I Was Hired by the Black-Minded Prince for My Life's Ransom - Chapter 55

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 55. Human and Beast
Gulp.
The Villain swallowed bread he hadn’t even properly chewed down his throat.
The sound was unnaturally loud, but both he and I turned our eyes away as if we hadn’t heard.
Yurian smiled and pointed down the long Corridor stretching ahead.
“The way out should be straight to the right if you keep the Prison wall at your back.”
…….
“Avoid the left. It leads to the Party Venue.”
“The Party Venue….”
“Security there isn’t heavy, so they’ll discover you’re an outsider soon enough.”
The Villain nodded blankly.
His expression gave nothing away.
His grip tightened on the bread in his hand.
Yurian looked down at him quietly for a moment, then rose to his feet.
“They say God grants mankind three chances.”
The light of the Torch cast a long shadow behind him.
I had deliberately swapped it in place of a Candle.
As the flame flickered, the black shadow danced in tandem.
“The first two are mistakes, but from the third onward, it’s willful. If you commit sin again, then you’ll face true punishment.”
…….
“I trust you’ll make the right choice.”
Yurian smiled, closing his eyes beautifully.
The Villain kept his head bowed, nodding repeatedly.
To all appearances, it looked like genuine repentance.
A scene of contrition streaked with tears, as if he would never commit wickedness again.
“I’ll cheer for your new life.”
Yurian offered a gentle farewell and turned to leave at a pace that was neither too slow nor too fast.
“Thank you… truly, thank you….”
I watched the Villain bowing and murmuring for a moment, then followed Yurian half a beat late.
As we turned the corner beyond the Corridor, I saw him leaning quietly against the wall.
His face wore that familiar subtle smile.
I approached his side and asked quietly.
‘Will he really head to the Party Venue?’
[Why? Did he seem genuinely remorseful?]
‘Well… he was crying like that.’
[Vanillin.]
Pfft.
He laughed softly, barely audible.
Then he leaned his face close to my ear as if to whisper.
[Don’t be so naive.]
I felt warm breath brush against my ear.
The ticklish sensation made me shudder and step back to the side.
“……!”
It was like the fine hairs on my skin were standing on end.
He straightened his torso and lifted the corner of his mouth.
[Tears don’t prove sincerity. They’re merely a cheap tool of Transaction.]
‘Transaction…?’
[It’s one of the easiest ways to gain trust.]
‘…….’
Could that really be true?
I couldn’t readily accept it.
He was still crying just a moment ago, begging for forgiveness.
Weeping bitterly, swearing he would never commit wickedness again.
Could all of that have been a lie?
I didn’t want to believe humans could be so wicked.
As if reading my expression, Yurian smiled faintly.
[Watch his actions, not his words.]
Then he tilted his head slightly and pointed down the alley.
[If you watch a little longer, you’ll understand.]
I don’t know where such certainty comes from.
Was it his deep-rooted distrust of people that made him this way?
Or had he simply encountered too many like this before?
Half-hoping he was wrong, I leaned carefully past the wall.
The Villain was still eating the bread.
He must have starved badly in the Prison.
After wolfing down the last bite, he wiped his mouth and slowly rose to his feet.
The gleam in his eyes was much the same as before.
Rabbit-red sclera and tears clinging viscously above them—every detail identical.
……
He brushed the crumbs from his hands.
Then he raised both hands to cover his eyes and stood motionless for a long time.
No words, no movements.
Only his head tilted slightly upward, as though computing something, his breath exhaling steadily.
Watching him, I swallowed without realizing it.
No, surely not.
“Right side is the exit… left side is the Party Venue….”
He muttered in a garbled voice.
“The party of rich men… light security.”
Swish.
He drew his hands away, wiping his eyes as though clearing them, and opened them wide.
“And as it happens, I’ve no money.”
When his eyes reopened, his face was expressionless and parched—as if he’d never wept at all.
The man who had been shedding tears moments before, repenting that he would sin no more, had vanished without a trace.
