Chapter 32 - A Detour

Chapter 32 - A Detour

"Just call me Mago."

"Alright, Mago-rago."

"No, not 'Mago-rago,' just Mago. That couldn't possibly be my name."

"I'm joking, Mago. Help me move this stuff."

"Yes, Madam."

I followed her to the luggage compartment.

"So, the other wagons are late because they're sticking to the route? Although, it's not exactly 'late' since you just decided to arrive faster."

"Madam Anne, about what's in the barrels..."

"Wine. It's just wine."

"If it's just wine, why did we have to avoid the checkpoint?"

"The Empire hates this street, this entertainment district. They want to keep my influence in check. If the shipments exceed their monthly quota, they block the flow of alcohol. But stopping business isn't an option, nor is scaling it down—it's all money."

"Ah, so that's why..."

"Anyway, it's good that this shipment got through. Who knows what'll happen with the others."

I placed an oak barrel near the entrance of Anne's new store.

"You really did well. Having a connection in the Empire's army—a relative, no less—is invaluable. Let's work together for a long time, Mago."

"Thank you."

I moved the rest of the barrels.

"Mago, have you worked in a place like this before? I've heard you're surprisingly quick for someone who's just started."

"Not in a store, no. I used to work as a housemaid. I was a slave."

"Huh? Really? Are people still sold around here?"

She gestured at me as she asked, treating me like merchandise—a feeling I hadn't experienced in a while.

"No, not anymore."

I pulled a wooden plaque from my pocket.

It depicted a pair of folded wings—Kinjo's gift, a token of freedom.

"My apologies."

"It's fine. It's not exactly something I'm ashamed of."

"So, they say you're the one doing all the heavy lifting? Word is you've got the strength of a horse. Mind if I test it out?"

She reached toward my chest.

I clenched my fist, ready to twist her wrist the moment she tried anything foolish...

"Just kidding."

Anne shrugged.

"You can handle horses, you're strong, and you have connections in the Empire's army. Hmm, impressive."

"Impressive in what way?"

"Mago, have you been to the third floor?"

"No, I was told not to go to the third and fourth floors yet. I haven't helped with closing, either."

"Closing? Oh, right. You're not ready for that part yet. Don't worry about it."

"You're making me more curious. I'd like to help, though."

"There's really no need. That's for later."

Anne's expression stiffened slightly.

She was clearly hiding something about what happens after closing.

"What about the third and fourth floors? Can I at least check those out?"

"Nope. We don't let rookies handle upper-floor matters."

Even after this job, that would still be off-limits.

Anne seemed to like me well enough, but the third floor and beyond were a different story.

"If you want to work on the third floor, you'll need to try harder!"

She gave me a playful pat on the back.

"But I am thinking of giving you a third-floor-related task..."

"What is it?"

She glanced at the wagon.

"After the Anaconda closes, I'd like you to escort third-floor patrons home."

"Do you mean driving them?"

"Yes, but with a different wagon—not the cargo one. The third-floor patrons often leave too drunk to even stand. You see, the third floor is..."

"For customers seeking a little detour from normal life."

"Exactly. Some of them collapse right outside, or worse, get mugged. Ensuring their safety would be great for Anaconda's reputation. People saying we manage the district's security would be a bonus. That's why we need a dedicated driver."

"And you think I'd be a good fit?"

"That's right. Skilled drivers are hard to come by, and you fit the bill."

"Leave it to me."

"We'll charge an additional fee for the service, of course, and I'll make sure you get a share."

"Thank you."

"You can start tonight."

"Where to?"

***

The wagon was different now.

Instead of a cargo hold, it had a passenger compartment behind the driver's seat, drawn by two horses.

My first passenger was a tall, dark-haired man.

"Sir?"

"Haaah..."

He seemed barely coherent.

"Where can I take you?"

"140... 49th street..."

I quickly glanced at the map, which showed the nearby entertainment district.

"Understood."

I set off, driving steadily.

On the way, I asked him various questions:

-Do you visit Anaconda often?

-What's your favorite drink?

-Are you close to Madam Anne?

-What do you think of her?

Despite my attempts, I got no answers.

He was completely out of it, likely having drunk himself senseless.

By the time we arrived at his home, I'd learned nothing.

The house was smaller than I expected—a two-story building accessible only via a narrow alley.

I parked the wagon at the alley entrance, too narrow for it to pass through.

"Sir, we've arrived."

"Ugh..."

I opened the passenger compartment door myself.

All I wanted now was to drop him at his doorstep and leave.

I propped him up and helped him stand.

"We're here. Is this your house?"

He gave a weak nod.

As he did, I noticed something at his collar—a dark mark on the back of his neck.

"What is this..."

Two black punctures.

It looked like something had pierced his skin, leaving twin holes, now dry with traces of blood.

Perfect marks for a vampire's fangs.

"Sir?"

His legs buckled, and he nearly collapsed.

I caught him and dragged him to the door, setting him down unceremoniously.

"There you go. Head inside."

"Yeah..."

His movements were slow but practiced as he fumbled for his keys.

"Will you be visiting Anaconda again tomorrow?"

"Mm..."

I watched him insert the key into the lock before turning to leave.

140, 49th Street.

I committed the address to memory.

***

He went straight back to the Anaconda.

It was time to pick up another customer.

