Ch#137
Tie rushed to the entrance and gaped.
"Gasp, the Poison Needle Bombs really...!"
At the entrance.
Eight servants lay sprawled before the stairs where the cart had been parked.
Thorns protruded thickly from their arms and legs, making them look just like chestnut burrs.
"No wonder their eyes looked like starved rats who'd gone weeks without food."
Veil sauntered leisurely toward the cart.
Beneath the sacks of gold coins on the cart, the two Poison Needle Bombs he had placed lay burst open and activated.
"Head Maid!"
"Sis!"
Lea and Helga, who had chased after Tie's group, collapsed to the floor.
They lay before the Head Maid, who was sprawled closest to the cart.
"Sis! What's wrong, are you okay? Hey?!"
But the Head Maid didn't respond.
She only breathed raggedly through her rigid face, her eyes darting about.
Veil said nonchalantly.
"She can't answer? It's a paralyzing poison."
Lea and Helga's faces turned ashen.
"W-what did you say? Have you gone mad?! You trying to kill us all?!"
But Veil didn't even blink.
"Yeah. That a problem?"
"What the—!"
"You lot tormenting an innocent kid is fine. But me tormenting the likes of you isn't?"
"Th-that's...!"
The servants' lips quivered as if at a loss for words.
Veil looked at Tie.
"Kiddo. You say it. I'll follow the squad leader's call."
Tie looked troubled.
People lying motionless, only their eyes moving.
It was a bit scary, sure, but
‘If it's dangerous, don't worry and use it, Tie. It's just a weapon for you to use, that's why we put it in your bag. This poison is paralyzing, no threat to life, and the antidote wears it off quick.’
According to Basto, the Poison Needle Bomb wasn't dangerous enough to take lives.
Just a bit painful on hit, body paralyzed for a while?
"Hurry up and say it. What do we do?"
Tie pressed her cheeks with both hands, agonizing.
But just then, the fallen servants' hands caught her eye.
Each clutched a handful of gold coins stolen from Tie's cart.
Tie's face slowly turned grave.
‘...They're really super bad people!’
Not content with tormenting Selina, the servants in this house had tried to steal Tie's money too.
She could forgive the money—a hundred times over, since she could earn more—but
‘Grown-ups bullying a kid is a crime!’
Tie, resolved, widened her eyes.
"Selina, you know that saying? Needle thieves become gold coin thieves."
"Gold coin thieves...? What's that?"
"Yeah, it means even gold coin thieves started by stealing tiny things like needles!"
Selina's eyes widened.
Soon, the girl's face darkened as she spoke.
"You're right. Actually... "
But Selina trailed off, hunching her shoulders.
‘Why, why can't I breathe all of a sudden?’
The fear she'd bottled up came surging back.
At first, she hadn't wanted to worry her parents.
But at some point, she couldn't even if she wanted to tell them the truth.
Facing the servants made her chest tighten and breath catch.
Hallucinated echoes buzzed in her ears.
‘Nothing will change. Not now, not ever.’
Her body felt like sinking into deep mire, legs giving way—right then.
"Selina, look at Tie."
Tie gripped Selina's hand tight.
As if reading her heart, she said.
"Don't be scared. Tie will bring all the squad members and protect you from now on! Okay?"
Selina couldn't speak.
Tears welled unwittingly in her eyes.
‘...She said she was a mercenary.’
Was that why?
Tie was brave and kind.
More refined than the other nobles at the Imperial tutorial hall, more mature than her, a year older.
Selina suddenly recalled the day Tie moved next door.
That evening, amid the festival.
The night all the servants had abandoned her and gone out.
Gazing out the window, Selina first spotted Tie.
The mansion ablaze with lights.
People welcoming the child across the garden, faces beaming around her.
All of Tie's people looked at her with loving eyes.
Stroking her head tenderly, every gesture full of affection.
That was why Selina had climbed Tie's fence the next day.
Tie's warmth had seemed so enviable, so cozy.
Just once, really just once, she wanted to feel it too.
‘Our daughter, you're doing well, right? The Head Maid says so? Eating well, going to tutorial hall fine! Mom's so proud and loves you so much. Mom will come once this contract's done, so wait just a bit, okay?’
‘Selina! Our pretty girl! Dad bought tons of gifts for you. Love you always, Selina. Just endure a few more years, and you, your kids too, can settle fully in the capital. We suffered, but...’
Selina's parents hated poverty with a vengeance.
They'd been dirt poor when she was born, or so.
One day, her mother said.
When Selina was a newborn, milk barely came, so she had to enter the monster-infested forest.
Her father's missing arm was from that.
Even after losing it to a monster, her father kept entering the forest to forage herbs.
Only then could her mother make herbal porridge for Selina to eat something.
But young Selina got gravely ill from that porridge once.
Her back covered in boils, nearly died.
That's when her parents started working desperately.
Her father dove into dangerous jobs he'd never done, despite his injury.
Her mother too.
When Selina started walking, they moved every few weeks.
From capital outskirts inward, then to central areas.
And finally, to Rosewell Street.
Her parents' merchant guild impressed high Church officials, and Selina became a baron's lady.
‘Now it's safe, dear! Finally we can raise our daughter in safety...!’
‘Sob... Selina!’
That day.
Selina watched her parents cry in joy.
Saw her father's empty sleeve flutter with each sob.
Selina told herself over and over.
This is a good thing.
So I must be happy and grateful.
All because Mom and Dad worked so hard.
But...
When her parents returned from trips only to leave again soon, she wanted to say.
I don't want money.
Didn't want to be a baron's lady.
What I want... is just to be with Mom and Dad.
Tears fell.
Astie wiped Selina's tears.
"Se, Selinaaa. Don't cryyy... "
She'd spent so long stifling sobs alone.
From scrapes by servants' hands, hunger, or loneliness.
"Tie keeps getting teary toooo... "
But this moment felt different.
Selina wiped her own eyes clumsily while looking at Tie.
She hadn't known having someone beside her could give such courage.
‘Tie is... my friend...’
Tie was Selina's friend.
The friend she'd longed and strived for but only now had.
Selina parted her lips.
And sniffled in a barely audible voice.
"Tie. Actually, the Head Maid... took my expensive stuff, saying she'd clean it."
Her voice trembled, but she tried to speak clearly.
"And, sob, never gave it back. It's mine, Mom and Dad gave it to me!"
Pent-up tears poured again.
Tie's lips parted slightly.
Soon, she turned to Veil.
Anger blazed across her face.
Tie said loud enough for all to hear.
"...Hey, Veil bro. If we don't give antidote, the Poison Needle Bomb victims all go to heaven, right?"
The servants flinched, and Veil's expression turned peculiar.
Because Tie and Veil best knew Poison Needle Bombs didn't kill.
‘Yet she says it anyway...’
Veil smiled with interest.
"...Wow, our kiddo. You've truly become the Necromancer King, huh?"
