༺ School Tuition is More Expensive Than I Thought! (4) ༻
The small wooden cabin recommended by the stranger Horohoro was cramped.
Additionally, it was filled with junk.
“Is this some kind of a closet?”
Cecily questioned the pink-haired girl who seemed to be a resident of the shack.
To her, living in this cramped and miserable place was inconceivable.
“This…isn’t a closet. This is Hina’s house…”
The pink-haired girl replied shyly.
Her voice was so faint and feeble that one would be hard-pressed to understand what she had said.
“You…”
“What an awesome house! There’s even lots of mice!”
Just as the Priestess of Gluttony was about to speak.
Naru cried out.
Naru pointed to a small, yet plump mouse wandering around. It had clearly been feeding on the leftover scraps in the house.
“Dad told me that mice are born thieves! This one is probably the leader of all the other mice in this shack!”
Naru giggled to herself.
However, Cecily seemed quite afraid.
“…M-M-MOUSE!!!”
Perhaps it was the loud noise that startled the mouse.
All of a sudden, the mouse began to scurry on the floor like mad.
—N-NOOOO!!!!
The rat was running wild.
And the sight of it was enough to make the sheltered Cecily panic.
“…F-Fuck! Go away..!!!”
“Oh, holy shhh…! Why is the mouse so fast!?”
Cecily balanced on her heels as she hopped around in an attempt to evade the mouse. Beside her, Naru had her arms raised as she continued to giggle.
Tywin’s expression soon became clouded with frustration.
“You’re acting like this because of one mouse? This is why I can’t stand stupid children…”
Although Tywin was acting tough, she too cautiously climbed on top of a chair.
It was clear that she wasn’t fond of mice either.
In this situation, Elizabeth calmly assessed it would be best to reassure Cecily first.
“Cecily, you have to calm down.”
“Get rid of it! Please! Hurry! The mouse!”
“You didn’t have an issue with catching a squirrel, so why are you so afraid of mice?”
“…I’m not scared, it’s just dirty! It even spreads diseases!”
She was indeed correct.
Elizabeth was very familiar with the characteristics of mice.
Within The City State of Freesia, her father had been known for his extensive research on Mormots, a subspecies of mice.
Just when Elizabeth believed she had no choice but to step in, something happened.
Whoosh—!
Something emerged from within Naru’s shadow.
It was the furry creature named Molumolu.
—Miaooooo.
—Screech!
Molumolu had caught the mouse.
While not even having legs, the creature suddenly began to resemble a fearsome cat.
“Molumolu caught the mouse! Are you going to eat it?”
Naru observed Molumolu’s actions.
However, it did not make any move to swallow or chew.
It simply continued to restrain its movements.
Watching this, Naru shouted, having arrived at her conclusion.
“Molumolu is such a picky eater!”
Grab—
Naru grabbed onto the restrained mouse’s tail.
Then, she tossed it outside of the dilapidated shack’s window.
Only then did it feel like some measure of control had been restored.
“This is…”
The pink-haired child began to show interest in Molumolu.
“A kit…ty? Hmm, I don’t think so…”
She picked him up but looked extremely uncomfortable whilst doing so.
“His name is Molumolu! Naru doesn’t know what kind of animal he is! You’re the Priestess of Gluttony, right? We came here because I heard you provide information if we give you something to eat! This is a cheese pork cutlet that Naru obtained!”
Rustle—
Naru took out the cheese pork cutlet that she had wrapped in parchment and offered it to the girl.
It was food that she had received from Tywin.
Grumble–
As the pink-haired Priestess watched, her belly began to rumble.
* * *
The name of the pink-haired Priestess was Hina.
Whilst living in the Provence Village, she had been dubbed the Priestess of Gluttony.
“Can you really predict the future?”
Tywin glared in suspicion as she spoke.
Hina looked no different than an ordinary girl like herself.
She was impressed that she knew the names of Naru, Elizabeth, and Cecily despite them not having introduced themselves.
She must have used some kind of trick.
Rustle—
As the last of the cheese pork cutlet vanished, Hina wiped her mouth off with her hand before speaking.
“The title of the Priestess of Gluttony…is just something that the people gave me… Hina isn’t really a Priestess.”
Her voice was more audible than it had been previously.
