Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance Chapter 52

“Is that something to be so upset about?”

 

“What?”

 

Lucian stared down at Cordelia through sleepy eyes at her grip on his chin. Cordelia’s arms shook with anger at the casual remark.

 

“You’re telling me this now, after you killed those children, after you left them to die in cold blood?”

 

“No, Cordelia, they weren’t children, they were snakes. Don’t think of them as people, think of them as snakes.”

 

There was such a complete lack of guilt in his voice that Cordelia froze, fighting back a wave of nausea.

 

It was disgusting, unbearable, and then the heartless words rained down on her like rain.

 

“So you killed the same guy who killed that snake. Doesn’t that make you feel better? How many more people do you think I have to kill to make you feel better?”

 

None. Nothing was needed to fuel the growing rage. Cordelia stood and drew the dagger she’d been hiding in her bosom.

 

This was what she should have done a long time ago, what she should have finished before she lost those children.

 

The sharp blade was moments away from touching Lucian’s body. Black sparks flew and she was thrown back violently. Her body shuddered, unable to breathe as she hit the wall defenseless.

 

“No, no. No, Cordelia.”

 

Barely catching her breath, Cordelia looked up. The man with his back to the light was pitch black.

 

“It’s not over yet.”

 

The man grinned, his mouth open in amusement. Lucian’s eyes watered as her vision blurred.

 

Lucian’s eyes were as black as the abyss.

 

‘Had his eyes always been this black?’

 

She couldn’t think anymore as she passed out.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

“I must have had a really bad dream, but I can’t remember.”

 

“You don’t have to remember, just forget it.”

 

Cordelia patted Eileen’s back. Eileen rubbed her head, which was still a little aching, and scanned the still-dark riverbank. The fog was everywhere, making it hard to see anything but Cordelia beside her.

 

“Coming.”

 

Cordelia closed her eyes and began to scan the mist, but soon opened them and gestured in a direction, and a large man emerged from the mist.

 

“Who the hell are you?”

 

It was Laquerta, his upper body naked, a bag tied around his neck.

 

“What? What? Why are you naked on top?”

 

A nervous Eileen covered her face with her palms.

 

“Eileen, your finger slits are open.”

 

Cordelia looked at Eileen’s peeping eyes with amusement. His coppery muscular body shivered against the fog.

 

“I took them off and put them in my backpack so they wouldn’t get wet! Answer me first, what are you doing?”

 

The words sobered Eileen and she showed him her flushed back. A large suitcase was filled to the brim.

 

“If you’re going to the children, come with me. I have some things I want to give them.”

 

“Huh, do you think the humans will be able to swim in time with me?”

 

“I’m not going to swim, but…”

 

Laquerta snorted and grabbed her waist as if to say, “Follow me.”

 

“What, what!”

 

“What do you mean, you’re going to get your pants wet, and you’re going to have to put them in your luggage.”

 

“You’re going to take them off here?!”

 

“Is there a problem?”

 

There were too many problems.

 

After yelling at him to wait, Eileen turned around with Cordelia. Soon after, she heard the sound of splashing water, and when she turned around, she saw a stately looking monitor lizard standing at the water’s edge with a bag tied around its neck.

 

“Cute.”

 

Eileen blurted out, her shyness forgotten.

 

The fierce eyes and razor-sharp claws of the monitor lizard were frightening enough, but the image of the bag tied around its neck and its strangely cheerful expression was more like cute.

 

“If you call me cute, I’ll jump up and down.”

 

“Come on, let’s go, first class today is at 11, so we have plenty of time.”

 

As soon as she said that, he jumped into the water, as if to ask her to follow him, and Cordelia smirked at him as she watched him go.

 

What Laquerta hadn’t realized was that Cordelia was a water elemental.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

“Are you still pouting?”

 

“I’m not pouting!”

 

Eileen teased as Laqueta stiffened and started walking faster than usual. The royal lizard’s mouth dropped open at the sight of them speeding across the water on Lynn, and Eileen barely managed to stifle a laugh that threatened to burst out.

 

With an exasperated snort, Laquerta opened the door to the children’s room. The children standing just inside the doorway, apparently expecting him, perked up at the sight of Eileen and Cordelia.

 

“Oh, it’s the sisters who gave us chocolate!”

 

Moa exclaimed, unable to hide his excitement, while Lua hid behind Laquerta’s legs, a little wary, watching them.

 

“Hey wanna see what your big sister brought today?”

 

Eileen stepped into the room, skillfully getting their attention. Since the room was so small, Cordelia didn’t join them, staying in the hallway.

 

Laquerta was just about to set out the meal. Eileen grabbed his arm.

