Chapter 1345. Return (5)

'So you’re saying that he’s alive...’

I couldn't help but think that it was such a clichéd move. After making me realize on my own that the second life was more important than the first life, she had decided to hint at the fact that Big Boy was here and alive.

Based on the conclusion of our earlier conversation, it seemed like she was deciding whether or not to let me meet Big Boy, so in a way, it was like passing her little test.

I couldn't be sure, but perhaps the fate of those guys would be decided on my reaction.

If I had shown too much hesitation or felt that Big Boy, Carlton, and Yoojin were a hindrance to me, then...

‘They could

disappear

without a trace.’

Ji-Hye would definitely do that, and I would do it if I were in her shoes.

In any case, the fact that she guided me to this place suggested that she had judged my condition as "not too bad." She probably believed I could handle seeing them. Even as we walked into the shabby streets in the clothes Alex had prepared and with some money in hand, I noticed Ji-Hye quietly smiling at me.

“What’s wrong? Relax, oppa,” Lee Ji-Hye said.

“Noona, you’re really—”

“What? What’s bothering you so much?” Lee Ji-Hye interrupted me.

‘Watching her pretending to be innocent is so annoying.’

“I never asked for this, noona,” I told her.

“I didn’t do anything. I just wanted to spend some time somewhere a little different, so I brought you here...” Lee Ji-Hye said.

'Still pretending to be innocent...'

Meanwhile, Alex from the Continental Protection Management Committee was constantly scanning the surroundings. Having to accompany the honorary cardinal undercover, he was naturally worried about our safety. Was he looking for possible assassins or something?

He seemed overly absorbed in the solo mission assigned to him. Of course, that wasn’t his only role.

“...”

“...”

“So this place is...” Alex paused.

“Yes, Mr. Alex?” Lee Ji-Hye asked.

“It’s what ordinary adventurers call Stragglers’ Lane.”

“Stragglers’ Lane?” I asked.

“That’s right. I know it might sound a bit negative... but it’s easier to think of it as a term used by those who like, enjoy, and cherish this street, teasing each other,” he explained.

“

Ah

...”

“Actually, it’s not just stragglers; even famous adventurers come here often,” Alex said.

“I understand what you mean. Honestly... I didn’t even know a place like this existed in Lindel...” I said.

“It’s understandable. If you mostly operate in the capital, you wouldn’t have had a chance to use this kind of street,” Alex said.

“Embarrassingly, that’s true,” I said.

“There’s no need to be embarrassed at all. None of the people here wanted this street to become famous anyway,” Alex said.

‘So they just want to enjoy it among themselves?’

“Why is that?” I asked.

“There are many reasons, but probably... they thought they needed a space to breathe,” Alex replied.

“A space to breathe?” I asked.

I notice Alex cautiously continuing his explanation. When I glanced at Ji-Hye, she shook her head as if she had no idea.

“S-so... I don’t really know how to explain this, but it feels like Lindel today isn’t fit for people like us...” Alex muttered.

“...”

“...”

“I... don’t mean that as an insult. Everyone’s happy with Lindel’s expansion and business plans, but the folks who used to make up Lindel were rough around the edges... To put it bluntly, they were ignorant and weren't good listeners,” Alex explained.

“What?”

“No-no... that’s not it... I mean...”

Alex was sweating and babbling on, but his point was that...

‘You want to be left alone to do what you want, right?’

Modern Lindel was very different from Old Lindel. More precisely, Lindel had changed drastically since I took my post. The capital had always looked tidy, but Old Lindel was friendlier to the poor and the dispossessed. Slums were common, and markets and street stalls grew up around them.

One used to see assholes smoking on the street or people chugging bottles in the middle of the day.

However, such sights had become extinct in Modern Lindel. Ongoing development had turned it into a planned city where one would feel guilty dropping trash on the sidewalk.

One couldn't even find people spitting on the street. It wasn't a comfortable place for rowdy mercenaries and adventurers. They appreciated Lindel’s infrastructure, but they also wanted a place where they could wear their battered armor soaked in blood, filth, and monster fluids without feeling out of place.

‘So this is that place?’

And that was how Stragglers’ Lane was born...

‘I really want to punch anyone who smokes on the streets.’

Sure enough, I spotted people holding a cigarette in one hand and bottles in the other. When I stared at them with a stunned face, Alex waved away the smoke.

“N-not everyone’s like that, Father Lee Ki-Young,” Alex said.

“It’s fine, Mr. Alex,” I reassured him.

‘Yeah, right. No way, it’s fine. I’ll wipe this place out soon.’

I had no idea if Alex actually enjoyed Stragglers’ Lane, but for some reason, he looked like Stragglers' Lane was his hill to die for.

‘There’s a gambling house over there. Damn. Isn’t that an illegal gambling house?’

For a moment Commander Jin’s face flashed through my mind, but I believed that a gambling maniac wouldn’t come here.

Just then, a guy who had spotted Alex from across the street came over here.

“What’s up? Alex! Long time no see. I thought you said you won't come back here?” the man asked.

“K-Kennen?” Alex asked.

“

Haha

! You bastard! George just won big, you know how much?” Kennen asked.

“W-wait, shut up, Kennen! I-I’m sorry, Father Lee Ki-Young. One moment...” he said.

“...”

I couldn’t help but look around again. Alex grabbed Kennen and argued loudly with him.

‘Disgusting.’

Yet, somehow, it was familiar.

These were the kinds of places I used to frequent with Big Boy.

“So what do you think? The atmosphere’s not bad, right?” Lee Ji-Hye asked.

“Don’t talk about the atmosphere, noona. Atmosphere my ass...” I mumbled.

“Why? You seem pretty used to it, oppa,” Lee Ji-Hye commented.

