Ch#138
Veil replied innocently.
"That's right. They won't last long. At most, maybe two minutes?"
"Two minutes?! You said two minutes right now?!"
Lea and Helga jumped to their feet.
"Ugh...... Ugh......"
The fallen servants began writhing with all their might.
Helga hurriedly stepped forward.
"P-please, don't do this. We're begging for the antidote! Are you really trying to kill us all?!"
But Tie just shrugged with a sullen expression.
In her panic, Lea rushed toward Tie.
"I-is this okay for a mercenary group? A mercenary group that protects people from monsters— is it okay to harm people like this?!"
"Huh? But Tie's mercenary group didn't do anything bad?"
"That's nonsense! If this isn't harming people, then what is?!"
"But we just put the Poison Needle Bombs in the cart. They came and touched it on their own, so it exploded......"
Helga shut her mouth, unable to retort.
Then Lea next to her shrieked.
"W-what did we do so wrong anyway?! As servants, being a bit cold because we disliked our young lady—is that such a huge crime?!"
Tie, who had been watching quietly, muttered to herself in amazement.
"Wow, the one who farted is the one getting mad......!"
"U-ugh!"
At that moment, a desperate groan came from behind.
There, the Head Maid was letting out strange noises.
The Head Maid sent an urgent glance at Helga and Lea, as if telling them to come closer.
As the two prostrated on the floor, the Head Maid moved her lips as if saying something.
Having understood, Helga and Lea's faces darkened.
Soon, they approached Tie again.
"O-okay! We were all wrong! So please give us the antidote! It's almost two minutes now!"
But Tie answered firmly.
"No way. We'll give the antidote after you return all of Selina's stolen stuff."
The child demonstratively pulled forward the kindergarten bag slung over her shoulder.
Then she took out the antidote from inside and dangled it in front of the two.
"First, return Selina's mom and dad's stuff, and give all your money to Selina too."
"Ugh......!"
The sprawled ones groaned.
However, Tie just smirked like a movie boss.
'Hah. Tie isn't dumb.'
If they had stolen valuables from Selina's family home, what they did with them was obvious.
They sold them for cash.
It was infuriating and unfair, but they had probably already spent most of that money.
"If you don't like it, all you bad servants go to heaven together!"
"Ugh! Waaah!"
A plea for mercy leaked from the Head Maid's mouth.
She glanced at Helga and Lea again.
Helga and Lea, biting their nails anxiously, glanced at Tie and stammered hurriedly.
"If you insist, actually, some valuables we happened to find in the mansion are at our lodging......"
"If you lie to Tie or hide it, then off to heaven you go."
"Th-there's some in the basement too! And in the national vault, borrowed under the young lady's name......!"
Veil stretched.
"Now we're talking. Guess we gotta check first? If even one more thing turns up missing, you die by our Necromancer King's hand?"
The servants trembled.
"O-okay! Th-then give us the antidote now......"
"Noble kid. You're coming with me. Gotta verify their lodging and basement. I don't know the mansion layout."
Selina hesitantly took Veil's hand.
"Wh-where are you going? You have to give the antidote......!"
At that moment, Tie shouted brightly.
"Ppuppue! Subspace evolution!"
Ppuppue spun its nose round and round upon hearing its name, creating a Subspace in midair.
Tie then looked at Lucarion.
"Lucarion, let's put these people in the Subspace!"
Lucarion nodded and raised his hand sharply.
Then Helga, Lea, and the paralyzed servants floated into the air.
"Aaaah! What, what are you doing?! The antidote?!"
"Ugh!! Uuuugh!"
Amid the chaotic screams, Tie just giggled hehe.
Then she glanced once at the panicking servants.
"Ppuppue, close it!"
And abruptly began closing the Subspace.
"H-hey-!!"
"No-!"
Tie gazed fondly at the closing Subspace, then stuck out her tongue at the last moment.
Then she crossed her arms and laughed like an organization boss once more.
"Umhahha!"
The Poison Needle Bomb's paralyzing poison lasts 10 hours without antidote.
So the servants would spend the next 10 hours terrified of dying without antidote.
"An eye for an eye. A butt for a butt! Umhahhaha!"
Tie's booming laughter echoed through the mansion for a while like that.
Two hours later.
Selina, having recovered some valuables and money the servants had siphoned, returned to the dining room.
And spotted an unfamiliar person in the kitchen.
"Selina! This auntie's Aunt Marshal. She said she'd make us yummy food 'cause we're hungry!"
"R-really?"
Come to think of it, she vaguely remembered seeing her a few times.
The longtime caretaker of the mansion across the way.
The kind woman who always waved at Selina whenever their eyes met.
As she sat awkwardly in her chair, Marshal approached the table with two large plates.
"Eat lots, kids? Veggies too."
Selina stared blankly at the plate before her.
Chunks of meat floated in the richly colored soup.
On one side of the plate were thoroughly cooked veggies, thoughtfully prepared for nutrition.
"Eat up and have seconds. Gotta eat well to grow tall."
Marshal patted Selina's head.
"Thanks, we'll eat well!"
Tie, who had greeted spiritedly, scooped a big spoonful of soup first.
"......"
Selina, spoon in hand, lost her words.
The soup was truly delicious.
Not charred meat, not undercooked veggies.
It had been so long since she'd eaten properly cooked, heartfelt food that her eyes stung automatically.
"Selina, don't cry and eat Tie's too!"
Tie hurriedly scooped meat from her soup to Selina's upon seeing her reddening eyes.
It was then, as Selina watched with teary eyes.
"Hey, noble kid."
Veil appeared from behind.
In Veil's hand was a blinking red Communication Orb.
As Selina's eyes widened.
-Selina! We're coming right now, right now!
Her mother's cracked voice came from the Communication Orb.
-Our daughter, you must've been so shocked? Mom and Dad are coming now, just wait six more days and Mom and Dad will be there...... Uh, sob.
-We didn't know. It's all our fault! How much you must've endured alone all this time......
Veil handed the Communication Orb to the frozen Selina.
Selina clutched it tightly and barely managed a voice.
"M-Mom, Dad......"
-Yes, dear! It's okay. No need to say anything. Mom heard it all, and we're so...... so sorry. Agavert said they'll protect you until we arrive, so don't worry......!
Soon, thick tears began rolling down Selina's cheeks.
Tie unconsciously rubbed her nose.
'......Will Dad remember Tie again someday?'
And say he's sorry for not recognizing her all this time, and hug her?
Tie stared at Selina for a long while, forgetting to eat.
Because one corner of her heart felt choked up, making it hard to hold back tears.
* * *
That evening.
"Y-you got 100 Teleportation Circles?!"
Agavert's base, where they returned with Selina.
Nordics staggered in place at the entrance.
"Yeees! Selina's mom and dad gave them for free!"
"Not free. We're getting paid to look after the noble kid for the next six days."
Tie went "Oops" and nodded.
"Yup, compensation!"
But even so, Nordics couldn't easily close his mouth.
A single Teleportation Circle cost 300 gold at present.
'So 100 would be 30,000 gold......'
Nordics's gaze drifted blankly to Tie.
Tie had spent 16,000 gold, but earned twice that back just like that.
