Chapter 4
That’s everything that led me to this point, standing face-to-face with the man of ten million gold.
Yes.
I had been kidnapped. By some enormous criminal organization!
It wasn’t just the man of ten million gold who was formidable. The numbers hovering above the heads of the surrounding subordinates were dazzling as well.
“1,000 gold,” “32,000 gold,” “12,420 gold,” and so on…
One thing was certain: there wasn’t a single person here with a bounty under 1,000 gold!
‘Ugh… what kind of monster lair have I been dragged into?’
And why in the world would these monsters trust some charlatan fortune-teller like me?
I let out a silent scream in my head, barely managing to calm myself down.
Ridiculously, I remembered something someone had said to me in my childhood:
“You seem to have good luck for someone who’s generally unlucky.”
…Yes, I am Ash, a weed who survives even the worst situations.
If I combine a bit of clever tongue work with some luck, maybe I can somehow survive this.
I opened my eyes and looked straight at the man of ten million gold.
“So, what exactly is it you want me to do, Kin?”
The man—no, “Kin”—showed a flicker of interest in his ice-blue eyes.
“You’ve got a good sense. You’ve figured out where you are, haven’t you?”
I quickly started bluffing using the information window hovering above Kin’s head.
“My sense isn’t that good. But I am fairly skilled at hearing the voice of the stars.”
I intended to ride the momentum and steer the atmosphere to my side. If there’s no other way, I’ll at least take advantage of the momentum!
I said bluntly:
“Hmm… let me see. Did someone hold a particularly strong grudge against you? Judging by the curse you’re under.”
The people surrounding me began whispering among themselves. Most seemed to believe I might not be a fraud after all.
“The fact that the boss is cursed was supposed to be confidential.”
“But it’s already been a year since the curse began. Rumors are bound to leak.”
“Even to that woman?”
“How would a fortune-teller from the slums know about the boss’s curse?”
“Well…”
“See? Astrology is real.”
“…Tch.”
I could see the group was divided between superstitious followers and skeptics.
I tapped my right fist against my left chest, conscious of their gaze.
“Seems like there’s a heart problem… Let’s see, no one who came before has lifted the curse.”
Naturally. They couldn’t break the curse, so the task fell to me.
Meanwhile, Kin sat with his long legs crossed at a slant, staring at me… my mouth went dry.
‘What is he thinking? Did I misjudge something? No… the crowd’s vibe seems fine.’
Kin finally spoke, his tongue so dry it was about to crumble.
“I wondered where Tatis found such a fraud… but you’re quite clever.”
He gestured for me to come closer. Grasping my chin, he inspected me as if evaluating a specimen.
‘Ahhh! Please let go! Spare me!’
Kin, objectively and subjectively, was quite handsome—but this situation was far from enjoyable.
Tears streamed down my face as Kin tightened his grip on my chin.
“Ouch, ouch! It hurts!”
Regardless of my struggles, he gave me a sharp, icy glare and commanded:
“Since I noticed the problem before you even asked, you know what must be done.”
“Th….”
“Lift my curse, Mystical Esmeralda.”
‘Nooo!’
I’m a quack fortune-teller, not a problem solver!
I dashed down the corridor as soon as I left Kin’s office.
“Hey, Esmeralda! Stop!”
A startled voice called from behind, but I was more interested in leaning against the window to look outside.
Outside the damp stone castle, monochrome buildings were haphazardly constructed, seemingly defying the laws of physics, all the way to the castle walls.
“Ha! Thought you were running away. Throwing a knife would’ve been close. Next time, let me know before going anywhere, or your neck might be next.”
Riki, the boy assigned as a guard while I was here, complained as he approached from behind.
Regardless, I pressed my upper body against the window sill and let out a wail.
“So this really is the ‘Ashen Fortress’…”
I had doubted Kin’s phrase, “the lord of the Ashen Fortress,” but now I realized it was true.
Sighing heavily, Riki shrugged.
“Why so startled? People live here too.”
“But if it’s full of notorious criminals… isn’t that a bit different?”
No wonder! The numbers above everyone’s heads were astronomical!
To explain: the Ashen Fortress was a lawless zone even the emperor couldn’t touch.
Once inside, no criminal could be caught, and unimaginable illegal acts occurred within its walls.
“…Is that true?”
I asked, tugging at my hair, and Riki grinned.
“Well… you could say that. So, you better behave. If you want to get out alive, you’ll have to work for the boss.”
“I know, I know!”
Indeed, this was the criminal city of the Ashen Fortress.
Otherwise, neither the superiors nor the subordinates would have harassed and threatened me the same way!
The first thing I did was try to get a map of the castle.
But…
“Security won’t allow it.”
“I need the map to carefully find where the cursed markings are hidden!”
“We never show it to outsiders.”
“Do you want your boss to just wither away and croak? Huh? Otherwise…”
“Shut up. Stop spouting ominous nonsense.”
“Ah… okay…”
In the end, I couldn’t resist their intimidating presence and backed away with my tail between my legs.
“You weren’t fazed when dealing with the boss, but here you are?”
Riki’s teasing made me feel a bit wronged.
“He really was going to stab me! I’m doing this to survive—what’s the point if I die halfway?”
Riki clicked his tongue.
“Anyway, I told you it wouldn’t work, right? Five people already tried to get the map and failed. Add those who tried to sneak it away, and that’s seven in total.”
“Ugh…”
Since the precedent was bad, it was no wonder they wouldn’t allow it.
I bit my lip, deep in thought.
‘What now? I was planning to use the map to figure out an escape route.’
I knew nothing about curses.
Of course, I had no idea how to lift Kin’s curse in the Ashen Fortress.
If that fact gets out… death is the only outcome.
Therefore… I had to stall somehow and find an escape route!
By the way, my “find castle map and plan escape route” plan was scrapped.
I clenched my fists under my robe.
“If they won’t give me a map… I’ll have to run for it myself.”
Round two of life, and Ash of the back alleys doesn’t know the meaning of impossible!
If I don’t have teeth, I’ll do it with my gums!
Riki followed behind, looking unconvinced.
“Do you really think this will work?”
“Shh, quiet. Don’t break my concentration.”
“Concentration for holding a stick? Really?”
He wasn’t wrong.
But I wasn’t swayed by such logical reasoning.
“I’m not just holding a stick. I’m searching for bad energy.”
“What bad energy?”
“Ley lines… no, the curse’s energy. Anyway, it’s something you can’t feel.”
I kept talking while moving my hands and feet without pause.
“Huh? The stick tip is moving left this time! Let’s check that corridor.”
“Hey, hey, there—!”
Riki tried to stop me from behind, but I ignored him.
…Unaware of the regret that was coming.
-Wham!
“Ugh!”
I collided with someone while walking, distracted, and fell flat.
Rubbing my sore backside, I grimaced.
“Who dares disturb me while I’m handling something important?”
“Me.”
“Gah.”
I inhaled sharply.
‘I’m really screwed.’
The owner of this fortress, Kin, the king of this lawless zone, was before me.
“I heard reports of you doing strange things with a stick… and it’s true.”
