LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 19
My shoulders are chilly.
It’s hard to tell whether it’s because of the cold air around or those two over there.
The atmosphere between them felt off.
Red looked displeased while the others seemed indifferent. It was so awkward that even onlookers could sense the weird vibe in the air.
I really dislike such a stuffy atmosphere.
“Ah! It’s Prince Ice!”
At that moment, a kid called out, and the others all flocked to the guy.
Do I know him?
Anyway, the warm energy radiating from the kids seemed to chase away the cold hovering in the room.
I finally felt like I could breathe a little easier.
“Hey kids, it’s been a while. Have you been doing well?”
“““Yes!”””
The man smiled brightly. The fearful expressions from moments ago melted away, replaced with happy faces.
In this cheerful atmosphere, only Red wore an uncomfortable look.
Just then, one kid made a sulky face and cautiously asked.
“…Why haven’t you come to play in a while?”
The other kids seemed to share the same thought, staring at the man intently as if they wouldn’t break their gaze until they got an answer.
The man scratched his cheek with a finger, looking a bit flustered by the awkward question.
“Ha ha, I wanted to come too…”
He trailed off, glancing at Red.
Red’s gaze sharpened.
“Because I’ve been really busy.”
The kids sounded disappointed as though they actually believed his excuse.
I smiled bitterly behind my mask. That didn’t seem like the real reason.
I peeked at Red, and it was clear she didn’t want him here. For reasons unknown, Red really seemed to dislike him.
Red stepped forward and approached the man.
“Isaac, what are you doing here? You don’t even live in this city.”
“I heard news of a new zoo opening in the city, so I thought I’d come check it out while taking a break.”
“…Looks like you’ve got time to spare. I guess a busy guy can take a detour to hang out like this.”
“What, do you think I’m just some android who only works? I relax too, just like you.”
“Weren’t you just saying it’s better to work than take a break in the outer city?”
“A person’s feelings can change in an instant, you know. And good facilities like this pop up every so often.”
Isaac gracefully brushed aside Red’s aggressive remarks.
Watching their conversation made me feel anxious, like something was about to explode.
The kids had just lightened the mood, but it felt like a cold draft was creeping back in. Even breathing felt stifling.
Ugh.
If you’re gonna argue, do it outside where the kids can’t see.
Fortunately, the tension seemed to ease a bit in front of the kids, and the trivial exchange ended quickly.
“Anyway, I came to relax for the first time in ages, and now this happens. Ugh… I’m seriously not happy about this.”
Isaac, looking fed up with the current situation, shook his head.
Then his gaze landed on me.
Curiously eyeing me, he asked, “Who is that kid? Is she one who’s lost her parents?”
“That’s our family.”
“……What?”
What was with that reaction?
For just a moment, Isaac’s eyebrows twitched.
His expression suggested it was unexpected for me to be here. No, more accurately, it felt like he was seeing someone who shouldn’t exist here, almost like he’d seen a ghost.
“This is a new arrival. Her name is Lily.”
At Red’s introduction, I politely bowed to greet him.
Raising my head, I caught his gaze.
Isaac managed to maintain a calm facade, but there was a faint hint of surprise in his eyes.
“…Oh, I see.”
He bent down to shake hands.
“I’m Isaac. Nice to meet you. Looking forward to working with you.”
I accepted his handshake.
Reacting like that just felt awkward.
Suddenly I was interested in why Red disliked him. Maybe I should find out later.
Isaac stood up and looked at Red.
“So, what are you going to do now? If you and I team up, it seems we could resolve this situation quickly. Shall we move together like before?”
“First, we need to get the kids to the shelters.”
“Yeah, it would be tough to fight while carrying the kids. I’ll accompany you.”
“What…?”
“Two are better than one, right? There’s no guarantee the same situation won’t happen again. Can you protect the kids by yourself without them getting hurt?”
“…….”
Red remained silent.
From my own experience in a fight, I’d say Red’s strong in physical confrontations. Even if weapons were aimed at her, she could likely break them all. But if multiple attackers, like before, targeted the kids?
Protecting was always tougher than defeating.
Especially for her ability.
In this case, Isaac would be better suited for the protective role.
They say silence is a form of consent. Isaac smiled and turned to the kids.
“Alright, kids. I’ll take you to the shelter with me.”
The kids’ faces visibly brightened at his words.
Though Red looked displeased, she didn’t stop him.
“But, you know, it feels like it’s been a while since I’ve been to the orphanage. Can I come visit your home this time?”
“Hey!”
As soon as that was out, Red grabbed Isaac by the shoulder.
