HPL 29

chapter 29

Even after the wind had died down, Wayne looked strangely anxious.

When I tilted my head in question, Wayne inhaled deeply and exhaled. Then, with a determined expression, he looked at me.

“Thanks. Because of you, I can meet my mother relatively freely.”

I saw myself reflected in Wayne’s blue eyes.

“You weren’t going to pause like that just to thank me for giving you the clerical robe, were you? You got me a dress too, after all.”

“That’s different,” Wayne said firmly.

I raised an eyebrow.

“What’s different? You got me clothes I needed, just like I got you yours.”

“The dress was a tool to make things go smoothly. But the clerical robe wasn’t. That’s why I kept wanting to say thank you… but, strangely, I just couldn’t. I’ve always been able to speak whatever comes to mind until now.”

Wayne ran his hand through his hair as if he himself found it absurd.

The guy who probably had told countless sweet lies couldn’t even say “thank you” and kept glancing at me? Surprisingly naive.

I snorted lightly and said,

“It’s always hard when it’s sincere. Everyone goes through that, so no need to feel bad.”

When I waved my hand dismissively, Wayne chuckled.

“Dyna, you’re really strange. Sometimes you’re more cynical than anyone else in the world, sometimes you lie better than anyone else, and sometimes… you’re… warm.”

“Warm? Who? Me? If you’re saying that… the world really is ending.”

Even if Nene instinctively sensed divine energy, I didn’t expect Wayne to say that. I thought I was a fairly realistic god. Is there really no warmth left in this world? Truly the end times.

Tommy nodded seriously, but Wayne laughed loudly. He had never laughed this brightly before.

Wayne and I peeked around a corner to observe the main street. Roy, Tom, and Jack were keeping an eye on the slave traders, so Wayne was the only one moving with me.

Two boys with turbans wrapped around their heads stood in the middle of the street, glancing around.

As I had instructed, the boys revealed their disguised ears slightly through the turbans. They were trying to hide their identity but were careless enough to reveal it—part of the plan.

This level of detail made them a suitable target.

Passersby noticed the ears peeking through the turbans but didn’t approach or cause trouble.

Perhaps it was because a law prohibited discrimination against other races? Ironically, humans enslave their own while treating other races superficially as equals.

In truth, any equality toward other races was only surface-deep. If it were genuine, they wouldn’t live so far from human settlements.

When the boys disguised as other races headed toward the park, we casually followed.

Upon arriving, the boys immediately started buying intriguing items and tasty-looking food from street vendors. Even from a distance, their excitement was palpable. This was genuine, not an act.

Streetwise boys probably never had a chance to buy whatever they wanted without worrying about money. Wayne knew this and likely gave them extra operational funds intentionally.

While the boys moved among the vendors, we sat on a nearby bench. We couldn’t stand there for an entire hour as planned.

Sitting still on the bench with the clerical robes and wigs, no one found us suspicious.

Despite it being winter, the day was unusually bright and clear. Sunlight gently settled on the bench where we sat.

While observing whether anyone approached the boys under the warm sunlight, Wayne covered his right eye with one hand and squinted the other.

Usually cheerful and alert, his posture now was slightly relaxed.

When I looked at him, Wayne quickly lowered his hand and smiled. The fleeting lapse in his composure instantly reverted to his usual precise demeanor.

“Why are you staring?”

“Tired?”

I asked, narrowing my eyes, and Wayne smiled even more brightly.

“Why do you think that?”

“I’ve been observing and recording how the body reacts when sleepy. One of the patterns matches your posture just now: slumping and touching the eyes repeatedly.”

“Why record that?”

Wayne’s smile broke.

“I can’t miss the body’s reactions to sleepiness and then collapse later, can I?”

“Hmm… it sounds like there’s room for rebuttal, yet it’s oddly reasonable.”

Wayne muttered, looking exasperated, and fiddled with his bangs.

After a short while, he spoke again.

“You saw it correctly. I am a little sleepy. It’s hard to sleep deeply in that house.”

Even someone like Wayne couldn’t relax in a place filled with a woman who tried to poison him and her subordinates.

I hadn’t expected him to be so honest. I thought he’d just vaguely say he was a little tired. Could it mean he trusts me? Wayne’s behavior had indeed shifted slightly after I got him the clerical robe.

“If you’re sleepy, take a nap. I’ll watch over you. We’re supposed to be here for a while anyway.”

“Thanks, but I’m fine.”

