Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Attack
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The group, having enjoyed their time at the café, started wandering around again. As their tour neared its end, they made one last stop at the gift shop.
The gift shop sold a wide variety of souvenirs related to the zoo.
Animal ears, acrylic animal figures, animal masks, stuffed animals, and a few snacks.
The children's eyes sparkled as they began to explore the shop.
“Look at this! Don't I look like a beastman with these animal ears?”
“Pfft, what is that?”
“This mask looks funny too.”
They carefully examined each item, wondering what to choose, and discussed what would be a good gift for Rene back at the orphanage, not forgetting about her.
“What do you think she'd like to get?”
“A doll? Or this sculpture?”
“Wouldn't food be better?”
“You think everyone's like you!”
“This music box looks nice too.”
Red watched the children with a fond expression.
Just then, someone tugged on her coattails. When Red turned, she saw the blue-haired girl, Bada.
Bada looked pale.
Red quickly knelt to meet her gaze.
“What's wrong, Bada? Is something the matter?”
“Sister... I need to go to the bathroom...”
She was fidgeting, clearly in a hurry.
Red remembered where the restrooms were.
She was about to call over Lena, the eldest, and ask her to keep an eye on the other children so they wouldn't wander off, but Lily tugged on her sleeve.
Lily shook her head, then puffed out her chest and tapped it with her hand.
Even without words, Red knew what she meant.
It meant, "Leave it to me."
“You'll take her to the restroom?”
When Red asked, Lily nodded.
Seeing Red's slight hesitation, Lily crossed her arms and puffed out her chest again.
A strong assertion to trust her.
“You know where the restroom is, right? After you're done, come straight back here. Don't wander off. Got it?”
Lily nodded.
She took Bada's hand and headed toward the restroom.
Even after the two girls were out of sight, Red kept her gaze fixed in the direction they had gone.
‘I hope they made it to the restroom okay.’
She had allowed it because she knew Lily was more mature than other kids her age. But she was still a child. The worry just wouldn't go away.
Red shook off her anxiety and put her hands in her coat pockets.
‘Let's not dwell on anxious thoughts. With security robots and Fixers around, no idiot would cause a scene here. And even if some weirdos approached them, Lily would be fine.’
Red saw Lily's potential.
The first time they met, Lily had moved to save the canine-like boss from danger.
It was only one time, but through that single movement, she could tell that Lily, despite her youth, possessed considerable skill.
With moves like that, she would surely be fine even if a few thugs approached her.
Perhaps the Cult of the Grim Reaper was interested in Lily for some reason related to her skills.
Red speculated.
Finishing her train of thought, she finally turned her gaze back to the children.
The children's faces were filled with bright smiles.
She thought it was a good thing they came.
The reason she brought the children to the zoo this time was simple: to lift their spirits.
And just as she had hoped, the children were enjoying themselves to the fullest.
Their eyes sparkled when they saw something amazing.
They beamed when they ate something delicious.
They expressed their emotions honestly, just as children their age should.
‘No matter how hard life is, kids should be like this.’
Suddenly, the image of a girl with a very different aura from the other children crossed her mind.
It was Lily.
‘She wasn't enjoying it like the other kids...’
Rene had said that Lily found normal, everyday life awkward. Now, seeing it for herself, she understood what that meant.
She would play along with the other children and act her age, but it was subtly apparent in her actions.
Even with her face hidden by a mask, feelings of sadness and loneliness could be faintly felt.
She thought it might be because of things she had experienced in the past.
The fact that her small body showed movements familiar with fighting clearly meant she had been through a lot, and children like that often feel uncomfortable in ordinary situations.
What could she have gone through in the past?
Red wouldn't ask first. Such a question would be no different from picking at a child's wounds.
It was in her nature not to ask until the person was ready to speak first.
She didn't know what the girl had experienced in the past, but while she was at the orphanage, she hoped she would forget all of it.
Red earnestly wished for her to live like a child.
*Jingle-.*
The sound of a ringing bell snapped Red back to her senses, and she whipped her head around.
‘That sound just now...?’
It was a familiar sound.
*Could it be them...?* Red thought as she scanned her surroundings.
All she saw were ordinary visitors milling about. She didn't sense anything suspicious. Laughter could be heard here and there; the atmosphere was cheerful.
‘Did I mishear it...?’
If the Cult of the Grim Reaper had really appeared, it wouldn't be this quiet.
In the first place, such suspicious people wouldn't have been allowed inside. Even if they were, the security robots and Fixers patrolling the area would have taken action immediately.
“Sister~ Come over here!”
At the call of one of the younger children, Red walked over to them.
Lena placed a pair of wolf ears on Red's head.
“Amazing!”
“So cool!”
“Let's try on another one!”
The children giggled.
Red couldn't help but crack a small smile herself.
She was busy trying on various animal masks and ears with the children when...
Red's senses detected killing intent. At the same moment, she deftly snatched something flying toward one of the children. It was a dagger.
In that instant, the atmosphere changed drastically.
The laughter vanished, replaced by screams from all around.
The sounds of explosions and fighting echoed from a distance.
[Ksshh. To all #!#@ visitors. We are currently experiencing a @!@!@ intrusion at @!@!@. All @!@ visitors are advised to proceed to the nearest shelter....]
