Chapter 47: Is that …..?

It’s a boisterous afternoon.

Patrolmen are dragging criminals bound in ropes.

“Move it, you bastards!”
“Agh, this hurts like hell! Damn it…Alright, alright…!”

The young men grimaced as they were dragged away.

The villagers murmured amongst themselves as they watched.

“Did you see their tattoos?”
“Yeah, it’s the Gadora…”

The Gadora.

A criminal organization operating in Mysticgrove.

They are a troublesome group.

They kidnap women, children, and slaves and sell them to neighboring villages.

They extort money from shops under the guise of taxes.

And they don’t hesitate to kill those who cross them at night.

They’re vicious criminals.

Moreover, they’re highly intelligent.

They commit their crimes so cleanly that it’s difficult to catch them…

The fact that they were all caught at once is a big issue in the village.

“…How were they caught?”
“Oh, you haven’t heard?”
“Huh?”
“You know…the tavern…”

Two men whispered to each other.

The man listening suddenly exclaimed, “Ahh!” His eyes widened.

Meanwhile, two other women were chatting.

“Did you hear?”
“Hear what…? Ah, about early this morning?”
“Yeah! Apparently, there was a criminal organization in our village…! And a woman caught them.”
“Huh? A woman…?”
“Don’t you know…? The waitress at that bald guy’s tavern.”
“Ah, that…fox-like girl?”

Lunari Evergrace.

People are calling her a fox-like girl…

A beauty who enchants men.

As this rumor spread, it became distorted and strange.

Some say she used her beauty to capture them.

Others say she was actually a prostitute working for the Gadora organization.

Strange rumors are circulating…

But one fact remains unchanged…

She became a citizen who bravely protected the peace of the village.

“Hey, hero girl! Another beer!”
“Kyaaa! Lunari-chan! I heard you took down the Gadora! Is it true!?”
“Lunari! Protect the peace in our hearts too! Okay!?”

The tavern is becoming more and more prosperous day by day.

Ironically, Han is uncomfortable with this.

He’s not used to having so many customers in his usually quiet tavern…

“Sigh, my quiet tavern…”
“Haha, why? Isn’t it good that it’s thriving?”
“Thriving…? What if the remaining Gadora members come for revenge because of you?”
“Ah, in that case…”

I pointed at Han seriously and said,

“Show them. Your dazzling dagger skills…”
“You little…!”
“Hahaha! Don’t be so sensitive. It’ll be fine.”

I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

Han sighed deeply and muttered,

“Because of this, half of my peaceful life is gone. Sigh…”

“But you can live comfortably in your old age now.”
“…Thanks…Thanks a lot.”

Han frowned, sighed, and turned away.

“You like it, though.”

I smiled and raised my glass, muttering softly.

As I was enjoying my drink…

My vision suddenly darkened, and I felt like I was being enveloped by something.

“…Guess who?”
“It’s Lunari.”

I answered without looking, and Lunari smiled bashfully and leaned closer.

“Heh, you’re quick.”
“Who wouldn’t recognize you?”
“Hmm, I guess so.”

Lunari sat down next to me.

“Are you done working?”
“Yeah, pretty much. But, Isabel. I have a question.”

I smiled faintly at Lunari’s question.

“Hmm? What are you curious about?”

“Why can’t I eat humans?”

That again?

Ever since that night, Lunari has been asking me this.

“Why can’t I eat humans?”

I always give the same answer.

“Hmm…Because humans have families they love and cherish…”
“Family…”

Lunari smiled faintly as she looked ahead.

But she probably doesn’t understand.

She’s been through so much since she was young.

Again, Lunari Evergrace is a villainess.

When we first met…

Throughout her growth…

Looking at all that, one might see her as innocent…

But as people grow older and develop mature thinking…

Lunari is a heroine whose mindset is also developing.

Even if her Malice Gauge is in the 10% range…

She could commit an atrocity at any moment.

Layla Mistrenge, Seraphina Fires, Belladriel Dresia…

This situation is completely different from those three heroines.

Their kindness increased as their Malice Gauges decreased.

But Lunari is the opposite.

She becomes more wicked as her Malice Gauge decreases.

Unless it reaches 0%, she will continue to imagine and commit atrocities.

Therefore, this might be the most dangerous time.

“Humans are strange…Being bound by such concepts…”

“Lunari, you’ll understand someday. That feeling.”

“Will that day really come?”

Lunari looked up at me.

I nodded at her words.

“Of course.”

“Heheh, I hope so…”

Lunari muttered softly and stood up.

Then she went back to work.

“…I hope so…She still doesn’t understand.”

Walks and events aren’t enough anymore.

