episode_0029

Swish swish-.

Gently rippling waves.

Her orange hair was disheveled by the warm breeze blowing from somewhere.

Familiar silence echoed in her ears.

It was a bizarre scene.

An endlessly stretching water surface.

The sky-blue background resembled a vast ocean.

In the lonely scene.

“……”

The fox opened her closed eyes.

What reflected in her blurry vision was nothing less than a dazzling sky-blue.

A vast, open sea awaited the girl.

A hard object was felt against her back.

Turning around at the strange sensation, she saw straight iron bars surrounding her.

The surface was rusted as if weathered by time.

It was a one-cell prison standing in the middle of the sea.

“Ah…”

The fox immediately realized it was a dream.

It had been a nightmare that had plagued her for the past two years.

It was a familiar scene.

Just in case, she looked around.

The dense iron bars imprisoned the girl. Beyond them, nothing existed.

Only hollow waves crashed.

Creak-.

The fox grabbed the iron bars behind her and, with effort, stood up.

The old metal bars groaned.

“Ugh, ugh…”

Her movements were unsteady.

The floor was slightly submerged in the water. Thanks to this, the splashing seawater covered the girl’s ankles.

Yet, her clothes and tail were not wet at all.

This was a detail that indicated the current scene was a dream.

Whoosh-.

A sudden sea breeze brushed her cheek.

The unique salty scent spread to the tip of her nose.

The cool air refreshed her. The fox gently furrowed her brow.

Because she considered that gentleness a mockery.

“I’m sick of it.”

She murmured faintly.

The fox stood leaning against the bars. Turmoil flickered in her black eyes.

She was frail, as if she would break at any moment.

This place was lonely.

It was as if this entire landscape was created to isolate her.

Only the sea in the background.

Not even a hint of human presence could be heard.

She was perfectly alone.

“……I hope I wake up soon.”

A low, murmured lament.

The ensuing silence was peaceful and beautiful, but beyond that, it was unbearable.

The fox waited patiently.

For the nightmare to end.

For this sickening sense of loss to be filled.

***

The day after the nightmare.

The fox sought out the snake as soon as she opened her eyes. She had a favor to ask.

The boy reacted with a tilt of his head.

“Miss Irene?”

“The children, I mean. It’s been over a month since I last saw them. I just wanted to see their faces.”

“Hmm.”

Thud-.

The boy closed the book he was reading.

He remained silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, then faintly smiled.

“Heh heh, it seems you’re worried.”

“Well… I can’t say I’m not.”

“I understand. They must be precious to you, Miss Irene.”

“If you understand, let me see them.”

Irene replied gruffly.

In truth, while she was worried, her desire to simply see them was stronger.

Perhaps it was because of the nightmare she had last night.

She wanted to see the children.

“Nuna! Where have you been?”

“You idiot! Don’t cling to Unnie when she’s tired!”

“Hey, they’re fighting again… Punish them.”

She desperately yearned for their pure white smiles.

Her heart felt like it would extinguish at any moment, and she needed an escape from the agonizing sense of loss that choked her.

When she held the children in her arms, she felt clarity.

There were still things left to protect.

They were what supported her, preventing her from collapsing.

“……Please.”

Her voice was as sharp as usual, but there was a hint of desperation in it.

The boy, who had been silent, soon spoke.

“Hmm… Very well.”

“Really?”

“I was planning to visit them anyway.”

“……”

Wag wag-.

Her drooping tail regained strength and moved.

Though she seemed unaware of it herself, it was a reaction that fully revealed itself whenever she was in a good mood.

A fond smile spread across the girl’s lips.

Until then, she had no idea.

The place they were headed to see the children.

Its true identity.

That it would be the city known as the Empire’s worst slum.

***

Irene’s request to see the children.

I had been thinking of showing my face to them anyway, so I immediately nodded.

It was lonely to go alone.

“Then, shall we go?”

Was there any need to delay?

It was a weekend with no classes. We immediately left the academy and took a carriage to our destination.

After a short while, we arrived at an alley.

“Sir, the carriage can only go this far.”

The coachman refused to proceed further.

It was a kind of unspoken rule.

No matter what, do not enter ‘The City That Doesn’t Cry’.

Putting aside issues of looting or robbery… it was uncertain if one could even come out alive.

Thanks to that, we had to walk.

“Are the children really here…?”

“That’s what I said.”

“This is a slum.”

“It’s safer than you think, so it’s fine to just go in. Or do you not want to see your younger siblings?”

“……Alright. Let’s just go then.”

We walked side by side.

As we entered deeper into the city, our vision blurred. Like frost forming on pupils.

It was a regional characteristic.

The City That Doesn’t Cry, Rukia.

Regardless of the weather outside, a thick fog always hung here.

Thanks to this, it was perfect for villains to make their nests.

In short, the local security was a complete mess.

“This atmosphere is absolutely not suitable for children…”

Irene frowned.

She seemed to be slowly realizing that this was no ordinary slum.

“Are they really in a safe place…?”

“Of course.”

“Every alley is filled with murderous intent. Isn’t this more like a den of criminals?”

“The streets themselves might be a bit dirty… but the place where your younger siblings are is undoubtedly safe.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Rest assured. I guarantee it.”

At least, as far as I knew, it was.

Because they were the ones I raised.

I could confidently assert that there were only a handful of places safer than this on the continent.

I dismissed her worries with a refreshing smile.

“Your younger siblings are in a ‘good place’. I personally sent them there.”

“……You. Can you stop talking like that?”

“What did I do?”

“Never mind… If you don’t know, then forget it.”

The fox turned her head with a resigned look.

