READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 4
As I walked towards the entrance with energetic steps, an android stationed there greeted me.
“Welcome, guest. Please feel free to select your items, but I kindly ask you to remain quiet so that you do not disturb other customers. Especially refrain from rude behaviors such as stealing or robbery.”
I nodded lightly at the android explaining things in a mechanical voice.
It’s tough to run a proper business in the outer city.
With law and order in disarray, frequent attacks from thugs occur, and powerless shops often have to shut down easily.
Particularly, stores selling luxury items like desserts are quite rare. Even more so in outer cities.
To maintain operations, establishments with financial stability either deploy security robots or hire solvers.
Creak.
Upon entering, the soft lighting gently illuminated the inside of the shop.
A sweet aroma tickled my nose, and with soft music playing, a cozy atmosphere was created.
Various desserts were neatly displayed in the showcase.
I suppressed the urge to dash straight to them.
I am an adult. My body may be small, but my mind is that of an adult!
Adults don’t easily make a fuss.
In such places, one must savor the ambiance and move about with grace and ease. That is the proper way to engage with the surroundings.
However, contrary to this mature mindset, the childlike instincts bursting from my body were flapping my arms around.
And my legs were already standing in front of the display case.
Damn it. At this rate, I might drool.
“Hehe, desserts don’t move from here. So you don’t have to press your face right up against it. Take your time to choose.”
Hearing a gentle voice, I turned my head that way.
There stood an old dog beastman. The shop owner of this place.
A very kind person who sells those precious and expensive desserts at a low price in this world.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I spun my toes on the floor.
Pretending nothing happened, I picked up a tray and slowly began to look over the items.
A warm laugh quietly followed.
“Hey? Isn’t this Red? When did you come down?”
“I just came back after finishing my assignment. Stopped by to buy snacks for the kiddos. But the streets have changed so much that I got terribly lost on the way here. If it weren’t for that little one, I would have really been in trouble.”
“Why not use a map app?”
“My battery died. Anyway, I’m glad to see you looking healthy, Grandpa.”
Are they acquaintances?
While I focused on the pretty and cute desserts, I also sharpened my ears.
“But from Grandpa’s attitude, it seems that little one has been here more than just once. Do they come here often?”
“Yes. They are one of our few regulars.”
“Well, kids can’t resist sweet things.”
“That’s true for adults as well. The moment they eat something sweet, they become happy.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I wholeheartedly agreed with the shop owner’s words.
In such a world, many people become dulled to happiness.
In that sense, the owner isn’t just a simple dessert shopkeeper. Sweetness is the truth! The one who creates it is a messenger spreading happiness.
Unlike some weird religion.
“Kiddo, as a reward for bringing you here, I’ll treat you. Take as much as you want.”
I was struck by intense shock and froze.
Stopping my selection, I moved my head as if broken, looking over.
And I tilted my head slightly. Really?
Even though my face wasn’t visible to them.
Reading my thoughts, Red beamed a triumphant smile.
“Believe it or not, I’ve got plenty of money. You just focus on choosing what you want.”
Such an adult-like attitude struck my mind like a thunderclap.
Waves of emotion surged through my body and mind, and I raised both hands high, lifting the tray.
I hopped carefully in place with my short legs.
The two smiled at my actions.
Once the joyful dance concluded, I hurriedly began to fill the tray with desserts.
There’s no way I’m saying no. If not now, when else will I get free food?
Packing it in as if not allowing any empty space, I was balancing precariously.
“But, funny enough, nothing here seems to have changed. Can you actually make a living selling at such cheap prices?”
“Of course. But rather than such complex discussions, just knowing that someone enjoys my desserts fills this old man’s belly.”
“Grandpa still has that personality unchanged. Speaking of which, there have been some weird people in town. You know, the Cult of the Grim Reaper?”
“Oh, you mean that cult? Well, it can’t be helped. The more difficult the world gets, the more distorted beliefs worm their way in.”
“Best to be cautious. Those lunatics always operate on a grand scale.”
“I’ll take your advice.”
*Thud.*
After choosing as much as I wanted, I placed the tray on the counter.
Red’s face turned slightly flustered upon seeing the enormous amount.
Her temples were twitching.
Heh heh.
It’s too late for regrets.
The shop owner clapped a hand on Red’s shoulder.
“Don’t forget to pay.”
“I won’t skip it.”
With tears barely brimmed in her eyes, Red paid, and the shop owner began to carefully pack the items.
While waiting for it to finish.
“Are you not going to eat here?”
I shook my head at Red’s question.
