Chapter 41
“How did you suddenly appear here, anyway?”
“…What?”
“I asked how you got here.”
“How…?”
“I mean, I was expecting someone, so I waited here—but you just suddenly showed up. Isn’t that suspicious too?”
“…”
It was a sharp counterattack. I had no response. I hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“…There’s a reason I suddenly showed up.”
I glanced at the magic circle. It must still only be visible to me. That means Jute probably wouldn’t understand even if I explained it. How could I explain it to him anyway? I didn’t want to.
“So just ignore it and go on your way. I’ll disappear on my own.”
I needed to head back quickly… I turned around and stepped onto the magic circle again. Now that I knew it connected to the back alley of Ottern, I just wanted to go home as soon as possible.
“…Huh?”
But strangely, the magic circle didn’t activate. I was standing on it exactly as I had earlier, but now—nothing.
What’s the problem?
—Ah, well, you see…
As I stomped my foot in frustration, Komet spoke in a troubled voice.
—Looks like there’s a cooldown period before it can activate again.
“What? Cooldown?”
What kind of nonsense cooldown?
I blurted out the question and then snapped my head up. Jute was still staring at me.
—If I recall correctly, you had to wait a few minutes before it could be used again. Not a full hour, though.
An hour?
An hour?!
That’s way too long! I barely held back from screaming and covered my cheeks with both hands. That’s when Jute asked,
“Cooldown?”
Only then did I look at him. He tilted his head, watching me.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but if you said you’d disappear and then can’t… I’m guessing something happened.”
“…That’s none of your business.”
“None of my business? That’s a bit cold.”
“…”
“Come on. Stay at my place for a bit.”
“What? No way.”
I jumped in place. Was I crazy? No matter how off-guard I might be, I wasn’t so reckless as to go to a stranger’s house after only meeting him once.
“I’ll just wait here. You go.”
“What kind of idiot would leave a seven-year-old girl alone in a place this dangerous?”
“From my perspective, you’re not exactly safe either.”
“What?”
“Your house and this alley look equally dangerous to me.”
“…What.”
“Come on. What about you do I even know to trust?”
It might’ve sounded harsh, but I meant it. Jute’s expression didn’t change. I stared back at him, a faint smirk on my lips. Soon, he placed a hand on his forehead and spoke slowly.
“That was kind of hurtful, but… you’re right.”
“Sorry. I know I’m right.”
When I answered calmly, Jute simply shrugged.
“Still, I can’t just leave you here. And I can’t exactly stand around in a dark alley with you at this hour either… Plus, it’s not like there are any cozy cafés around here. So stay at my place for now. Once your situation is resolved, go back.”
“…I guess.”
Even though I hadn’t given a clear answer, Jute narrowed his eyes slightly. As if he saw right through me.
“I swear.”
He spoke firmly again.
“I swear by all the gods and goddesses of this world—if I lay a finger on you with ill intent, I will accept whatever unjust punishment comes to me.”
That’s… quite the dramatic oath.
I blinked. I had met Jute while completing the Seed Program, so I figured the most he’d do was spout some knightly chivalry or something.
I didn’t expect him to swear by every god and goddess in existence. He held up three fingers solemnly—thumb, index, and middle—as if to make the oath more official. Watching him, I hesitated.
Normally, I’d insist on being left alone no matter what. But… Jute was right. At this hour, being alone in this alley was dangerous. No matter how strong I was or that I had Komet, I couldn’t forget I was still just a seven-year-old child.
Of course, I didn’t really believe in that oath.
I was being practical. If a group of people jumped me, or if some lunatic with nothing to lose came at me—it’d be worse than facing Jute one-on-one. I could at least try to escape from him.
Plus, I had just fought those parrot gang members today. If I ran into any of their stragglers while I was alone in this alley… it’d be even more of a hassle.
Sigh.
I let out a deep sigh.
All because I stepped on that magic circle—I ended up here.
“Fine. Let’s go. But if anything happens, I’m running without a word. Got it?”
“Of course.”
His reply was instant. He wore the same expression as before, but for some reason, he looked… happy. His eyes sparkled, and his face seemed brighter. Was he seriously this happy just because I agreed to go to his house? Why?
What if he was trying to kidnap me? Should I change my mind and insist on staying alone again?
While I was caught in thought, I found myself already walking beside him. Jute walked to my right, practically escorting me. Of course, since we were both just kids, it wasn’t some elegant adult-style escort, but… still, it looked the part.
I glanced at his feet. He dragged them ever so slightly with each step. It felt less like a person walking beside me, and more like a lazy predator slinking along.
“So, do you live with your parents?”
“My parents? …I don’t have any.”
“What? Then you live alone?”
“Yeah.”
“…What the…”
With what money? The question rose to my throat, but I swallowed it down. It felt rude to pry any further. Still, I couldn’t understand it.
“How old are you, exactly?”
“Elev…en.”
Jute replied after a pause. Eleven? That’s younger than I expected. I thought he was around Saldir’s age since they were the same height. I was guessing maybe thirteen or fourteen. I mulled over his age, then blurted out in surprise:
“There’s only a four-year difference between us? And you live alone?”
In the back alleys of Ottern, if you investigated the jobs of most parentless kids under ten, 80% were panhandlers pretending to be shoeshine boys, and 20% were panhandlers pretending to sell newspapers. And most of those kids lived in group shelters under the control of adult men who “looked after” them.
“…Do you even have a house?”
I frowned and asked again.
Kind of late to ask that now. Honestly, I should’ve asked earlier—Jute seemed like the type who could sleep on a pile of newspapers in the street and still insist it was a house.
As I begrudgingly asked, Jute made a “hmm” sound and stopped walking.
“You really think I’m some kind of weirdo, don’t you?”
“Spot on. You’re honestly the weirdest person I’ve ever met.”
