Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Escape
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A chaotic jailbreak, followed by our getaway.
Day seven of fugitive life.
As you'd expect, the entire kingdom had been turned upside down.
An unprecedented prison break.
I'd already been a hot potato people loved to hate,
but now I'd evolved into a full-on molten lava bomb.
In my past life, this would've dominated the evening news on all three major networks,
and the 24/7 cyber lynch mobs scouring for someone to tear apart would've dug up my ancestors three generations back for a proper online roasting.
Of course, no internet or smartphones here.
But there was something even scarier.
"Found 'em! Over there!"
"Grab those bastards! Catch 'em and we're set for life!!"
The real terror: greedy humans spreading rumors and pounding the pavement.
My handsome mug was plastered on posters the size of barn doors everywhere,
and beneath them, a tantalizing number.
Capture Alive: 300 Gold
Enough for an average commoner to live off forever without lifting a finger.
Like a winning lottery ticket with legs, begging to be chased.
Not just the guards mobilized for the manhunt,
but farmers who'd never held a sword,
and even slum-dwellers who'd been splashing through sewage yesterday.
Men, women, old, young—everyone was fired up, hunting me down.
No exaggeration: the whole world was the enemy.
'Reincarnated, grinding away, but these shitty bitches hate only me.'
Sounds like a webnovel title.
"Dada..."
"Shh. Shut it, unless you never wanna see your mom again."
"Mama?"
So me, Baekrin, and the brat—our hopeless trio—had to scurry like rats.
Hiding in ruined buildings during daylight,
moving only a little, stealthily, at night when most were asleep or screwing.
Of course, our stealth wasn't foolproof 100%.
"......"
3 AM.
In a slum alley that should only have drunks or rats,
three guards wandered with torches.
'These goddamn pests.'
Normally, they'd avoid the slums like the plague.
Slums weren't even on their patrol routes—prime crime territory.
Yet here they were, boots in the muck, patrolling.
The kingdom was out for blood.
Probably eyeing the massive "donation" from the Kaintrea Duke, demanding an example be made.
We hugged the wall, holding our breath,
but then...
"Ah... atchoo!"
"You fucking brat."
In a pinch like this, a regressed kid was a massive liability.
We could dodge eyes, but not ears.
"Hey, you there."
One guard raised his torch toward us.
Three of us in ragged cloaks, faces hidden.
Suspicious as hell.
"You lot, come here a sec."
"......"
They beckoned us over.
I exchanged glances with Baekrin beside me.
[Three of 'em.]
[Got it.]
[Quiet, you bitch. No blood splatter.]
Baekrin nodded ever so slightly.
We pretended to comply, approaching.
The moment they closed in unsuspectingly...
"Lemme see your faces. Why so bundled up..."
Flash.
Baekrin slipped in like a shadow.
Her handblade struck the leader's throat dead-on.
"Gurk!"
He flipped his eyes back, collapsing without a scream.
I moved too.
As the next gaped in shock,
I uppercut his jaw and wrenched his neck with a twist.
Crack.
ASMR-level bone snap.
He crumpled into my arms like a scarecrow.
"Wh-what?! You... guk!"
The last drew his sword, but Baekrin was already behind him.
Her arm locked his throat; after a few futile struggles, he went limp.
Thud, flop.
All three down in seconds.
Perfect, silent takedown.
"Hoo..."
I exhaled shortly, scanning around.
Luckily, no witnesses.
Baekrin nudged the bodies with her foot, then jerked her chin at me.
"Dump 'em, slave."
"...Got it, employer bitch."
Fucking hell, my shitty life.
Grumbling, I dragged the unconscious (or dead) guards' legs.
Shoved them piled in a dark alley corner,
burying them under rotten straw and trash piles nearby.
Didn't forget to rifle their pockets for extras.
Finished disguising, dusted my hands.
Baekrin was already ahead;
Noy clung to my hem, whining.
"Daddy, hungry."
"Hold on. I'm starving too."
I hoisted Noy again,
chasing after my striding bitch of a boss,
running through the dark.
.....
Inside a decrepit ruin.
We sat on the floor catching our breath,
gnawing on cheap jerky Baekrin had stashed.
Chew, chew.
Leather or meat? Impossible to tell, tough as hell.
Jaw ached,
but calories were calories.
For rats dodging eyes, this was luxury.
"Uuu... eung......"
Noy whined beside me.
Just sucking on the jerky, unable to chew.
"Hey, not sucking—chew it."
"...?"
No teeth or what? Sucking like a baby."
Even regressed to toddler smarts, she was 15.
Body tiny, sure, but teeth should've been there.
Frustrated, I grabbed her chin, forced her mouth open.
"Say ahh. Ah."
"Aah......"
Fishy blood stench hit.
"...Tch."
Unbelievable.
Gums swollen red,
teeth loose at a touch.
Should be permanent teeth by now, solid.
