Cleanup (2)
“What the hell is this…?!”
“Ram, sir!”
“Damn it…!”
The moment the knight and Ram turned around, it was already over. The remnants of Wolf’s gang could only stand there with miserable expressions, too intimidated by Tiny to even think of fleeing.
More precisely, it was because of the massive, translucent wolf that had begun prowling around them.
Tiny, looking down coldly from the top of the stairs, drew their eyes with a light clap.
Clap.
“Everyone, assemble.”
The clap carried mana, so there was no way they hadn’t heard it. Yet the thugs just stared at Tiny with eyes full of fear, rooted to the spot like idiots.
“The two who come last? I’ll make sure they never walk again.”
- Raaargh!
“Gaaah!”
Was it Tiny’s threat, or Wolrang’s roar? Either way, the punks finally charged forward with screams, gathering at the base of the stairs in an instant.
Of course, some were late. And Tiny followed through on the threat without hesitation.
Crack, crunch.
“Kaaaaah!”
“Aaaah! P-please, spare…!”
Wolrang, shrinking its translucent form into something more solid, crushed their legs at its master’s command.
“Ughhh.”
The thugs shuddered, too terrified to even glance back at the chilling screams and groans. The black-haired boy standing before them wore a sinister smile utterly at odds with his age.
“Why don’t you punks ever listen the first time?”
…Because you’re too damn scary.
The same thought flashed through their minds, but none had the guts to say it aloud.
Two men crippled just for being late. Facing Tiny’s cold gaze, devoid of any pity, they knew it: this kid saw them not as people, but as objects—or less.
Terror sealed their lips, but their ears perked up, desperate not to miss a word.
Confirming their obedience, Tiny issued the next order.
“Gather every single one who ran. You have one hour. And bring all the women working at the Invider and the beggar kids too.”
“All… of them, sir?”
Someone blurted it out, then clapped a hand over their mouth in panic. But mercifully, no brutal punishment followed—just a casual reply.
Terrifying, though.
“Yeah, all of them. Exceed the time, and I’ll cripple one of you per minute. Try running? You die on the spot.”
The calm tone made it even creepier. And with no clocks—even treasures like that—in Wolf’s mansion, it meant any delay meant beatings for all.
Running crossed their minds, but…
“Wolrang’s spirit here will watch you. If you think you can escape, go ahead. Getting torn apart alive might be a novel experience.”
- Grrr.
That erased the thought from everyone’s head.
Then, a sycophant piped up.
“Heh heh. B-boss. Does that include the whores dispatched to the outer castle and the beggar brats?”
Scar, one of the remaining higher-ups, rubbed his hands, his facial scar twitching.
Damn!
I should’ve spoken first!
The other opportunists glared enviously, but—
Wham!
“Guhk!?”
The wolf’s paw slammed into Scar’s jaw out of nowhere. He spat teeth and blood, tumbling across the floor without a proper scream.
- Why?
As terrified eyes turned back to Tiny, the boy boss continued nonchalantly.
“I said ‘women’ and ‘children.’ Got it?”
Half the thugs didn’t grasp the distinction. To them, women meant whores, kids meant beggar scum.
But they knew better than to question now.
“One hour starts now. Get out.”
At those words, the punks bolted from the mansion like mad.
‘Start’s off smooth…’
Watching their frantic retreat, Tiny’s eyes gleamed coldly.
No need to actually send Wolrang—they were dozens, it was one. But from past life experience, this kind of violent intimidation froze brains with fear, stifling rebellion.
Especially drug-addled thugs’.
‘Wrap this up fast.’
No plans to linger in Philes Territory. If all went well, he’d tidy everything in a week.
Then head to him.
…Come find me. I’ll hone that talent of yours…
“Looking forward to it, Duke,” Tiny murmured, a genuine smile—rare these days—crossing his face as he recalled his old comrade, already superhuman twenty years ago.
The threats worked wonders. Before the hour was up, crowds flooded the mansion.
Leading them: a red-haired girl.
“Tiny!”
Emma’s face paled at his blood-soaked state, rushing forward.
