Chapter 37: CH 36

“…”

“…”

Silence passed. Yul rolled his blue eyes to and fro and looked into Mikael’s eyes.

Even if Mikael was quick-witted, he wouldn’t have noticed that he was intentionally swearing.

He looked at him with worried eyes, and between the robes, the red eyes that were cold and still were directed towards him.

Oh, I’m fucked, I’m fucked.

“Hahahaha, oh gosh. I didn’t know. I see, I shouldn’t say it so carelessly.”

Yul laughed exaggeratedly and pretended not to know anything. This was all he could do now, knowing there would be little gain.

“Yuri.”

“Yes-”

“Your tongue is so long that you can’t control yourself.”

“Oh… no. I think it’s just the right length. Even a little shorter here would be a big problem.”

“Then why are you running your mouth recklessly?”

“It’s the mood, it’s the mood.”

Mikael finally burst out laughing at the shameless joke of a lie.

Seeing that, Yul was relieved and said to the owner, ‘Give me a box of taffy,’.

“Mikael, the bill.”

Of course, he left the bill to Mikael as if it were natural.

Mikael was at a loss for words at Yul’s absurdly imposing attitude. There was nothing he could do other than do the bill for him as Yul said.

“The change is…”

Mikael was about to say no change was needed, but seeing Yul preparing to receive change with bright eyes, he bit his mouth.

For a moment, Yul’s twinkling eyes looked like the Wydefia Empire’s monetary unit, the Berg.

As if waiting, Yul took the change from the store owner and put it in his pocket naturally.

“Mikael, can I have this with me?”

“Do whatever you feel like. But shouldn’t you usually ask before you keep it? I think the order has changed.”

“Okay, I’ll ask and take it next time.”

At Yul’s words, which implied that he would take care of it regardless of permission or not, Mikael shook his head. With that or not, Yul said, ‘Ah, I made money. Unearned income, unearned income,’ he said in an unfamiliar way.

After buying candy, the two walked the streets for a long time, buying various foods. Yul’s pockets became thick with the change that was made each time.

He was so delighted whenever he received money that Mikael even deliberately handed him large sums of money.

“Mikael, isn’t it time for the circus?”

“If you go now, it will be just right.”

Mikael, who checked the pocket watch, responded to Yul’s question, estimating the distance from the Vitera Square where the circus was located.

It was when he turned towards the Vitera Square.

“Uh…!”

He thought he could hear an ominous sound behind his back, and then people’s eyes turned to one place. Mikael looked around quickly and saw Yul who fell in the middle of Pokavon Street.

“Aiyo, my knee.”

Seeing Yul squatting and grabbing her knees, Mikael sighed deeply.

He couldn’t be sure because he didn’t see what happened, but he probably stepped on the long robe and fell forward. As the robe was pulled, it seemed that even his hood had come off.

Perhaps because of her pink hair, which is rare in the Wydefia Empire, the eyes of those looking at Yul were mixed with curiosity and interest.

“The robe was too long.”

Yul brushed off his robe and got up from his seat. His plump lips pouted as if complaining.

“Did you get hurt?”

“I think I got some bruises on my knee, but it’s okay.”

After hearing that answer, Mikael was relieved and put Yul’s hood on again. People must have already seen it, but he was going to a crowded circus, and he didn’t have to show his pink hair everywhere.

“Are you really okay?”

“Being embarrassed is more of a problem, but my body is fine.”

He asked because he was worried about the limp, but Yul just said it was okay with a bare face.

Mikael also moved his steps, following him, who took the lead and walked quickly, perhaps because of shame.

***

When the two of them arrived at the concert hall, it was after the seats were pretty much filled with the audience.

Mikael, who saw Yul disappointed with the remaining seats, was able to get a good seat after handing out a bundle of flashing gold coins to those who sat in the hall.

Yul, who did not know the currency value of the Wydepia Empire, could not know how much Mikael had given the owners of the seats.

The amount Mikael gave them was roughly three or four months’ worth of the average wage in the empire. Yul, unaware of this, said in a comfortable way, ‘No matter how much money, they changed seats because they are good people’.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for visiting Wonder Circus. From now on, a new world will unfold before your eyes!”

A man who looked like a wingman came out and said hello, and shouts erupted from all over the place. Yul also followed them and raised his voice.

Then the circus began.

An oddball, who was doing a fire show for guests on the street earlier, came out and made a bigger pillar of fire than before. When a liquid, presumed to be alcohol, was sprayed on the stick, a roaring red pillar of fire rose high.

