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Chapter 30
Brave Children (1)
I had no idea what was going on.
As soon as dawn broke, we pounded on the door and screamed at the top of our lungs, but there was no sign of anyone outside.
Eventually, Jake and I became exhausted.
Around noon, the door creaked open briefly and someone threw in a canteen of water. Jake and I quickly drank it down.
We weren’t even hungry anymore, probably because we were so tense, but the weakness was undeniable.
Trying to conserve energy, we gave up on yelling or pounding the door.
I just lay there, blankly staring at the ceiling. Jake, seemingly worried about my dazed state, looked at me with concern.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m okay.”
“I’m sorry. This is all my fault. If I hadn’t gone to that toy store…”
“If you realize that, then you should start calling me ‘Big sister-in-law.’”
“…?”
He didn’t answer—maybe because it made no sense. But he’ll have to call me that someday anyway, so he might as well start now.
“Honestly, if we’re placing blame, I’m the one who followed Raul and Radan. That was the start of it.”
If we trace the cause, then I was the root of the problem. If I hadn’t given him that wooden sword from the beginning, none of this would have happened.
But what was the point of arguing over who was at fault now?
Assuming we survive this, I tried thinking of plans—but there wasn’t really anything we could do.
What were the odds those thugs would actually let us go after getting the money?
I’d heard that most child kidnappings end with the child being killed.
But I had no intention of dying at their hands.
After all I’d been through to survive, I refuse to die like this.
Fueled by hope and willpower, time passed again, and it was near dusk when we finally heard a commotion outside. Then the door opened and sunlight poured in along with a cloud of dust.
“Hey, little brats. Been doing well?”
The guys who were always beside the boss grinned as they looked at us. Judging from their expressions, things were going well for them.
Jake and I were each grabbed and dragged out of the warehouse-like place.
As soon as we stepped outside, I looked around—an empty plain stretched ahead, and behind us was a mountain. We couldn’t see far, but there didn’t seem to be a village nearby.
Pfft. They really brought us to the middle of nowhere.
In front of us were three or four wagons. The boss and his men were standing by them, smiling broadly.
Had they already received the money?
“You guys, did you already get paid?”
“Yeah, we did. The Duke handed it over without a word.”
“You guys are in big trouble now.”
‘Idiots. Now is not the time to be smiling because you got paid…’
If they’ve already received the money, that means they’ve met the Duke. And once he knows their identities, there’s no way he’ll let them go.
Whether Jake and I live or die, there’s no chance those guys will escape the Duke’s net.
The only difference is whether they die quickly—or painfully.
Sigh.
As I let out a long breath, the boss flared his nostrils and knelt down to make eye contact with me.
“Hey, kid. We’re doing this with all the safety precautions in place. What do you know to keep saying we’re in big trouble?”
“You are in big trouble.”
Despite my certainty, the boss just scoffed. This is why they say humans are foolish and can’t see an inch ahead.
“Look, we know what your Duke is like.”
“Oh yeah? What’s he like?”
“He drinks himself stupid, doesn’t he? After his wife died, he completely changed. I heard he cries every day because he misses her. A soft-hearted guy like that must have panicked when he heard kids were kidnapped. And sure enough, he handed over the money right away, begging us not to hurt you.”
“Pfft. You dumb***. You only know one thing and not the other.”
Maybe he gave the money to save his son, but that doesn’t mean they can treat a Grand Duke’s house like a joke.
Why don’t they get that?
The boss furrowed his brows in irritation.
“What don’t I know?”
“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t get it. But listen carefully, ‘cause I don’t repeat myself. The Duke’s behavior is all because of the late Duchess. It’s insurance.”
“Insurance?”
“Yeah. And I said I don’t repeat myself.”
Not only did they poke the sleeping lion, they tried to pluck out its whiskers. These guys were finished.
Well, they brought this on themselves. There was no need to show mercy to child kidnappers.
But the boss still found my warning amusing.
“Anyway, kid. Sorry about this.”
Suddenly, the boss’s gaze turned sharp as he looked at me. Then, without warning, he pulled a small dagger from his belt.
“I don’t think we can let you go after all.”
“What? You’re gonna kill us?”
Of course. My bad feeling had been right.
How long had it been since they got the money?
“Yeah. You heard where we were headed.”
“No, we didn’t! We don’t know anything! Just let us go!”
“Kiddo, we can’t do that.”
A nasty smile spread across the boss’s face—like death itself had taken a step closer.
I steeled myself.
Even Rekto, standing beside him, seemed unsettled.
“Boss… I don’t think killing them is a good idea. The Duke said just to return the children. We should do that.”
“But these brats heard we’re fleeing to the Crossen Empire. If the Duke finds out, he’ll chase us down. How do we let them go knowing that?”
“They’re just kids. They don’t know anything. We already got paid—just let them go.”
Rekto didn’t seem thrilled about killing us.
Having met the Duke himself, he must have seen firsthand what it meant to mess with him.
But his words didn’t get through.
The boss narrowed his eyes, looking back and forth between Jake and me.
“These kids are too sharp. I bet they’ll blab everything. Probably even remember my face.”
“No, we don’t know anything! Right, Jake?”
Jake nodded vigorously at my question. Guess he really does want to live.
“Ha! Look at this clever brat. You’re way too sharp to be five years old.”
“What’re you saying? Anyway, you guys should just run now. Otherwise, it’ll really be bad for you.”
“You keep saying that, but nothing’s happened yet. Kid!”
“That’s why… the real trouble starts now. I warned you clearly.”
“Trouble? The only real trouble is you dying.”
The boss grabbed Jake and gripped his dagger like he was ready to kill.
Fear jolted through me. I didn’t think the Duke would just hand over the money without a plan, but nothing had happened so far.
Sure, cutting down visible enemies was easy—but here, with no one in sight to help, there was nothing we could do.
Help was far away, but death was right in front of us. So I had to make a big decision.
“W-Wait.”
“What now?”
“If you’re really gonna kill someone, then kill me first. I’ve lived long enough. Not that I have no regrets, but at least let the boy live.”
I wanted to buy time and keep the conversation going, but I also meant what I said. This whole thing started with me, and I should take responsibility.
Maybe my words were amusing, because the boss lowered his dagger and burst out laughing.
“Ha ha ha! You’re a funny little thing. Might be fun to keep you around.”
“Yeah? Then take me. I promise I’ll be entertaining.”
It was pathetic, sure, but there’s no need to die in vain.
“You serious?”
“Yup. They say even rolling in dung is better than dying. Take me with you. Let the boy go. That’ll be better for everyone.”
I stared at the boss with wide, hopeful eyes, waiting for his answer. At the very least, I wanted to drag this out as long as possible.
I was thinking of what else I could say to sway him when his eyes suddenly glinted. It was a disgusting look, but I didn’t avoid his gaze.
But then…
“If someone has to die, let it be me. Let the girl live.”
Jake, who had been silent all this time, suddenly burst out.
‘Hey! What are you doing?’
I turned to look at him. Behind him, the red glow of the sunset painted the sky, but his face had gone pale white.
To show such courage with that face—it was really admirable.
