Return of the Back Alley Wizard Chapter 621

Episode 621. What was wasting time?

“……Give me time, give me time.”

“Just wait until the sun sets.”

With those words, Otto walked out of the office.

As I opened the door, someone jumped back in surprise.

It was an old butler.

“…….”

The butler lowered his head with a blank expression, even though he was caught eavesdropping.

Otto stared at the butler and then opened his mouth.

“I will give you a break once, considering your concern for your master.”

“……Thank you for your mercy.”

“Lead me. I need a place to stay until your master finds me.”

“I will guide you.”

The butler had a lot to ask, but he didn't ask any of them.

He knows it too.

Who is in control here, in this mansion?

The Kenbetla Counts had amassed wealth for generations, and with that wealth they had a considerable number of guests, including renowned knights and wizards. However, even so, they were all sold for money.

All of them combined were no match for Otto, the head of Urbona.

No matter how much he fell, Otto was still Otto.

“……Rest in peace.”

“Remember, mercy is only once.”

"……yes."

The old butler responded weakly and stepped back.

Otto looked at the butler and took out a cigarette from his bosom and asked.

… … If it were normal, anyone who dared to eavesdrop on the conversation would have been beheaded.

It didn't matter even if it was someone else's mansion.

Because Otto still had that much authority.

but.

'Even a mouse will bite a cat when cornered.'

What about the proud noble families?

Now is the time to step down.

Now, all that remains is Count Kenbetla's choice.

But, I wasn't confident.

Because Count Kenvetla wasn't the same old rascal he used to be.

It's ridiculous that a businessman who's tightrope walking with Dekulan and the Alliance would change his mind after a few words of pressure.

Count Kenvetla will probably not accept the proposal unless there is a special reason.

But even though he knew that fact, Otto remained calm.

After all, what happened after that wasn't his business.

… … As I said before.

– My downfall will find you.

It wasn't just empty words.

I told you to trust me and leave it to me, so why?

‘… … You still can’t believe it, right?’

The top lord declared that he would step in himself if the plan failed, and Otto could not refuse the offer.

It was a natural thing.

How can I refuse?

'Now you've become a monster.'

I thought my loss in the first match was largely due to my carelessness, but now I had no choice but to admit it.

That there is a gap between himself and the top lord that nothing can bridge.

So, Otto gave up resisting the tower lord.

At one point, he thought about sticking with Dekulan and planning for the future, but Otto decided against it.

It wasn't just because his son was being held hostage in the duchy.

but…….

‘… …I don’t feel good.’

I'd rather have Chuck and Deculan fight than have Chuck lose.

You can't be fooled by the top leader.

This was a judgment close to instinct, and that was why Otto readily cooperated with the Federation.

But, by the way.

“Are you there?”

Otto looked towards the terrace and asked a question.

… … Silence fell.

'I guess not.'

I thought that if he was the tower lord I thought he was, he would definitely follow me here and keep an eye on me, but I guess that was a bit of an overthinking.

“It’s pretty good, isn’t it?”

“…….”

Otto was silent.

The owner of the tower really walked out from the terrace, and looked at Otto as if he was genuinely surprised.

“How did you know? Did you have an epiphany in the meantime?”

“That was easy.”

“Since when?”

“At some point I realized.”

“Hmm.”

Aster looked at Otto with a suspicious gaze. Otto slyly avoided Aster's gaze and blew out smoke.

An awkward silence fell between the two.

“Shall we go back in?”

“……Just be there.”

"okay."

The two sat across the table from each other. An awkward silence fell between them once again.

* * *

Otto was the one who opened his mouth, unable to overcome the awkward silence.

“It was an act when I spoke to Count Kenvetla.”

“That resentment?”

"Isn't that obvious? I thought you were here, so how could you reveal your true feelings?"

"yes?"

Aster nodded as if he understood.

Otto sighed secretly at that reaction.

Although he didn't say anything, if he had seen the emotions from the top's perspective, it wouldn't have been strange for him to have mistakenly thought he was harboring resentment.

But, by the way.

'I never thought they'd follow me under real surveillance.'

I expected it, but when it actually happened, it was incredibly frustrating.

If you can't believe it, you shouldn't have written it!

But what to do?

Otto knew full well that he was powerless. And he knew the attitude that a powerless person should adopt.

Because of this, Otto chose silence.

It is about suppressing and suppressing emotions.

It was at that moment, while suppressing his emotions, that he heard Aster's voice.

“What do you think will happen?”

“The possibility is slim.”

“It looks like you’ve almost passed over?”

“That may be his feelings, but it’s unlikely that a businessman of that caliber would push things forward based solely on emotions, right?”

"hmm."

I see.

Aster nodded, thinking, "That's what I'm saying."

But, by the way.

‘… … I think it’s about time I got a call.’

Aster took the communication crystal out of his pocket and looked at it.

If my prediction was correct, I should have heard from Evelyn or Dolanpe by now, but there has been no word yet.

Because of this, Aster had to spend some more awkward time with Otto, but thankfully, it didn't last very long.

“Okay.”

Aster left those words behind and disappeared again.

