‘What is happening?’
Jake, who until just moments ago had been trapped in the dark and cold underground dungeon, escaped from the prison while being carried like luggage in Klad’s arms.
Following the passage in the lower floor where Klad had been staying, before he knew it they were outside the Duke’s castle.
Only after being set down on the ground once they were outside did Jake realize how bewildering all of this was.
‘To think there was a passage to sneak into the castle. Does Father know about this?’
The Duke probably didn’t know.
Even if the passage’s destination was just an empty, dark underground space with nothing in it, he wasn’t the type to leave such a thing alone.
“Klad, what on earth is going— wait, let’s go together.”
Jake, who had been staring blankly at the sky, discovered Klad walking away without a word and hurriedly followed after him.
“Huff, Kla, d, wai— wait,”
Jake couldn’t run more than a few steps before collapsing to the ground.
His stamina had always been rock bottom, but not to the point of collapsing after running for just a few minutes. It seemed the time he had been imprisoned in the dungeon had been too long.
“Gasp, huff….”
“Tch.”
He heard Klad clicking his tongue above his head, but all Jake could do was lower his head deeply and gasp for breath.
At least he didn’t leave me behind and waited. What a relief.
“Klad, my heart… hurts.”
“Get up.”
“I can’t feel any strength in my legs.”
“This is driving me crazy.”
Klad, who had gone far ahead, strode back and grabbed Jake’s arm to pull him up.
“It hurts. That hurts, Klad.”
“I have no intention of carrying you, so be satisfied with being helped up and walk.”
“Now my arm hurts so much that I can’t feel the pain in my legs anymore. I can manage to walk.”
Jake rubbed the arm Klad had grabbed just moments ago as he started walking.
With the underground collapsing and making such a loud noise, by now the fact that he had escaped must have reached the Duke’s ears. So the best thing to do was to get away from here as quickly as possible.
“I’m sorry, Klad.”
Jake, who had been walking well, suddenly offered an apology.
Klad didn’t respond.
“Actually, I only asked you to bring the oath document to test your resolve, I never intended to actually use it. It would have become useless anyway once I was executed.”
Ah, that nonsense again.
He apologized out of nowhere so Klad thought he was apologizing for being born with West blood. Anyone listening would think he truly believed he was going to be executed.
‘How annoying.’
Klad frowned and quickened his pace. He could hear Jake panting and struggling to follow.
“I’m sorry for trying to deceive you. I’ll pay any price for that.”
“Forget it.”
“Do you intend to leave me in your debt? Between repaying you for granting my request and for helping me escape, I already owe you much.”
“As repayment for the escape, shut up until we arrive.”
“If that’s what you wish, fine.”
“…….”
“…….”
A long silence followed.
Throughout the walk, Jake constantly looked around and surveyed their surroundings, but he didn’t ask a single question about where they were going or what was there.
“One room. A room in the corner if possible.”
After passing through the empty night streets where no one was around, they arrived at an old inn on the outskirts of the capital. Klad, seemingly accustomed to staying at such run-down inns, held out a silver coin without even asking the lodging fee.
Having arrived at the inn, Jake, now released from the silence agreement, boldly interjected.
“Give us a room with good soundproofing.”
The gruff innkeeper who had been receiving the silver coin glanced at Jake. Jake quickly hid behind Klad’s back.
He had barely escaped, so it would be troublesome if someone recognized him. For now, it was better to leave everything to Klad.
“Will you be staying just one night?”
“For now, yes. Only one portion of breakfast, and we don’t need hot water.”
In this cold winter and he doesn’t need hot water—was Klad’s body made of iron? Jake abandoned his earlier resolve and quickly interjected.
“I need hot water.”
“What? Do you need it or not?”
“He says he needs it.”
Tap— When Klad added another coin, the innkeeper held out a rusting key.
“Second floor.”
Klad took the key without a reply and headed to the second floor.
“Let’s go together, Klad.”
“Klad, Klad. Why don’t you just plaster my name all over the world?”
“Does it bother you that I call your name?”
