The Lazy Boy Is, In Fact, the Strongest and Most Brutal Assassin. - Chapter 5: Of Course, The Scale Tipped In That Direction.

Of Course, The Scale Tipped In That Direction.

“Wow, as expected from you, boss! You’ve got influence even with those yakuza types,” Il said cheerfully, only to have Bodoin silently thump his fist on Il’s head.

“Ouch!”

“Don’t say you’ve got influence, you fool. You’re still a guard, aren’t you? What kind of mindset is it to hide in fear?”

Bodoin left Il, who was holding his head and squatting on the ground, and walked over to the women.

“I’ll ask just to be sure, but you’re not hurt, are you?”

“What do you mean ‘just to be sure’? Are you looking down on me because I’m just a simple dancer?” the woman snapped back.

“Stop biting at everything. What are you, a rabid dog?”

It seemed she realized that her temper had flared, as she pouted with an embarrassed look.

“F-fine, I’m sorry! We’re both fine; no one laid a finger on us.”

“Good to hear.”

“I should thank you, though. I’m Rimrim, a dancer at a tavern, and this girl here is…”

As the timid girl peeked out from behind the woman, Bodoin’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Wait, isn’t that Ward’s daughter?”

“What? You know each other?”

“Yeah,” Bodoin replied with a small nod, while the girl shook her head vigorously.

“Yeah, I guess it’s natural not to know. This girl’s father was a blacksmith who frequented our station. She used to come here with him sometimes, but to her, I’m just one of the many guards,” Bodoin explained, calling out to Il, who was still crouched down rubbing his head.

“Hey, Il! How long are you going to keep whining? Come over here and at least greet her!”

“Ouch! Boss, that’s mean! What are you going to do if I end up getting even dumber than I already am?”

“If you’re admitting you’re dumb, then that’s progress.”

“Sadly, yes.”

“…What’s unfortunate is on my end.”

Their playful banter made the girl, Shia, smile unexpectedly. Perhaps her wariness had faded; she deeply bowed her head toward Bodoin and Il.

“Thank you for saving me. My name is Shia.”

“Oh, don’t mention it,” Il replied, puffing up with pride.

Bodoin looked up at the sky, exasperated. “You really have a way with people, don’t you?”

But the moment Shia lifted her face, Il froze in place.

Her eyes were slightly droopy but kind, framed by beautiful, intricately braided golden hair that fell elegantly. Her delicate nose and fresh lips resembled a smooth stroke from a paintbrush. Though her clothes were simple and shabby, her beauty was undeniable.

Just as Il got lost in her gaze, Rimrim cut in sharply, “Hey! Can you not look at her like that?”

“I-I didn’t mean to!” Il stammered, flustered, but Rimrim intensified her glare, causing Bodoin to sigh in disappointment while Shia chuckled softly.

“So, Shia… did you really rack up a debt bad enough to bring thugs like that after you?” Bodoin shifted the conversation, though not because he was trying to rescue Il. It was just getting too painful for him to acknowledge Il as his subordinate.

At Bodoin’s question, Shia’s face, which had been cheerful, darkened immediately. After a brief moment of hesitation, she began speaking in a voice as quiet as a whisper.

“I have no recollection of it at all. Those men just suddenly showed up at the tavern today and said that my father had accumulated a debt before he passed…”

“Tavern?”

“Since my father passed away, I’ve been working as a server at a bar in the entertainment district,” Shia explained.

“It’s not a shady place. Just a simple tavern for older folks to drink at. I rent a spot there to perform,” Rimrim added in her defense.

“Either way, I’ve never heard anything like this from my father, and even if they say I owe money, I don’t have any to give them,” Shia continued.

“Yeah, makes sense,” Il nodded deeply.

Il could relate. When his father passed away, even though it was inevitable, he struggled with how he was going to support his mother and sister. It must have been a much harsher ordeal for a young woman like Shia.

“Those men said I could sell the things my father had been researching to the blacksmiths’ guild, and that would cover the debt easily… but…” Shia’s voice trailed off.

Bodoin raised an eyebrow. “Research? What was your father working on?”

“Sounds like it’s about the Dark Green Steel,” Bodoin said, his brow furrowing. Shia nodded slightly.

“You know about it? But my father kept the method completely secret, even from us. He only joked that he’d tell my younger brother how to make it once he grew bigger than I am…”

“Either way, they backed off for now, but that guy, Serpent Hiluluk, is known for being annoyingly persistent. He won’t give up easily,” Bodoin said, crossing his arms and closing his eyes. He appeared to be deep in thought for a moment before he turned his gaze to Il and spoke.

“Well, here’s the deal. Il, you’re going to act as this young lady’s bodyguard for a while starting tomorrow.”

“Wait, what!? ”

Il quickly weighed the advantages of spending time with a cute girl against the danger of potentially being attacked by someone as dangerous as Serpent Hiluluk. No need to think hard; his life was at stake. In an instant, he tipped the balance toward “I refuse.”

“Is it really okay? With someone like him?” Rimrim looked at them, her expression skeptical.

“NO! It’s not okay! This is a bad idea!”

“Maybe you should send someone more capable. Plus, I have training to attend to…”

“Training? You’d just end up running away anyway. You won’t fix that twisted mindset of yours until you’re put in a life-or-death situation. Until this is resolved, don’t even bother coming back to the station.”

Il turned pale at the idea of facing a life-threatening situation.

“That’s tyrannical! This is an abuse of power!”

“You fool! What do you mean ‘abuse of power’? It’s our duty to protect good citizens!”