The Family Necklace
“What kind of skill?” I asked. “Stealing?”
“No, it’s not like that,” Harry said. “The boss might not look it now, but back in his younger days he worked with a famous group of assassins. That’s why he’s so good with poisons, hidden weapons, and traps. These days he acts like he doesn’t want anything to do with it anymore, though.”
“Huh. That’s quite the twist.”
I glanced back at Marcus. He was still fuming, muttering “Those rotten bastards” under his breath while eating alone. I turned to Harry again and asked softly, “So what happened?”
“The Bolgins the boss cherished so much finally caused an incident.”
“What kind of…?”
“He started questioning the work we do in the bandit group and ran away. And he’d only been with us a few months.”
My eyes widened and my chest tightened. The words struck deep. That was exactly what I was planning to do.
“…Did they catch him?”
“Yeah, they caught him,” Harry answered brightly.
The way he said it so lightly, like a feather on the wind, made my throat close up. Escaping really must be nearly impossible.
“How did they catch him?”
“The whole bandit group went into an uproar. They tore through the surrounding forest like madmen. Eventually the hunting dogs sniffed out Bolgins hiding in a tunnel he’d dug. Found him like it was nothing.”
“Ah… hunting dogs.”
“They dragged Bolgins back alive. He begged for mercy, pleaded with the boss until his hands and feet were raw. But the boss lady didn’t forgive him. Cold as an ice queen, she took a blade and cut his throat clean through.”
The female boss I’d met just days ago rose in my mind. She’d accepted me so coolly that I’d been left with a good impression. Yet she showed no mercy to deserters.
I shook the thought away and focused on Harry’s lips as he continued.
“That’s when the boss’s personality started getting sharp. He began saying that being kind to newcomers was pointless. I think the reason he changed was because his affection for Bolgins had been that deep. The boss must have been badly hurt, felt betrayed in his own way. He cared for that boy so fiercely that outsiders even mistook them for father and son.”
When Harry finished, he sniffled and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. I let out a small, inward chuckle. It was a sad story, sure, but to shed tears over something like this… he really was pure-hearted. Seeing that side of him only made me like Harry more.
“Harry.”
“Yeah…?”
“Thanks for buying me food today. Once I get my weekly pay, I’ll treat you next time for sure.”
“You don’t have to repay me. It just hurts my heart seeing you go hungry while everyone else eats. That’s the only reason I bought it. Don’t worry about it.”
Suddenly my appetite returned. I couldn’t waste the meal kind-hearted Harry had paid for. As I forced down the tasteless soup and bread, I thought about Marcus. To think a man who seemed to enjoy tormenting me carried a story like that. I understood his prickly nature a little better now. The rebellious anger that had been rising in my chest eased off, if only slightly.
A short while later Phelton came down from the second floor with a prostitute.
“Everyone finished eating?”
“Yes, we’ve been waiting. The soup went cold, so please ask them to warm it again.”
“Why’s the old man sitting by himself? Poor guy.”
“Shut up and come eat. We don’t have much time before the appointment.”
Phelton shouted toward the kitchen. “Ma’am! Warm up this soup and bring it back hot!”
“Coming right up!”
Phelton, fresh from his business, sat down with a satisfied expression despite the sweat on his brow and began wolfing down the bread and soup. The prostitute, who had to wait endlessly for the next customer, sat at a table near the entrance with her chin in her hand, looking bored. Then she noticed me, grinned, and suddenly perked up with interest.
She came closer and stroked my shoulder with a sticky, lingering gaze.
“You’re really unique. Handsome in a cool, mysterious way. You give off this enigmatic vibe. I bet women flock to you. Got a girlfriend?”
“No.”
“Aha, perfect.”
She met my eyes, then straightened up and suddenly dropped her heavy breasts right on top of my head. The soft, heavy sensation of two plush mounds resting on my skull wasn’t entirely unpleasant. Though the fact that Phelton had been sucking on them moments ago did dampen the mood.
“Must be a while since you drained the lower half, huh? If you let it build up too much you’ll get sick. I’ll give you a better rate than Phelton. How about it?”
He’d just finished one round and had to be exhausted, yet this woman showed no sign of fatigue. Straight back to business. Still, sleeping with the same woman as an acquaintance? No matter how wild a bandit I might be, I couldn’t do that. Besides, I didn’t have the money.
