Cleanup (3)
Philes Territory lay on the outskirts of the Valentia Duchy. From the perspective of the vast empire's lands, though, it was a modest city smack in the middle, a convenient stopover for merchants heading to the duchy’s heart in the grand metropolis of Valentino or the imperial capital's direct territories.
That explained why, for such a small fief, the pleasure district—bursting with booze and women—was disproportionately thriving. In fact, the taxes from the district outstripped what the peasants brought in from farming, even excluding the under-the-table kickbacks.
Given all that, even farmers and clueless laborers with no ties to the district knew full well that Invader meant money. And they were equally sure the lord wouldn't stomach Tiny's declaration shutting it down.
"...Tricking a noble's a serious crime, Tiny."
Emma's worry wasn't unfounded. But Tiny just nodded.
"Yeah, you're right. Tricking a noble's a big sin."
"...?"
"So what sin is it when Philes's lord tricks his own liege, Duke Valentia?"
"What?"
Tiny just grinned at Emma's blank, uncomprehending stare.
It wasn't that Emma was exceptionally dim. His past self had been the same.
Back then, I thought all nobles were cut from the same cloth. So I didn't think twice when I saw those ledgers.
In his previous life, he'd handed half of Wolf's fortune to the lord and only managed to pull himself, Emma, and a few close ones out of Invader. Even that had only been possible because Invader was already crumbling. Sure, he'd come back later and extracted proper payback, but he'd carried that grudge for far too long unresolved.
Things were different now.
To think there was this surefire way all along.
During his days as the Knight of Herculean Strength, no one had ever called him wise, not even as empty flattery. But the experiences he'd gained from that vantage point were worlds apart in depth from scraping by at the bottom.
No genius required—the sheer breadth of what he saw and heard had reshaped his perspective inevitably. So even a plan from his dull brain carried ironclad confidence.
"What do you mean? What are you planning?"
"No need to get it right now, Emma."
"Still..."
"Focus on your future. If you've got folks to move with, hurry it up. Getting out of Invader doesn't mean sticking around this fief, right?"
"...Yeah."
Starting fresh meant escaping the brand of "whore" that clung here. Most women like Emma would head to other territories. The silver lining: Philes might be small, but smack in the empire's center, bandits and monsters were rare outside its borders. Commoners still needed permits to leave, of course—unless they were merchants, mercenaries, or knights.
"Bribe the guards right, and they'll look the other way. Once out, stick together no matter what. I'd recommend hiring reputable mercs through the guild for the trip to Daien."
"...What?"
"Guild intros mean no worries about them turning bandit. Tip extra, and they might even help you settle."
"How do you know all this...?"
"...Overheard it scavenging."
Too nosy? Seeing Emma's shock, Tiny scrambled for an excuse. But her question wasn't about that.
"N-no, Tiny!"
"Yeah?"
"What about you? Where are you going!?"
"Hm? Oh, I've got somewhere else."
"...You're just gonna send us off alone?"
What was that pitiful look hiding? Less fear of a new start, more...
Worry for me.
"Ha..."
Who was consoling who here...?
"You gotta come with us! I'll look after you till you're grown. In Erina's place, I'll back you up to live a cool life..."
...Why?
Emma's urgent words faded from his ears. No resemblance in hair, eyes, or features.
So why did he see his long-dead sister's face in hers?
Chest tightening, Tiny forced his gaze away.
"...I've got unfinished business."
"Tiny..."
"No more chatter—get going, Emma. Some might refuse their cut even after splitting the cash, but don't drag 'em along. Leave today if you can. I'll handle the rest."
His tone and expression left no room for argument. Emma's lips twitched like she had more to say, but she turned away.
Her eyes shifted to their comrades watching anxiously—more precisely, to Wolf's corpse at their feet.
"Fine, if you're this strong, you can handle yourself. I'll do as you say—head to Daien. If things get rough, come find me. Got it?"
...Who was worrying over who, really? He wanted to snap back to focus on her new life, but her face kept overlapping with his sister's. He stared at the ceiling instead.
Only after a long pause did he sigh and voice what he wanted to say.
"...Let me know when you're packed. We'll head down together. I've still got tidying up to do."
* * *
"Wh-what...?!"
"What's all that!?"
"No way...!"
The murmur rippled. Eyes bulged downstairs as the women descended clutching bulging sacks hastily wrapped in cloth. Gold and silver glinted through the gaps, impossible to hide.
Treasure's allure intoxicated; faces flushed at the sight of those bundles.
And amid it all:
"Organization members, assemble in the center."
