Chapter 49: Don''t Stick Your Nose Into Other People''s Business (1)


    [Every Tuesday is a day off.]


    -Blink. Blink.


    Ady rubbing her eyes.


    I rubbed mine in the same manner.


    "Ricardo, I think there''s dust in my eyes."


    "I feel the same."


    Leaving the handcart''s handle, I looked up at the clear sky. The sky was clear without a single cloud—it would have been a good day to tear into some meat…


    Thedy and I had our wills shattered by the sign dering the business''s closure.


    We stared into the void for about a minute without words.


    Thedy, with trembling eyes, looked at the sign hanging on the door, and I, sensing something was seriously amiss, clenched my lips tightly.


    Thedy copsed onto the handcart.


    "This makes no sense."


    "It''s clear the world is trying to starve me to death."


    Thedy, gazing emptily at the sky, was pouring out her resentment towards the world.


    The handcart''s floor wasn''t too hard because it was cushioned with a plush mat, but the sight of thedy cursing the world with vacant eyes was priceless.


    If only a bottle of soju were ced in thedy''s hand as shey sprawled out like a homeless person arms spread wide, it would''ve seemed like we were at Seoul Station.


    Thedy muttered, feeling that the world was being unfair to her.


    "This is nothing less than the abuse of nobility. There should be a trial."


    "Do you have any money?"


    "No."


    She became even more depressed.


    A much-anticipated outing had turned into failure. I had mustered up my courage to go out, only to be greeted by a sign announcing the shop''s closure. I hadn''t even prepared dinner, and now my grand ns had fizzled into nothing.


    Thedy looked at me. She demanded an alternative from me. I smiled awkwardly and whistled.


    If you can''t eat what you''ve been craving, any food you eat will be a disappointment. In a past life, the orphanage director announced we''d have chicken for dinner but came back with tteokbokki instead. That tteokbokki tasted truly awful because I was expecting chicken.


    Memories of yearning for chicken and whimpering while eating tteokbokki lingered, making it difficult to suggest an alternative.


    Was there no way out?


    Apart from forest friends, what else could satisfy thedy''s gnawing hunger?


    Looking at thedy who seemed to have lost her purpose in life, I cautiously asked.


    "Is there anything you’d like to eat?"


    "No."


    Thedy, visibly upset, pouted and sighed.


    "Don''t be like that, let''s go eat something else. It even saves us a meal ticket, which is nice."


    "…"


    Reluctant to just return, thedy gave a slight nod. While the n for dining out had failed, the outing itself wasn''t over yet.


    I thought it wouldn''t be too bad to breathe some fresh air and enjoy the cool autumn breeze while watching the autumn leaves.


    I grabbed the handcart''s handle and started rolling the wheels. I nced back, concerned whether the bumpy road was hard on thedy''s bottom, but thedy, looking emptily at the sky, was indulging in a life crisis, unfazed by the jolts or sudden stops.


    "I''m sad. I was hoping to eat a lot of meat today."


    "I was hoping to eat a lot of meat today too. It''s a shame."


    "Hmm… Ricardo."


    "Yes?"


    Thedy, who had been savoring the autumn breeze while lying on the handcart, stole a nce at me and brought up some trivial talk.


    "Do you want something to eat, Ricardo?"


    "Me?"


    "Yes."


    Thedy nodded slightly.


    Knowing thedy dislikes the phrase "whatever," I pondered deeply.


    What food would thedy like that won''t be too cliché?


    Steak wouldn''t do.


    And while thedy likes cake, that wouldn''t be a fitting response to her question. If I suggested cake, thedy would likely propose just turning back.


    -Rattle.


    Was it when the sound of the handcart’s wheels going longer? Thedy poked her head out slightly and carelessly looked around.


    "It''s been a long time since I’ve been here."


    Here…?


    A market lined with street vendors. A market full of snacks like chicken skewers and cotton candy, emitting irresistible aromas. Thedy’s eyes came alive upon sniffing the delicious scents.


    I quickly decided on our dinner. It wasn''t intentional, but fortunately, I was able to escape from the dilemma of choosing.


