Chapter 32
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 32
“Ranon, it’s time to eat. Wake up.”
The boy rubbed his eyes and sat up. The room, lined on both sides with stark white bedding instead of the colorful linens children normally used, felt chilling.
“Did you eat while I was asleep?”
“Yeah, twice.”
Mary found it strange that Ranon insisted on asking how many meals had passed every time he woke up, but she saw no reason to lie and answered honestly.
“Thanks, Mary.”
Ranon reached out and patted the head of the girl, who barely came up to his shoulder.
The children of the Ainoa Orphanage had been trapped in this gloomy basement with the Director. With no windows, it was hard to tell for sure, but assuming they were served three meals a day, at least ten days had passed. If they were only being fed twice a day, it had been much longer.
“They said I had to make sure you ate this time since you missed two meals. Let’s go, hurry.”
Ranon followed Mary as she led him toward the dining area.
It was ridiculous, eating so peacefully while being held captive, but what else could they do when their polite kidnappers provided meals on a regular schedule? If anything, the food seemed more plentiful here than it had been at the orphanage.
As they walked hand in hand, Mary suddenly stopped and tugged on his arm. Sensing she had something to say, Ranon leaned down, and the girl whispered into his ear.
“Ranon, are we being sold?”
“What do you mean?”
“Yulma said so. She said they’re feeding us and washing us so they can sell us. Is it true?”
What on earth did she tell this kid? Ranon felt a flash of resentment toward Yulma, yet he couldn't bring himself to deny Mary’s words. He had to admit, it also looked to him like they were being prepared to be sold off.
“I don’t know.”
“So there are things even Ranon doesn’t know!”
That was because, no matter how mature Ranon acted, he was still only fourteen. The oldest child in the orphanage was sixteen; once they got older than that, they usually left to become independent, just like Daisy.
“And I heard footsteps from upstairs a little while ago.”
“Footsteps?”
“Yeah. The Director told us to be quiet because it was probably Troy.”
“I see.”
Before long, they arrived at the room being used as a dining hall. The sight of everyone gathered to eat was a familiar one, but the absolute silence—not a single laugh, despite so many children being present—was a stark reminder of their reality.
“You’re here, Ranon.”
“…Yes.”
The Director pushed a tray of food toward him. She must have set it aside for him when he arrived, which made sense, considering he had missed two meals.
Ranon took the tray from the Director and asked cautiously, watching her expression.
“Director. Are we going to be sold?”
“Oh, you poor child…”
The Director sighed as if looking at something truly pitiful, but she didn't reveal the truth. Gripped by fear, Ranon couldn't bring himself to press her further.
The meal ended quickly. The children followed the Director back to the room with the bedding. Having arrived late, Ranon and Mary were the slowest eaters and thus at the very back of the line.
“Ranon!”
“Yeah?”
“Shh.”
Just as Ranon noticed Mary’s pace slowing, she began leading him in a different direction. He followed her quietly, keeping a wary eye on the people at the front of the line.
Mary led Ranon to a narrow room. Inside, a man sat in a chair, wrapped in chains with a black blindfold covering his eyes.
“Mary, the Director told us not to come here.”
“But that mister hasn't eaten anything this whole time.”
“I’m sure they’ve been taking care of him.”
“No. I heard him shouting, ‘I won’t eat!’”
Mary fumbled through her pockets, announcing she had brought a little something for him. It was a piece of bread, clearly marked with her fingerprints and soggy from being fished out of her soup.
If Yulma had seen it, she would have thrown it away, calling it filthy. Clutching the piece of bread that no one would want, Mary walked straight up to the man.
“Mister. Aren't you hungry?”
“…I’m hungry, so get lost.”
Mary didn't seem hurt by his words. She simply shoved the bread into the man’s mouth. He immediately spat it out and began to gag.
“It tasted like trash…”
“My bread…”
Mary picked the bread back up and stuffed it into her pocket. Why is she keeping that? Is it a weapon? Ranon briefly wondered if the bread, once it dried out, would harden into a suitable weapon.
He thought they could leave now that she’d made her attempt, but Mary settled herself right next to the man.
“What’s your name, mister? I’m Mary. And Ranon is Ranon.”
Ranon found a child’s social skills truly incomprehensible—introducing themselves to a man bound in chains in a dark basement.
He assumed the man wouldn't answer. After a long silence, however, the man spoke quietly.
