Chapter 14
Drip, drip…
A man dragged a heavy container of oil as he walked. Using a copied key, he opened the door and entered the shop.
“Tch. All these useless decorations… how childish.”
He frowned and flicked a candy ornament off his head.
The man was a mercenary who would do anything for money.
Today’s target was a small candy shop on the grounds of the palace daycare.
The job was to set it on fire and completely destroy it.
Even though it was just a daycare plot, it still belonged to the palace.
If this mission succeeded, it would mean the palace had been breached.
“A third-rate mercenary like me, getting into the palace…”
Breaking through the palace’s ironclad security was no easy task.
Halfway completing a job he was ready to refuse made him feel oddly proud, and he rubbed his nose in satisfaction.
But this was entirely thanks to the client’s abilities.
One day, bored with small tasks, the client had come to him with his subordinates.
[What? The palace? Are these people joking? Even top mercenaries can’t do that!]
[Don’t worry. We’ll take care of the preparations.]
[Hmph. How impressive can you really make it?]
[All the guards are handled.]
All the guards?
The man snorted at how ambitious the client was.
[Don’t be naive. They won’t be bribed for pocket change. Things changed when the knight commander was replaced.]
[Bribe? Why bother? They’d just report it, so it’s pointless.]
[Then…?]
[There’s a way. You just return midway if needed.]
The client offered too much upfront to refuse.
On top of that, they promised a reward five times higher if he succeeded.
‘Who are these people to have cleared all the guards?’
But a mercenary only cared about the money. Knowing too much was dangerous.
“Heh. I’ll make a fortune and live it up in another country.”
He hummed a tune while dragging the oil container.
“Huh?”
Something ran down his forehead. Touching it, he felt a sticky substance.
Looking up at the ceiling, he saw something dripping like honey.
“Damn it. What is this?”
Before he could even get irritated by how hard it was to clean, candy shells began falling from above.
Sticking to his body with the sticky liquid, the shells crinkled noisily.
“Ugh!”
Cursing, he tried to peel off the candy shells. There were too many. Giving up, he took a step forward…
“!”
He slipped on a jelly, sliding across the floor and landing hard. Stars spun before his eyes.
“Why manage a shop like this…”
He rubbed his aching back and stood up, annoyed by the sticky soles of his shoes. The strange familiarity of the substance—melted jelly—hit him.
Before he could stand fully, something flew at him from all directions.
“Ugh!”
He grabbed one—it was candy. Half-broken, sharp pieces aimed for his cheek, arm, and head.
“Who dares crawl in here and mess with me?”
Even a third-rate mercenary is still a mercenary.
Having spent ten years on rough grounds, he could tell where the candy attacks were coming from.
Probably four of them.
And judging by the height… definitely children.
‘They’re probably just aiming for candy. Damn kids.’
Annoying, but he could handle it. Catch one, hang them upside down, and the rest would be scared off.
“The little brat’s bold. Time to teach a lesson.”
He aimed at the child who kept missing him with the candy. As he strode forward, the hiding child panicked and ran.
A small girl with red hair—Lycoris.
Terrified, she tossed her slingshot and ran.
“Not running far?”
Even if she ran, it was a small candy shop—a mouse in a jar.
Just as the man’s pot-like hand reached for Lycoris…
“Take this!”
Something flew toward him. It wasn’t just candy.
Fwoosh!
“What’s… that sound?”
A small bottle spewed a fizzing liquid.
Expecting a crude bomb often used in back alleys, the man turned pale.
Foaming out like an explosion, droplets splattered everywhere.
So this was…
“How’s that! Candy soda bomb taste!”
The silver-haired girl shouted, tying her hair back tightly.
A tiny girl, barely reaching the man’s waist.
“Keep teasing me and you’ll regret it!”
“You meanie. I’ve got more bombs, you know?”
The man chuckled at her audacity.
“Being lenient because you’re a kid ends here.”
He poured oil everywhere. No matter how much the kids struggled, they were just children—no match for an adult.
“Prepare to die!”
Striking a rough match, an orange flame sparked.