It seemed she had been so hungry, she didn’t have the energy to speak.
However.
The contents of her response left Tywin deeply unsatisfied.
“As I thought. You’re a fraud.”
A fraud.
Tywin felt as though her curiosity was finally being resolved.
However, Hina’s story did not end there.
“…However, I know what must be done. Ask me anything you’re curious about. Since you gave me food…I’ll tell you all that I know.”
“Can you tell me what kind of an animal Molumolu is?”
Naru asked the question that had been on her mind.
Although Molumolu was being held uncomfortably, almost like a doll, he showed no signs of distress.
It was because he had received a strawberry from Naru.
“…I don’t know. This is… a weird animal…is it even an animal?”
Hina shook her head.
Following that, Naru cried out in joy.
“Oh, holy shh! Molumolu was just Molumolu! He might meow like a cat, but sometimes he even barks! Naru doesn’t have the slightest clue what kind of an animal he is!”
—Kong! Kong!
Whilst watching Naru, Tywin was just about to give up.
However, Hina’s gaze focused on Cecily.
“Cecily.”
“….Me?”
“You.. are looking for your parents…correct? Your mom… will soon be in the Kowloon Mountains. Perhaps even tonight… If you want to meet her…you have to go there…”
Cecily was shocked.
She had never mentioned her parents, so the fact that Hina already knew everything was unbelievable.
‘Also, where on earth are the Kowloon Mountains?’
Knock- Knock–
Just then, someone knocked on the door to the shack.
“Is this the place where the Priestess of Gluttony resides?”
The door burst open, and someone quickly entered.
It was a roughly 40-year-old man who had a hook for an arm.
His face, dirty and unshaven, made him look like a bandit.
“…Why are there so many brats? Who among you is the Priestess of Gluttony?”
Swoosh—
Hina quickly raised her hand.
As she did so, the man grinned, unsheathing his blade.
“You’re the Priestess of Gluttony? As rumored, you really are a brat. Alright. Kill everyone besides her. We can’t have any witnesses. Ripper is a bit picky about things like this.”
Within The City-State of Freesia, children were valued above all else.
Even thieves and bandits refrained from even mentioning the word “kill” whilst in the vicinity of children.
At worst, they would kidnap them for ransom.
However.
The man with a hook hand joyfully stated that he would kill them.
Tywin quickly noticed that the man was not bluffing.
‘Is he a villain after the Priestess of Gluttony? What’s worse, he’s quite capable. He’s at least gold ranked…Therefore, all I can do is…”
Raise—
Tywin then raised her hand.
“I’m also a Priestess of Gluttony.”
“…Is that so?”
At that moment, his face became visibly more terrifying.
Even Elizabeth, who looked as though she may wet herself at any moment, was quick to grasp the situation.
“M-Me too!”
Swoosh—
Elizabeth quickly raised her hand.
Cecily, being quite sensible, was quick to do the same.
“…I-I’m a Priestess too!”
The hook-arm bandit tightened his fist.
He was in quite an awkward position.
He had been told to find and bring the Priestess of Gluttony, but he hadn’t heard that there were multiple.
“To think that all of these strange brats are Priestesses of Gluttony. I suppose news doesn’t travel fast around the mountainside. It’s a pain to bring all of you with us. Are you a Priestess of Gluttony as well?
The bandit now focused his gaze on one particular individual.
All of the other children focused their gaze on the black-haired child, who suddenly cried out.
“No, Naru is Naru! Naru Barjudas!”
“Ah-.”
“Aa…”
Everyone froze upon hearing Naru’s cry.
However, the bandit seemed fixated on a much different detail.
“Barjudas?”
“Yeah! Naru is Judas’ daughter! I’m the Princess of the Back Alley! Your hook hand is so cool!”
The expression of the bandit quickly stiffened.
He then murmured something to himself.
“…Judas…Barjudas…Could you be that bastard’s daughter?”
Conrad awkwardly rubbed his hooked hand.
His expression seemed rather distraught.
However, he soon shook his head.
“It can’t be. How could that evil man ever have a child? Could she be the daughter of the former King of Thieves? Tamar’s step-sister? Yeah, that seems likely.”
Slide—
Conrad returned his shortsword back to his scabbard before he spoke.
