The Villain’s Sister - Chapter 116

5. A Dog Without an Owner

All I’d brought with me from Mist Island were my ID and money, so I had to buy everything from scratch.

“Wow. At this rate, I’ll go bankrupt in no time.”

It wasn’t like I’d brought so little money that I’d actually go bankrupt, but that’s how it felt.

Still, in just a few days, the place started to look like a home.

I had a clothes rack now, and dishes and a frying pan too.

There was still a lot I needed, but I decided to get things little by little. Right before heading out, I checked my reflection in the window again.

‘Good thing I don’t look like myself.’

Just changing to a short blond bob with a reddish tint made me feel like a different person.

Honestly, I didn’t expect blond to suit me this badly.

Well, at least it makes moving around easier.

“You can do this! You memorized the menu and prices already!”

Today was my first day at work.

On the way to the restaurant.

Whooosh, whooosh.

The steady sound of waves in the distance sometimes felt lonely, sometimes romantic.

“Laura, hi!”

“Good afternoon. I’ll introduce you to the people you’ll be working with. This is Mandy, and Noah. Mandy’s been working here for three years, so ask her if you don’t know something.”

“Yes. Nice to meet you, Mandy, Noah.”

“Talk casually.”

“You two can talk casually too.”

Mandy greeted me warmly, and my nerves eased a little.

Noah asked casually, “Your accent isn’t from around here.”

“I’m from Black City.”

“Wow. I hear that place is pretty thrilling.”

“Perfect if you’re chasing adrenaline. Still, it doesn’t beat the neighboring city.”

“Ah, Mist Island.”

Just thinking about it made Mandy shudder.

“Come here. I’ll tell you the store rules. When you clock in, first write your name here, and then….”

Mandy taught me everything I needed to know in place of Laura.

Which regular customers were troublemakers, and what to do when things got so busy you couldn’t think straight.

“Always check for allergies.”

“Uh-huh. Got it.”

While I reviewed my notes and went over what I’d learned, a customer came in.

Mandy quickly stepped up to greet them.

Noah, who’d been waiting nearby, came over.

“There’s a cook named Alex in the kitchen. If he asks later whether there’s anything you want to eat, tell him you’re on a diet.”

“Why?”

“He thinks every girl who eats his food is flirting with him. A lot of people quit because of that guy.”

“And he still hasn’t been fired?”

“He’s Laura’s cousin.”

“Ah.”

From day one, it felt like this job wouldn’t be easy. But I’d lived seeing underground members every day. A few bad customers were nothing.

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Welcome to Blue City.”

Noah smiled lightly and went to greet the newly arrived customers.

As evening approached, people started hovering near the restaurant entrance.

This time, it was my turn.

Okay. You can do this.

I clenched my fist slightly and guided the customers to their table.

***

“Jean. Are you sure you’ve never done this kind of work before? You’re pretty good.”

Mandy smiled and handed me a piece of candy.

I’d been on my feet for six hours straight and was drained of energy, but letting the candy melt slowly in my mouth brought it back.

“I feel like I’m dying.”

“You’ll get used to it soon. But leaving just the tips brown, is that a Black City trend?”

“No. The bleach messed up, so only the ends stayed darker.”

“It suits you.”

“Really? That’s a relief. Is your hair dyed too?”

“This red hair’s genetic. Four generations now.”

“That’s an awesome gene.”

Mandy showed interest in me, someone from the north.

The north has an image of being sharp and standoffish at best, or a den of crime at worst, but since they’re all big cities, people our age tend to admire it too.

It feels nice.

I think Mandy and I could become good friends.

“Hey, newbie. Since it’s your first day, is there anything special you want to eat?”

A pale face popped out from the kitchen.

That must be Alex, the guy Noah mentioned.

“No. I’m fine. I’m on a diet, so I don’t eat anything late.”

“What are you even trying to lose? Just eat today.”

“I’ll appreciate the thought.”

“Alex. We’re heading out now. You cooks worked hard today too.”

Mandy said her goodbyes quickly and dragged me out of the restaurant.

“That jerk. If he wasn’t the boss’s cousin. Noah, keep an eye on Jean for a while.”

“If he tries anything, I’ll teach that Alex guy what happens when he messes around.”

