New Rabbit
The solemn expression lingered on Idel's face as she stood at the entrance.
'I don't want to get caught and become a sacrifice without anyone knowing, so stay away from the twin crow mark.'
It was a warning everyone raised in the capital heard at least once, regardless of social status. Idel was no exception.
'Miss, I can close my eyes if you go outside, but you must never go near there. Do you understand?'
Back then she had just thought it was standard caution. But now, thinking about it, the place she needed to visit was exactly that. The special district along the plaza street, known as the Crow's Nest, was where all manner of dangerous dealings flourished.
'Where did all the ridiculous materials used in this makjang novel come from? Right here.'
Sudden extreme poison in a lovers' quarrel. Information guilds rivaling CCTV. Assassins and smugglers. There was almost nothing in the Crow's Nest that wasn't dealt with.
Idel stared at the place she had only heard about in whispers, then pulled the corner of her mouth into a sly smile.
'Yeah. Whether you're a puppet who dies because you're controlled or a sacrifice, they're all the same.'
She muttered that cynically, stepped deeper into the alley, and began turning her head again.
To find the brother who left behind no clues within the limited time, she had to recall the after-action report he left with utmost effort.
'I've saved all the QnAs you uploaded when you finished the series! The prince is two years older than Jiana, right? I thought the surprise entrance of the construction king was our first meeting, but it turns out he met her when she was a baby......! Why is the sub-male the villain instead?'
'Before the secret behind it is revealed, the prince sold 'dolls' in the Crow's Nest with his mentor. Is that curse doll real?'
In short, she had to find someone in the Crow's Nest who sold dolls while carrying a boy of the same age as Jiana.
In reality, investigating the entire Crow's Nest on this alone was insane. The person who made the 'surprise entrance' in the after-action report was this guy. So if someone had been sane, they wouldn't have done this ridiculous thing.
'Because this is a makjang novel, it happens.'
The makjang law was that no coincidences exist and sudden encounters are the basics. She prayed that the same rule would apply to her.
'For now, I'll just rummage through all the junk shops in the Crow's Nest.'
If she was lucky, someone hiding something would show up first. People who hide things are usually sensitive.
Idel chewed her lower lip tightly as she walked past the shabby doll shop beyond the twin crow mark. She prayed that the makjang law would apply to her too.
'It's not like today, when she can slip out unnoticed, happens often.'
Idel took a deep breath and pushed open the door of the first shop as boldly as she could.
'Hello? Do you know the owner of the doll shop who takes a boy of my age around? I heard a rumor that the doll is a curse doll.'
It was the moment an ordinary disturbance added to the Crow's Nest, where chaos erupted several times a day.
'Kid, you have no fear, huh~ You want to die that fast? If that's what you wish for, you don't even need to go to the doll master. I can grant it myself.'
'Ah, really. Then you don't know, right?'
'Kukukukuk!'
'Yeah, me, uncle. This is 1knut, right? I'll buy one and go.'
Idel exited the shop with the middle-aged man laughing like a madman.
Every time she visited a shop, she bought something small, and soon both her hands were full of useless junk.
'I'm glad I brought the secret allowance pouch my dad, the count, gave me for when he played. There was still a little left, but not much.'
'Yeah, where else would money come from? Even if I stole jewelry or ornaments from the ducal house that might be valuable, I couldn't spend them like cash.'
'If I hadn't had the allowance pouch, I wouldn't have been able to use this method.'
Idel gazed at the things she couldn't bring back to the ducal house, then turned her head slightly.
There were the children of the Crow's Nest staring at her.
She knew that because of her rummaging actions, more people were keeping an eye on her.
'Every time I come out of the shop, the items increase, so maybe they think I have money.'
Among the watchful gazes, some surely harbored ill intentions. She was an easy target for a young girl.
'It would be better to move first.'
Idel, keeping high-probability crimes in mind, suddenly approached the children.
'What, you have business with us?'
The children who had been on guard for her fearless movement were momentarily startled by her eyes.
Idel had thrown everything she held in her hands toward them.
'Take it.'
'What?'
'Brain money.'