I was suddenly given up on.

What? Why are you doing that?

At least finish what you’re saying.

I couldn’t help but be full of questions.

Plod plod-.

Just as we were walking, leaving that strange conversation behind.

Some shadows blocked our path.

“Hey, you two. Stop right there.”

A gang appeared from the fog.

All of them were clad in robes, holding swords in their hands.

Were they thugs preying on the alleys?

I calmly looked around.

‘Their number is nine.’

Roughly that many people surrounded us.

Seeing how natural their encirclement was, it seemed this wasn’t their first time doing such a thing.

Shall I hear their business first?

“Hmm~ What brings you fine gentlemen here?”

A dramatically posed question.

Then, one of the robed figures stepped forward.

It was the one who had just issued the stop command.

“You’re dressed in a way I haven’t seen before.”

“Of course I am.”

“You don’t seem to be from around here… Outsiders?”

“That’s right. We just stopped by for a moment to take care of some business.”

“You’ve got some nerve.”

As I answered casually, the fellow let out a hollow laugh.

He seemed dumbfounded by my brazenness.

I understood to some extent.

In their eyes, I would appear to be a frail young master.

A city where crime and murder ran rampant.

If there was an idiot wandering around without proper escort, wouldn’t they naturally want to target them?

“Ha… I’ve never seen a guy like this before.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

“We don’t intend to take your lives. Just hand over about 10 gold, and we’ll let you go quietly.”

“You’re saying we have to pay a toll.”

“Exactly.”

“Hmm.”

I murmured lowly.

To think there are still guys collecting tolls like this.

And 10 gold is ridiculously expensive.

I clearly eradicated them half a year ago, so where did they crawl out from again?

‘Could it be that those guys haven’t been managing things properly?’

Perhaps they became lax because I wasn’t around.

Maybe I should use this opportunity to tighten discipline again.

As I was lost in such thoughts, the fox standing next to me quietly spoke.

“You… what are you going to do?”

“Huh?”

“They’re asking for a toll. And they’re pointing swords at us.”

“Surely you’re not worried about me, are you?”

“Talk sense.”

Irene cut him off coldly.

Her brow was heavily furrowed, as if telling him not to be weak.

“……You could kill them all with a single gesture.”

“Heh heh, that’s true too.”

“Still, I asked because I thought it would be troublesome to cause a commotion, so I wanted to know how you planned to get out of this.”

“Well…”

I shrugged indifferently.

“Let’s just stay like this for a moment.”

“What are you thinking now?”

“Who knows? Maybe a mysterious hero will suddenly appear and save us from this predicament?”

“Even in this situation, you’re still joking…”

Thump thump thump-!

No sooner had she spoken than a sound grazed our ears.

Someone violently kicked the ground.

Despite the distance, a faint murderous intent could be felt. It smelled like a well-trained assassin.

It was a movement I hadn’t seen in a long time.

“It seems they’ve appeared after all.”

The next moment.

Swish-!

A sharp cutting sound echoed.

Including the fellow who had just been talking, some of the gang’s heads floated in the air.

They had been cut off in an instant.

“……!?”

The robed gang retreated in confusion.

Of course, even so, they could not escape their foreseen demise.

Flap-!

The shadow, melting into the darkness, flapped like a cloak.

Afterimages flickered rapidly.

A beautiful iron flower blooming.

It was too fast for the eye to catch. Two daggers danced in a flash.

Even covered in fog, the sword path was precise.

Slice slice-!

Silver lines were drawn across the pitch-black background.

Following the strike that split into dozens, starlight twinkled for a moment.

It was mesmerizing.

And simultaneously cruel.

While our gazes were stolen by the dazzling sword dance.

Thud, thump thump thump…!

The remaining necks of the awkwardly standing gang fell to the ground.

It had all happened in less than three seconds.

I faintly smiled.

“How’s that? Someone really did appear, didn’t they?”

Though whether they were a hero, I wasn’t sure.

I added a nonsensical remark, but Irene didn’t seem to hear it.

She was completely engrossed in something.

“Miss Irene?”

“……”

Her breathing was trembling as if she was nervous.

Following the direction the girl was staring, I turned my head and saw a person standing among the corpses.

She was a woman exuding an eerie aura.

Long, flowing black hair.

Two daggers held in both hands.

A black mask covering her lower face.

Her appearance was unusual.

As soon as the woman’s eyes met ours, she immediately began striding towards us.

“Oh, she’s coming…!”

Irene drew her sword and took a stance.

Perhaps overwhelmed by the woman’s momentum. She was emotionally shaken.

I calmly reassured the fox.

“Please calm down first. She’s not our enemy.”

“……You know her?”

Irene was flustered.

I pondered how to explain this, but soon gave up.

It would be easier to understand by seeing it directly anyway.

Tramp tramp-!

Before I knew it, the woman’s steps had reached close by.

A fierce murderous aura spread. It seemed to warn anyone around that if they blocked her path, she would cut them down immediately.

The woman, who had been approaching so fiercely.

Suddenly stopped her advance in front of the snake.

And then.

“Captain-nim.”

She knelt down on one knee where she stood.

After even disarming herself, she paid her respects in a completely submissive posture.

“I knew you would return.”

The black-haired woman murmured so.

Her voice was filled with emotion.

Tears flowed down her pale cheeks. She seemed overwhelmed with emotion.

Her bowed head was filled with reverence.

‘……This is why I tried not to come recently.’

A subordinate showing an excessive welcome right from the start.

And the fox staring at it, dumbfounded.

Both their gazes were blatantly fixed on me.

Seriously.

It was incredibly burdensome.