After the two-hour journey, Hayna did not feel the slightest tiredness.

As you leave the Red and White Queens, the heart of the capital's "Glass Island", the number of smoking factories and speeding trains gradually begins to increase.

The choking fog was accompanied by the fishy smell of fish and shrimp, and the sound of the whistle was mixed with the cries of the vendors.

The aroma of baking from a streetside bakery is heard, and people in thick trench coats and top hats walk down the street.

A down-and-out painter in a beret sits on the side of the street and paints the dark skyscrapers across the street and the metal pipes that hover around the facades of factories and wrap around them like snakes; The Inspector in silver-white armor flew through the sky on a tall, majestic white griffon, more than two meters tall.

An eleven or twelve-year-old short-haired red newsboy was carrying two bundles of newspapers on his back and shouting on the side of the street:

"The Glass Steps Newspaper is the headline of the day! Bishop Matthes of the Red Queen Diocese has recently been appointed by Her Majesty the Queen as a member of the Spiritual Council! Today, the number of clergy councillors from the church has increased to six!

"The Chancellor of the Exchequer plans to impose a tax on matches and kerosene lamps next year! Her Majesty strongly condemns the expulsion of three knights of Avalon by the Kingdom of Star Antimony for murder, espionage and interference in the internal affairs of other countries! ”

More than half of the newspaper has been sold, and only a few copies remain. The rope has to be tight and tight so that it doesn't slip off the shoulder.

The other bundle of newspapers behind the newsboy was sold for less than a quarter.

He shouted with a somewhat chapped lip: "Lloyd's Weekly is a copy of five red coins - the day of the hanging is approaching, and the list of condemned prisoners in November has been determined!" Thirty-eight people will be sentenced to death this month, the second highest number in the past three years, and there is a clear list of those who have been sentenced to death!

"The third round of apprenticeship recruitment at the Nikath gypsum factory in the port area has lowered the age to 14 years old!"

"A painter on Green Flute Street committed suicide at home last week! The Lloyd's Bank was robbed yesterday, and the robbers have all been arrested! Come and see! It's only five red coins a copy—"

"Senpai."

Ivus suddenly said, "Buy me two newspapers." ”

"Huh?"

Haina was stunned for a moment: "The Glass Staircase Newspaper should be delivered by someone at home, right?" Do you want to buy a copy of Lloyd's? ”

"No, buy a copy." Ivers emphasized.

“…… Oh, I see. ”

That's when Haina reacted. This is Ivas watching the newsboy really hard, trying to get him to sell the newspaper earlier.

"It's almost noon, and no one is going to buy it. And this is Lloyd's, and it's all sailors, fishermen, and laborers, who don't have that much money to buy newspapers. ”

She whispered, "Why don't I buy them all?" ”

"No, just buy one for each."

Ivus shook his head: "That kid is laboring, not begging. ”

“…… I understand. ”

Haina was in awe.

She nodded seriously and advised, "I'll go buy newspapers, you be careful." ”

Ivus opened his eyes and nodded silently.

No sooner had Haina left than a girl crept up to her.

She was a little dirty, thinly dressed and thin.

Looking at the hooded Eivas, the girl hesitated, not knowing what to call her.

“…… Uncle, buy a bouquet of flowers. ”

She whispered.

Apparently noticing that Ivas was in a wheelchair - though it was certain from the pattern of the wheelchair that Ivus was a rich man, and a kind man. Because she had just overheard their conversation on the side.

But because Eivas is suspected of being disabled, her tone is still not firm enough when she sells it.

Ivus reached out and touched her head.

When he stretched out his hand, the girl's body shook as if she had been electrocuted, and her body rose back in fear. It's like being afraid that someone will hit her.

But because Ivus's hands are slow, and the hands that emerge from the sleeves are young enough. She soon realized that she seemed to be calling her the wrong name.

"—it's my brother."

Ivus whispered.

His fingertips touched the girl's hair, but only dust and grease. Apparently she hadn't bathed in days.

But the girl apparently knows this.

Because Ivas touched her hair, she immediately took a half step back in some panic, and apologized to Ivas in turn: "I'm sorry, my hair is dirty...... I'll leave ...... now."

"Sell me a bouquet of flowers."

Ivus chuckled.

As he spoke, his outstretched right hand was opened in turn.

The palm that was empty just now suddenly had an extra red coin with a face value of 1.

It wasn't supernatural, it was just a simple magic trick, but it made the girl's eyes widen.

She looked at the banknotes, and then at Ehuas. Apparently thinking that Ivus was a transcendent adult, he was a little hesitant to take his money.

And the corners of Aihuas's mouth rose slightly under the hood.

His fingers clenched dexterously, and he slowly withdrew the banknote in his hand.

But at this moment, he suddenly sighed lightly and reached out to touch the back of the girl's neck: "Hey, what is this?" ”

As he spoke, he delicately pulled out a brand new red coin from the girl's neck.

The girl's eyes widened in surprise and confusion, apparently not understanding how it had flown over.

Without waiting for the girl to refuse, Ivas used the three fingers of his right hand to deftly fold the red coin in half, and then put it into the large pocket that the girl hung in front of her chest.

Ivus lifted the corner of his hood slightly, revealing his youthful face to the girl, revealing a heartfelt smile.