Tiny, who’d smiled at her approach, stepped back as she neared.
“Why?! Where are you hurt!?”
“Not hurt. Don’t come closer—my clothes are done for, Emma.”
“Hey! What the…?”
“I’ll explain later. For now, round up a few you trust and follow me.”
Emma steadied her shock. Bloodied, yes—but Tiny seemed unharmed. So whose blood…?
Then she noticed the mansion’s unswept gore. And the thugs flinching, avoiding his gaze.
‘No way Tiny…?’
Unbelievable. She’d sensed a change since Erina’s funeral a month ago. But Wolf’s gang bowing to a little boy? Unimaginable.
What had happened in that month to transform him like this?
“Hurry up. Pick the trustworthy ones.”
“Uh, y-yeah.”
His urging snapped her thoughts. Better follow for now, questions later.
Her eyes scanned the followers. Some anxious, glancing around; others trembling in fear. A few eyed everything greedily.
‘Trustworthy, huh…’
Most were refugees or slum kids, dragged to rock bottom by Wolf’s schemes. Pitiable, sure—but harsh lives corrupted people.
Despair turned even the kindest selfish. Half the Invider women and beggar kids were unreliable villains-in-waiting.
Weak didn’t mean good. Naive dream.
‘Erina was the exception.’
A lotus in the mud. And her fruit stood before them now.
Whatever caused the change, maybe he’d cleanse the mud back to clear water.
“Got it. For now…”
Birds of a feather even at the bottom. Emma picked those closest to Erina.
Soon, she and five others followed Tiny upstairs amid stares.
“Ugh…!?”
“Oh god…”
Entering Wolf’s office hesitantly, the women gasped at the mangled corpses of Wolf and the Lander Brothers.
“Gasp…!”
“No way…”
They quickly composed themselves, inspecting the bodies. They’d seen horrors in their rough lives. Corpses at the Invider? Monthly occurrence.
But…
“…Wolf?”
Recognition twisted shock to rage.
“Th-this, this…!”
“You fucking bastard!!!”
Curses erupted. Lifelong fury exploded.
In just ten minutes, the ringleader’s corpse was unrecognizable.
“Hic.”
“Sob.”
“Ughhh.”
Flushed faces, heaving breaths. Two wept in cathartic joy—including Emma.
Meeting eyes, she wiped tears, voice trembling.
“I-I was from a prosperous merchant family. But he ruined us, and forced me…”
Pitiable, but who here lacked a tale? No time for melodrama.
And hugs, comfort? Not a superhuman knight’s repayment.
‘More like I can’t.’
Never known such love beyond Erina. Didn’t know how to give it.
But he had another way.
“Take revenge worth your grudge.”
Cold hard cash therapy. Emma blinked.
“…Huh?”
“See that safe? That’s Wolf’s fortune. Take what your grudge demands. Leave some for the others, though.”
Not just Erina’s legacy or his bold life philosophy.
‘I can always earn more.’
Tiny had lived scattering excess wealth—more ‘reciprocation’ than anything.
Money didn’t heal core pain. But nothing eased it better, he knew from experience.
And most balked at first.
“…What?”
Emma glanced between the gold-filled safe and Tiny.
Same answer.
“Everyone else too. Take what you need, share the rest with comrades and kids. Invider’s closed for business tonight.”
“What!?”
Shocked eyes flew wide, women staring at each other.
Then—
“R-really?”
Nod.
“For real, Tiny?”
“Told you.”
“Seriously…?”
“It’d all go to the lord anyway. Take it all.”
Wolf’s backer? Open secret. If they hated Wolf’s crew most, the lord was next.
No way they’d let treasure reach him. Hesitation ignited.
“Can’t have that.”
“T-take it all!”
“Share with the kids, start legit business! No more flesh peddling!”
They sprang into action.
Emma, who’d seemed first to the safe, paused, glancing at Tiny.
“…But is this okay? The lord won’t sit idle.”
“More than okay. He won’t have time for this place anymore.”
Tiny grinned ferociously, a thick ledger in hand.