4 – Eugene
At the same time, he changed his course.
“Son of a b*tch.”
Once may be a coincidence, but twice is fate. To have met twice in such a vast city in such a short period of time, and to have our eyes meet again.
“So you were really after me. Damn it…”
It was clear that he was pretending to read a book or hold a newspaper. If he had really been focused, he would have at least looked up or glanced around.
He didn’t just glance at me.
Now I could be sure. That old man. He’s undoubtedly a bounty hunter after the two hundred pounds.
Thump. Thump. Thud.
I increased my walking speed little by little.
I wondered if it was still meaningful to play this game, but running would actually attract more attention in this crowd.
Suppressing the chills that ran through my body, I scanned the area with my eyes.
Where could the fastest detour be?
“Alright. Let’s go through the bakery alley.”
“Ah, I love bread. I really do.”
Thud. Something heavy settled on my shoulder.
Rough and warm.
Exactly like a person’s hand.
“Huh?”
Creak. Creak.
When I stiffly turned my neck, a shadow that wasn’t there just a few seconds ago cast across my face.
Like a bear in size. Fingers that could crush my skull. A grand coat, a hat, and a presence that even a cane couldn’t conceal.
A bounty hunter stood there.
“Nice to meet you, kid. I’m Benjamin—”
“Go away!”
Would he be caught so easily?
Swiftly squatting, I threw a backward kick, freeing my shoulders from restraint while maintaining that posture, aiming directly for the most vulnerable spot even a bear would crumble.
Thud!
A crisp sound of impact echoed.
“…Ugh.”
The effect was tremendous.
Distorting his expression into something akin to villainous assassination, he soon collapsed, not just kneeling but outright sitting down. Trembling ever so slightly all over.
Indeed. Whether it’s a bear or a monster, a well-placed kick is the end.
Those who’ve taken hits to the vital points know better how to deliver them. They know exactly where to hit for a pain that could be lethal.
Having precisely targeted the vital of the vitals, at least a good three minutes of no movement were guaranteed.
“Don’t think about catching people to make money.”
At that moment, as if declaring war, I threw away my umbrella and began to sprint towards the neighboring town.
I still hadn’t earned today’s bread.
*
My legs were still trembling.
Having lived a robust life free from arthritis worries for sixty years, I allowed an unexpected blow with just a momentary lapse of vigilance.
The result was devastating. I sat on a bench by the road for about five minutes, my once firm steps now faltering.
The whimpering sounds from all around were almost endurable, considering the pain.
Benjamin Oslo thought to himself.
“I’m pathetic.”
“Don’t rationalize it. Who is the one who, boasting about correcting every day, ended up getting a lesson from a teenage boy?”
“Dorothy. It’s noisy…”
“I know.”
Dorothy, with a light nod, sat down quietly next to the old man.
Both the old man and Dorothy were dressed in everyday clothes. However, Dorothy’s expression was not as pleasant as if she wore something oddly fitting.
For Captain Dorothy Oslo of the Pravia Federation Army, conquering in emerald green was her everyday attire.
Like fountain pen writing on a blank white canvas. Her white skin, black eyes, and smooth black hair were quite eye-catching.
Fellow officers often said such things about Dorothy. ‘A beauty resembling winter,’ ‘Automaton,’ ‘But you don’t resemble your father at all.’ The last comment was usually ignored.
Dorothy, mechanically dusting off her clothes, looked up.
“Mr. Oslo, forgive me, but will you continue to chase?”
“If you call me father, I’ll respond.”
“Goodbye.”
“Hey.”
Benjamin hastily grabbed Dorothy as she tried to leave. Without realizing the emptiness between them.
The aftermath comes.
“Ugh….”
“……”
“…Don’t look at me with that pitiful expression.”
“What do you mean?”
For a moment, Dorothy’s gaze resembled that of someone looking at mud, but in the blink of an eye, it returned to its usual indifferent expression.
Benjamin sometimes found it difficult to understand his daughter’s thoughts.
And he thinks. This is my daughter.
That’s one thing, but there was something more urgent at hand. He adjusted his slightly slouched posture and answered the question.
“You’re going to chase after her? Of course. I have to.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I think there might have been a misunderstanding.”
Benjamin recalled what had happened earlier.
“Don’t think about catching people for money.”
In the eyes of the boy who said that, there was fear.
Different from terror. It was a fear that had been corroded by the cold and hunger over a long period of time, eventually becoming a part of everyday life.
Benjamin knew that look well.
So it could be seen.
A keen intelligence permeated by fear.
Misunderstandings needed to be unraveled.
From Noble mtl dot com
Dorothy slowly nodded.
“Well then, I’ll assist. Mr. Oslo.”
“You really don’t call me father until the end.”
“….”
“Even in the military, you don’t give that look to your superior, right?”
“….”
In the end, there was no response. Dorothy Oslo gracefully left the bench.
*
The tin can is light.
A jingling sound came from the coin pocket with twenty shillings. What could this clinking sound from the rattling tin can mean?
