30. A Terrifying Plan
A girl sat huddled on the steps of the request office building, her cheeks cupped in her hands, looking troubled. She sighed deeply while sitting there, her face hidden beneath her hoodie, though the delicate chin peeking out was lovely. Her small mouth and white cheeks stood out.
“This isn’t working…”
She muttered to herself with that mouth.
She had thought it would succeed if done with sincerity.
No matter what Sugar thought, she had been kicked out because she hit the age limit at the request office. It was the result of constantly bothering the staff.
So, she had been scammed.
Even if she wanted to make money, it was just heartbreaking that she couldn’t because she hit the age limit.
It was a path she had chosen thinking it was much better than being stuck in the chimney all day. She wanted to fight weak monsters, hone her combat instincts, and make money. It was a win-win.
But since she had been kicked out like this, there was no way around it.
A place that always welcomed children.
I have to go into the chimney.
“Ah…”
The feeling of not wanting to do it suddenly came, but when she thought of her friend—who would be happy to receive a gift, probably pretending not to like it on the surface—her motivation surged again.
But there would be a lot of soot, would it be okay?
I could say I got covered in dirt or got hurt while playing, but soot looked like I just came back from playing.
What was the problem with that?
Because if I worked outside, the orphanage would be implicated.
From the orphanage’s perspective, they couldn’t be branded as a place that made children work. No matter what the child’s will was, others would see it as the adult ordering it.
Then the public’s gaze would be very harsh. Forget about the sponsors’ gazes.
They liked to publicly order the kids to clean the chimney and then curse the orphanage as one that made children work. People were really strange.
Thinking that they wanted to protect the kids in their own hands, Sugar tried to think positively about it.
She had just gotten up to go somewhere.
The door of the request office opened and five people burst out.
“Can we finish by evening?”
“Absolutely not. We’ll have to stay up all night.”
“Grrrr…”
They seemed to be a group that solved requests together. Sugar thought she wanted to join them too and was watching when the burly man in front glanced at her.
“Oh. A fifteen-year-old girl.”
“The kid who was bothering Meru?”
“Really. It’s that kid from earlier.”
It seemed they had overheard the argument with the staff earlier.
Sugar felt embarrassed and just cleared her throat.
“Kid, did you want to take on a request like that? What are you going to use the money for?”
“You look busy, so hurry on your way.”
Since she didn’t feel like joking with them, she said it casually, and the man laughed loudly.
“No, it’s impressive. At that age, trying to make money alone.”
“… Is that so? I’m impressed?”
“Of course. When I was your age… I was always breaking things and eating them, so I got my parents’ allowances taken away because of compensation.”
“Compared to that, I’m pretty amazing.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Then, let me join your party.”
“That’s not possible.”
No way. The group laughed heartily.
“Look at what this kid is saying.”
“When you’re fifteen, we’ll go together then.”
Watching them banter like that, the burly man approached Sugar slightly.
What was he trying to do? Sugar lifted her head a little. Then the man bent down to her eye level and covered his mouth with his hand, whispering.
“Cafe street. If you have good eyes, maybe you can guess.”
“… Huh?”
If she asked, he would immediately stand up. But the other members, having understood the content, said something to the man.
“It’s a good thing you’re telling her.”
“Ah, what are you telling a little kid like that for?”
“Because I know something will happen. Don’t be irresponsible.”
“What! It’s all their choice. You guys, didn’t you all live properly? How are you so cool?”
Ignoring the big voice opinions, waving his hand, the group shook their heads and clicked their tongues. Then they just said “Uncle smells” and “Widower smells” without the atmosphere becoming too bad. It seemed they were playing like that often.
“Then, we’re going. Take care.”
“Don’t overdo it.”
“See you later, kid.”
They chatted for a while and then came to their senses. After greeting Sugar one by one, they went on their way.
Sugar also waved her hand at the interesting people.
When she was left alone, the words the uncle had said earlier came to mind.
“… Cafe street?”
A street where cafes are gathered. There was one. She had seen it briefly while going out with the orphanage director a few times. The cafe she had gone to with Rubshi before was also near the entrance of that street.
What exactly was he telling her to do on that street?
It wasn’t just to find a cafe part-time job.
“If you have good eyes, maybe you can guess…”
Is it a task to find something?
Thinking about what the others said, it gave a feeling of “it’s dangerous.”
Since she didn’t know what it was, it was pointless to stand still and think. Sugar decided to go and judge for herself.
At least the group didn’t look bad.
***
After lunch time, in a quiet time. There were few people on the street, but she had come anyway.
Let’s observe first.
Sugar sat on the bench prepared in the middle of the street. The floor was wooden planks, a large awning was spread out, and benches were placed here and there, perfect for resting.
She sat there for about ten minutes. There was a clock in the center, so she was checking it.
“Hmm…”
No special things were visible.
Just busy people passing by and people shouting “Coffee, coffee profit!!” There was nothing unusual.
Looking around the shelter, besides Sugar, there were a few people sitting. In the back, a woman, diagonally, a man, on the floor, dark pigeons with hollow eyes…
Again, a scene without anything special, she looked ahead.
Since there was time left, she decided to wait more leisurely.
