Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Bitter Truth
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Watching Michelle stab a fork into her spaghetti, shove a big mouthful in, and chew away with gusto stirred up a strange feeling in me.
"Even back then, her table manners were impeccable at least."
Having grown up with a fine education, she'd eaten the modest meal laid out in the Demon Realm Forest with real elegance. But now, she had sauce smeared all over her mouth.
"Sigh."
I wiped her mouth with a napkin from the restaurant, and she pulled her hand away and shook her head like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Thank you!"
She said that, then dove right back into inhaling her food like a storm. I couldn't help but chuckle at how hopeless she was.
"So... so cute."
"Right? She'd look amazing in something like a frilly dress."
"......"
Rin was staring at Michelle with eyes practically dripping honey, while Hayun looked ready to whip up an outfit on the spot.
Sen, though, had a slightly odd expression as she watched her. Having lived her whole life in the Extermination Squad before enrolling at the academy, this was probably her first time having a little kid get so close.
"Sigh."
Seeing the two of them together for no good reason made my stomach twist.
I wondered how two people who'd been entangled in my past life had ended up crossing paths like this, but at the same time, I couldn't shake the curiosity about why Sen had come all the way to the Demon Realm Forest to kill Michelle.
"Sis, are you dating the bros?"
Michelle gulped down her chewed-up spaghetti, took a sip of her drink, and asked.
Rin blushed, but the other two shot it down flat.
"No way."
"Ew, no?"
"Hey, 'ew, no'? I'm not into it either, you know?"
I glared at Sen in annoyance, but she just poked at her salad with her fork and shoved some in her mouth.
Somehow we'd ended up eating together, but Michelle blended in effortlessly, without a hint of discomfort.
"Bro got rejected by everyone? Poor guy."
She was almost too comfortable.
"Don't call me bro. Call me mister."
"Huh? Mister? You're not that old, are you?"
Back then, she'd insisted I wasn't old enough even while calling me mister anyway, and now she was flipping her words again.
"Whatever. Just call me mister."
"Should I call the sisters ma'ams too, then?"
"I don't care."
"Hmm, getting called 'ma'am' at my age is a bit much."
"......"
Everyone except Rin looked less than thrilled. Michelle nodded vigorously like she got it and flashed me a bright smile.
"I'll just call you mister, then."
"Good."
Her calling me bro just felt awkward and off.
Right then, the server brought my ordered pumpkin soup. Hayun asked what I'd ordered now, but I didn't bother answering. I grabbed an extra spoon and handed it to Michelle.
"I don't eat stuff like this."
"Don't just fill up on spaghetti. Have something warm for your tummy. I bet you'll like this."
She'd always been sensitive to the cold, and even now she coughed here and there, so I'd ordered it for her.
It wasn't even peak cold season—more like hot weather—but the kid shivered now and then anyway.
"You really are a mister. I hate pumpkin..."
"It's not that you hate it. You've just never tried it."
Michelle puffed out her cheeks, took a tentative spoonful, then suddenly looked up at me in surprise.
"I-it's good! So I do like pumpkin!"
"Told you."
I remembered how she'd loved pumpkin dishes back in the Demon Realm Forest, so I'd given it a shot, and sure enough, she was devouring it.
We finished our meal and were heading back to the hotel when Michelle latched onto me and wouldn't let go.
"I wanna hang out with you and sis too!"
"......Fine."
The other three looked shocked that I'd given in without prying her off, but I felt guilty for not protecting her back then, so I caved a little.
I couldn't show her the thugs at the hotel, so we figured we'd at least let her show us around while getting some walking in. As we strolled along matching her little steps...
"......!"
Hayun suddenly ducked behind me.
I wondered what was up, and right then a portly man in fancy old-fashioned clothes passed by in front of us.
Flanking him were two escorts who looked pretty skilled, swords at their hips.
"What's wrong?"
I asked about her sudden trembling, and she clung to my back, whispering her answer.
"Hebbon Ren... my uncle."
"What?"
The same scum who'd forced her to seduce Ares, then disowned her from the family the moment she refused to obey anymore?
I eyed the back of his waddling head—no real resemblance to Hayun—but gave her a quick glance and nodded toward him.
"Let's tail him."
"What? Why?"
