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I looked out the window of the wagon at the passing scenery.

The eastern area of the imperial capital, Ludlow, is a residential area for the empire’s citizens.

Perhaps because it has the highest population density in the capital, there are many people passing by.

Most of them are commoners of the empire.

The scenery was quite different from the western area, where the nobles mainly reside.

At most, there are two-story houses lined up along the road.

Looking at it, I felt as if I had visited some European city.

If I had brought Wendy, she would have shown a fresh reaction.

But unfortunately, I didn’t come here to travel.

I read the letter Arthur sent again.

[To Tristan.]

[I contacted Albert as you requested, but there was no response from him.]

[No doubt he’s holed up somewhere making strange things again.]

[Albert has always been that kind of craftsman.]

[Still, among the craftsmen I know, there was one who knew Albert’s recent whereabouts.]

[So, I’ll leave the address he provided.]

[P.S. – If you happen to find him there, please send my regards.]

[Arthur Ruelberta.]

It seems I’ve found where the craftsman I’m looking for is.

The letter Arthur sent included not only the address but also a map with a rough sketch.

His tone might be old-fashioned, but he takes care of everything.

I decided to get off the wagon with quite a distance left to my destination.

Being a noble, I stand out here.

Every time this luxurious wagon passed, people’s eyes were drawn to it.

Uncomfortable with those gazes, I deliberately got off in a less crowded area.

I thought walking would be better.

But I soon regretted it.

“…It’s like a sewer.”

A dim alley where sunlight barely reaches.

The smell of mold and rot wafted from everywhere.

Also, homeless people who looked unwashed were sprawled out, sleeping.

It was a scene that made me frown involuntarily.

It was the so-called slum.

Just one step away from the bustling streets, and this is what I found.

It was a bitter realization.

This world, where magic and monsters exist, is no different from the real world.

Where there are the rich, there are also the poor.

I faced the part of the Meikhael Empire’s prosperity that was hidden.

“……”

I took a heavy step.

This was a shortcut to my destination, and it seemed better than walking through crowded streets.

And even if I didn’t face it, such places wouldn’t disappear from the empire.

The deeper I went into the alley, the more miserable the scenery became.

Madmen screaming in piles of trash, people drugged out of their minds.

And prostitutes and vagrants with diseases glared at me.

My attire definitely stood out here.

A wrinkle-free coat, an elegant shirt.

And polished shoes that shine every day.

It was just the appearance of a wealthy noble’s child, but this was a slum, not a place for nobles.

Here, it was as if I was shouting, “I’m a noble!”

And some had already smelled the money.

I stopped in my tracks.

There were people blocking my way.

I glanced back, but vagrants had already blocked the path behind me.

They had completely cut off my escape.

“…Move aside.”

“If you want to pass, pay the toll.”

The vagrant who seemed to be the leader spoke.

A tall, burly middle-aged man.

Good thing I didn’t bring Wendy.

Luckily, it was a day with a class with Blanshe, or I might have gotten caught up in this.

“A toll?”

“Yeah.”

“How much?”

At my question, he smirked like a third-rate villain.

“Looking at your clothes, a million kael should do.”

“Hmm.”

Cheaper than I thought.

Rather than wasting time with these guys, it’s better to just pay that amount.

Have I already adopted the mindset of the wealthy?

I casually pulled out a bundle of 100,000 kael bills and handed them over.

“Take it.”

“?!”

The leader, not expecting me to hand it over so easily, took the bundle in shock. Then he was stunned by the amount.

“W-what?! Kid… why are you carrying so much money?”

“No need for change.”

This should be enough.

I tried to pass by the guys staring dumbfounded at the money.

“W-wait… hold on.”

Some vagrants blocked my path, as if they had unfinished business.

In that moment, I realized my mistake.

If this keeps up, they might demand everything I have.

Like a goose that lays golden eggs, their greed might drive them to pull a knife on me.

This is just going to be annoying.

I absorbed the surrounding magical energy, preparing to deal with them.

But the leader shouted from behind.

“Hey, hey! Let him through!”

“Huh?”

“If he paid this much, of course we should let him go. We hit the jackpot today. Jackpot! Hahaha!”

“S-sorry!”

The underlings bowed their heads and made way.

This is the power of money.

As I walked past them, I overheard their conversation.

“Wow! Boss. Our luck’s really good today, huh?”

“Hahaha! We can finally leave this life behind! Let’s expand our business!”

“And that silver-haired girl the younger boss caught earlier was stunning.”

I paused.

“Yeah. I’ve never seen a girl that pretty in my life. Even if she’s some noble’s daughter, she’ll fetch a high price as a slave. Hehehe.”

“Boss. Can’t we have a taste before selling her?”

“Ha! You’re a man after all. Don’t be hasty. You’ll get your turn after I’m done-.”

“B-boss!”

“What? Ugh, ahhh?!!”

The pile of trash next to the vagrants collapsed with a loud noise.

A mountain of filthy waste almost buried them. Well, not quite.

The trash pile just blocked the alley.

It only covered them in dirty dust.

But that was enough.

“Cough! Damn it! Why did this suddenly collapse?!”

“Ugh! Disgusting….”

“Damn it! Where’s the water?”

“Move aside. Let him pass.”

“Huh? What? Why are you still here?”

They finally noticed me.

I, who had caused the trash pile to collapse, gathered the surrounding magical energy again.

The leader, annoyed, growled at me.

“Hey. Not moving? Want to pay another toll?”

“Pay the toll.”

“…What?”

“If you want to pass, pay the toll.”

This time, the roles were reversed, and the vagrants all stared at me in disbelief.

“Huh?”

“The toll is everything you have, including the information about the girl you mentioned earlier.”

“Are you crazy? Why do you need to know that? Huh?”

The leader pulled out a dagger.

The dirty blade looked quite sharp.

“Hey. F*ck. You pig. You better run now. We’re in a bad mood.”

“Can’t pay?”

“You crazy bastard?! Why should we pay you! Are you insane? Just because you have money, you think you’re untouchable?”

As he swung his knife to threaten me, I unleashed the emotions boiling inside me.

[You are ‘Wrath’!]

“Huh?!”

The leader and the vagrants gasped.

They froze in place, overwhelmed by my intense wrath.

Sweat dripped from their foreheads.

“W-what…?! H-hot!?”

“B-boss…! I-I can’t breathe…!”

“Cough….”

Their faces turned pale under the pressure of my wrath.

Some, like the leader, gritted their teeth and held on, while others trembled and collapsed.

Again, it’s a good thing I didn’t bring Wendy.

What’s coming next isn’t suitable for kids.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“I see. You all can’t pay, huh.”

I picked up a long metal rod from the collapsed trash pile.

And I recalled the movements of the man who overwhelmed Blanshe with a mace.

“From now on, everything I take is mine.”

[You are ‘Jealousy’.]

An ugly emotion surged within me.

 

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