The Shepherds Are Dense-Chapter 9: Yes, I Like Children

Chapter 9: Yes, I Like Children
It took a two-hour drive, but Haina didn't seem tired at all.
Leaving the Red and White Queen Districts, the center of the capital "Glass Island," scenery changed.
Factories spewed out thick smoke, trains roared, and air filled with the odor of fish and shrimp.
Whistles blended with cries of vendors.
The scent of freshly baked bread drifted from a sidewalk bakery.
Individuals in heavy coats and top hats rushed by.
A struggling artist wearing a beret sat drawing the dark, towering buildings across the road, their metal pipes writhing like snakes across the walls.
A supervisor clad in silver armor flew overhead on a commanding, two-meter-tall white griffin.
A red-headed newsboy, who was perhaps eleven or twelve, yelled from the sidewalk, two sheaves of papers strapped across his shoulders:
"*Glass Stairs Daily* headlines! Bishop Mathers of Red Queen Parish appointed Spiritual Senator by Her Majesty! The Church now occupies six spiritual seats!
Finance Minister intends to tax matches and kerosene lanterns next year! Star Antimony Kingdom bans three Avalon knights for murder, espionage, and meddling with foreign affairs—Her Majesty loudly condemns!
The
Glass Stairs Daily
pile was close to sold out, wrapped round tightly not to fall over.
The other stack,
Lloyd Weekly
, was only a quarter sold.
With chapped lips, he cried out, "*Lloyd Weekly*, just five Red Candles! Hanging Day is near—November's death row list confirmed! Thirty-eight executions, second-highest in three years, full list here!
Lloyd Port's Nikas Plaster Factory reopens third round of apprentice recruitment, age reduced to fourteen!
Green Whistle Street artist takes own life at home week before last! Lloyd Port Bank robbed yesterday, bandits all apprehended! Get it here, just five Red Candles!"
"Senior."
Aiwass chimed in.
"Buy me two newspapers."
"Huh?"
Haina blinked.
"Don't your people receive
Glass Stairs Daily
by delivery? Want just a
Lloyd Weekly
?"
### Instruction:
Aiwass interrupted.
"Buy me two newspapers."
"Huh?"
Haina blinked.
"Don't your people receive
Glass Stairs Daily
by delivery? Want just a
Lloyd Weekly
?"
"No, one of each," Aiwass replied firmly.
".Oh, I see."
Haina realized Aiwass noticed the newsboy's dilemma and wanted him to sell out.
"It's near noon; nobody's buying here. This is Lloyd District—sailors, fishermen, laborers—they don't have money for papers."
She whispered, "Should I buy them all?
“No, just one of each.”
Aiwass shook his head.
“That kid’s working, not begging.”
“…I understand.”
Haina nodded solemnly, respecting his intent.
“I’m getting the papers—stay safe.”
Aiwass opened his eyes, nodding silently.
As Haina stepped away, a scrawny, dirty girl in thin clothes crept closer.
Hesitating before the hooded Aiwass, unsure how to address him, she said softly, “…Uncle, buy a flower?”
She'd seen Aiwass's wheelchair, its fancy appearance indicative of wealth and generosity, especially after eavesdropping on his conversation.
But the apparent disability made her voice hesitant.
Aiwass leaned forward to pat her head.
She jerked away, bracing for a blow.
But his sluggish movement and youthful hand calmed her down—she'd underestimated his age.
"—Big brother," Aiwass corrected gently.
His fingers stroked her hair, encountering dust and grease.
She obviously hadn't bathed in days.
Aware of this, she stepped back, flustered, apologizing, “Sorry, my hair’s dirty… I’ll go…”
“Sell me a flower,” Aiwass said with a soft chuckle.
His right hand opened, revealing a Red Candle bill where none had been.
It was sleight of hand, not magic, but the girl’s eyes widened.
She glanced at the bill, then at Aiwass, hesitant, thinking he might be a transcendent.
Aiwass’s lips curved under his hood.
He folded his hand, pulling out the bill slowly.
But then, with a gentle "Oh?" he slid his hand behind her neck.
"What's this?"
He efficiently pulled out another fresh Red Candle bill.
Her eyes were widened in puzzlement, not knowing how it came to be.