Idel stared at the stiffened children who didn't move, then one by one placed the items on the ground.
'Because I suddenly started rummaging everywhere, you're annoyed, right? Sorry. I'll find one person quickly and go. I'm in a hurry.'
'...... You're talking about the doll master, right?'
'Yeah, everyone calls him that? You know?'
One of the children who saw the items in front of him fiddled with a lower-grade healing potion and hesitated for a moment.
'I heard he just doesn't find them and leaves. After all, that person......'
'Hey, enough. Why are you telling me everything about a suspicious guy you just met? You'll get dragged in too!'
A boy next to the awkwardly opening child stopped him and clipped something to his side while clicking his tongue.
The glance he gave Idel was still cold.
'If I leave them, he'll just give up and leave. Or he disappears without a trace around here.'
'......'
'Let's go, you crazy dog. And you. You should be grateful we didn't lay you flat ourselves.'
Idel watched the children vanish like the wind and let out a small snort.
'In the end, I'll get dragged in by the crazy dog.'
That was a small but clear clue.
With the 'crazy dog' around, no one would give information about the doll master.
Idel, who had missed nothing in the short exchange, turned her head and walked down the alley as she thought of her next move.
Someone's rough hand suddenly grabbed the back of her neck.
'He came after all?'
Her mind flashed for a moment. Idel didn't shrink.
She hadn't come here thinking this would happen; she had come prepared.
Using the split second to grasp a small weapon she could use to escape, she felt strong pressure around her neck from the arm wrapping it.
It was clearly trying to choke her breath and make her lose consciousness.
'If I stab him from the inside, can I free my arm?'
While Idel was thinking of the counter for if there were more than one, a soft but still young voice reached her ear.
'Who are you. Why are you looking for the doll master?'
The moment she heard the words, Idel was certain. He was the 'crazy dog' the street children had mentioned, the prince who was the final villain in the original work.
That meant if she could just grab this kid properly, she could find the black mage.
'Even if it wasn't, I never thought I'd be alone!'
Idel quickly grabbed the crazy dog's finger with the weapon she was about to use.
Because one finger bent, a short curse came from her ear, but she had no intention of stopping there.
'Kwadak!'
Whether her cloth covering her head was torn or not, she bowed her head fiercely and bit down on the crazy dog's finger with all her strength.
'Ugh!'
The pressure around her neck loosened somewhat from the action close to biting.
Idel didn't miss the gap. Using her small body and cloth, she slipped out of his arms in one go and spun her body.
Then, without hesitation, she grabbed the boy's collar and slammed her head into it.
A dull cracking sound accompanied the pain that felt like her forehead would shatter.
Dizziness that was dizzy enough that she might pass out right then followed, but Idel didn't yield.
'You...! Hic, this, crazy...!'
'Crazy, huu, the crazy dog is me!'
Idel ran toward the boy who had lowered his head from a direct blow to the nose and jumped onto his body, putting her weight on it.
Idel's bright blue eyes and the crazy dog's red eyes met in the air for a moment.
Staring at the red eyes as red as the blood flowing from his nose, Idel twisted her mouth slightly.
'You, bad habits. Attacking someone suddenly from behind.'
'Ha!'
It seemed the nickname 'crazy dog' wasn't just given; even after the situation changed in an instant, the boy didn't lose momentum.
Ignoring the boy's spiteful words with a same-face expression, he glared sharply.
'I asked first. Why did you come. Who sent you.'
Despite the pain pushing out his words, the crazy dog grabbed Idel's elbow tightly.
He seemed ready to suppress her the moment he saw an opening.
Idel stared at the tenacious and obsessive boy and laughed briefly in amazement.
'You're an idiot?'
'Shut up and answer the question.'
Idel finally understood what the novel's expression 'growling' meant.
Even before puberty, the boy's voice sounded rough and scratchy.
While trying to ignore the pain spreading from head to eyes, her teeth naturally clattered.
'Huu.... If a stranger comes all the way to the Crow's Nest to find the doll master, isn't the answer obvious?'
'......'
'I came to be a customer, you bastard.'