episode_0458

“The knight looks quite impressive.”

Although small in size like a doll, the shadow knight was crafted with its own intricate details.

Unable to create the knight without seeing it in person, I couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.

“Did Ruya make this? Did she do a good job?”

Ruya seemed to have a talent for creating things in the art field.

“Yeah, she did a great job. It’s not easy to pay attention to such meticulous details. And the fact that the material used is shadows makes it even more impressive.”

It might seem like something that could be overlooked due to its small size.

But Ruya remembered even the smallest details and crafted the knight with care.

I couldn’t help but praise her, and Ruya was visibly delighted, smiling widely at the heartfelt compliment.

“This little one will guard this alleyway from now on.”

“Alleyway?”

“Yeah! The old man said we don’t have to guard his house. We respect boundaries. But the alleyway seemed ownerless. It used to be a dark and dirty place, right?”

“That’s true. But what do you mean by boundaries?”

“Oh, you don’t know about boundaries?”

“Nege unni’s shop is her boundary, and the old man’s building is his boundary.”

“Oh.”

I had a feeling I knew what the kids were talking about.

They were undoubtedly referring to a cat’s territory.

Even cats living in a free-roaming environment separate their living areas into activity zones.

Just like cats, the twins needed their own space.

“When the information merchant came, their actions weren’t just to prepare for danger.”

Not knowing that, and saying they didn’t have to guard this place, how confused the kids must have been.

Thinking they had created their own territory, only to hear surprised comments from elsewhere…

It was a mistake born out of a lack of understanding of the children.

It would have been safer to designate the building as their territory, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that.

“They’re so happy, I can’t just ruin it for them.”

The kids were thrilled to have found their own territory.

How could I possibly tell them not to do it?

It would be better to ask them nicely rather than oppose them, for the sake of the children.

“Alright, from now on, this area is your territory. Make sure to keep an eye out for any suspicious characters. I trust you.”

The twins’ eyes sparkled at my words.

“Yeah!”

“Yes!”

Indeed, that was the right way to go about it.

Having established their own territory, they would likely develop a sense of attachment to this place more quickly.

Until the twins actually caught the suspicious character.

※ ※ ※

“Weird old man!!!”

“A suspicious character has appeared!”

“Get him!!”

I was truly amazed.

They had actually caught a suspicious character on the street.

“These little ones, knowing who I am and doing this… Ouch! My arm is broken! Let go!!”

“He was lurking around the shop.”

Danya proudly showed the man he had subdued.

I looked at the pathetic man being held captive, praising the twins while addressing him.

“I believe I’ve told you several times not to come back. Why have you returned, Lord Hutton?”

“Please release me!!! It hurts!”

The shadow knight was firmly restraining Lord Hutton.

How could a shadow knight, small like a doll, subdue Lord Hutton?

It was possible because it could grow in size like a real knight when needed.

“So it could grow larger. It’s a shadow, so it makes sense that it could grow, but I didn’t expect it.”

It seemed to have a smaller, less imposing appearance most of the time, but when strength was required, it seemed to increase in size.

It was a very efficient way of using her abilities, and it was impressive how she had trained her own strength smartly in an environment where no one had taught her.

“Hey, release him.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Okay.”

Danya immediately ordered the Shadow Knight to release Viscount Hutton.

As soon as Viscount Hutton was released, he burst out angrily at me.

“How dare you treat people like this!!”

“I told you to subdue anyone acting suspiciously around the shop, and you were the only one caught. How many people pass by the area in a day, and yet you were the only one detained. Maybe there was a reason for that?”

The twins wouldn’t have mistakenly subdued Viscount Hutton.

Surely Viscount Hutton had been acting suspiciously around the shop.

Though young, they were sharp sisters.

There was no reason for them to act without cause.

‘If anything, they would be more cautious than others. Life must have been one where no one would protect you if you messed with the wrong person.’

So I didn’t believe whatever Viscount Hutton said.

“Ahem! Let’s have a, a little chat.”

“A chat? Do we have more to talk about?”

“It’s really important, so please!! You won’t regret it. It’s something good for both of you.”

He wouldn’t do anything good for me, so he must have been talking about something good for Fran and Nega.

Though I wasn’t inclined to spend time with him, considering it quite significant that Viscount Hutton, who should have been arguing with his wife, appeared here, I decided to invest some time in him.

Since I had no intention of meeting Nega, I decided to take him to a different shop altogether.

