Chapter 152: Blackmail or Bond?
Riley felt like he was about to have a headache.
Right now, it was not as if they were the only ones in despair about this situation.
Who in their right mind would want to be in this body while facing magical criminals?
In fact, the children were probably more durable than he was at the moment, which was precisely why he had handed out a bunch of potions so the kids could at least patch themselves up.
"Sir Riley, a-are you really human? We’re good at keeping secrets... so if you’re maybe something else, we promise we won’t tell anyone!" A hopeful child clutching a potion bottle looked at him with wide, watery eyes.
A few of the others nodded eagerly. One even piped up, "Sir, if you’re really human, then how could you defeat that bad man?"
Riley, the human who everyone desperately wanted to be something else, pinched the bridge of his nose before saying, "It’s not impossible to beat naturally superior beings. That’s why if we’re not careful, someone could do the same to us."
He gestured vaguely in the direction of the unconscious kidnapper, now stuffed in his bag. "Remember that man? Because he got complacent, he’s now packed away like old laundry. So, I know you’re elves, and elves are strong, but because things like that can happen, you all need to be on your best behavior if you want to escape from here, okay?"
Apparently, his words landed because the kids actually paused to think it through. They had seen it with their own eyes after all. He had overpowered that evil man, so maybe he did know what he was talking about.
So, while waiting for the potions to settle, Riley started asking questions. Patterns. Who kept coming and going. How often. Any details they remembered. Finally, he turned to the child who was most likely the missing prince.
"Try casting a few spells," Riley said.
The boy blinked at him, clearly bewildered.
"It would be much easier to find you if your mana signature could be tracked," Riley explained.
"Really?" The hesitant child looked both excited and suspicious.
"S-sir Riley, it’s not that I doubt your method," Miss Risa added, wringing her hands nervously, "but would it be safe for him to do that?"
"Yeah. Because that’s how our rescuer will be able to find us."
Technically, Kael could locate him through the sigil. But if Riley was right, his boss must have realized it was not a good idea for him to be reeking of dragon mana in a place where people were actively hunting for the dragon lord’s blood.
That was the problem with the sigil. Using abilities connected to it would leave traces. For a moment, Riley could actually be mistaken for a dragon.
So it was safe to assume he would not use it unless absolutely necessary.
Although, to be honest, all of this depended on Riley’s assumption that Kael would actually come looking for him.
Bad thoughts! Riley shook his head sharply.
Before, maybe not. The golden lizard had a talent for letting him fend for himself. But now, because of their current odd bond, Riley was pretty sure Kael would not abandon him. At least, he hoped not.
Riley slowly realized the atmosphere had shifted again. Everyone was staring at him reverently.
Of course they were.
It had to be because they heard the word "rescuer." The hope on their faces was glowing like lanterns in the dark, and it made Riley want to groan. He had the sudden urge to flick all their foreheads just to bring them back to reality, but well, if he were in their positions, he would probably think the same.
The wide-eyed children leaned closer. "Sir Riley, where is the rescuer? Is the rescuer strong?"
Big eyes. Too big. It was like being attacked by a squad of puppies.
Riley sighed. "I’m also not sure why we were separated when we landed, but if you’re asking about strong... yeah, he is." That was actually a no-brainer. Right now, his boss was considered the strongest in all of Eryndra.
He very deliberately did not say the name. Because if they heard who he meant, they would doubt him more than they already did, and he really did not need that kind of trouble.
For a moment, the kids buzzed with whispers, their excitement rising again. But then a meek voice came from the back.
"But how do you know he’d really come for us? If anything, how do you know he’d really come for you?"
It was quiet, hesitant, yet heavy with conviction. The kind of conviction that came from experience.
Riley’s eyes shifted to the speaker. A child slumped against the wall, her voice tired beyond her years.
An abandoned child.
The effect was immediate. The other kids who had been hopeful seconds ago now wilted like flowers in drought. Even Miss Risa’s expression dimmed, her lips pressed tight. She had seen this before. Children whose parents said they would come back, only to never return. Sometimes, because death made it impossible, other times because they simply chose not to.
Riley didn’t need a long explanation. He understood instantly. He had thought the very same thing not too long ago.
And maybe, just maybe, even if the sigil felt like a curse most days, right now it was the only thing that gave him reassurance.
"I understand," Riley said quietly. "And honestly, had it been any other time, the rescuer could have chosen not to come look for me. Or for us. But I can tell you that won’t be the case now."
The girl at the back blinked at him, still slouched, her voice flat. "Huh? What do you mean?"
Riley rubbed his temple. "I have something very important to him. So important that it’s not something that could just be ignored."
Risa gasped sharply. Was their savior... talking about blackmail?
But one of the children, who had been listening with an uncomfortably serious look, suddenly nodded in understanding.
"I see, Sir Riley. It really is important, right?"
Riley found it odd but nodded anyway, relieved at least one of them understood. He needed them to hold onto some kind of hope. Because if someone decided to run slower or stop caring, they might all die here.
Only then did he notice the children whispering rapidly among themselves. Finally, they reached a consensus.
"Yeah. Of course, if it’s like that, there’s no way the rescuer wouldn’t come!"
"Right. What could be more important than that?"
Then, as if speaking for all of them, the prince turned to Riley and declared solemnly, "We understand now, Sir Riley. Don’t worry, we’ll also try to protect you while we wait for the rescuer."
Riley blinked. "Huh? Why would you protect me?"
The little prince deadpanned with perfect seriousness. "Of course. Everyone must protect pregnant people."
"???"
Riley’s jaw dropped.
"SAY WHAT NOW?!"