The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 52

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

Chapter 52

Merchant group escorts frequently engaged in small-scale battles with bandits trying to steal cargo. His brains would definitely be helpful.

While groaning inwardly, I looked at Henri and Isaac.

“I want somefing.”

“What is it, Leblaine?”

“What is it! Tell us everything. I’ll buy it all for you!”

“Doggy. (Puppy.)”

The two of them blankly muttered “Doggy…”

* * *

Henri, Isaac, the maids and I came outside the castle.

It was because I said I wanted to adopt a dog, so we were going to see them together.

Isaac said he would bring the prettiest puppy, but I stubbornly insisted that I must go see them myself.

“What if Second Brother brings a doggy but it doesn’t really like Lebu? The doggy would be pitiful.”

At my words, the Young Masters made truly bewildered expressions and answered.

“There’s no way any living creature in this world could dislike you, right?”

Their rose-colored glasses were getting thicker by the day.

Still, because the two of them gave in to me, we were able to go see the puppies like this.

Our destination was Plum Street beyond Dubbled. That’s where the pet shop for nobles was located.

‘And also the private orphanage where Zachary is.’

Just as I was thinking that, the carriage stopped.

I got out of the carriage holding Henri and Isaac’s hands. Then I looked around the street, and it was as luxurious as the Dubbled Shopping District.

“Wow…”

When I was amazed, the maids smiled brightly and said.

“It’s dazzling, isn’t it? This is where the Empire’s largest casino is located. Restaurant districts and shopping districts formed around the casino, so there’s a lot to see.”

It was definitely a place that was fun to look around.

I held the maids’ hands and toddled after Henri and Isaac.

‘The casino really is huge.’

Then, Lea glanced back and whispered to the Young Masters.

“Something is following us.”

“I felt it.”

Isaac’s eyes became unusually cold.

“Four… no, five?”

“They are trained individuals. They are skilled in stealth.”

As I widened my eyes in surprise, Henri and Isaac looked at me with nonchalant expressions.

“Leblaine, stay with the maids for a moment.”

“Okay, I’ll be right back.”

I grabbed both of their collars with a slightly nervous face and asked, “Do you have to go…?”

“Are you worried? You fool, I’m incredibly strong. There’s no need for worry, you know?”

While saying that, Isaac grabbed me tightly and rubbed his face against my cheek. He seemed very pleased by my worry.

Then Henri grabbed the back of his neck, threw him aside, and laughed.

“Don’t worry and wait here. We’ll be back soon.”

‘What I’m worried about are the people following us…’

Because Isaac seemed like he would snap all their necks.

I repeatedly said “Come back soon,” and Isaac and Henri left me with Lea and the maids before disappearing.

“Young Lady, shall we go to a bakery? The plum sherbet on Plum Street is supposed to be very delicious. It’s just past this alley.”

“Good.”

I headed to the bakery with Lea and the maids.

The maids kept talking about various things in case I might feel anxious.

“What kind of puppy will you bring home? A big one with fluffy fur would be nice, wouldn’t it?”

“Small ones with short fur are cute too.”

“A small poodle that looks just like Young Lady would be nice too.”

“Shall I get a catalog from the pet shop while you’re at the bakery? You could look for what kind of puppy you’d like.”

Just as we were entering the alley, I spotted someone in front of a shabby building, holding a match fire and grinning wickedly.

“You think you can get away with eating up all my money, you damn bastards.”

The boy muttered ominously and threw the flame at the building.

The maids stared blankly at the building that was starting to catch fire.

“Oh my, that’s a gambling den run by those scumbags. That kid’s going to get beaten badly if he’s caught.”

Yuni, who used to be a loan shark, said.

“Should we help him?”

It was Dahlia, the serial killer sexual predator who had the most compassion among the three maids.

“Why bother when it’s not our business?”

Linda the con artist asked.

Honestly, the cynical adult Leblaine’s thinking agreed with the maids’ thoughts. But as a child, my conscience was pricking me.

‘He looks about thirteen, and I can’t just watch him get beaten to death by thugs.’

Putting out the fire wouldn’t be that difficult.

I let out a deep sigh and tugged on Lea’s sleeve.

“Eyes stinging.”

Only then did the maids’ eyes flash as they rushed over and frantically stomped on the flames.

“Bad fire making our Young Lady’s eyes sting.”

“Bad fire!”

The boy frowned at the unexpected interference.

“What kind of nonsense is this?”

He made an incredulous expression.

“Ladies, why are you interfering with other people’s business!”

“Setting fires isn’t business. It’s a crime.”

When I said that, he muttered “What is this now” and looked at me.

“Are you the owner of these crazy things?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to die? Don’t interfere and get lost. Ugly thing.”

At that, the maids who had been frantically stomping on the embers stopped their feet. Lea, who was holding my hand, also became fierce.

“You, what did you just say…?”

“Who’s ugly?”

“Yuni, go get my club.”

Lea smiled brightly at me and said, “Young Lady, please close your eyes for a moment and count to 30 here.”