    I turned to thedy and asked,


    "How about eating here? We can try whatever we want, like at a buffet."


    "Re…really?"


    I gave a small nod.


    "Wouldn''t it be nice, reminiscent of old times? If it’s alright with you,dy, we can settle for dinner here and maybe buy some bath additives on the way back."


    "Bath additives…! Mint chocte scent!"


    "No, not that."


    Thedy nodded vigorously in agreement.


    I held the handcart''s handle and gave thedy a look, asking if she was ready.


    "So, gear four."


    "What?"


    Thedy clenched the handcart’s handle and swallowed hard.


    "Can''t we go at gear two?"


    "Sorry. I have such noble legs that I can''t control the speed."


    Thedy''s timid view failed to persuade my explosive legs.


    It’s alright to go fast since I’ve made a seatbelt.


    Thedy, with her eyes tightly shut, pounded on the handcart''s railing and bravely said,


    "St…start!"


    Thedy''s scream echoed through the streets.


    ***


    "Yum. Delicious. Try some too, Ricardo."


    Thedy, hands full of skewers, handed one to me while munching.


    An odd-looking skewer.


    Skewered was a frog, the protagonist of a nursery rhyme with its forelegs and hindlegs poking out. Thedy, offering the frog skewer and smiling happily, was a true peace advocate of this era who didn’t mind appearances as long as it tasted good.


    "This is delicious."


    "…"


    "Seriously, it''s good."


    "I yield."


    I shook my head and pointed to the chicken skewer in her left hand.


    "Can I have that instead? It looks tasty."


    "This…? No way, I yield."


    Thedy gave me a look of refusal. Apparently, she was saving the tasty one for herself, but it’s truly delicious to sneak a bite from someone else’s treat. As I gazed at her with glossy, cat-like eyes, thedy ced half of the chicken skewer in her mouth and shakily handed it to me.


    "Lady, are you perhaps an alien like Doraemon?"


    "Doraemon alien?"


    "There''s a monster that cuts everything in half."


    "That''s a bad monster."


    “You’re also… bad…"


    "Huh?"


    "Never mind."


    I took the skewer offered by thedy and stuffed my mouth.


    As streetlights came on, crowds began to gather.


    Families out to enjoy the night market,


    Couples on a date,


    And even kids from the slums trying to pick pockets amidst the crowd.


    As more people filled the streets, thedy squeezed herself into a corner of the handcart.


    ncing awkwardly around, then bowing her head when eye contact was made, thedy chewed on an empty skewer stick. Seeing this, I steered the handcart away from the crowd.


    The crowds were increasing, and among them, thedy seemed to try to escape notice, slipping further into the handcart, nervously looking around. If there was eye contact, she would bow her head and keep gnawing on the empty skewer. Recognizing thedy''s difort, I navigated the handcart through less crowded areas, avoiding the throng.


    The crowd was gettingrger and with it the number of eyes on us. Thedy began to feel the onset of panic.


    "Eek…"


    "There are too many people."


    A high-ranking noble worried about the attention of others.


    Once upon a time, thedy lived for the gaze of others and thrived on ostentation. Sympathetic nces must have felt burdensome to her, who had always been the object of admiration rather than pity.


    Seeing thedy feeling ashamed of her now shabby appearance, I patted my full stomach and spoke loudly.


    "Ah… I''m so full!"


    Thedy looked up at me. Seeing her pale face, I regretted not having done this sooner.


    Thedy asked me in a trembling voice.


    "Are… are you really full?"


    "Yes, very full. Maybe I''ve eaten too much of this and that and now my stomach is bursting."


    The color returned to thedy''s face. She seemed to want to go back. Very much so. Just in case, I asked her,


    "Isn''t thedy full as well?"


    Simrly patting her stomach, thedy, nodding her head, said,


    "Yeah. I''m full."


    Thedy was twitching her lips, unable to say she wanted to go back, perhaps worrying about being a nuisance to me or prematurely ending the outing because of her.


    She kept sneaking nces at me from under her hat, hesitating to speak.


    Honestly, I was a little disappointed.


