Chapter 64
“Miss, Miss.”
Peeking around the corner with just my eyes, I kept scanning the surroundings when Lady Rachel called out to me impatiently.
I turned to her with an expression that clearly said, Why do you keep calling me when I’m so busy?
“Miss, if we get caught doing this, it won’t just end with us getting fired.”
Lady Rachel spoke seriously, her eyes nervously darting around.
Seeing her more anxious than before, I recalled the arduous journey that brought us here.
First attempt: running away. Second attempt: collapsing on the floor in protest. Third attempt: pleading with tears. Fourth attempt: hoisting Lady Rachel onto my back and running.
In the end, it was the final method that succeeded—I managed to catch up with the guards who had dragged the man away.
Lady Rachel seemed genuinely shocked that someone smaller and physically weaker than her could lift her so easily.
She had always known I was stronger than I looked, but seeing it affect herself directly seemed to startle her all over again.
And just as that shock began to fade, she started worrying about the current situation and her job.
“It’s fine, Lady Rachel. I’ll handle everything. Don’t worry. These days, Michael Christener can’t touch me at all.”
I deliberately name-dropped her employer, pretending to boast.
Of course, Lady Rachel didn’t seem to trust me at all, but I stood firm, confidently telling her to just trust me.
She glanced around nervously, half-listening to my words. Then, squinting in one direction, she glared intently.
Noticing something odd, I asked her why, and she cautiously stepped closer and said,
“I feel like someone keeps watching us.”
We were standing in an alley on the outskirts of the capital.
It was a route leading to the Fourth District and close to the slums, so the area wasn’t particularly safe.
However, no matter where I looked in the direction Lady Rachel was staring, I couldn’t see a single person—or even an ant.
Assuming she was just being overly cautious because she worried about me, I returned my gaze forward.
Two remaining guards could be seen dragging the man into the Fourth District. Once I confirmed that, I plopped down on the ground.
“Miss?”
Startled, Lady Rachel turned to me, and I rolled across the dirt like a battered shrimp in a frying coat, smearing myself thoroughly.
“Miss! What are you doing?”
Lady Rachel, shocked that her charge had seemingly gone mad, tried to grab me.
I dodged her hands, scooping up dirt and rubbing it all over my face as if washing it. Only after she froze in disbelief did I rise with a satisfied expression.
Without a mirror, I checked my appearance with my eyes. Even at a glance, my ragged, filthy look seemed perfectly achieved.
“Lady Rachel, how do I look? Do I look like someone from the Fourth District now?”
“If that was the goal, I don’t think you needed to go this far.”
Faced with her look of utter disbelief, I realized I only needed to look like a local, not go to such extremes.
Seeing how messy I was, Lady Rachel took out her handkerchief and carefully wiped the dirt from my nose and forehead. Touched by her kindness, I took the handkerchiefs I’d bought earlier, tied them around my head to cover my mouth and nose, using them as a makeshift mask.
“You’re not actually planning to go to that man, are you?”
Lady Rachel’s voice carried a desperate hope that the answer would be no.
“Yes, I am!”
I shattered her expectations with a hearty affirmation.
“It’s dangerous, so you stay here, Lady Rachel. Got it? If anything happens, I’ll handle it. You saw how strong I am, right?”
I kept my eyes forward, ready to make a move, and spoke to her with confidence.
“I’m coming too.”
Startled by the unexpected words, I turned to see Lady Rachel tying her own handkerchief around her head in the same makeshift mask style.
She had disheveled her neatly tied hair and tied her turned-back top around her waist—a careful touch that made her look more like a street mercenary than a proper knight.
“Are you really going too, Lady Rachel?”
“Yes. Since you’re doing whatever you want, I’ll do the same.”
“If you were a man, I think you’d be confessing right now.”
“….”
Ignoring my comment, Lady Rachel cautiously scanned the direction I had been looking at.
Pressing close to the wall, she spoke calmly.
“Now would be a good time to go in.”
“Good. Let’s move!”
Taking advantage of the temporarily quiet surroundings, Lady Rachel and I slipped naturally into the Fourth District.
Even inside, the streets were quiet and almost empty, giving off a desolate vibe.
The few passersby didn’t glance at our shabby appearance.
We tried to blend in, walking without looking around too much, when we spotted the woman from the square walking toward us.
She passed by quickly without paying much attention, and Lady Rachel and I exchanged a glance before following her direction.
“What the hell’s going on? Why are red rats showing up even outside the exclusion zones?”
A harsh voice made me instinctively look toward it.
Not far off, two men stood guarding a small shack. They were clearly the same guards who had dragged the man away earlier.
“Weren’t there two kids from the exclusion zone that snuck into the capital last time? Maybe they got caught nearby then?”
“That was ages ago. Doesn’t seem related.”
“Could it be some kind of incubation period? I heard some crazy woman protected the kids back then.”
“The young lady of the Christener family, right? But she was fine, apparently.”
“Ugh, so annoying. I hope this doesn’t give the higher-ups another reason to hassle us.”
“I don’t know. Keep an eye out to make sure they don’t show up outside.”
“Of all times, why does this happen while we’re here? Won’t we catch it too?”
“Hey, you covered that guy’s face with a cloth earlier. Don’t come near me.”
“What, you bastard? Come here. Even if I leave, I’ll pass it on to you.”
“Argh, go away!”
Completely oblivious, the two guards continued talking as we approached.
I couldn’t help laughing at how completely unbothered they were, even after being scolded by their superior.
Apparently, even lower-level officials knew about me—my name had gained a certain reputation.
Since blending in as locals was easier than expected, dealing with these clueless guards didn’t seem particularly difficult.
Adjusting my hood, I brightened at the idea, then confidently strode toward the men.
“Excuse me.”
“W-what!”
The guards were so distracted talking among themselves that they hadn’t noticed me coming and stumbled back in surprise.
What idiots. Even as low-level capital guards, they looked laughably incompetent.
Seeing their ineptitude gave me confidence.
“We’re inspectors sent here on orders. We were told to check on the people inside this house.”
“…Inspectors?”
Suspicious looks immediately followed.
I winced inwardly—maybe I should’ve dressed more neatly. But now was the time to act boldly.
Feigning annoyance, I said,
“Yes, you haven’t received the orders yet. We’re here under direct instructions from the higher-ups.”
My act seemed convincing; the two guards exchanged surprised looks, unsure whether to believe me.
“They’ll open the door for you.”
They even kindly pointed the way.
‘These idiots really are clueless.’
Grateful for their stupidity, I quickly stepped forward.
Placing my hand on the door handle of the old shack, I turned to Lady Rachel, who followed as expected, and lowered my voice.
“Lady Rachel, wait here. I’ll call out if anything happens.”
“…Can’t we just go back now?”
Ignoring her, I turned the handle and entered.