At my words, Noah burst out laughing.

I was serious, but it probably sounded like bravado.

Even though I’m pretty used to violence.

We chatted about all sorts of things on the way back, then parted at the intersection.

“Hm hm hm. Hm hm.”

That man is driving me crazy.

I hummed lyrics someone else would hate.

The damp, salty sea breeze tousled my now-short hair.

My nose ran, so I wrapped my scarf tight.

Then I saw it.

A puppy lying in the middle of the road, bleeding.

At first, under the streetlight, I thought it was a plastic bag.

“Oh my god.”

When I got closer, I saw it was still breathing, just barely.

A car was coming fast from the end of the road.

If I left it like this, it would get run over and die.

I hurriedly picked the puppy up and moved back to the sidewalk.

The sound of car tires rolling past was terrifying.

Looking around, it was a rural area with no people around.

I quietly breathed strength into the puppy.

“Don’t die.”

One regret I’ve always had since gaining my ability is how powerless I was when my mother got into a traffic accident.

If I’d had this power back then, on the day I went to Langfester Hospital holding Raphael’s hand, I wouldn’t have lost her so meaninglessly.

So I hoped this puppy, covered in blood from a traffic accident, wouldn’t die.

Not long after, the puppy’s wounds healed. It looked dazed for a moment, then licked my hand.

“Hey.”

When I healed a neighborhood cat that got injured fighting over territory, it licked my hand too.

It’s amazing that animals understand when someone heals them.

I patted its head and waved my hand. “Go. You should go home now. Your mom will worry.”

Woof! Woof!

It ran around me like I was its mom, and it was unbearably cute.

It’s so tiny. Is it allowed to be this cute?

“Hurry and go home.”

I waved my hand and ran off, but it got excited and chased after me.

“Don’t you have a home?”

Woof woof! Woof! Woof!

You’d have to have raised dogs to know what that means.

‘Does it not have an owner?’

It’s obviously still a puppy. If I left it alone on the road, it was clear it would end up like that again.

“Just for today.”

Tomorrow, I’ll ask around to see if anyone lost a puppy.

***

The age difference between Raphael and Giselle was eight years.

It was an awkward gap for properly acting as a guardian, but a perfect gap for being tormented by guilt over failing to protect her.

Their father resorted to violence whenever he drank.

If there was any small mercy, it was that he didn’t hit Giselle, who was younger.

Sick of the house, Raphael ran away to the military when he could no longer endure it.

At the time, he thought it was the best choice, but looking back, it was the worst possible mistake.

— Is this Raphael Moltke? This is Langfester Hospital. Miss Giselle Moltke has….

He couldn’t endure the self-loathing of knowing he had the strength to stop Andrew, yet left his young, weak sister unattended.

The regret, grief, and despair he felt while looking at his sister lying in bed were emotions no one who hadn’t lived through them could ever understand.

‘Morality means nothing when survival is on the line.’

His greatest mistake was abandoning morality far too late.

This place is the wild.

Enjoying civilization is something only those with power can do.

Raphael and Giselle were born in the wild.

So they should live by the laws of the wild.

“Raphael, is that you? I heard you escaped from prison, but what on earth happened?”

“Deva. Open the door and pack your things. You’re not going to a facility.”

The house was already hell. There was no way the people working at a facility would treat her any better.

In this city, the only person you can trust is yourself.

As he created Death Adder, Raphael resolved to turn that hellhole back into a ‘home.’

Even though his sister disliked underground organizations, Raphael made it happen.

He fed her well and dressed her well.

Above all, she was safe.

As long as Death Adder stood firm and he stayed by her side, his sister wouldn’t die.

There would be no more moments where guilt stabbed his heart and stole his breath. But….

“If you fall into hell, then I’ll go to hell with you.”

It was then that he realized, for the first time, that his existence itself had become a massive threat to his sister.

He was afraid she would snap and disappear.

The self-loathing he’d felt while looking at Giselle in a coma surged back.

He was always a coward.

When he was young, he ran away to the military. This time, he used the organization as an excuse and ignored his sister’s signals.

But, but… Red Shadow took off his mask and approached.

Black Cloak was stalking Giselle again this time.

Raphael knew it was a disastrous choice, yet once again, he had to make a horrific decision.