Golden City (4)

“Finally, Golden Haven has welcomed a new owner.”

The secretary’s report continued.

“New trade routes have been opened by utilizing the Diamond Blade’s mining routes and the Azure Dragon Society’s maritime routes. Profits have increased by 30% compared to the previous year…”

Numbers followed. But my gaze was fixed on Estelle. The shoulders of the ten-year-old girl now looked reliable.

“How is the improvement of working conditions for the mine workers progressing?”

Estelle’s voice was filled with strength. There was no more anxious trembling.

“The old exploitation system has been completely abolished. With the new welfare policy…”

“Good. Proceed as planned. We will clear up all the dark dealings of the past.”

Estelle said proudly. A sense of composure settled in her eyes.

“The establishment of an orphanage is also underway. Children will no longer work in the mines.”

“Nyangnyang! I knew it was a good idea to have Haru-nyang help!”

“It’s all thanks to Haru-ssi.”

Estelle smiled at me. The wisdom of a merchant was already present on her young face.

I wonder how great she will become when she grows up.

“Illuminating the darkness of the Diamond Blade, stopping the violence of the Azure Dragon Society…”

Her gaze turned to the city below the window.

“Now the Golden Carriage Company has become a true merchant guild. We don’t have to hide in the shadows anymore. So…”

Estelle rose from her seat. She walked to the window and looked at the moonlight.

“I want to repay your kindness.”

She took out a small box. The golden decorations sparkled in the moonlight.

“Have you heard of Gaia’s Gold?”

The moment she said that, Nia’s ears perked up. Her black tail puffed up as if in tension.

“Imbued with the magic of the Giant Race…”

“Yes, it’s a treasure passed down through our family for generations.”

Estelle opened the box. A mysterious light leaked out.

I knew it was somewhere in Golden Haven, but I never thought Estelle would have it.

“But this…”

“You protected our family thanks to you. No object is too precious.”

“Thank you. I’ll put it to good use.”

“And… there’s one more thing I want to say.”

Estelle’s voice trembled. The moonlight was shining on her silver hair.

“Huh?”

“Actually… from the first time I met you…”

Her eyes became moist. Ah, this situation is…

“Kyaak! No way, nyang!”

Nia suddenly wedged herself between us. Her black tail stood up threateningly.

“Haru-nyang is Nia’s butler, nyang! How dare a young female…”

Sharp claws glinted in the moonlight. There was a clear murderous intent towards Estelle.

“Nia, calm down.”

I grabbed her shoulder. This situation… I was used to it now.

“I’ll handle it.”

Nia’s ears perked up and then folded back. She still looked wary, but she retracted her claws.

“Ha… Haru-ssi…”

Estelle’s voice trembled.

“I remember when we first met. You appeared like a knight in a fairy tale… and saved me…”

A bitter smile lingered on my lips. It was a familiar pattern. Pure admiration for the savior, and then it becomes distorted…

‘This much is… cute.’

Alice’s possessive gaze came to mind. The obsession of a dragon who has lived for thousands of years.

Silvia’s cold smile also flashed by. That ominous energy when the spirits of the forest were watching me.

Seraphin’s madness that lingered in her purple eyes was also vivid. The twisted desire hidden beneath pure white wings.

Compared to them, this much seemed… rather pure.

“Estelle.”

“Yes…?”

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“You still have a long way to go, right?”

Her eyes wavered.

“Leading the Golden Carriage Company, changing the city… you have so much to do.”

“But…”

“And above all.”

I smiled gently and delivered the finishing blow.

“You’re too young.”

Estelle’s face turned bright red.

“I’m… I’m almost twelve years old!”

She protested, clenching her hands tightly, but that only made her look more like a girl.

“Yeah, yeah, I prefer mature women.”

“Ugh…”

Tears welled up in Estelle’s eyes.

“I, I’ll let you go for now. After all, all I have is money…”

She lowered her head.

“But…”

Her eyes shone dangerously under the moonlight.

