~Chapter 47~
The other investigators stared in amazement as Shiz confidently answered Felix without showing any fear.
“How long has it been since you got separated from your mom?”
“Umm… I don’t think it’s been that long.”
“Then Lady Relshiz should still be nearby.”
“Hey, kid, you were so rude to me—why are you being all sweet with this lady?”
Felix asked grumpily.
“Hmph.”
Shiz turned her head sharply away from him and buried her face in Nasha’s shoulder. Her soft, squishy cheek made Nasha’s lips curl into a smile.
So cute…
All the stress from traffic control, handling complaints, and talking to citizens since early morning seemed to melt away a little.
“She really looks like Lady Relshiz. Like a tiny version of her.”
“True.”
Nasha patted Shiz on the back and turned to Felix.
“We’ll go look for Lady Relshiz. Captain, please stay here.”
“Why am I not coming?”
Did he really not know why? Nasha, Sion, Alt, and even Shiz all had the same thought.
“Don’t come, mister! You’re just going to bully my mom again!”
Felix froze.
“I…”
He opened and closed his mouth like someone who had just been punched, then lowered his head.
“I’m… sorry.”
“Hmph.”
Felix rarely apologized, so the three subordinates quickly turned their heads away, afraid he’d catch them smiling.
“Captain, we’ll go find her. You can stay and finish your work. It would be uncomfortable if you ran into Lady Relshiz anyway…”
But Felix shook his head firmly.
“No. That’s why I should go. I need to tell her to take better care of her kid. What if she’d met someone worse than me?”
Surprisingly, even though his voice was firm, it carried a hint of concern.
If Shiz had run into someone with truly bad intentions instead of Felix…
Felix bent down to meet Shiz’s eyes.
“Kid, can I come with you if I promise not to bully your mom?”
“…”
“Here.”
He held out his pinky finger. It was a rough hand, covered with bruises and small scars.
Shiz stared for a moment, then carefully reached out her own finger.
“…If you break your promise, I’ll kick you again.”
Only then did Felix smile and relax his expression.
“Go ahead. You have my permission, okay?”
“…Whatever.”
Knowing how stubborn their captain was, the subordinates just sighed in resignation.
***
Felix, his three subordinates, and one lost child headed out onto the main street.
A group of tall investigators walking around with a small child naturally drew a lot of attention.
Shiz wasn’t used to being the center of attention and hugged Nasha’s neck tightly.
“Oh dear, did the little one get lost? Are you helping her find her way?”
“Yes, we are.”
Felix answered calmly while still scanning the crowd.
He kept checking for other lost children or suspicious individuals.
“Captain! Take this!”
A boy ran up and handed a basket to Felix.
“Rexi, how’s your mother doing?”
“She’s much better, thanks! She told me to give this to you.”
“Alright.”
Felix patted the boy’s head and continued walking.
That moment sparked something. One by one, people started offering Felix little gifts—snacks, drinks, and letters.
Watching quietly, Shiz asked in a small voice,
“Big sis, is that guy really popular?”
“Well… kind of.”
Despite his bad reputation among mages, Felix Guifero was well-known and respected in his district.
Whether it was fixing a broken sign or catching a murderer, he helped with everything, big or small.
Because of that, regular citizens trusted and liked him deeply. If the Royal Magic Bureau or Relshiz knew this, they’d feel unfairly treated.
Shiz also began to feel a little annoyed.
He’s supposed to be a bad guy. He was mean to my mom…
Nasha misunderstood Shiz’s frown and gently patted her back.
“It’s okay. We’ll find your mom soon.”
“Mm…”
“You’re so brave—not even crying.”
Alt, who had been a little jealous of Nasha holding the child, pulled out a cookie from his pocket.
“Are you hungry? Want this?”
Shiz eyed him cautiously but then slowly reached out her hand.
“…Thank you.”
“Wow! When I said I was hungry, you didn’t even share a crumb!”
“Captain Sion, you can’t compare yourself to a little kid. Complaining about that makes you look petty.”
“Seriously! You two always ruin the investigation bureau’s image!”
While the three of them bickered, Shiz quietly munched on the cookie and watched Felix closely.
Big sis says she and Ash are rivals. She doesn’t get along with that fairy guy at the palace either. And now she’s dealing with this weird man…
Sigh… I think I’d lose if I fought that guy.
Sadly, her future self seemed to have way too many enemies…
“To be honest, no matter how crazy we are, our captain’s still the wildest one in the bureau.”
“What did you say?”
Felix’s face scrunched up.
Expecting bad words from Felix, Nasha quickly covered Shiz’s ears.
“Why do all of you treat me like crap?”
“But Captain, you think we’re all crap too.”
“Of course I do.”
“Then we’re even. Fair, right?”
“You little—”
“Captain! Please stop swearing in front of the child. Am I supposed to cover her ears all day? Go back to HQ if you’re gonna fight!”
Thanks to Nasha’s scolding, Felix and Sion awkwardly coughed and stopped arguing.
Once things quieted down, someone finally brought up the obvious.
“Strange that we haven’t seen Lady Relshiz yet. If she noticed the kid was missing, wouldn’t she be looking around here?”
“Maybe they got farther apart than we thought. Should we have just stayed in that spot?”
“Should we take her home?”
“How would we know if she went home? What if Lady Relshiz is still out searching?”
They eventually decided to keep looking for Relshiz on the streets.
“Instead of staying together, let’s split up and search. It’ll be faster. I’ll go this way, Alt, you take the other side.”
“Got it.”
“Nasha, stay here with Shiz, just in case. Captain, you can—”
“Wait, what about me?”
“Figure it out on your own. See you later!”
“That punk!”
“Captain! Watch your mouth!”
Remembering Nasha’s warning, Felix settled for swearing with just his eyes.
Sion and Alt left, while the remaining three found seats by the window of a nearby café.
Outside, the street was buzzing with activity.
“So many people out today.”
“Yeah. Want something to drink, Shiz?”
“Umm, something sweet and cold!”
“Maybe an iced chocolate latte. Captain?”
“Same.”
Felix handed his whole wallet to Nasha, who smiled and went to the counter.
The drinks arrived quickly.
As the others chatted, Felix glanced at the little girl sitting across from him.
Presumably the daughter of a mage—almost certainly Relshiz’s daughter—she took a sip of her drink, then held it tightly like it was a precious treasure.
“Big sis, what’s this called again?”
“Chocolate latte.”
“Chocolate latte… Chocolate latte…”
She was clearly planning to remember the name and ask her mom to buy it again later.
Felix looked at her with mixed feelings.
Relshiz Baltain… That mage probably looked exactly like this as a kid.
He felt like he was getting too close to someone who used to j
ust annoy him. It made his head ache.
“Ahh!”
Suddenly, Shiz, who had been happily sipping her drink, clutched her head.
