Chapter 67 · BMMAW

 Chapter 67

The Temptation of the Pomegranate

When the man came into the restaurant and sat in front of him, Enri let out a small sigh.

He watched the family leaving the restaurant.

They didn’t seem to have much, but they looked happy.

He felt like he had never smiled as naturally as that little girl when he was young.

But that child kept laughing like she was rolling around.

What was so fun about just eating food?

*Still… I envy them.*

He had more than them.

But they were happier.

He remembered the woman’s face when she heard the price of the food and smiled slightly.

The man seemed used to it, but the woman clearly wasn’t.

He had never seen someone cry while eating, then smile and cry again.

When the door fully closed and the family disappeared, Enri turned to the man in front of him.

The man’s expression was serious.

“Is something wrong?”

The man lowered his voice.

“That man just now… do you know him?”

“No. I saw him for the first time today.”

“That man was with the merchant caravan. Because of him, our leader died.”

“…”

That arrogant man… died.

Enri hid his expression.

“I heard he was a wind mage. Quite skilled.”

“It’s strange. That man avoided the leader’s arrow. And he’s a high-level fire mage. Even from a distance, his magic power was overwhelming.”

“That is surprising.”

If he was that strong, his appearance didn’t match.

At least, he should have been dressed better.

Enri remembered the magical beast sitting on the child’s head.

It looked like the rabbit he once raised in secret.

“…”

That rabbit had been discovered by his father.

It was killed.

And Enri was beaten all night with a wooden stick.

Because it was “not noble-like.”

Even though his father bought his title with money.

That man felt similar to the hunter who sold him the rabbit.

*His clothes… and the magical beast… maybe a magical beast hunter.*

But a magical beast hunter and a high-level fire mage didn’t match.

Something felt strange.

The Kingdom of Tyron stole money from this country to fund war.

Enri’s father managed that process and earned a lot of money.

Enri was just his puppet.

If danger came, he would be the first to die.

A waiter came to take the order, and their conversation paused.

After the waiter left, Enri asked:

“What happened to the two people you were supposed to bring?”

“I don’t know. They didn’t come to the meeting place. Even if things went wrong, they were supposed to escape. But they never showed up.”

“They might have been captured.”

Enri lowered his eyes slightly.

*If something goes wrong, you should run first.*

His younger brother had always been a fool.

Even at the end.

*He’ll probably die.*

They weren’t close, but his brother used to call him “brother.”

Still, they were never truly close.

Just people connected by blood.

Enri placed the pomegranate seeds back into the bowl.

They reminded him of the little girl’s face.

“What about the goods?”

“As planned. But we couldn’t make a list. Many died, including the leader.”

“I see.”

That meant more work for him.

If someone was captured, the truth might be revealed.

That the bandits were actually soldiers from another country.

The border count might start investigating him.

*I need to erase the traces.*

Enri stood up and put on his hat.

“This will be the last delivery. We will stop contact for a while.”

“What?!”

The man raised his voice, then quickly lowered it.

“Are you abandoning us?”

“I’m not abandoning you. Just stopping contact for now.”

> “Do you want both of us to get caught and die together?”

“But we’re in enemy territory. Without you—”

“That’s foolish. You are bandits now. Then act like real bandits and hide.”

> “As long as you erase the trace that you’re soldiers, you can survive.”

The man grabbed Enri’s wrist tightly.

It hurt.

Enri used a small amount of wind magic to weaken his grip and pulled away.

“I will leave this country for a while. Don’t come looking for me.”

“Don’t order me around! You greedy merchant!”

“…”

Enri left the restaurant.

He heard that the bandit leader and others were nobles from Tyron.

Nobles looked down on merchants.

But they were the same ones who sold titles for money.

*Ridiculous people.*

Enri returned to his lodging and packed his things.

He changed into simple clothes.

Without fancy clothing, he looked very ordinary.

He wore a plain hat and pulled it low.

Then he left.

The location to receive the goods was already decided.

If someone was captured, time was limited.

He had to hurry.

As he crossed the plaza, he saw the same family from earlier.

The child was running around, and the couple walked slowly behind her.

*A high-level fire mage… I should test him.*

Enri walked further and looked into the alleys.

There were many vagrants who would do anything for money.

They didn’t ask questions.

They would take beatings or jump from high places if paid.

Enri stepped slightly into an alley—but not too deep.

There were rules.

Clients stayed near the entrance.

That area was safe.

But deeper inside—

It was lawless.

You could be robbed, beaten, or killed.

Even guards didn’t enter.

When Enri stood there, several men approached from the shadows.

“What do you need, sir?”

“Bring a man into this alley. Use his child if needed.”

“And after that?”

“That’s all. Do whatever you want with them.”

“Easy. Where is he?”

“In the plaza.”

The men hesitated.

“We avoid people from the plaza.”

Enri showed a gold coin.

They exchanged looks.

“Is he a merchant or local?”

“No.”

“Then we accept.”

“What does he look like?”

“A child with a magical beast on her head. And her father.”

Enri gave them the gold.

He mentioned the pomegranate.

One of them left—probably to get one.

“Do you want proof?”

“No.”

> “If he is truly a high-level fire mage… he will use magic.”

The men bowed and disappeared.

Enri moved to a nearby spot and waited.

After some time—

He saw the child.

—

There were so many people.

Dorothy ran around and saw a man wearing a large cloak holding a wooden bucket.

“That’s strange…”

She ran back to her parents.

“Dad! There’s a strange person! His cloak has a face!”

A man nearby laughed.

“That’s a mobile toilet.”

“What?”

Why not just use the ground?

Dorothy followed the man curiously.

Then—

She saw a girl.

The girl held a pomegranate.

“Ah!”

It looked delicious.

Her mouth filled with saliva.

The girl took a bite, then held it out.

Like she was offering it.

> *She’s such a nice person!*

Dorothy ran toward her.

But the girl turned and ran.

Dorothy slowed down.

But then the girl stopped and offered it again.

The pomegranate looked so delicious.

*Come here, Dorothy…*

Dorothy ran again.

Oz cried softly.

“I know, Oz! I’ll share with you!”

She followed the girl—

Until suddenly—

She was no longer in the plaza.

The place smelled bad.

It reminded her of the old hut in the forest.

“…Where am I?”

The girl stood ahead.

“Come here. I’ll give it to you.”

Dorothy almost stepped forward—

But suddenly remembered.

Her second mother’s words.

Her dead father’s voice.

> *Useless girl…*

Dorothy turned around.

> “I need to go back to Dad.”

She started running—

But someone appeared in front of her.

A thin, scary man.

He reached out to grab her.

Her body froze.

Oz cried.

*Be brave.*

Dorothy turned to run the other way—

But there was another man.

> *No… I’m going to be caught.*

Tears filled her eyes.

“NO! Dad! Daaad!”

At that moment—

> Darkness suddenly fell over her head, even though it was still daytime.