 

“Wait, there’s something I need to tell you before we eat.”

 

Red in the ears, Laquerta shoved her arm away and shouted.

 

“Don’t touch me!”

 

“Oh, sorry. I was so anxious to get the kids changed that my hand went out before I realized it.”

 

Eileen said, hastily removing her hand, and Laquerta asked back. “Accommodation?”

 

“Yeah, there’s a place I trade with, and the owner owes me some money. I asked him for a decent room, and he said he’d give it to me as a favor. It’s not too far from here, and it’ll be much nicer.”

 

It was only a few days ago that Eileen remembered the Viscount of Forum. What started out as a small lighting business made of crystal has quickly grown to include the entire botanical garden’s lighting needs.

 

It was good for Eileen to have a branch near Verotanis, as it was now one of the leading organizations in the lighting industry.

 

A shade of disbelief crossed Laquerta’s face, as if he couldn’t believe it.

 

“I’m not saying you have to move, I’m just saying we’ll see what happens. You know this place isn’t good for the kids.”

 

Sigh.

 

Laquerta glanced at Moa, who was sniffling. Moa’s runny nose wouldn’t let up in the unventilated room, and while he wiped his nose hastily and smirked as if he didn’t mind, Laquerta’s mood sank to the floor.

 

“I guess we’ll just see, then.”

 

“Yeah, yeah. Good idea!”

 

Afraid to say no, Eileen pulled two small robes out of her bag and put them on the children. Then she gave them a small pouch and told them to fill it with whatever they wanted to take with them.

 

“I thought you said we were just going to look around!”

 

“Yes, yes. You might want to buy something.”

 

It was a cheeky comment. But Eileen had no intention of sending the children back to this tiny warehouse.

 

It was only a matter of time before the three dazed and bewildered children found themselves standing in front of a second-floor room in a lighting store.

 

“You may use this room.”

 

The middle-aged man, a distant relative of the Viscount of Forum, showed them the room. A large window was the first thing they saw, and a white wooden table sat in front of it.

 

The bed was also white, but the size was adult-sized, so it would be fine for two children. It wasn’t fancy, but it was neat and nice.

 

“Wow!”

 

“Meals are breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’ll leave them in front of the door. Oh, and don’t worry, I won’t come up to the second floor at any other time.”

 

The gentle-looking man handed them a tray of warm soup and disappeared back to the first floor. It was perfect behavior for someone from a merchant family.

 

Excited children ran into the room. Lua felt like she was dreaming.

 

Laquerta’s jaw clenched as he watched them bounce like excited colts. Lua rubbed her face in the soft sheets, but when she saw the look on Laquerta’s face, she quietly walked over and took his hand.

 

“Big brother, I don’t mind not living here, I like it back there as long as you’re there.”

 

“Moa likes it better here…”

 

“Shut up!”

 

Lua yelled at Moa’s blank expression and looked at Laquerta for a reaction. Laquerta sat back on his knees, feeling the corners of his eyes grow hot.

 

The sunlight from the window was warm, and the bedding was clean. Warm steam rose from the soup and bread on the table, good food that had just been made, unlike the stale rations in his bag.

 

It was a great room. A room with the kind of air that the younger Laquerta had wished he had.

 

“Here. Let’s stay here. I’ll come back to you every night, just the same, and you’ll have hot food and sunshine, and you’ll spend it that way. Im sorry.”

 

Laquerta felt guilty for locking the children in that tiny room, for telling them they would have a different life than their parents. He hated himself for doing what he couldn’t handle.

 

Lua wrapped her arms around the nape of Laquerta’s neck and hugged him. Moa, who had come running, clung to his waist.

 

“You’re an idiot! Don’t say you’re sorry! I loved it there, because you came every day, and it was so much better than when I was on the streets!”

 

Something spurred Lua to cry as she spoke. The younger brother began to cry along with his sister.

 

Laquerta could not have imagined how warm the hands that reached out to them were, as they stood in the streets, abandoned and desolate as snake people.

 

Clumsy but loving hands patted the children’s backs. Lua, who had barely stopped crying, whimpered.

 

“I’m hungry. We’re going to have breakfast, and we’re going to eat what you brought.”

 

Cold lunch boxes, warm bread, and soup. It was an odd breakfast, but the children’s faces couldn’t have been happier as they sat by the sunny window and began to eat.

 

Eileen, who was taking in the scene with eyes that seemed to be contagiously happy, turned to Laquerta, her gaze fixed on the children.

 

“Thank you…”

 

Eileen glanced back at Laquerta. His dark skin was flushed red. Eileen’s smile deepened. It was a smoky morning in more ways than one.