RRMD 15

Chapter 15

‘Ah!’

Startled, Lor almost screamed but quickly clamped both hands over her mouth.

‘The book is only visible to me!’

Right! She mustn’t let anyone find out about the book!

Lor clutched her hands tightly together, wanting to hold the book. Suddenly, the fluttering pages came to a stop.

Lor’s eyes widened as she watched the blank page in silence.

Unlike usual, instead of letters, there was a drawing inside the book.

It showed a dark alleyway and a small boy with black hair collapsed on the ground.

‘That clock tower over there… it’s just like the one here in the square!’

In the distance, behind the fallen boy, was the same clock tower that stood in the plaza where Lor was now.

‘Book, is he nearby?’

With a serious face, Lor asked the book. It swayed up and down, erasing the drawing and writing new words.

[Yes! In the alley just ahead. Lor, do you want to save this boy?]

‘Mm!’

Without hesitation, Lor nodded firmly.

‘Mom said, you have to help people who need help!’

The book’s pages fluttered again.

[That’s right! Lor is a good child! And, this boy will become someone important to you as well!]

‘Important person? Why? What does that mean?’

[Well… if you know in advance, it won’t be fun! Anyway, I’ll guide you to where the child is. He’s in danger! Some very bad people might find him first.]

‘No!’

Lor’s eyes widened.

Mom and Grandpa had told her—bad people take good children away, far, far away. And then the child would suffer so much!

Her face full of determination, Lor turned sharply toward Alcade.

“Daddy!”

“Hm?”

Alcade, who had been lost in thought about where to go with the child, never missed her call.

A faint smile crept across his lips.

In truth, he’d been anxious because Lor hadn’t called him ‘Daddy’ for a while. He worried that cruel words from earlier might have hurt her, that maybe he’d never hear her call him ‘Daddy’ again.

But now, she had called out to him so boldly. Alcade was so moved he had nowhere to put his emotions, so he simply clenched his fist tightly.

“I… I want to go over there!”

“Hm?”

Lor pointed to a quiet alleyway. Her expression was so firm that Alcade was taken aback.

“I really, really want to go!”

Her sparkling eyes made him falter.

He wanted to grant her every wish, but… that alley was dark and deserted, no place for a child.

“Why do you want to go there?”

“Well, um… because…”

Lor, who had been speaking so bravely, faltered.

‘Uh-oh… what do I do?’

The book had said someone was collapsed there and that they had to be saved… but what if Daddy asked who told her that? Oh no…

She hadn’t thought that far ahead. She was too focused on hurrying to the alley with her dad.

As Lor fumbled, unable to speak, her eyes darting nervously—

“It’s okay. Isn’t wanting to go enough of a reason?”

Alcade looked her in the eyes and smiled. It was the kindest smile and gentlest tone he could muster.

Clumsy though he was, his heart was nothing but sincere.

Whatever Lor wanted, he was determined to support and encourage her.

Especially if it was just to go to a nearby alley.

Alcade picked Lor up in his arms and stepped into the alley.

Immediately, he narrowed his eyes. The air inside the alley felt… different.

He didn’t know what lay ahead, where Lor wanted to go, but he was certain it wasn’t anything ordinary.

Still, whatever it was, he would never let Lor be harmed.

Just in case.

He subtly signaled with his eyes to the guards who were shadowing him. From now on, no hostile person would be able to get anywhere near father and daughter.

“Ah! Over there!”

Lor suddenly shouted, having spotted something. Alcade turned his head in that direction.

Inside the alley lay a small boy.

‘A child?’

Alcade was taken aback. Meanwhile, Lor wriggled, trying to leap from his arms.

Grab!

“Waaah!”

Of course, she was caught immediately.

Lor pouted miserably, but it was no use.

‘There’s a hurt kid over there…’

She had to go over quickly and blow on the wound—‘hoo~’—so it wouldn’t hurt anymore.

“Nngh…”

She wriggled, flailing her little arms and legs as if begging to be let down.

Alcade looked troubled, unsure what to do, but he didn’t loosen his grip around her.

Even with guards and himself present, he had to stay vigilant with a child in his arms.

“My little one. Let’s check first, then we’ll go, okay?”

“Check?”

“Yes. I don’t want to see my little one get hurt.”

Trying to keep his voice gentle, Alcade gestured to a hidden guard.

“Wow!”

A huge shadow appeared noiselessly from behind him. One of his escorts.

‘Huh? Daddy just waved his hand and an uncle popped out! Like magic!’

Lor stared wide-eyed at the man, then waved happily.

The guard flinched at her unexpected reaction but bowed his head politely before moving deeper into the alley to inspect.

“…No particular danger detected.”

After carefully scanning the alley and the boy’s surroundings, he returned to report.

“Well done. Stand by.”

At Alcade’s order, the man vanished just as suddenly as he had appeared.

Only then, with safety confirmed, did Alcade carry Lor toward the boy.

The boy was anything but ordinary.

A deep gash ran across his shoulder, still bleeding. His breathing was shallow and faint. His fingers didn’t even twitch. He looked ready to die at any moment.

Like a scrawny stray cat, he lay limp and frail.

“Does it… hurt a lot?”

Lor remembered once when she had fallen while playing, scraping her knee. Blood had streamed out and it hurt so badly she had sobbed for her mom.

But this boy looked like he was hurting far more.

“Oh no… he looks really hurt… Daddy, I… I…”

Tears welled in Lor’s eyes as she turned to Alcade.

His heart dropped. If he didn’t grant her wish, it felt like his chest would split apart.

“You want me to put you down?”

Her green eyes filled with tears, Lor nodded.

“Then let’s go together. Hold Daddy’s hand. But don’t touch the boy.”

“Why not!”

Lor twisted in his arms, trying to break free. But Alcade only held her tighter.

“No.”

That boy, carrying a wound far too deep for his age, clearly had an unusual story behind him.

And what if the weapon used had been poisoned?

The guard had only confirmed there were no assassins lurking in the alley. He hadn’t checked the boy’s condition.

He couldn’t let Lor get near.

Holding her firmly as she struggled, Alcade narrowed his eyes.

How had this child—Lor—found such a wounded boy in a hidden alley?

He had a suspicion.

‘An ability…’

The day Lor had come to him, Alcade had definitely sensed the wave of a special power.

Abilities manifested differently for each person, so he couldn’t say exactly what hers was.

But one thing was clear—Lor had an ability.

And abilities exist to protect their wielder.

So, if her ability had led her here, then the boy likely posed no threat to her.

Still…

Something about it unsettled him.

‘It could still be dangerous.’

Uncharacteristically, he felt a vague discomfort and resistance without a clear reason.

No—that was the reason. It was all for Lor’s safety.

Alcade firmed his resolve, ready to tell her no again—

But then he saw Lor’s desperate face, waiting, hoping for her Daddy’s permission.