Damned System

Chapter 74. Reunion and Encounter (6)

The little one who had been hiding behind my leg suddenly climbed up my body and onto my shoulder.

I almost swatted the kid away in surprise, but managed to calm my startled heart.

“I’ll tell you where the blue one lives!”

In the meantime, the kid stubbornly insisted on their claim.

‘Blue one…’

It must be referring to Rashar’s hair color, right? I had no idea what kind of relationship she and this kid had.

‘Let’s use this as an excuse to back out.’

Thanks to this unexpected connection, I could avoid getting entangled with Hesserma.

“Hah!”

“Hmm?”

But Hesserma’s reaction was rather strange.

After seeing the kid who had climbed up my body, he swallowed nervously.

Moreover, he mumbled something meaningful.

“Of all times…”

“What’s the matter?”

But he didn’t respond to my question. He simply stared at the kid perched on my shoulder with a stiff expression.

It didn’t seem important enough to pry, and I used the opportunity to slip away.

“I appreciate the offer, but I think I can go on my own.”

I declined his proposal.

“Oh, wait, just a moment. If you’re going, I can offer both of you a more comfortable ride in my carriage—”

Hesserma persistently tried to persuade me, but suddenly flinched back in surprise.

The kid, now comfortable on my shoulder, had bared their fangs and hissed at him.

The suddenness of it shocked me as much as it did Hesserma.

But I couldn’t remain frozen forever, as the kid started whining incessantly.

“I know the way, I’ll show it to him! You stay out of it!”

Soft fur touched my neck—it was the kid’s tail.

Feeling trapped and uncomfortable, I unwrapped the tail from my neck and spoke.

“So they say. Anyway, it was nice meeting you again. Until next time…”

“That way, that way, hurry up!”

“Hey, hey! Don’t pull my hair!”

Although it wasn’t quite intentional, I managed to awkwardly finish my farewell with Hesserma due to the kid’s mischievous antics and was able to turn away.

* * *

Honestly, until I had my back to Hesserma and was walking away, I didn’t expect this situation would unfold.

“Miss Berta, it’s been a while.”

“Yup!”

But regardless of the fact, the little one didn’t seem inclined to come down from my shoulder, responding brightly.

It was an elderly gentleman who greeted the kid.

“I am Chandler, serving Miss Rashar.”

White hair neatly combed and wearing half-moon spectacles, the man remained calm.

Even when he looked at me, hair disheveled from carrying the kid on my shoulder, he showed no sign of disturbance.

“And, you say you came to see Miss Rashar.”

Meanwhile, exhausted from wrestling with the kid on the way here, I sighed near a lamentable breath as I replied.

“… Yes.”

I had originally approached the kid to ask for directions to the resistance headquarters.

However, I ended up accompanying them all the way to the headquarters and now found myself at Rashar’s mansion.

Initially, I tried to send the kid back. I didn’t want to be mistaken for a kidnapper.

But the kid resisted getting off, and I soon gave up after a few scrimmages.

The kid was too quick, escaping my grasp every time.

Along the way, I gained scratches from her claws.

‘They’re not exactly human-like, are they?’

I had guessed as much, ever since they matched my running speed, but…

The kid’s strength and reflexes were far beyond human standards.

Engaging in another scuffle would just add more scratches to my face.

‘It’s not like I brought her here. She followed me.’

I swore to argue vehemently if the kid’s guardian ever accused me.

To do so, I couldn’t let the kid get even a single hair damaged.

Ultimately, I decided to let the kid remain—as opposed to forcibly dragging her off.

Once I relented, the kid wrapped her legs around my neck.

And that’s how I unwillingly, and with the kid’s whim, arrived at Rashar’s mansion with her still in tow.

Part self-choice, part sway of circumstances, I arrived with the kid at Rashar’s place, reflecting on what the elderly man said.

‘A young lady, huh…’

He didn’t just call Rashar a young lady, but this kid too, didn’t they?

“Hehe, I brought him here!”

I wondered about the identity of this kid, clinging with all fours and pulling on my hair as if demanding attention.

What kind of kid gets to roam freely in this vast mansion, making the guards open the gate without even checking my identity?

How does Chandler, who serves Rashar, know this kid?

“May I ask your name?”

“… It’s K.”

“Ah.”

Upon my weary response, the gentleman’s eyes widened slightly.

That reaction meant something, surely.

“Do you know of me?”

“I’ve only heard some light tales.”

Though he mentioned Rashar’s house, it seemed like she had spoken of me to him.

Thanks to the kid, I appeared to have found the place successfully.

“Unfortunately, the young lady is currently at the headquarters…”

The issue was that Rashar wasn’t there either.

“If there are no urgent tasks, may I suggest waiting? I’ll send a telegraph to notify her.”

Fortunately, there was a way to contact her.

‘I should be grateful for that.’

At least this wasn’t a wild goose chase, and I needn’t wander around looking for Rashar. Waiting wasn’t a problem.

I also had a mind to take a break while waiting for her.

Traveling here with the kid had worn me out.

“Well, I appreciate that.”

