Home/I Saved the Villain and Fell Asleep/ch 27

Chapter 27

Regina was horrified and clamped her hand over Leo's mouth.

So, he stole it? Leo took back what Jack had stolen?

"Your sister told you not to say things like that! Um, miss. What Leo meant is that he stole it. Jack usually hides important things in his shoes or socks when he steals them. When Jack used us as a decoy and ran off, Leo must have used his shadow hand to take it back."

Regina, flustered, explained the situation and glanced at me nervously. She seemed worried about the fact that they'd stolen something.

"And?"

"We don't know much about fine fabrics—we're practically illiterate when it comes to that—so I'm not sure if this is really valuable. But Leo said he wanted to give it to you..."

Regina pulled out a bundle of cloth from her bosom and held it out.

"Don't worry! I washed it clean! I asked Julia, and she just wrapped it up, swished it around, and it was clean in an instant!"

I took the cloth from Regina and unfolded it. A gasp of admiration escaped me.

It looked like thin layers of pearl were woven into fabric. Every time it fluttered, it shimmered subtly in the light. The wide, long cloth could easily be worn as a shawl.

"No wonder those thugs wanted it."

"You could probably sell it for quite a bit. Are you sure you want to give it to me?"

"It's too luxurious for us to keep. We'd be lucky if it doesn't get stolen again."

If it were ordinary silk, maybe, but this fabric clearly had considerable value.

"I could sell it safely for you instead. Even so, you're giving it to me?"

"If they want to give it, stop questioning it. Just take it."

"You be quiet."

I was asking seriously, but he butted in from the side. After jabbing Kali in the ribs, I looked back at Regina, who was nodding vigorously.

"This alone isn't enough! We're street kids who spent every day wondering how to survive. But you and the young—I mean, Kalipr-nim, said you'd take us along..."

"In that case, I'll gratefully accept it."

When I said I'd take it, Regina's face brightened. Seeing her nod with a bright smile, I chuckled.

"I didn't bring you here expecting loyalty or anything. So, let's make just one promise."

"Yes?"

"Don't throw your lives away carelessly."

I raised my index finger and urged them. Tilting their heads in confusion, I added another finger.

"Hmm, just one more. Eat well and sleep well. And if possible, don't lie. If you want to play, play—you don't have to force yourself to learn things..."

Seeing that I was about to go on, Kali poked my back with his finger.

"Even if you spread all your fingers, it wouldn't be enough."

"Ahem, what I mean is... come back when you're bigger."

"Huh?"

"Come back when you're a bit bigger. Taller, and with more meat on your bones."

If I worked them as they were now, I'd be a child abuser. They were just too small.

Regina, looking bewildered, nodded and repeatedly thanked me before leaving the room with Leo.

"What do you think of Leo and Regina?"

"I don't know about the girl, but the boy—if raised well, he'll be useful in many ways."

Knowing that wasn't what I was asking, Kali answered in his own way, yawned, and closed his eyes.

"Hey, go sleep in your own room."

"My room's cold."

"What? It's not even cold weather. You? Cold?"

"If I say it's cold, then it's cold. I'm sleeping here."

"Do whatever you want. Whatever."

It was better to have him in sight than to wonder what he was doing somewhere else. With his eyes closed, he really looked like a little angel.

Since your abilities are overpowered, at least let your personality grow a little softer—just enough not to be taken advantage of!

Leaning by the window as the sunset glowed, I gazed down at the garden. Leo's laughter drifted in on the wind.

It had been over a week since Leo and Regina arrived.

Leo, who had never shown a smile like a child who didn't know how to laugh, started smiling after meeting Bibi.

Exactly from the moment Bibi began munching on Leo's shadow hand. Regina often restrained Leo from using his unique magic—even though she didn't need to.

"Ah, isn't that unsettling? Miss."

"Unsettling?"

"A hand suddenly popping out of the shadows. There were... many people who didn't see it favorably. They said it was gross."

I could tell from Regina's expression alone what kind of treatment Leo had received whenever he used his magic. At first glance, the shadow hand could look like a skeletal hand reaching out.

"There's no need to hide it in the ducal house. Look—how is it?"

I happened to be wearing a pink chiffon dress, which maximized the visual effect. I stood there with the crude, indescribably ugly, brownish club slung over my shoulder.

Regina's gaze rolled toward the club. She just broke out in a cold sweat, unable to say a word.

Yeah... even I couldn't call it pretty with a straight face, so I understood. After that, Regina stopped holding Leo back, and Leo often pulled his hand out of the shadows.

Then Bibi—the instigator—appeared. Upon seeing the hand emerge from the shadows, Bibi wagged his tail fiercely, charged at it, and bit the fingers. And then started eating.

Even knowing it was made of magic, watching the hand get chewed up in Bibi's mouth made my stomach churn.

After Leo learned that Bibi was a dog who ate magic, he followed Bibi around all day long.

Still young with limited mana, Leo couldn't keep pulling out shadow hands continuously. When the hand didn't appear, Bibi would lose interest and wander off, and when Leo's mana recovered, he'd pull it out again—it was a cycle.

Through this, they became friends, running around the garden all day until sunset.

"Leo! Come inside!"

If I didn't call him in, he'd definitely keep playing until pitch dark, so I had to stop him myself. It had become part of my routine.

"His stamina is impressive. Kali was pathetic at thirteen."

Now, of course, it's a different story. If he'd run around that much and not improved, that would be strange.

Tomorrow, we finally return to the ducal estate. Since it's our original home, it feels odd—like moving. Maybe because I regained my past life's memories in this villa.

Once I'm back at the ducal castle, I need to search the library first. Just in case—just maybe—there might be records of unique magic similar to the Goblin Club.

"I want to use other people's magic easily...!"

Even if it's limited to three types of magic, being able to use stored magic just by swinging the club—how appealing is that?

"Someone!! Tell me how!!!"

No matter how much I racked my brain and focused, I couldn't think of a proper method. I'd tried almost everything.

I threw the club into Kali's fireballs, poured concentrated mana into the golden gems, and swung the club with the idea of storing Kaelen's whirlwind—but nothing worked.

I wanted to succeed before returning to the ducal estate. I need a way to protect myself, don't I?

I lay sprawled on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. A sigh of frustration escaped me.

Ah, forget it. I'll sleep first, then search the ducal library and think about it later.

I gasped and opened my eyes.

After blinking rapidly a couple of times, I sat up. The villa was in chaos.

Rolling my eyes to look outside, the sky wasn't pitch black—instead, a red sunset seemed to be undulating in the shape of a form.

"Kyaaa!!!"

Someone's clear scream jolted me awake. I got out of bed and threw open the window. What I'd thought was a sunset wasn't a sunset—it was a blaze.

A massive fire was consuming the villa.

"Why..."

Reflexively, my lips and jaw trembled. My fingers, gripping the windowsill, turned white with tension.

"Fire! Why a fire all of a sudden!!!"

My voice wouldn't come out properly. I shook my head violently, trying to erase the faces flashing through my mind. Biting my lip, I kicked open the door and dashed out. Forcing my stiff knees to move, I ran down the hallway.

I threw open the nearest door—Sier's room. His bed was empty. I closed the door and moved forward. Breathing in short gasps, I braced myself against the wall.

"No, no... It's not time yet. Why is the villa on fire! Kali, Caelius!!"

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