Red Light (2)

In the end, Liliath stayed back. Nataline and Prune, together with Miss Familia, ventured out to the market. Tagging along were two lucky kids-- Lucia and Ian.

"Why doesn't Liliath-oneesan want me," Lucia pouted.

"She has her reasons.." Prune smiled bitterly. It probably had something to do with her special quest, Prune guessed.

"No fair, no fair," Lucia wiggled about in Prune's arms.

"It's alright to let Lucia walk," Miss Familia said, seeing Prune struggle.

"No," Lucia commanded.

"Lucia, that's not good you know? Even though Ian-chan is smaller than you, he's hardworking and walks with his own two feet you know?" Nataline said.

Ian glanced between Miss Familia and Nataline who held both sides of his hands before turning around to look at Prune.

He plucked both his hands away from them and spread his arms apart.

"Carry," He said, staring at Prune.

"Umu.." Lucia pressed her cheek on Prune's, her hands held tightly around one of her fluffy ears.

"Ai.. sorry about this," Miss Familia apologized.

"Jeez, everyone is a spoiled kid with you and Liliath-san around."

"It's alright…"

After much persuasion, the angry Lucia was demoted to walking while Ian himself came into Prune's arms.

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The market was bustling with people of different races and sizes. From fat merchants to beastkins wearing revealing clothing. A minstrel was singing close to the fountain, in the centre was the statue of a Goddess which Prune had forgotten the name to, spitting water out of a trumpet. The market was circular, located at a big plaza built specifically for the purpose of commerce.

Unlike the market close to the florist which she would visit often to procure cooking ingredients, most stores for this market were stalls attached with movable wheels.

"Prune-san, you have a dimensional storage skill right?" Nataline asked in a whisper.

"Yes?"

"Do you mind if you put some of this into there? There's not enough space in the bag.."

"Huh? How come?"

"I forgot to take out the previous items inside here you see… if Miss Familia found out I'd be dead!!"

"O-oh.."

Prune didn't question any further and dropped some of the items into the system inventory. The way it worked was a little different from the normal [Inventory] skill where a portal would appear. The system storage was more of a scanner. The chosen item would disappear into thin air.

"OOooo octopus!" Lucia pointed into the sky.

"Octopuus~" Ian cheered.

Prune traced her gaze and saw a pair of flying octopuses flying up high. They were in a sort of dance, Prune thought perhaps they were trying to court each other.

The smaller octopus kept spinning in circles with its tentacles outstretched, flashing in a myriad of different colours. The larger octopus didn't seem to take much interest in that.

"Even in this world, it's the same," Prune muttered.

Lonely.

Desperate.

Somehow, that was the feeling she got when she saw the bigger octopus ignore the smaller one.

"Prune?"

"I was just thinking of something.."

Prune's line of sight went to Nataline's stomach on a whim.

She wasn't the one suffering the most was she? From the first time she started visiting till the current date, there had been no other visitors for Nataline. Prune wondered how long she had been alone, all by herself?

"Not again.. are you really interested in this thing? I'm going to tell someone to kill it when it comes out, you know?" Nataline tapped on her bulging stomach.

"Huh?!"

"Don't make such a surprised face, I'm serious."

"But.. but.."

Though Prune hadn't experienced labor pains herself, she knew that it was one of the worst. And to hear Nataline say she would dispose of that baby after going through all the pain.. did she really mean that?

"Won't you give it a chance?"

"It's a goblin you know? It's not something you can tame. It'll kill me if I don't do something," Nataline frowned.

Prune lacked knowledge of this world. She rarely read books in regards to fantasy, so she didn't know much about a goblin. In some anime shows she has seen, goblins were depicted as intelligent creatures, of course, she didn't know which kind of goblin existed in this world-- probably the cruel and wild kind.

"Don't worry, I'm alright. I'm a C-rank adventurer, this much is expected. It's a lot better than losing my life," Nataline said with a smug look before turning back to the front.