When a coin is taken out of the desolate metallic container, it instantly falls silent.
It was impossible not to wonder about the significance of that.
Five in the afternoon. The current harvest.
One shilling.
“Tsk.”
Licking dry lips, he looked up at the sky. Despite having eaten nothing, a bitter taste spread in his mouth.
“I thought wrong….”
It was a deserted place.
Heading towards the neighboring town was not a good choice.
It was good to have escaped from the slums and the old man, but in the end, it meant being far away from the federal army’s camp.
The conversations between officers and their families, their extravagant spending, fancy clothes, and elegant demeanor. The lively atmosphere of Pravia Mountain had disappeared, leaving behind a desolate landscape.
Five years ago.
The streets seemed to have preserved the appearance of the time when the entire nation was filled with refugee processions.
It was a dead street.
There were only people with sharp eyes. What they gave to the beggars was not sympathy or coins, but complete indifference.
Looking back now, the passerby who threw a single coin was almost like a saint.
“Please, give me a penny—”
Even if I shouted with all my might, not a single person paid attention. It felt like there was a reason why there was not a single beggar in sight.
Sensing the futility, I eventually left before the sun set.
Another obstacle had begun.
Which route should I take? I had to go back under the bridge to avoid Lemi Fagery.
But maybe they let their guard down during the evening hours. I tried to anticipate, but from the moment I stepped out of the neighboring town, I felt that something was wrong.
The suspicion turned into certainty as I reached the vicinity of the shopping district.
-Lemi. The sun is starting to set.
-So what if it is?
“!”
As soon as I heard the voice, I stopped walking and lowered my posture.
The voices of two men.
It was them.
They were on the main street, but fortunately, I was still in the alley.
Without the worry of being caught, I hid in the darkness, ears perked up as much as possible. Thanks to my focus, their voices became even clearer.
―No. I mean, shouldn’t we stop patrolling now?
―Huh.
―Considering he’s been invisible all day, maybe he never stepped outside at all? Let’s search again tomorrow.
―…Kidding, right?
Thunk!
The sound of flesh colliding.
I was momentarily startled. It seemed Remy had finally raised his arm against his comrade.
Took him long enough.
Whether the guy groaned in pain or not, Remy raised his voice.
―Even after getting beat up by that bastard, can you still sleep? You parasite. The money inside was your food and your clothing budget. Is this how you handle others’ affairs? Swallowing it whole while pretending innocence?
―…
―Enough. If you’re just going to stay useless like this, just get lost. Huh? Get lost.
―S-Sorry.
―Sorry? Damn it!
Remy slammed the wall, shouting.
―Hurry up, go patrol the market. If you catch that bastard and give him a beating, we might get fifty pounds off him!
The sound of footsteps gradually faded away. Judging by the direction, it seemed to be towards the bank.
Although the conversation had stopped, the voices continued to be heard.
―f*cking bastard.
―A pathetic bastard who can only mess with the people in the neighborhood. Disgusting bastard.
―…
―Is there really no difference with me?
―f*cking retard….
After mumbling to himself for a while, the remaining person also began to walk with heavy steps.
It seemed like he was patrolling the shopping district as ordered by Lemi.
“…”
My head hurts.
With that attitude, I could even believe that they would organize a shift and patrol even in the middle of the night.
That means…
“If you don’t want to starve to death, voluntarily surrender.”
Having been directly hit by the Captain’s anger, I won’t stop patrolling for a while.
But I can’t go far. I have to come back near the military camp. There’s no one else here who would willingly give me a coin for a piece of bread.
I was clearly thinking that if I keep chasing, I’ll eventually catch them.
Of course, even in words, Lemi can’t be called a clever strategist. It’s just that he’s consumed by anger.
“…”
The problem lies in the fact that his method is quite effective.
He is the leader of the scoundrels, and I am alone.
While he may have a sturdy backbone in this underworld, I am still young.
He roams around, ripping off money, while I have to sit quietly, waiting for someone to toss a coin my way.
Even though it was unfavorable, it was too unfavorable.
They left, but for some reason, going out on the main road seemed frightening. I looked up at the sky in the alleyway.
Three-story buildings lined up in a row. There were plenty of railings, rooftops, and places to step on.
If only I could stroll freely up there, avoiding the police, it wouldn’t be too difficult to outwit Remi.
“…Wait a moment.”
Suddenly, I came to my senses.
I took out a magic book from my pocket and unfolded it with a rustle. The pleasant scent of the book tickled my nose.
I swiftly opened the page I had slightly folded.
What was written there was a passage still in an incomprehensible state.
『λευιτατιον』
It’s magic that soars into the sky.
“Huh… hahahahaha.”
A hollow laugh escaped. Could magic be the solution to this crappy situation?
Ah, good.
I want to learn more.
To achieve that dream, I had to sharpen my mind. I went deep into the alley, sat down on the ground, and focused.
And then, I made a decision.
I vowed not to turn back until I mastered this magic.
