Old People Don’t Hold Hands - Chapter 141



Only Krnovel

Episode 141, The Frost Queen’s Crown (13)

… … It was quite different from the simple wary gaze towards strangers.

That guy I just saw did something like that.

But the way they were looking at us now was much more eerie than that.

… …as if it contained murderous intent.

No matter how much I think about it, I can’t understand it.

If we were just worried about food dwindling like the man said, wouldn’t that be okay?

Are you really this wary of outsiders?

… … And especially at a time like this, when you are stepping forward to help a leader who is struggling alone?

“No matter how you look at it, it’s suspicious… … .”

“Right? Look at that, sir. People are like… … , making money.”

Watching Biella bring his index finger near his temple and pretend to wave it around.

I nodded quietly.

No matter how you look at it, this was clear hostility.

Even from the moment we joined the group, they showed hostility towards us.

But at first, he showed good faith in trying to hide it… … .

When we said we would follow Nowen, he revealed it completely without even trying to hide it.

As if someone had touched their sore spot.

What that means is that they don’t want us to have any contact with Nowen.

What was strangest of all was Nowen’s reaction.

“Haha! Thanks. Then let’s pack quickly!”

… … Even if he was not very observant, with Nowen’s intuition, he would have been able to tell that those guys were suspicious.

Nowen just smiled as if he had no idea and grabbed his backpack.

As if they were deliberately trying to ignore the fact that they were strange.

Being overly wary of outsiders, and that wariness becomes even more extreme when it separates one from the target.

And the subjects are so oblivious to their strangeness that they pass by… … .

Both of these characteristics were telling of their identity.

That is what a welcoming body is.

… … Now that I think about it, didn’t Nowen say that he wanted to use his power for just causes?

From that perspective, it could be seen as a welcoming body that is unique to Nowenda.

… … Well, even though I had strong feelings, it was difficult to be certain and take action right away.

It’s also true that they are definitely welcoming to Nowen.

Even if the welcome body is correct, there is no guarantee that Nowen will not be hit when they are dealt with.

After all, unlike Biella and Diana, the time spent together with Nowen was short.

In addition, rather than family or colleagues… … , there was a strong feeling of a temporary alliance moving together to gain mutual benefit.

Hmm… … .

What should I do?

As we were thinking for a moment, one of the guys who had been staring at us silently finally opened his mouth.

“Hey, leader… … .”

As expected, the person speaking was not me, but Nowen.

“… … Hmm? Why is that?”

“I was thinking about not bringing any outsiders this time.”

“… …Why is that? Aren’t they trying to help me?”

“But since it’s the first time I’ve seen you today, shouldn’t we keep an eye on you?”

“That’s right! I think it’s dangerous to go out together.”

“I agree.”

“me too.”

As one guy opened the door, the others, as if they had been waiting, began to join in little by little.

“Hmm, is that so… … .”

As many people were saying that it was a three-person household, Nowen nodded as if it made sense.

“……under.”

As the men tried to tease Nowen, making excuses for this and that, the man in the corner burst into laughter as if he was used to it.

Hmm, it looks like you’ve been moving Nowen in the direction you intended.

First of all, Nowen doesn’t feel suspicious about their words, which he suspects to be a welcome body.

In that situation, if so many people are saying similar things, it’s inevitable that you’ll end up getting caught up in it.

Well then, let’s shake it up a bit here.

Just to check if they’re really welcoming or not.

“… … If that’s the case, isn’t it dangerous to leave us here?”

“… … What does that mean?”

Let’s cut off the words of those who are trying to push Nowen and confront them head on.

The first one to speak glared at me.

… … It’s really creepy.

The sight of him just glaring at me with those pitch-black eyes, without any change in expression.

Can you call that a human face?

… … Well, it’s nothing to worry about, because in the end, they’re the ones who’ll end up in my hands.

“If we win that award, I wonder if it’s okay to leave them here, our base. Isn’t it just as dangerous to leave them here anyway?”

“Hmm, I guess that’s true… … .”

“But, Leader, we’re here, right? Shouldn’t we keep a close eye on it?”

As Nowen responded to my words, one of the men spoke up urgently.

… … You little brat, where did you get the courage to beat me with logic?

“You guys, they look like they’re hurt.”

“……what?”

“You can tell at a glance that they are all badly injured and weak.”

I picked out a few of them and pointed at them with my index finger.

A middle-aged man with a splint on his ankle as if it were broken and more than half of his leg wrapped in a bandage.

A young child covered in bruises all over his body.

… … and an old woman with one arm completely amputated and covered with cloth.

I mean, those guys over there.

“They all look useless.”

It took on the appearance of a typical underdog.

… … If it is indeed a welcome body, then it may have taken that form due to Nowen’s desire to protect the weak with justice.

“How are you going to monitor us when you’re not even physically fit?”

Let’s point at them and shrug our shoulders.

Nowen, who was following my finger and looking at the guys, nodded.

“Hmm! I guess so. If they could be dangerous, I think it would be better for me to take them.”

“But, but Leader! The Leader is alone, right? It’s even more dangerous outside… … .”