“When I grow up… be prepared.”

‘She’s saying those words after all.’

I chuckled inwardly. I was so used to this kind of situation that I could be called a Yandere expert.

“Haru-nyang! Let’s go, nyang!”

Nia pulled on my arm. Her black tail wagged with victorious joy.

“Nyangnyang! Another female defeated, nyang!”

I sighed as I walked down the moonlit alley.

“Haru-nyang, how many is this now, nyang?”

“I can’t even count.”

Nia’s tail wagged playfully.

“Nyangnyang! Haru-nyang is really popular with women, nyang!”

‘Yeah… this is easier.’

Compared to the mad obsession of the hero party, this much felt rather cute.

***

“Everything I needed to do here is done now.”

I stood leaning against the window of the hideout where moonlight seeped in. It was the last night in this city.

I spread out the map and looked for the next destination, but for some reason, a sense of unease crept up my spine.

Nia was quieter than usual. That was also suspicious.

She, who always chattered non-stop, was just wagging her tail under the moonlight and watching me today.

Our eyes suddenly met. Nia’s golden eyes sparkled like moonlight.

“Haru-nyang, just a moment.”

Nia jumped onto the table.

“Why?”

I asked nonchalantly, but my fingertips trembled with tension. My intuition was warning me of danger.

“Nyangnyang! Nia has a fun story to tell Haru-nyang, nyang!”

Nia’s tail wagged playfully. Something was strange. She looked too happy.

“Nia?”

“Did Haru-nyang know, nyang? Why Nia was so actively suggesting committing crimes?”

A chill ran down my spine. The corners of Nia’s mouth turned up wickedly.

“That’s…”

“Raiding the Diamond Blade headquarters, infiltrating the Azure Dragon Society’s ship, the auction house riot…”

Nia counted them off one by one with her fingers. Her black tail wagged dangerously.

“It was all Nia’s plan, nyang!”

“What…”

“Haru-nyang is a criminal now too, nyang! Nia just reported all the evidence to the press a little while ago, nyang!”

Nia laughed. It was a cat-like, sly smile.

“What did you say?”

“Nyangnyang! Cats are originally cunning, nyang. Is Haru-nyang more dull than you look, nyang?”

Nia grinned. Her golden eyes sparkled with victorious joy.

“Now Haru-nyang is in the same boat as Nia, nyang!”

Everything clicked into place. The suspicious behavior all along, the crimes that seemed unnecessary… it was all a plan to trap me.

“All… targeting me?”

“Nyangnyang! Did you finally understand, nyang?”

Nia moved as if dancing under the moonlight. Her black tail swayed to the rhythm.

“Now Haru-nyang can’t go back to the hero party either, nyang! Neither the Saintess, the Dragon, nor the Elf will accept a criminal, nyang!”

‘I don’t think that’s going to happen…’

Nia moved as if dancing under the moonlight. Her black tail wagged with victorious joy.

“Only Nia can accept Haru-nyang, nyang! Forever… forever, the two of us will live together, nyang!”

“You wicked cat…”

Her golden eyes shone with affection and obsession.

“From the first time we met… Haru-nyang was Nia’s, nyang. When Haru-nyang saved Nia… Nia’s heart was already stolen.”

Her voice trembled. The moonlight shone on her wet eyes.

“Only Haru understood Nia… everyone else just called me a stray cat… but Haru was different…”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Should I say that this is really amazing?

“Nyang? Haru-nyang is laughing, nyang?”

“Should I call you a genius cat? To come up with a plan like this.”

Nia’s ears perked up.

“It’s no use pretending to be confident, nyang! Now begins the bandit couple’s start, nyang! Haru-nyang is Nia’s partner, nyang!”

Nia’s expression looked very satisfied. As if she had won at chess.

“I have no choice.”

I folded the map and stood up.

But Nia didn’t know. That I had already anticipated this situation.

“So… you reported it to the press?”

“That’s right, nyang! With all the evidence…”

“That’s strange.”

