Chapter 59
Chapter 59
I put on the knit cap from the hideout, secured Ariana tightly to my back with rope and a cloak, then threw a black cloak over everything. Now I could move both hands. For some reason, the knit cap had cat ears on top. Was it to camouflage that I wasn't human?
A cat-eared knit cap exposing only the eyes and mouth, a black cloak, and Ariana on my back like a child. I looked suspicious as hell.
We left the hideout.
"Now it's punishment time!"
Her excitement hadn't dropped one bit. Was it because of that tonic?
It looked pretty expensive though......
Well, whatever! I'll think about the details after it's all over!
More importantly, it's punishment time!
The city was in utter chaos.
People were crying and screaming as they headed toward the west side of the city in large carts and wagons. Occasionally, monsters that breached the defensive line attacked someone, and each time, flashes of counterattack magic lit up.
"Punishment! Punishment!"
On top of that, it was a thunderstorm. Thunder echoed everywhere, and lightning struck somewhere in the city. A woman's scream rang out from the congested streets full of evacuees. Women get scared of lightning no matter the world.
But I was in the best mood ever. I couldn't stop buzzing with joy. My heart was dancing!
Along the way, I repelled attacking monsters with "Thunderbolt."
Its power was overwhelming. One shot each.
"Bad kids get punished!"
We slipped through the crowd, heading westward in the city.
We passed through an alley and turned at a tool shop called 'Chirping Cuckoo,' then went further. After a few more turns—right, left—I saw the sign of an inn labeled 'Bewitching Lodge,' and stopped at the third alley past it.
My cloak was soaked from the rain.
But thanks to the high tension, I didn't mind much.
The rain actually felt kind of good.
"Ariana, are you okay?"
"Nn... I'm fine..."
"Cure Light."
"Thanks......"
"It's going to get a little noisy now."
"Mm..."
We were already being noisy, but whatever. After confirming her small nod, I opened the door of a store with a magical neon sign reading 'Garan-DO.'
Ding, a bell rang.
It was a Western-style bar. A six-person counter and two two-seaters. Definitely had that hideout vibe.
A middle-aged man in a white shirt, probably the master, was wiping a glass as he gave us a sharp look.
"I'm here from Derby."
I held back the urge to say 'The bandits are getting punished,' and instead, said that while showing the coin I got from the good boy.
The master raised one eyebrow and turned around. Then he pulled some lever somewhere.
A hole opened up in the back wall.
I silently walked in.
There was a plain door, and I slowly opened it.
Inside, Pescatore the boss was scribbling something on documents in the back of the room. No one else was there.
Heh heh heh heh heh.
Ha—ha ha ha ha!
The boss being alone at the hideout? What a moron!
Too bad! I'm going to deliver your punishment nowww.
I must've been really maxed out on stress. Even though I'm drenched and can only cast magic from my butt, I'm this hyped!
In a small voice, Ariana on my back whispered, "Go get 'im Ellie."
Oh, I'm definitely getting him!
Ellie and Kobashigawa and Ariana—on the scene!
"You're late. Did that pudgy lord hand over the money?"
Saying that, Pescatore looked our way and his face twisted in shock.
A cat-eared knit cap, a black cloak, and Ariana on my back.
"Who the hell are you...?"
"I'm here from Derby."
"That voice—no way!"
With a quick motion, Pescatore grabbed the staff on the desk.
"Firebo—"
"Impulse!!"
Before Pescatore could finish, I spun, stuck out my butt, and blasted out "Impulse" without hesitation. And I even added an adorable pose with my index fingers to my cheeks. Take it, thief. Tonight's a free-for-all!
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaahhh!"
The boss Pescatore's handsome face was grotesquely twisted, and with the magic's force, he flopped over like a Daibonzai fire symbol in Kyoto—face down, limbs spread.
I gently—yes, just like laying a baby in a crib—sat lovingly and tenderly on Pescatore's back with both feet together.
"Ugh.........y-you... how did you get here..."
"You?"
"AgagagababababaaaAAABabababababa!"
Electric Strike!
Electricity surged through Pescatore.
"Kids with bad manners get punished, okay?"
"You... doing this... urgh... you think you'll get away with it..."
"You?"
Another "Electric Strike!"
A piercing jolt like a stun gun shot through him.
