Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: The Bear at the Inn
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Jane glanced up at the bear of a man. She wasn't used to looking up at anyone, since no one around her was taller. The man kept chewing on something, then suddenly grimaced and spat it out onto the ground.
Jane stared at the mangled mess on the ground that he'd spat out and thought to herself.
...Isn't that my future?
Nil must have figured even he—who could knock pigeons out of the sky with a stone—couldn't take down a bear. It was a good thing he'd run off quick. Kelvin and his gang seemed to be after little kids anyway.
The man was already gently stroking Kelvin's head while demanding compensation.
"Hey, kid. You listening to me?"
"Y-yes, yes...!"
"Don't make me repeat myself, alright? I hate hassle. One feral cat's enough for that. Got it?"
"Y-yes...? Y-yes."
Jane seized the moment while Kelvin was pinned, watching for a chance to drag Dave out of the alley. The other boys in Kelvin's gang were hesitating, backing away bit by bit.
But there were too many trying to slip out, drawing attention. The bear-like man let out a low growl, pressing in on them.
"Hey, trying to run again? You think you can leave before the grown-up? Huh?"
He scanned each boy's face as he spoke, then patted Kelvin's shoulder. Kelvin's whole body jolted at the touch.
"Listen, one feral cat's enough rudeness from kids. Come on, be good. Gather round."
"......"
"Now, about that medical bill..."
"......"
The man rounded up the boys, waving his supposedly broken arm while starting to shake them down for cash. His scar-covered hands were so thick and huge, it looked like they could crush a skull outright.
Jane and Dave couldn't escape the alley either. Trembling, they had to dig through their pockets. All they had were an awl and a pocketknife they'd grabbed right before leaving the hideout.
When Jane pulled the awl from her waistband, the other boys stared like why do you have that there? But the man just snorted a laugh and advised her not to hand weapons over to just anyone.
"Hah, broke as hell."
The man grumbled in dissatisfaction even after taking every last snot-smeared coin. This wouldn't even cover a pinky treatment, he said, then lightly gripped one of Kelvin's fingers.
"Wouldn't be fair if only I got hurt. How about you hand over a finger?"
His grip tightened on the finger. Kelvin's face drained white. Jane didn't like the guy, but she squeezed her eyes shut—she couldn't bear to watch his finger snap.
"I-if you need money, there's another way!"
"Oh?"
Kelvin stammered on before his finger could bend further.
"Th-there's an inn that buys kids!"
"...Kids?"
"Y-yes! They only take ones under ten! You could get cash right away."
"Hmm, but you all look over ten."
The man compared his height to theirs, muttering that if they were just a bit shorter, he could pass them off as ten. He shoved tall Jane aside with a glance—not her—and Dave, clutching her clothes, got nudged too.
It was absurd, but the man looked like he'd actually hack off limbs to shorten them and claim they were ten.
When the man eyed Kelvin's knees and muttered it'd be easy to chop just that much, Kelvin screamed in terror.
"I-I saw two kids earlier!"
"...Oh? Where?"
"N-not sure, but they were here just now, so they couldn't have gone far! They were with these guys."
Kelvin pointed at Jane and Dave. He was desperate to escape by any means. The man flashed a chilling smile and glanced at Jane.
Jane stiffened, then slowly opened her mouth.
"W-we don't really know those k-kids either. N-no idea where they went."
"Eh, we'll find 'em quick. So where's this inn?"
The man grilled him for details, clearly planning to drag in kids and sell them all. Kelvin called the kids "rabbits" as he spilled the inn's location, password, and more.
"Hmm, alright. Off you go."
Once he'd heard it all, the man let Kelvin and his gang leave first.
Jane steeled herself inwardly, vowing to keep her mouth shut no matter what threats came. She'd even use the awl like Nil said if needed. But the man just stared blankly for a moment, asked nothing, and turned to walk away.
"...?"
Jane blinked in confusion at his retreating back, then checked on Dave hiding behind her.
"Y-you okay?"
"Y-yeah. Thanks, big bro."
"I-I didn't do anyth- anything. L-let's find the k-kids and head b-back to the hideout. This is t-too dangerous."
"We're not going."
"...?!"
Dave yelped and flopped down at the voice from nowhere. Nil had snuck up, holding Lianus in his arms, gazing quietly at the boys.
"Y-you didn't run?"
