“You can’t go there and cause trouble. Okay?”

I repeatedly warned Coco and Sasha, who were sitting on either side of me and were busy looking out the window.

“Ung.”

“Okay.”

The two nodded half-heartedly, keeping their eyes fixed outside the window.

‘I wonder if it’s really okay to take them with me.’

Blois was still in the palm of Dimitri’s hand, so it was okay if the two of them got into trouble or got lost while sneaking out. However, in the capital city, where countless people and all sorts of powerful people of the empire gathered, I felt a little uneasy if the two of them were to roam around recklessly.

‘It will be fine. Coco is smart and quick-witted. Sasha has the power to protect herself.’

I tried to reassure myself.

At the same time, I was careful to cover the children and block their gaze from Dimitri, who was glaring at the two of them disapprovingly.

“I’ll take good care of them, Dimitri.”

I smile, watching his reaction.

Dimitri let out a huff in response.

“You must realize that those words lack credibility.”

“B-But it’s true.”

I insisted, lacking confidence. It was because memories of Coco and Sasha constantly slipping out of my control and freely roaming around the mansion flooded my mind.

‘He didn’t pay much attention to them either.’

Wasn’t he just lying down and stretching his legs without a care in the world? He used to let Coco and Sasha get away with anything, saying, ‘That’s just how cats are.’ So, I admitted I became complacent. In fact, I haven’t really been controlling Sasha and Coco much.

Dimitri narrowed his eyes, shooting me a piercing look.

“Be honest. You weren’t thinking at all, were you, Rowaine?”

“…I believe in your benevolence. Rather than trusting me, why not rely on your own understanding, Dimitri?”

“You’re shameless.”

“I learned a lot from Dimitri.”

I chuckled as I said it. Listening to me, Dimitri clearly saw through my thoughts and pointed it out.

“I know you’re trying to cover it up with laughter.”

“Was it that obvious?”

“It’s not just because you’re so pretty.”

“….!”

As I was left speechless and frozen by his witty remark, the man who had called me shameless smirked even more shamelessly. Feeling taken aback, I turned my gaze away from that undoubtedly charming smile that seemed designed to charm me.

‘Don’t interfere, heart.’

I really resented his handsome appearance, which stimulated my hormones. While I tried to calm my pounding heart, Dimitri spoke seriously this time.

“When we arrive in the capital, we’ll put tracking collars on them.”

Those were items used to track down shapeshifter slaves if they escaped.

“Yes, great! I’m totally on board.”

I nodded willingly.

‘It’s not much different from trackable necklaces for a child.’

It seemed that my answer satisfied him as he finally stopped scrutinizing Coco and Sasha.

‘But this… is it because he’s worried about losing the children?’

Despite his pretending to be strict, there was no doubt that his affection was strong.

‘…Tsundere.’

Just as I was chuckling inwardly, Dimitri suddenly seemed to remember something. He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to me.

“Oh, I almost forgot about this.”

“What’s this?”

“A list.”

Dimitri smiled meaningfully.

“It’s a list of the people who have been ridiculing and treating us harshly since Rowaine established the shapeshifter shelter. I’ve listed those who have been pressuring Blois by cutting off trade in order.”

“Why is this…?”

He leaned his upper body toward me and whispered in a low voice.

“Madam, do you know what reciprocity means?”

“Reciprocity?”

“To put it simply, it means repaying you as much as you’ve done for me, and conversely, it also means that I can treat others as harshly as they’ve treated me.”

“I understand the concept. So?”

“By now, there should be many rumors circulating about Rowaine’s mercenary group. When we arrive in the Capital, many people will be interested.”

That was something I had expected as well.

The Cool Cat Mercenaries’ prowess was steadily being proven. As the damages caused by dream demons noticeably decreased in the territory where the request was entrusted, all the lords and ladies were entrusting the request without hesitation.

As a result, the requests piled up so much that even though I raised the request fee several times, it still remained popular. Even after generously distributing the requested money to the shapeshifters, I was able to add the remaining amount to the operating expenses of the shelter.

‘It won’t be long before we surpass the breakeven point.’

This had flattened the noses of the elders who had been pressuring me, claiming that I was unnecessarily wasting welfare budgets. Well, many of the elders who strongly opposed the establishment of the shelter had already disappeared from this world due to their involvement in the rebellion.

‘It’s a shame.’

Regardless, I expected to receive more requests once we reached the Capital. When that happened, I planned to increase the commission fees without hesitation.

