Chapter 190: Chapter 191: Child Who Loses Little by Little (3)

Night fell over Freesia.The streets were glowing with beauty.Streetlamps dotted the paths, shops’ windows and displays shone late into the night.I loved Freesia; it reminded me of a modern city.But the lights here felt cold, not warm.Here, you often couldn’t enter a store without money.

Hina walked the streets, clutching a pocket with about 10,000 rene.Though summer warmed the air, she looked pitiful, as if snowflakes swirled around her.Perhaps there really was a time when snow did swirl.

What would Hina do now?And where had the imp Horohoro gone?

Thud— Thud—Hina continued taking small steps.Though her clothes were shabby, Hina’s pretty face naturally drew attention.

“Look at her. Ragged clothes, but that face and hair - must be a rich runaway.”“Bored princess fleeing her mansion? We could ransom her.”“Good idea. Let’s score big before that Nymph becomes the King of Thieves.”

Whispers from the alley’s darkness reached their ears.Hina, with keen senses, surely heard them too.

Swish—Hina pulled out a black cloth flag, as if to say ‘look at this’.

Flutter— Flutter—She used the flag like a handkerchief to blow her nose.

“Look at that. It’s the emblem of the Shadow Council. How could such a little kid have that emblem…?”“We can’t kidnap someone carrying the Council’s emblem. Judas’ laws are especially lenient towards children. It’s disappointing, but we’ll have to give up.”

I see.The studious Hina likely knew the emblem’s meaning well.She must’ve stolen it, knowing it could ward off trouble.As I pondered this, Hina, who’d been walking a while, stopped before a store.Halt—

It was a bakery.The oven’s warm glow was clearly visible through the window.

The breads on display, though not fresh-baked, still looked delicious.Hina, who’d wandered around all day, pressed against the window.

“Looks delicious…”

Jingle—About 10,000 rene remained in her pocket.For Hina, this was practically all she had.Money she couldn’t spend carelessly.Her gaze, shifting between the money and bread, betrayed her inner struggle.

“Reminds me of the old days.”

I let a comment slip while watching her.Salome, who’d been quietly observing Hina, looked at me.

“What old days?”“Remember Kowloon Mountains? The thieves’ fortress that glowed at night. A perfect place for starving if you lacked money or skills.”“…”

Salome fell silent.But her eyes clearly recalled distant memories.

I too remembered the past.The Kowloon Mountains.A den of thieves and criminals, it remained vivid in my mind.It was the ‘cradle’ where Ha Tae-ho became the thief Judas.I couldn’t simply forget it.

Back then, I was poor.Terribly so.

My master, Salome, didn’t give me a single penny.I could only steal to eat. Even in that thief hideout, there were bakeries and bars.

But stealing or dining and dashing there wasn’t easy.Getting caught would almost always lead to a big fight.Those were truly troubling times.

Jingle— Jingle—As I reminisced, Hina entered the bakery.

The baker, busy at her oven, was slightly startled upon seeing Hina.She scanned Hina, puzzled by the contrast of a rich-looking child in shabby clothes.Then she asked.

“Hina, what are you looking for?”

She knew Hina’s name.Well, Hina, Cecily, and Naru were somewhat famous in Freesia. It wasn’t strange for someone to know their faces and names.

“…”

Hina frowned deeply. Then she said quietly.

“Hina is not Hina… Just a customer…”“…?”“It’s a cold winter now… Hina is separated from her parents, has no money and is hungry… And she’s trying to… steal bread from this store…!”“…!”

The baker froze, shocked. The silence was almost audible.

Rustle— Rustle—Hina pocketed some bread.Fresh-baked, delicious-looking loaves.She targeted the most appetizing ones on display.The bread stand looked about 10% less appealing afterward.

“Hmm?”

The baker watched with interest. Hina, disliking this, frowned.

“You should scold me for stealing…! Threaten to hit my hand with a rod and call the guards…!”“Ah.”

The baker nodded, finally understanding.She grabbed Hina’s hand, picked up a rod, and lightly tapped her palm.It looked more dramatic than painful.

“You shouldn’t steal. It’s a bad thing. If you want to eat bread, earn money through honest labor. By the way, where are your parents?”“…”“A lost child? Caught stealing. I should inform the guards.”

Her voice was stiff, as if reciting lines.Well, impromptu acting often turns out this way.To me, it seemed as exciting as a real situation.Hina said.

