The Druid Who Swallowed Mother Nature - Chapter 13



Only Noblemtl

Episode 13. You too?

The man with the hat turned over, roughly moving through the crowd, was obviously a pickpocket, but no one tried to catch him.

They are too busy to worry about petty crime.

I didn’t even expect their help in the first place.

However, I felt the need to take action before I got swept away by the crowd and lost track of them.

Porn!

The spirit followed my lead and followed the guy’s lead.

The halo of light visible only to me became a landmark that guided me regardless of the complexity of the distance.

‘He’s a professional for a petty criminal?’

The movement of moving through the crowd was quick.

It seemed like he wasn’t a beginner who had done this once or twice.

The way he planned an escape route without even knowing that he had been caught was professional.

If I had just tried to chase after it, I think I would have missed it.

But since I had attached the spirit to it, it was in the palm of my hand.

“… … .”

The guy left the main street and made a bold turn.

The direction was so exquisite that I couldn’t easily follow it.

“Earth 4… …?”

A broken sign hinted at the atmosphere beyond.

Lawless zone, aka Junk Town.

The notoriety spread to everyone who set foot in Galaga City.

It was different from the slums of District 7.

District 4 is far from poverty and destitution.

A lawless area that, although it is an administrative district that clearly belongs to the city, is not subject to the control of the city government and has established its own order.

It’s a place you’d be hesitant to step into with a light heart.

… … But my business was not light.

‘If you want to catch a tiger, you have to go into the tiger’s den.’

The hand I put in my pocket felt light.

That was all I had.

If you don’t get it back, you’re homeless.

I crossed the line without hesitation.

***

If I were to describe District 4 simply, it would be a lawless zone.

The public authorities, who were already busy making a fuss, completely let go of this area.

Even if a murder occurred, they would pretend not to see it, so even a minor fight would not be reported.

Here, the powerful, including gangsters, are the law, and public authority is a distant dream.

The occasional turf wars were jokingly called a local specialty.

That’s why criminals often hide out here.

It is just as dangerous for criminals, but those who are concerned about public safety do not commit crimes in the first place.

It was a paradise land for the human race.

“The world tree is very excited and its leaves are shaking.”

Thump thump!

‘District 4 has a lot to see, despite its reputation.’

The loud noises rang in my ears.

The lights were bright and the building was clean.

The cleanliness of the street was better than that of most streets in the busy 3rd district.

‘Lawless area is not the same as slum.’

It was a kind of prejudice that the general public had.

District 4 is also a neighborhood where people live.

If you respect the local order, you can be treated as a guest.

‘If you judge it by its appearance, it’s an entertainment district.’

Even though it was broad daylight, bars and casinos were open for business.

The tout grabs people and the customers on the street pretend to be helpless and are dragged away to throw money at them.

The air was filled with the sweet smell of incense and alcohol.

‘It looks peaceful despite its reputation… … .’

The only place where the law is hidden is where you can see it.

My eyes pierced the deep darkness of Junk Town.

A blank sign leading underground indicated an illegal medical clinic, and a building with a dark curtain covering its interior indicated a black market.

With a red-light district behind and a drug club next to it, one wrong step would lead to all sorts of illegal activities.

Crunch!

For a moment, a cold, sharp sound tickled my ears.

I just rolled my eyes to check.

A large, muscular man with an impressive scar on his head was tapping a gun.

‘Is this the ruling gang in this area?’

He seemed suspicious because I was just observing without even stepping foot into the store.

‘There’s no need to be bothered by unnecessary suspicion.’

The only reason I set foot on Earth 4 was to catch a pickpocket.

I wasn’t interested in the identity of the local gangs or their power struggles.

I walked leisurely to clear my doubts.

The destination was set without having to search around suspiciously.

Twinkle!

A speck of light left behind by a spirit that has been attached to a pickpocket.

It was sprinkled at regular intervals, as if it were pollen from a plant.

I followed the traces that only my eyes could see.

‘It stopped here.’

The place we arrived at after following them to the end was a shabby bar.

The atmosphere was dark and quiet, and whatever happened would be buried.

This building can be said to be a typical example of District 4 in the public perception.

I opened the swing door, letting in light.

“Come in.”

A middle-aged master greeted me.

There were few customers inside the store.

Five people at most.

We were a group of people all sitting at the same table.

“Wow, I think I’ll survive.”

“What kind of great guy did you meet that you’re covered in sweat?”