I’ve also heard that some of those people who found out that I was making money with cat shapeshifters were trying to do a similar thing with me by bringing in hunters. However, compared to our mercenary group, where cat shapeshifters were motivated by salaries and bonuses to move autonomously, those who treated cat shapeshifters as slaves had a significantly lower level of performance.

Furthermore, as I had gathered cat shapeshifters from all over the country, I had an abundance of cats ready to hunt monsters.

Conversely, in other regions, cat shapeshifters were in short supply.

Now that many people across the country had learned that cat shapeshifters could eliminate dream demons, they were persuading me to sell the cat shapeshifters from them. In fact, the situation had escalated to the point where people were appearing one after another, asking me to return the cat shapeshifters they had abandoned to them.

“In other words, it means I’m monopolizing cat shapeshifters.’

So, I could anticipate that upon arriving in the Capital, there would be a line of eager nobles waiting to discuss the requests with me.

I realized what Dimitri was trying to say.

“Reciprocity. I understand what you mean.”

Dimitri smirked.

“The reins are now in Rowaine’s hands, so you can do whatever you want. Anything.”

“Anything?”

“Yes. Anything. For example…”

Dimitri leaned in close to me and whispered. I was taken aback when I heard what he whispered.

“I can do that?”

What he revealed to me was even more incredible than anything I could have ever imagined. Inwardly, I thought about making various demands that would benefit Blois in return for accepting requests from the nobles, and I was so satisfied with myself that I was quite resourceful.

“The labor and productivity of the permanent residents are the foundation of power for nobles. It’s why rulers wage wars for larger territories and fertile lands. However, with the current dream demon situation, they’re losing a significant amount of the labor force across the country, which is more serious than anything else.”

“I see…”

Dimitri chuckled confidently.

“Do as I said. Eventually, the whole world will follow Rowaine’s will.”

Passing through several teleportation magic circles, we were much closer to the distant Capital. However, as we neared the Capital, the sky became ominously covered in dark clouds. While the weather in the north was clear, it seemed that the weather in the Capital wasn’t.

“It looks like it’s going to rain.”

“That’s what it seems.”

Until then, I had only been slightly concerned about the carriage’s slowing speed.

Little did I know what was to come.

We were preparing to pass through the final teleportation magic circle. Once we passed through this circle, we would finally arrive in the Capital.

Since we ate our meals in the carriage, we had been sitting in it all day, and my whole body felt stiff. Because of that, I soon became excited at the thought of getting out of the carriage and soaking my stiff body in warm water. However, as soon as we passed through the teleportation magic circle, I was horrified.

ZZZPANGG!

“Huk.”

Startled by the loud noise that seemed to shake the ground, I instinctively hugged Coco and Sasha tightly. The two of them, who were asleep, were startled by me and hastily turned into cats in a fluster.

“What’s going on, Rowaine?!”

“What, what is it?!”

The startled cats climbed up onto my shoulders and head in a flurry.

“That sound just now, it sounded like an explosion…!”

Dimitri reassured me as I cowered in fear.

“Thunder…”

“Ah…”

As I became embarrassed and lowered my gaze, Coco and Sasha sighed as they climbed down to the chairs.

“What’s wrong, Rowaine? You scared us.”

“Sorry…”

Dimitri looked at me intently.

“Hmm… Come to think of it, I forgot. There’s an important matter regarding the mansion in the Capital.”

“What… is it?”

Just as I was wondering what Dimitri was about to tell me, he shook his head.

“Never mind. It’s better if Rowaine doesn’t know.”

What was the one thing Koreans disliked the most? It was not talking. I asked impatiently, feeling frustrated.

“Why? What is it?”

“Well… You might be a little scared when you hear it.”

“It’s a little unnerving when you put it like that.”

“It’s probably better if you don’t hear it after all.”

A million things went through my mind when I heard that. Scary stories related to the mansion? What kind of story could it be? Murder? Ghosts? Hauntings? Urban legends?

‘Oh no, surely not.’

All of a sudden, lightning flashed.

As I trembled in fear alone as I imagined all sorts of things, I desperately clung to Dimitri as the lightning illuminated the surroundings, giving me goosebumps.

“Please tell me! If I don’t hear it, I’m going to start imagining more and more terrifying things in my head.”

“Are you really okay with it?”

I nervously bit my lips and nodded slowly.

Opening his mouth, Dimitri smiled languidly.

“The Blois’s Mansion in the Capital is famous for being haunted on rainy days. If by chance someone suspicious approaches…”

“Uuaakk! Aaakk! It was that kind of story, after all!”

I hastily covered my ears.

At that moment, the carriage stopped. Dimitri smiled as he held out his hand to me.

“We’ve arrived.”

 
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