Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Family Ties - 2
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One Wonderland operative lay sprawled in front, with two more crumpled on either side.
Surveying the scene, Tyr cleared her throat with a polite cough and turned to leave.
"It's about time Cheshire Cat shows up. I should head out. Consider yourself lucky."
The moment she took a subtle step back, I fired Trivi.
Bang!
The bullet grazed precisely beneath her ear.
Her mint-green hair fluttered in the air.
"What the hell? Do you even know who I—"
Bang! Bang!
Two more shots whizzed past her ear, and only then did Tyr finally shut her mouth.
I eyed the Wonderland operatives drawing their weapons.
"Whoever you are, whatever happened to Cheshire Cat—none of that matters right now."
She might look like a cute girl on the outside, but there was good reason for her codename, Sea Turtle.
While Cheshire Cat earned her "Transparent Cat" moniker due to her elusive whereabouts, Tyr was different.
She never left her hideout, which is how she got stuck with the turtle label.
I couldn't just let her walk away now, not when who knew when we'd cross paths again.
And beyond that slim chance of reunion, this girl had done something utterly outrageous.
Demolishing someone else's building without a care, just to erect her own.
No amount of architectural genius would make me want to use her if her personality didn't get reformed.
"What matters is whose building you wrecked."
I pulled the trigger again, slamming bullets into the thighs of Tyr and every black-robed operative around her.
"Urk!"
"Aaaagh!"
Tyr's eyes widened even further as she and her crew—full of bluster moments ago—were forced to their knees.
Tyr began wildly elbowing the operatives beside her.
"Hey! What are you waiting for? Get me out of here! Move it!"
She'd abandoned any pretense of dignity.
Not that it was surprising. Survival trumped pride every time. Even with thigh wounds, her operatives tried to hoist her up and flee.
But escape wasn't in the cards. They couldn't beat me at full strength—what chance did they have now?
"Do something—carry me or take that guy down! You useless bastards!"
A few operatives dragged their injured legs toward me. But how fierce could obligatory charges be?
Thwack!
I pistol-whipped one across the head, knocking him out cold.
Bang!
A knee shot dropped another to the ground for good. I cleared them one by one until only Tyr and I remained.
Our eyes finally met.
Victory felt even more assured. Tyr stared up at me with eyes full of terror.
I held her gaze for a moment—that look wasn't half bad.
The onlookers gaped, transfixed on us. Perched on the ruins of the clinic, she muttered desperately.
"W-W-Wait a sec. C-C-Can't we talk this out...?"
"Sure."
With a nod, I shot her shoulder.
Bang!
Bunny girls were better suited to hawking wares, but one was busy shooing away the crowd.
"Everyone, head home~ The show's over! We'll handle the rest."
How many in Ellis's Wonder Pentanil domain would defy her word?
Soon, the spectators dispersed.
That left only the ones who couldn't move: the still-breathing Wonderland operatives and Tyr.
Tyr, plus four operatives clinging to consciousness.
I pondered briefly. Spare them or not?
No need to rack my brain alone—I'd judge through conversation.
"All of you, come here."
I sat on the rubble like a throne. They hobbled over, clustering before me.
Their faces were ashen, untreated wounds taking their toll.
"...W-We should treat them first."
"You stay put."
Even now, Dodo cautiously piped up, prioritizing healing.
I had no issue with helping the injured, but first, I needed to confirm they were even human.
"Why smash a perfectly good building? Want me to do the same to your skulls?"
"Put the gun down first."
I smashed Trivi into Tyr's head with a satisfying crack. She yelped.
"It's down. Now talk. Why'd you do it?"
"Ow... We needed to build a branch office..."
"No other spot available? Plenty of empty land around."
"It was the prime strategic location."
"Even prime spots require consideration if someone's already there. Like not firing at a shooting range if someone's standing in the way."
Ahem! Ellis suddenly cleared her throat behind me.
"What do you want?"
"Oh, nothing."
Ellis turned away innocently. Then Tyr spoke up.
"...I'm sorry."
Her apology triggered a chorus from the other four.
"We're sorry."
Just as expected—cowards without a shred of personal conviction.
They just followed orders, never taking responsibility in their own names.
'We're Wonderland, so it's fine.' Pathetic enablers of evil, nothing more.
"Sorry doesn't cut it. What do you think academies are for?"
Right—it wasn't something a mere apology could fix. Pitiful or not, they'd face consequences.
I nodded at Tyr. She was still rubbing her sore head from Trivi.
"Remember what I said earlier?"
"Yes."
"Repeat it back."
"Remember what I said earlier?"
"Are you messing with me?"
She averted her eyes slyly. I quietly picked up Trivi from the ground.
"N-No, I swear, I'm just really dumb. Can't do anything but build."
"I know."
I knew, but I hadn't imagined this level of dimness. I sighed deeply.
I knelt and applied Restoration Stigma to each one.
Zing—
Restoring a human body hurt worse than anything imaginable.
But without those wounds, I'd never have controlled them.
Once finished, I said softly,
"Build a three-story clinic right here."
Their expressions turned puzzled—bewildered by their sudden recovery and the clinic order alike.
But this domain needed a proper clinic. Drug addicts might vanish someday, but healthcare wouldn't.
Ellis's habit of treating people like "defects" meant no real clinic existed here.
Defects got no treatment and died—that was the norm.
I wanted anyone hurt in Wonder Pentanil from now on to get care, no exceptions. It'd fulfill Dodo's wish too.
No innocent would die unjustly on my watch.
Less about newfound kindness, more about defying Elfriede outright.
That was the difference between my past and present lives.
"A clinic's way easier than a branch office, right?"
"Ah... True. But I'm design and oversight only. With just three workers left, it'll take forever..."
"We'll provide the manpower. Right, Ellis?"
Ellis nodded.
"Of course. We've got servants to spare."
She marched up to Tyr with smug glee and smacked her crown with a sharp slap.
"Serves you right. How do you not recognize Lord Florian? Sloppy management?"
She'd been bottling up resentment. Tyr gawked up at her.
"......?"
"What're you staring at? This man's my fiancé!"
"Ah, yes."
Tyr bowed hastily at "fiancé."
Finally satisfied, Ellis covered her mouth and tittered hohoho.
"Ellis."
"Yes, Master?"
"Help out here. Haul materials, break a sweat."
"...Why me?"
"Want me to explain our relationship to Turtle in detail?"
Ellis bent ninety degrees at the waist.
"As your fiancée, it's only right I lead by example. I'll carry the bricks."
"While you do, watch them closely. Any funny business, and they're target practice."
"You got it."
Looking around, I realized quite a crowd was gathering under me already.
This life, I'd do things my way. But what life did I truly want...?
Only one possibility.
No long deliberation needed.
"Hey, Tyr."
"Yes?"
"Provide proper breaks during construction. No pushing through foul weather, and stop work the moment it gets dark."
Elfriede.
I'd build a world exactly opposite the one that bitch desired.