Became the Imperial-Certified Mad Dog

The Criminal Returns to the Scene

‘We’re here, this is our house.’

The place that the Serpe boss who introduced himself as Karma called his house was a fairly sizeable mansion.

While not quite an extravagant mansion where high nobles might live, it was a good house with a fountain garden – already too luxurious for a criminal.

‘It’s huge, were you a noble?’

This wasn’t just a sarcastic remark – it really wasn’t the kind of house an ordinary major mafia boss could acquire. No matter how much money one had, there were limits to what non-nobles could openly enjoy in this country.

Looking at the similar level mansions lined up like street trees in the surroundings, this seemed to be in Duke Lung’s noble district.

Surely the duchy’s officials would have done various checks during move-in – how could a mafia boss like him become neighbors with the duchy’s nobles?

‘Well, I was when I was young, though it’s a bit complicated now.’

‘…’

‘…Earlier when he heard my surname and mentioned nobility…’

Seeing how he awkwardly evaded the question with a grimace, Karma didn’t seem to want to discuss this topic.

While I wanted to get back at him for mocking my name earlier, unlike that criminal bastard, I was a person with manners, so I specially decided to not ask any further questions out of consideration.

‘Now, before we go in, let’s confirm one last time. What’s your job?’

‘Being your daughter’s lackey until she turns 16.’

*Thump*

‘Why’d you hit me?’

‘Let me warn you in advance – I might let it slide, but if you talk like that in front of Peri and our princess learns from it, I’ll cut off your wrists first.’

‘Sheesh, damn… She’s going to become a mafia anyway. I’m just giving her early education so she won’t lose in power struggles…’

‘Shut up, just do as you’re told. Got it? I’ll give you a separate uniform later, so when you’re guarding Peri, wear that uniform neatly, and obviously don’t talk like trash like you are now – speak like you did to the doctor.’

‘Damn, so many demands…’

‘I’m the boss, if you don’t like it, you should’ve told your parents not to take loan sharks.’

‘…’

This bastard. Right, I almost forgot while talking with him briefly.

He’s not some kind guardian looking after me.

He’s a gangster trying to use me as his daughter’s guard dog by holding my enslaved parents hostage.

‘…Tch.’

‘Seems like you understand, so that’s good. Let’s go in now.’

Karma, having received my commitment, strode into the mansion’s main gate which still seemed suspicious how he obtained it, and as soon as he entered, an elderly butler-like man came out to greet us.

‘Welcome home, master. Miss Peri has already gone to her room to rest. Is this child the one Mr. Galling mentioned…’

‘Yeah, he’s going to be Peri’s guard from today. Old man, I’ll head in myself, so show him to his room.’

‘Yes.’

‘Pleased to meet you, sir. I may be inexperienced as this is my first job, but please point out my mistakes strictly when they occur.’

‘Unlike what Mr. Galling said, you’re quite a polite young man. There shouldn’t be any concerns about being disrespectful to Miss Peri.’

The stern-looking elderly butler immediately showed satisfaction at my respectful greeting.

‘Ugh, I get goosebumps every time I see this…’

And the gangster who just told me to be polite got goosebumps on his arms, seemingly disturbed by something.

‘Follow me this way, hohoho. Master, please excuse us.’

‘Oh, oh, sure…’

Leaving behind the dumbfounded Karma, as I followed the butler into the mansion, just before entering the building, I briefly turned my head and flashed a mocking smile along with a middle finger at him before the butler could see.

Of course, when Karma saw this, veins popped on his forehead but

‘…Phew.’

Was it my imagination that despite his annoyance, he seemed somehow relieved by my provocation?

*

The room the butler pointed out as my sleeping quarters was a very simple and narrow room with just a small bed barely big enough for one adult, a small desk, a coat rack, and a lamp.

‘This will be your room. Of course, since you’re staff and not a guest, you’ll need to clean it yourself.’

‘That’s fine, I’m already grateful for such a nice room.’

It wasn’t just empty gratitude – even though it was a servant’s room, being in a noble’s mansion meant it was better than my original room.

The bed had a real mattress with cotton stuffing rather than just cloth over straw, making it quite soft.

While my family was somewhat poor, even accounting for that, this room was definitely better than where most common children slept.