“Don’t report me…! I must help Mom and Dad…!”“…”

The baker looked at Hina.Then she glanced at me and Salome watching.We just shrugged.

Scrub— Scrub—Afterwards, Hina helped clean, sweep, and store the unsold bread.I noticed the baker limped slightly while working.Was her left leg injured?About an hour passed like this.

“That’s it for today.”

The baker wiped her hands.She gave Hina a small, misshapen loaf of bread, likely a failed attempt.

“Your pay for helping today.”“It’s small…”“But it’s what you earned fairly for your work. Come again tomorrow if you can. If you have nowhere to sleep, you can stay here, alright?”“…”

Hina slowly looked around the warm bakery.The offer to sleep here must have seemed like a wonderful proposal.However, Hina shook her head.

“Hina… must go to the back alley…! This place is too warm… Hina’s heart will become weak…!”

Pop—With that, Hina burst out and ran into the street.The baker asked us.

“You’re Hina’s parents, right? What are you doing?”“Who knows.”

Is Hina reenacting her past hardships? We followed her again.Hina wandered, clutching warm bread, asking rough-looking people.

“…Do you know the way to the Shadow Council?”“Shadow Council? What’s that?”“Do you know where the Shadow Council is…?”“I know. But I can’t tell a kid.”

Rejections and inquiries continued.Time passed, the moon rose high.Tired and hungry from wandering all day, Hina looked exhausted.Trudging wearily, she finally curled up in a back alley corner.She took out her hidden loaf of bread.Tearing off a tiny piece, she ate it.

“Mom… Dad…”

Hina finally shed tears after her tiring day.Seeing this, Salome’s eyes reddened. She snorted “…Hmph,” turning away.I simply answered.

“Why are you calling?”

Crumple—Hina frowned as if she’d never cried.

“…You shouldn’t answer…!”

I see.As I awkwardly scratched my nose, someone appeared.A small girl.

“That place is this Horohoro’s spot…!”

It was an imp.Imp Horohoro.Horohoro circled Hina.Eyeing Hina’s bread, she said enviously, “…Looks very tasty.”

Hina looked between Horohoro and her bread.After contemplating, she tore off half and offered it to Horohoro.Horohoro ate hurriedly, like one long-starved, then shouted.

“Follow me…!”

Hina followed the suspicious imp Horohoro.They passed through various alleys before reaching a hut between large stores.It was old and oddly shaped.Like a witch’s cottage from a fairy tale.

The first floor seemed empty.It felt long-abandoned.Horohoro found a ladder and climbed to the second floor.Opening a window, she softly called, “Come up…!”

Hina followed, climbing to the second floor as well.It was attic-like, with a small candle burning for light.Broken glass, shiny pebbles, and odds and ends piled like treasures.Fruits, dry bread, and cheese were heaped nearby.

Had she been collecting these things earlier?Horohoro then said.

“Horohoro was weak from cold and hunger…! Friend gave Horohoro food, so Horohoro also shares food with friend…! Eat as much as you want!”

Horohoro offered.Hina looked around, then ate all Horohoro’s collected food!She devoured a week’s worth in one sitting!Horohoro was shocked.But soon smiled, “Mwehehe-“.

“Pink hair and eating everything so easily, just like the Priestess of Gluttony…! By the way, the Priestess of Gluttony was a woman who lived on the first floor of this house, she’s the benefactor who picked up Horohoro…!”“Priestess…?”“The Priestess was amazing…! She was good at magic, and was very knowledgeable about things that happened in the past and future…! Her hair was also pink…! She liked peaches the most…!”“…A Priestess who knows the future and past…”“But she vanished 3 years ago…. Horohoro still waits. You feel like her! What’s your name?”“I’m… Hina.”

Stretch—Hina and Horohoro reached out to each other.They laid blankets in the old attic and fell asleep.I sat nearby, also sleeping.

━Horohoro, let’s go together-.━Come quickly…!

The children dreamed of running through alleys.Though shabby, they looked happy.

Rustle—Then I opened my eyes at the sound of something moving.

“Where are you going?”“To detect my movement, not bad, Judas. You can graduate now.”

It was Salome.She spoke like when teaching the novice me. She crept downstairs, opening the first floor door.An old, musty hut.Long untouched, yet traces of a ‘mage’ lingered.Salome asked.

“Where did the Priestess who lived here come from, and where did she go?”