Home/I Saved the Villain and Fell Asleep/ch 70

Chapter 70

Now, even if Shimota wanted to wear El's dresses, she wouldn't be able to. Of course, she could use another dress shop, but there's a world of difference between voluntarily switching and being driven out.

"And I'd like to give Kali some clothes..."

"That's what I wanted!!"

Before Mother could finish, El shot up from her seat. Seeing her enthusiasm, Kali frowned in unease.

"Handle it well."

I patted Kali's shoulder and quietly stood up.

"Where are you going."

"To look at other things."

"Stay here."

"Oh dear! I'm not the one getting fitted today."

"Rachel, Hari also—mmph!"

Before Kali could say something dangerous, I clamped my hand over his mouth. Fortunately, Mother was discussing designs with El and didn't hear him.

"Bibi hasn't been around here for a while. I'll go check on him."

"What? Bibi plays fine on his own."

"This isn't like the small village or the ducal estate. Just in case."

"Come on, Kali, stand up."

As Kali stood, measuring tapes, quills, and notepads floated around El—seemingly her unique magic. I waved smugly at Kali, now firmly in El and Mother's grasp, then leaned out the window to call for the shadow.

"Where did Bibi go?"

"Young lady, it's dangerous."

"I asked where Bibi went."

"Well... a certain young lady spotted Bibi and suddenly threw a fit, insisting she wanted him. The knight beside her tried to catch him..."

"What?"

"Bibi managed to evade on his own."

She wanted him even though he was wearing a collar clearly marked with an owner?

"Find out where he is now."

"But young lady."

"I know four of you followed me. Send the youngest shadow. Quickly."

"Yes, young lady. I'll be right b—hic—back."

A small sob mixed into the reply. Wait, did I ask them to do something that hard? It sounds like I'm bullying them!

One presence disappeared, and less than five minutes later, the youngest shadow returned. Delivering Bibi's news in a flustered voice, the content was rather absurd.

"So, the knight of that woman who said she wanted Bibi caught him?"

"Yes. What should we do, young lady?"

"If you take a dog that has an owner, that's theft!"

What kind of dog is he!! I've fed him plenty of tasty treats and magic—he's nicely plump! How dare anyone try to take him!

"Where is it?"

"You're going?"

"I'll go get him myself. Is the youngest shadow going to handle it? Judging by the situation, that young lady seems to be a noble."

"...I'll go with you, young lady."

With Kali distracted by El and Mother's chatter, I had to slip out quietly.

"Where are you going, young lady?"

"Eep! Julia?"

Julia was right behind me—how long had she been there?

"Uh, stay with Mom."

"I'm your handmaiden?! If I let you wander alone, the Duchess will have a fit!"

"Fine, fine. You can come too."

"Where are we going?"

"Hmm, Bibi seems to be in a bit of trouble."

Leaving the dress shop, I headed with the shadow past the street lined with taverns toward the district of tea houses.

"Yip!! Woof!!"

I heard Bibi's voice somewhere. We followed the sound.

"Young lady! Over there. Huh?!"

Julia gasped in surprise. The scene before us left a sour taste in my mouth. An unpleasant chill crept up from my feet.

"What's going on here?"

Even when Lady Shimota acted out, when someone spilled liquor on my dress, or when the shop clerk was rude, I'd never been this furious. But this was infuriating.

"Bibi is our master's dog!"

"Then sell him to me!"

"Bibi isn't for sale!"

Leo was standing in front of Bibi, blocking him. I didn't know how long this standoff had been going on, but a knight stood before him with a drawn sword, his expression clearly annoyed.

A girl who looked to be in her mid-teens was clinging to the knight's collar and throwing a tantrum.

"Get that dog for me!"

"Young lady, they say he has an owner."

"I'll buy him. The owner won't be able to refuse the money I offer, right?"

"Ha..."

The knight glanced around, then approached Leo. The sharp tip of his sword aimed toward him.

"Young lady, should I stop him?"

Leo's expression showed fear, but he didn't back down. Bibi even tried to pull Leo away by tugging at his trousers.

I strode toward Leo. When he spotted me, his face lit up with relief. I smiled back at him.

"Woof!! Woof!!"

Bibi released Leo's trousers and ran to me. He ran so fast that the woman reaching for him missed.

I hugged Bibi tightly as he came flying with a thud, petting him vigorously.

"Julia, take Bibi for a moment."

"Yes! Bibi, are you hurt? Hmm?"

Julia crouched down and checked Bibi all over. In the process, she must have ruffled his fur the wrong way—I heard Bibi growl in annoyance.

"What? Are you the owner? Sell him to me!"

I looked at the girl, arms crossed, speaking confidently, with a sour expression. The brown-haired girl, adorned with flashy jewels, looked back and forth between me and Bibi, then shrieked in a shrill voice.