Otto tilted his head when he heard that.

Because his senses were not affected by anything.

But how much time has passed?

As he looked around with his head up, Otto could soon detect a figure approaching from afar.

‘… … How far can you detect it?’

The surprise was short-lived.

Otto sat up straight.

Squeak―

The door opened and Count Kenvetla came in. His face was quite haggard, and he came in shaggily, sitting down on the spot where Aster had been sitting.

“Let me try one too.”

“…….”

Otto silently took out a cigarette and handed it to Count Kenvetla.

“Ha, the guy who burns Fubei Mountain tobacco has downfall in his mouth?”

Fubei Mountain tobacco was a tobacco that even the wealthy could not dream of, as it could be traded for its weight in gold.

But, how can someone who just casually hands over something like that talk about downfall?

“The standards for downfall are different for everyone.”

“Tsk.”

Count Kenvetla, who would not normally have agreed with Otto's words, agreed wholeheartedly this time.

Yes, that's right.

The criteria for downfall are different for everyone.

What is a benchmark for 'success' for some may be 'downfall' for others.

So, for Otto, that would be his downfall. Life itself, without ruling the North, would be his downfall.

'Hehe, so does that mean I have to spend the rest of my life in ruin?'

Count Kenvetla lit a cigarette, laughing at Otto's plight.

Indeed, the scent was good.

So, after savoring the fragrance to his heart's content, Count Kenvetla opened his mouth.

“I believe what you mean by giving me a chance.”

“You have to believe it.”

"But, there's too much at stake to act on that alone. For one thing, we don't even know what you and the man using you as a messenger want."

"so?"

Count Kenvetla continued, blowing out a puff of smoke.

"Let's make a deal. I assume you're on the Alliance's side, right? You're probably upset that I'm holding on to Dekulan. But there must be a reason you can't let go."

“Are you talking about the downfall of the Northern Merchants' Association?”

"…Hmm, you figured that out? Yes. That's where Dekulan and I really started getting entangled. We became friends who shared a vice, that's what I'm saying."

“So, what do you want to say?”

"If I let go of their hands, they'll blow it up. We can blow it up too, but we're in a different league. Dekulan can hold out, but we can't. So, give them enough compensation to cover the damage. Or…"

“Should I protect you?”

"okay."

Protection here means several things.

When the criticism about the "Fall of the Northern Merchants' Association" pours in, you can provide a roof over your head to shield yourself from the onslaught. Or you can block the Dekulan's harm.

“Hmm.”

Otto took a deep breath of smoke and exhaled.

Soon, a thick cloud of smoke spread out into the space.

“Is that all?”

“There may be more, depending on what you wish for.”

“I see.”

Otto nodded as if he understood.

At that sight, Count Kenbetla opened his mouth again.

"You wouldn't say no, would you? I consider it a basic request. A deal, isn't it? I know full well that the Federation's handling of affairs is not above the norm. Don't say no."

"Yes, that's right. The Federation's work is usually conducted within a certain standard."

As far as Otto knows, that's true.

Although he was leading a dark guild called Silvermoon, it was actually ambiguous enough to be called a dark guild.

In other words, <Nest> and the Federation are not showing any excessive behavior, whether in the shade or in the sun.

But, well… … .

'That's the <Nest> and the alliance.'

If Deculan confines his vices to a vault, <The Nest> has one person holding them in his hands.

And this time, it was under the control of the one who held that vice.

Indeed, what will Topju choose?

Otto closed his eyes.

And I waited for the top owner's mouth to open.

Because anything beyond this was out of his control… … .

"Think about it carefully. We have plenty of time. Hey, bring me a cup of tea."

Count Kenvetla called the butler who was waiting on one side and had him bring out some refreshments.

Even during this time, Aster's voice was not heard.

How much time has passed like that?

Refreshments are served.

Time has passed since one of the cigarettes completely burned down.

Count Kenvetla smoked a cigarette while waiting for Otto to open his mouth, and four cigarettes were burned out that way.

At this point, Otto was starting to feel puzzled.

I'm sure you understand what this means.

what?

… … When I thought about it that far.

“Ahem, it seems we gave them plenty of time. But the negotiations have broken down.”

“……?”

Otto tilted his head.

What the hell are you talking about? Breakup?

Are you crazy?

I must have forgotten who was in control of the situation. If that was the case, I had no choice but to let them know through violence.

As I was thinking that, I got up and that was the moment.

Tzu-!

The pressure that crushes the entire space.

“……!”

Otto went straight into transcendence. It was a clean, no-frills response, but the problem was what came next.

Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing―!

“Keep going!”

Otto staggered and vomited blood.

The moment you enter transcendence, the magic inside you flows back along with immense pain.

This is… familiar.

'Anti-Magician magic circle… …!'

This was exactly what the Duchy of Ramburg used to capture itself during the war.

As I was getting to that point, Count Kenvetla's voice pierced my ears.

"Otto, you pathetic Otto. Why did you come all the way here alone! You pathetic Otto…!"

Count Kenvetla was smiling brightly.

… … The purpose of buying time was to prepare a trap.