Chapter 64

October 3rd. Around 1 p.m., Bastitera Castle.
“Hmph, hmph. Hmph.”
A hum drifted through the gardens of the star palace called the Crystal Palace. A slender Pecatum-no, Castus-woman in a gazebo swung her legs back and forth.
Far from a dignified lady. The dark-skinned Tabeth woman sighed softly. She had gotten used to being a squire once upon a time, but in many ways she was still her master.
It shows every emotion, whether melancholy or joyful. It was her master’s fatal flaw. In humans, it might have been an advantage… but in her position, it was hard to look at it positively.
But it’s also refreshing to be bitter, and it’s hard to change someone with a few words, so it’s better for my mental health to move on.
“Ainoa, you seem to be in a good mood today.”
“Really? Isn’t that basically what it feels like?”
“Yes, but you look even more excited.”
“See?”
Silver hair fell out as his head turned. A paler color than the grayish-white of a typical Castus. On the other hand, the irises were blue.
Though they had known each other for many years, every time the squire saw his master’s face from the front, he was awed. Even in a crowd of a thousand, you’ll be easy to find.
It was a striking appearance.
“Are you that excited for your anniversary?”
“Not quite… not quite… not quite….”
Ainoa twisted her fingers in my hair. But after a moment’s struggle, she broke into a wide grin.
“Well, this year is special.”
One week from now.
Ainoa turns 18 on her birthday. It’s a milestone in her life that she’ll never forget, even if it doesn’t change the way she’s treated by the law.
“It’s a special day, I’m dressed up specially, and I’m being celebrated by more people than I can count, and I don’t know how many times I’ll get to do that before I die.”
“How did you feel about being greeted?”
“It’s okay for that day, I’m happy to be empty.”
The squire nodded, calmly imagining.
“Well, yeah, I guess I wouldn’t mind, because I think I’m such a great person that people should at least say congratulations, even if they’re empty words.”
“I didn’t mean anything sinister like that…?”
“Conspiratorial. I think it’s a natural desire.”
Ainoa’s mouth curled up in a sour line at the imposing demeanor. The squire, Sessa, had a habit of saying strange things like this. Perhaps it was the result of a rough childhood.
That was a long time ago. Today, Sessa leads a life of unspoiled luxury. As Ainoa’s longtime friend and trusted bodyguard.
“By the way, how’s the prep going?”
“Ready… Sorry. Was there something?”
“Going out. It’s Monday of the second week.”
Ainoa used to leave the castle once a month. As the word “sneak” implies, he doesn’t go through any formalities. He could get permission, but that would be an inspection.
An entourage would be forced to follow. That’s not what Ainoa wanted at all; she wanted to spend her time much more freely, normally, and simply.
It was a common royal aberration.
“…You’re going to go out again this month, with your bat mitzvah right around the corner?”
“That’s that, and this is this.”
Sessa wrinkled her brow at the obvious request, but in this hobby, Ainoa was terribly stoic. At least it didn’t cause any social outrage.
Around 3pm, near the royal castle of Bastitera.
“I think about it all the time, Sessa is so talented.”
“Although it’s going in a weird direction.”
“Weird, that’s perfect for my market.”
Escape from a castle isn’t as easy as it sounds in romance novels. Sneaking over walls, finding an opening that no one knows about… it’s not that simple.
Sessa worked tirelessly to get her master off the hook. He learned the guards’ shifts and bribed a few of them. He even created a false identity for Ainoa to gain access.
She examined Ainoa’s color. Her wigged hair was much darker than her natural color. The short, simple clothes she wore were also comfortable enough to walk among the common people.
“……It changes somewhat when you touch it, but it’s not perfect. I’m telling you, sister, please stay away from the citizens. And please refrain from talking to them.”
“I’m so, so worried. This has been going on for almost a year, and you haven’t had any problems.”
“Of course, because if something went wrong, my head would be off.”
“Don’t be scary, let’s go!”
Around 4 p.m., downtown Magnu.
Ainoa sat on a bench in the plaza and watched the street. It was something he’d been doing for nearly a year now. The initial novelty had worn off, but she didn’t find it boring.
I felt alive. The city from the castle felt mechanical and artificial, like a model garden with moving tanks.
But for now, it’s this close.
I could see the faces of the citizens one by one, and I realized that they were living their own lives, with their own joys and sorrows, just like me.
“It’s always interesting.
Ainoa crossed her legs and set her jaw. Out of the corner of his eye, Sessa was haggling with a street vendor, spittle flying. It was a far cry from her demeanor at the castle, but it felt so natural.
That she had two lifestyles. It must have been a struggle to adjust, but Sessa never showed it. Ainoa appreciated her quiet effort.
‘Still, isn’t it too much to ask you to keep your mouth shut….’
