Surviving on the Northern Front with Gukbap

088. Father (4)

* * *

"Hoo. What the hell, a kid at this hour?"

The madam, about to greet a customer, clicked her tongue—tsk, tsk, tsk—

but soon recognized the boy's face.

"Naba? Aren't you Naba?!"

He was bigger than she remembered, but it was definitely him.

No doubt about it: it was Naba, and despite everything,

the madam felt glad to see this cute kid.

"Is Evan here?"

Naba asked, his eyes strange.

The madam was about to reply, asking how he knew Evan was here,

but Naba's vibe was so odd, she shut her mouth in a hurry.

His stance was clumsy but he gripped a sword,

and she knew very well the bad blood between Naba and that Evan scoundrel.

"Why're you looking for that bastard! I told you never to come here again. Get lost, kid!"

She raised her voice, trying to scare him off.

But Naba wouldn't budge,

and three adults nearby greeted the boy.

"Oh ho. Who do we have here?"

Derek the Hook, the one-armed captain,

and members of the Adventurer Guild's 'Widow's Snatchers'.

"Look at you, all grown up. Coming here all by yourself."

"Your cheeks filled out—hey, maybe everywhere else filled out too?"

"Kahaha! Yeah, let's see how much our little brat has grown."

The man knelt down in front of Naba.

The madam butted in with a click of her tongue.

"You think I pay good money for you to mess around with little kids?"

"What's your problem? We'll get rid of him soon, don't worry."

The madam let out a bitter sigh, uneasy.

But Naba simply asked,

"Is Evan here?"

repeating himself.

One of the 'adventurers' smiled dryly.

"Hey, look at this guy. He's got the look of a killer, huh?"

"I asked if Evan is here."

"Hah?! Damn, yeah! He's up there, evan big brother is—"

He never finished the sentence.

"... Huh?"

Because there was a sword lodged in his chest.

"Ku—!"

Chaak!

Naba yanked out the sword and a rush of blood spilled out.

Blood splattered under Naba's neck,

and as the stabbed adventurer's eyes went dull and he collapsed,

"This little brat!!"

The other two pulled out daggers from both sides and lunged at Naba—

Seok.

But what reflected in their startled eyes

was the severed wrist that once held their daggers.

The adventurer muttered, his face blank.

"Shit."

Those were his last words.

*

Unexpectedly, Clara had followed us.

"What? Can't I come too?"

How could she sound so different speaking to customers versus us? I was tempted to comment, but I let it slide.

Following Plerine, we arrived at a place bathed in red light: the red-light district.

'Still bright even at dawn.'

Soldiers with flushed faces, miners in their "wise man's time", even prostitutes hawking their trade outside.

It was my first time secretly observing a nighttime entertainment district.

"Hm. At Naba's age, he might be awakening to his sexuality."

Plerine and I immediately glared at Clara.

Maybe Naba's sword training had awakened something, but

no matter what, Naba's just a child!

"What are you looking at? I lost my virginity at that age."

She sounded almost proud.

"Though, not by choice."

I quickly closed my mouth.

Dunbell used to say there was no one without a rough backstory in Granfen, and it was hitting home.

Plerine pointed to a three-story building.

"Kyaaa!"

At that moment, four prostitutes ran out screaming.

Their perfume mixed with the sharp scent of blood.

Sadly, the scent of blood was much stronger.

"Let's go in."

I drew aside the curtain and we entered, revealing the scene inside.

Three corpses lay on the floor, apparently from sword wounds,

while someone who looked like the madam was shivering at the counter.

"Hey, madam."

No reply.

I went closer and slapped her cheek. Chak!

"Hey!"

Only then did her eyes regain focus.

Still in a state of panic.

"Who did this?"

"A—a kid named Naba. Hiek!"

Damn. So it was Naba after all.

'You actually went through with it, kid.'

So this is what happened right after learning swordsmanship.

Though, honestly, it probably had more to do with those adventurers he met today.

'But still—it's too early for you to become a killer at your age, isn't it?'

Crk.

"Where's Naba?"

"Th—the third floor. He said he'd kill me too if I didn't tell him where Evan was—hiek!"

That adventurer I met today—was his name Evan?

"Naba came for Daisy's revenge."

Daisy? Who was that?

As I wondered, a scream rang out, drawing my attention.

More prostitutes and male customers, seeing bodies on the stairs, were panicking—

"Boss!"

Plerine's urgent voice snapped me back.

That unnatural energy from above was growing stronger.

"Run!"

I dashed after Plerine and reached the third floor.

One door among many stood open—

"Aaaah!"

A wail echoed from inside.

I took the lead and burst into the room.

"Ugh..."

Inside the dim room were three people.

A prostitute shivering in the corner,

and an adventurer thrashing in agony on the bed.

'He's the guy from earlier. Evan, right.'

And Naba was there, driving a sword into the man's calf.

Naba slowly turned from Evan to us.

"Boss."

His voice was calm.

No hint of the fact that he'd stabbed someone.

"I'll explain when we go back."

Thwack. He yanked out the sword; blood gushed out.

Without pause, he stabbed again, higher this time. Seok!

"AAAAA! YOU LITTLE, sHITTY BRAT!!"

Evan shrieked, uncomprehending.

He suddenly saw me and screamed,

"Outsider?! Shit, stop this brat—?! AAAAGH!"

Naba twisted the blade.

Evan flopped about like a freshly caught fish.

Plerine stepped forward.

"Sorry, Naba. This might hurt."

I immediately grabbed her wrist and shook my head.

She hesitated, then meekly stepped back.

'Now's not the time to use force to subdue him.'

Naba's 'black energy' was growing ever more powerful.

The brown hair on the brat's head was turning a deep, wine-colored purple in real time.

'No doubt about it. He's turning into a Demon King.'

If he's pushed now, he might cross a bridge he can never return from.

I spoke as calmly as I could.

"That Evan—do you really need to kill him?"

Naba answered without a second's hesitation.

"Yes."

"Why?"

Then, blackness slowly seeped up within Naba's brown eyes.

"Because this man killed my mother."

At that moment, the madam's words echoed in my mind.

She'd muttered something about avenging Daisy.

'So Daisy, the one she mentioned, was Naba's mother.'

I thought this was just revenge for trying to kill or torment him,

but the story was much deeper than expected.

"Hm."

A sigh escaped me and

I ended up sitting cross-legged right on the floor.

"?!"

Plerine and Clara seemed startled, but I was beyond caring.

"Alright. Naba, do as you wish."

Naba seemed startled by my unexpected words,

"Boss, what are you doing?"

Plerine muttered, slightly angry.

But I just crossed my arms and said to Naba,

"I've killed people sometimes, too. I don't have the right to tell you not to kill. You'd have killed someone eventually, and today is just that day."

Feels kind of like extreme early education from an English preschool in Korea,

but this is a survival-of-the-fittest medieval fantasy world.

Condemning Naba's actions would just be hypocritical.

'Even so, we have to stop Naba's demonization.'

My guess was that the dark aura grew in proportion to Naba's emotion.

Therefore, putting out the raging fire in his heart was the top priority.

"But listen carefully, Naba. You can kill to protect something precious. Just like I killed adventurers before to protect you. And... ha. Fine, I'll even recognize revenge. But."

I said with emphasis to the quietly listening Naba.

"No killing for pleasure. As your boss, I will not allow it."

"..."

"So if you're going to kill, do it right now. Kill him and move on."

Naba seemed shaken, his black energy wavered violently.

Thankfully, it looked like I picked the right answer.

"Naba! Do it—now!!"