Ch.116[Episode 116] The Unfolding of Events

“…what is this.”

Star I’m Not Little clenched and unclenched the hand where Little Sir Dominic had been just moments ago.

There were countless questions, but right now I’m Not Little was focused on two things.

How did they pinpoint and find my residence?

And why did they take Little Sir Dominic?

“Ah.”

And then I’m Not Little realized.

“This is my room, so I could have stopped them if I wanted to.”

That’s right.

She might have forgotten because it was so unlike a Star, but she was a Star, a transcendent being.

Above all, this was her space, so she could have used her limited but omnipotent power.

But the reason she didn’t use that power was quite simple.

She had spent so much time in her room that she forgot about it.

“What should I do now? I can’t even report it since it’s an unofficial merchandise…”

I’m Not Little started to worry about practical matters.

It’s better for mental health to forget about things that have already happened.

As she worried, Gachaland had definite compensation services for products officially approved by the three wings—the Executive branch, System Industries, and Black Company—but there was nothing for unauthorized products like this.

It was fine to buy them and do whatever you wanted with them, but all responsibility fell on the buyer.

“…I really liked it.”

Star I’m Not Little thought about going to look for Little Sir Dominic, but she had no idea who took him or where they went.

In the end, I’m Not Little accepted reality and resigned herself to the situation.

Consoling herself that she had one more story to post on GachaTube.

…

In the back alleys of Gachaland.

In an area tacitly recognized as Mountain Bridge Marsh territory, a suspicious person wearing a mask appeared.

He was running with a doll resembling Sir Dominic tucked under his arm, and the doll seemed to have consciousness as it was flailing its limbs.

“Stay still. I’m not going to hurt you.”

Should he be grateful that the doll had no vocal cords?

If it could make noise, it would have been quite annoying.

As rebellious as it was, it might have screamed loud enough to hurt his ears.

After such idle thoughts, the thief looked around.

Having thoroughly examined the alley, the thief, thinking this was his chance, removed his mask.

As the stuffy air rushed out of his lungs at once, a refreshing sensation circulated through the thief’s chest.

“This kind of job just doesn’t suit me.”

The thief… no, the man called Daehyung leaned against the alley wall and put a cigarette in his mouth.

Still firmly holding the small struggling plush doll between his side and arm, he took out a lighter and lit his cigarette.

“Huff. So now I just need to take this to that woman.”

Daehyung muttered.

A cool breeze swept through the alley.

Daehyung shuddered as the cold air touched his skin.

“Why is it so cold? It’s not even winter.”

The back alleys were always filled with heavy, cool air as sunlight rarely reached them, but today it felt particularly intense.

Daehyung turned his head to find where this cool breeze was coming from.

As Daehyung examined each of the branching alleyways…

“What’s that?”

A seductive voice came from behind Daehyung.

Startled, Daehyung dropped his cigarette.

Quickly turning around and stepping away, Daehyung discovered who had been standing behind him.

“There’s no need to be so jumpy.”

She had long, black hair with a purple tint, like luxurious ebony.

Grumbling, she took a melon-flavored candy from her pocket and popped it into her mouth.

An ordinary girl who clearly didn’t belong in the back alleys.

However, the massive black horns on her head, her cape, and her tight-fitting clothes that revealed her figure indicated she was no ordinary person.

“Who are you?”

Daehyung asked warily.

Identifying escape routes in case he needed to flee.

“I asked you first.”

The black-clad woman tilted her head as she spoke.

“They say you shouldn’t answer a question with a question. I asked what that was first.”

Daehyung thought he’d run into someone who was completely insane.

The immense power he could feel through his skin.

It was the aura of one of the strongest in Mountain Bridge Marsh.

This wasn’t some fake enhancement like “Server #1 with minimal spending.”

It wasn’t artificial strength but natural power.

It meant this woman was born strong.

Realizing this, Daehyung decided to tell her about the doll’s identity.

Mountain Bridge Marsh was fundamentally a criminal organization.

The basic mindset of a criminal organization was to survive by any means necessary.

Who cares what happens later.

The danger was immediate.