"How much? Name your price!"

"Hey. Lower your sword."

"What?"

I turned my gaze from her to the knight still pointing his sword at Leo.

"What did you say?"

He'd been looking annoyed all along, but when I spoke informally, his expression hardened.

"I said lower your sword. Are you deaf?"

"Hah, hah..."

His sword tip trembled—his pride must have been stung.

Why can't these people understand anything when told once?

"Shadow."

The youngest shadow following me leaped lightly in front of the incompetent knight. He twisted the knight's wrist, disarmed him, and kneed him in the side, sending him flying.

The brown-haired girl, who couldn't take her eyes off the fallen knight, looked at the shadow in shock.

"Wh-what are you doing! Do you know who I am! He's my father's personal guard!"

"Come here with Leo."

The shadow smirked at the girl and walked toward me with Leo.

"Leo, are you hurt?"

"I'm fine."

"Hey! Are you ignoring me?"

Fortunately, Leo wasn't hurt. I placed a hand on his shoulder and met his eyes.

"What happened?"

"I came out to see the sights with the older brothers and sisters, but it was so crowded... I got separated. Then that person was holding Bibi, so I told them to stop. I said Bibi had an owner..."

"And they still tried to take him?"

"Yeah."

What kind of nonsense is this?

I straightened up and looked at the girl. She was trembling, her face bright red with anger at being ignored.

"I, do you know who I am...! Give me that dog right now!"

"Who are you."

"What?"

"I asked who you are. Your knight didn't understand when told once—looks like the owner's the same."

"How dare you insult the young lady!!"

Another knight, who had been attending to the fallen one, drew his sword in a fury.

"They always draw their swords when angry. I wonder if they even know how to swing them."

"Right."

The youngest shadow muttered in disbelief.

"Ah, so who are you? This is my dog. And who are you to tell me to sell or not? I'm getting annoyed, so speak up."

"Ugh! You talk so vulgar! You're a commoner, right? I'm a noble! The precious jewel of the Marquis Jucipe family, rulers of the south!"

"Wow, that's the first time I've heard someone call themselves the precious jewel."

"Me too."

I thought I'd whispered quietly with the youngest shadow, but apparently they heard. The precious jewel's face turned even redder.

"What did you say earlier? You wanted to buy this dog? Hah, how much can you offer?"

When I nodded with my arms crossed, her complexion finally returned.

The look on her face said "That's more like it." Annoying.

"Hmph! How much? 500 silver?"

"Bring 5,000 silver. 500 silver you can find by digging in the ground."

Even if that ground happens to be a mine.

"Wh-what?"

5,000 silver is nothing. Even if you brought 5 trillion, I'd never sell. I won't sell!

The youngest shadow and Julia giggled behind me, while Leo just sat quietly stroking Bibi, no matter what I said.

"Ar-are you joking? 5,000 silver for a dog?"

"Even if you sold all those jewels on your dress, you couldn't buy it. And I'm not selling anyway."

"Father said he'd buy me anything I want! So you have to sell him to me!!"

Wow, she's almost like a final boss with that attitude, isn't she?

"Move aside! Stop blocking us!!"

Just then, a couple who looked like nouveau riche nobles, accompanied by about five or six guards, approached quickly. I knew exactly who they were.

"Mother! Father!"

"Dear! What happened? Why are the guards I assigned you on the ground?"

I crossed my arms and shifted my weight, wondering how long I'd have to watch this farce.

Ah, anyone got popcorn? My mouth is bored.

"That commoner did it!"

"What? A commoner?"

"How dare a commoner persecute my daughter?"

I'd never heard of a barony called Jucipe. They must be provincial nobles who came to the capital for the Founding Festival...

They chose the wrong place to cause trouble. Making a scene in the capital's main commercial district would definitely reach the ears of gossip-loving nobles and become a scandal. They'd be chewed up and spat out like flavorless gum.

Not that I ever cultivated dignity anyway, so I don't need to worry about appearances.

"Ha! Is all this because of one dog? Then just take it—what's the problem!"

"He has an owner. That woman."

The baron's daughter pointed at me.

"Shall I cut them?"

I waved my hand at the youngest shadow's offer. Too much trouble.

"Ahem. You're the owner? Sell him to my daughter."

"5,000 gold."

"Wh-what?"

"You said 5,000 silver earlier!"

"The price is mine to decide. And who are you to speak informally to me, sir?"

"Ha! Ha, I see. You have no idea how dangerous the world can be, young lady!"

"The baron should learn a thing or two about how dangerous the world is."

At my words, the baron trembled so much his mustache quivered, and he angrily ordered his knights to drag that girl away.

Wait—is "that girl" me? Really?

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