The moment Toka stepped out of the smithy, a large hand landed on his shoulder.
A deep voice growled behind him "Why did you kill our young master?"
Toka froze from head to toe "…Huh?"
The men circled him "Don't play dumb! You killed him and stole his horse, didn't you!?"
Toka was scared for a second "W-wait! Who is your young master!? And why would I kill someone I don't even know!?"
One of them directed his index finger towards the horse "That horse...that horse belongs to our young master. Why is it with you!?"
Toka lifted his hands in surrender "Okay, Do you have a proof that this horse belonged to your young master?"
They pointed at the horse's front toe. A small engraved crest—matching the embroidery on their uniforms.
Toka blinked "…Ohhhh f*ck"
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly "Alright, I did take the horse. But I swear on my nuts—I did NOT kill your young master."
The men looked at each other, whispering.
"…His eyes don't look like a liar."
"Idiot, all liars say that."
After discussing for sometime, one spoke: "Fine. Come with us. Our troupe chief will judge you."
Toka forced a pitiful expression "Wait! I need to sell my loo—my things first! If I don't, I can't heal my heart-ill mother… and my mentally ill sister… please have mercy on me—"
"No." Instant rejection from them.
Jojo and Neelu watched silently from the side. Since Toka didn't call for help, they stayed put like confused bodyguards.
Toka sighed "Alright, alright… I'll come."
He climbed onto the cart and grabbed the reins—but one man raised his arm, blocking the horse "You don't have permission to ride the young master's horse."
Toka facepalmed "…Seriously?"
He got down "Fine. Someone needs to guard my cart and belongings, though."
The men nodded. Two stayed behind to guard the cart.
Toka and Ansu hopped onto Jojo instead and followed the remaining guards.
...
On the Way
Ansu pulled his sleeve "Anna… hungry…"
Toka immediately stopped at a street stall and bought her 2 chicken skewers.
The guards watched him, confused "…He really does act like a brother."
...
They Arrived at the Flower Merchant Troupe Hall.
The hall's grand doors opened. Toka was escorted inside.
The moment he stepped into the chief's office—
KSHING!
A dagger touched his neck from behind. The pressure in the room froze his spine.
A deep, heavy voice asked only one word: "Explain."
Toka felt sweat drip down his back "U-uh… are there no police here…?"
SILENCE
Toka gulped and began narrating everything that happened at the end of Chapter 6—the forest, the monsters, the masscare site, the graves he made… all of it.
When he finished, he took a shaky breath "…Fifteen bodies. I buried them all myself."
The chief narrowed his eyes "Manager Lee. How many men did we send with my son on this expedition?"
Manager Lee swallowed "Fifteen, sir."
The chief slowly turned his eyes to Toka.
Toka's face paled "No, no, no—don't look at me like that! I swear I didn't kill him! Please believe me!"
More questions came like arrows "Then how did you acquire that berserk bull?"
Toka didn't even blink "My father raised its mother. It recently died, so I'm taking care of its child now. I originally tied my cart to it. But along the way, I found your son's horse wounded. So I rescued it and tied the cart to that horse instead."
A silent moment.
Chief understood the situation. Then—
"…I see."
The chief finally told his men to sheath his dagger "Forgive my rudeness. I am Gran, chief of the Flower Merchant Troupe. This is my manager, Lee."
Gran bowed slightly "We thank you for burying our people with respect."
Gran continued: "If you wish, you may sell your items through our troupe. We'll give you fair prices."
"yes! Yes please!" Toka said instantly.
Gran snapped his fingers "Bring the cart to the guest room. Prepare food for our guests."
...
After Toka and Ansu were escorted to their guest room, the doors closed behind them, leaving Gran and Manager Lee alone in the chief hall.
Gran's expression hardened "…Lee."
Lee: "Yes, Chief?"
Gran's voice dropped to commanding tone "Send a search group into the forest. Have them inspect the burial site the young man mentioned."
Lee nodded sharply "We must confirm the bodies?"
Gran clenched his fist. "More importantly… we must find the one who is missing. Whether it is my son… or any surviving troupe member. Anyone may hold clues about the attack."
Lee bowed "I'll dispatch our elite trackers immediately."
Gran exhaled, looking out the window toward the forest "If that young man told the truth… then the one who attacked them is still out there"
His voice turned cold "And if they harmed my son… I will tear the culprit to the depths of hell."
Lee hurried away to assemble the search party.
...
Toka and Ansu were brought to a 5-star hotel like room that was very luxurious.
They were served food. Toka devoured everything like a starving beast.
"are Jojo and Neelu fed too?" he asked.
"Yes, we are feeding your pets," a servant replied.
Later, both Toka and Ansu were given a chance to bathe and new clothes.
Wrapped in soft blankets, Ansu fell asleep instantly.
Toka collapsed beside her.
SNORING...
...
Morning arrived with the faint murmur of people outside, sunlight slipping through the window and mixing with the noise of a busy street.
Toka was the first to wake. He yawned loudly, stretched until his joints cracked and then pushed Ansu awake "Up, up, sleepy monster."
Ansu rubbed her eyes. "Mmm…"
Toka gently poked her forehead. "wake up"
He opened the window, and Neelu suddenly leaped inside, landing on his head like a sticky hat.
"GAH—! Neelu, warn me first!!"
Outside, Jojo looked up and let out a MRRRRHHHH, saying good morning.Toka replied, "Yeah, morning to you too, big guy."
After brushing their teeth, the two headed downstairs to Jojo. Toka fed him a bundle of stable grass. Jojo ate it happily.
Meanwhile, Toka tossed a handful of metal scraps to Neelu. The slime bounced happily
—boing, boing.
Then Toka checked the cart. It was empty, except for the scraps he kept.
He remembered what Gran told him last night and nodded to himself.
"Alright… let's go eat," he said, and they headed to the breakfast hall.
...
Gran himself walked in just as Toka and Ansu were finishing their meal. He carried a neatly written list and placed it on the table.
"These are the items we appraised from the materials you brought," Gran said.
He read the list:
...9 basic swords — all equal quality → 9*7 gold = 63 gold
7 solid shields — all equal quality → 7*5 gold = 35 gold
1 sharp dagger → 3 gold
42 wooden planks → 42*50 silver = 21 gold
2 rolls of high-quality fabric → 2*3 gold = 6 gold
Appraisal cost = 5 gold...
Gran placed the total at the bottom.
Total = 1 platinum and 23 gold
Gran folded the list and handed it to Toka.
"You earned well, We will pay you in full after lunch," he said.
Toka tried to keep a calm face. But Inside?
He was screaming in happiness until...
The atmosphere suddenly changed...
Gran's eyes narrowed "What are you doing with Gale Eagle Poison?"