Chapter 44
I stared intently at the entrance where the men had emerged. It was the alley right in front of Jute’s house. And in that alley, there was only one house — the yellow-roofed house. That yellow-roofed house was quite famous among the people living in the back alleys of Oterne. It had three different entrances, each leading to a different alley, making it structurally unique.
That’s why, in the time I lived here, smuggling markets were often held there. Peddlers would trade contraband amongst themselves, and when a crackdown occurred, they’d scatter in an instant.
“Why are they coming out of there? Isn’t that the smuggling market?”
“Smuggling market?”
Jute tilted his head slightly at my question.
“No, it’s not a smuggling market. That’s the Parrot Gang’s hideout.”
“…What?”
I widened my eyes in shock at his words. The Parrot Gang’s hideout?
“What did you say? But…”
I trailed off, lost in thought. No. That’s not right.
When Myra, Anna, and I moved here, the Parrot Gang had already been wiped out. Moreover, when I first formed an organization and fought against the Parrot Gang, I was living in the eastern part of Oterne. I never even raided their base during our conflict.
Because I eliminated the Parrot Gang in a surprise attack.
Usually, attacking or raiding an enemy’s base is only possible when your forces are evenly matched for an all-out war. But back when I first clashed with the Parrot Gang as an organization, we were far weaker. My only viable option was to go for a decapitation strike.
I ambushed and killed Calypso, the one-eyed leader of the Parrot Gang, while he was drinking. And after that… the gang fell apart surprisingly easily.
Losing a leader shakes any organization. That allowed us to swiftly destroy the rest of them.
So even if this place had been their hideout, it’s possible we never knew. That means… the timeline fits.
After assessing the situation, I murmured in amazement,
“…So this was their base.”
Before it became a smuggling market, that building had been the Parrot Gang’s hideout.
“To think we’d meet again like this.”
Even as I muttered to myself, I was seized by a strange feeling of helplessness.
I thought being young again meant I could find my family, grow stronger, and gain things like Comet — and that everything would be good. But I was wrong. Returning to the past also meant that the enemies I had defeated — the ones who once terrorized Oterne — had come back too. Nard wasn’t the only one I had to face.
The people were still suffering.
…I want to wipe them all out.
But could I really do that?
“……”
Maybe I could.
Back then, it was just me, my friends, and a few fellow members who set out to defeat those guys. But now, even though I’m young, I’m part of the House of Sylkar.
And House Sylkar still oversees the security of these backstreets — and does a decent job. Everyone seems skilled. With enough private soldiers under the Sylkar Knights, they could handle a full-scale conflict. They’re also aware of the Parrot Gang’s presence, and they seem willing to eliminate them. And now, we even know the location of their base?
Isn’t this the perfect situation?
I tapped my chin thoughtfully.
If I inform Sylkar about the base and have them launch a raid… we might find enough evidence inside to legally take down the whole gang. There seems to be a power struggle between the guard and vigilante groups, but if we uncover hard evidence in a raid, that could be resolved too.
Then how should I reveal the location of the base?
I frowned.
I can’t report this directly to the ducal family. If they start asking how I know all this, I’ll be in trouble. After all, I’m not supposed to be here right now.
Besides, even if I told them, I wasn’t sure they’d believe me. Would they really listen to someone like me when it came to taking down a powerful criminal group like the Parrot Gang?
I needed another way. My eyes turned to Jute instinctively.
Then… should I ask Jute?
What if I asked him to report that “this place is the Parrot Gang’s hideout”? That might not be a bad idea. He’s not part of the knights anymore, but he once trained with them. And Saldir seems to recognize Jute’s skills.
I glanced at Jute…
Then shook my head.
No.
I couldn’t put that kind of burden on someone living alone like him. It was far too dangerous a request.
Sure, earlier… when my old wounds were triggered, Jute did comfort me calmly and kindly. But still, even if he says he’s fine, I can’t fully trust that “nothing is wrong.” His house, full of suspicious luxuries, still seemed shady. There had to be stories he wasn’t telling me.
And if rumors spread that he snitched?
It could put Jute in serious danger. He lives right across from the Parrot Gang’s hideout, after all.
I firmly shook my head. No. This isn’t right. I shouldn’t ask Jute to do this.
“Well.”
That’s when Jute suddenly spoke.
“Hmm?”
“What? What were you thinking about this time?”
“Huh?”
I blinked and tilted my head. Jute raised one eyebrow.
“You had that plotting face again. Suspicious. Weren’t you about to ask me for something?”
He’s sharper than I thought. I quickly shook my head.
“No, it’s nothing. I wasn’t going to ask.”
“Want me to take care of them for you?”
Then he suddenly said something completely out of the blue.
I stared at him, wide-eyed.
“What? …What did you just say?”
“Just what it sounds like. Want me to get rid of them? Isn’t that what you want? If I eliminate them, don’t you think the people around here could live more peacefully?”
He asked again. I looked at him, bewildered. Jute’s expression remained calm. His voice was gentle and warm — the same as when he had comforted me earlier — but the content was completely opposite.
“I mean… yes. But… what do you mean you’ll get rid of them?”
When I asked, Jute seemed to hesitate for a moment. Then, after a pause, he spoke slowly.
“…I can’t explain everything. But I do have power. Even though I’m bound by many restrictions.”
“Power? Restrictions?”
“Well, I’ll probably be penalized. I’m not supposed to get involved in human affairs, but I already have.”
“Human affairs?”
“Yeah. But if you want me to…”
He stepped closer. Much closer than before. If he tilted his head just a little, our faces would practically touch.
Without breaking eye contact, he continued quietly.
“I can slaughter them all.”
His low whisper sent shivers down my cheek.
I stared at him in shock.
Even though he was just an eleven-year-old boy, he carried himself like a full-grown adult. And strangely, it didn’t feel unnatural at all. It suited him — like he’d always worn that weight and pressure. His voice and tone made it feel like if I just said yes, he’d rush out right now and tear them all apart…
Wait.
Am I crazy? That can’t be real. He’s eleven.
I shook my head fiercely, as if to snap myself out of it.
