Chapter 33
“What do you mean, ‘just report it and leave’? Even if their roles overlap, they’re supposed to protect those people!”
“So let’s just file the report and move on.”
“What?! You’re the one who said it! While we’re filing the report, those bastards will keep tormenting those innocent citizens and just run away! Then it’ll all be for nothing!”
As I spoke, I felt my own frustration boil over. Report it? What kind of nonsense—at this rate, we should be jumping in and grabbing them by the collar!
“I’m disappointed, Oppa. Is filing a report really the issue right now? This is why nobles are hopeless! You care more about procedures than people’s lives?!”
I shouted furiously, kicked open the carriage door, and leapt out.
“Wait! Verdette!”
“Sis!”
I landed safely and grabbed the hem of my skirt tightly. Ugh, this is so uncomfortable! Next time, I’m wearing pants instead of bloomers. Something like this might happen again. Thank goodness I tied my hair up nicely today. If it had been long and loose, it would’ve been a hassle.
“You say nobles are no good, but… you’re a noble tooooo!!”
“Verdette! Wait for me!”
I heard Mayra shouting from inside the carriage, but I didn’t look back and ran forward. I felt Saldir scrambling to catch up, but I didn’t stop.
“Hand over the money, while I’m asking nicely!”
“Why should I give you any money?”
Basin, who looked much younger than I remembered, was glaring at them with a firm expression. He looked larger and gentler than I remembered.
As Basin protested, the thugs from the Parrot Gang sneered at each other.
“Do you know who you have to thank for being allowed to sell apples here? You better pay the protection tax properly!”
“Why would what you collect be called a tax? I already pay taxes to the Otern Empire!”
“Oh, look at this guy. You got a lot to say, huh?”
“Why do you keep coming here and harassing me? Last time it was one guy causing a scene, and now it’s a whole gang of you cowards! What’s your problem?!”
Basin shouted with clenched fists, but one of the Parrot Gang guys tapped his chin mockingly.
“We just want money, that’s all.”
The gang member glared at him threateningly. His eyes were gleaming.
“Give us the cash. You must not know how scary we are. Keep this up, and we’ll torch everything—from the orchard where you get your apples to the house you live in!”
“…W-what did you say?”
“I’ll follow you home and wipe out your wife and kids too—”
Just as I got close to them, I picked up a red apple that had rolled to my feet. It was probably one of the ones Basin was selling, knocked down thanks to those punks.
I gripped the apple tightly in one hand and called to Comet in my mind.
—Why do you summon me, master?
Can I use your power without fully summoning the gauntlet?
—Of course. It’s a bit weaker than fully summoned, but still works.
Then lend it to me.
After briefly asking Comet, I stood still, gauging the distance. I could throw it. Let’s see—step forward, rotate the shoulder, and flick the wrist lightly to release.
I kicked off the ground and swung down in one motion, launching the apple.
This throwing stance was taught to me by a former gang member named Ollie. He was insanely good at rock-throwing, often taking people down with a single well-aimed stone.
It had been a while, so I was worried the apple might fly weirdly, but it soared confidently. Now, I just needed it to hit one of them…
“Argh!”
Before I could even finish my thought, a dull sound rang out as one of the men collapsed on the spot. A direct hit!
“What the—?”
“Why’d he fall all of a sudden?”
The men turned around in panic. Their eyes shifted from the fallen guy to the crushed apple on the ground. Their confused expressions were clear—No way… Did he really get taken out by an apple?
—Nice form on that throw.
Comet chuckled. But I didn’t have time to respond. It was my cue to make an entrance.
I tensed my abs and shouted at the top of my lungs.
“You bastards! Cut it out already!”
The men turned toward the voice. When they saw me, they looked at each other in confusion.
“What the…?”
“…A little girl?”
Their eyes locked on me. I yelled as I stepped between Basin and the gang.
“Stop harassing this innocent citizen, you jerks!”
My shout seemed to rile them up, but they still looked dazed. Of course they were.
“Is this girl nuts…?”
“Did she just throw something at grown men? Is she insane?”
“Wait, did she really throw it?”
“Could she really knock someone down like that…?”
They huddled around the fallen guy and glared at me. Their faces twisted in a mixture of confusion, anger, and anxiety. Clearly, they didn’t want to believe a little girl like me took one of them down with an apple.
As I walked toward them, I reached into a crate and grabbed another apple—probably more of Basin’s. This time, I leaned my body far back, swung my arm like a windmill, and launched the apple just as my back foot slid forward.
“Argh!”
Another hit. The guy who had just pointed at me clutched his eye and collapsed.
“Hmph.”
I couldn’t help but smile proudly as the men panicked. Another perfect hit. I might’ve even thrown better than before.
“Damn, Mountain Goat. You’re freakishly good at throwing.”
Saldir, who had somehow caught up, murmured beside me in awe. Since he was much taller and older, I guess he had no trouble matching my speed.
He hesitated earlier, but he still followed me? I smiled a little, seeing him by my side. Yeah, I guess siblings are siblings. He must’ve been worried and chased after me. I mentally decided to raise the score I’d given him for that annoying carriage scene earlier.
“Right? I think I nailed that one.”
I replied smugly. Saldir clapped dramatically, even more exaggerated than before.
“You really did. The first one seemed like a lucky shot, but this one? Total precision.”
“You little punks!”
Before Saldir finished speaking, one of the men shouted.
“You just knocked out two people, and you’re cracking jokes right in front of us? Who the hell are you? You little brats!”
“We’re—”
“What do I care who you are?!”
Before Saldir could reveal our identities, I shouted to cut him off. He better not be about to say we’re from a duke’s household!
Don’t you dare talk about the vigilante group, guards, or legal procedures and then tattle that we’re the ones who stirred up this mess! I glared at Saldir. His eyes widened a little, then he nodded, stifling a laugh. He got the message.
“You little witch! How dare you talk back to adults like—”
“What if I used polite speech?”
“What?”
“If I spoke respectfully, would it be okay to beat the crap out of you guys here? Because if so, I can do that.”
