The Baby Fairy Is A Villain [EN]: Chapter 38

It wasn’t surprising at all.

The back alleys had originated as a junkyard, a place where trash accumulated.

That became their defining characteristic.

And naturally, they developed a certain gritty charm, attracting outsiders.

But ultimately, they were nothing more than a lawless free-for-all.

The nobles who frequented this place, drawn to the danger, were well aware of this.

They feigned adventurousness and bravery, but it was all for show.

They brought along the best mercenaries and knights to protect them.

Otherwise, they could easily lose their lives.

A noble’s status meant nothing here; no one cared.

So, for a young boy and a baby to wander around the back alleys without any protection was beyond bold—it was practically suicidal.

Still, with enough luck, they might have slipped away unnoticed.

After all, people here usually paid little attention to their surroundings.

However, even though they were covered from head to toe in hooded robes,

the twins and Cheshire possessed an aura that subtly drew attention.

That seemed to be why they had become targets for slave hunters.

“Oh!”

As Karha swung his sword, his hood fell off.

The slave hunters grew even more excited by the boy’s innocent face.

“Look at that face!”

“Where did something like that come from?”

They chattered gleefully amongst themselves, already putting a price on him and making a fuss.

Cheshire looked at them with a nonchalant gaze.

‘Low-level.’

The hunters who went after human slaves were low-level.

The most notorious among the slave hunters were those who hunted mythical creatures.

The fact that mythical creatures like fairies and beast-men were nearing extinction was largely due to these slave hunters.

The Holy Empire didn’t welcome mythical creatures, but they usually left them alone since they were born of nature.

The witch Richessia was an exception because she possessed aberrant powers, so they issued an order to eliminate her.

Mythical creatures were becoming increasingly rare, and now they were said to be priceless.

So, those who used to hunt mythical creatures were now targeting fallen nobles or powerless collateral royal family members of small kingdoms.

‘Then I appeared, and they all went crazy and rushed at me.’

A young fairy who had manifested in an orphanage and knew nothing.

Slave hunters couldn’t have asked for a more perfect target.

Cheshire’s eyes darkened as she recalled the day the hunters came to the orphanage.

She quickly pushed the memories filled with flames and screams back into the depths of her mind.

In any case, low-level slave hunters were easy opponents.

Karha could handle them without any trouble.

“How dare they…”

Ishuel muttered quietly.

“We came out for a stroll with my little brother, and they’re making it dirty.”

Ishuel, who was showing his displeasure, smiled brightly as if nothing had happened when he met Cheshire’s gaze.

“Little brother, should I cover your eyes for a moment?”

He raised Cheshire’s hand and used it to cover her eyes.

Then, he gave an order to Karha.

“Don’t let any blood splatter on me.”

“Yes.”

Karha faithfully followed the order.

Cheshire also covered her eyes as Ishuel told her to.

Of course, she didn’t cover them completely and peeked through her fingers.

As if they had been waiting, hunters popped out from every alley.

They quickly blocked the path in front and behind, cutting off any escape routes.

“…”

Karha silently swung his swords slowly in a half-circle.

He took a stance, crossing the two swords, and quietly stared ahead.

The moment they met his cold, red eyes.

The hunters, who had been about to pounce, instinctively flinched.

As they hesitated, the man who seemed to be the leader yelled at the faltering hunters.

“What are you doing, facing just one kid!”

Only then did the hunters start rushing in.

Seeing the approaching figures, Karha smiled faintly.

The small body darted forward nimbly.

It was the first time Cheshire had seen Karha fight properly.

The boy, who wasn’t using orthodox knighthood swordsmanship but instead rolled around haphazardly and swung his swords, was like a wild beast.

Using two swords shorter than a longsword, his attacks were so fast and unpredictable that they were hard to follow with the eyes.

It was as if she was watching a seasoned mercenary who had been on the battlefield for years.

Cheshire couldn’t take her eyes off the refreshing and swift swordsmanship and watched in fascination.

“That, that bastard…!”

“A monster!”

The hunters were agitated by Karha’s unexpected skills.

Realizing that they shouldn’t underestimate him, they all drew their weapons.

“Just keep him alive!”

“Disable his swords first!!”

Just as they were desperately rushing in.

“Stop.”

A strangely clear voice spread through the noisy night street.

Although it wasn’t loud or high-pitched, it was heard clearly by everyone as if some magic had been used.

Gray hair and a long string [likely a tie or ribbon] trailing behind it fluttered.

A man who seemed to have appeared out of thin air landed on the ground.

The man with his eyes covered in cloth said quietly.

“The Master does not wish for any more disturbances.”

An underling of the Master who ruled the back alleys.

It was Zahan.

As soon as they saw Zahan, the slave hunters, who had been acting as if they would devour the street, instantly became docile.

They glanced at each other with bewildered eyes.

The man who seemed to be the leader quickly ran up and rubbed his palms together.

“Oh! I didn’t know you would be coming, Zahan-nim [a respectful honorific]. We were a little too greedy.”

Despite his large size, he bowed to the slender Zahan.

However, while being obsequious, he subtly threw out a probing question.

“Is the Master perhaps nearby? We made a disturbance and disturbed his peace, so how should we apologize?”

The slave hunter’s question was natural.

Originally, the Master was ‘one who maintained the minimum order.’

Such street brawls happened several times a day in the back alleys.

There was no reason to intervene.

‘But to send even a direct subordinate to quell the disturbance?’

Zahan was a high-ranking official who rarely stepped forward.

As the hunter said, it was incomprehensible unless the Master was drinking nearby and sent Zahan because the noise was bothering him.

However, Zahan did not answer the hunter’s question.

He had no obligation to satisfy his curiosity.

“…”

Zahan silently stared at the hunter.

Then, he voluntarily made excuses and stepped back.

“Ah, I didn’t mean to ask with any bad intentions. I was just wondering if we could greet him if he was nearby… Please give my regards to the Master.”

He bowed repeatedly and then led his subordinates away.

The street where the slave hunters had disappeared became quiet in an instant.

All that remained on the quiet street were Zahan, the twins, and Cheshire.

Zahan, who had been looking in the direction where the hunters had disappeared, slowly turned his gaze.

He first looked at Cheshire.

He stared silently at the small baby wrapped in the hood, and Cheshire pretended not to know anything.

Zahan then looked at the twins.

That’s when strange things started to happen.

Naturally, he expected Karha to be wary of the strange man.

But he wasn’t putting both swords back into their scabbards.

Zahan’s attitude was also slightly different from when he was dealing with the slave hunters.

There was still a stiff, doll-like aspect to him, but a slightly softened voice came out.

“Didn’t I tell you not to cause a disturbance?”

Karha blinked and said.

“Oh, sorry.”

Unlike Karha, who apologized readily, Ishuel retorted sharply.

“Those guys attacked first.”

“I mean, you shouldn’t have come here in the first place.”

“…”

Ishuel pouted.

And Cheshire, who was watching the exchange, was horrified.

‘What, what is this…’

Cheshire widened her eyes and looked back and forth between Zahan and the twins.

‘They know each other?!’