Episode 20

In my annoyance, I slapped their slender chests and asked,

“Long time no see, pretty misses. What did you use my 8 copper for?”

“Huh?”

“You’re that…”

Realizing they seemed to remember me, I flashed them a broad smile, causing their already pale elf skin to lose all its color.

After all, from their perspective, they had just witnessed the kid they once extorted dissect a person right before their eyes.

Moreover, they were in a state where they couldn’t resist at all, so they must have been terrified.

I sneakily checked the direction where Lydia was. She seemed too engrossed in interrogating Gale to pay any attention to me.

…A little bit should be fine.

I let my smile fade.

“So? Where did you spend the 8 copper?”

“We, we’re sorry…”

“We won’t do it again…”

The two trembled as they apologized. With a scowl, I grabbed the tips of their nipples and twisted them.

Pinch.

“Kyaaaak!”

“Ah, it hurts! That hurts…!”

The two writhed as they cried out in pain. For reference, this was considered taboo even by the standards of the Pan Continent.

In this world, wearing just underwear was acceptable, but fully exposing one’s chest was seen as exhibitionism. Since there were people who could be aroused by their chests, touching it was also considered a very intimate form of skinship.

And yet, here they were, not only exposing their chests in front of a small, young boy like me but also having them slapped and pinched?

Any woman in this world would feel humiliated.

From my perspective, maybe it was because their chests were small, or maybe because of the past experience I had with them, but I didn’t really harbor any lewd thoughts.

After tormenting them for a while, I finally let them go. Then, I began to gently stroke their heads, which were blushing red all the way to the tips of their elongated ears.

“I didn’t ask for an apology. I asked you where you spent the money, didn’t I?”

“Well. It was so long ago…”

“We only remembered you because of your pretty fac… because of your remarkable appearance. We don’t actually remember where we spent the money…”

“…Is that so?”

I stopped petting their heads and grabbed them both by their hair. They flinched and lowered their heads, so I pulled them up to make them look at me.

Despite the clear difference in strength, the two, perhaps because of the atmosphere, obediently lifted their heads instead of resisting.

Looking intently at the two faces that looked exactly alike except for their hairstyles, I opened my mouth.

“I almost starved to death that day because I didn’t have those 8 copper coins. And for you, it was an amount so trivial you can’t even remember where you spent it?”

“…….”

“……”

Now, they just began trembling without even speaking. Leaning in closer, I whispered into their elongated ears.

“But you still remember the situation you’re in, right?”

“O, of course!”

“You’re our savior!”

“Wrong. You two are tied up naked right now, rolling on the ground, and I, whom you almost killed, have a dagger. That’s the situation. Understand?”

“Eek! We’re sorry! We’re sorry!”

“We don’t want to die like this…”

“I didn’t want to lose my 8 copper either.”

Saying that, I drew the dagger that I had momentarily sheathed. The blood from cutting Gale was still there.

Drip. Drip.

Drops of blood fell on the face of the one with long hair. And then.

Sssssh…

“Ah.”

The sound of water leaking from somewhere. Looking up and behind them, I found a yellow liquid flowing between one of their legs.

That couldn’t be lemonade, so then the identity of that liquid was…

“…The one who just pissed themselves. What’s your name?”

“I’m sorry…no. It’s Lemon.”

I wondered how someone’s name could be Lemon, but then, it was common to include flowers or fruits in Elvish names.

Well, that was only for commoners, though. In the case of High Elves who inherited special blood, they used ancient Elvish, so their names tended to be complicated and difficult.

“Then what about you with the short hair?”

“It’s Apple.”

“Are you sisters by any chance?”

“We’re twins.”

“Born together, so I guess you’ll die together as well.”

Now, they looked almost resigned. Did I scare them too much? I wasn’t planning to kill them.

I sighed deeply. Hearing that, they flinched reflexively. And seeing that reaction, I smirked and continued speaking.

“Right. Lemon, Apple. I’ve lived my life with one belief. Do you know what it is?”

“I’m not… sure?”

“We will listen closely if you tell us.”

“It’s nothing much, really. Just to repay kindness twicefold and repay grudges tenfold.”

“……”

“……”

At this point, Lemon and Apple had turned beyond pale and were closer to a ghastly complexion. I chuckled and shook my head at their readable expressions.

Actually, it had been someone else’s belief I adopted a few days ago, but that didn’t matter right now. What’s important was that the mood had been set, so it was time to get to the main point.

