kscans

Chapter 7 - The Master and Attendant's Secret Theater

"Good work on your duties."

In the office, Litt sat in a chair by the window. On the small table beside him were three books. His long finger tapped the botanical sketch collection on top.

"Is that sarcasm?"

Touli poured tea into a cup and passed it, saucer and all, to his master.

"It's a genuine compliment. Just accept it."

"Coming from you, it sounds disingenuous."

"Don't you 'you' the master who just saved you from a dangerous situation."

"The one who actually saved me was Lord Jin."

The captured thugs had been moved to the Royal Knights' quarters. Jin was interrogating them personally.

"It would be nice if they just spilled everything without a fuss."

At Litt's words, Touli's brow furrowed. The speaker himself took a sip from his cup with an elegant motion.

"The Royal Knights don't... torture people, do they?"

"That kind of thing only happens in stories. In reality, a certain vice-captain threatens them by cleaving a large desk in two with one stroke, and then gets scolded by the property management official later."

"That sounds plenty like something out of a story."

Touli poured a second infusion of tea into his own cup. The aroma was significantly weaker than the first, but the tea leaves were of good quality, so it still had some color and flavor.

"Well. It was probably the work of the villainous lady or Spi-boy."

His hand slipped. Tea spilled from the cup onto the floor.

"Wh-what—"

"My bad. For using you as a decoy."

The jade eyes weren't smiling. They held a blade-like light.

"If you're really fed up, I'll write you that letter of recommendation to the Royal Knights."

"...No."

Litt's eyes widened slightly as Touli shook his head.

"It's not too late, you know."

"I don't know what any of this means. But I have no intention of leaving the stage halfway through."

He looked his master straight in the eye.

"No matter what kind of play it turns out to be."

Be it comedy or tragedy.

Litt's lips twisted into a smile.

"—Alright."

A pleased, enchanting smile.

"For now, wipe the floor. Then, I'll hear everything."

"The stories you've gathered with your rabbit ears, you mean."

Putting the cup aside, Touli picked up a rag. Meanwhile, Litt leisurely crossed his long legs.

"This master-attendant game is quite interesting."

"It's not a game, it's real."

"Looks like that letter of recommendation to the Royal Knights won't be needed for a while."

Litt brought the teacup to his lips.

"My apologies."

Jin bowed his head to Litt, who was seated at his desk.

"The three thugs are all subcontractors of subcontractors of subcontractors of subcontractors. We have no idea who the real client is."

"Figured as much. Don't worry about it."

Litt's quill pen flew across the paper. A large sheet of paper was spread across the entire desk. Touli looked at the draft in his hand, then his gaze fell to the fair copy paper.

"It's a common trick, isn't it, Jin?"

"If you put it that way, it makes the Royal Knights look bad, but..."

Litt said without looking up.

"Still, we learned something. It's someone who can hire a subcontractor of a subcontractor of a subcontractor of a subcontractor—a chain so long the Royal Knights can't trace it."

Jin stroked his chin and groaned.

"Someone with wealth."

"And someone who knows the ins and outs of the underworld."

Litt wiped the tip of his pen with a cloth. He set down the quill pen, picked up a golden quill pen, and signed the bottom right corner of the paper.

"My ink is running low,"

Litt murmured.

The silver-lidded bottle had about a quarter of its ink left.

"Guess I'll go buy some."

Putting away the quill pen, Litt stretched his arms up high, letting out a yawn.

"I'll go for you."

Touli skillfully rolled up the large sheet of paper he was holding.

"No, I have another errand to run while I'm out."

"This isn't just an excuse to slack off, is it?"

Touli's eyes narrowed.

"Call it a break that also serves a practical purpose."

"So it is slacking off."

"What would you do if a Court Secretary's lifeblood, his dominant hand, got tendonitis? It's a break that serves a practical purpose."

As Litt leaned back in his chair, Jin touched the sword hanging at his waist.

"Need a bodyguard?"

"I'm just buying ink. I'll be fine."

"Really?"

"You worry too much, my friend."

Propping his elbows on the desk, Litt clasped his hands and rested his chin on them.

"Save your doting for the ladies."

"Hey, wait a minute, I can't let that slide. It makes me sound like I'm always chasing after women."

"My mistake. It was the other way around."

As he put the rolled-up paper on a shelf, Touli continued his master's thought.

"The young ladies are the ones chasing you, Lord Jin. It must be tough being a popular man."

"Touli. Don't suddenly conspire with Litt."

"E-even if you say that, I am but a humble attendant."

Touli glared at Litt, who was imitating his voice.

"That doesn't sound like me at all."

"I know, right? I thought so too."

Touli's cheeks puffed out.

"You weren't even trying to sound like me from the start, were you?"

"Oh, you noticed?"

"Of course I did."

"Dubbing is hard, isn't it?"

"This is an office. Please don't fool around."

"...That goes for both of you."

They both looked at Jin. What? two pairs of eyes seemed to ask.

"Don't do it outside this room."

Jin let out a deep sigh at the master and attendant, who both had prior convictions.

"It's fine, it's fine. As long as we don't get caught, it's fine."

At Litt's carefree smile, Jin smoothly drew his longsword.