Old People Don’t Hold Hands - Chapter 145



Only Krnovel

Episode 145, The Frost Queen’s Crown (17)

It’s already been six days since we decided to move to a shelter, but at least a week later.

So far, they haven’t shown any particularly suspicious movements.

Rather, it felt like they were more focused on solidifying the underdog cosplay they had been pushing for.

Endlessly embracing each other’s injuries.

Especially since this time he even brought a child to Nowen.

That’s why Nowen has been reading storybooks to her children every day to put them to sleep.

… … But where did you get that picture book?

Of course, this was also something I got from the mart.

I did that myself.

It was about four days before the shelter move date.

At that time, they asked me to get them some storybooks because their child was having trouble sleeping.

They probably knew that too.

That it is an unreasonable request.

Even so, the reason he went to such lengths to do this… was probably because he wanted me to die on my own.

The expressions on the faces of those who asked me to do it at that time were full of murderous intent.

I accepted the requests of those who approached me, pretending to be friendly without responding.

I confidently bought three picture books from the mart with Biella.

Of course, I got attacked by monsters in the process.

… … I got hurt on purpose to put them in a corner.

Considering the situation where potions cannot be used immediately, the wounds should be kept to a minimum.

But let’s return, supported by Biella, to make it look as painful as possible.

Nowen asked me with a serious look on his face.

At that time, I answered Nowen’s words like this.

[I heard that the child can’t sleep. I went to the supermarket to get some storybooks.]

It’s just a storybook, not even a necessary item.

Before he could further appeal to the fact that he had been hurt this much trying to get it for them, Nowen acted angry for the first time.

In that situation, if Nowen had put even a little pressure on them, he could have used that as a basis to deal with them easily… … .

In the end, Nowen didn’t say anything to them.

All he does is apologize to me.

So, for now, I had no choice but to decide to wait and see until the gap between them and Nowen widened further.

It’s a shame that the situation ended ambiguously.

Perhaps the emotional rift that Nowen had was deepened further by the fairy tale book incident.

That alone was enough.

Anyway, it was obvious that they would do something when the shelter moving day came.

I wait quietly for an opportunity, and the moment they trip over my feet, I fall.

All I had to do was deal with them.

Even if they quietly move to the shelter, there’s no way Nowen will be the leader there.

The bond between them and Nowen would naturally weaken.

While I was watching them without knowing it, I was just waiting for the day to move to the shelter.

There were a few minor changes within the group.

The biggest change was that the number of people within the group increased slightly.

Well, there are only two people… … .

The mere fact that there were more outsiders besides those guys was significant.

Except those guys… … .

So, as the number of other people who are harmed by their cosplay of the weak increases, the sense of alienation that Nowen feels will only grow greater.

The only variable was that the new outsiders were from the shelter where Biella had met.

From what I’ve heard, it seems like they were in the shelter during the ‘monster attack incident’…

It seemed like they couldn’t see us properly because there were so many people there.

All I know is that the soldiers arrived late and overheard people talking?

Since all we knew was that she was a tall woman, there seemed to be no need to worry.

And they even brought in outsiders.

With the fairy tale book incident having once again undermined the trust between them and Nowen, the day before the move to the shelter went smoothly.

“… … .”

They have become completely silent.

We just look at each other with anxious faces all day long.

“Mr. Declen… …, will tomorrow be okay?”

I nodded in response to Diana’s question, who was watching them like me.

“No matter what you do, there’s nothing you can do that will turn the tables on them.”

Even if they made it, they wouldn’t be able to beat us.

Because the cause that Nowen hoped for was for everyone was never just for them.

Besides, if I were to do something, the first thing that comes to mind would be to hurt myself and beg for some time.

It would no longer be possible to persuade Nowen to that extent.

From the moment they decided on the date to move to the shelter, Nowen seemed determined.

So I was being more cold to them than before.

As if he was deliberately trying not to get caught up in their weaknesses.

Knowing that, they would be anxious too.

Because methods that worked well before no longer work.

“But… … , isn’t there something so shaky about the welcoming ceremony? I think it’s too early to feel relieved.”

Um… … , that wasn’t a wrong statement.

Thinking back to the time of Diana and Biella, the illusionary body had a tendency to bind its subjects to itself to the point of obsession.

I don’t know if it’s because of the instinct that comes with being a welcome body, but…

The day I first encountered the Welcome Body through Biella.

I could tell right away.

I’m talking about their unique madness towards their targets.

Perhaps the more they are bonded with Nowen, the stronger their obsession will be.

So, as Diana said, we had to be wary of their impulsive actions when they were caught up in their madness.

“Let’s try guarding each other today.”

“… … I think that would be good too.”

“Yes, it can’t hurt to be careful.”

Diana also nodded quietly at my words.

Inogen and Biella were sitting quietly right next to where we were.