“I won’t tell you to die ten times, but because of you two, I’ve suffered other losses aside from the 8 copper, you see? I’ll need to get that back. Applying the tenfold rule, it rounds to about 23 gold… How about it? Just give me 23 gold, and I’ll forget all about our past grudges. Of course, I’ll release you from those binds, too.”

“J, Just what calculations need to be made for it to be 23 gold… We don’t have such a large sum of money on us right now…”

“But if you trust us, we will surely! Definitely! Pay it back!”

Was it because they found a way to survive? Lemon and Apple’s faces brightened up as they desperately pleaded.

However, immediately giving the okay would be something only a fool would do. Instead of nodding, I pretended to as I lightly tossed and caught the dagger back and forth.

Whish- Click.

“I don’t know…why should I trust you? Elves are generally crazy about money, but they don’t engage in petty actions, do they? Because, in the long run, it’s actually a loss. But you guys…”

Elves generally don’t get involved in crimes because they see no need to engage in dangerous activities when they can foresee profit in the long run.

If there were an elf who dabbled in crime, it would only be those of significant stature who could foresee benefits hundreds of years down the line.

And seeing them whine after being bested by a mere first-floor raider, they’re definitely not high-profile criminals.

That’s why I asked them if they were going around ripping off money from little noobs because they weren’t capable of doing any better.

I expected them to deny it, but Lemon and Apple just nodded.

“You’re not wrong. We’ve been stuck on the first floor for five years now.”

“We’re on the younger side among elves, so we don’t have much saved up. We’re also orphans.”

“……”

These guys. What do they even have? Suddenly, I’m feeling a little relatable to them…

After calmly admitting that they’re utterly worthless, a slight confidence began to sparkle in their eyes.

“But we are confident about our lifespan.”

“Would it be okay to repay it in installments over 50 years?”

“Are you crazy? Humans, at best, live up to 100 years.”

“That’s regrettable… but there is another way.”

“We’ll borrow money from Boss. Since we’re both elves, maybe they’ll give us a 10-year interest-free period.”

10 years interest-free, what kind of nonsense talk was that? The scale made my head spin, but there was something else that bothered me more.

“Boss?”

“They’ve taken care of us since we were young.”

“We’ve been working in the Boss’s organization these days.”

“…And what kind of organization is that?”

“They trade various items that you can’t normally find in the market.”

“Sometimes, when someone needs a blade, they would fight on their behalf.”

“That’s a criminal organization! You guys are no good. Just die right here!”

“Ah, no! It’s all legal! Nothing bad’s going on!”

“Really! We swear on our dad!”

“You’re swearing on something you don’t have….”

After scratching my head, thinking, I rolled Lemon and Apple half a roll and positioned them so they were lying face down.

When I walked up behind them with the dagger in my hand, the two squirmed violently.

“Weren’t you going to spare us?! We didn’t lie!”

“We can really pay you back! If needed, we’ll repay with our bodies! 100 years would be more than enough, even with interest!”

“Shh. I was just going to untie your ropes, so stay still.”

“Ah, understood.”

“Sorry for the misunderstanding.”

Lemon and Apple became docile again. Even with the appearance enhancement that elves were given, they somehow gave off a sleazy vibe, but their eyes were now sparkling, a stark contrast to their attitude moments ago.

Well… I could guess the reason. To elves, money was almost like a god. And I promised to spare their lives in exchange for money.

So, from Lemon and Apple’s perspective, this must have seemed like a very logical and reasonable transaction. Hard to find a reason to violate it.

…Though I didn’t expect to understand that these two elves were quite young for their kind.

The elven value system, where everything tied to money becomes a sacred contract, does not apply to other races.

That’s why, even with a little experience, they never make verbal agreements with other races. They must create documents and leave evidence to be satisfied.

And this applied to me as well.

Of course, I’m well aware that a promise involving money is considered a sacred contract to elves… but perhaps due to memories from my past life, I felt a bit uneasy letting them go with just a verbal promise.

So, I decided to implement an additional safety measure.

“Before I let you go, one thing. I need a vow.”

“A vow, you say?”

“We plan to keep the promise anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”

“Then swear it on the World Tree, since it’s right there.”

“……”

“……”

They both fell silent at the same time. However, the silence seemed to stem more from surprise than hesitation.

“…We didn’t know you’d be aware of that.”

“Well, if this makes you trust us, then very well. But what should we call you?”

“Jonah.”

At my concise reply, the two nodded and turned their heads toward the World Tree.