‘Hohoho, our mansion does tend to take good care of its staff’s welfare.’

The butler, seeming to know the commoners’ situation, appeared to take pride in this as he started explaining how good this mansion was, even though I hadn’t asked.

‘Coming to a place like this, I guess I haven’t completely run out of luck.’

As elderly people generally like to talk, I quietly listened and added a comment, making the butler nod again.

‘From today, will I be guarding the young lady… Peri was her name?’

‘No, your uniform hasn’t arrived yet, and the young lady needs some rest after today’s incident, so it’s fine for today. I heard you’ve been through a lot too, so take today to rest.’

Things happened so quickly it feels like days have passed, but I only arrived in this city yesterday, and turning the slave market into a bloodbath, saving Peri, and jumping into Serpe’s headquarters all happened this morning – not even hours ago.

Thanks to my body and endurance trained by grandfather, I could somehow move, but in reality, every breath made my whole body scream in pain, and I could feel the wounds under the bandages tearing.

‘Then get some rest. I’ll introduce you to the other staff at dinner time.’

I’m not sure how much he’d heard about me, but the butler left me to rest alone, and I waited a few minutes just in case before lying down on the bed.

‘Ahh~! Damn, this feels good~!’

Though it’s not because of Karma’s threats, I should probably work on my language.

I wasn’t usually this rough even when not in front of my parents, but after dealing with human trash for a month, swearing has stuck to me like gum.

Separately from that, the bed was as soft as I’d hoped.

Maybe because it’s my first proper private space in a month, despite being in enemy territory, the tension melted away too easily.

‘Can I really trust that bastard?’

Glancing at the window, Karma was still standing in the garden, looking pathetic… no, looking closer, there was a subordinate in front of him – seems he’s giving some instructions.

According to the original plan, his head should have been at my feet by now – how did I end up bowing to him instead?

‘This is all because of that kid Peri.’

It was strange from the start when there was a kid younger than me in the back alleys being persistently chased by strange kidnappers, but who would have thought she was Serpe’s only daughter.

For the largest mafia in the duchy, having their daughter targeted suggests Serpe’s influence isn’t so absolute.

‘Ah well, what does it matter, it’s not my… well, maybe it is.’

Whether I like it or not, I have to protect that child perfectly for the next 6 years. Since her life is tied to my parents’ lifeline, I need to be sensitive to anything that could be even a small threat to her.

‘…Well, first impressions are important anyway, and this isn’t the time to be picky.’

I slowly got up from the bed with my aching body and opened the wardrobe.

‘Sigh, these inconsiderate bastards, if they were going to move them, they could’ve at least wiped off the blood, they’ll get rusty.’

Instead of clothes, the wardrobe contained two Gurkha knives that I’d carried without letting go for the past month.

After quickly wiping the blood off the blades with a towel from the desk, I examined them for damage and stared at the blades for a moment.

‘Don’t worry, Mom and Dad, I’ll definitely save you.’

After making this promise in my heart, I wrapped the towel around my waist, tucked in the knives, and jumped out the window toward where Karma was.

‘Right, find those bastards who dared to mess with us as soon as possi… Aack!?’

*Thump* As always, for a gangster, he’s such a coward. He’s totally freaking out as if I was going to fly down from the sky and stab his forehead with my Gurkha.

‘I’m going out for a bit.’

‘Hey, wait, are you crazy?! Where are you going?!’

‘To work!’

‘What…?’

‘I’ll be back before dinner!’

While it was obvious where I was going in this situation, I gave a casual answer to Karma who was needlessly questioning me, and started running slowly to not strain my body.

‘Boss, isn’t that bastard running away…?’

‘…He doesn’t even know where his parents are, so probably not… Is this right…’

‘More than that… wasn’t he nearly dead earlier…? He seems pretty energetic…’

‘…’

Was that doctor really a master physician even though I was just saying that?

‘Surprisingly, my body moves well.’

As I ran, the burden was surprisingly light, so I increased my speed, thinking this might be doable.

‘Now, where should I start?’

Just a month ago, I had never even pointed a blade at anyone except grandfather, let alone swung one, but after a month of traveling, I had developed a knack for finding bad guys, so I first ran to where we had encountered those guys earlier.