My Disciples Became Scoundrels - Chapter 61

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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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The hesitant manager was turning to leave when the man wearing the Badge suddenly cried out urgently.
“Wait, wait! Let’s not do this! The money, I’ll return all the money. So please, just don’t……!”
Eyes from all around fixed on him, and the characteristic noise of the Gambling House ebbed away. I leaned in close and whispered to him.
“The money must be returned, of course.”
My opponent clenched his teeth and broke out in cold sweat. The more he thrashed, the harder I squeezed.
“Wouldn’t a wrist be worth more than a Badge?”
“A Badge? You mean you planned this from the start……!”
The man who’d caught on to my intention looked considerably aggrieved. But that was all it was. I bore down harder on his wrist. A sickening crunch echoed through the air.
In the end, he surrendered both the Badge and all the money he’d wagered. Not all of the pot made it into my pocket, but it was still a tidy sum.
After the man was dragged away, the game fell apart. When I returned to my disciples, Cesare laughed with unbridled delight.
“Master, I thought you had no talent for gambling, but you’ve raked in quite a fortune! Maybe I should give it a try later.”
“Once you grow another arm, then you can.”
The old saying was right—you can’t even drink cold water in front of children. I just hope the disciples don’t get any wrong ideas.
Between the Badge and this extra income, I’d made quite a bit. As I was pocketing several chips, my eyes met Jenia’s.
Jenia respectfully cupped both hands before me, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
She’d helped things work out smoothly back there. I placed a one-million Batz chip in her palm.
“You did well, Jenia.”
It was a large sum, and she’d use it well. Yet Jenia looked at the chip as though it were garbage.
“Is this not what you wanted?”
“I want the Badge. Since there’s only one Badge, only one person can enter, right?”
She extended both hands again.
“I want to see my sister.”
“Now, now. Surely it’s better if Master goes instead.”
Cesare tried to dissuade her, and Jenia’s face fell slightly. I thought for a moment, then spoke.
“No. This time, I think it should be Jenia who goes. She’ll recognize me right away.”
If I went, it would take forever convincing her I’d come back to life. Cesare folded his arms and spoke.
“You’re right about that. But wouldn’t I be better at persuading her than Jenia? Send me instead.”
He pointed to himself with his thumb and smiled. I stared at Cesare for a long moment, then opened my mouth.
“Your face is too…….”
“Jenia. You go.”
“My disciples are wise and quick to read the situation.”
I pinned the Badge to Jenia’s dress. Only then did her face light up with pure joy.
“I’ll be right back, Master. I’ll bring my sister with me!”
Jenia followed a staff member upstairs. Even from behind, you could see how thrilled she was.
Cesare watched her for a long time. Whether from regret or worry, I couldn’t tell. He murmured.
“So I’m finally going to see that famous face. Running a gambling den like this must mean the underworld presence here is enormous…… How did Bella end up tangled up in something like this?”
“She must have struggled hard for those fifteen years.”
I said it bitterly. To enter this luxurious building, Bella must have shed a great deal of blood.
She would have met many dangerous people with rotted hearts. When I thought of Bella mingling with such creatures…….
Arkel also stared down at the floor and murmured.
“…… If only I hadn’t gone to prison.”
“Master, big brother’s digging at the ground again.”
I snapped back to attention. I’d almost started digging myself. The past is unchangeable; all we can do is handle things well from this point forward.
“When we get back, let’s throw a party with Bella’s favorite food. She used to love strawberry cake.”
“I only decorated the room roughly—I wish I’d prepared more.”
We pushed away our unease by discussing how to welcome Bella. Then I saw Jenia coming down from the Second Floor.
“Huh? Why is she coming down alone? Jenia!”
Cesare bolted to his feet and rushed toward her. But after a few steps, he stopped dead. His voice came out alarmed.
“Are you crying?”
Jenia’s head hung low, tears streaming down her face. I’d never seen the girl cry like this.
Arkel and I hurried over in panic. I wiped her cheeks with both hands and examined her face. She didn’t appear to be hurt.
“Jenia, what’s wrong? Tell me.”
“Sister…….”
Jenia only stammered, unable to form words. After we’d locked eyes for a long moment, she finally spoke.
“She said don’t pretend to be family when you’re a monster…….”
The noise of the Gambling House felt distant now. No one spoke. Not Cesare, not Arkel, not me. All that remained was the sound of Jenia’s quiet sobs.
I held Jenia quietly. Bella’s words had pierced me like a dagger, but what must Jenia have felt?
Yet I could not cry like Jenia. I had only been dead for fifteen years; I knew neither waiting nor suffering.
