Chapter 52

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 52

Chapter Title: Puppy Shopping and the Little Arsonist

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As a caravan escort, he was constantly caught up in small skirmishes with bandits trying to steal the cargo. His brains would definitely come in handy.

Making a little hum in my throat, I glanced over at Henri and Ishak.

"Wanna go see puppies."

"What's that, Leblain?"

"What is it? Tell us everything. We'll buy 'em all!"

"Puppy. (Woof woof.)"

The two of them just stared blankly, mumbling, "Puppy......"

Me, Henri, Ishak, and the maids all headed out of the castle.

We were going together because I said I wanted to pick out a dog myself.

Ishak had promised to bring back the cutest puppy, but I stubbornly insisted on going to see them in person.

[What if Ishak brings a puppy and it doesn't like Lebu? Poor puppy.]

The young masters looked utterly baffled at my words before replying.

[No creature in the world could possibly dislike you.]

Their blinders were getting thicker by the day.

Still, since they gave in to me, here we were, off to look at puppies.

Our destination was Plum Street, beyond Duvered territory. That's where the pet shop for nobles was located.

'And the private orphanage where Zakari lives.'

I was lost in that thought when the carriage came to a stop.

I took Henri and Ishak's hands and climbed down, then looked around the street. It was just as luxurious as the shopping district in Duvered.

"Wow......"

Amazed, I got smiles from the maids in response.

"It's dazzling, isn't it? This is where the empire's biggest casino is. The restaurants and shops sprang up around it, so there's tons to see."

It really was a fun place to sightsee.

Holding the maids' hands, I toddled along behind Henri and Ishak.

'That casino sure is huge.'

That's when Lea glanced back and whispered to the young masters.

"Something's tailing us."

"I sensed it too."

Ishak's eyes turned unusually cold.

"Four...... no, five of them."

"They're trained. Good at stealth."

As I widened my eyes, Henri and Ishak looked back at me with perfectly calm expressions.

"Leblain, stay here with the maids for a bit."

"Yeah, we'll be right back."

A little tense, I grabbed their lapels. "Puppy come back......?"

"Worried about us? Silly, I'm super strong. No need to fret."

Saying that, Ishak scooped me up and rubbed his face against my cheek. He must've loved that I was worried.

Then Henri grabbed his nape and flung him aside with a laugh.

"Don't worry and stay put. We'll be quick."

'I'm worried about the tails, not you guys......'

Ishak looked ready to snap all their necks.

I kept repeating, "Puppy come back," and eventually Ishak and Henri left me with Lea and the maids before vanishing.

"Little One, shall we hit the patisserie? They say the plum sorbet here is divine. Just through this alley."

"Yay."

Lea and the maids led me toward the patisserie.

They kept up a stream of chatter, probably to keep me from getting anxious.

"What kind of puppy are you thinking of? Something big and fluffy?"

"Little short-haired ones are cute too."

"Maybe a tiny poodle that looks just like you, Little One."

"Want me to grab the pet shop catalog while we're at the patisserie? You could browse and pick one out."

Just as we entered the alley, I spotted someone in front of a rundown building, lighting a match with a creepy grin.

"You think you can blow all my money and get away with it, you damn bastards."

The boy muttered darkly and tossed the flame onto the building.

The maids stared dumbly at the structure as it started to catch.

"Oh my, that's the gambling den run by Dog-Eyes. That kid's gonna get it if they catch him."

So said Uni, the ex-loanshark.

"Should we help?"

That was Dahlia, the serial killer with a soft spot for kids among the three.

"Why bother? It's not our business."

Linda the con artist asked.

Honestly, adult-minded Leblain agreed with the maids. But kid-me felt a pang of conscience.

'Looks about thirteen. Can't just watch him get beaten to death by thugs.'

Putting out the flames wouldn't be too hard.

I sighed deeply and tugged at Lea's sleeve.

"Eyes hurt."

Only then did the maids' eyes light up, and they rushed over, stomping out the sparks like mad.

"Bad flames hurting our Little One's eyes."

"Bad flames!"

The boy scowled at these unexpected interlopers.

"What the hell is this circus?"

He looked utterly baffled.

"Ladies, why mess with someone else's business?!"

"Fire bad. Crime."

I spoke up, and he muttered, "Now what is this?" before eyeing me.

"You the owner of these lunatics?"