“Assuming we are truly enemies, is there really a more dangerous place outside?”

“Excuse me. We’re talking amongst ourselves. You guys, just keep your mouths shut… .”

“You don’t like it? I’m a part of this place now.”

“… … .”

Do you think I would keep my mouth shut on an opportunity like this?

My specialty is just talking and talking.

“Nowen, no, Leader. Think carefully. Are you really going to leave us here when we are so suspicious?”

“Hmm, that’s right… … .”

“… … In a space like this, closed off and filled with only sick people? What do you think they’re going to do?”

“I think it would be better to go together.”

……okay.

Are you saying this is the correct answer?

Let’s look at them with a grin after hearing Nowen’s answer.

They were all looking at me with more murderous eyes than before.

Yeah, it looks like you’re really angry.

whatever?

“… … I guess so?”

While they were keeping their mouths shut, I had to drive the wedge in quickly.

“Okay, so now that we’ve decided to go help, what should we do first?”

“Oh, there should be another backpack behind the waiting room. Let’s go there first… … .”

When I was about to go and find my backpack smoothly, following Nowen’s words.

“Kk, kkaaaak… … !”

A man’s scream echoed throughout the subway station.

The source of that sound is… … .

It was a waiting room.

That is, the place where those guys gather.

“Wh, what’s going on!”

As soon as he heard the sound, Nowen ran to the waiting room in a hurry.

There was a man lying down among them.

No, one of them was holding his stomach.

Blood was gushing out from the boat the bastard was holding onto.

… … A considerable amount of bleeding, enough to seep through the tiles on the waiting room floor.

“Oh no… … , hurry up and bring me the bandages!”

“Leader, here you go.”

Nowen spoke while pressing urgently on the man’s wound.

Another one of them hurriedly brought some bandages.

As soon as he received it, Nowen began to apply pressure to the wound on his stomach quite skillfully.

“Why did the wound suddenly burst?”

“Ugh, ugh, leader, I, I don’t know… … , ah, it hurts… … .”

… … I don’t know what the heck.

No matter how I look at it, isn’t it suspicious?

In a situation like now where there is no stimulation whatsoever, a wound that was healing well suddenly bursts.

This much bleeding occurs?

If there was a reason for this, there was probably only one.

That is, he opened his own wound again and started bleeding.

And the reason why I act like this is probably… … .

It must be because of us.

While Nowen was actually stanching and treating the wounds of the injured man.

Another guy whispered to Nowen.

“… … Indeed, right now I am the only one who can treat this guy’s wounds.”

Nowen nodded to the bastard’s whisper and answered.

… … At that moment, no matter how I looked at it, I thought that the situation was turning out to be unusual.

Nowen looked at me.

“… … Now that I think about it, you didn’t give your full name. What was your name?”

“… … This is DeClen.”

“Yes, DeClen. I’m sorry, but could you guys get some food for yourselves?”

“… … Didn’t we plan to go together?”

“This guy’s wound suddenly burst open again. I’m the only one who can treat his wound right now.”

“Other people can stop the bleeding or do simple procedures… … .”

I tried to refute Nowen’s words somehow.

Now, even Nowen’s face hardened and he spoke firmly.

“They are all sick. How can we treat them properly?”

“… … That’s right. We are in a situation where we can’t even do proper treatment.”

“In the end, all these wounds were taken care of by the leader.”

At Nowen’s words, the men got excited and started talking again.

… … They seemed to have judged that the situation had turned around, and they had meaningful smiles on their faces.

As if they were trying to make fun of me.

… … So, that’s how it came out?

They’re scarier than I thought.

They all press forward together and control Nowen.

That doesn’t seem to work, so that’s why I’m bleeding like this.

It’s not an ordinary bet.

Above all, I wonder if he was brainwashed during that time…

When one of them started bleeding, Nowen’s attitude changed noticeably.

“Is the pain bearable? This is really a big deal… … .”

The expression that used to be so friendly and smiling was nowhere to be found.

Watching him seriously examine those guys, I couldn’t help but admit one thing.

… … They are clearly a welcoming entity, and Nowen is now in a state of being quite assimilated with them.

“So, can you bring me some food? The leader asks.”

“Mom, I’m hungry… … .”

“Easy… … , it’s okay, it’s okay. They’ll save you right away.”

… … Chew.

As the situation turned around a little, they didn’t miss the opportunity.

They were pushing us to go out by cosplaying as an underdog.

Even if I resisted and said I wouldn’t go out because the atmosphere was what it was, it wouldn’t be able to change the situation.

Otherwise… … .

Are you just going to hit me without looking back?

Now that it’s come to this, isn’t it almost a done deal that these guys are a welcome sight?

So there was a way to deal with them right away and solve the problem easily.

however…….

“I’m sorry to push you like this, but these people are important to me too.”

“Thank you, Leader… … .”

“Leader… … .”

… … Since the sympathy between Nowen and the Welcome Body was thought to be quite deep, it could be dangerous to touch it rashly.

What should I do… … .

I thought about it for a moment, then quickly made a decision.

And he clenched his fist.