Chapter 60: Tangled Fates in the Slums

Before anyone could reply, Karlahee left the office. Count Raon kept shooting a ‘Just go already’ look at the door until he suddenly realized something was off. The reaction when he heard about Lady Elina V wasn’t even close to the one for Schomord Youngae.

‘Does that mean… just how much money was lent?’

While Count Raon was lost in thought, Karlahee stopped by his room to change. Sporting a check shirt and round glasses, his inner fan ignited as he hurried off toward the Slums.

The thought of meeting an old friend made Karlahee a little giddy. Although he’d recently met the Emperor a few times, it had been quite a while since he met someone as a true fan.

‘Once I meet him, I must update him on the latest trial of that handsome guy. I’m sure he already knows most of it, though.’

Casting aside all hesitation, Karlahee quickened his steps toward the Slums to meet his friend.

Meanwhile, in the Slums, Mikhail, while darting through the alleys, encountered Lady Elina V.

“Saint.”

“Your Highness? How did you end up here…?”

Lady Elina V felt her heart flutter at the sight of Mikhail, who had come running to find her. She’d never seen him so flustered, and a pang of guilt washed over her for causing his worry.

“I’m sorry for acting on my own, but I couldn’t ignore the suffering of those in pain. I am this country’s saint and…”

“Enough. What about Lara?”

“Actually, I’m looking for her too. She was with me, but she vanished while I dozed off…”

“…Ha, how long has she been missing, Saint?”

Mikhail asked with a slight frown.

“About an hour, I suppose. …It’s my fault for succumbing to sleep. Let’s split up and search for her.”

At that moment, as Mikhail nodded and turned on his heel, a voice halted him.

“You really do care about Schomord, don’t you?”

“…Well, she’s a friend.”

“Schomord would count Your Highness among her closest friends as well.”

A warm voice followed, but Mikhail brushed it aside and hurried on. The sun had long set. It was a relief if he was just borrowing a restroom; otherwise…

‘I must find her soon…’

More desperate than usual, Mikhail sprinted. Not long after, he leaned against a wall in a narrow alley, panting heavily.

While his upper body heaved with exertion, his legs began to tremble. Eventually, Mikhail slumped down right there.

“Damn…!”

A growing wet stain spread between his modest thighs. Clenching his fists, he struck the wall hard. A burning sensation flared on his knuckles, yet he felt nothing but deep self-disgust that he couldn’t shake.

“Hey, are you alright?”

After what felt like ages with his head bowed, a familiar voice called out from behind the wall. It was so joyfully familiar that Mikhail almost thought it was a hallucination. He lifted his head.

“…M-Mikhail?”

“You rascal… ha, you really knew how to show up in style.”

Lara’s eyes widened at the sharp remark. Confused about what she’d done wrong, Mikhail blinked before glancing down at her.

“Why are you sitting here? More importantly… aren’t you a Geori-shin?”

“…”

“Ah, um, sorry. I didn’t mean to be tactless.”

“You really… geez.”

Mikhail muttered, biting his lip as he bowed his head again.

“I don’t want to see you like this. Just go.”

“But you don’t have spare clothes, do you? Instead of being stubborn, come with me. There’s a village inn nearby where you can stay.”

“How do you know that?”

“After spending the whole day on the run, I know this area like the back of my hand.”

‘From whom?’ Lara asked, and then, as she walked, she explained. Persuading Mikhail, Lara soon began walking alongside him.

Luckily, the dark street concealed the wet stain on Mikhail’s trousers. Grateful for the cover, Lara patiently answered his barrage of questions.

To summarize what had happened so far:

In order to safely get the boy and his mother away, Lara kept chatting with Lady Elina V. For 30 minutes she deliberately stalled with a tedious life story, interrupting the treatment, until she finally managed to lull Lady Elina V to sleep and escape with them.

Lara had found an inn where the boy’s mother could rest. After settling them in a modest room, she stepped out briefly to call for a doctor. Running into Mikhail by chance turned out to be a stroke of luck.

“I was wondering where to find a doctor, and I’m glad you showed up, Mikhail. You’ll help, won’t you?”

“Uh, after a quick wash,” Mikhail replied with a low chuckle.

Lara then booked another room and led him inside.

“Go wash up. I’ll get you some clean clothes. Need anything else?”

“Maybe a spare—just in case…”

“Alright, I’ll bring an overnight set.”

Lara smiled brightly as she replied. Both knew all too well the anxiety of possibly running out. Mikhail, about to say more, headed straight for the bathroom.

* * *

“She’s about this tall, with coral hair—could it be you?”

Meanwhile, Karlahee, after scouring the Slums like a man on a mission, arrived at a small inn. The innkeeper immediately recalled the guest with coral hair and led Karlahee to a room.

“You’ve booked two rooms for the day. I believe you’re in this one—the last one you reserved.”

“Thanks for the help.”

Karlahee tossed a tip into the innkeeper’s hand and stood at the door. As he gripped the doorknob, he faintly heard Lara’s voice from inside.

‘We finally meet, old friend.’

Thrilled as if reuniting in Suko, the capital of Comic World, he completely forgot to knock. After straightening his glasses, Karlahee swallowed hard and opened the door.

“Lara…”

He was about to call her name when his eyes caught an astonishing sight.

“Isn’t this place a bit too small?”

A man with light blonde hair draping down his shoulders stood there, nearly naked and wearing nothing but a diaper. And right in front of him stood a woman with a familiar profile…

“They say adult overnight sets aren’t available… So I only got diapers. For now, at least put these on.”

It was Lara. Seeing a friend insisting on wearing a diaper as an adult felt oddly surreal. Karlahee hesitated, covering his mouth in shock.

‘Is that a boyish cosplay…? Even so, that’s way too over the top…’

Even for the eccentric standards of the time, that was just too much. His dismayed eyes met Lara’s looking back, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“Uh… Rahi?”

Lara’s eyes lit up with cheerful surprise. Startled, Karlahee regretted not having fled sooner. Before he could try to escape, she grabbed his left hand firmly, leaving him no chance.

Seemingly aware of his unease, Lara turned happily to face Mikhail.

“Ah, Mikhail, let me introduce you. This is my dear friend, Rahi.”

‘He’s clearly His Highness, isn’t he?’

Mikhail thought so privately, though he said nothing. Rahi’s pseudonym looked strikingly derived from his real name, especially with those glasses on.

‘Is he trying to hide something or not?’

Mikhail grumbled under his breath as an awkward hand reached out.

“Nice to meet you. Just call me Rahi, alright?”

“I’m sorry, but given my appearance right now, I’d prefer to be properly dressed before we chat. Could you step outside for a moment?”

Instead of a handshake, Mikhail openly signaled for him to leave, barely hiding his irritation. Lara, playing the role of mediator, looked apologetic.

“I was in the middle of changing. I’m sorry. I’ll step out with my acquaintance for a bit.”

“Why do you need to leave?”

Just as Lara hurried to lead Rahi out, she froze. Being tugged on the wrist by a handsome guy clad only in a diaper hardly sent sparks flying—though his upper body did have its appeal.

“Here.”

When Mikhail tilted his head, a subtle scent wafted from his slightly damp blonde hair. Unsure how to respond, Lara reached out and grabbed his other wrist.

“I have some private matters to discuss—just the two of us. Let me take you out for a bit.”

“Rahi?”

Rahi looked puzzled as to what a private conversation between just the two of them could mean, leaving Lara equally mystified yet oddly excited.