The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 40

“Where do I wash up? What about a change of clothes? After washing, I’d like to rest a bit – where’s my tent?”

“Hey, hey. Do you think this is your mansion, young master?”

“Even if it’s not a mansion, these are basics. I’m not just a guest to you, I’m your benefactor. You should treat me properly.”

The boss chuckled in disbelief.

“Yes, yes. We’ll take care of you as best we can.”

“Clothes.”

This much should be within acceptable limits. I held out my hand to the boss, perhaps a bit shamelessly.

He ordered a subordinate, and a Kans member immediately entered a tent and came out with a set of clothes. …Fur?

“Not taking it?”

“…Are you serious with this in this weather?”

“It’s the only new thing we have. What, you don’t like it?”

“How could I?”

I frowned as much as I could. Giving fur clothes in this season – isn’t that just messing with me? Or are they trying to make me collapse from heatstroke? I’d rather choose myself. I strode towards the tent the Kans member had just come out of.

The inside of the tent had only a straw bed covered with thin, hole-ridden cloth, two wooden boxes, and one uncomfortable-looking low wooden table. It was for sitting on the floor, but there weren’t even cushions.

Do they just sit on the dirt floor? Ugh. It looks like ants would crawl all over…

Trying hard not to imagine the lifestyle here, I opened the boxes. Maybe it was just my imagination, but there was a musty smell. Were these the clothes they chose from?

After taking a quick sniff, I stuffed the clothes back into the box and came out. After looking around all the tents set up in the narrow space and searching through the boxes, I came to a conclusion.

‘If I stay like this, I’ll get sick.’

I was already exhausted from the difficult march, and with poor bedding and food, I’d definitely fall ill. I didn’t want to be sick in a place with no one I could trust.

Having made up my mind, I took off a bracelet from my wrist and confidently handed it to the boss, saying:

“Go buy everything I say, brand new, right now.”

It was an expensive bracelet, but one I had prepared just in case for a day like this, so it was something commonly seen. Well, even if it wasn’t, the Kans would know how to handle stolen goods anyway.

I listed everything I would need, from bedding and clothes to washing supplies, dishes, and food ingredients.

“You think we can get all that- do you know how far it is to the village from here?”

“Buy it with the money from selling the bracelet, and keep what’s left. But if it’s not perfect, I’ll make you go buy it again.”

If you sell my bracelet, you should have quite a bit left over even after buying everything I asked for. You wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity, right?

The boss’s eyes, which had been examining the bracelet with an accurate eye for valuables, flashed with greed.

“Hmm. But you know, as this is stolen goods, the commission is quite high. I don’t think there’ll be much left after buying all these things.”

“If you want to keep more for yourself, it’s better to get good quality items in one go. That way, I’ll order from you again. Don’t you think?”

What a schemer. I smiled slyly as I rolled up my right sleeve. There’s another identical bracelet on my right wrist. Pleased, the boss grinned greedily, showing his teeth.

“Hahaha! Feiden! You’ve got the fastest legs, so go!”

“Boss, are you serious?”

The one called Feiden pointed at the sky. It seemed like there were still a few hours before sunset, but apparently, the village was quite far away. The boss threw my bracelet to Feiden.

“Half of the leftover money is yours. If you don’t want to go, I’ll send someone else-“

After catching the bracelet and checking it, the guy quickly raised his head and shouted.

“I’ll go! Boss! I’ll go! I’m leaving right now! Ah, young master, what should I buy?”

As expected. Money is such a good tool for making people work. Give a generous tip, and see how eager they become. I carefully explained each item to Feiden, who said he couldn’t read. He repeated it several times to memorize, then headed down the mountain with a confident face.

Alright, now the preparations for my stay are done. Next is securing a place to sleep.

“And please empty out that tent completely. I’ll be using it.”

I pointed to the cleanest-looking tent, and the boss grinned as if expecting something more.

“Are you glaring because you think I don’t know how much your bracelet will sell for?”

What more do you want to get out of this? Do you know how expensive that bracelet is?

Finally, the boss cleared his throat and called over a passing Kans member.

