LIGHTNOVELWORLD Episode 4: Unveiling Identities
Episode 4: Unveiling Identities
Despite being scolded by Lamdo multiple times for walking slowly, I continued through the slums, rejecting any unreasonable demands and arrived in front of a relatively large three-story building. It seemed to be the secret headquarters of the underworld organization Lamdo belonged to.
“Lamdo-san, welcome back!”
“Has Gad returned?”
“No, he hasn’t.”
“Tch, did that idiot get lost in an unfamiliar place? Hey, bring back the guys who were searching for the target kid. Then send some people who know the area to find Gad. He’ll probably come back on his own eventually, but this is a crucial time. We need to minimize the risk of losing our fighting power as much as possible.”
“Yes, I’ll call them back immediately!”
Lamdo gave instructions to the two men standing in front of the door, and one of them hurriedly entered the building. Shortly after, he came out with a few men and disappeared into the slums, running.
“(I had a feeling he holds a decent position, but judging from the situation, he seems to have quite a high rank within this organization or even in this town’s branch.)”
From Lamdo’s direct involvement and his conversation with the lookout earlier, it was clear that the kidnapping was connected to what Lamdo referred to as a crucial time.
I’m curious about what this crucial time means, but speculating about it now would only be a way to waste time.
As I turned my attention from Lamdo and his group towards the headquarters, I noticed that there were no windows on the ground floor. Even if I managed to enter and escape using the same tactic as before, taking advantage of a momentary opening, I would inevitably be caught by the guards at the entrance.
… Besides, my legs are trembling with fatigue to the point where they feel like newborn fawns. I won’t be able to escape.
I was pulled along by the rope as I passed through the door. The interior of the building had a simple design with boarded corridors lined with doors.
At the end of the corridor to the right, there was a corner, and it seemed that there were stairs over there.
Lamdo called out to a man who was approaching from that right end.
“Just in time, Rook. Throw this kid into the same room as that young lady.”
“Are you going to use him as a show…? Besides, this kid has a pretty face.”
“Don’t lay a hand on him, he’s also merchandise. Put him on the carriage bound for Deel in two days. If the person who is in the same room doesn’t return, even a sheltered young lady will understand her position.”
“I see, understood. I’ll bring him in.”
“(Deel? I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere before…)”
“Ah!”
“Well then, I hope you’ll be bought by a good owner,” Lamdo said cheerfully as he disappeared down the corridor to the right.
“Tch, I was planning to go to my regular bar and drink until morning. He just had to give me more unnecessary work. Hey, you! Come here!”
Whether it was because he disliked being late for his regular bar or not, as soon as Lamdo was gone, Rook clicked his tongue and started berating me while pulling on the rope.
Suppressing the urge to let out a voice that almost leaked, I followed behind Rook as he walked down the right corridor.
The corridor was deserted, and I didn’t encounter anyone. Most likely, they were either out or on the second floor, just like Lamdo.
At the end of the corridor, there was indeed a staircase, but Rook didn’t climb the stairs. Instead, he continued down the hallway next to it and stopped in front of a dead end, squatting down to do something.
Wondering what he was doing, I looked closer and saw a door with a handle on the floor, with a partially used candle on a candlestick next to it. Rook seemed to be unlocking the door.
“(The basement… Escape from this building is becoming even more hopeless. In that case, the only chance would be during the transportation to Deel in two days.)”
As Rook lifted the door, as expected, a staircase leading down to the basement was revealed. It was a typical stone staircase, exuding a sinister atmosphere.
At the bottom of the stairs, there was a slightly spacious area with a door equipped with a latch.
“Hurry up and go in!”
“Ouch!”
After removing the latch and opening the door, Rook kicked my back as I walked to the front of the door, pushing me into the room.
My hands were still bound, and caught off guard, I couldn’t react and fell face-first to the ground.
When I looked back, the door was almost closed, and as it shut completely, the faint light that seeped through disappeared, leaving the room in complete darkness without a source of light.
While still pondering how to free my bound hands, lying on the ground, I heard a voice coming from the depths of the darkness, sounding like a rolling bell.
“So, you’ve been caught too? What’s your name?”
Instinctively, I turned my face towards the direction of the voice, squinting my eyes, but there was nothing visible, only the darkness stretching out.
“(Come to think of it, they mentioned being put in the same room as the young lady. Is she the daughter of a prominent trading company or something? No, there’s also the possibility of her being a noble’s daughter.)”
“…I’m called Rios… for now.”
As I recalled Lamdo’s words and agreed, I introduced myself, but I almost slipped into informal speech.
It had been so long since I used polite language that it didn’t come to me immediately, so I had to be careful in my conversation with her.
Or rather, it’s quite composed of her to casually ask for my name in this situation of abduction and confinement. This young lady seems to have a strong will.
“Rios, huh? That’s a good name. I’m called Alshade.”
“…Alshade?”
Again, just like when the name of the town Deel came up, there was a discomfort, as if a small bone was stuck in my throat.
It was a frustrating feeling, where I seemed to be on the verge of remembering something but couldn’t recall it.
“Alshade might be a bit long and difficult to call… Alche… By the way… Alright, let’s go with that. Feel free to call me Ojou-sama.”
“Ah, ah, I understand… No, I got it.”
While I was pondering, Alshade casually suggested using the nickname “Ojou” (young lady), and I was swept away by it and reflexively nodded.
Contrary to my expectations, Alshade was quite friendly, so I unintentionally forgot to use honorific language, feeling an indescribable awkwardness.
“If you’re not used to it, you don’t have to force yourself to use honorific language. In public settings, it’s a different story, but in private, I don’t mind that kind of thing,” Alshade said.
“Is that so? Then… Wait, hold on. Public settings?”
As I was given permission so easily, I was about to answer in a casual manner, going with the flow. However, I stopped midway in my words. With the mention of public settings, I became certain that Alshade was a noble’s daughter.
Well, even if she’s a noble’s daughter, considering the fact that we’re both captured and she herself has given permission, I can’t just casually think that it’s okay not to use honorific language.
Being a noble’s daughter, there is no doubt that Alshade’s family members are definitely searching for her. On top of that, it’s a good thing that there is a possibility of being saved.
However, if by any chance the people who come to rescue us overhear us speaking informally, it could be disastrous. At worst, it could lead to charges of disrespect and an immediate separation of head and body.
To think that someone would risk their life just to speak informally, that would be the behavior of a madman or an eccentric. In any case, refusing is the only option here.
“Huh? I thought you had noticed, but… My name is Alshade Baltzfeld, the daughter of the lord who rules over this entire city.”
“Alshade Baltzfeld…!”
I know that name.
A sense of achievement, similar to the feeling of a small bone being dislodged from my throat, washes over me. At the same time, I am filled with extreme confusion.
Because Alshade Baltzfeld is a character from the game “The Chronicles of Wildia” which means that this world I was reincarnated into is a game world where the fate is determined by the scenario.
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[T/L: ….took him 11 years of his life to realise he in a fkng game….😶🌫️ dumb dumb mc]
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