I got up from my seat. Nia’s ears twitched questioningly.

“What’s strange, nyang?”

“Did you see this morning’s newspaper?”

I took the newspaper out of my pocket and spread it on the table. Nia’s golden eyes widened.

[Hero, no, a Warrior! Eradicating the Corruption of Golden Haven]

[A Righteous Apostle Who Revealed the Diamond Blade’s Corruption]

[A City’s Hero Who Stopped the Violence of the Azure Dragon Society]

“T-This is… what is this…!”

Nia’s ears perked up in shock.

“It’s impossible, nyang! There’s definitely evidence…!”

“Estelle is smart.”

I continued slowly.

“If rumors spread that her favorite hero is a criminal… what do you think she would do?”

Nia’s ears perked up.

“She would act to protect my honor. In a way befitting the city’s best merchant guild leader.”

“But… the evidence….”

“The media is originally on the side of those with wealth and power.”

Nia’s tail drooped. It was the moment her plan completely collapsed.

“Then… Haru-nyang…”

“I knew from the beginning.”

I said with a smile.

“That Nia was planning something. That’s why I deliberately helped Estelle.”

“Nyang…?”

“Because I knew this would happen.”

Nia’s expression twisted. Her golden eyes flashed with anger.

“This can’t be! Nia’s plan… Nia’s perfect plan…”

“It seems the genius cat Nia’s plan… couldn’t beat the hero’s experience.”

The moonlight shone on her tearful expression.

“It seems you still have a lot to learn?”

“Haru-nyang… you’re too much…”

Nia collapsed on the table. Her black tail wagged weakly.

“Did you suspect me from the beginning, nyang?”

Nia asked, whining. In the hideout where moonlight seeped in, her golden eyes shone sadly.

“You deceived me too.”

When I replied with a smile, Nia’s tail wagged unhappily.

“Still… still, Haru-nyang…”

“Come here.”

When I opened my arms, Nia rushed in without hesitation.

“Nia likes Haru-nyang the best, nyang… Wasn’t Haru-nyang having fun with Nia too, nyang? We can keep living happily like this, nyang….”

While hugging her, I quietly took something out of my pocket. It was Gleipnir, which I had ‘borrowed’ from the Imperial Treasury.

Whoosh-

In an instant, the golden rope bound Nia’s body.

“Nyang?! W-What is this, nyang!”

Nia’s claws flashed, but it was useless. Gleipnir was a chain that could bind even a dragon for a while.

“Haru-nyang! This doesn’t make sense, nyang! What are you trying to do to Nia, nyang! Are you planning something lewd, nyang?”

Nia was still making jokes. But at the same time, her eyes flashed dangerously. No longer a playful cat, but eyes like a beast.

“Untie me, nyang! Or… or….”

“Or what will you do?”

I gently stroked Nia’s head. Her black ears twitched.

“Ugh… I trusted you…”

Nia’s voice trembled.

“I… I trusted Haru-nyang…”

“I know.”

When I gently scratched her belly, she relaxed. Cats are weak when you touch their bellies after all.

“Grrr…”

Her tail also started to wag slightly.

“Nyang… no… I shouldn’t be doing this…”

When I scratched behind her ears, she melted even more. When I stroked her tail, she became completely limp as if she had given up.

“That’s unfair, nyang… To exploit Nia’s weaknesses…”

“You did the same to me.”

“That was… that was love, nyang…”

Nia’s eyes shone faintly.

“See you next time.”

I stroked her head one last time and stood up.

“Haru-nyang! Don’t go, nyang! Nia was wrong about everything, nyang! I won’t steal anymore and I’ll listen well, nyang! Please….”

“Gleipnir will be released in about 3 hours.”

“You can’t escape, nyang! Nia knows Haru-nyang’s scent, nyang!”

I turned around at the door. Her eyes were slightly teary.

“Yeah. I know too.”

With a final smile, I opened the door. Nia’s cries tore through the night air.