"GyaaaaAAgagagabababababababababa!"
"I have something I want to ask you."
"I'm the... boss of the... 'Pescatore Bandits'!"
"I know."
"I can... use... advanced magic... fire...!"
"I heard from the good boy."
"I-I-I... someone like you... a fat..."
"Fat?"
Electric Strike!
"Ababababababababababaaaabibaa!!"
"Bad kids get punished."
"Y-you bastard... what kind of magic are you—"
Electric Strike!
"GabababababababababaaaabibaaHII!"
And so, the boss and I repeated this exchange about a hundred times.
What a miracle. He'd turned into a good little boy, just like a child. Yep, the world really is better when it's full of good kids. Wonderful! A lecherous photographer would probably say, "Eeeexcellent!"
"I've got a question—mind if I ask?"
"Yeah."
"Where's the key to the bracelets?"
"It's in my pocket."
The good little Pescatore cheerfully took the key out of his pocket while still in the Daibonzai pose.
Right arm, left arm, right leg, left leg—I removed all the mana interference bracelets and tossed them nearby. At last, I was free. I tried circulating my mana. Heat surged through my entire body.
This, this! This is the feeling I missed!
"Thanks. I still have more to ask, is that okay?"
"Yeah."
"Were you guys always kidnapping people in Greifner?"
"Yeah."
"Hmmm.........I hate to even think it, but... you didn't attack the orphanage, did you?"
"We did."
What the hell......?
They attacked... the orphanage...?
These guys... are the ones...?
"Whhaaaaat did you saaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy?!"
"Hiiiiiiiiii! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Ellie-chan! I'm sorry! I was only following orders!"
"But you still did it, didn't you!"
"Yeees! I did it! I'll never do it again!"
"Don't lie to me!"
"I'm not lying! I'm a good boy!"
"Silence!"
"Hiiiiiiiii!"
"Which orphanage was it!?"
"The one on the north side and the one near the magic academy!"
"Near... the magic... academy... orphanage, you said?"
No doubt about it. That was the orphanage Ellie attended.
I forced myself to suppress the rage boiling inside. In my current strangely high-strung state, that was extremely difficult. But I managed. With iron will, I held back from casting "Thunderbolt."
"Who told you to do it!!"
"The lord of this territory!"
"Pochao, huh?!"
"It was Pochao!"
"All right. I'll ask him the rest..."
"Okay!"
"By the way, where did the children go?"
"I don't know."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Rea-lly?"
"I'm not lying, it's true! I really don't know!"
Hmph.
It seems he really doesn't know where the children went.
I didn't want to believe it, because no one should be capable of abducting people from the martial Kingdom of Greifner so easily... but these guys took the children... Unforgivable!
Bad kids get punishment!!
"How many people are in the bandits?"
"Two hundred!"
"...That's a lot."
"Ehehe."
"That wasn't a compliment!"
"S-s-s-sorry, Ellie-chan!"
"You have a coin too, right? The kind Derby had. Give it to me."
"Uhh.....................that's.................."
"You don't waaaant toooo?"
"N-no, it's not that! Here! Okay!"
The well-behaved Pescatore nervously pulled a golden, glittering, expensive-looking coin from his pocket. With one glance, its exquisite design made it clear it was top-grade.
"That's my proof of being the band leader... could you give it back?"
"Nope. From today on, I'm the leader."
"Whaaaaat?!"
"The name is 'Ellie-chan Volunteer Corps.' We'll help people in the city who are in trouble. Like picking up trash, searching for cats, cleaning. Sounds good, right?"
"N-n-no waaaay..."
"...What? You don't like it?"
"I do! I really do!!"
"Good boy."
"Yeah!"
"But you still have to atone for your crimes. You'll be under the patrols' care for a while, serve your time properly, then start working."
"Got it!"
"Also, I have a favor to ask, okay?"
"Okay!"
"Don't make fun of fat or ugly girls. Be kind to them. Got it?"
"Got it!"
"Good boy. Now, good night."
"Good night, Ellie-chan!"
"Electric Strike!!!!"
Crackle crackle crackle——
Like a child wrapped in a warm blanket drifting off to sleep, Pescatore passed out with a peaceful expression. He was surely having a dream. A happy, fun dream...