Good Deeds Bring Fortune

Do a good deed, and good fortune follows.

"So, Tomusa, how is it now that you're actually out on the street? Starting to think it was worth coming, aren't you?"

"It certainly does feel new."

For Tomusa to admit even that much...! She was putting on a show of indifference, but it seemed to me she was enjoying the street a great deal.

We walked on together, and before I knew it the road had come to an end.

"Mind if we take one more look around?"

"We have time enough for that. Another turn should be fine."

"On the way here I think I only paid attention to the left side. This time let's look at the right, too. And if something catches your eye, you have to tell me straight. No holding back. Got it?"

"Yes. I understand."

So we set off down the street once more, the walk back doubling as another chance to browse.

But we had barely turned around before trouble found us.

There was a dull thump of shoulders colliding.

"Oh—I'm terribly sorry."

A woman had bumped into a man. I saw it happen, grabbed the cuff of her trousers, and hung on.

"Mister! This lady just stole something out of your robes!"

I shouted it as loud as I could.

"What's going on?"

"The kid says that person stole the man's things?"

"Cute kid, though."

"Shall we just watch for now?"

Just as I'd expected, the people around us began to take an interest.

"Mister, hurry! Check whether what's supposed to be in your robes is still there!"

The man listened and felt inside his clothes.

"The coin pouch that ought to be on me is gone."

"What? The little one's telling the truth?"

"The kid just saved somebody."

"Spirited little child, that one."

At the man's words, the crowd began to stir.

"Wh-what kind of bullshit is that! I didn't steal a thing!"

Cold sweat poured off the woman as she tried, desperately, to brush my accusation aside.

"Then take out the pouch you tucked into your clothes and show us."

"What? And why should I listen to you! You tiny little—I'll just—!"

She swung a fist at me.

It never landed. Tomusa was not the sort to stand by and watch. She snatched the woman's wrist and bent it clean back.

"You would dare raise a hand against our young master?!"

"Aaaah! Stop!! I was wrong!! Stop!!!"

The woman screamed in pain.

"Tomusa, that's enough. Check inside her clothes."

"Yes, Young Master."

Tomusa released the arm she had been bending and searched the woman's robes.

"Th-that's mine! The pattern on that pouch—it's the same as the pattern on the robe I'm wearing right now!"

The moment he saw the coin pouch, the man cried out.

"He's right. It's identical to the pattern on the robe that young man has on."

"The child's eye is something else, I'll give him that."

"Goodness. If not for the boy, how much trouble would that man have been in?"

Tomusa handed the pouch to the man, and the woman stood there with a look of utter panic.

"Damn it, you blasted little brat!!"

She yanked a crude dagger from inside her clothes.

Crude or not, a blade was still a blade. More than enough to lock a child's body rigid. In the end I had no choice but to squeeze my eyes shut.

But when I opened them again, still taut with fear, the woman hadn't taken a single step. She only stood there, face gone a bloodless blue, froth at her mouth.

"Ugh. A grown woman, disgracing herself in the street..."

"Shameless thing."

"Someone had better call the authorities."

She had even wet herself.

The reason for it wasn't hard to find.

Perhaps because she had unleashed it, even more people with weapons in hand appeared than a moment before, packing the space around us until the street was full of them.

"Stop... Tomusa, stop!"

Only when I shouted did she draw the killing intent back in.

Seeing my reaction, she seemed to realize, all at once, what she had done. She rushed to me and pulled me tight into her arms.

"I'm sorry, Young Master. I'm truly sorry."

"No. I'm all right now. Are you all right, Tomusa?"

"Yes. I'm fine."

Only after we had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spoken did I feel my heartbeat begin to slow.

"What's going on here!"

At last, even the constables had turned out.

"This person stole my belongings. The people here came to my aid."

The man spoke up in our defense.

I never heard the full account of what followed, but he came over to us and said a few things more.

"Thank you, young master. Because of you, I was able to keep my money. If you hadn't been here, I'd have been ruined by now. Should you ever visit the Clearbright Pavilion, allow me to host you properly. For the moment, I must follow the constables to the magistrate's office to confirm the facts. Farewell."

