Chapter 48 The Twins Suffer Misfortune, Their Fates Changed...

"I'm home!"

Shortly after the boy with droopy ears left the guard post, the Linni siblings also found an opportunity to run back onto the street.

"Yawn... Brother, that Mr. En not only didn't blame us for wrongly accusing him, but he also gave us a lot of money!"

The dim morning light made the kitten sleepy, but Lynette couldn't hide her excitement as she weighed the Mora bag in her hand.

"Tolerant, generous, a good person!"

"...Indeed, I thought I was going to get scolded when he mentioned Fimini."

Linni also found it unbelievable when this was mentioned.

"After all, no matter how you explain it, in many people's eyes, magic is a shameful form of deception..."

"Don't think about it too much, brother."

Lynette was used to Lynne's occasional moments of inner conflict.

"Why not use your brainpower on more important things!"

"More important things..."

"right."

Departing from her usual calm demeanor, the little girl's erect ears fluttered, and her purple eyes shone with joy:

"Our combined savings are enough to rent a place!"

Yes, that's right!

"That's great, Lynette!"

Linni excitedly gripped her sister's hand, her mind replaying countless nights they had embraced for warmth.

"We can have a happy winter!"

"To have a happy winter? Oh, my children, not every kind of life can be called happy."

An aged voice suddenly rang out behind the children.

"A warm home, plenty of food—these are just the bare minimum, but for homeless children on the streets...sigh—"

He sighed and called to the brother and sister in a voice full of love and joy:

"Children, if you can say something like that, you must have agreed to be adopted by me!"

"Huh?"

It's barely dawn, who would go out so early? And these familiar phrases...

Linnie and Lynette turned around and saw a well-dressed old gentleman sitting in a carriage, smiling at them.

It really was him! A generous spectator! He seemed to be a nobleman, I remember his name was—

Good morning, Mr. Edward.

Linni gracefully removed her hat and bowed, behaving as politely as if she were on stage.

Your kindness still shines brightly today!

"Hey."

The old man smiled politely, then quickly turned his gaze to the quiet little girl beside him:

"You two get in the car. If we leave now, we can still make it to breakfast at the manor."

"...Well."

Lynette lowered her ears in embarrassment.

Mr. Edward did indeed mention wanting to adopt us after watching my brother and me perform magic, and we were very interested, but...

"I'm so sorry."

Lynette always felt guilty whenever she refused someone's kindness.

“But my brother and I still do not agree to be adopted by you.”

Despite feeling guilty, Lynette firmly expressed her thoughts.

"We will remember your help, but please relax and don't worry about us anymore, because we have saved enough money to get through this winter on our own..."

Lynette answered sincerely, but the nobleman remained silent.

There wasn't even a polite word.

"......"

A few minutes of silence followed.

After a long while, she finally heard the nobleman's gentle question.

"Why, children, do you not want to come with me?"

"I am a nobleman. If you follow me, not just one cold winter, but thousands upon thousands of cold winters, will not harm you in the slightest."

Having come this far, have you still not given up on the idea of ​​adopting us?

Anxiety and guilt began to spread in the children's hearts.

"Uh..."

Scratching his head sheepishly, Linni spoke softly:

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Edward, but we have to decline your offer.”

"oh."

He saw the nobleman extend his arm and gesture to his servants.

"Tell me about it? To be honest, I've lived this long, and this is the first time someone has rejected me repeatedly."

"I'm sorry! But we really have our reasons for doing this, after all, after all..."

"after all?"

Linni steeled herself and finally shouted out the answer:

"Because Mr. Edward, you are allergic to cat fur!!!"

"......"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

After a brief silence came an angry laugh. The old nobleman's face showed obvious anger, and the servants, seeing his expression, all took a few steps forward without saying a word.

"They couldn't even come up with a better excuse. This clearly has nothing to do with adoption!"

"They're related!"

Lynette hurriedly explained for her brother:

“Mr. Edward has also heard that we have an animal partner—a cat named Mr. Big!”

Mr. Da, although I don't know why, you've been showing up less and less lately, but...

"Mr. Da is an important member of our family."

These words are naive, yet every sentence is honest:

"Even if my brother and I weren't adopted—"

"We absolutely cannot leave him alone to wander in the cold winter!"

A house that allows tenants to keep pets has been found.

Although it will be much more expensive than usual, it doesn't matter, I already saved up the money last night!

The only prerequisite for a happy winter is now finding Mr. Da...

"ah!"

A sudden scream shattered the child's dream.

Lynette was jolted awake, only to see the nobles' servants—four or five adults—suddenly rise up and slam their hands down on her brother's small shoulders.

"Lynette! Quick—uhhhh!"

It turns out that when a real crisis strikes, even saying "run!" becomes a luxury.

"Linnie—!"

"A beautiful fool who doesn't know his place."

A damp white cloth was placed over the boy's mouth and nose. Amidst the strong, pungent sweetness, Linni could only hear a piercing scream, and...

"Send the men to the stables, and give the women more sleeping pills before sending them to my room."

"I need to see what the new duke who captivated the Grand Inquisitor looks like before I can come back and play with her."