Jenia gripped my sleeve tightly.
“Everyone else can hate me all they want…….”
I wanted to soothe the wound in Jenia’s heart. But I couldn’t bring myself to speak.
I knew how to harden against the world’s reproach. I knew how to grow numb to it.
But I didn’t know how to steel myself against a wound dealt by family. Not even as her teacher. Not even now.
While I was searching for words of comfort, Cesare reached back and scratched the nape of his neck vigorously. He deliberately raised his voice.
“That wretch Bella—how much worse has her character gotten in fifteen years? How could she say something like that to her own sister? Her humanity’s rotted right through.”
“Don’t insult my sister!”
“Now even defending her causes a scene.”
Still, thanks to Cesare, Jenia seemed to regain a little spirit.
I finished wiping the tears and snot from Jenia’s face, speaking to her gently and carefully.
“I’ll go and bring Bella back. It will be alright.”
Both Cesare and Arkel were refusing the situation. In fact, I might be the stranger here—the one most likely to get through to her.
Arkel nodded in agreement at those words.
“Understood. Cesare will comfort Jenia while you’re gone. Please go.”
“Am I a nursemaid now? Ugh, you kids. Stop crying! There, there!”
Cesare scooped Jenia into his arms and patted her gently. Leaving my disciples huddled together like that, I climbed the stairs.
Bella. What kind of adult had Bella become? What expression did she wear now—she who had poured reproach upon Jenia?
The Second Floor’s layout wasn’t much different from below. The main difference was that it was darker here, and the stakes were higher.
Then I heard exclamations rising from the crowd. They came from a table at the far end.
“How did you pull that off? It was a one-in-twenty chance!”
“Damn it—Beatrice really is unstoppable.”
Beatrice.
I pushed through the onlookers. As I shoved past them, a woman standing directly across from the table came into view.
Tall and elegant, beautiful with a commanding air. Fine silver hair cascaded down to her waist. I used to brush that hair for her often when she was small.
Bella Balanus. My disciple.
Those eyes, that curve of her lips. Fifteen years had passed, yet the delicate features of her childhood remained.
The difference lay in her gaze.
Little Bella used to look at me with eyes like rose quartz. In sunlight, they truly shone like jewels.
But now those eyes were like dried rose petals. A flower drained and withered by fifteen years of time.
Her lips, deep red as if stained with blood, parted as a cold voice emerged.
“That concludes play for today. Should you wish to continue gaming, another staff member will assist you.”
Bella turned at once. I followed her without bothering to muffle my footsteps.
There were no guests or staff in sight. She walked through a dim corridor and entered a room at the far end. It was an elegant office.
Only after I stepped inside did Bella turn to face me. Her expression was fierce.
“What do you want?”
Her voice was as cold as the air in this room. I was clearly an unwelcome visitor.
“You already know, don’t you? You saw Jenia just now.”
She furrowed her brow. Her already rigid face grew even more menacing.
“Who are you to interfere?”
“Your teacher. Dein Balanus.”
If I’d said I was her father, she would have thrown me out. Better to spark her curiosity instead.
“Don’t ask why I’ve returned, or why I look like this. I don’t know myself. Ask the others about whether my identity is genuine or false.”
Normally a sharp response would have come. But Bella showed no surprise, no denial. She simply looked at me.
“……Teacher.”
Her voice faltered for a moment, then Bella let out a bitter laugh. It was unmistakably contemptuous.
“Fine, let’s say you’re my teacher. But what of it? Why would Balanus come looking for me?”
Her voice mixed mockery with wariness. I was reminded of Bella as a child—like a small beast raising its fur whenever anyone approached.
“Did you come to squeeze a few coins out of me? Wake up.”
“It couldn’t possibly be money that I want.”
“Then what? And spare me the nonsense about wanting me.”
What I wanted was nothing but Bella. If there was anything else I could wish for…….
“Your time.”
I took a step closer to Bella.
“Give me your time. There are things I wish to share with you.”
In that moment, her eyes flickered for the first time. But it was only a flash. The briefly kindled flame soon settled back to ash.
After a stretch of silence, she finally spoke.
“If you came to a gambling house, you win by gambling.”
Bella opened a drawer. She withdrew something from it—an object I’d never seen before.
Perhaps a span long. A smoothly finished, L-shaped wooden piece fitted with metal components. A ring hung from the lower end.
Bella raised it and pointed it at me.
―Bang!
A deafening crack split the air. Heat seared past my ear an instant before.
I felt blood trickling down my cheek. Bella’s crimson eyes locked onto mine.
“Shall we play a round of cards, Master?”

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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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