chapter 94
Even in the capital of Wigdnia, which spanned the entire continent, and in the Kreuz estate that some dreamed of,
there existed an uncomfortable truth people preferred not to know.
That is, beneath the shadows of the city, sewer rats thrived, hiding in the darkness.
And the ability they relied on most was, naturally:
[Follow the ventilation duct for about 300 meters until you reach a fork. Take a right, then a left. Continue for 200 meters, then a left again. Follow the path, and you’ll reach the surface.]
Navigation skills.
In a world where felines and beast-people made up over 25% of the population, rats had to always keep escape routes open.
So they knew the secret passages beneath the city inside out.
Much like how Sevi could traverse the Black Dragon Castle blindfolded.
I bought information from one of these sewer rats with a single potato that had been allocated for the children’s meal.
When I asked it to guide us personally, it screeched, “I hate cats!” and scurried away.
Still, we got all the information we needed.
“Remember this carefully, everyone. At the fork about 300 meters in, go right once, then left once. Continue straight for 200 meters, then left again.”
I repeated the escape route instructions to the children several times.
“Unni, what about you? Aren’t you coming with us?”
“Don’t be silly. I’m way bigger than you. I can’t fit into that passage!”
Indeed, the ventilation ducts weren’t universal.
Maybe I could have squeezed in if I were still a tiny squirrel, but in my current form, it was impossible.
But the real problem lay elsewhere.
“I’m not stupid, okay?! I’ve memorized the route! 200 meters, then left—”
“No, it’s 300 meters. Then, uh—”
It seemed too much to expect seven-year-old children to navigate a pitch-dark ventilation duct without maps or light.
But we couldn’t back down just because it was difficult.
Before the hunting festival, before they came.
At least the children had to get out of the basement.
That way, I could alert the knights to my location.
“Chedder, come here for a moment.”
I quietly called Chedder, who had been chosen to lead the children from the first spot.
“Why… why?”
Although he seemed composed, he had just celebrated his seventh birthday.
Just being responsible for the children carried a lot of weight.
I didn’t want to burden him further.
I simply said:
“If you can’t remember the path, close your eyes.”
“What? But if I close my eyes, I won’t see anything. What if we get lost…?”
Chedder’s eyes, which had been sharp and alert, immediately turned anxious.
“Sometimes it’s better to rely on intuition than memory. Close your eyes, and feel the wind.”
“Feel the wind…?”
“Yes. The sound of the wind or its scent will lead you to the surface.”
“But… what if I take the children somewhere strange? And then they catch us…”
“Then shout, ‘Help!’ I’ll come no matter what. And even after you leave the ventilation duct, keep shouting the same thing.”
“Shout ‘Help’?”
Chedder blinked and repeated, clearly asking what would happen next.
“Then anyone nearby will come to help you.”
No matter the time—late at night or early morning.
No matter the distance.
“Adults can’t ignore children calling for help.”
“Really…?”
I just nodded silently at Chedder.
Just as I, a powerless squirrel beast-person, couldn’t ignore the cries of a kidnapped child,
any adult who heard the voice of a child in need would spring into action.
More than that, I had a strong certainty.
Ferdinand, Yeloise, and the knights of Black Dragon Castle were already searching everywhere in the city for me.
“If you see any Black Dragon knights, just tell them one thing.”
“What should I say?”
“Tell them Cherry unni is still trapped.”
“Unni’s name is Cherry?”
“Yes. Pretty, isn’t it?”
Chedder nodded shyly with slightly blushing cheeks.
I patted his head once and, in a playful gesture, folded my fingers like a song.
“Right at the fork at 300 meters, right once, left once. Then straight for 200 meters, then left!”
Chanting the instructions like a spell, I lifted the children into the vent one by one.
When I lifted Chedder, he jumped into the duct like a true cat.
He helped pull the other children up.
In that way, all seven children disappeared into the dark ventilation duct.
Exactly five minutes later,
creeeak—
A chilling metallic sound echoed as the firmly closed basement door swung open.
“Damn it…! Where did they all go?!”
At the same time, in the Kreuz estate, already shrouded in darkness, rain fell steadily.
Kieeeek—
Kenig searched the buildings repeatedly, unable to wear a raincoat, while Cherry’s companion bird circled overhead.
Yet the abandoned buildings showed no signs of visitors, neither inside nor outside.
And on top of that,
“Damn… this rain…”
Kenig gritted his teeth anxiously.
The weather today was working against him.
The heavy rain had washed away all remaining traces of Cherry.
“My lord, we’ve questioned all nearby witnesses, but no one has seen Lady Cherry,”
Gerard, also without a raincoat, came running, breathing heavily.
Just as Yeloise had said,
the more crowded the streets, the more indifferent people became to others.
“Not a single witness among all those people?”
As he wiped rain from his face, suddenly,
“Help us!”
“Help us…!”
The sobbing voices of children echoed in a round.
Kenig and Gerard immediately moved toward the sound.
Next to a floor vent, not far from the abandoned building,
seven children shivered from cold and fear, screaming at the top of their lungs.
“Help us, kek, keeek…!”
They shouted until their voices were hoarse, as if desperate to save someone.
“Shh, it’s okay now, kids. Did you come out of this vent?”
Gerard quickly took off his jacket and covered the children with it.
Their faces were covered in dust, evidence of crawling through the duct for some time.
Yet the children remained silent, as if by agreement.
Hhh…
Swallowing their cries, they only looked at each other.
‘What if they’re in league with them?’
‘We need help fast…’
They stomped helplessly in the mud, unsure of what to do.
“Black Dragon…!”
One of the cat boys shouted upon seeing the Black Dragon emblem on Kenig’s clothes.
“Black Dragon? That must be the Black Dragon knights unni mentioned!”
A look of joy spread across the children’s faces, mixed with drops of rain or tears falling.
“Unni?”
Gerard met the children’s gaze instead of frowning Kenig.
“Unni? Where were you trapped? Was there another unni there?”
“Cherry unni is in danger. She… she was taken by them!”
“It’s all our fault… We saw her in the duct… we watched… but we couldn’t help.”
“She told us to be quiet…”
Chedder, biting his lips and holding back, finally burst into tears.
Earlier, as they passed through the ventilation duct, they had seen Cherry being dragged somewhere.
“Nu—”
“Shhh—”
Through the gaps in the barred ceiling, Chedder had locked eyes with Cherry.
But before he could speak, Cherry put her index finger to his lips.
And silently moved her lips.
‘Go quickly.’
