Chapter 59
The sound was so pitiful I couldn’t ignore it. There was no way I’d be able to fall back asleep.
Carefully, I slipped out of the nanny’s arms and tiptoed toward the noise.
It was coming from a small wagon, surrounded by the larger wagons of the troupe. Unlike the others, this one was completely covered in heavy cloth, making it impossible to see inside.
Now that I think about it… I did wonder why they wrapped this one up so tightly.
Curious, I crept closer and pressed my ear against it.
“Uuuhhh…”
The whimper was even more pitiful now, like something dying.
What is that? Some kind of rare animal?
Traveling troupes often kept exotic beasts—or even disabled people—as attractions. But from what I’d heard in the village, this troupe had never exhibited unusual animals.
The wagon had small ventilation holes near the bottom. I crouched, pressing my eye to one.
Maybe I could see something—
“!!”
Glowing yellow eyes stared back at me from the darkness.
They gleamed like a beast’s, the only thing visible in that pitch-black space.
I almost screamed, barely biting my lip in time to stop the sound.
A low growl rumbled, then—
“…Who… are… you…?”
It was clumsy, but unmistakably speech.
Through the hole, I could make out part of a child’s face. His hair was a vivid gold, though the ends were matted red with blood. In between the locks poked out inhuman ears. His fangs were sharp, his eyes golden and feral.
A beastkin?!
The novel had mentioned them before.
Beastkin were stronger than humans and often had striking, exotic appearances. Which is why slavers kidnapped their children to sell into the Empire.
Wait. Does that mean… this troupe isn’t just performers? They’re slave traders?!
Shock slammed into me one wave after another.
And then I realized something else.
That hair… those eyes… don’t tell me…
I whispered through the hole:
“…Juto?”
The boy’s eyes went wide.
“H-how… you know my… name?”
I nearly screamed again.
The beastkin prince—Juto.
A major supporting character from the original novel The Reconstruction of the Palz Kingdom.
Why the hell is he here?!***
Crouched beneath the wagon, I tried to calm my racing heart.
Right. I possessed the villainess, Edmund is the final boss, Willace is already a named supporting character. Another one showing up isn’t weird.
If I remembered right, Juto’s backstory was that he’d been sold into slavery as a child, suffered greatly, then met the heroine and became her loyal follower.
The main plot hadn’t even begun yet, so of course he was still in the middle of suffering. Just like Edmund had been.
Yeah. It makes sense. I shouldn’t be surprised.
If anything, meeting the heroine herself would be the real shocker.
While I steadied myself, Juto whimpered above me.
“Don’t… like. Tight. Want… outside.”
His common tongue was halting, but the meaning was clear.
He wants to escape.
Well, of course he did. A child chained and carted off as a slave would naturally long for freedom.
Scratching noises came as he clawed at the wagon’s floor.
I sighed softly.
“…Are you hungry?”
No way these people were feeding him properly.
At my question, his large golden eyes drooped sadly.
Then his stomach growled loudly in reply.
I slipped a piece of my spare rations through the gap.
“Here. Eat this.”
“…!”
His ears perked as he snatched it up and devoured it in seconds.
He licked his fingers and looked at me hopefully.
“More?”
I shook my head.
“That’s all I have.”
His ears drooped. He really looked like a sad puppy.
I groaned inwardly.
What do I do with him?
We were fugitives ourselves, barely managing to keep Edmund safe. We had no ability to care for anyone else.
And the troupe vastly outnumbered us. Fighting them outright was suicide.
But leaving a child to be sold as a slave? My chest tightened at the thought.
That’s when I heard footsteps.
Two men were approaching.
“…Hear something?”
“Sounded weird. Let’s check.”
I flattened myself to the ground, heart hammering. If they caught me, it was over.
They stopped right next to Juto’s wagon.
“Ah, here you are. Making a fuss again, huh?”
They banged on the side, laughing when Juto growled back.
“Still full of fight.”
“You didn’t starve him yet?”
“Guess he’s just a beast through and through.”
They mocked him, jeering and thumping the wood. I worried Juto might accidentally blurt something about me—but thankfully, he only snarled like an animal.
Then one of the men muttered something that froze my blood.
“By the way, why’d the boss let those four tag along? We’re not even going north for real.”
What?
I slapped both hands over my mouth to stifle any sound.
“What else? He’s planning to sell them off too.”
“…But there aren’t even any young women with them.”
Our cover story was a mother with three sons traveling together.
“Boss said the two younger boys will fetch a good price. Especially the youngest. Lots of nobles in the Empire have… unusual tastes.”
“Shame he’s not a girl.”
They meant me. And especially Edmund.
They’re planning to sell us as slaves too?!
The scarred leader’s leering face flashed in my memory. My unease had been right all along.
Those bastards!
And then—snap.
A branch cracked nearby.
My heart nearly exploded.
***
The men instantly stiffened, pulling their swords free.
“…What was that?”
“Something’s here.”
Their eyes darted around, sharp and suspicious.
They searched thoroughly, crouching to check every shadow.
One finally pointed.
“Hey. Look under the wagon.”
“Ugh, fine.”
The younger one grumbled but obeyed, lying flat and peering underneath.
“…Nothing. Just wet grass.”
He crawled back out, scowling.
“Great. Now my clothes are soaked.”
Then the other one spotted movement.
“There! Look!”
A squirrel darted up a tree.
“…”
“Seriously? All that for a squirrel?”
They cursed and smacked Juto’s wagon a few more times in frustration, then wandered back toward their camp.
Only after they disappeared into the dark did I dare breathe again.
“Haa…”
I lowered my hands from my mouth, gasping.
Hidden behind a tree, Edmund had me tightly in his arms, shielding me.