“Danya, Ruya.”

“Yes.”

“Okay! Sir.”

“Thank you for catching the suspicious person. Thanks to you, Nega didn’t have to face any trouble.”

“Hehe!”

Danya and Ruya shyly smiled at my praise.

“Can we keep what happened just now a secret from Nega? She didn’t know that person came here.”

“Yes! Leave it to us.”

“That guy, he sneakily tried to steal my sister. Just knowing that such a person exists would be unpleasant.”

Fortunately, the kids didn’t refuse my request.

“Let’s go.”

Though they kept their distance, being awakened, they must have heard our conversation.

So, with a frown on his face filled with dissatisfaction, Viscount Hutton, who must have heard our conversation, said,

“Do we need to go to a building nearby, or do we need to go all the way out there?”

“Do you want to just be driven away like this?”

“….”

Unable to continue speaking in the face of my calm words, Viscount Hutton obediently followed me.

We moved to a teahouse where we could have a conversation.

After ordering a cup of tea each, I said to Viscount Hutton,

“What do you want to say?”

“Actually, what I really want to say is about Nega. I don’t like the idea of telling you what the person concerned should hear, but what can I do. I have to understand as a big-hearted person.”

“I have no desire to listen to irrelevant gossip, so please get to the point.”

Since we both had unpleasant feelings towards each other, I wanted the conversation to be as short as possible.

“Anyway, the rootless ones. Tsk!”

Viscount Hutton muttered about my attitude in a low voice, then got to the point.

“I plan to put Fran under my protection.”

“…Ha, what are you talking about.”

It seemed like he was going to blabber on about things I didn’t need to hear.

Without any hesitation, I got up from my seat.

“Wait a minute! You haven’t even started the conversation, what are you going to do if you get up!”

“If Fran entering your protection is dead and gone, it’s not going to happen even if you wake up.”

“Do you not know that if she officially enters my protection, she can receive the family’s inheritance?!”

“Don’t think you can put Fran under your protection with just a few coins. It seems like the conversation is over, let’s not meet again.”

“No, can you just listen to what I have to say? I didn’t propose to be Fran’s father just because I wanted to. I wanted to propose something that could benefit both of us… Don’t you think you should listen when someone is talking?!”

As I blatantly showed my lack of interest, the Viscount Hutton shouted in frustration.

The Viscount Hutton didn’t realize that he should be grateful for not being grabbed by the collar.

“It doesn’t matter what the reason is for wanting to bring Fran into the family register. Whatever the reason may be, it shouldn’t happen.”

In fact, the reason can be easily predicted.

It’s probably to use it as a means of pressuring the Viscountess.

Viscount Hutton had put some thought into it.

Isn’t the reason the Viscountess can freely do as she pleases because her son is supporting her securely?

Viscount Hutton must have wanted to pressure his wife by targeting that aspect.

“This guy is trying to drag Fran into this mud fight.”

The already unimpressive Viscount Hutton becomes even more twisted.

He had heard that the Viscountess was pressuring him well, but seeing him wandering around as he pleased, he didn’t seem to feel much of a sense of crisis.

Should I set up a scheme to make the Viscountess more anxious?

“The little money you have. Not even worth a rat’s dropping. Who do you think I am? Do you know how much my company earns in a day?”

“!!”

Boasting about money in front of someone else?

‘If you have a bad head, at least have a good personality, tsk!’

The shocking statement of being blatantly ignored in front of him left Viscount Hutton stunned.

“Please don’t make such absurd schemes again. Use honorifics and show some respect when addressing me.”

“I wasn’t trying to be a father, I just wanted to put her in the family register to get some money….”

“You’re out of your mind. You weren’t trying to get money, you were trying to use her.”

“What…!?”

Viscount Hutton’s face turned red.

Unable to shake off the shock, Viscount Hutton suddenly began coughing violently.

“Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough!”

He coughed loudly.

Coughing with a red face, it seemed uncomfortable to stay in front of him, fearing he might catch a cold, I got up from my seat.

Covering his mouth and coughing, he also got up from his seat, perhaps trying to stop me from leaving.

“Cough! Cough! Wait… I haven’t finished… Cough!”

At that moment, the Viscount poured something out, and without realizing it, his face turned pale as he tried to block it with his hand.

What was on his hand wasn’t saliva or vomit.

“What is this? It’s blood!!”

I was taken aback by the unexpected sight of Viscount Hutton vomiting blood.