It's over.

It’s over!

*

Time flew by, and Mainkuhn had the happiest day of his life, a smile dangling from under his scarf as he dashed home from the Momen Palace.

The joy was so intense and irresistible that even when the half-demon was supposed to rest, in the still of the night, he couldn't relax and jump around excitedly, as restless as a feverish patient.

"Brother, brother?"

Fimi was so frightened by him that she huddled on the sofa, too scared to move.

"Are you... okay?"

Haha! No problem at all!

Mainkuhn did a backflip on the spot, silently expressing his joy.

I had so much fun today! Do you know what I did today, Femini?! I kissed my brother twenty-eight times! A full twenty-eight times!

The overly long trench coat hem swung around and nearly hit Fimi on the head.

"As long as you're happy..."

wrong.

That's not enough.

Not enough!

Why twenty-eight instead of thirty?

I should round it up!

Mainkuhn reached for the keys with his short tail held high, causing a bulge to form on his lower back.

Go now!

"Brother En!"

Little Fimi was shocked.

"It's so late, are you still going out?"

Yes, it is indeed very late. My brother should be resting by now...

But—I want to cuddle with my brother!

The boy, with a gloomy demeanor and suspicious attire, had only his fluffy gray ear tips twitching rapidly up and down—like a puppy trying hard not to bite its tail.

I only posted it for a short while today! And that wretched Navelette kept interfering, which wasn't nearly enough to make up for my longing for my brother over the past ten years!

"Click".

Mainkuhn's hand was already on the doorknob.

Goodbye, Fimini~ Tonight I'm setting sail~

"But it's my brother!"

Fimini was getting anxious.

At Grey River’s home, he never had the experience of being left alone in the house overnight.

After moving out of Grey River, Mainkuhn... would go out and wander around every night in high spirits, but by then Fimini would be fast asleep.

The fact that this half-demon behavior, which was dangerous and made him an easy target for Arecino, had never been discovered was astonishing.

"Yes, can we deal with this tomorrow?"

He rushed forward and pitifully hugged Maine's leg:

"I...I'm scared to be alone QAQ."

"!?"

The boy was struck dumb, as if by lightning.

Now it's time for a choice between two options!

A long-awaited reunion: an elder brother who has endured countless hardships, and his obedient and well-behaved adopted brother who desperately needs their companionship.

Due to various unforeseen circumstances, you can only choose one person to accompany you now. Mainkuhn, what is your choice?

"......"

Mainkuhn pressed down on the doorknob without hesitation.

"Waaaaah, brother! QAQ!"

Fimi burst into tears.

"!"

Mainkuen slowly released the doorknob.

"Mainkuhn, live a happy and fulfilling life."

Leosley's voice and smile echoed in my mind.

"......"

Mainkuhn broke out in a cold sweat under his hat.

God!

Split me in two!

*

No god answered Mainkuhn's prayers.

He could only frantically rack his brains in a state of confusion.

He actually came up with a plan.

"Fimini".

He carefully extended his sharp claws and pulled his trouser leg out of the child's hand.

"Waaaaah, brother..."

Fimi looked at him, tears welling in her eyes:

"It's dangerous at night, please be careful when you go out, waaaaah—"

“.

That's a bit too obedient.

What should we do?

Mainkuhn sighed inwardly with utter helplessness, but his face remained calm and brooding.

"immediately."

"return."

"I'll go to bed on time, don't worry, boohoo—wait, what?"

Trying to ignore Fimini's surprised gaze, the half-demon with droopy ears, wearing an ill-fitting trench coat, strode into the moonlit night.

Human children need a lot of companionship, love, hugs and comfort.

How much of his needs did I, with my extreme fear of people and inarticulate nature, actually meet?

These things shouldn't be thought about too much; if he does, Mainkun will feel guilty.

This can't go on!

Mainkuhn stepped into the familiar alley and walked to the familiar little tent.

In the future, I will often go to Navelette for instruction, and if nothing unexpected happens, I will also frequently sneak into Mero Petersburg. In my spare time, I will also catch fugitives and help the Rose Society in the Grey River—why do I feel like I'm getting busier and busier?

In short, no matter what, we can't leave Fimini in the house every day; otherwise, my adoptive parents and I won't have any companionship.

Since that's the case, there's only one way.

The boy with droopy ears hesitated outside the tent for a while before finally making up his mind, mustering his courage, and knocking on the tent door.

"Forest..."

“Linnie…”

So this is what it tastes like when you pronounce Linni's name.

This seems to be the first time I've called this child's name in human form.

“Linnie…”

“Linette…”

To be fair, Mainkuhn also called out his sister's name.

"...Are you there..."

Please help... could you be friends with our child...?

I'd pay to play with him every day...

The voice was weak and feeble, like the wailing of a ghost in the night.

Mainkun called out several times, but heard no sound from inside the tent.

Sleeping so soundly?

wrong!

Mainkun revealed its sharp claws, ripped open the tent, and poked its golden eyes inside—

There was no one there.

I sniffed around; even the scent left by the two children had faded considerably.

"!?"

Where did they go?!