The Baby Fairy Is A Villain [EN]: Chapter 22

The Underworld came into existence a long time ago, quite suddenly one day.

According to the records, it was originally a small territory belonging to the Palen Empire.

The territory, with its lush forests, fields, and beautiful streams, was peaceful.

The loudest event was the shepherds shouting as they herded their sheep.

The curse struck in a single moment.

One day, black flowers and thorny bushes suddenly grew and covered everything in an instant.

People trembled in fear.

Fortunately, the black flowers and thorny bushes disappeared in a day.

However, nothing remained there.

Neither blue trees, nor green fields, nor sparkling streams.

All that remained was sand and stone.

No life could grow there.

In the wasteland where no plant could sprout, only dry sandstorms blew.

Everyone feared it was cursed and left.

Thus, it became an abandoned land.

It was perhaps natural that trash began to gather in the barren land where no one lived.

Those who could not survive in the ordinary world settled down one by one.

They built houses on the sand and created their own society.

As the trash gradually gathered, it became a place bustling with so many people that it could not be ignored.

The countries of the continent did not interfere with the abandoned land.

They did not want to be involved in the endless crimes and corruption that took place there.

A neutral and lawless zone not belonging to any country.

People began to call this place the ‘Underworld.’

“So this is what it’s like here.”

Hailon indifferently shifted his gaze at the words of his adjutant, Daren.

The Underworld was bright because the lights were never turned off, even at night.

The streets, which formed a city that never sleeps, were crowded with people, yet strangely quiet in the bright daylight.

Then, as the sun began to set, the shops would start opening for business one by one.

It was a sight befitting the name of the Underworld.

The streets were lined with shops selling all sorts of bizarre and strange items.

The buildings were all made of stone, making the atmosphere even more unique, and the passersby were also unusual.

It was common to see large scars on their faces or bodies.

They wore bizarre decorations, hideous masks, or carried weapons of unfamiliar shapes.

Hailon and his subordinates, wearing black robes, were the most mundanely dressed.

“I’ve heard countless stories, but it’s my first time here, so it’s amazing,” Daren said, rattling off his assessment of the Underworld rather talkatively.

Unlike Daren, who was amazed by the unfamiliar sights, Hailon walked the streets with a sense of familiarity.

The Holy Empire does not interfere with the Underworld.

Where there is light, there is shadow.

It was an unspoken rule that there was no need to dip one’s hands in dirty water, as removing it would only disperse it into other evils.

However, today Hailon was about to make an exception.

He stopped in front of a small shop.

His blue eyes scanned the letters on the old but neat sign.

The signboard in front of the store had a hat, a puppy, and a flower pattern drawn on it.

Hailon knew very well what the flower pattern meant.

It was the same pattern that was located above his collarbone.

Before he knew it, a hollow laugh escaped from his lips.

He seemed eager to show that he was the witch’s dog.

There was also a small flower pot next to the signboard.

Since life did not grow in this land, the more green plants there were, the more it was a symbol of wealth.

In that sense, flower pots could be said to be luxury goods.

His gaze turned to the display case beyond the wide window.

The hats visible through the glass window looked quite plausible.

They were at a level that could be placed in a high-end clothing store in the bustling streets of the Palen Islands.

Daren muttered without realizing it from the side.

“Glass? The witch’s notoriety must be great.”

His voice was tinged with faint admiration.

That was because having clear glass windows without even a single iron bar in the rough Underworld was an expression of confidence.

The reason why no robbers broke into the store set up in this way was simple.

This place belonged to the witch Richezia.

Underworld residents never wanted to be her prey.

Those who could not distinguish between courage and foolishness had already been axed by Richezia and made an example.

“Stand by.”

“Yes.”

After giving the order to stand by to his adjutant, Hailon entered the store alone.

Clang, the bell on the glass door made a cheerful sound.

A faint floral scent stimulated his senses first.

“Just a moment!” A voice came from inside.

Hailon took off the hood of the robe he was wearing and scanned the interior.

Among the displayed products, he had seen Richezia wearing some of them.

Hats and accessories that she often cherished and wore.

All of them were made by a beastman [a humanoid with animal features] called ‘Hata’.

He had known of his existence for a long time, but it was his first time coming here.

Until now, there was no need to, but now…

Hailon recalled the person whose news he still couldn’t find.

“Welcome!”

Finally, the shop owner popped out.

The boy, who looked no more than seventeen, was the owner of a cute appearance.

His bright light brown hair was fluffy like clouds.

His purple eyes were as clear and sparkling as glass beads, and his eyes were large and the corners drooped, so he sometimes looked like he was about to cry.

Of course, it was an appearance that did not give Hailon any emotion.

The dog beastman, who had run out excitedly, stopped abruptly in front of the counter.

The round and cute face was distorted savagely.

“…White hair?”

It was Hata, the dog of the witch Richezia.

Hata immediately bared his sharp teeth and rushed at him.

At that moment, a wind rose and the hats displayed in the store fluttered messily.

The moment the black robe fluttered open, revealing the Inquisitor’s uniform hidden underneath, white chains spread out like a spider web in the small shop.

The chains bound Hata.

“Kkeueuk… !”

Hata struggled, but there was no way he could escape the chains of condemnation.

He glared at Hailon.

“Why, even to the Underworld… !”

Hailon twisted his lips as he checked the plump cheeks that were only plump without any signs of leanness.

*If something had happened to Richezia.*

This miserable dog beastman would have already become a withered figure, closing the store and staggering around.

But Hata was fine.

Hailon stared at him intently and opened his mouth.

“I heard you go back and forth between the capital of the Palen Empire and the shops in the Underworld these days.”

“Because I have to sell hats!”

He raised his eyes and rattled off excuses.

“The hats Hata sells are very popular! Many people are looking for them. There’s also a branch in the capital, so that’s why I go to the capital.”

It was a plausible explanation.

The capital and the Underworld were not that far away.

Even by carriage, half a day was enough to go back and forth.

Until now, most people would have understood and moved on with those words.

However, it was only a clumsy excuse for the Inquisitor who had interrogated so many people.

“Not entrusting delivery like before, but directly?”

“……”

Hata, who had been triumphant, had a look of being caught off guard.

It seemed that he had not thought of excuses up to this point.

“The witch Richezia.”

The hand wearing black leather gloves slowly stroked the bracelet on his wrist.

A faint light swirled over the white bracelet.

“She has engraved a spell so that the servants belonging to her can move near her. And the opposite is also possible.”

Although there were some conditions attached, it was a spell that allowed each other to find each other at any time.

That fact had always bothered him.

In the past, it was like a rose thorn pricking his finger, but now it was so annoying that he couldn’t stand it, as if he was entangled in a thicket of thorns.

Especially now that he couldn’t find out Richezia’s whereabouts at all.

“How dare you do this to me!”

The dog beastman, who had been insisting that he didn’t know anything, shook the chains wildly and barked.

“Richezia will come to save Hata! White hair, you, I won’t let you get away with this!”

“That’s right.”

Unfortunately, that was what Hailon wanted.

A twisted smile appeared on Hailon’s lips.

“When will your master come to save you?”

Hata’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t expected it at all.

The blue eyes looking at the surprised puppy were darkly submerged in sinister obsession.

“Let’s wait together, witch’s dog.”