The monster kid who'd orchestrated this madness barked the order with chilling authority. At the same moment, the translucent wolf bared its massive form again.
- Grrrrr.
The thugs shuffled into the mansion's front yard. Conditioned terror silenced them, though some eyed the bundles with faint hope.
But:
"You lot get a beating first."
The cold voice shattered that hope instantly. Kid and wolf lunged from front and rear, offering no chance to react.
Thud.Bam.Crack.
"Aaaagh!"
"Gaaah!"
"C-crazy bastard!"
The brutal beatdown in seconds overrode even conditioned fear, sparking desperate flailing. Some counterattacked:
"Rush him together! We can take him!"
Others fled:
"Run!"
Opposites, but equally futile. In under ten minutes, over fifty thugs writhed on the ground, limbs broken.
And right after:
"Anyone with grudges against these scum, vent all you want. Kill 'em if you like. I'll take responsibility."
The boy's voice dripped menace, the wolf's glaring yellow eyes lending the undersized kid extra menace.
And above all:
"...For real?"
"We can kill that fucker?"
"I-it's okay?"
The murmurs swelled. Permission to kill lit excitement over hesitation on the victims' faces.
Women and kids crept toward the fallen thugs. Then:
"Lance, that motherfucker sold my sister and shipped me here too!"
One shout ignited merciless violence on the downed men.
Thud. Thud.
"Uwaaagh!"
"S-spare me...!"
"What the hell!"
"B-boss, I swear loyalty... Gaaak!"
Bam.
Kicks escalated to fists and fist-sized rocks in a frenzy of rage. Thirty minutes later:
"H-hic. Sniff."
"Th-that's enough."
"You bastards. Ptoo!"
"Huff. Huff."
They'd unleashed years of pent-up hate, breathing ragged as they stepped back. Fewer than ten thugs still groaned, clinging to life.
"...Nngh."
"Ugh."
Over forty dead in a blink, yet the perpetrators' eyes held no guilt. Proof of the Wolf gang's heinous sins.
Tiny eyed the survivors coldly, then glanced aside.
"...These ones are the lesser evils, right?"
"Gerik, Hins, Tannon... Yeah, seems so. They had at least a shred of conscience left."
Tiny nodded at Emma's confirmation.
"Wolf's organization is done. These are the last remnants. If you didn't choose Invader, step forward, take your share, and go."
His gaze swept Emma and her comrades again. They nodded in unison, as if rehearsed. They'd grabbed plenty beforehand but gave far more to others.
Emma—no, Erina's friends—were good people, through and through. They even fretted over him.
"You sure you don't need any?"
"Nah, I'm good. Got the pocket change I need right now."
Just pocket change, really. So Emma and the others couldn't shake their worry.
"Tiny, maybe 'cause you're young, but nobody doesn't need money."
"I'll get more if I need it."
"Easier said than done..."
"Then where'd this come from?"
"Huh? ...Oh!!"
Emma paled as the meaning sank in. Tiny added with a faint smile:
"Even sending villains to hell leaves their coin in the real world."
In that sense, Tiny was rolling in it.
That brutal line finally clicked for the rest. And they grasped the path this boy walked was light-years from their dreams of peaceful normalcy.
Only as they withdrew with complicated expressions did the loot distribution to victims begin. Not entirely smoothly, of course.
"What? That's all? There's tons more over there!"
Not all pitiful souls were saints; some grew greedy. But the giver wasn't all saint either.
- Grrrrrr.
"Wanna cough it back up? Or should I smash your legs for prime begging?"
Overwhelming bloodlust crushed complaints instantly. No street-hardened thug could withstand it.
Tiny marked the greedy and disgruntled, intimidating them thoroughly.
"Emma and her crew are my people. Harm them..."
- Grrrrr.
"My spirit will track their soul traces. And rip apart everyone connected."
The chilling proclamation shattered the warm distribution scene. This whole surreal event strained belief already; a kid causing it had half-eroded their grip on reality. Such threats burned deep.
Villain-exploitation expert Tiny's seasoned intimidation worked perfectly.
But then:
- Grf.
It actually worked?
- Grrr.
Wolrang demonstratively sniffing Emma and her friends' translucent noses drew an unwitting satisfied smile from Tiny. To others, just more terror.
"N-no, we won't ever!"
"Of course not!"
"Absolutely right!"
No further hitches. Invader's morning upheaval wrapped up at dusk, most brothels shuttered that day. Beggars vanished from streets too.
Inevitable grumbles arose from visiting merchants and mercs as the district lost its function.
Amid rumors swirling over Invader's sudden change, the lord summoned Tiny.