“I’m fine. I’ll pass.”
“Oh? Acting expensive because you look so precious?”
“Want me to lend you money?” Phelton cut in with a chuckle, tearing off more bread. “If you want to do it, go ahead. I’ll lend you whatever you need.”
He seemed completely unbothered, which somehow made him look both generous and irritating. Did he want us to become hole-brothers or something? And he wasn’t even offering it for free. If you’re going to lend me money, at least get me a different woman instead of one you’ve already marked. But in this shabby corner inn, the only females were the owner and this one.
I ended up chatting with the clingy prostitute until Phelton finished eating. Though it was only light touches and conversation, it was still an enjoyable experience.
Now all that remained was disposing of the gold.
When we left the inn the world was bathed in pale bluish dawn light. I hadn’t slept properly through the early morning hours and my body felt heavy with fatigue. A tired sigh escaped me, turning into white vapor in the cold air. The weather was hot by day and cold by night, typical of autumn.
Phelton drove the cart toward the city’s commercial district. As dawn broke, smoke began rising from chimneys everywhere and people gradually appeared on the streets. After seeing nothing but bandits at the mountain stronghold, watching ordinary people go about their daily lives felt strangely comforting and interesting. I wanted that kind of peaceful, leisurely life too.
“Whoa.”
Phelton stopped the carriage in a dim alley. Marcus, who had stayed silent the whole way, licked his lips and spoke.
“Everyone wearing your necklaces?”
Necklaces? I looked at Phelton and Harry. Both were pulling out the pendants hanging around their necks to check them.
“I don’t have one.”
Marcus turned to me with a cold reply. “You don’t need one. I don’t even consider you part of our squad anyway.”
I decided then and there to let this hysterical old man’s words go in one ear and out the other from now on.
Phelton laughed. “Come on, old man. We’re basically family now. You should make one for him. It’ll be good for all of us.”
“What do you use the necklace for?” I asked.
“Look at this.” Harry patted my shoulder and showed me his pendant. It was shaped like a unique cross.
“If you blow on this end, it makes a whistle sound. It’s an alarm to warn distant squad members to run away fast. And if you press this small button on the back—”
He turned the necklace and pressed the button. A burst of bright red powder sprayed out.
“What is that?”
“Poison that causes hives all over the face.”
“Poison?”
“The boss made it so that if someone tries to restrain you, you can quickly press the button and escape. Our leader’s handiwork.”
“So you spray it on their face and run. Marcus made these?”
“Yeah. The boss is good with his hands. He can make just about anything.”
I remembered how he’d been carving a bird with a chisel when we first met. I glanced back at Marcus.
“Make one for me too.”
“Not a chance. Why would I make one for the likes of you?”
Phelton jumped in again. “Just make him one, old man. If he’s going to be one of us, he should have it. It’s basically a symbol of the Marcus family.”
“Hmph.”
It couldn’t be easy to maintain such a petty personality at his age. In any case, the necklace discussion was brushed aside, and everyone except Phelton stepped down from the carriage. Phelton would wait nearby. If anything went wrong, he was to either rush the cart over or escape alone if the situation turned bad. At least one person had to survive and report back to the boss.
“Newbie. Take the clothes hanger. Don’t give it to Harry—you carry it. That guy’s too clumsy; it’d be dangerous.”
“Got it.”
Following Phelton’s instructions, I checked the hanger inside the bag and tied it securely. Instead of slinging it over my back, I hugged it to my chest. Something this valuable couldn’t be treated carelessly.
Marcus added one more thing. “Your looks stand out too much. Put this on.”
He tossed me a shabby brown robe, faded and torn in several places. It had been rolled up and stuffed in the corner of the carriage.
“Cough, cough.”
I shook the dust and musty smell out of it, then pulled it on and drew the hood low over my face. Marcus stepped out of the alley first, with Harry and me following close behind. As he walked with his hands clasped behind his back, he muttered loud enough for me to hear.
“We’re petty thieves. We have to act like timid rabbits. No matter what we do, we watch our surroundings and stay ready to run at any moment. There’s nothing wrong with being scared. In this world, if you want to survive long, the best thing you can be is suspicious and fearful of everything.”