43 -43- I believe him

On Progress Day, the Last Drop tavern, unlike its usual lively self, became unusually quiet.

At this moment, the bar had only one occupant, a woman. 

Sevika pushed open the small door blocking the bar counter, entered, and bent down to search in the cabinets below. She then skillfully retrieved a bottle of liquor, placed it on the bar, and opened it. Pouring the drink into a glass, the bottle emitted a pleasant "glug, glug" sound, and finally, a smile crept onto Sevika's face.

The quality of the alcohol was visibly excellent. Moreover, the bottle had no label on it, which meant it was likely Vander's private stash, reserved for his personal enjoyment. Taste and quality were beyond question. Vander had only two hobbies: smoking and drinking.

Just as Sevika lifted an ice cube with a pair of tongs and gently dropped it into the glass, preparing to savor the fine liquor, a timid voice broke the silence.

This voice shattered the tranquility and made Sevika's heart skip a beat.

"Hey, Sevika, can you talk to me? I'm so bored all alone downstairs."

The voice belonged to the blue-haired girl of Vander's two daughters, standing quietly near the staircase leading to the basement, gazing intently at Sevika.

Her name was Powder, a rather peculiar name.

Sevika turned her gaze toward her, noticing the girl's shifting, evasive eyes.

"What do you want?" Sevika originally intended to reject her outright, but she remembered the strict order Vander had given her: protect Powder and spend time with her while ensuring her safety.

"Am I just a babysitter, huh?" Sevika, who already had a bad temper, responded impatiently to Powder, saying, "What do you want to talk about?"

"I'm so bored by myself; I want to chat with you," Powder replied.

Moving her feet, she was dressed thickly to cope with the winter weather. Being close to the sea and located deep underground in Zaun, the temperatures in this harsh environment were much colder than in Piltover. She wore a weathered, blue short coat and a blue little hat. Beneath that, she had on several layers of pants, making her look chubby and plump.

Powder sniffled and leaned her nose against the bar, unable to move too much due to the layers of clothing. She began by grabbing the table, then climbed onto the stool. Once she was seated, she gazed up at Sevika with her beautifully innocent blue eyes.

"Can you play with me?"

"No."

"Why not?"

Sevika didn't say anything, and Powder continued, "You don't seem busy at all. Look, you didn't go out with Vander. Even Vi went out with him to do something, but you stayed here. You're useless, just like me."

"..."

Do you really have no idea why I didn't go with them..?

Sevika was at a loss for words in the face of those innocent, big eyes. There was an indescribable sense of powerlessness.

She didn't particularly like Vander's two adopted daughters. There was a time when Sevika even believed that it was because of these two kids that Vander was becoming weak. Now that Vander had truly become the boss, with even the barons having to listen to him, Sevika still held this belief.

Yet she didn't care about who was sitting in the boss's chair, and she didn't even care about her own position. What she cared about was only Zaun. Whoever could lead Zaun to independence and make the Zaunites lead a good life could be her boss.

But... Sevika didn't dare to be too harsh with this little girl.

Vi and Powder, she disliked both of them, but when it came to disliking Powder, Sevika had an even stronger feeling of not liking her. It was a sort of inexplicable aversion, a natural inclination to clash with her.

"Why aren't you talking?" Powder mumbled. "By the way, can you pour me a glass of juice?"

Sevika didn't reply but made a move. She rummaged below and brought out a bottle labeled with "Powder's special" on it.

Hah, that Vander, why is this little girl liked by so many people?

The reason Sevika didn't dare to be too harsh with Powder was her fear that she would run to complain.

Vi was different; Vi didn't seem like someone who would tattle after getting scolded. But Powder, the youngest daughter, always seemed to be the more favored one.

Likewise, the youngest sister was no different.

If Linwin knew that she had bullied Powder, there was a good chance that she wouldn't be getting up from her bed the next morning. She'd probably be sleeping on the street or hanging from somewhere.

These things had happened before.

"Why didn't they take me with them?"

"Is it because it's dangerous?"

"But Vi gets to go. Why can't I?"

"Oh, Vi is stronger than me, that's why."

Powder bit on her straw, taking slow sips from the juice Sevika had prepared for her. Her eyes were slightly squinted, and her eyelids looked heavy, as if she couldn't open her eyes fully.

Her beautiful gem-like blue eyes were squinted into slits, making her look somewhat mature.

She continued to mutter:

"Wait, do you think they find me annoying?"

"Hm, that doesn't make sense. Even Mylo and Claggor didn't go, and Little guy didn't go either. Are they annoyed with them too?"

Powder mumbled to herself, "Well, if that's the case, it's not because I'm annoying."

"But why didn't they take me with them?"

"Hey, why didn't they take me with them?"

Sevika, who was listening to Powder's rambling:

"...."

I've had enough. Babysitting is really not my work.

"Where are you going?!"

Sevika walked toward the tavern's entrance, cup in hand, but Powder immediately widened her eyes and asked her.

"I'm going outside for a smoke. Is that okay?"

"Of course, but you can smoke in front of me. I don't mind the smell of smoke; Vander always smokes in front of me."

"That's enough! You brat, stop talking to me!" Sevika turned around, pointing her finger at her and raising her voice. "I don't like you, is that clear?"

"Oh well, it's your choice. I don't like you either."

Holding her cup, Powder shrugged and watched Sevika with an indifferent expression.

She knew very well that Sevika disliked her and Vi. 

They all knew.

Even though she was very young, she was clever. 

You don't like me, so I won't like you. 

And she's not afraid of her either. 

Sevika looks very fierce and terrifying. When Mylo and Claggor see her, they would avoid her. But not me, because Linwin would protect me.

With Linwin here, I'm not afraid of Sevika.

"Is Linwin coming back today?" Powder asked again. "He said he'd be back on Progress Day, I miss him."

Sevika impatiently exclaimed, "He's not coming back!"

"I know you're lying to me."

"He will be back."

Powder turned around, biting her straw as the juice in the cup reached its bottom.

"Well, I know he'll be back, but how long do I have to wait?"

"It's been a month."

"That's okay, though. Vi said he'd come back on Progress Day."

"I believe Vi, and I also believe him."