I Think I'll Hide My True Ability to the Last Moment

Episode 56: Sleepy Eyes

Godless City - Godless

Already the sun was set, and the city, which was only moonlight, was wrapped in darkness.

He who breathes and sleeps without anyone noticing.He who soothes his hunger from the storm water that he has accumulated.

Those who dwell in the city wish for dawn with their thoughts.

But there's no point in the sun rising.Your hungry stomach doesn't swell, and your thirsty throat doesn't moisturize.

But in the dazzle of the sun floating in the sky, we could find hope for life.

"Isn't it cold? Nem"

The girl who was called out was sitting on the spot with her back against a wall of rotten trees that was about to collapse.

Girl - Nem slowly lifts her face when she opens her sleepy eyes a little.

……

There was a boy I knew.

……

The girl glanced at the light of the moon, shining behind her face.

"...... giggle"

I slept.

"... haha"

When the boy smiles satisfactorily, he looks around.

Beyond the gaze, young children were sitting side by side in a narrow alley set between the houses.

……

Looking at it with satisfaction again, the boy slowly pulled out the dagger he was lowering to his hips and turned his gaze to the dark back.

Beyond that gaze - a shadow emerged from the darkness of the passage illuminated by the light of the moon.

"... it's me."

Yes, it was a girl dressed in black who spoke to the boy.

When the boy sighed with relief, he put the knife in his sheath and turned to the girl.

"The city is kind of killing today.Do you know anything about this?

"... it looks like a stranger has entered the city.

"... I see.In this city..... "

The boy murmured with a smile on his face.

But the boy's green eyes weren't laughing.

So?

"... what do you mean?

The boy smiled bitterly at the girl's reply.

"A stranger came from outside this city [Kanna].That explains why the inhabitants are so upset. "

The girl listens silently to the boy who has begun to speak so quietly.

"It's unusual to come all the way to such a sweeping city.For a good reason, I can expect you to be a runaway and corrupt person. "

……

The girl answers nothing.No - I knew it would continue.

"But I wonder if the darkness is so bad because of the (...) degree (...)?The numbers are moving, too.And you, too. "

The moment the boy said so, a smile struck the girl's face.

"That's right. Lance... you're right.They're not just strangers. "

The moment the girl said so gladly, the boy Lance smiled bitterly as if in a little trouble.

"... Chloe, don't you think it's a little too much?

"Oh? I can't believe it.Words become weapons and weaknesses.Always be aware of your opponent's thinking patterns and extrapolate your personality.Roy... no, that's what he said.Did you forget?

"No way, I can't forget my benefactor's teachings.But that's against the hostiles... right?

"... well..."

A girl who seems a little embarrassed to say that - Chloe.

The long, darkly dyed hair ran into the wind.

Lance opens his mouth again.

"But it's really important.It's because he pulled me and you into the dark, and that's how we survived. "

Chloe nodded small enough to agree with Lance.

Lance and Chloe are both twelve years old.

However, they were the oldest of the children who slept well around and played a leading role.

Who have been abandoned by their parents.After running away with his family, his parents were left alone.And whoever was born in this worst city.

Children living in this city are often lonely for various reasons.

The city of Kanna was a harsh environment for these boys and girls to survive alone.

Food is scarce and even safe drinking water is precious.In addition, the children worked with wisdom to survive in this city, where many of the criminals and adventurers had something in their bellies.

Even if they are fragile, if they work together as a group, they have more choices.

The boys, who understood it in a grotesque manner, gathered to be attracted to each other and created one group.

This is the reality of the boys and girls sleeping in this dark alley.

However, the number of people who swelled up in this way certainly increased the options, but there are many disadvantages.One of them was the food problem.

And I need money to get the food.

The two leaders relied on the straw to get the money, [Darkness], which has been passed down as one of the rumors of the city.

"Today's Buddha"

Chloe said that and gave Lance a small sack of linen with silver coins.

"... good work. I'll get it by sunrise. [M]But before that, "

Lance said that and put the sack in her pocket and gave Chloe another look.

"... I don't know the details either.But the man who came to this city apparently had something to do with the dark. "

"Really... in the dark...No, in this case, should I assume you've been invited to the dark? "

Darkness - The reality of the [Shadow Moon] is wrapped in mysteries.

In fact, very few people know that the organization is headquartered in this city.

"I hope nothing bad happens."

To cheer Chloe up, Lance's face lit up with a bright smile.

"It's okay. The strength of the numbers is unusual.You know that, don't you?

Lance knows that there is a supplement to the word, "good or bad."But Lance thought it didn't have to be a word.

There is no way for the weak to survive but to be strong.

For the children sleeping here, the strong are the two boys and girls and the adults, and for Lance and Chloe, the [shadow moon] and the [executive (number)].

Lance and Chloe go into the dark to survive on their own, and to keep the children who have relied on them alive, taking turns to perform duties and babysitting.

Those two relied on the executives of the organization, which were a symbol of strength, who were also fearful and had one or two habits.

"I need them to think that we can use them.First, let's aim to report directly to the cadre.I'm sure you'll get more money and better treatment. "

"Yes, but... if we don't have the strength yet... we don't have a track record."

Lance also smiled bitterly, agreeing with Chloe, who laughed so lonely.

"I don't want to touch God without touching him.Now we just have to do the work assigned to us.Like today. "

"... I see."

Yes, when they came to a conclusion.

A small noise called "Patari" echoes.

At the same time, Lance and Chloe's small, shoulder-shaking gaze turned towards the sound.

Beyond their gaze, there was a little girl who was leaning back against the wall - Nem was in a disoriented position, slightly raising the soot smoke and lying down.

Once Nem slowly opens his eyes and strokes around, he falls asleep again.

"... fufufu"

They looked at Nem and once they smiled a little, they looked back at each other again.

"That means she's here....."

"Oh, the kids must have noticed that the atmosphere in the city was weird.There were a lot of kids crying. "

"... yes"

Nem wasn't part of the group.However, as soon as the children cry, they appear and fall asleep as they are today.

And the children started crying when Lance was babysitting.

Nothing is wrong with how Lance is taken care of.It's just that Chloe is too good.

"You must be a sweet girl."

"Yeah, I was depressed, too, and when I realized, she was always there for me."

"I mean... her name is definitely..."

"I call you Nem."

"Oh, yeah, that was a different name I heard from the kids the other day."

"... it looks like I don't have a name."

So Lance said, and Chloe held her tongue as she understood.

I don't have a name. It was not unusual for a child to live in this city.

"And...."

That's how Lance looks at Nem.

Chloe also turned her gaze towards Nem.I understood Lance's point at once.

Long, dark blue hair that feels bitter.

From the gap in the forehair, I found burn marks enough to cover half of the face.

For a girl with snowy white skin, the red scar is very noticeable.

"... wait"

Chloe squeaks her hands tightly.

Lance also cast a shadow on his face to agree, diverting his eyes from Nem.

"I heard that once.I thought I'd join you.There were a few people who said things that didn't bother her.But Nem didn't answer anything.I asked her for her name in the first place, once. "

"... maybe there's something going on.Maybe you're being traumatized. "

That's what Chloe was trying to say.

Nem's eyes slowly open.

…………

And as he noticed, he rubbed his eyes and stood up slowly.

Turning his back to Lance and the others, he ran slowly on his feet.

As he watched, Lance opened his eyes in surprise.

"... I'm surprised.I've never seen Nem running before. "

"Eh!? Running!

The back of a girl running with her sleeping hair shaken down, not at the same speed as walking in front of the two eyes.

"It's late this evening. Just in case, I'll see what happens."

"I see. Please. Please.I'll take this place. "