“…Melek.”
Ranon thought the man was remarkably nonchalant, rejecting bread when he must be starving after missing over thirty meals, only to introduce himself to children in the same predicament. He didn't say anything, however, not wanting to make Mary realize the gravity of their situation.
Instead of stopping them, Ranon stood watch. He didn't know when their captors might notice they were short a few children.
“Melek, do you know why we’re here?”
“Yeah, I know very well.”
“Even Ranon didn't know.”
Mary gave a thumbs-up, praising Melek for being smart, but then lowered her hand awkwardly when she remembered his vision was blocked.
She stared blankly at Melek. Since he’s this smart, he must be a young master from a noble family, just like Yulma said, right? Yulma had told them Melek was tied up so tightly because he would sell for the most, so they couldn't let him escape.
“Are we being sold?”
“Something like that.”
“Something like that? Then is Yulma wrong?”
Melek, having no intention of answering, jerked his chin as if telling her to go away. Mary misunderstood the gesture as an invitation to come closer. As she approached, Melek let out a sigh. It seemed he would have to scare her off.
“That Yulma kid has good intuition, but she lacks imagination.”
“What!” Mary gasped, shocked to learn that Yulma—the smartest and coolest person in the orphanage—was lacking in something.
“You’re all going to be eaten by a monster. That’s why they’re grooming you so nicely. A well-fed pig tastes better, after all.”
“Eaten…? P-Pig…?”
Mary pictured herself turning into a pig, grilled like bacon for a monster to eat. She rubbed her shoulders, a chill running down her spine. The idea of being sold hadn't quite felt real, but being eaten terrified her. She was, after all, just a child.
Ranon took charge of the shell-shocked Mary. He had heard faint footsteps from the end of the hallway.
“Mary, I hear footsteps. Let’s go, quickly!”
“But he said we’re going to be eaten.”
“That’s nonsense.”
Her eyes brimming with tears, Mary grabbed Ranon’s hand. Footsteps? Is the monster Melek talked about coming to eat us right now? Holding her breath and staring at her feet, she followed him quietly until she bumped into his back.
“Ouch. Ranon, why did you stop?”
Clutching her forehead, Mary looked up and saw a massive shadow looming over them. She buried her face in Ranon’s back and held her breath. What Melek said was true. Are Ranon and I going to become bacon?
Just then, a familiar voice cut through the silence, and Mary, who had been trembling violently, felt a wave of relief.
“Ranon, Mary. Why are you here? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
It was the Director.
When the Director reached out with a reprimanding look, Mary started to take her hand, but Ranon pulled her back. Mary patted Ranon’s arm, figuring he must have been terrified, thinking a monster had appeared. It’s okay, Ranon. It’s not a monster, it’s the Director.
“Let’s go back.”
The Director glanced at Melek before pulling the children by their arms and leading them out of the room.
‘They’re finally gone.’
Melek swallowed hard as he listened to their receding footsteps.
He was truly, incredibly hungry. He felt like he was going to die of starvation. When the child had put her hand near his mouth, he had almost bitten down on it then and there.
“No children? For a demon? In that case, I’ll make it so you have no choice but to accept the children as sacrifices.”
It was clear she had let the children wander over on purpose. Since there was a curious presence nearby, they all kept approaching him, pretending it was by accident.
Melek’s chains were just for show; they had no real binding power. They had blindfolded him so he wouldn't realize they were children and left his mouth free so he could feast at any time. It was an open invitation to eat whenever he got hungry. Honestly, it was hard to tell who the real demon was.
* * *
Alright! Time to start looking!
Would it be faster to find Troy and pinpoint the location, rather than searching for the kidnapped kids? In an empire this vast, there must be more than one or two human trafficking rings. And since this is tied to Daisy, Troy must be the key to moving the plot forward. The problem is how to find him.
Criminals always leave a trail. Should I go to the orphanage first? Ah, I could find one of Troy’s belongings and have Jelly track him by scent!
Seeing how well he finds Daisy, relying on Jelly’s sense of smell would be the best bet.
“Why are you looking at me?”
“Can you find Troy?”
“Even I can’t do that.”
I guess not… That’s a bit disappointing. Then again, this is a Daisy-related episode; it wouldn't look very cool if Jelly just solved the case by sniffing around.
But then, how are you going to win her favor? Look. Even Daisy looks disappointed.
“You… look quite ordinary when I see you like this.”