    I was hungry, and we hadn''t wandered around much. But fulfilling the master''s wishes is a butler''s virtue, and we could alwayse back another time. Iforted her with a look that said not to worry.


    "Shall we start heading back slowly? If we buy the bath additive and head back now, the timing should be just right."


    "…Really? You won''t be disappointed?"


    "Yes."


    Thedy''s expression brightened.


    "Then shall we go?"


    "Yes, I''ll take you back at a leisurely pace."


    I didn''t hesitate to pull the handcart. As we headed towards the store, chatting about various bath additives and agreeing not to buy the mint chocte one, thedy called out.


    "Ricardo."


    Thedy pointed to a gloomy alley with her finger.


    The dim alley where the slum dwellers lived.


    Thedy, pointing to an alley where parentless orphans and vagrants lived, showed an odd expression and said to me,


    "Isn''t that Yuria?"


    The familiar name thedy called out was one that shouldn''t be here.


    "That can''t be."


    "There look. The girl with the pink hair."


    There was a sinking feeling, but our steps headed towards the alley. The slums were dangerous.


    Especially for a woman.


    Why would Yuria, who only saw the bright things in the world, enter such a ce? But of course, being the heroine, she would have plenty of reasons to go in. Yuria was a naive person with meddling tendencies.


    I sighed deeply and as I pulled the handcart closer to the alley, loud noises could be heard.


    -What are you doing right now!?


    -Just mind your own business and go on your way~


    Sarcastic remarks from a thug and,


    A familiar female voice.


    I let out a sigh.


    Was that woman not afraid?


    Judging by the thugs speaking normally, it seemed she hade alone. If she had been with someone else, male heroes would have handled it.


    The exchange of intense voices quickened our steps.


    -I clearly saw it. I saw you stealing the money I gave the child. Give it back!


    -No, you must be mistaken, ma''am. Hey, did I take your money?


    -…No.


    The situation seemed to be going south.


    Thugs from the alley slowly gathered, and Yuria was alone.


    -Come to think of it, miss, you look pretty delicate.


    -…What did you say?


    -You seem like you''d sell for a good price.


    -Let go of me!


    -Just put her to sleep with drugs, right brother?


    I left the handcart in an unupied spot for a moment.


    I sought permission from thedy.


    "Lady…"


    ***


    Yuria was in a panic.


    She had wanted to help a poor child, but now a group ofrge men surrounded her.


    The man approaching with a dagger was scary, and the one trying to pull her deeper into the alley by grabbing her hand was terrifying.


    She couldn''t escape his grip, and there was no one to help.


    Yuria''s legs, paralyzed by fear, would not listen to her.


    "Let go of me! I''ll scream!"


    "Go ahead and scream. Let''s see who''lle."


    A stocky man forcibly grabbed her wrist and attempted to pull her deeper into the alley.


    She was scared, terribly so.


    She wished someone would help.


    Yuria regretted her past self, who said she wouldn''t learn harmful magic; she should have learned some self-defense magic. She felt like crying out of fear.


    Was it wrong that she didn''t ignore the child being hit, or was it wrong that she wandered the streets alone?


    Whatever the case, she was afraid and terrified.


    The words of a male student from the Royal Academy shed through her mind.


    -Don''t stick your nose into other people''s business. It''s not that I''m making fun of you, Miss Yuria; it''s out of concern.


    What good would regret do now?


    Yuria struggled to break free but only received vile curses in return.


    "Stay still! Before I kill…"


    That''s when it happened.


    "Kill? Whom?"


    The silhouette of a man emerged from the alley.


    "Don''t breathe, you''re polluting the air."


    A familiar redhead.


    At the same time, the man she disliked the most was slowly walking towards her, his red eyes ring.


    And then.


    "F***! This is my territory!"


    She saw the viiness on his back.


    "Ricardo! Attack!"


    "That''s what I should be saying."


    "Attack!"


    "No, I''m trying to look cool right now."


    "Growl! Attack!"


    "Ha…"


    Yuria copsed right there, her legs giving out.


    "Ricardo! Yuria''s dead!"


    "Please don''t kill someone who''s clearly alive."


    "Eek…!"


    As she closed her eyes, the screams of the thugs could be heard.