"Yup."

"Wanna die? Butt out. Ugly brat."

The maids froze mid-stomp. Lea's aura turned feral as she held my hand.

"What did you just say......?"

"Who's ugly?"

"Uni, go grab my club."

Lea smiled sweetly at me. "Little One, close your eyes and count to thirty right here."

I peeked at the fuming boy, then obediently covered my eyes with both hands.

"One, twooo, threeee......"

The boy's screams echoed through the narrow alley.

"Waaah......"

The boy was plastered against the wall, arms raised high, snot and tears streaming down his face.

The maids glared at him with narrowed eyes, barking orders.

"Arms up high! Chant!"

The cowed boy sniffled out the words.

"Little One is the cutest in the world!"

"Again!"

"Little One is the......!"

Mid-chant, his stomach growled loudly. He blushed through his tears and muttered, "Damn it."

"Tummy rumble?"

"What's it to you...... ma'am."

He switched to polite speech quick under their glares.

I waved off the maids—who'd once chewed kudzu roots in their wild days—and reached out to him. He flinched, hunching his shoulders. Thought I was gonna hit him, probably.

I wiped the soot from his cheek with my fingertip.

"Sooty here."

"......"

"We go patisserie now. Come on."

"I got no money......"

I rummaged in my side pouch and pulled out a handful of gold coins.

Pocket money the maids had secretly slipped me after hearing I'd be visiting Plum Street with Henri and Ishak.

"I buy!"

"All that's yours...... ma'am?"

"Yup."

"Whoa, that's thirty spins on the roulette wheel."

Stealing glances at the maids, the boy nodded eagerly, eyes sparkling.

I led the maids and the boy into the patisserie.

"Our Little One'll love this, and this, and this......" The maids piled the trays mountain-high with pastries.

The breads here were pricey, so with this much at once, the clerks and customers gawked at us.

I offered some of the pastries to the boy.

"Here."

"......"

He eyed me warily before taking one. One bite, and his eyes went wide. Then he started shoving them in frantically.

"Ack!"

He choked and coughed, so I handed him some milk too.

"Grown-ups no feed you?"

"Who feeds an orphan? Ma'am."

Orphan?

The only orphanage around here was the private one where Zakari lived.

'No way this is Zakari?'

I stared, then shook my head inwardly.

Zakari was one of the 'Four Knights,' a martial arts prodigy.

No way a guy on Ishak's level was this weak as a kid.

Strong fighters sensed presences keenly.

Ishak—five years younger than this boy—had noticed the tails before Lea.

Yet this kid hadn't detected us chattering right beside him and went ahead with the arson. He wasn't just oblivious; his senses were dull.

Plus, he didn't seem serious or thoughtful like the rumored Zakari.

'Anyway, lucky break. Was wondering how to meet Zakari, but if this kid's from the same place, I might get a chance.'

Sipping my milk, I replied.

"Me too orphan."

"......Liar, you got maids."

"Dopted."

"State or public home?"

"No, pwivate."

The boy's eyes bugged out.

"Holy crap, you hit the jackpot."

Private orphanage adoptions were rare. Mostly just farms needing labor.

"Same boat, and those monsters beat me—you didn't even stop 'em?"

He whispered, clutching his bread.

"No hit."

"Almost did. Almost."

"Not real hitters, so okay."

My maids were criminals, sure—but good criminals.

'Kinda weird way to put it.'

The boy tsked and crammed the rest of his bread in his mouth.

Then, sneaking peeks at the maids, he stuffed a few more under his shirt.

"You messed up my plan, but you fed me, so I'll let it slide."

"No mess. Gambling den. Why burn?"

"They took every coin I earned. Turns out they rigged the roulette. Damn crooks."

He tsked again, scowling.

"No gamble then."

"You dumb? How can you not do something that fun?"

You're the dumb one......

I sighed heavily.

"Do that, no money taken—organs taken?"

"Ooh, you look young but know about organ harvesting...... You really are an orphan. I can smell the hard knocks."

He chuckled and lightly pinched my cheek.

That was when it happened.

"What the hell are you doing."

A chilling voice came from the doorway.

Ishak glared at the boy like he wanted to tear him apart.

He strode over and seized the boy's wrist.

"Why're you touching my little sister."

Ishak's aura was ferocious. The boy gulped, staring down at Ishak—who was a head shorter than him.

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