🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 77
“…Huh?”
Noah froze in surprise, and Claret repeated herself.
“Shoes with really sharp, old nails stuck in them! So that cute little birds and squirrels can’t perch on them!”
“What are you even talking about?!”
Noah was horrified by the bizarre request, which had nothing to do with childish innocence.
Sure, Claret could be bold and mischievous, but she also liked adorable, pretty things. She’d often said that when she became a princess, she wanted to play with beautiful birds and squirrels.
And every time, that damned Artie would scare her by saying animals carried germs! I worked so hard to keep that childlike innocence alive…!
Noah wasn’t the only one startled — the adults around her all started murmuring in confusion.
“Sister-in-law!”
Especially Leto, who strongly objected.
“No matter how rebellious your teenage years get, I can’t allow something so dreadful! Cute little bells and ribbons suit you much better!”
“I agree,” Noah said.
“Right? Then how about these shoes? Or maybe I can buy another pair on my way home—”
Watching her husband’s back as he spoke, Noah suddenly recalled something As had said recently:
“At this point, isn’t he basically the young lady’s wallet? He’s always buying her gifts— Oh, he bought me something too? You shouldn’t have!”
Apparently, Leto still didn’t realize that the rest of the family — including As — had nicknamed him Claret’s wallet.
Or maybe he did know, and just didn’t care.
“But brother-in-law,” Claret said firmly, despite having eagerly accepted his gifts, “I still have to wear the shoes with the nails.”
“Why do you need to wear those?” Vis asked.
“Because I have an important lesson today!”
There was real determination on her little face.
“Today at school, we’re learning what to do when bad adults approach us! I’m finally learning how to protect myself!”
That’s why she needed nail-studded shoes.
“I’m going to use the special move As taught me!”
Back when she had refused to accept Leto as her brother-in-law, Claret had learned a finishing kick — she practiced it by kicking a life-sized stuffed rabbit toy between the legs.
“When I tried it, I realized just kicking isn’t enough! It needs to be sharp!”
“…”
“…”
Everyone turned their eyes to As.
Feeling their silent glares — So you’re the one who started this? — As smiled brightly, pretending to know nothing.
“You all have work to get to, right?”
And just like that, she used her ultimate escape spell.
***
“When a stranger comes up to you asking for help?”
“Don’t help them!”
“And if they keep following you?”
“Shout no and run away!”
The first graders of Marei Elementary answered their teacher’s questions enthusiastically.
“…”
Except Claret, who pouted in silence.
“What’s wrong with her?” Sensha whispered to Borr, the neatly parted, bespectacled boy beside her.
“She’s upset she can’t show off her secret technique,” he said matter-of-factly.
“She’s sad we’re not learning self-defense today,” Lily added helpfully.
“Claret,” Sereny murmured, lightly pressing the back of her hand. The boy with short, chestnut-like hair smiled kindly.
“Show me your special move later.”
“Okay…”
Thanks to her kind friends, Claret’s mood began to lift.
“Everyone,” the teacher continued, “adults are much bigger, stronger, and more powerful than children. So if an adult asks for your help and tries to take you somewhere, it can be dangerous.”
“Teacher,” one child raised a hand, “what if it’s an old lady carrying something heavy? She might not be a bad person.”
The teacher thought for a moment before answering.
“In that case, you can look around to see if there are any other adults nearby and ask them to help instead. How about that?”
“Oooh.”
The children nodded wisely.
“But remember,” the teacher added, “most adults won’t ask little kids for help in the first place.”
“What about spies?”
Claret’s hand shot up.
“…S-spies?”
That was quite a leap from today’s anti-abduction lesson.
The teacher hesitated at the sudden escalation but quickly composed herself.
“Spies are even more dangerous.”
Since the topic had come up anyway, she decided to explain what to do if you met one.
“If you ever encounter a spy, don’t go near them. Run away immediately. And make sure to report it to the police.”
“What’s the police phone number?”
“112!”
“Good! Then what’s the Navy’s phone number?”
“Uh? Umm?”
“What is the Navy’s number?”
“I don’t knooow…!”
The teacher teased, and the children fidgeted, unsure.
“08!”
Only one child answered confidently.
“0909! 7751!”
She declared the numbers proudly.
“That’s the number for the Special Fleet Command where my sister and brother-in-law work!”
“…”
“I also know my grandma’s office number, but she said if I tell anyone, I’ll have to eat rotten soup in prison…”
“Alright, everyone!” The teacher hurriedly changed the subject.
“Actually, the self-defense instructor we invited is already here!”