Of course it bothered him.
Jake called Klad’s name as if they were friends of a hundred years. But Klad wasn’t fooled by that friendly tone. He knew it was a habit common to all members of the West family.
Beneath that friendly tone lay an underlying confidence that they were superior to whoever they were speaking to. This was the speaking manner of former Dukes West who had long said things meaning ‘Be grateful that someone as great as me acknowledges you and follow my words,’ which had hardened into a family habit through generations.
An unpleasant speech habit.
Of course, not everyone with the West surname would call others’ names with the same intention. But since he didn’t know Jake’s intentions, the habit wasn’t particularly welcome.
“Why did you ask for a soundproofed room?”
“That’s to prevent today’s conversation from leaking outside. Didn’t you request a corner room for the same reason?”
“I’m sure the owner here thought exactly that.”
“Are you saying he might find me suspicious? That would be a problem. Should we flee somewhere else right now?”
“No need for that.”
Creak, squeak—
Klad quickly walked up the creaking stairs and entered the room first.
“Let’s go together, Klad.”
Jake hurriedly chased after him.
The inn room had nothing but an old bed just big enough for two people to lie down and a single-person sofa, and it was very small. Jake looked around the room and approached Klad, who was sitting on the sofa.
“I couldn’t wash properly while I was imprisoned, so I really wanted to bathe. I’ll definitely repay the costs incurred today, so how about you calm down?”
“Do I look angry because I’m worried about a few coins?”
“I don’t think so, but I’ve never seen you smile.”
“Huh.”
Bang bang bang!
“Water’s here.”
Thanks to the hot water being ready just in time, there was no need to continue the tiresome conversation.
Klad waved his hand at Jake.
“Go wash up.”
Instead of going to wash right away, Jake stood there blankly.
“I’m not going anywhere, so go wash.”
“Where should I go to wash? Is there no bathroom in this room?”
Wondering why he was standing there like that—he had assumed there would be a separate space to wash in the room.
Well, of course. When would His Lordship the Hero with the West surname have ever stayed in such a run-down inn?
He was annoying from start to finish.
“Go out and ask the innkeeper.”
When Jake went out the door as Klad said, the gruff-faced innkeeper was waiting.
“Where should I go to wash?”
“Follow me.”
The innkeeper guided Jake to the bathroom on the first floor.
This was the first time he had washed with hot water all winter. The bathroom was cramped and the amount of water was small, but Jake was satisfied with everything.
Since it had been so long since he had a proper bath, Jake spent more time in the water than usual. He had never hummed while bathing before, but he felt like he could do so now. Of course, he didn’t actually do it.
‘That was a very satisfying bath.’
After finishing his bath, Jake dried his body with the thin, rough towel and left the bathroom. Outside the bathroom, the innkeeper was cleaning. He looked over the refreshed Jake and spoke in the same gruff voice.
“The room next door is empty so a bit of noise is fine, but still, go easy on the fun.”
“Fun? We’re working.”
“Ah. Work.”
The innkeeper still had a sullen face as he looked Jake up and down.
‘Could it be… he recognized my face?’
It wouldn’t be strange if an imperial citizen living in the capital recognized his face, considering they had even held a grand Hero appointment ceremony. This was bad. This time he didn’t even have Klad to use as a shield in front of him.
Jake lowered his head deeply and quickly ran up to the second floor.
“Klad.”
His legs were trembling even though he had only run up a few stairs.
“Trouble, haah… there’s trouble, Klad. The innkeeper seems to have figured out my identity. We need to move somewhere else right now…….”
Jake, who had been catching his breath, froze in place.
The room was completely empty.
“Klad?”
In this small space, there was nowhere for Klad to hide.
Then could it be….
‘A trap?’
He may have deliberately brought him here.
Was the innkeeper in on it too?
If so, then why? On whose orders?
Creak—
“Gasp!”
Jake barely held back the breath that was about to burst out. Beyond the tightly closed door, he could hear the sound of someone stepping on old wooden floorboards.
There was someone outside the door.