“Taran! Clean up the tent the young master pointed out!”

The Kans guy who was called out glared at me with fierce eyes. His round face, still not fully grown, looked quite familiar.

‘Ah. It’s that guy who tried to kill me at the mansion.’

I thought he was a good actor, but he’s actually someone with a grudge against nobles.

But why is he glaring at me when I didn’t do anything wrong? What is this, guilt by association? Even the knights of our family who were severely beaten by me are respectful in front of me.

I entered the tent I would be using and watched the guy cleaning the interior with my arms crossed. Every time our eyes met as he moved around, he scrunched up his face.

But that was all. The Kans didn’t pick a fight with me, and I, who was looking for something to nitpick about, couldn’t find anything suitable to say. I could force an argument if I wanted to, but that wouldn’t be subtle.

I went to find the boss, flapping my damp, sticky clothes. He was sprawled out on the bed in his own tent. Not washed, still wearing the clothes he’d been traveling in for days…

The hygiene situation is really the worst. How can he have such a sturdy physique living like this? Why is he healthy? It’s really unfair.

“Hey.”

“Yeah, what?”

“I need someone to attend to me. Can I use the person cleaning my tent? He seems to clean quite neatly.”

“That guy is thorough. But are you sure? He has a deep grudge against nobles. I assigned Taran to clean your tent as a warning.”

Oh ho. He’s really good at handling people. Did he understand the boss’s intention and only glare at me because he knew the situation? No wonder he was so docile.

But if so, he should have been more careful. Let’s have him serve the noble he hates so much. I put on a slightly surprised expression, as if I didn’t remember the person.

“Oh really? I had no idea.”

Then, as if suddenly remembering, I tilted my head and rolled my eyes.

“Ah, was he that person from the mansion?”

“That’s right. If you need someone, I think it would be better to use someone else.”

“Hmm. But the others look a bit scary…”

I deliberately trailed off, and the boss looked at me with an inscrutable expression.

That bastard, whenever he looks at me with that expression, it really irritates me. It feels like I’m being looked down on. Or like he doesn’t believe what I’m saying. Anyway, it felt that way. It’s annoying.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

I said crossly with my arms folded, and the boss shrugged.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but don’t torment Taran too much. He’s a bit hurt, but he’s a diligent guy.”

“What are you talking about? Do I look like someone who would torment others?”

If he changes his attitude first, I won’t touch him. We’ll have to stay here for a few days, and how often would we run into each other in this small space? If there’s someone glaring at me every time we meet, it would greatly increase my discomfort, and that would ultimately ruin my condition.

It would be better to keep him close and give him tasks, maintaining a comfortable state of mind, rather than getting annoyed every time we meet.

“It would be good if Taran realizes that it would be troublesome to make an enemy of someone like you, young master.”

He’s not listening to me at all. And he seems convinced that I’ll torment Taran. He’s even trying to use me for education? I can’t stand being used by anyone.

“I won’t torment him. I’ll just get a little help with daily life.”

“Well, whatever. I’ll talk to Taran. Now go away. Let me rest too.”

The boss waved his hand as if annoyed. What an arrogant guy. I glared at him for a moment, then left the tent, roughly flapping the canvas.

* * *

It would take at least four days for the Second Prince to arrive, even at the fastest. But this was just my hope. Realistically considering, it would probably take at least ten days. Since we had been traveling for three days and nights.

Ten days… The thought of staying in this filthy place for ten days suddenly made me feel suffocated. I desperately wanted to leave these guys here and go down to the village alone to stay at an inn.

But if it were the First Prince, he would have already spread people around to destroy evidence. Since he wouldn’t know all the Kans members, he probably distributed wanted posters for the boss and a few close associates. There would likely be one for me too, with high probability.

If I were caught, they might quickly dispose of me and blame it on the Kans. No, there’s a good chance they would do that to have a pretext for executing the Kans on the spot. Moreover, they can’t be sure whether I know the truth or not in this situation.

Thinking about it from all angles, the First Prince is indeed the type of person who would dispose of me if he could.

“Hah…”

I really have to stay put here. I miss our Luwen.