His shoulders were rigid and straight now, his lips no longer trembling.
The eyes that had glistened with tears had gone dry and hollow.
I stood slack-jawed.
‘I really thought he might.’
He hadn’t repented at all.
[True nature doesn’t change.]
Yurian replied as though it were obvious.
The Villain, unburdened by any regret, pulled a Torch from the wall.
Then he strode forward with long steps.
Not toward the right where the exit lay, but toward the left where the Party Venue stretched ahead.
* * *
Honestly, it was something of a shock.
[Vanillin.]
‘…Yes.’
[Everything is proceeding exactly as planned. Why do you look so glum?]
‘My apologies….’
Pad, pad, pad.
I walked forward with heavy feet.
Yurian was right. Everything was moving smoothly according to his design.
The Villain a few blocks ahead, his march toward the Party Venue to set the fires—all of it.
It was all part of our plan… but somehow it felt…
Like compassion had been hollowed out.
‘I suppose Your Highness was right after all. You said there was no need for a Transaction.’
[Ah, that.]
‘Honestly, I didn’t think it would work.’
Sigh.
I exhaled deeply once more.
This had been where he and I clashed most fiercely while planning.
My position was to bring the Villain over through negotiation and persuasion; his was that simply freeing him would be enough—he would move on his own.
— There’s no need for something so complicated as transactions or persuasion. He’ll act exactly as you think he will anyway.
— And if he doesn’t?
— He will. Our task is one thing only: remove the Candle and hang the Torch.
— Why the Torch…?
— A Candle won’t be enough if he wants to start fires.
He’d touched my cheek as he said it.
Remembering the feel of his fingers against my skin, I brought my hand to my cheek.
That cool, soft touch.
In the end, Your Highness was right.
Without a single word of persuasion, the Villain simply decided to commit arson the moment the candle was exchanged for a torch.
[Whether through persuasion, coercion, or transaction—those are dealings with humans. Not with beasts wearing human masks.]
‘Then how am I supposed to tell the difference?’
[Well, I suspect Vanillin won’t be able to figure it out no matter how hard she tries.]
‘I have to admit, even I think you’re right about that….’
A sigh escaped me.
Another breath left my lungs, heavier than the last.
I was tired of people, if I’m being honest.
The world wasn’t as beautiful as a fairy tale promised, and it seemed far fuller of malice than good intent.
‘What if I end up trusting no one at all?’
I lowered my gaze.
Unable to distinguish between beasts wearing human masks and true humans,
afraid that I’d eventually trust no one. That fear crept over me.
[Hmm.]
Yurian, who had been walking ahead, stopped and turned to face me.
His shadow fell across me.
He tilted his head slightly.
[So you’ve been worrying yourself with all that.]
‘…….’
[Have you been hurt very much?]
I didn’t answer, only bowed my head.
The truth was, I had been hurt.
Deep down, I’d wanted to shout at him—
to say he should have tried persuasion instead, that this proved it.
That the capacity for remorse was what made someone human.
But that hope had shattered completely.
[Oh, you really were hurt, weren’t you.]
Soft.
A gentle warmth settled lightly upon my head.
A large, tender hand—Yurian’s.
[You don’t know it yet, but Vanillin has no need to worry about such things.]
It moved slowly through my hair, caressing me.
I blinked.
No need to worry? But why?
When I lifted my head, our eyes met as if he’d been waiting for it.
His gentle, pale golden eyes curved upward in a smile, as if they’d been waiting all along.
[Because I am here for Vanillin.]
‘What…?’
I found I couldn’t look away.
My mouth fell open, wordless.
[The task of distinguishing between humans and beasts—I will do that. Vanillin need only….]
I forgot to breathe, gazing up at him.
‘Only…?’
His lips curled upward, blooming into a full smile.
Warmth radiated from his palm against the back of my head.
At last, he smiled—beautiful as a lily.
[Only follow me. Just as you have been.]

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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