THE HERO'S SON IS A MONSTER-Chapter 62: Lower Ringer

"You truly are ignorant, aren’t you?" she asked, shaking her head. "Can’t you even recognize nobility when you see it?"

Was nobility written on people’s faces? Sure, the girl was beautiful with her curly blonde hair. She had that air of ’grandioseness’ (yes) around her, but for Alexendra she was just like a younger version of Lefresne’s mother without the power, the kindness, the innocent clumsiness, and the years on top. Ah yes, and she wasn’t engaged to her daughter too so that was another point of difference.

"... she isn’t like Fresne’s mother at all actually," Alexandra concluded.

Sure enough, her mind was trailing far away now and the girl didn’t appreciate that either – by mumbling random stuff with an unfocused gaze, Alexandra was basically ignoring her, saying that she was not worthy of her interest.

Another misunderstanding, but, then again, Alexandra WAS thinking that.

Either way, they had decided to use strength to force that rather annoying big-chested soon-to-be-not-customer out. No questions asked.

The girl distanced herself from Alexandra without a word and went behind a counter. For some reason, Alexandra felt in danger and she was right. When the girl appeared again behind a counter, she was holding a musket pointed in Alexandra’s direction.

"Get out."

Alexandra looked at the girl without noticing the weapon at first which is why, after about a second of bewilderment, her mouth contorted into a smirk. For the red-clad girl, that was it; she aimed and shot Alexandra.

"Master!!!"

The girl fell to the ground and it was over. Well, the commotion was.

Sure, "rouge" did shoot and Alexandra did fall but those were unrelated events. In fact, Alexandra never got hit. She only fell because Minium pushed her down at the last moment. Thankfully, no one got hurt, but...

"Oh... Oh no..."

The red-clad girl jumped across the counter and ran toward Alexandra... well toward Minium actually.

"Are you hurt somewhere?!" she asked the little girl. She looked unbelievably worried, inspecting the little girl from top to bottom.

"Eh?! I... I..."

"Phew! It seems that nothing happened to you! I feel so relieved!"

"Y-Yes? (What is going on?)"

The girl then turned to Alexandra with a scowl. "Hey, you! How can you expose a kid like this to danger?! Are you out of your mind?!"

In response, Alexandra only stared at the girl her eyes widened by surprise. She understood that she almost got killed, but what she didn’t understand was why her aggressor was scolding her about endangering someone when she was the origin of said danger. No, it was even worse – she was scolding her for endangering a doll! What was this girl’s problem? 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Anju!!!"

Coming from the back of the room, a strong voice echoed. A tall woman with short dark-blue hair and yellow stomped her way to the red-clad girl and violently hit her head with a wooden mug. The girl let out a faint moan holding her head.

"What did I say about attacking clients?!! What kind of reputation do you think you are giving us?!!"

"Sorry..." said the girl named Anju in a voice so low that it could be heard.

"Sorry?!! Do you think being sorry brings back people alive?!!"

The woman raised her hand as if to strike again but after glances at Alexandra’s and Minium’s shocked expressions, she seemed to change her mind though her anger was clearly not appeased.

"Sorry for my employee’s actions," she said, offering a hand to Alexandra. "I am Lupa, the one in charge of this hotel."

Alexandra having regained her composure stood up by herself and gave the woman a condescending look while attempting to take the dust off her clothes. "You can be sorry! Is that how you handle your guests?! I could have been killed there!"

"Sorry for that again," Lupa said with an embarrassed smile. "Oh, I know. What about I offer you a diner? My cook is considered the best in the South District!"

"Do you seriously believe that a dinner is going to make me forget? Are you kidding me?!"

"Wow there! I understand, I understand! Okay, let’s say the dinner is just an apology for my shameless proposal. We can discuss the more important matter during it, okay?" Lupa said, with a ’calm down’ gesture before turning to Anju. "You heard me! Go and help Susu with the dinner!"

"Yes."

Anju nodded and meekly made her way to the back of the room. Some clients talked to her on the way, asking her to cheer up among other encouraging things.

What about me? Alexandra thought furrowing her brows. She was the person who was almost killed here! How about some consideration?!

However, her anger dissipated a bit when Minium – probably as lost as her if not more – clung to her sleeve as if to ask for help. Alexandra let out a sigh.

What am I going to do with you? she thought. Well, considering that neither she nor her "little sister" already are that day, it wouldn’t hurt to accept the woman’s invitation. Though she did seem a little too eager in Alexandra’s opinion.

"Lupa, you said? Very well, we will discuss how you are supposed to repay me after the dinner. But let’s make it clear, I am only doing this out of consideration for your position. This doesn’t excuse any of your subordinate’s actions!"

"Yes, yes, I understand. To be honest I prefer it this way. You know, I like girls with strong character!"

"Do you even realize this is part of the problem?!" Alexandra said angrily but in response, the woman only laughed.

Alexandra’s eyes narrowed again. What did I expect from an uneducated Lower Ringer? she thought. From her point of view, it seemed that other people’s lives didn’t matter for them though she somehow started to grasp the truth – it wasn’t that other’s lives didn’t matter, it was just that life itself was considered less valuable in the lower rings. A chilling thought, truly.

She had to make sure to not get killed by accident or by any random hobo. Her mission was far from over after all.

I never liked fish no matter what it was, how it was processed or cooked, or anything.

When I was younger, I ate a fish – I don’t remember which one – and one of its bones got stuck in my throat. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t drink. It was painful. I hated. From then on, I became extremely suspicious of them.

My mother, a fish enthusiast if I can call her that, tried to calm my fears and pushed me to give fish another chance.

I listened to her.

It turned out badly.

After having more bones stuck in my mouth and throat, I was traumatized.