“The little guests have their reasons, and they don’t take off their hoods and masks. So I always have to get things packed.”
“Really? Well, everyone has their own circumstances.”
While she could have asked out of curiosity.
Red didn’t inquire further.
Appreciating that consideration, I hummed a joyful tune in my heart.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Suddenly, a loud warning sound echoed throughout the store.
There was a strange commotion outside.
Red’s expression changed as she stepped outside.
The shop owner walked out briskly.
I followed them outside.
A suspicious crowd gathered in front of the store.
*
“Isn’t that the guy you’ve been looking for?”
Someone was causing a scene in front of the shop.
As I focused on the source of the noise, Red narrowed her eyes slightly.
“That guy is….”
Persistent, isn’t he?
I let out a deep sigh in my mind.
It’s the orc with a mechanical arm who blocked my path earlier and got harshly dealt with by Red.
Ah, right now he’s just a normal orc without his mechanical arm.
What worried me more than that jester was the crew the orc brought with him.
All of them donned skull masks.
Dressed in black attire, each held a stone slab in their right hands.
If my memory serves right, those are members of the Cult of the Grim Reaper. Dangerous folks belonging to the radical faction.
Generally, just like all groups splitting into various factions due to multiple issues, the Cult of the Grim Reaper also divides into moderates and radicals.
The moderates are those unsettling folks who quietly pray while promoting their beliefs here and there.
The radicals are ruffians who go to any lengths to achieve their aims.
One of the radical doctrines states that only blood, corpses, and death can summon the Grim Reaper.
Sorry, but I have no desire for that sort of nonsense.
In fact, they’d probably enjoy tributing cakes or puddings as offerings. Not that those wackos would ever believe that.
Anyway, why is that madman with the orc?
“Though it’s different from our agreement, I brought you here, so I think I’ve fulfilled my part of the deal. Now, hand over the money as promised.”
A radical member handed a pouch to the orc.
The orc’s eyes sparkled like a child’s upon checking the pouch.
“Alright, let’s scram with this.”
“Yes, chief!”
The orc and his crew hurriedly fled the scene.
However, a moment later, horrific screams echoed from the direction they vanished.
Thud thud.
Radicals were coming from where the screams came.
Blood was splattered on their clothes.
It was easy to imagine what had transpired.
“Grandpa and the kid stay inside. I’ll make this quick, so don’t worry.”
Muttering softly, Red stepped out and stood before the shop owner.
The number of radicals appeared to be around a hundred.
Before such overwhelming numbers, she showed no signs of anxiety.
“Sorry, but we don’t believe in religions. If you’re going to preach, please do it somewhere else.”
Red boldly gestured for them to leave.
The radical faction remained motionless.
Seeing their firm stance, Red shook her head.
She gave them a sharp glare.
“I’m not the kind of person who lets the first aggressor off easily. If you walk away now, nothing will happen. However, if you cross that line on the ground from now, very bad things will happen.”
Red slipped her hands into the pockets of her coat.
“Only those who are prepared may cross that line.”
Her voice was dark and cold enough to make her shoulders shiver.
For an ordinary person, they would have likely cried and fled at that moment.
The radicals all slammed their stone slabs onto the ground simultaneously.
From the tips of the slabs, blades of light erupted.
Without a hint of hesitation, they crossed the fissures in the ground.
Seeing that, Red let out a small sigh.
As she smiled, sharp teeth were revealed.
“Very well. From this moment on, everything that unfolds here is entirely your fault.”
*
“All for the Grim Reaper!”
Ugh.
This is exactly why I dislike those guys.
I hate the entire Cult of the Grim Reaper, but the radicals even more.
They shamelessly commit heinous acts while dragging my nickname into it.
I did nothing.
I never asked them to make a religion, nor did I instruct them to commit bad deeds.
They quickly built their own religion, doing whatever they please and invoking the name of the Grim Reaper whenever it suits them. It’s utterly unpleasant and frustrating for those who listen.
If it were up to me, I’d like to clean them all out.
But I guess because it’s a loose organization, no matter how many I deal with, they just keep popping up like cockroaches. It’s tiresome.
Anyway, as a cost for stealing away my happy time.
Originally, I would have handled everything by myself.
But, right now, there’s a crime killer, Red.
With her around, I probably don’t need to step in. If she’s as strong as the rumors say, those losers should be no problem for her.
The radicals raced forward, blades of light facing straight ahead, yelling loudly.
Bang!
But at a speed far greater than that, Red closed in, sending the forefront member crashing into the building across the street in style.
“I warned you. I told you something bad would happen.”