I needed a new stimulus. As Noah, the castle’s janitor, I thought it would be okay to make a few acquaintances. The question was where and how to make them.
It was then.
“Sister, why are you sitting still?”
“…Are you calling me now?”
“Yeah. It’s noon on a Monday and she’s not working.”
A girl of about 10 years old approached me. This was a first. I hadn’t been approached during my deviations, but before, Sessa had been right there every time.
As I was trying to figure out how to react, she pointed to my left.
“I work over there. Dad makes the bread, mom and I sell it.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s great.”
“Only flies fly these days. It’s a recession.”
According to some of the nobles, the commoners were slimy and had a musty odor, but this was not the case. At least this one was better than the pigs, who smelled like disgusting perfume.
“Dad’s bread is delicious.”
He mumbles to himself and glances over, which I thought was pretty clever. So, he’s here to sell himself on the idea that he has nothing to do.
‘Hmmm. I wonder what to do.’
I glance in Sessa’s direction. They were still chattering about some sort of trouble. Apparently, Ainoa wasn’t the only one who had gotten used to going out.
“Is this going to be okay for a while…?
Chapter will be furious, but she’ll forgive you. In a week, it’s Ainoa’s birthday. A special, 20th birthday. Sessa will bless her more than anyone else.
You’ll be fine. For today.
4:43 PM.
Downtown Magnu, a shopping alley.
“Uh, uh……?”
A rough touch touched Ainoa’s cheek.
Stone crumbs. The floor is closer than usual. Not close, but sticky. The road was so bumpy.
‘Going out’ brought her a variety of firsts.
Eat food of dubious hygiene from street vendors, pet animals that aren’t raised in Wangsheng, smell the fragrance of simple wild flowers, or…….
It was a fresh and enjoyable experience, so I followed her, looking forward to the new stimulation. I figured the biggest price I would pay would be being scolded by Cessa.
It wasn’t.
My head is spinning. His body was paralyzed, unwilling to move. He didn’t even know why he’d fallen, only that his entire back felt hot, like it was on fire.
A horse was heard.
“It’s ……, and the pay is……, right?”
“I…uh…have…it…in…the…back…box.”
Then the sound of footsteps. It’s urgent, like they’re in a hurry to get out of the alley. Soon after, one of the popular pretenders disappeared.
But the other one hasn’t left yet.
The shadows thickened. Ainoa’s blue eyes rolled lazily. A man covered himself in a ragged cloak.
“Nu, who…….”
“I don’t need to know.”
He squatted down on the ground.
Soon there was a stabbing pain. A pointed object lodged in my throat, I realized later. Something smaller than a blade, like a needle. The unpleasant foreign body sensation that followed.
I was drugged. The drugs began to take effect too quickly to recognize. My mind sank lower and lower, deeper and deeper.
Out-of-focus eyes caught the man’s face one last time. It was obscured by a hood, but not so much that it was impossible to see. From the angle I was looking up, I could make out about half of the face.
A troubled look on his face. Funnily enough, that expression bothered Ainoa more than the fact that the man didn’t have horns. She doesn’t know why.
Finally, we listened to the breath.
“……ha.”
It was a sigh of relief.
* * *
I felt a faint sense of awareness.
Each time, Ainoa felt claustrophobic. A cramped space with no light. The tightly bound limbs made escape impossible.
Ding, ding, ding.
He could tell one thing: He was being carried somewhere like a piece of luggage. Every time I swayed, my shoulder or head would bump into something, thud, thud, thud.
I wasn’t terrified to the point of insanity. I can’t say I was relieved, but I was shaken to the core. I lost track of time and fell asleep for a long time, waking up halfway through.
And how many awakenings.
Pods.
Her vision brightened, her eyeballs screaming in pain after being accustomed to darkness. Ainoa stared straight ahead, frowning.
“Oh, you’re awake.”
The man was there.
He wore a jumper emblazoned with unfamiliar symbols. Despite the different attire, Ainoa was no fool. It had to be the same man he’d seen in the alley.
“Da, you replace….”
“You seem to be in good spirits. You haven’t had water in days, and you can still talk. I knew he was going to be okay, but he’s better than I thought.”
I mutter, “Pekatum is Pekatum, after all.
Ainoa stared at the man and then turned her head, her eyes quickly adjusting to the light, allowing her to see her surroundings without difficulty.
A wall with a white and blue color scheme. Smooth metal. It reminded me of an underground warehouse somewhere, but it didn’t seem to be. The furniture, such as the bed and desk, felt lived-in.
“I’ll explain it all at once later. In a nutshell, ugh.”
The man hesitated, then added.
“You’ve been kidnapped.”
The explanation couldn’t have been clearer.
Surviving as a One-Star in a Dead Game-Chapter 65 (of 65)