“No, I had a bad feeling that someone was chasing me. That’s why I deliberately went around in circles. Since I’m okay, I guess I was just worried.”

“You crazy bastard, you should have done that properly. I told you that it’s been getting a lot of attention in that neighborhood lately and it’s been hard to rob them.”

“Are you my wife? Shut up and stop nagging.”

The man drank his glass amid hearty laughter.

There was no need to check the face.

It’s that guy.

A spirit was swimming in the man’s beer glass.

“No matter who that bastard is, he can’t chase me here. Like you said, I’ll have to avoid that area from now on. It’s not cost-effective to do something stupid just to make some money.”

“How much did you earn?”

“It’s easy. Anyway, those who have it are worse. They look so ugly, they can’t even eat.”

“I guess he was a conman who sold his face.”

“Anyway, how much did you guys collect today? I’m just a piece of shit, so you guys figure it out… … .”

“……hey.”

I sat down in the middle of a group of guys talking nonsense.

“huh?”

The guys looked back with flushed faces.

“You are telling interesting stories.”

When I spoke to him, my son-in-law became quiet as if I had poured cold water on him.

One of them, who was extremely drunk, suddenly started to act up.

“What are you doing, meddling in… … !”

“… … Hey, wait a minute.”

The man stopped the group from swinging their fists.

“I thought I was being scared and making a fuss.”

The man seemed to recognize me.

“This guy really chased me. You crazy bastard.”

There was a look of bewilderment on his face as he looked at me.

“What, do you know him?”

“Is that the guy I was talking about earlier?”

“Oh, you little beggar who had your wallet stolen?”

The guys sitting around the table snickered.

The Master glanced over at the ominous atmosphere and then quietly moved inside.

As a resident of District 4, he seemed to have no intention of getting involved in the city’s affairs.

“Hand it over.”

“……what?”

“Give me back my stolen wallet.”

I nodded and gave the order.

“Ha, right.”

The man’s answer was a hollow laugh.

The guy who shook his head exchanged glances with his colleagues.

Soon, the gaze looking at me changed to a menacing one.

“I’ve seen all kinds of weirdos. Can’t you grasp the current situation?”

“… … .”

“If you had something to do with me, you should have come when I was alone. There are five of us. What are you going to do by yourself?”

There was a hint of laughter in the light, teasing tone of speech.

“My brothers are a bit expensive. I can’t just let them go. I’ll make them pay for the inconvenience.”

The guy gestured around.

The crowd cheered as they understood the meaning.

“Since he has half and half face, I think a lot of people would like it if you gave him some of that skin.”

“You idiot, you can just sell me into slavery. Why are you even bothering to do that?”

“That’s good. I stole a wallet and a gold nugget rolled out.”

As if it was a familiar situation, they discussed the disposal of the person in front of the person responsible.

For a pickpocket, he seemed to be quite resourceful. It seemed like he wasn’t an ordinary guy.

“Are you done talking?”

I was thinking of squeezing it a little, but that didn’t work.

There was no reason to show mercy to someone who was talking nonsense with a pierced mouth.

“Oh, you seem to have some pride. Are you going to hit me?”

“You don’t understand things because you grew up in a house. Your brothers will give you some special life experience.”

“Wouldn’t it be a bad experience if you fall behind?”

“If that’s the case, then there’s nothing we can do about it. How much do kidneys sell for these days…?”

His drunken, clouded eyes sparkled with greed.

He was treating me like I was already a caught fish.

‘I don’t have anything more to say.’

It felt like my ears were rotting as I listened to it.

I held out my hand to the man who was giggling and saying that it was funny.

“What, do you want to arm wrestle? Since you grew up seeing only good things, you’re acting cute… … .”

The man’s words did not end.

The guy who was letting his guard down didn’t react to my movements.

I grabbed the back of the guy’s head.

And then he struck down the man.

Pfft!

A terrible sound was mixed with the giggling laughter.

The drunk guys didn’t understand my actions for a moment.

“Isn’t this town where people usually talk with their fists?”

The conflict in Earth 4 was resolved through violence, not words and logic.

There was no need to worry about getting caught if you suddenly slammed someone onto the table.

It was a very primitive rule, but I liked it because it was hot and I had to wield my own hands.

Boom!

“Cough!”

Another strike and a scream erupted.

The man’s face, which had been lifted up, was a mess, covered in dripping blood and other substances.

