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Chapter 24
Besides, she looked somewhat younger than I’d expected.
I could see now why Wisturns had called her a child. There was an untainted innocence about her that didn’t fit this place at all.
But that was beside the point.
I still wondered why the head of a great family was staying in this shabby house.
As I said before, if it weren’t for the long-standing trace of magic between him and that boy—well, I probably still wouldn’t have found him.
“It seems those Black Cat bastards are coveting this house—or rather, that kid.”
The wrists of the captured assassins bore small cat tattoos. That meant they were all from Black Cat.
“Those guys? Why?”
“How would I know?”
Wisturns clicked his tongue. If only they had a reason, this would be less frustrating.
“Anyway, when the time comes he’ll go back on his own. Don’t mess up the mission you were given.”
“When have I ever messed up!”
He answered confidently, and Wisturns shot him an unpleasant look before waving a hand.
“Now get out of here and stay the hell away.”
It would be time for the child to wake soon.
“Going out?”
“Yeah. Didn’t I say I’d go deal with some pests?”
Wisturns, who had neatly taken off his pink apron, straightened his back.
“I’m meeting a friend for a bit. It’s been a while, so it might take some time.”
“Ah, then please go and come back safely.”
Just as the grandfather hadn’t asked where I was going, I felt it wasn’t my place to pry into where he was headed either.
Besides, he could fight better than I could. He was hardly the type to be caught off guard anywhere.
Still, one thing worried me—
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…Please be quiet and come back safely, sir.”
In short: don’t cause trouble.
Understanding my meaning, the grandfather suddenly leapt up.
“I’m not a ten-year-old kid! Do you think I’d go around causing trouble?”
“Hmm.”
Of course he wasn’t the kind to act recklessly, but…how to put it—something about him made me uneasy. Just a feeling.
“Ahem! I’ll only be gone a short while. Keep the house in order while I’m out. If I have time I’ll even bring back cake, so don’t cause any trouble and behave.”
“Ugh. I don’t usually cause trouble…”
“…”
“Fine, fine! I won’t cause trouble anymore, so stop looking at me like that!”
Jeez. That actually stung.
The memory of 2,921 accidents—broken plates, smashed cups, the time I blew a hole in the ceiling during magic practice—flashed through my mind.
“Don’t open the door for just anyone. If someone comes, blast them away right away.”
“Of course.”
After Wisturns taught me some simple magic, it was easier for me than lying down and eating cake.
Now that we were on friendlier terms, I wouldn’t fling the door wide open for anyone!
I cleared my throat and smoothly changed the subject.
“You threw away the broken dish from earlier, right?”
“Yes. I’ll get you a nicer one later to replace it.”
“No, it’s fine. I break things sometimes too, but people are more important than dishes.”
“People?”
“Yes!”
Isn’t that obvious?
“Plates can be cleaned up, but people get hurt.”
“…”
“It’s better if dishes break. I’d hate for you to get hurt, grandfather.”
The grandfather pursed his lips.
“Then next time something like a plate falls, just move out of the way.”
“Ahem. You can’t keep letting me do that all the time!”
He sounded embarrassed and kept clearing his throat. I giggled and asked one more time, slyly.
“Are your hands really okay, though?”
“They’re fine!”
He stretched out both hands as if to prove he was truly unhurt. Hmm—there really didn’t seem to be any injury.
“I’m glad you’re healed, grandpa!”
“Hah! I don’t get hurt easily, kiddo.”
“Yes, yes.”
I answered vaguely and rose from my seat.
The grandfather who’d been watching me quietly suddenly burst out laughing.
I let out a small laugh too and shrugged my shoulders.
‘I just hope he comes back safely.’
I mean, what great disaster could happen, right?
I took a book I’d already finished reading and headed to my room. After putting it back on the shelf, I went downstairs again to help prepare dinner.
Time passed like that, and before I knew it, two days had flown by.
“Ah, this is driving me insane!”
A man who had been pacing the room angrily slammed his fist into the wall. Moments later, a breathless comrade burst in shouting.
“The master has arrived!”
“Ah! Damn it!”
Cursing, the pacing man moved. The companion following him looked extremely anxious.
The two made their way to the far end of the spire and took a quiet breath.
Knock. Knock.
After a light knock, the man opened the door.
“You said to call, sir.”
Inside sat a burly man. With thick legs propped on the table, he removed a cigar from his mouth and motioned with his hand.
…Did that mean come closer?
For an instant their eyes trembled. But they didn’t hesitate long.
To follow an absolute command, both men cautiously approached the enormous table.
Then—
“Ughk!”
“Ugh!”
Both men were struck in the back of the neck at the same time and collapsed to the floor.
“Man, I’m really about to lose it.”
The man sighed deeply and set his cigar down on the ashtray.
“Oof!”
The man who’d risen from the floor came forward and motioned to the subordinates who had restrained the two.
“Hey, you’ll snap their necks. Then they won’t be able to tell us what’s going on.”
“They are traitors! They could even lay a hand on our lord—please allow minimal restraint!”
“What rotten bastards.”
He smiled thinly and folded himself down onto his knee.
“What were you thinking when you came here? No—maybe I should change the question.”
“Wah… sob.”
“What were you thinking up until I called you? Thought you were done for? Or did you think, ‘Well, my life’s precious, so selling out my comrades was the right move’?”
“S-sorry… ahhh!”
“Sorry is something you can only say when words will suffice.”
I really had no words for him.
The man furrowed his brow hard.
“Do you know who or where has been exposed because of you two?”
“Th-that’s—”
“Raymond, Raymond! That damned unlucky one under Kazliden’s command!”
The man’s voice rose like it could split the sky. Tears were the only thing left in the two men’s mouths.
“You might as well have killed yourselves then. Or we could have killed you! You handed over a comrade alive and ran off? Are you insane?!”
“…”
“You couldn’t even properly keep an eye on that kid. What the hell can you two even do?”
The man held a hand out into the air. A nearby subordinate, sensing the cue, handed him a dagger.
He took it and curled his lip.
“If today’s operation fails because of you, you’ll pay.”
Hearing that, the subordinate quietly thought: even if the operation succeeded, these two wouldn’t survive.
“I’ll count how many veins and bones you’ve got in your bodies!”
Leaping up, the man tossed the dagger down hard on the floor.
Bang—!
The dagger penetrated the carpet and vibrated.
He strode past the two men and barked.
“Get their clothes!”