Chandler, bowing his head graciously, turned slightly and spoke.

“I’ve kept you standing too long. First, let’s move upstairs; I’ll guide you to the drawing room.”

We had just begun climbing the stairs at the center of the hall, when suddenly, I felt the kid standing up on my shoulder.

“I smell chocolate!”

Before I could react, the kid catapulted off, lightning-fast.

The momentum from her leap left me staggering for balance momentarily.

But despite it all, I wasn’t displeased.

‘Finally!’

I was free at last; I touched my head gingerly.

The scalp felt tender from being yanked too hard for too long.

Seeing the strands of hair floating down as I rubbed my head left me with mixed feelings.

‘If this had continued, I would’ve certainly gone bald.’

Exhaling a withheld sigh, Chandler’s soft voice reached me.

“It seems chocolate is being made in the dining room. It’s Miss Berta’s favorite treat.”

My expression turned peculiar.

The existence of chocolate in this world wasn’t particularly hard to accept.

Where people lived, indulgences naturally followed.

But it was surprising that this kid could eat chocolate.

‘I thought they resembled beasts more.’

Generally, caffeine is toxic to dogs or cats, right?

Chocolate certainly contains caffeine.

That’s why I had assumed a feline-like kid shouldn’t consume it, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.

“It may be cautious of me to mention this to someone who’s had a trying time, but please don’t regard Miss Berta too harshly.”

Unsure how Chandler interpreted my gaze towards the kid’s direction, he faced me halfway and calmly continued.

“Perhaps Miss Berta just likes you, mr. K.”

“I’m not petty enough to make a big deal over a few scratches from a kid.”

True, I had no intention to rage over some scratches.

It was simply the kid’s behavior today that weighed on my mind.

“Even so, she should learn about the dangers of the world. Following strangers like today could lead to trouble.”

It was fortunate that, in the end, I arrived at a house of someone I knew.

What would’ve happened if I had harbored ill intentions and kidnapped the kid who so readily followed a stranger?

Feeling that Chandler, seemingly familiar with the kid, would understand, I made my point, but…

“Due to their innate nature, beastfolk children are often left freely unattended, driven by curiosity with little fear.”

Surprisingly, I managed to glean some insight into the kid I had only vaguely speculated about.

“Beastfolk are born with bodies dramatically mightier than humans, so it’s only natural.”

Immediately after, Chandler gestured to continue moving up the stairs, as if resuming the tour.

The broad staircase connecting the hall’s ground floor to the second level branched into two midway.

Chandler turned toward the eastward passage.

Mulling over what I had heard, I followed him.

‘Beastfolk, huh.’

It didn’t sound like the documents or hunters I knew of.

‘If it is, indeed, referring to beasts, then it makes sense.’

Recalling the kid’s exterior, that appeared most plausible.

Taking advantage of the ongoing conversation, I decided to inquire further.

“What exactly is that kid’s identity?”

Is it merely because she’s a beastfolk that she wanders about the mansion freely being called a young lady? Or is there more to the story?

Curious and wary, I asked, soon receiving an answer.

“She is the youngest daughter of the current king of the beastfolk, lord Horfe.”

The word out of Chandler’s mouth was quite grand, leaving me momentarily speechless.

‘A king’s youngest daughter.’

The journey that led me here, from meeting the kid to arriving, flashed through my mind.

To humans, she would be akin to royalty, yet she roamed alone and even followed a stranger without hesitation?

“Is it alright for someone like her to wander alone? What if something happens…”

“They’ll have to be prepared for the death of an entire family.”

Chandler chuckled quietly, replying lightly.

His ongoing story was slightly shocking.

“There are illegal traffickers of Demi-humans, alive and well. Somewhere in secrecy, certainly.”

But trafficking beastfolk is incredibly rare.

From the moment their identity is exposed, their family would be brutally murdered and displayed.

Not only the perpetrator but their direct kin, extended family, and even a neighbor caught in friendly terms could become targets for revenge.

Usually, if evidence of human trafficking is conclusive, both national leaders and military commanders overlook the ensuing massacre.

In exchange for dispatching the beastfolk to the frontline, particularly fiercely contested areas.

“Uh.”

Honestly, it was somewhat startling.

This story served as a reminder that this world was a monarchy with a caste-based system.

‘If such vengeful massacres happened on Earth, countless human rights organizations would protest in droves.’

But this wasn’t Earth, and therein lay possibilities unique to this world.

I had to accept that.

While I sunk into deep contemplation, Chandler’s storytelling continued.

“Staying true to their instincts, beastfolk more frequently allow their children to wander freely.”

Especially notable in the case of predatory beastfolk.

“They believe restricting potential mishaps stifles their feral nature.”

In a way, similar to lion folklore, pushing their cubs off a cliff for strength.

“Moreover, their bodily prowess soars beyond human capacity, rendering them nearly invulnerable to ordinary incidents.”

Even at just four years old, that kid possesses the jaw strength capable of crushing an adult’s skull.

With that chilling revelation, cold sweat beaded on my back.

Damn system…