Episode 40
“Worse Than Beasts”
“How did you know?”
Reina asked, surprised that they found the secret passage so quickly. Kalheil answered for them.
“There are scuff marks under the door.”
‘So that’s why Kalheil kept staring at that spot. He already knew.’
Reina looked where Kalheil was pointing. There were faint marks on the floor where the door had opened and closed. The wall had pretty tiles around it, probably to hide the doorway.
“The switch to open it should be that lamp next to the picture frame,” Kalheil said, pointing with his chin.
Reina walked over to the lamp, confused.
“You know where the door and the switch are… so why haven’t we gone in yet?”
“Because usually, in places like this…”
Before Kalheil could finish, Reina pulled the lamp.
“No, my lady!! Don’t just pull that—!”
Bayen shouted, but it was too late. Kalheil quickly pulled Reina into his arms to protect her.
Everyone froze, waiting for something bad to happen.
But… nothing did.
Reina blinked in confusion, still in Kalheil’s arms.
“Uh… so… what just happened?”
Kalheil looked down at her. This small woman in his arms was staring up at him in confusion.
“…I was going to say there’s usually a trap in places like this.”
But surprisingly, nothing happened.
“Ha… ahem!”
Bayen coughed awkwardly and signaled at Kalheil and Reina.
‘What’s he doing?’ Reina wondered. Bayen pointed toward the guards, who were awkwardly looking away.
Bayen spoke louder.
“Even if you two are engaged, hugging in such a bright place is a bit…”
‘Ah… that’s why everyone’s acting strange.’
Kalheil quickly let go of Reina. Things felt awkward all of a sudden.
Bayen tried to change the mood.
“What are you all waiting for?! Start searching! This isn’t a show!”
“Yes, yes, of course! We’ll search right away!”
The guards, led by Randerson, started entering the hidden passage. Kalheil stayed behind to explain.
“…Usually, magic protects places like this. Only people with permission can enter. If someone tries to open it without permission, a trap gets triggered.”
“But the door opened just fine when I pulled the lamp,” Reina said.
Kalheil didn’t respond. He studied the lamp carefully, then noticed something.
“…Maybe it wasn’t a normal trap.”
There were burn marks where a magic symbol had once been. Kalheil glanced at Reina.
“Lady Reina… your power is really just healing, right…?”
But before he could ask more, Reina quickly waved her hands, warning him not to say anything in front of others.
“…I’ll ask you later.”
She sighed in relief and pointed past the wall.
“Anyway, the door is open. Let’s go see what’s inside.”
The large picture frame slid aside, revealing a dark tunnel. Most of the guards had already gone in.
“You’ll go in no matter what I say, won’t you?” Kalheil asked.
Reina nodded firmly.
“…Stay behind me. Watch your step.”
Kalheil gave a signal to Bayen, who led the remaining soldiers into the tunnel. Reina and Kalheil followed.
Inside, it was darker and deeper than they expected. Reina carefully followed the guards, using the torchlight to guide her steps.
After going down for a while, they heard quiet voices ahead.
Bayen told the soldiers to be silent, then looked at Kalheil, asking what to do.
Kalheil thought for a moment, then pushed past the soldiers to move forward. Reina followed silently.
‘Maybe he’s finally realized there’s no stopping me.’
They reached a door where light leaked out from inside. Kalheil pressed his ear against the door, so Reina did the same. Now, they could hear the voices better.
“…Why did you bring them here?”
“What else could I do? People were blocking the path, and someone even tripped me. I couldn’t escape.”
It was the man with the goatee. Just as they suspected, he had come this way.
Reina pointed at the door, signaling that the goatee guy was inside. Kalheil nodded and told her to stay quiet.
Another voice scolded the goatee man.
“If this place gets discovered—!”
“Don’t worry, Marquis Vardian. This space was specially made by Lord Iclos. No one can enter without permission.”
‘Marquis Vardian? Iclos? Amy said the gambling den owner was Marquis Vardian…’
That meant the goatee man and Vardian were working together, meeting in secret through hidden tunnels.
Kalheil’s face looked serious in the dim light.
“…Still, if people find out about this door, we’re done. We must close the entrance to the gambling den. If word gets out, both of us are finished.”
Vardian’s footsteps grew louder—they were headed their way.
Kalheil quickly signaled Bayen, who motioned the guards into position.
Creeaak…
The rusty door opened slowly. As Vardian stepped outside and turned toward the stairs, Kalheil moved fast and tackled him.
“Shh… Don’t move, Marquis Vardian.”
As Kalheil grabbed Vardian, Bayen and the soldiers stormed into the room. Clearly, the goatee man wasn’t alone—sounds of weapons clashing echoed inside.
Vardian’s eyes rolled in panic.
“Mmff! Mmff!”
Kalheil removed his hand from Vardian’s mouth. Vardian spoke with confidence.
“I’ll pay you. I don’t know who you are or how you got in, but if you just walk away this time, I’ll give you and your men a huge amount of money.”
“Money?”
He couldn’t see Kalheil’s face in the dark, but Reina could see him smiling.
“Sounds like you’ve made a lot, if you think you can buy me.”
“You can’t even imagine how much! You and your descendants will never need to work again!”
“Unimaginable wealth, huh?” Kalheil chuckled.
“You must’ve stolen a lot, then.”
“N-No! That’s not what I meant—!”
Kalheil stepped into the light. Vardian saw his face—and turned pale.
“Y-Your Highness?!”
Vardian trembled in fear.
“…So you finally realized who I am.”
“W-Why are you here, Your Grace?!”
“By order of His Majesty, the Emperor.”
“The Emperor?! H-He sent you?!”
“There were reports that children of gamblers kept disappearing. His Majesty cares deeply about the people.”
“……!!”
“If you were going to take children as payment for gambling debts, you should’ve been more careful. Dozens of kids—did you really think no one would notice?”
‘Taking children… as payment for debt?’
“…Did you just say… they took children to pay gambling debts?!”
Reina couldn’t stay quiet anymore. Kalheil glanced at her and nodded.
“This has been going on for a long time. They used to randomly kidnap kids. But after a population survey, they got smarter and opened a gambling den.”
Reina gasped in horror.
“So… they created a gambling den just to find children to kidnap?!”
“They hired scammers like the goatee man to make people lose their money. Then they’d offer to buy their children instead.”
This must be the dark rumor Amy had mentioned. Reina was about to shout, but a loud noise came from inside.
CLANG CLANG CLANG!
The soldiers broke down a locked door. Inside were children, lying unconscious. These were the kids taken for gambling debts.
“…They’re worse than beasts!”
Reina shouted angrily. She looked at Vardian’s plump fingers—each one wore a huge, sparkling ring. Disgust filled her.
“Did you get all that wealth by scamming people and selling children?”
“N-No! I mean—!”
“Then what?!”
Vardian shut his mouth. Kalheil narrowed his eyes.
“…So there’s someone behind you.”