A static-filled announcement.
Even though the voice was breaking up, Red immediately understood what was happening.
Red intended to return the object in her hand to its original owner. She turned in the direction it came from and hurled it forcefully toward the source of the killing intent.
The suspicious person standing in the distance apparently wasn't as talented at catching as Red, and failed to grab it.
The dagger burst through their head.
“Sister... what's going on?”
The children's faces were filled with fear.
The small hands clutching Red's coat trembled.
To reassure the children, Red stroked each of their heads in turn.
“Kids. Stay close to me from now on.”
Before heading to the shelter, she had to hurry to the restroom where Bada and Lily were.
***
Bada looked like she really had to go, so I offered to go with her.
Thankfully, we made it in time. I was now waiting in the restroom for her to finish her business.
Hmm. The restroom is clean.
“Lily... are you there...?”
*Knock, knock.*
When I knocked lightly on the door, I heard a sigh of relief from inside.
*Flick!*
Suddenly, the lights went out.
I heard a startled gasp from inside.
A moment later, the emergency lights flickered on, filling the space with a blue glow.
“Lily... are you there...? What's happening...?”
Her voice was trembling.
It seemed Bada was frightened by the sudden turn of events.
*Knock, knock.*
I knocked again to let her know I was still here and that she could relax. The door opened a crack.
Peeking through the gap, Bada looked terrified.
I used gestures to tell her I was going to step outside and check the situation.
“Okay... But don't go far...”
I nodded, gestured for her to take her time, and closed the door.
I went outside and looked around at the area, now lit by emergency lights.
‘Sigh... I don't know who these people are, but did they really have to do this? Causing a ruckus in one of the few nice places around...’
The situation was not good.
Visitors lay on the floor. Pools of blood had formed. There were bloodstains on the walls, too.
Furniture and objects were scattered everywhere.
It was a complete mess.
And the people who had done this were standing in front of me.
Five of them.
Crow masks and conical hats. And black cloaks.
‘The Black Wing Corps?’
I'd heard of them.
An assassination group that would do anything for money.
Why would such big shots come to a place like this?
“That's not the kid. The target is inside.”
I frowned behind my mask.
They were targeting the person inside the restroom. The only one in there was Bada.
Why? And who sent them?
My eyes darted around. A security camera installed in the corner of the ceiling hung limply, as if it were turned off.
People who looked like Fixers were down, too.
The security robots were also destroyed.
It would be hard to expect anyone to come to the rescue right now.
The person at the front, acting as if I didn't matter, pulled something from their coat and swung their arm toward me.
I moved my hand and deftly caught the dagger flying at me between my fingers.
“““!!!”””
They seemed surprised by my little trick.
Too soon to be surprised.
The remaining men threw their daggers at me simultaneously.
Using the dagger in my hand, I deflected them all toward the ceiling. Just as I intended, the emergency lights shattered.
Then I threw the dagger in my hand to break the last remaining light.
And so, darkness fell.
‘There, now no one passing by will be able to see in.’
The sound of swords being drawn echoed in the darkness.
They were probably used to the dark. But so was I.
I kicked off the ground, faster than them.
In an instant, I was on one of them, striking his arm hard.
With a groan, the man dropped his sword. I quickly snatched the falling blade and simultaneously stabbed him with it.
‘Four left...’
Two of them rushed at me, swinging their swords.
I effortlessly dodged the slash aimed at my neck by leaning back, then straightened up and swung my sword hard at both of them.
Unable to react to my speed, a diagonal line was drawn across both their bodies. A moment later, their upper torsos slid off and fell.
‘Two left...’
One of them launched himself through the air like a crow, closing the distance in an instant with incredible speed and swinging his sword, but...
I spun to dodge and swung my own sword.
He was cleanly sliced in half.
‘Last one.’
“Kugh. You're...”
I swung my arm and threw the sword I was holding at the last man.
“Kuh!”
The sword pierced his right arm, the one holding his own sword, but he stubbornly refused to let go.
Oh, not bad.
Before he could counterattack, I rushed him and kicked his shin hard. He was forced to his knees, and I simultaneously slammed my hand into his head.
*Thwack!*
His mask shattered and went flying dramatically.
I sat on the fallen man's back.
“Cough... Y-You little brat... Cough! What the hell are you...?”
I drew an X on my cheek with my finger.
Meaning, "You don't need to know."
Next, I traced the words: Who? Why?
The man chuckled, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He went still, like a puppet with its strings cut.
He had stopped breathing.
‘Tch. Keeping secrets to the grave, huh.’
*Step, step.*
“Lil... Aah...! It's so dark...! Are you there...?”
Bada had quickly finished her business and come out.
I stood up and walked over to her. Then I tapped her cheek with my finger.
“Eek...”
Startled, Bada was about to fall over.
I grabbed her hand, preventing the mishap.
“Lily...?”
I drew a circle on her small palm.
“What happened here...?”
I drew a question mark.
No need to tell her what happened here.
Bada said she smelled something coppery, so I quickly wrote that we should go back.
“Right...! Sister will be worried...!”
I took Bada's hand. I held it tight so we wouldn't get separated.
Why are peaceful times always so short?
‘Whoever you are, just wait until I get my hands on you.’