I have to instill a sense of humanity in her, even though she’s a beastkin.

—Hahaha! Here, pass it!

—Catch me if you can!

Children running around energetically.

The wide green lawn and white building looked peaceful.

Lunari stared at me, somewhat perplexed by this scene.

“…What is this place?”

“It’s an orphanage. A place that takes in children without parents or guardians, raises them, and educates them.”

“…Without parents…?”

Lunari looked ahead and smiled faintly.

“…Poor children…”

“Yes.”

“…Wouldn’t it be better for them to be in my belly, so they don’t suffer?”

Lunari was licking her lips as she looked at the children.

As expected…does this place just look like a feeding ground to a wild animal?

But…this might be an opportunity.

“Well…isn’t that up to you, Lunari?”

“…?”

“You’ll be here until tonight.”
“…Until tonight…?”

Lunari frowned slightly and sighed.

“I’m not really interested…If you’re telling me to devour them, I understand, but…”

“No. You can’t devour them.”

“…I don’t want to.”

Lunari smiled playfully and gave me a defiant look.

I ordered her again, in a somewhat forceful tone,

“Have you forgotten? I won. You said you’d obey me, didn’t you?”

“…Tch, you’re only acting like you’re on top…”

Lunari shrugged and sighed.

“Okay, okay, I get it…What do I have to do? Until tonight?”

“Stay here with the children.”

“…Sigh.”

She sighed and chuckled wryly at my words.

“This…seems like a pain…”

“But, Lunari. Thanks to you bringing peace to the village, the orphanage welcomed you.”

“Heh…? Me, the symbol of misfortune?”

I pointed at the mask on her face.

“Good fortune has entered, hasn’t it? Have some confidence.”

“You don’t know that. Whether it’s misfortune or good fortune.”

“Tell me again after you experience it today. At least the person in charge didn’t refuse your offer to volunteer, right?”

“Hmph…I’ll make them regret it.”

Lunari spoke threateningly, but…

She probably won’t act on it. And I’ll be watching from the shadows to make sure she doesn’t.

As we were chatting…

A middle-aged woman quietly approached us.

“Excuse me, are you Lunari?”

“…?”

As Lunari looked at her…

I smiled and said to the woman,

“Ah, you’re the director, right?”

The woman nodded, confirming my words.

“Ah, yes! That’s right. Oh my, I’m so sorry. Did you wait long?”

“Ah, no. We just arrived.”

“Oh, I see…That’s good. But who will be volunteering…?”

The director asked cautiously, and I placed my hands on Lunari’s shoulders and said,

“This young lady will be helping! Lunari, you know, right?”

“Isabel…!”

For the first time, Lunari looked back at me with a flustered expression.

I ignored her and smiled at the director.

The director clasped her hands together, nodded, and smiled at my words.

“Oh! Yes, I’ve heard. You did a wonderful job maintaining peace in the village…”

The director praised Lunari, seemingly taking a liking to her…

But Lunari remained expressionless.

As the atmosphere turned awkward, I laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! Yes, yes, that’s right. Lunari is very fond of children…”

“Ah, is that so…!”

“…Who’s fond of them?”

Lunari muttered softly, and I discreetly pinched her thigh.

“Ouch…!”
“Hmm?”
“Hahaha! Anyway, please take care of her.”
“Ah, yes…Please take care of me too. These children have had a difficult upbringing…”

The director continued, looking at the children running around,

“It will be a valuable learning experience for our children to have someone young, beautiful, and brave like Lunari…”

“Haha, then please take good care of her. Lunari, I’ll be going out for a bit.”

“…Isabel.”

Lunari lightly tugged on my sleeve.

Her eyes seemed to be pleading with me to stay.

But it’s better if I’m not here.

Again, I’m just an observer.

So, I smiled at her and said,

“Lunari, fighting!”

“Irresponsible jerk.”

Lunari muttered a complaint and sighed.

After Isabel left…

Lunari quietly followed the orphanage director and listened to her.

“There’s nothing particularly difficult. Just take good care of one child. She’s a peculiar child…No one wants to go near her.”

Lunari was half-heartedly listening to the director while looking around.

The director continued, seemingly oblivious to Lunari’s lack of attention,

“…Sometimes she acts out and tries to bite people. Ahaha.”

The director laughed and stopped in front of a room.

“Anyway, please take good care of this child…”

“…”

Lunari glanced at the director, then at the room.

The door had a glass panel, allowing a clear view inside.

A little girl was sitting alone.

Lunari stared at the girl and thought to herself,

“…That child looks delicious. If I eat her, Isabel will never ask me for such favors again…”