Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: The Kitten's Song
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“Waaah, I miss my big sis...”
The lounge fell into a heavy silence after the boy's story ended. None of the kids here were without their own tales of woe, yet no one could find the words to say.
Lianus wanted to help the boy. But as a wandering orphan right now, it was hard for him to step forward. So he wondered if his close friend might do something about it, and tugged firmly on Nihil's sleeve.
Nihil caught on to Lianus's intent and stood up, addressing the guards.
"We'd like to talk a bit more on our own."
"...Go ahead."
The guards stepped aside without protest. Perhaps they realized this wasn't their place to intrude, given they only occasionally provided food and shelter.
Once the guards were gone, Nihil turned back to the boy.
"What's your name?"
"S-sniff, D-Dave..."
"Dave, I'm not going to become like your sister."
"S-sniff, how do you know! You think those filthy nobles will treat you like a person no matter how pretty you are?"
"They might, of course. But I don't sell my body."
"...?"
"It's true."
Dave eyed Nihil skeptically through his puffy, tear-swollen eyes, as if he couldn't believe it.
"...Then where'd you get the cookies and chocolate?"
"Bought them."
"With what money!"
"...Sold meat and hides from beasts I hunted. I know how to forage herbs too."
Nihil couldn't mention they came from the palace, so he gave a vague cover. It was also one of the easiest ways to make money in their current situation.
Lianus kept quiet and watched, not wanting to step in and complicate things.
"You can really hunt...?"
"Yeah."
"H-how can I believe that."
"You don't have to. But do you still have that ring you mentioned?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Show me."
Dave sniffled and pulled a ring from his pocket, handing it to Nihil. Nihil gave it a quick glance before passing it straight to Lianus.
"Know anything about it?"
Lianus took the ring and examined it from every angle before answering.
"Hmm, this is the crest of Baron Dyke's family. Not a particularly prominent house, so I don't have much info. Under Baron Dyke, there are two sons and one daughter. His current wife is his second. The eldest son and daughter are from his late first wife, and the second son is from the current wife. The age gap isn't huge, so he's probably got a headache picking an heir. Their territory's specialty is wine, but it's not great quality—mostly popular with commoners and cooks for its value. And I'm pretty sure the owner of this ring isn't the baron himself. Family crests like this are often engraved in reverse for use as seals. But this one's a bit crude for the family head or his direct kin, and it's not reversed. So the owner is likely a close retainer or collateral relative. Plus, Dyke territory is quite far from the capital. Of course, we can't rule out it being worn deliberately to hide one's identity... Why is everyone staring?"
Lianus rattled off what he knew for a good while before noticing the eyes on him and falling silent.
Wondering if he'd said something wrong, he glanced at Nihil, but Nihil just patted his head nonchalantly. The wig dulled the sensation a bit, which was a shame, but given the circumstances, Lianus smiled contentedly anyway.
"A-anyway, that's my take."
"Yeah, thanks for the info."
Nihil took the ring back from Lianus and returned it to Dave, adding,
"Hear that?"
"Uh, yeah?"
"That ring belongs to Dyke or someone connected to his family."
"Oh... yeah."
"Want revenge?"
"Yeah."
"Want me to tell you how?"
"Yeah."
"Might take a while."
"...That's okay, even if it takes a long time."
"Then first, learn to read."
"...Huh?"
"Learn math, how to read clocks and calendars."
"B-but..."
"You'll get a chance to learn soon."
"And then...?"
"Just learn it first."
"You make it sound so easy. You think it's simple for kids like us to learn that stuff?"
Dave pouted at Nihil's seemingly unrealistic words.
"If you can't, give up."
"Wh-who says I can't? I can do it!"
"Good, work hard then."
"And after I learn? What next?"
"Wait. If you go off half-cocked trying to get revenge alone and die, it's not my problem."
"..."
"Once you're useful, I'll come find you."
Dave wondered how this little kid planned to track him down, but somehow believed he'd return, and smiled.
Meanwhile, Lianus realized the Sharton Street redevelopment plans he'd seen didn't mention education or childcare facilities. If the street kids were to get schooling, he'd have to make it happen himself.
His close friend had just given him—and not just this boy—a task too.
Nihil whispered softly to Lianus.
"Think you can do it?"
"I'll try. No, I can. I'll make it happen."
"Good."
Nihil patted Lianus's head again before turning to the kids.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell any adults what happened today. Promise?"
"M-me! I can keep a secret super good!"
Little Bri jumped in brightly. Nihil chuckled, seeing a bit of the oblivious Lianus in her, then approached and gently took her wrist.
"Hey, kid."
"Huh? You mean Bri? I'm not a kid."