“I, Lemon, vow in front of the oldest tree to pay Jonah 23 gold coins to compensate for my past wrongdoings.”

“I, Apple, also vow to the ancient life that I will pay 23 gold to Jonah in atonement.”

Huh? Doesn’t that mean they’re each giving me 23 gold? I meant for them to give me 23 gold in total…

But I hadn’t specified that. If they’re willing to give it to me, then I’ll accept it gratefully. If I can actually receive a total of 46 gold, then we’ll be friends from that moment on.

“Alright. I’ll untie you now.”

As promised, I untied all the ropes that bound them.

Though it was a promise made in the name of a deity long gone and there were no real constraints, and the elves also accepted a world without the World Tree…

Still, the name of the World Tree continued to hold an immense presence in elf society.

It had virtually been the foundation of elf civilization, with its traces found everywhere.

If Lemon and Apple broke this oath, all I had to do was spread the word around town.

In just a few months, they would be treated like outcasts in the elf community, so unless they wanted to live as wanderers forever, they would take care to keep the promise.

Lemon and Apple, having regained their freedom, staggered to their feet. However, they soon glanced at me and covered their privates.

It must have been embarrassing being naked all this time. Interestingly, they only covered their lower privates with their hands and left their chests exposed. Not that there was much to see, given their small size.

I offered a small smile and turned my head away. Despite my consideration, Lemon and Apple collapsed to the ground, looking as though their hearts had been shattered.

“We, we were laughed at.”

“Being flat-chested is just part of being an elf… there’s nothing we can do.”

“Does it bother you that much?”

“There are things that a bare-bottomed kid wouldn’t understand.”

“Women are sensitive creatures.”

“You insolents. You think you can say anything now that you’re free….”

I understood their feelings, though. In the continent of Pan, a woman’s chest was akin to a man’s height or the length of their genitalia on Earth.

If it’s big and pretty, you feel proud, but if it’s small, you feel somewhat disheartened and unnecessarily conscious of people’s gazes.

“Anyway, hurry and wash up and change your clothes. I’ve been smelling something for a while now….”

“Khek! To, to be intimidated by a young boy and wet myself… thinking about it now, I feel so ashamed I could die!”

“It’s only Lemon who wet herself. I didn’t.”

Lemon became even more withdrawn. Her long hair covered her body like a blanket.

On the other hand, Apple, acting as if it were none of her concern and covering only her lower part with her hands, walked away in a crab-like manner and quickly put on the clothes she had taken off.

While they were in the process of regaining their human dignity, Lydia, who must have finished her interrogation, was approaching us.

I hurriedly gestured to the two to come closer and whispered quietly.

“Act and behave wisely.”

“Huh? What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“What happens if we don’t behave properly?”

“I’ll leave that to your imagination.”

After replying casually, I cleared my throat lightly and adjusted my lips to fine-tune my expression.

The moment Lydia’s footsteps halted behind me, I spun around with a broad smile to greet her.

“Miss Lydia! Miss Lydia! Have you finished the interrogation? I wasn’t quite sure how to handle such matters, so I asked for your help, but I felt a bit guilty…”

“That’s natural for a child. Jonah is a child. In that sense, running off alone was dangerous. You’ll be scolded when we return, just so you know.”

“I’m sorry…”

I lowered my head slightly, conveying a sense of reflection on my actions.

Next to me, Lemon and Apple were covering their mouths in shock as if they had just seen a ghost.

Hmm. It seems it was worth giving them a heads-up. I don’t like their expressions, but as long as they keep quiet, it’ll be fine.

Lydia momentarily tilted her head at their odd reactions but dismissed it and began to pat my head gently.

“…Still, you fought well.”

“Hehe. Oh, right. I untied them, too… But given the urgent situation, I think they had a little accident… Do you have anything they could use to wipe?”

“…Ah.”

Lemon was still squatting down. Lydia, noticing the yellow puddle around her, took out a cylinder containing a blue stone from her bosom.

“It’s a water bottle with a water crystal inside. Shake it, and you’ll have water to wash yourself.”

“Th-thank you…”

Lemon, with a bewildered expression, took the water bottle. Suddenly, our gazes met.

So, I put my index finger to my lips along with the smiling eyes that I secretly practiced.

“Shh.”

“……!”

For some reason, it seemed like Lemon had wet herself again, but this time, it was quickly washed away, so it wasn’t very noticeable.

That lemonade dispenser type b—h…