Chapter 120

“…Let me ask you one thing.” The deal was established, but Noah still held reservations. She grabbed Adrian’s arm, pointing to the restraint that was fastened to her neck, and asked. “This, do I really have to wear it around my neck?”

The chains weren’t thich, but the material was metal, so it was heavy and painful. However, before those, somehow Noah couldn’t get rid of the shame of wearing what looked like a dog collar.

Adrian replied, chuckling softly. “No, not necessarily. You can have it on both wrists, or you can wear it around your ankles.”

“But why did you put it on my neck…?”

“That’s what I like.” Adrian jiggled his keys playfully. His green orbs, gazing at her neck, darkened for a moment. He then pressed his finger on the chains, causing Noah to cough. When she glanced at him, Adrian’s lips were almost watering.

“And… quite handy.”

“……”

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea. What do you think?”

“Shut up, you pervert.” Frustrated and annoyed, Noah kicked Adrian in the shin.

*

Kyle wasn’t very fond of the chains on her neck. After the chaotic trial, they left and headed to Eleonora’s home, and Kyle only glared at her neck the whole time while they were in the car.

However, Noah was preoccupied with another matter, moving on from the shame of her dog collar. What would it be? The little bastard sitting on her lap, staring at her with big, round eyes. As Muell was about to fling his arms around her, Noah coldly refused, looking the other way. Seeing tears brim in his eyes made Noah guilty and weak. 

“Noah, you’re angry…?”

Silence.

“I’m sorry…”

Noah assumed that the child’s apologies didn’t really mean that he understood his mistakes. She knew it was time to make a change in her teaching methods. No matter how much she said, ‘Don’t do this,’ ‘Don’t do that,’ it was still futile.

So, what do we do… She glanced at Kyle, who sat beside her, still staring at her wrists and neck alternately.

…Oh, I have a good idea.

“You know, sir. Can I ask you a favor?”

“What is it?” asked Kyle, who still hadn’t taken his eyes off the chains. 

“It’s about Mu. I don’t think my teaching methods work. I want you to help me.”

“How?”

“I’d like to have him tour around the Bureau of Investigation.”

“Huh?” Kyle asked, finally lifting his head, and looked at Noah.

“I thought he couldn’t understand because my instructions were only talk. If he needs to learn the rules and laws between humans, he’d better see them with his own eyes. The Bureau of Investigation is full of criminals… And you’re such a principled man. Wouldn’t Mu have more to see and listen to when he’s next to you?”

“That’s right.”

Noah had already prepared a lame excuse lest he refused her request. But, surprisingly, Kyle agreed without much persuasion. 

She stared at Kyle, who had fixed his gaze on her neck once again, and suspected he had answered without listening to her. 

Kyle immediately added upon noticing, “I think that’s better. Mu had been doing some really, really naughty things in the Imperial City for a few days and I was thinking about coming up with a solution.”

“What did he do?”

“He destroyed the Majesty’s office, climbed up the highest spire in the Imperial City and destroyed it, too.”

“……” On Noah’s lap, Muell bowed his head down in shame, sniffing. Then, he spoke softly, his voice almost muffled. “Even though I was surrounded by all kinds of things, I was only looking for you all the time, so I went around and asked…”

Finally, Noah faced the little boy and squeezed his plump cheeks. “You troublemaker. Alright, it was a bunch of accidents. If you’re good, I’ll let you go back to your main body.”

“I’m sorry…”

“No, I’m not going to talk anymore. You broke our promise and got into trouble, so you follow Uncle Kyle once a week…”

“Please pay attention to the title, Miss Noah.”

“…Follow Mr. Investigator, see what punishment you’re going to get for breaking human laws, and write a letter of apology, okay?”

Kyle touched Muell’s forehead, and the child stuck out his mouth with a puff. Noah pressed her palm on his cheeks, saying, “It’s no use making such a cute face. You and I, we will have a special training starting today. Do you understand?”

“Aye!”

You answer well. Sighing, Noah played with Muell’s cheeks. Not long after, the vehicle that carried them entered the heart of Azet District.

Far away, Eleonora’s mansion appeared.