"Why would I? You lot head back."
Nil set Lianus down as he spoke. Lianus, lost in thought in Nil's arms, wore a slightly dark expression.
Nil gently adjusted Lianus's crooked hood and continued softly.
"Shell, go join up with Mutt."
"...You?"
"I'll be the bait."
"Together."
"Dangerous."
"Together."
"......"
Lianus wouldn't budge. His friend was strong, but there were no guarantees he wouldn't get hurt. Evan was his knight. If anything happened to either, they'd save him first. Borrowed knight Bell was the same—he'd made sure of that condition from the start. He was a prince, after all.
"Nil, let's go together. Please."
"......"
Lianus gripped his friend's hand tight. He'd bolt alone otherwise.
That's when Dave piped up.
"Let me help."
"Go home."
"You're gonna get sold, right? But if that bear guy catches you, it might not end at just selling! Let me help. I won't do anything else risky!"
"......"
Nil and Lianus's faces turned a bit odd at that. Nil pondered, thinking of slipping them emergency cash, then finally nodded.
Nil took Dave's rigidly tense hand and nodded ahead—lead on. Dave took a few deep breaths, then brazenly pushed open the inn's door.
"Hello there!"
"Welcome... Wait, no kids. Out."
The rough-faced innkeeper waved the boys away. Dave matched Kelvin's info in his head and sidled up friendly-like.
'They refuse the first couple times if you bring kids.'
"Heh heh, mister, we've got money."
"No kids, I said!"
"Aw, c'mon, don't be stingy. I brought these 'rabbit' little bros for some tasty grub, and you're shooing 'em? What about my face? I bragged big how I'd treat 'em good."
"Still no. Take 'em somewhere else."
The keeper kept bouncing them, suspicious since they weren't Kelvin's usual crew.
Dave whispered close when it dragged on.
"You know how rare baby rabbits are these days? Kelvin's ugly mug scares 'em off. Kids got taste. Anyway, took real work to lure these. Hurry with the food—they're getting wary! What if they bail?"
The keeper wavered at Dave's shameless act. But greedy Kelvin wouldn't send a sub, so he hesitated.
Nil tugged Dave's clothes lightly, sensing the delay.
"Big bro... We don't need tasty stuff. Mister's scary. Can't we just go?"
"Wh-what? J-just wait a sec. This place has the best food."
"Nooo...!"
Nil hid behind Dave like a scared kid, peeking at the keeper, then tugged his hand to leave.
"Let's gooo...!"
"Fine, sit down already!"
"Haha, thanks."
The keeper, unable to lose rabbits, grabbed them urgently. Dave inwardly cheered, hustling the group to a dim corner table.
The keeper eyed them suspiciously, squinting.
"What'll it be?"
"Whatever those guys had last time."
"Sheesh, you look way too young..."
"...Pardon? Oh, haha, c'mon, age don't matter in this biz. You don't know how that punk struts after a trip here? Total pain."
"Tch. Keep the kids in line!"
"Yes, sir, no worries!"
The keeper clicked his tongue and left. Dave sighed in relief—one hurdle down. The place was rowdy with drinkers, so kids chattering wouldn't stand out.
Tense Jane exhaled, patting Dave's shoulder.
"D-Dave, g-good work."
"...Bro, my heart's gonna burst. What'd Kelvin eat to get that reaction?"
"M-maybe somethin' su-super spicy?"
"Yeah, could be."
"......"
Nil inwardly sighed at their innocent guess of "spicy food," but kept cool. Instead, he played the "awkward kid new to the place."
Lianus gawked around like a curious kid in strange surroundings—probably not acting.
Dave leaned toward Nil, whispering.
"Nil, but seriously... being bait's too risky, right?"
"They'll be hunting rabbits anyway. Better me than some plain one."
"...Yeah, well, you snag flying pigeons with stones—can't handle one crawling mutt?"
The boys shut up, picturing the pigeons now plucked clean and stashed in the warehouse. Nil wouldn't go down easy. Long as that bear stayed away.
To ease nerves, they kept chatting. Mostly Dave rambling daily stuff, Jane nodding along—but Lianus listened intently, hooked on their talk.
As tension faded, the inn went dead silent.
The boys scanned puzzled.
"Huh? What's up? Closing shop? Why so quiet?"
The bear-like man they'd kept running into strode in, radiating massive presence.