The central system recognized Mountain Bridge Marsh as a necessary evil and merely observed them, but that didn’t mean they lacked the authority to expel criminals when they died.

“This is a doll of Sir Dominic.”

Daehyung said, holding up the doll with both hands.

Little Sir Dominic took out his soft sword and shield and swung them at Daehyung, but the distance was hopelessly far.

“It’s a moving doll, too.”

“I see.”

The black-clad woman said, twirling her hair around her index finger.

Her eyes were fixed on Little Sir Dominic, apparently interested in the small doll.

“Leave it here.”

Finally, an arrogant sentence escaped the woman’s lips.

“You look like a criminal, but I’ll spare your life. Leave that here.”

Her eyes narrowed and the corners of her mouth turned up.

She spoke as if a predator was doing a prey a favor.

Daehyung briefly contemplated between his mission and survival.

“…What if I don’t want to give it to you?”

“Then there’s no choice.”

The black woman, having finished her candy, rummaged through her pocket for a new one.

But just before putting it in her mouth, she hesitated and put it back in her pocket.

One a day. No more than that.

She was already feeling her sugar levels drop.

“You’ll have to die.”

And the black woman, intoxicated by a strange feeling of irritation, glared at Daehyung.

Like looking at a straw dummy for venting anger, or prey to be torn apart.

“…I’ll hand it over. Please spare my life.”

And Daehyung chose his life.

His position in Mountain Bridge Marsh was quite high, and unlike the six leaders who couldn’t openly commit crimes, he was still connected to the underworld.

Such a person couldn’t be eliminated in one go. That was his calculation.

“Good.”

The black woman was in a good mood again.

“Put it down and go.”

Who’s the villain here? Daehyung grumbled inwardly as he handed the doll to the woman.

Even as he approached the woman, she showed no caution.

An attitude only possible with the instinctive knowledge of one’s own strength and confidence in being able to subdue any situation.

“…I’ll be going now.”

“Farewell.”

With that, Daehyung handed over the doll and disappeared into the darkness of the alley.

The black woman held Little Sir Dominic in both hands and examined him carefully, then, apparently pleased, hugged him tightly to her chest.

Little Sir Dominic sensed the predator’s aura and swung his sword and shield, but soon realized there was no hostile intent and calmed down.

…

On the main street in the opposite direction from where Daehyung had fled.

“So, Demon Lord… no, have you seen a child who looks like this?”

The Chief of Staff was asking people, trying to find Princess Teu Le Vante who had disappeared while he wasn’t looking.

“Maybe I should go to the lost child center…”

The Chief of Staff grabbed his head, sinking into self-loathing.

To have such an incident occur during an outing that he had reluctantly agreed to because the Demon Lord had begged.

As a loyal servant, he couldn’t forgive himself for such disrespect.

But forgiveness was one thing, finding her was another.

The Chief of Staff, vowing to control outings more strictly in the future, looked around.

Hoping with a small expectation that she might be nearby.

“!”

“D-Demon Lord!”

As if heaven had answered his prayers, the Chief of Staff was able to find the Demon Lord.

Right below him.

The Demon Lord, with her tiny two-head-tall stature, had gone unnoticed by the Chief of Staff.

For some reason, the Demon Lord was clutching a doll as big as herself and tugging at the Chief of Staff’s pants while looking up at him with blank eyes.

“?”

Can I keep this? her expression seemed to ask.

“Where did you get this?”

The Demon Lord gestured: Over there. In the alley.

The Chief of Staff carefully examined the small doll in the Demon Lord’s arms.

A soft plush doll.

It was quite cute, but for some reason, the Chief of Staff felt uncomfortable looking at it.

Why? As he pondered this, he felt another tug on his pants and looked down.

“?”

Really, can’t I keep it? the Demon Lord seemed to ask, looking up at him with moist, sparkling eyes.

Ugh. Clutching his heart, the Chief of Staff, unable to make the Demon Lord sad, nodded.

“…Just this once, Demon Lord. Next time, please don’t pick up things like this, alright?”

“!”

Princess Teu Le Vante nodded vigorously.

Her large horns hit the Chief of Staff’s leg, but fortunately, the Demon Lord had safety devices on her horns, so no one was hurt.