“Yes, of course! Feel free to drop by anytime.”
Red might not be enthusiastic, but the kids seemed thrilled.
With innocent, bright faces, they nodded eagerly.
A smile spread across Isaac’s face.
“Really? Then I’ll make sure to bring plenty of gifts when I visit. Is that okay?”
Isaac turned to Red.
The kids looked at her with sparkling eyes, eagerly waiting for her answer.
Red’s temples twitched slightly.
It was obvious she wasn’t keen on this.
But not wanting to crush the kids’ hopes, she took a deep breath and said.
“Alright. But let’s talk about that after we resolve the current situation first.”
“Don’t forget that. Now let’s hurry for the kids’ sake.”
Isaac looked pleased, while Red wore an uncomfortable expression.
Temporarily, an unharmonious team of ice and fire was formed.
This can’t possibly go well, right?
*
Isaac’s skills were pretty decent.
His martial arts? A complete mess, but his magic skills were top-notch. Well, still not as good as mine.
Thanks to him, we made it to the shelter a lot more smoothly.
After escorting us to safety, the two of them headed back out to resolve the situation, leaving me and the kids waiting quietly inside.
“It’s okay. They’re strong. Nothing will happen.”
Since I kept glancing at the door, Renna, worried, said that.
Not feeling the need to correct her misconception, I nodded and glanced around.
“Mom─! I’m scared.”
“It’s okay. The strong solvers are out there fighting off the bad guys.”
“You don’t need to be scared. It’ll be resolved soon. After all, we have Prince Ice and the Crime Killer on our side.”
“Please let nothing go wrong….”
The shelter was packed with powerless civilians.
A few solvers and security robots stood guard to protect them.
When we first arrived at the shelter, fear reigned.
People were huddling with faces buried in their knees, praying, or parents soothing crying kids—all trembling in despair.
But once they knew Red and Isaac were around, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Fear scattered like dandelion seeds blowing in the wind, replaced by hope and anticipation.
Famous people have that kind of effect.
Isaac seemed quite famous, too.
‘Now that I think about it, I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere…’
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I stood up.
“Hey? Where are you going?”
I gestured to Renna that I was heading to the restroom.
Fortunately, Renna understood my explanation.
“Then I’ll go with you.”
No, no.
“But it’s dangerous to go alone.”
No way.
I nodded repeatedly, insisting I could do this alone. If I really needed to use the restroom, it wouldn’t matter if she followed or not. This required me to move on my own.
“Okay…. But remember, safety first. And you have to come back here once you’re done.”
After sealing our promise with a pinky swear, I finally managed to slip out of the shelter by myself.
‘Is that the way…?’
I moved briskly, following the strange energy I felt not far from the entrance of the shelter.
I soon stumbled upon a door marked with a “No Entry” sign.
‘It feels strong from inside.’
Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, I opened the door and stepped inside.
The cameras up ahead seemed to be out of order, so I figured it would be fine.
Taking one step at a time down the stairs.
As soon as I arrived at the shelter, a suspicious energy pricked my senses. My instincts, honed over time, whispered warnings, and given the dire nature of the situation, I couldn’t ignore the feeling.
And that’s why I pushed myself to check it out.
At the bottom of the stairs, I reached the lowest level!
Opening the door revealed a room filled with various dials and panels.
I looked around.
Huh? Maybe over there?
Ignoring the unfamiliar dials, I started prying off a metal plate.
‘This is insane. Regular people wouldn’t install this kind of stuff here. Looks like they were planning to blow this place to smithereens. What on earth is this place that warrants such extreme measures?’
There it was.
A bomb.
And not just any bomb—a powerful one created by merging science and magic. Its position suggested it could explode and engulf the entire shelter.
It looked so complex that a bomb disposal team would have to handle it with extreme care to disarm it properly.
Without a doubt, we were facing an enormous crisis.
But luckily for me, here I am.
I don’t have any expert knowledge in bomb disposal techniques. So, I had to go about it in a simpler way.
I channeled a bit of my magical power to solidify it.
With the sword I formed, I stabbed the bomb.
Boom!
Naturally, the bomb exploded, but the flames that burst out shortly afterward were absorbed entirely by my sword, causing no harm whatsoever.
And that’s how I resolved it.
The magical energy from the sword dissipated into the air.
The problem was solved, so I guess I can head back now.
I returned to the shelter as if nothing had happened.
“Lily, is that you? Everything fine? You’re not hurt, right?”
I nodded eagerly.
Nothing happened.
“Thank goodness. Sending you alone made me regret it. Next time, let’s go together to the restroom.”
I nodded again.