‘Yeah. I am used to it. Damn it, this noona.’

The stalls were selling dusty food as if hygiene were nonexistent, and other people were eating it like it was delicious. The shouts of the drunkards made my ears ache, and the stench mixed with the smell of tobacco grated on my nerves.

One vendor was cooking without even washing his hands. There was shouting everywhere, and people were tossing trash on the streets without a second thought. Still...

‘There aren’t any truly trashy people here.’

No one picked a fight with the hooded woman and the hooded little kid.

They treated each other roughly, but in a way that suggested basic respect. It looked chaotic, but there was an unexpected order.

Perhaps there were unspoken rules, but the stragglers here knew their boundaries.

When I found myself reassessing this street, a familiar smell reached me.

“What’s wrong?” Lee Ji-Hye asked.

“...”

“...”

‘Damn it.’

I couldn’t forget it. It was the smell of meat I ate every single day back then.

“Is there anywhere you want to go?” Lee Ji-Hye asked.

“...”

“...”

Without saying a word, I walked away, and Lee Ji-Hye smiled as she followed after me.

“

Ah

," Alex exclaimed, startled. He picked up the pace to keep up with me. As I moved forward, that familiar smell inundated my nose. The closer I got, the stronger the nauseating stench became, making it hard for me to breathe. Despite that, I was moving forward almost unconsciously.

Just then, a shabby little shop came into view.

Three people with towels on their heads and clad in identical uniforms stood there...

‘You guys just liked it, you bastards.’

“...”

“...”

‘So you guys did like it. Damn it.’

“Hey, Big Boy, you idiot! Bring some more over here!” Carlton shouted.

“Damn it! I said wait!” Big Boy yelled out.

“Yoojin, take care of the bill!” Carlton ordered.

“Just pay and go! Why the hell do you need me to take the bill? Damn it!” Yoojin complained.

“Aren’t you being too harsh on the customers who came all the way here worrying you might fail? They’re customers who came just to eat your awful meat because of old ties...” a customer remarked.

“Customers? You guys call yourselves customers? You’re enemies. You didn’t even order appetizers! Don’t take up space and get out now!” Yoojin shouted at them.

“

Huh

?

Huh

? This idiot’s hitting someone!” a customer shouted.

“Get out, you idiots! Stop causing trouble, seriously!”

I said nothing and just stared at them.

And that was when I heard Alex’s voice. "I-it’s a little embarrassing, but... they’re my friends.”

I also heard Lee Ji-Hye’s voice as she asked, “I’m curious. Could you tell me a bit more about them?”

“Of course, Miss Lee Ji-Hye. Well... those guys were once fairly well-known adventurers in Lindel. One day, they decided to retire...” Alex trailed off.

“...”

“And start a hambier skewer business..." Alex continued, "They talked nonsense about learning a secret recipe from a slightly famous old hambier shop, and they ended up opening a shop like this. In Stragglers’ Lane, it’s considered something of a local attraction.

"They have good connections and nice personalities... Sure, sometimes they make foolish business moves and lose a lot of money, which makes them a laughingstock, but they’re warm and kind people.

"That’s why their acquaintances often visit them...”

“

Ahh...

”

“...”

“Would you like to try some?” Alex asked.

“I’m fine. How about you, Father Lee Ki-Young...” Lee Ji-Hye asked.

I stayed silent again. I could no longer hear Ji-Hye or Alex’s voice. It seemed like Ji-Hye had finally assessed the situation, and I felt like she was staring at me as if she had put me in my place, but I didn’t really want to confirm it for now.

Right now, I just wanted to watch those guys selling hambier.

“Damn it! Don’t come back here! You bastards! Don’t come back here!” Carlton shouted.

“If we don’t come back, you’ll go bankrupt! Carlton, you bastard!

Hahaha

! Bring out that special recipe you spent a fortune to learn!” a customer yelled.

“That has nothing to do with me! Damn it! Big Boy did whatever he wanted. I shouldn’t have opened a business with these idiots... Damn my luck...” Carlton grumbled.

“

Hahahahaha!

How about quitting now, Carlton?” a customer suggested.

“When customers show up, you’ve got to move fast! What are you doing, Big Boy?!” Yoojin shouted.

“Damn it! Don’t bring rum from another bar!” Carlton yelled.

“I can’t even drink your booze, it tastes awful. What can I do?” another customer replied.

“Then at least order some food!” Carlton told them.

“The worst part is that hambier meat, you idiot!

Hahahahaha!

” the customer laughed.

“Get out right now!” he shouted at them.

It was chaotic, loud, and messy.

As time went on, however, the streets gradually calmed down.

“...”

“...”

I watched as they quietly prepared to close the shop.

“Damn it... didn’t make much today either,” Big Boy mumbled.

“Plenty of people come, but none of them actually help with the sales. They just took up the space, damn it!” Yoojin said.

“That’s why I told you not to get into business! Big Boy! Damn it! Just retire quietly and invest in real estate, damn it! Why get into the food business? Selling food isn’t a joke. Damn it!” Carlton complained.

“Stop it, Carlton. Big Boy’s gonna sulk again,” Yoojin said.

As usual, the three of them bickered.

“...”

“...”

I stared blankly at them. Eventually, Big Boy glanced around and finally got up to his feet. I was startled, belatedly realizing that I’d been watching him without noticing the time.

‘Damn it.’

I turned, but Alex and noona were nowhere to be seen. For some reason, I wanted to hide. I hurriedly pulled my hood down, but then I heard his voice.

“...”

“...”

“Damn it... I-I’m not trying to hurt you...”

“...”

“A-are you hungry, kid?” Big Boy asked.

He scratched his head while holding out a skewer of hambier meat toward me.