Aiwass had folded the bill twice, using three fingers, before slipping it into the big pocket on her chest, before she could refuse.
Lifting his hood a little, he showed his young face and a natural smile.
"Shh…"
He covered his finger with his lips, inviting silence.
Then he dropped his hood and outstretched his pale, thin hand.
"My flower, little miss?"
"…Here!"
Blushing, the girl gave him a wilted wild rose.
"Buying flowers, Aiwass, are you?"
Haina came back, confused, with the newspapers.
The girl startled, almost falling, her face whitening at Haina's inspector uniform, shaking in fear.
But although she was horrified, she did not run.
Stuttering, "W-wait, sir! I-I must make change…!"
Refusing to budge, her quivering hands measured out nine scrunched Copper Hourglasses from a paper package tucked into her bosom, politely presenting them to Aiwass.
She folded his Red Candle bill into a neat square, tucking it into the breast pocket of her apron, and exhaled in relief.
At Haina's watchful eyes, she departed, legs shaking with fear.
“I’m not
that
scary, am I?”
Haina hadn’t minded the crowd’s fear earlier.
But now, perhaps after bonding with Aiwass or because the girl seemed young and innocent, her fear stung Haina.
Watching the girl leave, she muttered, “Want me to toss that flower?”
It was a dirty wildflower, clashing with Aiwass’s refined appearance.
“No need,” Aiwass replied.
“It’s a child’s sincerity.”
“You seem to really like kids, huh?”
Haina mused, noticing something.
In contrast to how he treated her, Aiwass was much nicer to the children.
"Yeah, I like innocent kids," Aiwass nodded, finally telling the truth.
"Like cats or dogs, they're relaxing to be around. I like lots of things—just not people."
"…That sounds like you're insulting someone," Haina teased, accepting it for a joke.
"You can't treat kids like pets."
"It just sounds that way."
Aiwass's lips curled up, not saying another word.
He was actually offending people—adults, in particular.
In his eyes, cunning, greedy, two-faced adults were worse than cats or dogs… and himself, too.
During their exchange, Aiwass led them to the Pelican Bar.
More a residence or warehouse, it was less a bar.
Its front door, white-painted, had a cartoon pelican whose beak was open, filled with fish swimming in beer foam, as if cooked in ale.
A wooden board next to it had a long chain of drunken hiccup noises printed in big bold letters.
—That was the bar sign.
Technically, "Pelican Bar" would be translated to "(Hiccup Sounds) Bar."
It was almost midday, yet the bar was open and filled with drinkers.
Obviously, it also served as a restaurant at lunchtime.
As Haina rolled Aiwass's wheelchair in, she stopped dead.
Her eyes opened wide with shock.
The bartender cheerfully washing wooden mugs wasn't human—but an unusual wild elf!
Elves lived four or five times longer than humans and were taller, with women frequently over 1.8 meters and men sometimes 2.4 or 2.5 meters.
Elves poorly raised, particularly those with no parents to watch over them, frequently developed a hunchback from bending to talk to shorter humans when they were adolescents.
Well-raised elves, or elves with paying attention parents, stood upright.
Wild elves, much less common than ordinary elves, were hunchbacked elves.
Elves prized honor, family, and heritage, frequently rejecting wild elves and their parents as shame.
Orphaned elves, except if their parents had died in honor, were normally left to kin.
Wild elves were frequently the children of parents who had died in shame (e.g., killed), been abandoned, or fled.
For not having elven beauty but possessing their longevity, intelligence, and power beyond mortal men, wild elves were considered to be troublemakers.
They lived in the countryside, usually as scam artists, hitmen, or soldiers for hire.
In the capital city, "Glass Island," all wild elves were allegedly listed.
Any ugliness could be tracked, so freedom-oriented wild elves never lingered.
But strangely enough, the wild elf bartender reacted to Haina with neither surprise nor concern.
He just looked at her disdainfully.
But when he saw Aiwass, he obviously stiffened, his hands arresting.
Despite Aiwass being veiled, the bartender obviously knew him.
—As if he never believed Aiwass would be present today.
…Why, Mr. Bartender?
Did you assume I… was already dead?
Aiwass narrowed his eyes, his dark blue pupils bottomless as a chasm.
(End of Chapter)