Vol 2 Chapter 13.1 (2/2)

「Coming. Who is――」

Eleanor had just begun to say when she sensed abnormality.

They were covered from head to toe in black mantles. They had masks put on, so their faces couldn’t be identified――Clearly, the group didn’t belong to the village.

「Y-You, who――」

「Don’t move… If you make any noise, I’ll kill you… Just follow our orders. If you do, you will not die. If you don’t, everyone will die including those d.a.m.n kids behind you.」

「What… do――」

Eleanor, who had a knife thrust at her throat, leaked a clueless voice.

「Don’t speak unnecessarily. If you are going to follow, reply so in one word.」

「…Y…es…」

「Good… Everyone, come in…」

In an instant, the peaceful sight inside the orphanage was crushed by the bloodthirsty air.

Some of the kids, who were unable to grasp the situation, burst into tears upon seeing Eleanor’s stiffened face and the alien group.

「Stop crying, brat. Tell everyone to act normal.」

The indifferent voice of a man from behind the mask continued to give orders.

They had to behave normally so as not to alert the villagers outside, it seems.

Which means the kids would have to leave for work tomorrow per norm. However, if they leaked too much [information], Eleanor and everyone would die.

「――Got it? Well, if you leaked too much, the villagers would die, too. Don’t forget; you’re constantly under watch.」

「Let… Eleanor-san… go…」

「R-Roy…」

Shouting so, Roy scowled at the man in black.

Seemingly fed up, the man sighed and becked [beckoned] the subordinate next to him.

「Roger.」

A m.u.f.fled voice of a woman reverberated from behind the mask. From under the mantle, she retrieved――a whip.

The moment the woman’s hand was perceived to have moved――Roy’s body experienced a floating sensation.

The whip, which had coiled around his feet, pulled him in front of the overbearing man.

Without minding the groans from the impact of hitting the floor, the man lashed out a kick into Roy’s abdomen.

「Gi…a…a」

「This will naturally happen if you speak unnecessarily. So… What would be an appropriate punishment for a defiant brat…?」

When the man moved the knife on Eleanor’s throat a little, a red droplet trickled down her skin and plopped onto the floor.

「S-Sto… am sorry…」

「Or… Would you understand clearly if I killed a brat close to you?」

When he [the man] murmured in Roy’s ear, he [Roy] subconsciously turned his sight――

「No… I’m s…cared…」

He saw Minii’s trembling figure and teary eyes.

「I won’t do it again… So, Minii…」

「――There won’t be a second time.」

When the kids who had quieted down were moved to the bedroom, one of the group members voiced.

It was a relaxed voice unbefitting the brutal ambience.

「But Captain~ will this go well?」

「Don’t worry. Because I know that guy the best… 『Whatever you do, do it efficiently』 I learnt the meaning of these words from her…」

The body of the man, who was trying to suppress the sneer, shook.

「You should follow the captain without thinking about anything else. Just like those kids.」

「Cruel~ Each of Sis Rei’s words stabbed into my chest.」

「…No pointless chatter. Tomorrow, you will follow me. Others will stay here on standby. If that guy acts strange, don’t show mercy to the kids.」

「「Yes!」」

「Well… If you want to blame someone, blame your own king and that man.」

The man sat down on the floor and spat these words at the dumbfounded Eleanor.

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