"It wasn't drunkenness; it was anemia."

He had been drained of blood.

It happened on the third floor.

"The vampires working at the Anaconda must drink blood on the third floor—human blood."

That was why I wasn't allowed to go up to the third floor.

Because I was human.

Because my eyes weren't red.

I was never permitted there in the first place.

The man had said he'd go to the Anaconda again tomorrow.

"It doesn't seem like it was taken by force."

If it wasn't taken, then he must have entered the third floor willingly to offer his blood to the vampires.

A customer, who should have paid money for food and drink, had instead offered something in return.

He had given them his human blood.

"In that case, there must have been some sort of compensation…"

There must have been compensation for him to offer his blood.

Afterward, I ferried four more customers.

All of them were out of sorts.

Including the first man, that made five.

I discreetly pulled back their collars to check their necks.

Every single one of them bore puncture marks.

That was the end of my coachman work for the night.

I headed south and returned to the inn where I had been staying.

As soon as I entered the room, I locked the door.

On the bed lay a raincoat, carelessly tossed aside.

A navy-blue raincoat I'd received from an imperial soldier.

Inside a half-open case was a crimson sword.

It was time to put it to use.

It was time to ask directly.

Before heading to work at the Anaconda, I stopped by the carriage parked next to the building.

In the passenger compartment, I hid two items beneath the seat.

A raincoat folded down as compactly as possible.

A crimson sword wrapped tightly in the white curtain from the inn.

I crouched down to ensure they weren't easily visible unless deliberately searched for.

Once I started work, I was too busy to think about anything else.

Closing time approached.

"Goodbye, Mago. See you later."

A senior waved at me.

"Am I leaving alone again today?"

"Leaving alone is a privilege, you know?"

As we talked, Madam Anne came downstairs.

"Mago, good work. Actually, just a little more. I'm counting on you again tonight."

"Understood."

I stepped outside.

As Madam Anne had said, my coachman duties continued tonight as well.

I waited for the man from yesterday.

He had said he'd come to the Anaconda again today.

"Should I take you home?"

As expected, he got into the carriage.

He was in the same condition as yesterday.

Sighing deeply.

Responding sluggishly.

Barely able to move his own body properly.

140, then 49th Street again.

"Sir, we've arrived."

We arrived at his residence.

Once again, I had to drag him out myself.

He tried shaking his head vigorously to regain his senses, but it didn't help much.

His neck.

The marks on the back of his neck hadn't healed and had been punctured again today.

Two nights in a row.

He staggered into the alleyway.

Meanwhile, I returned to the passenger compartment.

I put on the raincoat hidden under the seat.

Grabbing the sword wrapped in cloth, I pulled the hood of the raincoat low over my face.

I slowly followed him.

"Is it… raining…?"

The man glanced sideways at me and raised his right hand to check for rain.

"It's not raining."

"Then why the raincoat…?"

I pulled the hood lower over my face.

The early morning alley.

I pushed the man deeper into the alley and said:

"Answer my question."

"What…?"

I removed the cloth wrapped around the crimson sword.

The sword was revealed.

I pressed the sheathed blade against his neck.

"Why did you go to the Anaconda?"

"W-wait…"

The man waved his hands frantically.

"Answer me."

"To the Anaconda…?"

"Yes. The Anaconda, the third floor."

"Of course, I went to the Anaconda to drink… to drink."

"You seem more like the one offering than drinking."

"Ugh… how did you know…"

"Do you feel like talking now?"

"I-I can't tell you…"

I made a motion as if drawing the sword.

Though I couldn't draw it from its scabbard, it was effective enough.

"Eek…!"

He clenched his eyes shut and abruptly stood up, attempting to flee past me.

I grabbed his collar and slammed him to the ground.

"Gah…!"

"Why did you give your blood to a vampire?"

I pressed the end of the sheath against his chest.

"H-huff…"

"Vampires don't drink the blood of their own kind. Why did you give them human blood?"

"Blood… it was just a price…"

The Coaster family's creed suddenly came to mind.

Blood as a price.

A price to the devil.

"A price?"

"Yes… a price."

"Did the staff at the Anaconda ask for blood instead of money?"

"N-no… I wanted to."

"Explain in detail."

I pressed the sword harder against him.

"Guh, I'll tell you…!"

"From the beginning to the end."

"To drink their blood, you have to offer blood…"

"To drink blood?"

"Yes… you have to give blood to the vampires at the Anaconda to drink theirs…"

"Why would you want to drink vampire blood?"

"That's… to become like them. To drink vampire blood on the fourth floor…!"

The answer was unexpected.

Blood for blood.

Giving blood to receive blood.

That was the third and fourth floors of the Anaconda.

The third floor was a place for customers seeking an escape from the ordinary life.

Or, interpreted differently, another kind of escape—from the sun.

And the fourth floor was for those who didn't want to drink liquor.

If not liquor, then certainly not water either.

It had to be blood.

"Not everyone who drinks vampire blood becomes a vampire."

"I know…!"

"Even a few who don't show rejection symptoms wouldn't be fully transformed."

"I know that too!"

"Then why try to become a vampire?"

"Urgh…"

He turned his head away.

"Answer me."

"Because of the war…"

"The war?"

"We're all going to die! As humans, as weaklings, we'll all be trampled to death! Inferior creatures like humans will only be slaughtered…!"