They Called Me Trash? Now I'll Hack Their World-Chapter 124: You Bastard

The sun was dipping toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose.

A cool breeze swept through the street, carrying the scent of woodsmoke.

The evening air felt crisp against my face, refreshing after the warmth of the manor.

I was walking back from the Glimor manor with a lighter step than I’d had in days.

I turned my head and saw Agnes walking beside me, her small bag slung over my shoulder. She’d insisted on carrying it herself, but I’d taken it anyway.

That went better than expected.

I sighed internally, relief washing through me.

The Duke had examined the red hairs I’d given him with surprising thoroughness.

Held them up to the light, compared them against some description he had written down, even called in someone who seemed to know about identifying beastkins by their physical traits.

"It’s her," he’d said finally, satisfaction clear in his voice.

And just like that, the deal was sealed.

Agnes’s contract was mine. The advance paid off. She was free to leave.

"Young Master?"

Agnes’s soft voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"Hm?"

"Where are we going?"

"To the inn I’m staying at," I said. "It’s not far. Just a few more streets."

She nodded, falling into step beside me again.

We walked in comfortable silence for a moment before she spoke again.

"You’ve grown so tall," she said, her voice carrying a note of wonder. "I can barely recognize you from the boy I used to take care of."

"It’s only been a year, Agnes."

"A year can change a lot." She smiled up at me. "And handsome too. The girls at the Academy must be lining up."

I felt heat creep up the back of my neck.

"They’re not... that’s not—"

Before I could finish out a denial, her hand came up and ruffled my hair affectionately.

Just like she used to do when I was younger. When I’d done something she was proud of or needed comforting.

I froze mid-step, caught completely off guard by the gesture.

"Agnes," I muttered, trying to sound annoyed but failing completely.

She just laughed, her hand falling away.

"Sorry, Young Master. Old habits."

Exhaling through my mouth, I composed myself and began walking.

We reached the inn a few minutes later.

The common room was bustling with evening activity, warm lamplight casting a golden glow over the crowded tables. The smell of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air.

I led Agnes inside, catching the innkeeper’s attention at the bar.

"A meal for one," I said, gesturing to Agnes. "Whatever’s good tonight."

The innkeeper nodded. "We’ve got roasted chicken and vegetables. Fresh bread too."

"That’s fine."

I turned to Agnes, who was looking around the common room with quiet uncertainty.

"Sit here and eat," I told her, pointing to an empty table near the hearth. "Take your time. My room is upstairs, number seven at the end of the hall. I need to pack my things."

She blinked up at me. "You’re leaving already, Young Master?"

"We’re leaving," I corrected. "Tomorrow morning. But I need to get everything ready tonight."

Understanding crossed her face, followed by something that looked like relief.

"Of course."

I set her bag down by the table and headed for the stairs.

"Eat properly," I called back over my shoulder. "Don’t rush."

"Yes, Young Master."

I climbed the stairs to the second floor, the noise from the common room fading as I walked down the quiet hallway.

Room seven. End of the hall.

I unlocked the door and pushed it open.

The moment I stepped inside, chills ran down my spine.

I blinked, pausing mid-step.

What?

The room looked empty. Nothing out of place. Just the bed, the table, the window with curtains drawn.

But something felt wrong.

The air itself seemed different. Heavier somehow. Like the room had been disturbed recently, though I couldn’t point to any evidence of it.

I scanned the space more carefully. The curtains hung perfectly still. The bedcovers looked exactly as I’d left them this morning. Even the dust motes floating in the dim light seemed ordinary enough.

Yet my instincts screamed at me to turn around and leave.

"Am I feeling guilty for what I did to Scarlet?"

The thought came unbidden. Maybe my conscience was finally catching up with me for using her to—

The door slammed shut behind me.

"I knew it was you!"

A low growl rumbled directly behind me, so close I felt the vibration against my back.

Shit!

Before I could turn, before I could even process what was happening, something lunged at me from behind.