He grabbed my forehead and slammed it down, breaking the table. It was a miracle I didn’t faint.

I took my hand off the back of his head without thinking.

“This kid… … !”

Only then did the men realize the situation and jump up from their seats.

“You’re lost!”

In the hands that they took out of their pockets, they all had blades.

‘It’s brutal.’

It’s not a fist, it’s a blade.

The lack of hesitation in the way he swings his hand was not a skill that only one or two people had mastered.

If he was a criminal who had set up shop and was active in District 4, that would be the case.

But he wasn’t my opponent.

Kkudangtang!

“Ugh!”

When I kicked the table, the guys who were rushing at me fell down together.

That was the end of the fight.

“What, what is this!”

“Mom, my body won’t move!”

“Eww!”

The trunk of the world tree extending from the body captured them.

As the natural affinity increased, it was impossible to escape the pressure of the World Tree trunk, which had become stronger, with the physical ability of an ordinary person.

The bastards soon collapsed with their eyes rolled back and foaming at the mouth.

“Ugh… … .”

“It would have been better if you had just let it go quietly instead of acting like that.”

The only one who was still sane was the man who was hit first.

As I approached, the man glared at me with his bloodshot eyes.

“You, uh, you’re going to be sobbing.”

“… … ?”

“Woohee, what are you doing?”

If you did this much, wouldn’t it be normal to be scared and pee your pants?

But the man threatened them, saying he didn’t know who they were, even though he was scared.

“Who is it?”

“Hehehe.”

The man laughed and held out his arm.

It looked like a fancy skull tattoo, but I knew what it was.

“… …Brotherhood?”

The man smiled with his front teeth exposed, indicating his affirmation.

‘If it’s true, it’s quite a big force.’

Brotherhood.

It is a criminal organization known to everyone in the dark.

Their sphere of influence was not limited to one city.

If we only consider the size of the organization, it could be considered the best in the world.

I too have clashed with them in previous episodes.

No matter where I was working, I couldn’t help but get involved.

“Hehe, even if it’s Hehe, Wooihanhe bows his head… … Ugh!”

The arrogant guy’s attitude didn’t last long.

When I hit his head with my heel, his mouth shut.

‘What do you mean by apology after doing this?’

It’s already a symbol.

It was wiser to finish the job for sure rather than trying to fix it later.

‘I guess the Brotherhood won’t care anyway.’

The Brotherhood was a large organization, but its substance was weak.

They are not a group with enough loyalty to stir up trouble on the streets to take revenge on a low-level pickpocket.

If we just shut the mouths of the people responsible, this will just pass as an incident that happened in District 4.

‘And the corpse cannot open its mouth.’

Definitely took action.

I didn’t have to worry about retaliation from the organization.

“I’m sorry for causing a fuss.”

I picked their pockets while I retrieved their wallets.

As expected from a group of notorious pickpockets, they were holding a considerable amount of money.

The money given to the master as compensation for the broken table was part of it.

It was at that moment that I was about to leave and leave to deal with the body.

“Oh, shit.”

There was a noise on the other side of the swing door.

“Why are those kids lying down?”

Ripped jeans and a tight-fitting short-sleeved shirt that looks like it was measured incorrectly.

A woman in casual attire looked back and forth between the fallen gang and me.

“Did you do it?”

The woman’s eyes narrowed.

At the same time, an ominous feeling of pressure covered my whole body.

‘Things have become a hassle.’

Are you a member of the Brotherhood?

It seemed like I would get into trouble trying to catch a pickpocket.

‘I can’t just pretend not to know.’

Showed the scene.

It was impossible to deny that it was something I did.

I was honest.

“I did it.”

“… …Why did you do that?”

“They stole my wallet.”

“… … .”

The woman wiggled her eyebrows.

The upturned eyes transformed the sharp expression into a fierce one.

It seemed like they were finally going to have a go.

‘shit.’

I thought I was making some extra money, but I ended up spending money again.

I was about to suggest that if we were going to do the grappling, we should do it outside.

“Hand it over.”

“… … ?”

The woman clicked her tongue and held out her palm to me.

“Those guys must have emptied their pockets. Now give me my wallet.”

I looked back and forth between the fallen gang and the woman with the frowning eyes, and finally realized.

Because of his fierce expression, I guess I misunderstood.

“……you also?”

“Oh, me too.”

The opponent was not a member of the Brotherhood.

He was a victim like me.