I glanced at the fuming boy and obediently covered my eyes with both hands.

“One, two, three…”

The boy’s screams echoed through the narrow alley.

* * *

“Huuuuung…”

The boy was pressed against the wall with both arms raised high, tears and snot streaming down his face.

The maids looked at the boy with narrow eyes and scolded him.

“Raise your arms higher! The chant!”

When the maids shouted, the startled boy cried out while sobbing.

“Young Lady is the cutest in the world!”

“One more time!”

“Young Lady is the most in the world…!”

Just as he was shouting, a rumbling sound came from the boy’s stomach. Even while crying, he seemed embarrassed and muttered “Damn it.”

“Are you hungry?”

“What’s it to you… ma’am.”

He who had been sniffling quickly used honorifics when he saw the maids’ glaring eyes.

I waved my hands at the maids surrounding the boy, who had once chewed on kudzu roots in their younger days.

The maids reluctantly stepped back, and I reached out my hand to him. The startled boy hunched his shoulders. He must have thought I was going to hit him.

I rubbed the soot on the boy’s cheek with my fingertips to wipe it off.

“You had some here.”

“…”

“We’re going to the bakery. Let’s go together.”

“I don’t have money…”

I rummaged through the bag at my side and pulled out a handful of gold coins.

It was pocket money that the retainers had secretly given me when they heard I was going to Plum Street with Henri and Isaac.

“I have some!”

“Is all that yours? …sir.”

“Yeah.”

“Wow, with that much you could spin the roulette thirty times.”

The boy nodded with sparkling eyes while glancing at the maids.

I entered the bakery together with the maids and the boy.

The maids said “Our Young Lady would like this too. And that too, and this too…” as they piled bread like a mountain on their trays.

Since the bread at this bakery was quite expensive and no one usually bought this much at once, the clerks and customers gaped at us with their mouths wide open.

I held out the bread the maids had brought to the boy.

“Here.”

“….”

He looked at me with slightly wary eyes before taking the bread. After taking one bite, his eyes widened. Then he started stuffing it hurriedly into his mouth.

“Cough!”

He was eating too hastily and seemed to choke, coughing, so I handed him some milk too.

“Don’t the adults take care of your meals?”

“Who’s gonna take care of an orphan’s meals? …sir.”

An orphan?

The only orphanage around here was the private orphanage where Zachary had been.

‘Could this kid be Zachary?’

I stared at him while thinking, then shook my head inwardly.

Zachary was one of the ‘Four Knights’ and a man who boasted tremendous martial arts skills.

It didn’t make sense for someone strong enough to rival Isaac to be this weak just because he was young.

Usually strong people were keenly aware of others’ presence.

Even Isaac, who was easily five years younger than this boy, had noticed the presence of someone following him before Lea did.

But this boy had committed arson without knowing we were making noise right next to him. Far from noticing presence, it meant his senses were dull.

Most importantly, the boy didn’t seem to have the prudent and thoughtful personality that Zachary was rumored to have.

‘Anyway, I got lucky. I was wondering how to meet Zachary, but if this kid is from the same orphanage, I might get a chance to meet him.’

I answered while holding my milk cup.

“I’m an orphan too.”

“…Liar, you have maids.”

“I was adopted.”

“You must be from a state-run or public one then?”

“No, privwate. (No, private.)”

The boy’s eyes grew wide.

“Holy shit, you really hit the jackpot.”

Adoptions from private orphanages almost never happened. Even when they did, it was mostly farmhouses taking children due to labor shortages.

“We’re in the same situation, so why didn’t you stop those monsters when they were about to beat me up?”

The boy whispered while clutching his bread.

“You didn’t get hit.”

“I almost did. Almost.”

“They’re not really the type to hit kids, so don’t worry.”

My maids are criminals, but they’re good criminals.

‘That’s kind of a strange thing to say though.’

The boy clicked his tongue and stuffed the remaining bread into his mouth.

Then he glanced around at the maids and hid a few pieces of bread under his shirt.

“You interfered with my work, but you gave me food so I’ll let it slide.”

“We didn’t interfere. That place is a gambling den. Why were you trying to set it on fire?”

“I handed over everything I earned, but turns out they were rigging the roulette. Fucking bastards.”

He clicked his tongue and frowned.

“You shouldn’t gamble in the first place.”

“Are you stupid? How could you not do something so fun?”

You’re the stupid one…

I let out a deep sigh.

“So if you set it on fire, this time instead of losing money, you’ll lose your organs, right?”

“Oh, you look young but you even know about having organs taken… You really are an orphan. I can totally feel the hardship you’ve been through.”

He grinned and lightly pressed my cheek with one hand.

That’s when it happened.

“What the hell are you doing?”

A cold voice came from the doorway.

Isaac was looking at the boy with eyes that seemed ready to tear him apart.

Isaac strode over and grabbed the boy’s wrist.

“Who are you to touch my younger sister?”

Isaac’s presence was extremely fierce. The boy gulped down dry saliva and looked down at Isaac, who was a span shorter than him.

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