Outsiders were also positioned not far from us.

… … Somehow, this large subway station ended up being divided into two areas.

The waiting room area where those guys are gathered in groups.

To the outer area where all the other characters are gathered.

And the exact midway point between the waiting room area and the outer area.

Nowen stood there, quietly looking at the people on both sides.

… … What are you thinking about?

At first, it seemed like things would be easy because I simply thought that Nowen only wanted ‘justice’.

Perhaps because he had been brainwashed several times by the Welcome Body guys, Nowen did not act like the simple-minded person he used to.

For example, during the fairy tale book incident, Nowen didn’t say anything to them.

Since then, I have often been asked if I could help those who are weak.

Quite desperately, as if he could never let them go.

… … That’s why I’m doing this to cause discord, waiting for a safe moment to knock those guys down.

As I looked at Nowen for a moment with that thought in mind, our eyes met.

As soon as their eyes met, Nowen nodded slightly.

I also nodded in response to Nowen’s light greeting.

As we exchanged light greetings, it was soon time for our last dinner at the subway station.

The meal was simple.

Usually, I just cooked and ate things like snacks, ramen, and soup that I bought at the supermarket.

So the last dinner menu at the subway station is… … .

It was soup.

The meal duty was taken in turns by the group members, and coincidentally, today it was someone from the waiting room who was in charge.

They turned on a portable gas range in one corner of the waiting room and seemed to be cooking.

He quickly finished the cream soup and handed it to us.

I stared blankly at the cream soup one of the guys handed me.

They spoke to me with good-natured smiles, as if they were acting to Nowen.

“Haha. Cream soup is for dinner tonight. Enjoy your meal.”

“… … .”

Since he said it was dinner, I accepted the paper cup he handed me.

I just stared blankly at the contents, but didn’t eat them right away.

“Sir… …! Something is fishy about this?”

As I held on, they just handed me a paper cup and left in a huff.

The first one to approach me was the quick-witted Biella, holding a paper cup.

I also had the same opinion as Biella.

There had been many days before when they were on meal duty, but they had never brought us food like this.

Rather, wouldn’t it be better if they monopolized the food… ?

They even bring me food so kindly?

Of course, it had to look suspicious.

So I took a quick look at them, and they were just holding paper cups and warming their hands.

Not a single person was eating the cream soup inside.

Instead, he just glanced at us and checked our mood.

Looking at that, it looks like they tampered with the food a bit… … .

“Oh, sir. Is this okay to eat?”

“Well, let’s just wait and see.”

I first observed the situation in case there was any poison in it.

No unusual symptoms were observed in outsiders who had already finished their meal.

So we decided to pretend to eat the cream soup together for a while, but then spit it out secretly.

As we pretended to eat the cream soup, the guys finally felt relieved and each disposed of the cream soup in a different way.

Some people seem to eat what’s inside… … so it doesn’t seem to be poisoned.

So is it a sleeping pill?

Judging from the way you’re already setting the table, I can tell you’re planning on doing something big tonight.

After that ambiguous dinner time, lights out time came earlier than expected.

Among them, the outsider who had eaten all the cream soup was asleep before lights out.

Looking at that sight, I was even more convinced that they had put sleeping pills in the cream soup.

Well, let’s see what he does after all this fuss.

***

We decided to do the night watch just with Diana and me.

Just because it was night watch, there was no need to light a fire and sit in front of it like usual.

The purpose of this vigil is clearly to maintain a minimum level of alertness to what is happening.

Because the goal was to get them to do the work on their own.

So I decided to keep watch, pretending to sleep still and only alternating periods of consciousness between being awake.

Of course, whatever ‘thing’ they did, it was probably to drive us out of this group.

No matter what happens, since those guys are doing this, there will inevitably be problems moving to the shelter tomorrow.

We were planning to use this as an excuse to blow the whistle and drive a wedge between Nowen and those guys, making it easier to deal with them.

In this way, Diana and I communicated through sound and each took turns staying conscious.

Finally, a subtle noise was heard among them.

To be exact… … , a small sound was heard repeatedly.

Are you even touching food?

I was a bit skeptical for a moment, but it didn’t take long for me to figure out exactly what the sound was.

Pok, pok, pok!

… … This was clearly the sound of flesh being cut by a sharp weapon.

I thought he was simply trying to hurt me like he did before, but that wasn’t it.

If you stab a person like this, no matter where you touch them, anyone would die.

So, right now, among those guys… … .

It was said that an outright murder was taking place.

The shrill sound repeated itself, but I didn’t get up and stop them.

Instead, I waited for tomorrow to dawn with a secret smile on my face.

I had some idea what they were planning to do.

As the morning dawned, the day of moving to the shelter arrived.

“Gyaaaaaaah!”

… … As expected, one of them screamed before the light was even turned on.