"Shh......h

He held out his hand and put it to his mouth. Make a silent gesture.

Immediately afterwards, he put back his hood and stretched out his white and slender right hand: "Little Miss, where are my flowers?" ”

“…… Ah, here you go! ”

The girl reacted, and handed Eivas a dry wild rose with a blushing cheek.

"Are you buying flowers, Ivus?"

At this moment, Haina, who was holding the newspaper, came back with some confusion.

Seeing this, the girl was so frightened that she almost fell directly to the ground. Looking at Haina, who was dressed as a superintendent, her face suddenly turned pale, and her whole body trembled with fright.

But even though she was afraid of this, she still didn't run away immediately. Instead, he forcibly strengthened his courage, trembling and stumbling in a whisper, "Wait, wait, sir!" Also, I have to find money......! ”

With her trembling hands, she stubbornly counted out nine crumpled copper coins from the paper bag hidden in her chest, and respectfully handed them to Evas. Immediately afterward, she carefully folded the brand-new red coin of 1 that Ivas had given him and put it in. I was relieved to take it to the inside of my chest.

She was under the watchful eye of Haina the whole time, and when she left, her legs were already a little weak.

"I'm not that scary, am I?"

When she was feared before, Haina didn't care.

But now, maybe it's because of something to talk to Ivus. Or maybe it was because the girl seemed young and innocent, and Hayna was a little frustrated by her fear.

After seeing the girl walk away, she whispered, "Do you need me to help you throw away the flowers?" ”

This filthy wildflower really doesn't match the dress of Ivace.

"No need."

Ivas replied, "After all, it is the child's mind. ”

"You seem to like kids a lot, huh?"

Haina was thoughtful and realized something.

Compared to his own attitude, Ivus's attitude towards the two children was noticeably much kinder.

"Well, I like innocent children."

Ivas nodded in response, rarely without deceiving people, and said a heartfelt truth: "It's like liking cats and dogs, and getting along with them can be relaxing." There are many other things I like, but I don't like people. ”

“…… How does this sound like swearing? ”

As a result, this sentence sounded like a joke, and Hayna also joked: "You can't treat children like cats and dogs." ”

"Sounds like that."

The corners of Aihuas's mouth lifted slightly, and he didn't explain much.

He's really scolding—just the adult scolding one.

In his opinion, those adults who are dirty-minded, mercenary, and two-faced are not as good as cats and dogs...... Of course, that includes himself.

Talking and laughing, under the guidance of Ivus, they finally arrived at the Pelican Bar.

It's not so much a bar as a house or a warehouse. Its main entrance is painted in white paint, and a pelican with a wide open mouth is depicted in an exaggerated, comic-like representation. And all kinds of fish are filled with a big mouth and float in the beer foam, as if you were stewing fish with beer in your mouth.

And next to it hung a wooden board with a long list of onomatopoeia of drunkard hiccups painted in capital letters.

That's exactly the sign on the bar.

In other words, this "pelican bar" should technically be pronounced "(hiccup) bar".

It's almost noon, but it's not closed. There were even quite a few guests inside.

Apparently it also operates as a restaurant at noon.

At the moment when Hayna pushed the wheelchair Ivas slowly in.

Her steps were sudden.

Her eyes widened and she fell into consternation.

Because the bartender who was washing the wooden wine glass at the front desk was not a human - but a rare wild elf!

The elven race, in addition to having a lifespan four or five times longer than humans, is generally much taller than humans. Even females are generally more than 1.8 meters, and occasionally grow to 2 meters, while there are many male elves who even grow to 2.45 meters.

This means that if the elves are not well educated, it is easy to become hunchbacked by frequent communication with short humans during their teenage years. And if the tutor is good - or rather, the elf who has parents to take care of him will generally not be hunchbacked.

Therefore, the hunchbacked elves are called wild elves. There are far fewer wild elves than elves.

The elves attach great importance to honor, family, and bloodline, so they are quite repulsive to the wild elves and their parents, believing that this is discrediting the elven race. Because if the elves' parents die for honor, they usually leave their children in the care of relatives and friends.

Unless it is a death of shame...... For example, if they are sentenced to death, they will not give their children away; Either abandoned by their parents, or a rebellious child who ran away from home, grew up to be a wild elf for these reasons.

Wild elves do not have the grace and reserve of elves, but they have a lifespan, intelligence, and extraordinary strength similar to those of elves, so they are often regarded as restless.

They are usually active in rural areas, and are usually scammers, killers, and mercenaries. All the wild elves in the "glass island" of the royal capital are theoretically all registered. Anyone who makes a fuss can be seated, so the wild elves who advocate freedom usually don't bother to stay in the royal capital.

But for some reason, the wild elf bartender didn't react when he saw Hayna. Or even just a contemptuous glance at her.

On the contrary, when he saw Ivas, Mr. Bartender was visibly stunned for a moment, and even stopped his movements for a moment.

Even though Ivas was wearing a cloak, the bartender easily recognized him.

- It's like I never thought he'd be here today.

…… Why, Mr. Bartender?

Do you think I'm ...... Should it be dead by now?

Ivus narrowed his eyes, his deep blue pupils as deep as the sea.