Hayun looked thrown that I'd suggest it, but Sen took off first to shadow him. Rin grabbed Michelle's hand and grinned.
"Sis, wanna play spy with mister? We'll sneak after that guy."
"Sounds fun! Yeah! I'm great at that—I tail Dad all the time!"
"W-wait a sec!"
Just like that, Sen's expert lead kicked off our impromptu stakeout.
Hebbon Ren's guards seemed competent, but Sen's Extermination Squad training gave her the edge in suppressing her presence. We tailed them without much trouble.
"Haa, why though."
Hayun kept sighing like she couldn't wrap her head around it, but this wasn't just for her.
Bethel was drawing crowds like it was the center of the world right now.
The dog fights.
Sen's Extermination Squad.
High Inquisitor Heinie Rosaless from the royal court.
And now Hayun's uncle, Hebbon Ren.
Intrigued by this bizarre convergence, we kept following him.
He walked longer than expected, leaving even me a bit surprised. Hebbon huffed and puffed but didn't take a horse.
Like riding one would be rude or something.
Eventually, he stopped at an unexpectedly grand mansion. We poked our heads out from deep in the alley to scope it out.
"He came to that mansion?"
"My uncle walking here himself to see someone? His pride's too big for that."
"Hold on, isn't that mansion..."
"Michelle, stay here with sis."
"Aww, but I wanna see."
Rin pulled Michelle deeper into the alley. Smart move—I'd had her ready to evacuate just in case things went south.
Sen scowled for a second, then out stepped a burly guy with his long hair tied in a ponytail.
"That's Michael Portren's place."
"Uncle came to see Portren?"
"......"
Michael Portren was tied to the dog fights, and now Hayun's uncle Hebbon Ren was visiting him.
"Something's definitely up."
"Sis, you know what? This is near our house!"
"H-hey, Michelle, wait!"
Michelle shook off Rin's hand, peeked out past us, and bolted into the street.
We panicked to grab her, but then she yelped in shock.
"Huh? Daddy!"
"What?"
We had no choice but to be stunned.
Michelle dashed straight to Hebbon Ren and Michael Portren.
And threw herself into Michael Portren's chest.
"Well, if it isn't my little princess! Out exploring the streets again?"
"Yeah! Today I ate and played with some pretty sisters and a mister!"
"A mister?"
Michael Portren's face darkened instantly, worried his daughter had been messing around with some weirdo. He spotted us lingering awkwardly behind, ignoring Hebbon Ren entirely.
"You folks kept my girl company?"
"If we run now, it'll look even weirder."
Hebbon Ren spotted Hayun and stared daggers in shock, but no helping it.
I approached with a natural smile and bowed politely.
"Hello. We're students from Aios Academy, traveling for break. We ran into Michelle and hung out since she was so adorable."
"Heh, she is cute, my Michelle."
"Daddy! This bro's a mister! He said even though he's a bro, call him mister! Isn't that weird?"
"Haha, sure is?"
My heart was pounding as I said it, terrified Michelle might blab about us tailing Hebbon Ren.
But luckily, the girls trailing behind shifted the focus there.
"Well, come in for some tea at least. You bought my girl food and played with her."
"Yeah, sis, mister! Let's hang at our house!"
Considering Hayun's history with Hebbon Ren, bailing was smartest, but she piped up beside me.
"If it's not too much trouble, we'll intrude briefly."
She said it while clutching my shirt tail, trembling like a small animal before a predator.
"She mustered her courage."
This sudden chance.
A golden opportunity to dig into the dog fights and Michael Portren. Grateful to Hayun inwardly, we headed inside.
Hebbon Ren looked irritated but kept his mouth shut—either not wanting to acknowledge Hayun or eager to impress Michael.
"Probably the latter."
From the glimpse, Michael seemed like a real family man.
No way he'd introduce his dead brother's disowned daughter in front of a guy like that.
"The mysteries are unraveling one by one."
Michelle Portren.
Her father, Michael Portren, was linked to the dog fights—and he'd probably lost.
So his remaining blood kin, Michelle Portren, ended up hunted by the opposing Extermination Squad.
And in the end, the girl met her death in the remote Demon Realm Forest.
"......"
Gripping my bitter gut at being the only one who knew this harsh truth, I followed them into the mansion.