“To think I would meet the former king of thieves’ illegitimate daughter. This must be fate guided by Nocturne. Everyone, let’s hurry and go to the ‘Kowloon Mountains’. We have no time to waste. Everyone get into the carriage.”
The children carefully climbed inside the prepared carriage.
At that moment, Naru quietly asked a question.
“Where is Horohoro…?”
Horohoro of Class H.
Was now nowhere to be found.
* * *
“The carriage just took the kids and left.”
They were in Provence Village.
Smelling of cow dung and possessing a disheveled appearance, an old woman explained what had occurred.
“The man was so terrifying, we all hid in our closets. This region is notorious for having lots of thieves that originate from the old Kowloon Mountains. Only bloodshed would come from getting involved with them. Still, I managed to spy on them through the window.”
Hearing this, the pharmacist Ilgast Lanafeld clutched his head, crying out desperately.
“Elizabeth, no! I’m sure Elizabeth must have been kidnapped by that evil hook-handed man! It must be because she is a kind and adorable child! Of course, they would want to kidnap someone like that!”
Ilgast.
He was the best doctor on the Freesia Continent.
He also seemed to be quite the doting parent.
We had been shocked when an unknown man had knocked, asking “Do you happen to know where Elizabeth is?” It had been quite shocking.
In the evening, a father went to retrieve his daughter from her friend’s house, only to discover she wasn’t there.
Naturally.
Elizabeth was nowhere near Brigitte’s laboratory.
Despite it nearing dinner-time, Naru was not present either.
Had they gone to Cecily’s estate?
I had made my way there and asked, but it seemed Cecily had not returned either.
“Judas, I think something happened.”
Whilst pacing near the entrance of the Ragdoll Estate, Cariote spoke.
“I have something I must ask Cecily. If she disappears, things will get complicated. I’ll help you find them.”
Cariote was soon able to discern that the kids had boarded the magic carriage.
It was heading to the nearby Providence Village, which was the reason that we were currently speaking to this elderly woman.
“The carriage headed in that direction. Make sure to be careful though! You see that thorn-like mountain right? The entire area is their base of operations!”
The Kowloon Mountains.
It was a common term used for places where thieves gathered.
“It seems the thieves kidnapped them! What do we do…!?”
Elizabeth’s father, llgast, was clearly distraught.
He felt that his daughter had been kidnapped.
However, I noticed something strange while listening to his account.
“You said that the children went with them willingly. If they were intent on kidnapping them, they would’ve just tied them up and thrown them inside. From what you’ve told me, the kids boarded a luxurious carriage.”
It was strange for a supposed kidnapping organized by a bunch of thieves.
Additionally, the children didn’t raise a fuss.
Naru and Cecily weren’t the type to stay quiet in a situation like this.
“This might not be a simple kidnapping.”
“…How do you know that?”
“Did you forget who you’re speaking to? I’m an expert in this field.”
“Ah.”
Ilgast seemed to come to an understanding.
Of course, I couldn’t guarantee that I was right, but I had my doubts about the situation.
“We were planning on heading to their hideout anyway. Still, I didn’t think things would get so tangled.”
Naru continued to get tangled in various incidents.
It wasn’t unexpected, as she had to live as my daughter. But strangely, it felt like someone was pulling the strings from behind.
I wasn’t exactly sure about it, that was just my intuition.
And it ended up being correct a lot of the time.
With gloves on, Brigitte examined her staff as she spoke.
“Even if I tell you to stay away, you won’t. Let’s make this as short and sweet as possible. We’ll split off into two groups from here. I’ll face them head-on, so watch my rear.”
“Alright. I’ll infiltrate their hideout and find the kids. Once I’m sure they’re safe, I’ll send out a signal. Afterward, you and Cariote can move in.”
Brigitte was a black magician.
Her ability to cause destruction and chaos was unmatched.
Furthermore, our years spent working together meant that we were very much in sync.
“W-What should I do? Can I come along with you?”
Dr. Ilgast inquired about his concerns.
No matter what angle I looked at him from, it was clear he had no affinity for combat.
To think this man was willing to enter the thieves’ hideout, where thousands of enemies would be awaiting him, all to save his daughter.
Was this the heart of a father?
“You said you were a pharmacist, right? Can you make something for me?
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