“Self-defense?!”
“Yaaay!”
“We’ve been waiting for this!”
The children — especially Claret — cheered wildly.
The teacher wiped the sweat from her forehead in relief.
***
“I’m home!”
“Welcome back.”
As arrived just as school was letting out to pick up Claret.
“It’s As!”
“Hello!”
“Are you here for Claret?”
“Hi, Miss As!”
Her friends all ran up and greeted her. As smiled, feeling as if she were surrounded by a bunch of fluffy chicks.
“As, I’m going to hang out with my friends today.”
“Oh? Right after school?”
“Yeah, we’re going to play at the park below our house!”
“Then I’d better prepare some snacks for my secret agents.”
After promising to meet later, Claret hopped on As’s bicycle, and they rode home.
The house on the hill wasn’t far from the school.
Maybe it’s time to let her start going to school on her own, As thought — but then remembered.
With enemy spies reported in the southern region, letting her young lady wander alone still felt too dangerous.
“We can’t hide this forever.”
“An official notice should come down within a few days.”
“I’ve been discussing it with the King.”
As prayed sincerely that the spies would be caught soon — and that her young lady and the children would stay safe.
If not… maybe I’ll catch them myself?
She wondered absently how much the bounty on a spy might be as they reached the top of the hill.
Claret changed clothes and came out with her stuffed “Chef Bunny” backpack slung over her shoulder.
“You packed your handkerchief and bandages?”
“Yep.”
“And your water bottle?”
“You’re supposed to give it to me now!”
As handed her a small bottle, and Claret tucked it into her bag.
“As, what’s today’s snack?”
“I thought I’d make pudding.”
“Yay, I love you!”
Marry me!
Claret hugged As’s leg tight.
“I love you too!”
After their adorable exchange of affection, Claret left to play with her friends.
“Have fun and be careful!”
“Okaay!”
***
[This train has arrived at its final stop, Sharp Station. Please make sure you haven’t left any belongings behind…]
The express train from the capital finally came to a halt at its terminus.
As soon as it stopped, the passengers — who’d been cooped up for hours — bustled out noisily.
Among them was the Oceanus family.
“Mm…”
Still half-asleep, little Carina nodded off while clutching Aitra’s hand.
“She must be exhausted,” said Albus, watching fondly. He gently lifted the child into his arms, and she quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
Outside the station, a car was waiting for them.
“Welcome, sir.”
It was the butler who managed the Oceanus family’s seaside villa in Sharp Territory.
“You two go on ahead,” Albus said, laying Carina in the back seat.
“You’re not coming with us?” Aitra asked, worried that his father must be tired after the long trip.
But Albus just snorted.
“Back in my Navy days, I’d be gone for far longer. You know that.”
“Still, at your age—”
“I told you, I’m still active duty!” he grumbled.
“Don’t worry. I’m not about to do anything rash.”
He just wanted to take a look around the city — a kind of warm-up before hunting down spies.
“I need to see the area with my own eyes. And check if any incidents have happened recently.”
“Alright.”
Aitra added a final warning not to overdo it, then left with Carina.
Left alone, Albus surveyed the plaza in front of the station.
Almost as lively as the capital, he thought.
Sharp Territory had grown prosperous after the Magic Tower explosion. The local noble at the time had relinquished his title and handed the land over to the Ardvelo family.
Ardvelo expanded the harbor, and when trains were invented, they built railway lines to improve transport — transforming Sharp into a bustling hub.
Which makes it the perfect hiding place for spies.
As the saying went, “the darkest place is under the lamp.”
With the second-largest population after the capital, Sharp was ideal for hiding — close to the sea for smuggling, and rich enough to fund covert operations.
“…Pathetic.”
Tch.
Albus clicked his tongue, irritated at how cunning the spies were.
He wandered the streets, his tall, broad figure and flowing white hair immediately drawing stares.
Hmm… maybe I’m being too conspicuous?
If he attracted too much attention, the spies might grow suspicious and go deeper underground.
So he reached into his coat and put on a pair of sunglasses.
There. Now they’ll never recognize me.
He nodded, satisfied.
“…”
“…”
A huge man with striking white hair, wearing sunglasses…
“Is he… a gangster?”
“Should we call the police?”
The stares grew more intense — for all the wrong reasons.
Completely oblivious, Albus continued wandering around — until something caught his eye.
“Hmm?”
The place looked oddly familiar.
“This is…”
It was the bookstore building he had once glimpsed from a car window — back when he secretly came to spy on Leto after his marriage.
