When I Cleared the Death Game World, I Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble Even if They Talk About Doom Flags, I'm Actually Immortal. - Chapter 6

“Ugh… my head’s pounding… I definitely overdid it last night.”

Laura Valiès groaned, pressing her temple as she sluggishly rolled out of bed.

Her messy, golden-blonde hair tumbled down in waves, swaying slightly as she stretched.

Rubbing her sharp, wolf-like eyes, she let out a small yawn.

She was, without a doubt, a striking beauty, but the lingering scent of alcohol clinging to her skin completely ruined the effect.

Laura was a knight serving the Orion Marquisate.

At twenty years old, she had been working for the household since she graduated at eighteen, making this her second year in service.

She carefully stepped around the empty bottles littering her floor, ensuring she didn’t trip, before stumbling out of her room.

The bright morning sun immediately assaulted her senses, making her squint.

Still sluggish, she dragged herself toward the nearest water basin to wash her face.

(…Is that Lord Lior?)

As she passed by a hallway window, she caught sight of Lior running in the mansion’s courtyard.

His breathing was heavy, sweat dripping as he circled the yard repeatedly.

Standing nearby, holding a towel and a water flask, was a beastkin maid—one of the girls Lior had taken in.

(What’s he doing?)

Still half-asleep, Laura stared blankly at the scene.

Just then, a fellow knight walked by, noticing where she was looking.

Following her gaze, he let out a knowing hum.

“Ah, you’re watching Lord Lior’s training?”

“Training?”

“Yeah. He’s been doing this every morning for days now. But you wouldn’t know that since you sleep in like a damn sloth.”

Apparently, Lior’s morning runs weren’t just a one-time thing—he had been training regularly for a while now.

“…Why did he suddenly start doing this?”

“Who knows? No one dares to ask. You’d have to be an idiot to get on his bad side. Getting fired by him would be a nightmare.”

“…That’s true.”

“But if I had to guess? He probably just wants to build stamina or get stronger.”

“Get stronger, huh…?”

Laura murmured to herself, still watching Lior run.

But her gaze wasn’t one of curiosity—it was pity.

The kind of look one might give to a butterfly caught in a spider’s web.

However, while she acknowledged the struggle, she had no intention of helping.

A fleeting drop of sympathy, lost in the ocean of indifference.

(Well… not my problem.)

With that, she turned away and continued toward the water basin.

Knights and Their Role

A knight’s true duty only began during emergencies.

They were called upon to eliminate bandits, subdue rampaging monsters, and handle any threats to the domain.

But during peaceful times, their work was minimal—mostly routine training and patrols.

(The city looks peaceful today… at least on the surface.)

Now dressed in uniform, Laura patrolled the city streets.

The Orion Marquisate’s capital was a crucial trade hub, linking the western kingdom to the empire.

The main roads bustled with merchants, travelers, and residents, creating a lively and organized atmosphere.

On the surface, it appeared to be the ideal trade city.

But the truth lay beneath the surface.

Without hesitation, Laura veered off the main street, stepping into a shadowed alleyway.

The air immediately felt thicker, damp and oppressive.

Deeper inside, she spotted a shady transaction taking place.

A nervous-looking man, likely a tourist, stood across from a hooded figure.

The tourist rattled a pouch of coins before handing it over.

In return, the hooded figure passed him a small glass bottle filled with a murky purple liquid.

Everything about the exchange screamed illegal.

If it were a legitimate deal, it wouldn’t be happening in a deserted alleyway.

“Conducting business in a place like this? You’re not selling illegal substances, are you?”

“Oh dear…”

“W-Wait! This isn’t—!”

At Laura’s words, the tourist panicked, flailing his hands desperately.

Meanwhile, the hooded dealer remained composed, simply waving a hand dismissively.

“Oh, not at all. I’m merely selling… a very special liquor. Nothing illegal here.”

“Hah! Like hell I’m buying that excuse—”

“Oh, I see. If that’s the case, then there’s no need for the knights to interfere.”

“…What?”

The obviously illicit nature of the deal should have warranted an immediate arrest—

But instead, Laura casually dismissed it, as if she truly believed it was nothing.

And the reason was simple.

Because she already knew what was being sold.

It was a highly addictive drug, strictly banned within the empire.

And yet—Laura showed no sign of stopping it.

She knew exactly what it was.

And she let it slide anyway.

“Heh, thanks for your cooperation. Oh, right. The knights have always been a great help to us… So, here’s a little something as a token of our appreciation.”

“I’ll take it. I’ll inform the captain as well.”

“Much obliged.”

“W-Wait, what…?”

Ignoring the tourist’s confusion, Laura accepted a heavy pouch from the hooded dealer.

It was larger than the one the tourist had handed over.

And as the metallic clinking reached her ears, she didn’t even need to check the contents to know—

This wasn’t some “token of appreciation.”

It was a bribe.

“Keep up the good work. The knights appreciate your support.”

“Heh. Of course.”

Laura turned on her heel, leaving the alleyway as if nothing had happened.

The only thing that felt different from when she arrived—

Was the added weight of the pouch now hidden inside her coat.

To put it bluntly, the Orion Marquisate’s knight order was corrupt to the core.

While knights were supposed to uphold law and order within the territory, those serving the Orion family had long abandoned their duties.

As long as enough money exchanged hands, crimes were ignored—including the illegal trade of narcotics and contraband.

Because of this, criminal organizations thrived in the Orion Marquisate, operating unchecked under the knights’ protection.

Naturally, as these organizations flourished, crime rates soared.

Assaults, disappearances, and even murders were an everyday occurrence.

However, since the crime was organized, it was kept under wraps—and when something did slip through, the knights simply covered it up.

Outwardly, the city remained pristine, boasting clean streets and thriving markets.

But beneath its polished facade, it was rotting from within, infested with decay and corruption.

(…The sun’s too damn bright today.)

Stepping out onto the main street, Laura instinctively squinted as the sun’s glare hit her eyes.

As she adjusted to the light, she noticed a boy waving at her from across the road.

In his hand, he clutched a small wooden sword, holding it high like a prized possession.

He was probably one of those kids who dreamed of becoming a knight.

His bright, innocent eyes shimmered with admiration as he looked at her.

(I used to be like that too… once.)

Laura averted her gaze, unwilling to meet the boy’s hopeful expression.

Without another glance, she turned away—

And hurried back to the mansion, as if fleeing from something.