Wayne straightened up and focused ahead. I didn’t force the matter and started watching the boys.

After about thirty minutes, Tommy called me and pointed toward Wayne.

I turned my head as instructed and saw Wayne had his eyes closed.

“Tired, huh? I should let him sleep.”

I murmured softly and continued observing the boys. But soon, my head moved again.

Something touched my shoulder. I turned and saw Wayne resting his head on it.

His slender white hair slipped across his handsome face. From his slightly parted lips came quiet, steady breaths.

Unusually unguarded… so angelic while asleep, no wonder people say that.

I tried not to move, knowing Wayne wouldn’t have much opportunity to rest fully.

When the boys finished their round of vendors, Wayne woke up.

“Hmm?”

Golden lashes trembled, revealing his bright blue eyes.

At first, he blinked, confused, but seeing his head on my shoulder, he quickly straightened up.

“Ah, sorry.”

Surprising. I expected his usual playful smirk, but he looked startled.

“No, it’s fine. It wasn’t heavy.”

Even though I said it casually, Wayne covered his face with both hands.

“Wow, really fell asleep. Now I understand why Nene trusts Dyna.”

Wayne seemed shocked by the fact that he had fallen asleep, still covering his face.

Really? Falling asleep is normal for anyone.

“Yeah, it happens. I’ve also passed out from sleep deprivation before.”

Wayne peeked at me through his fingers.

“Really?”

“Yep. A few sleepless days and your consciousness just floats away.”

Wayne lowered his hands.

“Thanks. Somehow, I seem to owe Dyna a lot.”

“Is that so?”

I shrugged. Wayne nodded.

“I rarely feel genuine gratitude. So next time you fall asleep, you can cover me as payment.”

The flustered Wayne from moments ago had regained his usual composure.

I used my elbow to jab Wayne’s side. He clutched his side with his hand, pretending to die.

Trying to act nonchalant while embarrassed, typical Wayne.

The Red Scorpion members carried out their roles diligently.

Those whose faces were known spread rumors about clumsy other-race boys wandering the city. Members with unknown faces, like us, shadowed the boys in disguise.

One disguised member sat near Wayne and me, pretending to read a book. It looked natural.

Then, two men approached the disguised boys.

Both had scars on their faces, wore leather gloves on their left hands, and each had a large, fierce dog.

Nearby members tensed, but I glanced at the men and returned to my book.

“Aren’t you paying too little attention?” one member asked.

I replied without looking up.

“No need to be so tense. They’ll just check the ears lightly and leave.”

Moments later, the member coughed, signaling the boys’ location.

The men waved at the boys and left cheerfully.

“The abductors really just checked the ears lightly. How did you know they weren’t suspicious?”

Simple.

“The basics of abduction: take the target without raising suspicion. But these men were too conspicuous. The gloves were probably for handling the dogs.”

“Oh!”

The member gasped. Wayne grinned and interrupted,

“Interesting, isn’t it? But I called it first, so don’t get greedy.”

“Don’t worry. I’m married. Wayne, you didn’t react earlier either, right? Just stayed still like this lady?”

A mid-40s member knew Wayne, so his tone was casual.

“I didn’t move because of the dogs. The dogs wagged at the passersby, happy. Dogs mimic their owners’ actions, so I assumed the men were friendly to others too.”

The member admired Wayne.

Several more people approached the boys, but all were ordinary.

The next day, we moved through alleys, but no one approached.

The boys grew bored, yawning.

Time passed, and the sky turned orange. Evening was coming.

As we considered retreating, suspicious men suddenly ran out from inside an alley. They had half their faces covered with black cloth, intending to surround the boys.

As we prepared to jump from hiding, a sharp voice rang out.

“What are you doing!”

A woman in clerical robes stood at the alley entrance.

Her long golden hair reached her waist, and she glared at the men.

“Damn! A cleric!”

“Don’t mess with anyone related to the temple.”

“Retreat!”

The masked men gritted their teeth and fled deeper into the alley. The blonde woman hurried to the boys.

“Are you okay?”

The boys, stunned, replied,

“Y-Yes.”

“Thank you for helping us.”

The boys were startled because nothing had happened before, and suddenly masked men appeared.

Seeing them flustered, the blonde woman looked sympathetic.

“You were scared, right? I’m Riel, serving Lady Rodite. Um, hmm.”

She hesitated, finger to lips, uncertain whether to introduce herself.

The boys looked puzzled as she scratched her lips, clearly deciding whether to speak further.