Volume 3 Chapter 56: What the hell am I doing!?【Assassination Organization Arc】

“(What the hell am I doing!?)”

I couldn’t help but scream inwardly.

Somehow, I found myself in a back alley, and standing before me were some imposing men.

How should I put it?

They weren’t the usual roughnecks—they exuded a dangerously unhinged vibe.

In other words, they were the sort of people I’d rather not even meet eyes with.

And yet, I boldly glared back at them.

I would never normally do something like that, but there was a reason behind me.

A terrified child.

Yes, these guys had dragged a child into the alley and were intimidating her.

And then there were the surrounding adults who turned a blind eye.

“Nah, it’s fine, you know?”

After all, I’d do the same.

The one who got mixed up is at fault—it’s his own doing.

But the problem is that others are watching.

Having only recently become a feudal lord and not yet fully established, I wondered what would happen if I let this slide.

They could conveniently ignore their own misdeeds and spread a terrible rumor like “That feudal lord abandoned a child.”

That is something I absolutely must avoid.

After all, my purpose is to live comfortably off the tax money of my subjects without having to work.

“Hey, hey, what the hell are you?”

“Did someone call you? A friend?”

“I don’t know. Why is some nosy bastard sticking his nose in? Huh? What?”

“(I’m scared, man!)”

The fact that he didn’t yell made it even more terrifying.

Your pupils are dilated, you know?

Perhaps you’d be better off getting your eyes gouged out and fixed.

Meanwhile, I’ll make my escape.

I mean, seriously, what are you…?

I’m the feudal lord.

I live in a world entirely separate from you commoners; I am a noble.

Bow down.

“I just overheard some conversation that wasn’t very peaceful.”

“Ah, yeah, exactly. Things aren’t calm at all. Look—my shoes got dirty.”

“You’d better take proper responsibility for that, huh.”

It seems the child stepped on the man’s shoes.

In this case, the child’s to blame.

Now, say you’re sorry. “I’m sorry.”

“G-good, you did apologize… But do you really think that alone makes everything okay?”

The child timidly apologizes, but the man’s cheerful smile suddenly turns sinister.

Yikes… These guys are obviously used to this.

I suspect they’ve done something like this many times before.

It scares even me.

A child can’t possibly fight back.

“Come with us, and learn how to apologize properly.”

“(Ugh… they’re such complete idiots… and on top of that, their raw lust is just disgusting.)”

So, it seems their goal is the child herself.

Pedophiles. They make me sick.

Anyone who dares lay a hand on a child destined to support me with tax money deserves death.

I glared with a steely expression.

“Sorry, but I won’t let you take this child in my presence.”

“Ha? I don’t care. I’ll just kill you and then take the kid with me.”

(Do these guys even know who I am?! And their complete lack of hesitation is scary!)

My burning fighting spirit was extinguished in an instant.

What the hell are these guys?!

I’m the feudal lord, you know?

If you even try to lay a hand on me, you’ll be executed.

Normally, you wouldn’t do something like that.

With any semblance of a normal mind, you wouldn’t act so foolishly.

But idiots lack that kind of brain.

Their thoughts revolve solely around satisfying their own pleasures and desires.

That’s why, without a second thought, they might inflict harm upon me…

Alright, time for a strategic retreat.

Although this child is meant to be the foundation of my future, when weighed against me, the scales obviously tip in my favor.

Farewell.

“O-onii-chan…”

(Uh, could you let go for a minute? Honestly, I’m already regretting coming to help. I want to run, but if you keep grabbing my pants, I won’t be able to escape. Besides, if I can’t move, you’ll just beat me up…)

Maybe because the child is terrified, she grabs the hem of my pants with all her might.

With that, there’s no way for me to escape.

If I try to move, I’ll likely fall along with her, and trying to forcibly pull her away is out of the question with the onlookers watching.

And besides, they’re not just watching—they should come to help!

What the hell are you all! I’m gonna jack up your tax rate!

“Cool. Just die looking cool. Later.”

(Nuwaaaaaa!!)

Without any hesitation, a man thrust out a small knife.

There was neither hesitation nor any preamble.

Suddenly, with pinpoint precision, my life was targeted, and I silently screamed inwardly.

I kept it hidden; showing it would be too uncool.

Thinking such things on my deathbed…

“Oh?”

Gakin!

The man also looked wide-eyed, and I was even more shocked.

The blade never reached me, as someone swatted it away.

It wasn’t Ashvin or Nanashi.

It was a woman I’d never seen before.

“What the hell are you doing?”

She stared at me with a look of utter exasperation.