It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 54
Instantly, a certain Dantère Ortatum came to mind.
But unlike that man—who had probably lost count of the women he had been with—Lionel didn’t seem like the type to indulge in casual flings.
…Had he ever had a lover before? Or even a brief, meaningless one night stand?
Curiosity gnawed at me.
But I couldn’t ask.
Why was I even fixating on something so pointless? Dwelling on past relationships was never a good thing.
“We’ll be switching carriages soon.”
Lionel’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I followed his gaze out the window.
“Oh…!”
We had reached the outskirts, a secluded clearing.
Just in time—before I did something reckless.
We swiftly transferred to a plain, black carriage already waiting for us.
Though it appeared to be a standard rental used in the capital, it was reinforced with magic, just like Lionel’s personal carriage. Supposedly, it wouldn’t even shatter if it fell off a cliff.
…Hopefully, that applied to the people inside as well.
While I was a little curious, I didn’t feel like testing it.
Donning a traveler’s robe, I pulled the hood over my head.
At this level, no one would pay us any attention—or so I thought. But when I turned to look at Lionel, his sheer size made him stand out regardless. That commanding presence of his was something that simply couldn’t be hidden.
The knight, disguised as a coachman, handled the reins with practiced ease. He must have done this many times before.
As we moved farther from the city center, the elegant avenues and stately mansions I had seen while out with Vivian gradually disappeared. In their place, worn-down buildings and twisting alleys unfolded before us.
At some point, the streets became too narrow for the carriage to continue. We had no choice but to get off and walk.
“Are you sure this is the right way?”
The knight drove off without hesitation, leaving just me and Lionel in this eerie alleyway.
Secret organizations in novels were always hidden in back alleys like this.
Sure, I had read about it before. But actually setting foot in such a place? That was an entirely different matter.
It was broad daylight, yet it felt inexplicably dark. Even the air carried an unsettling stench.
“Did you at least bring a weapon?”
I whispered, and Lionel gave me a puzzled look.
“A weapon? Why?”
“Because places like this always have thugs picking fights.”
“Is that so?”
I couldn’t see a sword or any kind of weapon on him, but I had to believe he had something hidden.
“You can fight well, right?”
“Well, I manage.”
Considering he waged territorial battles like a war-crazed man, his skills should be beyond doubt.
I knew that. So why did I still feel so uneasy?
And unfortunately—my bad feeling was right.
Just as the alleyway became narrow enough that even walking side by side with Lionel felt cramped, a group of three or four men blocked our path.
“This isn’t a road just anyone can stroll through. If you want to pass, you gotta pay the toll.”
Their scarred faces twisted into grins, snickering like they found the whole situation amusing—textbook back-alley thugs.
“A toll, huh….”
Lionel took a step forward, completely unfazed.
He slipped a hand into his robe. A hidden dagger, maybe—
“How much?”
The men exchanged confused glances as Lionel, a looming mass of muscle and authority, strode toward them.
“…What?”
“You said there’s a toll.”
“…One silver per person.”
Lionel withdrew his hand from his robe. In his palm were two silver coins, which he casually handed over. The thugs hesitated for a moment before snatching them up. Then, without another word, they pressed themselves against the walls, clearing the path for us to pass.
“If something can be solved with money, it’s best to solve it with money. It’s far simpler and cleaner that way,” Lionel explained matter-of-factly.
“…I-I see.”
It seemed novels were novels, and reality was reality.
