Chapter 49 : Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Waker-Bon scouts roamed the night market.
“Hey, what’s with that crowd? Magic Tower folks keep going in.”
A Waker-Bon grunt gestured toward the salon.
“Heard they’re new. Grabbing a prime B-zone building—must’ve paid some bribes.”
“First day sales must be good. Should we check?”
“The boss said to rough up Kiriki but leave merchants alone. If they leave, the market dies, and our wallets flatten.”
“Ugh… Looks tasty.”
The grunt licked his lips.
The boss’s pay was stingy, so they sometimes swiped merchants’ money bags for pocket cash.
Sure, picking the wrong target meant blood, but pain was temporary.
The grunts chatted, strolling deeper into the market.
“Wait, isn’t that robed person a salon worker?”
One grunt pointed at someone scurrying with a black plastic bag and snacks.
“Must’ve been sent for snacks.”
“Hey, bet they’ve got cash. I’m sure.”
“Why?”
“First-timers don’t know local prices. Probably got the whole wallet to buy snacks.”
The grunt grinned wickedly.
“Even if we get nothing, let’s poke the beehive. Might get some honey.”
Spotting a nearby alley, the grunt grabbed Apple’s wrist as she passed.
“Come with us for a sec.”
“W-What?”
“No talk, just come.”
“Why, why’re you doing this!!”
“Huh?”
He thought he’d grabbed her wrist.
But somehow, trembling, she slipped away fast.
Swish, swish.
Whoosh!
Each grab caught only Apple’s afterimage, terrified.
“What… the?!”
“Why’re you doing this!!”
“Hold still!”
Fuming, the grunt cornered Apple and seized her arm.
“P-Please, let me go!! Someone help…!!”
Finally caught, Apple screamed, but the inner market was empty, her cries echoing uselessly.
The few people around fled to avoid trouble.
“Just a kid?”
“Must be a student.”
Worse, her hood fell, revealing Apple’s face.
Tears welled in her eyes.
She desperately pictured Sigrin, her reliable Miss.
“Oh? Hey, Senior!”
A boy approached, casually eating neon candy.
“Getting kidnapped?! Or just a shakedown?”
It was Kagobin.
✦ ✦ ✦
Everything sold out.
Clap!
Sigrin and Luca high-fived.
Some less popular materials sold fast when bundled with hot items.
They could’ve saved stock for tomorrow, but selling out leaves a stronger impression.
Plus, Sigrin wanted to enjoy the remaining market days with friends using the profits.
“Here’s your share, Luca.”
Sigrin gave Luca all the money from his sold goods, plus a bonus.
“What’s with the extra? Not taking commission?”
“You helped me a lot.”
“…Still too generous.”
Luca had seen plenty of mafia types.
But no matter how he looked…
Sigrin was different.
If other mafia were ruthless corporations squeezing livelihoods, Sigrin was a businesswoman who treated people well, built trust, but worked them hard.
At first, he followed her out of submission, but now it felt rational—natural.
“Oh, and Luca, give this to Apple and Bilha, then put the rest in guild funds.”
“…”
Study Group earnings went to guild funds, and now this too.
Even if this was her faction, it’s public money—she should keep some aside.
Luca recalled Sigrin buying snacks and supplies with guild funds.
What to say?
He often felt Sigrin genuinely cared for her “underlings,” including him.
It could be a ploy to keep them compliant…
But with this treatment, he’d let her work him harder.
Stronger than anyone, great at fighting, a leader, resolute, smart.
…Sure, sometimes authoritarian, but that made it better.
It felt oddly protective.
A feeling Luca, who’d always faced life’s problems alone, had never known.
“Luca?”
“…Huh, what.”
“You were zoning out. …So, for dinner, those sandwiches you made last time would be great. Crispy bread.”
“Obviously, I’ll stack ‘em high.”
Luca took money from his wallet clip and added it to the guild funds.
✦ ✦ ✦
“By the way, Apple’s not back. Lost?”
“The market’s one straight street—how do you get lost?”
“…Fair.”
“She kept whining about messing up, so maybe she’s slacking outside?”
“…Let’s wrap up early and look around.”
Apple’s absence worried Sigrin.
Though stronger, Apple’s fearfulness made her poor at handling situations.
“Bilha, stop sleeping. Let’s go eat something tasty.”
“…?!”
Bilha’s eyes snapped open.
Sigrin, Bilharan, and Luca left the salon, roaming the market.
“Hello, know where they sell Temporary Core Generators?”
“F-zone.”
The market split into A, B, C, D, E, F zones.
A, C, E had food; B, D, F had material shops, magical tool shops, auction houses, black markets.
Eat, shop, eat again when hungry.
The Temporary Core Generator was in F-zone, near the market’s tail.
B, C, D had the most foot traffic, so F was quieter.
Plus, with mountains casting shadows, it felt gloomier.
Shady spots always attracted those avoiding light.
Sigrin hurried to F-zone.
At the “Experimental Magical Tools” stall—a tent, not a building—the owner read comics, giggling.
“Hello, did a short, robed person buy a Temporary Core Generator?”
“Hm? A tiny kid bought one earlier.”
“Remember where they went?”
The owner rubbed his chin, raising an eyebrow.
“No clue.”
“I know! Are you her group? Your outfits seem like it.”
Another vendor nearby chimed in.
He’d been around when Apple nearly got kidnapped but did nothing, fearing involvement.
Guiltily, he continued.
“That robed person was running with a bunch of food, then Waker-Bon scouts tried to nab her.”
“…”
Sigrin’s face hardened. As expected.
“Her hood came off—she was a young girl. The scouts saw her as easy prey and got rough. Then a boy, maybe a junior, showed up.”
“A junior?”
Unexpected info made Sigrin’s eyes widen.
“Can you describe him?”
“Hm… Slanted, smirking eyes, black hair, purple eyes.”
Kagobin?
Should I worry or relax?
“Then what happened?”
“What else? He acted friendly, got beaten up, and was taken with her.”
“…”
What’s that guy doing?