I Just Wanted Revenge, But Everyone Loves Me - Chapter 91

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 91
‘Hmm.’
A cake thief with an astronomical record—I had to see it for myself.
‘Just a child, then.’
Walter’s eyes narrowed to sharp slits.
He’d known from the voice, but the creature standing before him was smaller than he’d imagined.
A child barely reaching his knees, and yet capable of such prolific theft. Walter found himself chuckling despite himself.
“What, what is it!”
The child who’d been trailing behind the others faltered for a moment.
Walter, unafraid, slowly appraised the figure before him.
At first glance: careless posture, casual speech. A voice lacking discipline, manners utterly abysmal.
And yet,
“Hmm?”
Walter smiled upon noticing the tattoo etched on the back of the child’s hand.
“Why does that mark appear there?”
Genuine curiosity seized him. He knew everyone in Arabesque—every single one. Had there been someone like this?
“There isn’t.”
There isn’t, not at all.
His mind hadn’t slipped in the space of minutes and seconds.
Which meant only one possibility remained.
“It seems impostors have sprouted while I’ve been away.”
They’d been lying low during the auction, but seizing their chance, the fraudsters had grown bold.
Audaciously so.
“Children.”
“Ah, not children! I’m—!”
“Yes, children.”
No matter what the little one protested, Walter calmly addressed both youngsters.
“You seem to be in quite the predicament. Shall grandfather help?”
“What?”
“That frightening man won’t come after you two?”
Even if grandfather could kill him.
—Walter swallowed those words and offered a kindly smile.
Now, how to dispose of this one…
“No!”
“…Hmm?”
“We just need to run a little further…”
The child jerked its head toward the street corner packed with people.
“Will grandfather run away with us? That man is chasing us so terribly hard.”
“?”
At those words, Walter’s faculties momentarily ceased.
Did this child just ask him—the master of Arabesque—to run away?
“Ha, ha ha!”
In all his years, he’d never heard anything so preposterous.
“You say amusing things.”
It had been long since he’d laughed. He’d never imagined this small child could bring him joy.
“Yes, let’s run away together—but tell me, is there an adult who can help?”
“Yes!”
“Ho, I’m quite curious.”
At the child’s confident answer, Walter’s eyes gleamed for a moment. Rather than wondering if the opponent was truly strong, he found himself fascinated: who was this adult traveling with such a child?
“But fear not. In my youth, your grandfather could fly through the air as well.”
The child’s eyes widened at those words—wide and round, almost painfully innocent. In that instant, Walter found it rather endearing when—
“…!”
A chilling presence swept past the path they’d just traveled. Walter’s pupils dilated.
Moments later, sensing the presence, he reached into his pocket and withdrew a business card.
“I don’t usually give these out.”
A black business card bearing no emblem, no name, no marking whatsoever was pressed into the child’s hands.
“If you wish to contact me later, burn this. Tell no one else.”
“What is this?”
“A key.”
“A key?”
The child accepted the card and tilted its head in confusion.
Before the question could be fully formed, Walter gestured toward the street corner.
“Go now. Your helper has arrived.”
“But grandfather—”
“I have words for that man.”
With that, Walter turned to face the newcomer.
As their eyes met, the man’s body trembled involuntarily. An overwhelming murderous aura pierced his entire being like needles.
‘I… I can’t move.’
As panic seized him,
“Go on.”
Walter urged him gently forward.
The little one, reading the moment, murmured nervously,
“…You should be careful. That man looks incredibly strong.”
“Yes, yes.”
Even as he comforted the worried child, Walter sent them off with a wave.
The hesitant little one bowed its head respectfully.
Then, taking the other child with them, they ran hard in the other direction.
The moment the small figures vanished from sight,
“…”
The gentle smile froze instantly.
Two subordinates appeared from nowhere, the man collapsing between them.
“Bring him.”
At those words alone, his men moved with precision.
The impostor would soon be locked in the Guild basement to experience hell itself.
Walter turned, having handled the matter quietly so as not to disturb others.
He gazed in the direction the children had gone, smiling faintly.
‘Only for a moment.’
But he’d felt it clearly.
That eerie presence from long ago. And it was directed, precisely, at the brave little one he’d just met.
As if someone were coming to rescue the child. Quite desperately, in fact.
‘I wondered who the adult was keeping them.’
Bancadium, of all things.
“Fortune smiles.”
Recalling the business card given to the child, Walter smiled with satisfaction.
* * *
“Dust!”
“Hya… gack?!”
How long had we been running after turning the corner?
The moment I caught sight of Hyacinth, a dark shape came rushing toward us—
—and suddenly swept me into its arms.
“W-Your Grace?”
I’d grown accustomed to that sensation. My mouth fell open in shock. The eyes visible beneath the robe were the same blue as mine, but beyond them, a faint golden shimmer danced.
“What on earth are you—!”
“Let’s get out of here first! We can scold them later!”
Hyacinth came panting up, her voice breathless and urgent. Rem nodded at her side.
“Too many eyes watching. We must leave.”
“…Sigh.”
The Duke exhaled deeply, then his body spun around sharply.
In that instant, I grabbed hold of him urgently.
“Wait, wait!”
“?”
At my cry, the Duke’s brow furrowed. Mustering the last of my courage, I pointed at one spot.
The child who’d fled with me…
“Huh…?”
Where…?
Where did they go?!
* * *
Meanwhile, the child who’d fled with Karin retraced their steps down the path they’d come.
Back to the very place where death had threatened.
“Hmm?”
Walter, having just finished dealing with the man and preparing to leave, slowed his pace at the sight of something small.
“Mm.”
“…”
“The child who was with the little one.”
Perhaps because the small one had made such an impression, Walter only now recalled this child.
“I’m certain I told you to run away. Where’s the little one, and why are you here alone?”
“Take me with you.”
“?”
Walter’s eyes widened.
The child spoke clearly, deliberately.
“You’re strong.”
Unlike himself, who could do nothing, the man had dispatched the threat with ease.
Complete ease.
His eyes had betrayed no strain, no desperation—only composure from beginning to end.
In that moment, the child made a decision.
This person—they must follow them.
That was the only way to survive. The child opened their mouth.
“I’ll do anything. Just take me with you.”
“Master, shall we dispose of—”
One of his subordinates began to step forward when Walter raised a hand, stopping them.
The subordinate immediately fell silent, as if nothing had happened.
“Why should I take you? What good comes of it?”
“…”
“You didn’t even worry about this old man, did you?”
“There was no need to.”
Running away now would mean capture and death regardless. Better to attach themselves to someone stronger.
“You’ll survive better than I would.”
“…”
“Should I worry about you too?”
“Ha!”
Walter couldn’t help but laugh at those words. First with the child earlier, and now this.
“I’ve had much to laugh about today.”
Such boldness, spoken without fear before him. Walter’s shoulders shook with laughter, his eyes crinkling as he spoke.
“All right, then.”
With this child around, perhaps meeting that little one from Bancadium would be easier.
Deeming it providence, Walter nodded.
“Come with me.”
“…Ugh!”
“However.”
The child crumpled to the ground. Walter had deliberately knocked them unconscious for easier transport.
Having ordered a subordinate to carry the child, Walter finally moved on.
“First thing when we arrive, I’ll break you of that impudent habit.”
Disrespect was precisely what he despised.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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