Reset Life – Chapter 57

Chapter 57: A Brilliant Move? Was There Such a Thing? (2)

“Would you please try not to forget why we came here, huh?”

I pulled my hood down low and followed the young man who was guiding us. The servers were all men, and they were busy carrying and clearing food.

The interior of the hall was entirely cheerful, noisy, and lively. It was the kind of atmosphere that people would typically say was good for business.

I glanced around and saw quite a few familiar faces.

Young men and men from noble families whom I had met in social circles were scattered here and there. There was no problem with them coming here since they were all adults, but… Hey, Peredon Dernook. You have a wife and two concubines, don’t you?

I chuckled as I looked at the fat nobleman who occupied a large space in the left corner. I wonder if his wife and two concubines know that he’s playing around here.

Fortunately, his seat and mine were on opposite sides. The hall was so wide and slightly dark that we couldn’t recognize each other.

The young man who was guiding us pointed to a seat and said,

“Please wait a moment. Maria is currently entertaining the Master.”

“Master? The owner of this place?”

“Yes. He’s over there.”

I turned my head slightly and looked where the young man was pointing. There, a handsome young man with blonde hair and blue eyes was laughing loudly with beautiful women on either side of him. The one on the left was Maria, the woman I saw yesterday.

But……why does that man look so familiar?

“Hey, is that blonde-haired, blue-eyed man in the center of that big table the Master of this place?”

“Yes, that’s right, but…”

I rubbed between my eyes and sighed. Then I sat down and nudged Lucy, who was looking at the menu.

“Hey, let’s go.”

“Huh? Where are we going?”

“Over there.”

“Huh? What do you mean? Huh? Hey!”

“Cu, Customer? What’s the matter, Customer?”

Ignoring Lucy calling me from behind and the flustered guide’s words, I headed towards the table where Maria was.

The two tables weren’t that far apart, and I could walk straight towards the Master of this club from a few meters away.

“No, Customer! What’s the matter…?”

“Ah, I’m not trying to cause a scene, so don’t worry.”

I waved my hand and walked confidently to the front of the table with several bottles of alcohol, snacks, and silver candlesticks. Then I crossed my arms.

“Ehahaha! So, huh? Who is it?”

The Master of the club noticed my presence a little late. He frowned in displeasure and looked puzzled. Then, the subordinates sitting on either side of the table began to frown and exude a rather unpleasant aura. The hostesses were also flustered by my sudden appearance.

Receiving puzzled, hostile, and bewildered gazes all at once, I smiled with a relaxed attitude, lifting one corner of my mouth.

The Master of the club seemed even more displeased by the smile that could be seen as a sneer.

I scoffed once and said,

“Well, well, well. You’re living the good life, Jay?”

The Master of the club, commonly known as Jay All Master, my subordinate, opened his eyes wide and said with a surprised expression,

“Who are you?”

Don’t you recognize me?

“You idiot, it’s me.”

“Eh? Ehh? Eeeehhh?!”

Jay introduced me as the ‘Boss’ to the curious members of the organization. Immediately after, I received a united and loud greeting that could only be received in the military.

It suddenly reminded me of the old days. Although it was a memory from less than a year ago.

While I was briefly contemplating what to say to Jay, who was resting while I came to investigate after hearing that Maria was almost murdered, he dismissed all of his subordinates.

And so, the seat where at least fifteen people were sitting was occupied only by me, Lucy, Jay, and Maria.

As the hostesses moving away from the table gave me regretful glances, Maria sent a heated gaze towards the ‘Magician.’ And for some reason, Jay also looked at Lucy with a subtle gaze.

An uneasy feeling washed over me, but I introduced the two to each other first.

A little later, I came to regret it.

“As expected, women are best from twenty-five onwards!”

“That’s right! You know what’s up! That’s the right answer! There are some guys in the world who don’t know the meaning of the word ‘ripe’! That thrilling feeling right before turning thirty, before being fully ripe… Kyaa!”

“Kuaa! Fantastic!”

Ah, pathetic. Why do I have to know these kinds of people? Especially while I’m in the middle of searching for a serial killer.

I thought it was my mistake not knowing that this place was under our organization’s jurisdiction.