Instead, wobbling like rotten roots.
Malnutrition, probably.
Black bread soaked in spit, maybe,
but this jerky? No chance for weak gums.
"Hurts... Daddy, hurts......"
Every poke, blood oozed; she teared up.
Irritation boiled.
"Fuck this, picky eater.
Gimme that. Can't even eat it."
Snatched the soggy jerky from her hand.
Shoved it in my mouth,
chew, chew.
Ground it to mush.
Chewchewchewchew.
'Til tough fibers broke, soft enough.
"Here, ahh."
Spat the meat paste into her mouth.
"Munch... munch......"
Finally easy, she puffed her cheeks like a squirrel, swallowing eagerly.
"Living like royalty. Am I your mom?"
"Dada!"
"...Yeah, daddy, fuck."
Grumbled, reached for another piece,
felt eyes staring.
Baekrin.
She chewed her jerky, spat dryly,
"Just toss her?"
"Who, her?"
"Dead weight."
Nodded at Noy.
"This brat's a hassle beyond imagination.
Can't walk, can't eat, noisy too.
Dragging her? Perfect bait."
Spot on.
Almost got us caught earlier 'cause of her.
Fed her second mush piece, replied,
"Contract included her, no?"
"Docked you 50 copper."
"So she's included."
Baekrin scoffed incredulously.
"She really your daughter?"
"Bullshit. My dick's still virgin."
Me, 20.
Brat, 15.
Me knocking her up at 5? Even hentai skips that.
"Then why baby her? Ditch for gain."
Dunno. Curious myself.
Ditching would've been easy.
Leave her, odds way better.
"Yeah, ditch?"
"Ditch better."
"Then ditch me too. Please."
Her brow twitched.
"What bullshit?"
"Reckon real gains. You love math."
Chewed jerky, ticked fingers.
"Kid? Yeah, noisy, clingy. That's it.
Me? Face on every wall,
everyone gunning for me."
Pointed at my handsome face, grinned.
"300-gold jackpot. Me."
"......"
"Real risk's me, not her. Right?"
Baekrin stared silently.
No counter. Facts.
"Hate that shitty 10-year slave deal anyway.
Ditch me too. Clean break?"
Stood up.
"Partings follow meetings.
Was shit together. Never see ya."
Grabbed Noy to stand,
thwack!
Baekrin's kick to my shin.
"Ow, why hit, bitch!"
"Noisy."
She finished her jerky,
icy glare.
"Don't delude, slave.
Ditching's master's call. Not yours."
Sounded like 'your body's mine' claim.
For some reason,
Sharl's crazy face overlapped hers.
"Fucking enigma. You not annoyed, running like this?"
"...Annoyed. Escaping especially sickening."
Then why this dumb shit?
Couldn't compute.
Jailbreak? Fine, I'd spent gold on her.
Conscience maybe.
Though her clumsy rescue blew it up,
anyway,
but a week now.
No proper meals for a foodie,
hiding, holding breath, catnaps, fleeing.
[Success fee. Up to 5 gold.]
[Coins I tossed? Pick up?]
[...Haven't got paid yet.]
Every word, action: money ghost incarnate.
Extreme profiteer like Kaintreas.
Yet here, losing her prime.
Ongoing, slave contract excuse.
Enigma bitch.
"So why drag this baggage? You ain't sold your face.
Hell, you could snag me for 300 gold."
"......"
"Speak if you can, country hick."
Sharp prod, but silence.
Frustrating as hell.
"Or smitten with me?"
"What. Your face's ugly as sin."
"Lies, handsome to all."
Left side, anyway.
Everyone's angle,
mine's left mirror magic.
...Fuck.
Wiped Noy's dripping snot with cloak,
snapped at pouty Baekrin.
"Anyway, never say ditch the kid again.
You can't ditch your own 'baggage' first."
She doing un-Baekrin shit.
Speechless, she just glared, lips tight.
Jealous?
Counter then.
Can't? Bitch.
Crushed savage with logic~
Grinned victoriously,
patted Noy's butt.
"C'mon, daughter. Hot daddy won... guk!"
Thud!
Baekrin's fist to my crown.
"Ow, fuck! Why again!"
"Slave mouthing off to employer."
She blew on knuckles,
shameless reply.
"And don't delude."
"...?"
"Not can't ditch. Won't."
Stood, cloak flourish.
"My call."
Turned, strode off.
"...Ill-bred bitch."
Rubbed throbbing head, grumbled.
Whatever, logic win means shit.
Fists rule here.
Noy pointed at her back, lisped,
"Go... go! Dada!"
"Yeah, goin'. Damn it."
Sighed deep,
hoisted munching Noy,
ran on.
10-year slave contract.
300-gold bounty.
Cockroach in department store,
desperately fleeing stomps.
Plus kid-dad duty.
Life, man.
Getting wilder.