"You bastard!"

Weight crashed into me, driving me forward. I stumbled, arms windmilling, trying to catch my balance.

But I didn’t make it.

I hit the floor hard, my hands barely breaking my fall before Scarlet’s weight pinned me down from behind.

Her legs locked around my waist, one hand fisting in my hair while the other wrapped around my throat.

Not squeezing yet.

But the threat was clear.

"At least listen to—" I tried to say, thrashing beneath her.

Her grip tightened, cutting off my words.

"You betrayed me, you absolute asshole!" she snarled, her voice thick with fury. "You sold me out to that bastard!"

"I didn’t—"

Claws raked across my shoulder, sharp enough to sting even through my shirt.

I cursed, twisting, trying to buck her off.

But she held on.

Her breathing was ragged against my ear, each exhale hot with anger. I could feel her shaking, whether from rage or something else, I couldn’t tell.

"Scarlet, just listen for a second—"

"No!" Another swipe, this one catching the side of my neck. "You told him! Do you have any idea what he’ll do if he finds me?!"

Desperate, I activated my debug vision.

Her stats appeared in my peripheral vision, overlaid on reality.

[Weight: 52kg]

I focused on the number, mentally editing it.

The change was instant.

Her weight vanished almost completely, like she’d suddenly become made of air.

I rolled.

She yelped in surprise as I flipped us both, her back hitting the floor with a thud that would’ve been harder if she actually weighed what she should.

Now I was on top, pinning her wrists to either side of her head.

"Listen to me for a minute!" I said urgently.

"Get off me!" She thrashed, trying to knee me, to headbutt me, to do anything to break free.

But with her weight reduced, she had no leverage.

"I didn’t ditch you!" I said, holding her wrists tighter as she bucked beneath me. "I told him I sighted you somewhere on the other side of the city! That’s all!"

"Liar!" She twisted violently, managing to get one wrist free. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Her claws raked across my chest this time, tearing through fabric.

I cursed, grabbing for her wrist again, but she used the momentum to flip us.

Her weight returned to normal as my concentration broke.

Suddenly she was on top again, straddling my waist, both hands going for my throat.

I grabbed her wrists, trying to hold her back, but she was stronger.

We rolled again, crashing into the leg of the table.

She ended up on top again, breathing hard, her red hair falling around her face like a curtain as she leaned down.

One hand pressed against my throat.

Her eyes were narrowed to slits, fury and betrayal burning in them.

"Liar," she hissed.

"I’m telling the truth!" I said, my voice strained. "I didn’t tell him you were here! I just gave him enough to keep him satisfied so he’d let Agnes go!"

"No, you are lying!" Her grip tightened slightly. "He is looking for me all around!"

"No! I just told him I saw you near the eastern district, that you were probably already gone—"

"You expect me to believe that?!"

"Yes!" I met her eyes directly. "Because I still can help you! I can—"

Then suddenly, the door opened.

And we both froze.

Agnes stood in the doorway, her eyes wide, her mouth falling open as she took in the scene.

Me, pinned to the floor.

Scarlet, straddling me, hands on my throat, hair falling around us both.

For a second, nobody moved.

Nobody even seemed to breathe.

Agnes’s face cycled through several emotions in rapid succession. Shock. Confusion. Understanding. Then something else entirely that made her cheeks flush slightly.

Then Agnes’s mouth closed.

Opened again like she was going to say something.

And closed again.

Her face went bright red.

Then... she slammed the door shut so hard the walls shook.

And ran down the hallway.

I could hear her footsteps retreating rapidly, practically fleeing down the corridor.

Scarlet and I stared at the closed door.

Then slowly, very slowly, Scarlet looked down at me.

I looked up at her.

The silence stretched between us, heavy and awkward.

"That’s—" I started.

"Shut up."

She climbed off me quickly, backing away toward the window, her face flushed now too.

I sat up, rubbing my throat, and sighed.

"Great. Just perfect."