But I was wrong.

As soon as Lucy and Jay introduced themselves, they seemed to have hit it off. They entered a grand unity reminiscent of the Azot Royal Knights and the Empire’s 7th Knight Order.

I sighed and picked up a piece of fruit served as a snack.

It had been about 20 minutes since the four of us sat down.

The two idiots who had hit it off were chatting enthusiastically.

If we stayed like this, they would forget all about the murderer and everything else, so I clapped twice loudly.

Clap, clap!

“Now, let’s save the bonding for later. Lucy, remember why we came here.”

“Huh? There’s only one reason to come to a hostess club, right?”

“You’re not getting fed?”

“Wow, how cheap. Alright. Jay, Maria, there’s something I need to talk about…”

“Yes, Magician.”

Maria’s gaze was pure ecstasy. Judging from her eyes filled with awe and strong desire, yesterday morning must have been quite passionate for her as well.

Lucy briefly explained why he and I came here. The reaction of Jay and Maria to the news that the serial killer might target Maria again could be summed up in one word.

“Well, he’s quite a troublesome fellow.”

“Indeed.”

Well, that’s quite an indifferent reaction.

It’s understandable for Jay, but how can Maria, a hostess, be so indifferent when her own life is at stake?

She pouted her lips and said nonchalantly,

“I’ve thought about that too, but I don’t think it’s likely. The path I took yesterday was the first time I’d been that way, and I don’t think the culprit knows what I do. A woman walking around at that hour probably has an obvious profession, but if you just pick out the women working in the pleasure industry in the Imperial Capital Nek, you could probably form an army.”

She said, stroking her shoulder.

She has a point. She was just a victim who happened to encounter a murderer on the street. By the way, it’s amazing that she can talk like that even after almost being attacked yesterday.

I scratched my head and asked Jay,

“Jay, are all the women working here this bold?”

“Eh? Do you think this is some kind of bold women’s club? Maria is special. There are cute girls here who faint at the sight of a single cockroach.”

“Oh, that’s good. Seeing those girls embarrassed makes me want to tease them…”

“Kuu! That’s good too.”

“That’s enough. Stop it. You two are getting along so well, so stop it. Make time to hang out leisurely later. We need to catch the murderer first.”

I clicked my tongue and reached for the dried snacks, leaving the two macho men to their own devices.

I couldn’t help but sigh. I don’t think I could ever bring these two to a serious discussion. If I did, they wouldn’t be able to stay on topic for more than 30 seconds.

Jay shrugged and took the glass of alcohol Maria offered him, saying,

“Speaking of which, the quick-witted hunters are already on the move. He’s quite a big shot, so the skilled ones are starting to show signs of movement. The culprit will be caught in a week at the latest.”

“It’ll be too late by then. We need to catch him by the dawn of the 13th.”

“Eek?! The 13th?! Is there a reason?”

“There’s a big reason. Ask Old Man later. But you don’t seem interested in what I’m doing at all?”

“Well, it’s because you’re the Boss. It’s a way of expressing trust, thinking you’ll handle it well. You’re still young, Boss, but a real man shows his worth through actions, not words.”

“Right! That’s it! That’s the burning heart of a man!”

“Indeed! I knew we were on the same wavelength, brother!”

At Lucy’s agreement, Jay raised his glass with an excited face. I wish someone would stop these two macho men.

Just as I was thinking how nice it would have been if Old Man had joined us, one of the employees approached hesitantly. It seemed he knew that I was the Boss among the employees, as he seemed to be careful about who to talk to.

“Jay, it looks like you have something to say.”

“Huh? What’s up?”

“Yes. A customer has requested Maria.”

“Is that so? Maria, you’re quite popular, huh? Who’s the customer?”

“He’s over there, on the outside.”

The employee cautiously pointed with his finger, and I turned my head slightly in that direction. At a table a little distance away, a man with handsome features and white hair was sitting leisurely, looking at the menu.

I had a feeling that this might be it.

It’s not like men with white hair are that rare. As long as this isn’t some kind of members-only secret club, he could definitely be here.

But that guy… is Artshever!

“Hmm, I’d like to stay by our Magician’s side a little longer…”

“You can come back after you go. Go ahead.”