With that, he went off somewhere alongside the constables who had arrested the woman.

Once they led her away, the crowd that had gathered scattered just as quickly, each person back to their own road.

All but one woman.

"There was a commotion in front of my stall, so I came to see what sort of ruffian was causing it. And here I find a young master with a remarkable sense of chivalry."

She addressed me directly.

"I just couldn't walk past what was right in front of my eyes."

"What a peculiar person you are.... Well. You've given me a fine bit of entertainment, so I'll let you and that warrior of yours have something of mine."

She showed us the goods she had laid out. They were filled with all manner of elegant white ornaments.

Doesn't look like jade. Then what is it?

"These are all carved from bone, aren't they?"

Tomusa said it.

"Well, I'll be. Live long enough and you meet someone who sees the true worth of these pieces all on her own. Just as you say, it's bone. Ivory, to be precise—and the bone of a monster."

A monster?! Things like that exist in this world?

"Hahaha. The word 'monster' gave you quite a start, young master. Of course it's a lie. Where in the world would there be monsters? And even if there were, how would someone like me ever catch one?"

She laughed at my shock without mercy. Tomusa looked a little angry at that, so I hurried to change the subject.

"Is this an earring?"

"It is. A piece modeled after the monthly rose. You have no idea how hard it was to make. I thought my eyes would fall right out of my head. That said, this is the one I'd recommend for you and your warrior. The other pieces are fine, but this one alone carries a special meaning."

"What meaning?"

I liked that. Even so, I didn't know whether Tomusa liked it, so I watched for her reaction. To my eyes, hers were sparkling.

"We'll take this one!"

"A fine choice, young master. Here. Take it."

But these are earrings. I've never had my ears pierced.

"If wearing them as earrings is difficult, young master, I'll fasten them on a cord."

From somewhere she produced a string and threaded the earrings onto it.

"The final knot, though—better if you tie that yourself, don't you think?"

And she held it out to Tomusa.

Tomusa quietly stepped one pace behind me and tied the cord.

"Does it please you?"

"I love it!"

I looked up at her. A faint, quiet smile rested on her face.

"Then, thank you, my lady."

"Oh, don't mention a little thing like this. Show ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me something entertaining again next time."

With that we finished our goodbyes and walked on.

"See? Do a good deed, and the blessings all come rolling in!"

"You happened to be lucky today. There's no telling what might happen, or when. Next time, at least tell me first."

"Hehe... sorry. I'll remember next time."

"Then let's head back quickly. It's nearly your bedtime, Young Master."

And so we returned to the estate and got ready for bed.

"Oh, but Tomusa—there's something I want to ask before I sleep."

"What is it?"

"That thing earlier. Was that killing intent?"

A troubled look crossed her face.

"Ah, forgive me. I should have been more careful about that...."

"No, I'm asking if it was killing intent!"

"Ah—yes. It was killing intent."

Flustered, Tomusa went on.

"That was so freaking cool! You'll teach me that later, right?!"

"Releasing killing intent isn't something one ought to do light—"

"You'll teach me, right?"

"There are plenty of people who can't even sense killing int—"

"You'll teach me, right??"

"To overwhelm an opponent with killing intent, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one must first know how to release one's q—"

"You'll teach me, right???"

"...Yes. I will teach you."

Unable to withstand the pressure, Tomusa gave in at last and accepted my request.

"Yes! Tomusa, you're the best!!"

She looked as if the strength were leaking right out of her, so I hugged her tight to charge her back up.

"Haa... Young Master, honestly... I'm only letting you get away with this once."

"Hehe, got it. Tomusa really is kind."

And just like that, for the first time in a long while, I fell asleep curled up against her.

Away from the street, deep in the mountains, where the dark lay thick.

The woman who had given Lee Hyun the necklace was speaking with someone.

"Have you determined what sort of person he is?"

"Mm~. But that old man already set a vicious scheme in motion. Honestly. If he's gone senile, he ought to shut himself up in his own sect. Why's he wandering all over the place?"

"...Is there any gain we can secure for ourselves?"

"Look, and you'll find some. Anyway, he's an interesting fellow, so pass the word: hands off. And we withdraw."

"By your command!"