc“Ugh!”2GsH
BI39xRJack did his best to withstand the young man’s sword. He might stagger, he might seem pathetic, but perhaps that was the last appearance and choice he could make.D3V
MqAcOaQ“Jorge would be happy to see you!”VlarC
uopYBE“Shut up!”tGE
fwYJnweVlad fiercely shouted at Jack for daring to mention Jorge in a conversation about revenge.DGzCdG
zyiHe was someone who couldn’t be forgiven. He had helped kill Jorge and had sold Marcella after swallowing the broken smile of a rose.ZJhuM
sGeoL1fYou should die miserably.adjHn
CyPDgW“Ugh! Ugh!”heRdE
mleTAOkBetween pain, regret, disillusionment, and calmness, Jack swung his hook with his left arm.gf4Z
D0gPIXThe dagger he held was already rolling on the ground along with his right arm. He knew this day would come eventually.yuwLJ
rHbHe had simply lived intensely believing that today wouldn’t be the last day.VGMVEpg
Veh“I guess it’s better this way!”TNyM
nbt2dJKJack One-Armed sincerely thought.p1qsPw
FAgUxIt would be better to die crushed by a young world trying to climb over him than to die crushed by a big world like Jorge.C61
JTVmdmIf his life was going to end like this anyway, he wanted it to end by his own choice.2UXU
0yNK6z“You’ll climb higher than me!”FeB
oVp4iS“Shut up!”ATx
PYGRqaThe boy, still not mature enough to understand what Jack was saying, just struck out in rage.GkvOu
5ZT“Ugh!”OgNiCYM
uFnyS6aBut the boy’s heart might be hot, but the sword in his hand was cold.lQdIw
jmjy6A shiver ran through Jack’s bowels and up his spine.ecq
vZtUCrimson drops of blood dripped from the bloody tip of the sword.11Cvd
dAd9vmdTruly free, free from the shackles that bound him.w75kM
KEl“Any last words?”M19
VXaapThe boy was panting.TM3oo
z1q4sbPSeeing that the boy had crawled this far with all his might, Jack silently raised his hook and gestured towards where he had been sitting.Jf6
lfHI“…Rest. You did a good job.”ycy
L3bQ“…What?”Ck3DB1j
IrSAWith unknown words, step by step, slowly retreating, Jack One-Armed withdraws the sword from Vlad.j0a
fX34W“Ugh!”Ppwpf2W
nhXcjMDespite the pain of his entrails being ripped out, he stood up with difficulty and stepped back towards the railing.YKDKoX
DqWWOqG“······This should be enough.”ump
3A2BSbJack sighed and looked up at the ceiling.ndal6
N2IyLooking at the lights passing through the splendid chandelier, he reflected on his life.Dn1z6xn
VuFhQX“This should be enough.”JD9
Lw2XOlWHe was satisfied.TsVb
b7N5Although he lived poorly, his life was tough.mlyoo
Cx8ztEyEven though he was ultimately crushed by a vast world and left shattered, it wasn’t solely his fault.OH7
bJK“·····.”pWNuR
4Yo3SHFor the last time, Jack shouted to the building he could never have.ht1
nlB03“I had fun. Goodbye, Jorge!”wFD5hsB
hTbVlad watched as Jack slowly fell backward.Z6tdGq
on5Passing through the railing to the lobby.673
tQx4He observed Jack’s last appearance as he fell from the fourth floor to the first.oujL1fl
fMT0Jm¡BANG!KnC
tt2C0CA world collapsing, like Jorge’s that day.Lzk
uylIn the silence that was like death, only the falling drops of blood showed the passage of time.saY6KH1
ZbdOqdr“…”Rzg2tc
vYXRevenge is sweet.C8e
GDmwrIt’s something that must be done.sZedD
I2AXxkcBut there was a bitter taste that the boy couldn’t shake on the tip of his tongue.1wTd7vl
ICjoHaving done all he had to do, Vlad now, with weary steps, headed towards the table where Jack had been sitting.gp92XXL
03dD5Dp“···Damn it.”3NI8qb
ohHThere were two glasses of alcohol waiting for the boy.R5r
P9d2ghWith his head bowed, the boy sat in the chair.PyYOgn
Y5T“…I’ll pay you back, boss.”ftal
QczLQAnd a single shiny gold coin.ZtI3
ZYCXThe boy returned the gold coin that Jack One-Armed had given him that day.uRaJ
0m9tUdDBecause a knight should only take what is rightfully his.eAdrXlW
XiSnThis was the place of the broken smile of a rose.9hTLszV
ycZOA place where people paused for a moment as they passed by.EB31Y
n6F0tLA single drop of water that had been held there escaped into the outside world.VXoPoiU
lX8NLeaving a small footprint of the young man’s world.bxzVm
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