Jay didn’t seem to recognize him. Well, he’d only heard about him through reports and probably never seen him in person.

I kept my focus on Artshever and watched him leisurely placing his order. If this is a coincidence, it’s an amazing one. But this coincidence… somehow feels like a situation he created…?

The white-haired man slowly, very slowly, turned his head. He might be looking at where Maria is, guided by the employee. But his gaze was directed at me, not Maria.

Emerald green eyes were aimed at me.

Damn it! He came for me after all!

“Maria, sit down. We know each other. I need to go have a chat.”

I gritted my teeth and got up from my seat. Maria, who stood up awkwardly, tilted her head.

“Huh? Are you sure? Shouldn’t at least one of us…”

“No. It’s going to be a private conversation. Just stay here.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Maria sat back down, and Jay frowned and asked,

“Boss, is that guy ‘him’?”

“Ah, yes. It doesn’t seem like he just came here for fun.”

“Tsk. I don’t know what it is, but it feels like something complicated is about to happen. Alright. Go ahead. I’ll tell this brother here.”

“Do that.”

I slowly got up and headed towards Artshever. Lucy’s curious voice and Jay’s voice gradually faded away behind me.

Artshever smiled and turned his head.

That small gesture evoked a feeling in me that I couldn’t quite understand.

A feeling that was unfamiliar because it was familiar, and repulsive because it was unfamiliar.

What should I call it? What should I call this feeling? The conflicting sensations seemed to permeate my entire body like acrid smoke.

From the first time I heard his name, there was one thing I knew.

That I couldn’t deal with him, no matter what.

I went to the table where he was sitting and pointed to the seat opposite him, saying,

“Is this seat taken?”

“Oh dear. I called for a hostess, not a host. And what I ordered was alcohol and snacks.”

“That’s right. But you didn’t come here hoping for that, did you?”

“You’re absolutely right. Have a seat.”

He leisurely offered me a seat. I sat down, feeling both the comfortable atmosphere I could only feel in Orknesia and the disgust I could only feel in a corpse pit on a summer battlefield.

Taking the most comfortable posture I could, I looked at him. He was still smiling amiably.

I sighed lightly and tried to calm my mind.

One, two, three. Then backwards. Three, two, one.

“So, what brings the Salain family’s confidant here? Even though it’s a legitimate business, it could damage the reputation of the family you serve.”

“I don’t have a lover yet. There are days when my blood boils uncontrollably, you know. It’s a bit unsightly to howl at the moon.”

“That might be alright. Rumors that the Salain family is connected to the Gray Forest might spread.”

“Haha. Then would Duke Orknesia step forward to suppress the Salain family? Then the Sun Knights from Grand Sunshine might be dispatched as well. All that cannot exist under the sun are the denizens of darkness. Tere Achuni.”

Artshever lightly made the sign of the Achuni faith, and I chuckled, finding his nonchalant behavior both amusing and disgusting.

This was our first proper conversation, but he was always someone who evoked conflicting emotions in me.

Does he feel the same way about me? And somehow, this guy… he talks like Aila.

“Let’s put the useless talk aside. Did you really come here for fun? If so, I’ll leave you be. But you see, I have this thought. I have a feeling that you, like Pilledvan Salain, have ‘prepared’ something for me.”

“Whew! As expected of Sir Arisein Pen Herduke. Knighted at the age of sixteen, the rising star of the social scene. But aren’t you being too harsh? Let’s try to create a more relaxed atmosphere for conversation. We don’t need to sharpen our tongues, especially in a place like this.”

“Hmm, that would be nice too. Then, shall we have a drink first?”

Just then, the alcohol and snacks arrived. The employee seemed puzzled as to why I was here instead of Maria, but knowing my position, he didn’t say anything and set the table.

The alcohol was a high-quality liquor, and the snacks were an appropriate assortment of fruits. Warm cheese sauce and crackers were also prepared.

I first put some ice in the thick glass and poured the alcohol. I gave it to Artshever first and then filled my own glass.

He swirled the glass a couple of times and said,

“Hmm. I wanted to receive the first drink from a hostess, but it can’t be helped. Now, shall we toast to this glorious first drink?”

“Let’s.”

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