Prune couldn't tell if she was merely putting up a strong front or that she meant what she said.

They were about to set off to the next store when--

"Eh?"

"Eh?"

"Eh~?" Ian who didn't know better merely copied their sounds.

They paused and looked at each other.

"Where's Lucia?"

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"Your Highness Siesta, I'm glad to be given this opportunity to see you again," I bowed.

"Wa! Siesta-oneesan came to visit!"

"Siesta-oneechan!!"

With a short chuckle, she nodded to me before greeting the kids individually.

'My apologies, please allow her some time to greet the children.'

'No problems. Many thanks for coming despite the trouble.'

I replied to El's message. She was the maid serving by Siesta's side. I was a little curious, so I asked.

'How did someone so capable like you come to serve Her Highness?'

'I met her mother during an incident. Long story short, things happened one after another and I soon found myself becoming one of her trusted maids. I vowed in my friend's name to serve and protect her daughter.'

I nodded in understanding.

The other caretakers came out of the orphanage to greet Her Highness. The surprise on their face I thought felt rather excessive.

That aside, I made a few dozen cups of tea to be served to those who had arrived.

And I also made sure to personally serve one of which to Sir Richard--

"He didn't come?" I tilted my head at Her Highness' words.

"He said he was feeling unwell," she smiled at me. A sinister one at that.

I smiled back and nodded in agreement, "Then can I count on you to bring this back to him?"

"That would be troublesome wouldn't it now?"

"I wouldn't deny that, however," I turned to El, "Your maid could store it in her Inventory correct?"

Siesta's smile twitched.

El had [Inventory (C)] as a skill.

Resigning, El stored it into her storage.

"Much appreciated."

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"Calm down, Lucia-chan is still around, follow me," Prune said, seeing how Lucia's marker on the map was still close by.

"Huh? Where are you going?!"

"She's in that direction.."

She was being dragged by some ruffians?

Prune came to a halt.

What should she do?

She didn't prepare for this did she? She had no idea how to protect herself, what should she do?

"Prune? Get a hold of yourself!"

"Nataline-san, can you.. " Prune was about to ask if she could fight but.. she knew that it was impossible.

No. First thing's first, she should get to Lucia as fast as possible. There was a skill [Absolute End] which Noel had saved in the magic exchange column and was a spell you could use to take down anyone without hurting them.

Prune kept that in mind and quickly shuffled her way past the stalls. Nataline followed behind with Ian in tow.

"Hey, we should call the knights…"

Prune followed as guided on the map and found herself facing a dark alley. At the end were a group of four shabby looking guys.

"Hehe, looks like it worked," one of them jumped to a standing position from the crate he sat on.

"Doesn't this prove wolf-kins have good noses? She could smell the kid from so far away," the other replied.

"Hahahaha, she would make a good product."

One replied from behind them.

"Huh.. what.." Nataline backed herself towards Prune. "What the.."

They were surrounded.

Prune operated her menu and marked the targets to cast [Absolute End] on.

"Scared.. Scared.." Ian complained.

"Awh man, one of them is pregnant. "

"We'll have fun with her then. I've never tried it like this before."

"Hehe, sounds fun don't you agree?"

"Don't mess up the one with the white hair, she's a precious commodity."

"Oh, how about the male then?"

"LUCIA!" Nataline screamed.

"Oh, you mean this girl?" The ruffian held Lucia by the scruff of her neck.

"Nataline, when they sleep, bring Lucia away.."

"Shush, be quiet now.."

"Ah.."

Before Prune could initiate the spell she felt something needle-like pierce her neck. Drowsiness assailed her, she staggered.

"Not.. yet.."

Clinging to the last thread of consciousness, she initiated the spell.

"Prune.. Prune?!"

The ruffians all dropped to the ground. Prune lost to the narcotic, she felt herself float for a moment.

"Oh, you're better than I thought," a sticky voice whispered.