Volume 2 Chapter 37: Meat Shield, Got It!【The Aristocratic Council Arc】

Balor happened to pass by there purely by chance, and it wasn’t inevitable that he’d offer Izun his umbrella.

After all, the back alley where Izun had been hiding wasn’t in Apophis’s territory.

It was a domain ruled by nobles under Kelphine’s influence, and Balor had accompanied his father on a diplomatic mission.

Of course, since he had no intention whatsoever of showing up at proper work, even though it was raining, he had slipped away under the guise of taking a breather… and was out for a stroll.

It was already well known that when something unpleasant happened, he tended to run off for a walk.

“Ahh… I’m so damn fed up. If it’s work, just go to hell by yourself, damn old man.”

“Isn’t the nuance of ‘go to hell’ a bit off?”

Thankfully, the sound of the rain drowned out their conversation, as Balor’s venomous tongue showed no signs of stopping. He was even lashing out at his own father.

He regarded everyone except himself as nothing more than pebbles.

Trailing by his side was Nanashi.

Even then, Nanashi’s eyes were as dark as a black hole.

The two were sharing an umbrella.

Of course, it wasn’t due to any sweet, tender feelings—it was simply because having Nanashi hold the umbrella was too much of a hassle. Since Balor was taller, it was inevitable that he would hold it. After all, if Nanashi were to hold it, they’d both end up soaked.

“And on top of that, rain… at times like these, the most fulfilling way to pass the time is to hunker down in your room and smirk while imagining the peasants busily working.”

“Do you even know what ‘fulfilling’ means, 【Master】?”

Nanashi was somewhat taken aback by Balor’s wicked tastes—hardly befitting that of a future feudal lord.

So the two leisurely wandered through the town, killing time while hoping that the stifling work would soon be over…

“Huh?”

Balor glanced briefly into the back alley. It was by chance… though. There were countless back alleys he had passed without even a glance, having only momentarily fixed his gaze on this one. That serendipitous moment turned out to be a saving grace for Izun.

“Orphan?”

What appeared in Balor’s eyes was a person huddled in tattered rags. Judging by the height, they weren’t likely an adult. It was impossible to tell whether the person was male or female… and Balor’s mind began to spin rapidly. He wondered if he could hire this one as a servant.

A servant… to Balor, that meant a meat shield and someone to heap all his troubles upon. In other words, someone who would be obedient and do exactly as he said.

Previously, he had taken in an outsider named Ashvin, but that one was invariably rebellious. He desired an obedient meat shield—not a rebellious fellow.

Thus, he identified the presence in that back alley as a guaranteed pawn who would undoubtedly follow his commands. After all, in Balor’s eyes, one’s origins didn’t matter at all. If they were useful to him, even an orphan was fine; if not, even royalty was worthless.

So, without a moment’s hesitation, he offered his umbrella to the girl, who was getting soaked in the rain.

“…Are you okay?”

“Hey, wait. I’m gonna get soaking wet!”

Nanashi’s cry of protest at sharing the umbrella was ignored.

◆

“Eh…?”

Izun couldn’t understand the situation at all at first.
“Are you okay?”

Was that word… directed at her? Toward someone who was despised and avoided by everyone…

“C’mon…”
“If you keep like this, you’ll catch a cold.”

It was, after all, kind words—words she had never been spoken to kindly since birth.
And yet, here was someone she was meeting for the first time showing concern for her.
Her cheeks softened with an unbelievable mix of shock and the joy of being cared for.

But then she suddenly realized: right now, she was concealed from head to toe in tattered rags.
In other words, Balor—whom Izun didn’t even know by name—had not noticed that she was a cursed child.
If he ever found out, his kindness would vanish.
He would be frightened and run away—and if he laughed at her like he had back in the sideshow…
Izun knew she’d never be able to remain composed.

“A-Are you alright, Izun?”
“You’re not alright. Come here.”

Trying to shake off that fear, Izun attempted to move away, but Balor pulled her even closer.

“W-wait… Aah!?”
In her frantic attempt to break free, the tattered cloth caught on Balor’s hand and came off.
Izun’s white hair, red eyes, and pure white skin were revealed.
These were unmistakable traits of a cursed child.

“You… that appearance…”
“Ah…”

Stunned by Balor’s wide-eyed stare, Izun was dumbfounded.
To be hated, to be laughed at—
to be treated that way by someone who had ever shown her kindness was utterly unbearable.
Her red eyes filled with tears.

Ah, so this person won’t accept me either?
Yet, as Izun looked up at Balor, he offered her a faint, warm smile.

“Finally, you’re calm. Come on.”
He gently helped her stand up.
That smile held no trace of ridicule.
It was the first time anyone had given Izun such a pure smile.

“Why… why don’t you laugh when you see me…?”
Even though you know I’m a cursed child, why do you smile at me like that?
To Izun—who had been hated by everyone, including her own parents, since birth—it was completely incomprehensible.

In response, Balor offered her a friendly smile.
“Laugh? Of course I laugh when something funny happens, but I’d never laugh at your adorable face.”
“?!”

For Izun, who had never heard such words in her entire life, the shock was more intense than her joy.
However, Balor could only truly laugh when someone took care of him.

“Come on, if you keep this up, you’ll catch a cold. Come to the inn we’re staying at.”
“Uh, yeah…”

Balor led Izun as they started walking.
The option to run away was already gone.

“(Alright! I’ve got a meat shield to replace Ashvin!)”
“As expected, you’re trash, Master.”

Balor had successfully carried out the kidnapping.
By the way, this man had no idea that cursed children even existed.
He would later come to deeply regret that—if he had known, he wouldn’t have taken her.