Bri tilted her head with wide eyes, looking up at Nihil. His face, peeking from under the deep hood, was strikingly pretty. Her wrist tingled where the pretty big brother held it.
Nihil let out a soft laugh, released her wrist, and pulled a small glass vial from his bag.
"Right, Bri. You've got a slight fever, so here's some medicine. Rest up for a few days."
"Yeah, Bri doesn't do anything. Big bro and sis do everything for me. I'll pay it back when I grow up. But do I hafta take this?"
Bri wrinkled her nose at the bitter smell wafting from the open vial.
"Take it, and I'll give you chocolate."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm, two."
"Fine, two it is."
Bri beamed at the promise and gulped down the medicine. But it was too bitter for a kid, and as she gagged, Nihil quickly popped a chocolate in her mouth.
Unable to spit out the chocolate, Bri teared up but swallowed the medicine and savored the chocolate.
"Pretty big bro's mean."
"Yeah."
Nihil chuckled lowly and placed two chocolates in her hand.
Bri, realizing she'd already eaten one, thought she should only take one, eyed him wide-eyed for a moment, then slyly hid the extra behind her back.
"Don't take it back later."
"Won't."
"Then... I take it back. Pretty big bro's really nice... and pretty."
Bri mumbled shyly, fiddling with the wrapper.
Lianus started worrying that his close friend was charming people left and right.
For now, he was the only one close to Nihil, but what if later Nihil made so many friends he drifted away? Anyone would want to be friends with someone as pretty, kind, and amazing as Nihil.
Unable to bear the anxiety, Lianus tugged lightly at Nihil's robe hem.
Nihil glanced back, untangled Lianus's hand, and laced their fingers together, giving a gentle pull.
"Ner, time for us to go."
"Ah, yeah!"
Us.
Lianus grinned, his anxiety forgotten in an instant.
That single word drew a clear line between these kids and him, which felt good. It was a bit selfish, but Lianus didn't want to share Nihil.
"Pretty big bro, you leaving already? Can't you play more? I wanna play with the kitty too..."
Little Bri tugged at Nihil's hand, glancing wistfully at the cat.
Nihil seemed to ponder for a second, then lifted the corner of his mouth under the hood. It was the kind of smile that would have made Evan suspicious and on guard.
"We have to go now. But I'll sing you a cat song instead."
"A cat song?"
"Meow?"
Both the cat Bella and Lianus blinked in confusion at Nihil.
Nihil singing!
Lianus couldn't picture it. Sure, his close friend excelled at everything, so he'd probably sing well too, but imagining the usually expressionless Nihil singing a cute ditty about cats was amusing.
"I wanna hear it! Sing it quick!"
Bri urged him on. Lianus, equally curious about Nihil singing, watched with sparkling eyes. Bella stretched languidly once, then settled neatly to knead dough and listen attentively.
Nihil scanned his little audience, cleared his throat, and began singing in a slightly higher tone than usual.
The mood lightened as Nihil sang. But the actual cat, Bella, froze stiff and didn't move.
Little Bri giggled along, singing the tune. Nihil gently stroked her hair.
"Sing it often. It'll make me happy hearing my favorite song everywhere."
"Yeah! Bri can do it."
Nihil smiled, satisfied that the song would spread smoothly. The kids might not get the lyrics perfect, but the message wouldn't change much.
No matter the form, the suffering baby kitten would become a tiger in the end. The serpent would remain a tattered rope, never a dragon.
That was enough.
Nihil took the hand of oblivious Lianus, who was humming along unaware he was the baby tiger. He scooped up the rigid Bella and murmured lowly.
"Meow-meow, better not show it. Unless you wanna get eaten by the red serpent."
"M-meow."
The red snake was the duke's family crest.
A serpent clutching a gem in its mouth and coiled around a sword. Arrogant in its grasp of wealth and might—and the ducal house had the power to back it.
But in truth, Bella found the "child" far scarier than the possibly rope-like "serpent." The way he methodically plotted the future from the shadows was chilling.
And the clueless baby tiger protagonist was humming away innocently beside him. Unbelievable.
Maybe the baby tiger had lost his fear—and his sense—because the child was watching over him.
"Heading out now?"
Cain and Dave stood to see Nihil and Lianus off. Dave's nose was still stuffy, eyes a bit swollen from crying.
"Yeah. Gotta claim a spot before sunset, build a fire, and prep dinner."
"You're... really amazing."
Dave was purely awed. Maybe everything Ner had bragged about his big brother was true. At the same time, these younger kids survived on their own without help, while he had to steal—it filled him with self-loathing.
Just then, a commotion erupted from the guard corridor.
"A-ack! Grab him!"