The flames passed quickly through the burning ring, and occasionally he put his hands in and out of the flames.

The following shows were even more exciting. On the high circus ceiling, there were people who relied on just one string to spin in the air, while others were juggling dozens of balls at will.

In particular, the magic show was enough to get Yul’s soul out of it.

Yul couldn’t help but admire the rather classic magic, such as changing clothes in just a few seconds and getting a bouquet of flowers out of an empty hat.

“Unfortunately, it is already the last show. This show is Rookie’s puppet show!”

As a puppet show, for a show that adorns the finale, it was rather simple, and Yul was puzzled.

But when the show started, he realised that he had been mistaken.

The puppets controlled by the puppeteer moved naturally like humans. Not even one or two, but five or six dolls at once freely moved.

Later, when another puppeteer appeared and performed a puppet show, dozens of puppets moved as one body.

“Hello, I’m Wendy. What’s your name?”

“Oh, hello, Wendy! My name is Sasha!”

Suddenly, the doll with yellow hair spoke to the child sitting in the audience. She seemed shy as a child, but she introduced herself in an excited voice.

Starting with that, the Wendy doll roamed between the seats and chatted with the audience.

Yul was obsessed with puppetry, but Mikael was different. He was staring somewhere with sharp eyes.

“No, but who are those suspicious people over there?”

The Wendy doll looked at a certain point and tilted her head exaggeratedly. Then, people’s eyes turned to one place.

Their eyes turned to the seat where none other than Mikael and Yul were sitting.

“Who’s wearing this suspicious robe while watching a circus! What are you guys?”

People burst into laughter at the doll’s playful remarks. Yul was also confused at first, but soon followed the people and laughed.

“What’s your name?”

“I’m…”

“Enough.”

Just as Yul was about to answer, Mikael interrupted him. It wasn’t a loud voice, but as people were paying attention, his cold voice made the inside of the concert hall chilly.

“Haha, what’s wrong? Is there anything bad about it?”

Wendy doll spoke in a mischievous voice to relieve the cold atmosphere. But Mikael’s expression only grew colder.

“Isn’t the purpose of this circus to open the pockets of people who come to see the show?”

“W-what are you talking about?”

“As I’ve said. The whole place is full of thieves.”

At Mikael’s words, the Wendy doll asked, seemingly bewildered. At Mikael’s sharp reply, even those who had not taken much notice at first murmured as if agitated. Then, there were people checking their pockets.

“Oh, my money! My money is gone!”

“Wait, mine’s gone too?”

“What, what kind of bastard?!”

Confused voices erupted from everywhere. Surprised by that, Yul also hurriedly checked his pocket. The pockets thickly filled with Mikael’s change were empty.

“Hey, my money!”

Yul was furious and shouted. With him, Mikael stared at the puppeteer coolly. His bright red eyes fluttered like flames.

“Do you know what happens to the thieves under the Imperial Law?”

“…”

“They’re taken care of with lashing. Of course, if the amount is large, their wrists may be cut off.”

“I- I didn’t steal it, why are you doing this to me?!”

The puppeteer threw the Wendy doll aside and shouted. It was a hoarse voice that was different from the cute voice I had before.

“I will find out when I investigate.”

“If it’s not me, then what?! I will accuse you of libel!”

“Bastard, pay the price for ruining someone else’s business!”

Not only the person who seemed to be the leader, but also all the circus members jumped out and the road began to run rampant. In particular, during the fire show, the oddball even swung a large pipe threateningly here and there. Shocked by the momentum, Yul widened his eyes.

“If you quietly return the money, I will let you keep your wrist.”

“What? What is this madman talking about! We never robbed!”

The puppeteer screamed with a red face. He spit out swear words and acted like he was going to harm Mikael at any moment.

Mikael didn’t even move, but Yul was the one who was angry at the action.

“Did you call him crazy? You lunatic!”

“What?! What’s this kid swearing?! Get out now!”

The circus member who was closest to Yul raised Yul, who was sitting there, roughly. Yul, who had the guts but not the strength, was dragged helplessly.

“Ahh, Mikael! Mikael!”

It hurt as if the shoulder blades being dragged by strong hands were going to break. Yul hurriedly called out Mikael’s name.

“I’m going to take back the promise to let you keep your wrist.”

“What the, so who are you to say something like that…”

The sarcastic man’s words were interrupted.

Translator: misa