Then another ten minutes passed.
“Umm…”
If I just sit still, isn’t that okay? Should I go around every corner of the street?
Watching people who were just pretending to work was boring. She decided to fill up to thirty minutes and then get up and walk around the street.
Time passed, another ten minutes passed. The dark pigeons passed by her side.
“Filled thirty minutes…”
Sugar patted her butt and got up from her seat. Where to go first. It was when she was pondering.
“Would you like a cup of coffee.”
A voice urging her came, so she turned slightly.
It wasn’t directed at Sugar.
The boy who was urging the man sitting near Sugar’s diagonal side from earlier.
“… Okay.”
The man answered softly, and the boy opened his mouth again.
“Is two spoons of sugar okay?”
“One spoon would be good.”
“Okay. Let’s go.”
A strange conversation somewhere. As soon as it ended, the two people moved their feet.
Sugar’s radar activated. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly and a voice saying “That’s right!” echoed in her mind.
The remaining task was just to follow. She calmed the flowing magic that was rising with excitement, and walked as quietly as possible.
They entered the back alley, so she followed in.
She hid behind boxes. Jumped over the wall and hid on the opposite side.
I don’t know if this corresponds to the “cafe street. If you have good eyes, maybe you can guess” the uncle said, but she enjoyed the pursuit with anticipation. If not, she could just go back.
Eventually, the two people stood at a place. Sugar peeked her face over the wall and looked at the slums buildings on the other side. It took more steps than she thought, but since the place itself was close to where Sugar lived, it felt a bit strange.
“Here. These are the items this time.”
“Good. This is for last time.”
The boy took out a somewhat slimy bundle, and the man handed a small bundle. The clinking sound suggested it was a money bundle.
“I divided it the same as usual.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m grateful too. Isn’t it good that we both have good things?”
“Yes, so what about this job this time?”
The man took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to the boy. It was a paper she had seen a lot. The color or size was similar to the one she saw recently.
“Here. The deadline is as written.”
“Ah, if it’s this, it’s easy. I think I can bring it back soon.”
“Good. See you next time. Don’t forget to bring the request form.”
“Don’t worry. Then.”
The two people who exchanged greetings went their separate ways.
Ho. Sugar watched the scene and nodded her head.
Just looking at the appearance, it was a black market scene.
But the paper the man took out from his pocket. Because she remembered it, Sugar jumped down from the wall abruptly.
“What, what? Where did you come from?”
“Would you like a cup of coffee?”
…
…
…
The paper was exactly the same as the one at the request office.
The bulletin board inside the request office building. A request posted there. A paper with request content, period, reward, requester, etc.
But why was the man who looked like a request office employee showing this paper to the young boy. Sugar roughly guessed.
“I want to work together too.”
“W, what are you saying, kid. Go play somewhere.”
“I know everything. Instead, you’re bringing the request, right?”
Kids who can perform requests but are underage.
Instead of those kids, the man brings the request, and the kids do it.
When they hand over the proof of completion to the man, he delivers it to the request office and receives the reward instead.
The reward is divided into a certain amount, one side takes it, the other gives to the kids.
The kids can earn pocket money this way, and the man can easily make money without the risk of “fines if caught.”
“It’s like giving cigarettes from the convenience store instead of minors.”
It’s not giving, but the opposite, selling.
Anyway, after laying out the facts Sugar had figured out, the man nodded as if he gave up.
“Yeah… yeah… But do you have the power to do that? That kid from earlier said he could handle a sword pretty well. But you’re too small and don’t look strong.”
She was waiting for this moment.
Sugar smiled with a “ho,” picked up a small stone that had fallen around.
Now, with magic infused as if familiar, it shot up into the sky with a “whoosh” and disappeared without a trace.
She had to control it freely, but lately she could only shoot well and couldn’t control it as much.
“I can do this much.”
“Hmm…”
It seemed like he was doubting, so this time she kicked the ground and jumped. There was no big movement, but she landed on the wall of the wall in an instant.
“How is it?”
The man looked like he was thinking, then reluctantly nodded. Probably because the dwarf fairy-like appearance of Sugar, with her hoodie pulled up, didn’t seem trustworthy.
Since it was a job with money involved, she couldn’t just play around. She needed a child who would definitely succeed as much as she took on the request.
The man was inwardly boasting that he was a “request broker pro.” It was a bit of a twisted pride.
But since he had seen many talented kids, he could be sure about the eyes.
“… Passed to some extent. Good. From now on, let’s work together. There are no more requests left, so come out tomorrow again.”
“Yes! Please take care.”
Sugar smiled happily with “hehe.”
“Then when do I do it… Should I secretly go out at night to resolve it?”
Depending on the request content, but the activity time would probably be at night.
If she suddenly disappears during the day, her always-attached friend would think it’s strange. Even if it’s for a day or two, but if it happens every day for several days, it’s strange.
“I can’t get caught by the orphanage staff either…”
But since she would work hard for several days and accumulate some money, she wouldn’t do it anymore.
She would endure for now!
Sugar clenched her fist.
The terrifying plan to give a gift to her friend, mentor, and beloved younger brother and express gratitude was proceeding steadily.