The match was thrown onto the oil-covered floor.
The flames should have roared, consuming the Candy Tree…
“Huh?”
The match flickered weakly. The man tried another, but it was no different.
The flames went out, doused by water thrown by a large boy.
“Bad uncle.”
Solphy, the silver-haired girl who threw the candy soda bomb, proudly placed her hands on her waist.
“Quick Lariat swapped the oil for water. Pretty clever, right?”
“Is this kid crazy, playing with an adult… ugh!”
The man couldn’t finish his sentence as a display stand toppled, its heavy weight crushing him.
Dust clouded the air and candies spilled everywhere.
“Ha! Serves you right!”
The man rolled his eyes and assessed the situation. A large boy and a blonde boy stood where the stand had been.
The blonde boy looked down at him. His bright red eyes were completely emotionless, sending a chill down the man’s spine.
‘I need to start the fire.’
Now it wasn’t just the job that was a problem—this was palace land. If he got caught, it was over. He needed to erase all evidence immediately.
And these kids had seen his face.
“This little thing…!”
Gritting his teeth, he pushed the stand upright. A small gap opened, letting him crawl out, breathing heavily.
“I’ll kill you all!”
His eyes blazing, he drew a knife from his waist.
Target… the closest silver-haired girl!
The girl, noticing his intent, grabbed a slingshot.
At that distance, a slingshot was useless. He raised his knife high.
“Solphy!”
“Load the eyeball candy!”
The silver-haired girl hooked candy into the slingshot. The candy shot like an arrow into the man’s mouth.
“Gah!”
It was a critical hit. The large candy lodged in his throat.
The man clutched his neck and collapsed. Coughing violently, the candy didn’t budge.
“Gah! L-Let me live…!”
His face turned red, then bluish. Struggling, he clutched his neck with both hands.
“Solphy defeated an adult!”
“Is that man okay?”
“Doesn’t look okay.”
The shocked children exchanged bewildered looks. Joshua stepped forward and poked the man with his foot.
“Sir. Don’t die, it’ll be troublesome.”
Then, the door flung open.
“Stop! This area is surrounded. Surrender…”
Marcelo shouted threateningly. His eyes quickly scanned the interior.
“Huh?”
His eyes widened as he grasped the situation.
“K-Knight! Please save me…”
The man reached toward Marcelo, tears in his eyes and foam at his mouth.
“What… am I even seeing?”
Marcelo blinked. He had expected the worst, but this was beyond imagination:
A ruined candy shop.
A man smeared in candy, begging for his life.
Children greeting Marcelo.
“It’s Solphy’s dad!”
“Hello!”
“Dad!”
Seeing that the children—and especially Solphy—were safe, Marcelo let out a sigh of relief.
“Subdue him.”
“Yes!”
Following Marcelo’s order, the knights surrounded the man. One wrapped his arms around the man’s waist and pressed sharply under his chest.
“Guh!”
The lodged candy shot out. The man’s color returned as he gasped for air.
“Alive…”
“Alive, yes. You’re under arrest.”
The man was dragged out. Anyone could see he was stunned after his experience at the terrifying candy shop.
‘Dad! You came to save us!’
When Marcelo burst in, Solphy’s heart nearly stopped.
Like the heroic knight from the adventure story he told her last night!
And when he gave orders, the knights rushed to take the arsonist away.
In Solphy’s eyes, Marcelo looked even cooler than “Magic Princess Arvet.”
“Dad!”
She grabbed her video device and ran to him.
“That bad man tried to set the fire! This is proof!”
“Exactly!”
“We protected the candy shop.”
The children gathered in front of Marcelo, nodding proudly. It made sense—they had defeated the villain who tried to burn down the shop.
‘I bet we could pile up donuts like a mountain and eat them now.’
‘Our Solphy! Really brave! She should be the youngest knight.’
Imagining Marcelo lifting her up, Solphy beamed.
Giggling to herself, she got a gentle tap on the head.
“Ouch!”
She covered her head with both hands.
“Little lion? Let’s talk a bit.”
