Chapter 7 - The hunt for a Chibi

Adventures and police scoured the streets, equally on the prowl. Discordia and I walked brazenly with our identities exposed, putting me on edge while her sadistic smile was on full display.

“What do you think they’ll do to you if you’re caught?” She asked.

“If you don’t shut up, I will read the manga for “My harem of Men” and spoil who Kanzaki ends up with.”

“Wow! You must be pretty scared to be threatening me like this.” She chuckled with amusement.

I’m more afraid of what this reward the adventurers were promised. I’ve seen the people do crazy things for scraps, much less the man hunt for me tells me this must be a big reward.

“I can only think this is over the sword we stole.” I whispered scared of any eavesdroppers.

“Hmm... You did take it from the blacksmiths workshop. I guess the client had more influence than you had hoped.” Her lack of whispering irked and scared me. “But it could still be over something else, lets find out.”

“Huh?” I stuttered as Discordia suddenly dragged me towards a group.

“Hello, adventurers!” She waved, getting their attention.

“D- D- Discordia!?” I began to panic.

“What is it brat?” One of the men acknowledges annoyed. “We’re busy here.”

“I see that.” Discordia’s smile spanned her face. “We keep seeing adventure’s looking around. Did something happen?”

“Oh, that." One of the kinder men of the group spoke up. “Some pampered kids are offering a reward for the chibi looter. Said their sword was stolen and they’re promising magical weapons in return of his capture.”

My fear boiled in my mouth, swallowing it down made my insides hurt.

“What? I’m pretty sure they promised housing at the capital without needing to join the front lines.” Another spoke up.

I wanted to cry and surrender myself for such a reward.

“It was both you idiots. If anything, I’m more interested in her sword that was stolen.”

Stolen sword? Reward to the capital? This...

“Her sword? She made such promises of grandeur for a sword?” Discordia was taken aback.

“She claims it can kill the demon king. Any sword capable of that would have to be very, very powerful. I bet it could get me more than what is currently on the table.”

Ah...

My brain pieced it all together, and I feel like a total idiot for taking this long.

“H- Hey! I wanted to ask more questions!” Discordia grunted as I dragged her away by the collar.

The group watched in confusion, but decided to continue their search, except one bystander standing off to the side. I didn’t notice their curious eyes.

“Hey! Your tugging!” Discordia struggled. I freed her from my grasp after we traveled a good distance into an empty alley. “Thank you.”

“We are totally screwed.” I expressed as Discordia comforted her neck.

“Uh, if I recall, you didn’t go into the shop as you were supposed to. You choose to go to the blacksmith’s workshop.”

“Shh!” I hushed her big mouth. “Clearly... We had bad communication. So, we are in this together.”

“Hmm...” Discordia gave dissuaded eyes.

“If I get captured, you will never get to watch anime again.” I stated.

“Sigh... Fine. I’ll behave.” She whispered.

I nodded, knowing this is the best I’ll get out of her.

“Now... I know who I stole from.”

“Huh? How do you know?” She was thrown off.

“There was a holy knight who was robbed outside the blacksmiths shop. I spoke with her and her father sword was stolen... and...”

“And?” Discordia was nervous to my nervous.

“I gave her advice to bring this concern up with the adventurers’ hall... And told her it may be enticing to offer housing at the capital for a reward...”

“...”

“...”

As we sat in an awkward silence, a bystander sat outside the alley way listening in.

“So... This is your fault...” Discordia bluntly stated, piercing my heart.

“I didn’t think I was the one who stole from her!” I quickly hushed my panic voice. “But... This is a good opportunity.”

“To get caught, beaten to a pulp and dragged to a holy knight on the brink of death?”

“No, what?” I was confused by her outburst. “I mean she only wants the sword, and we already got the magic- I mean... It already served its purpose. So, we just... Give it back.”

“And... We get the reward for its return without giving up the chibi looter?”

“Exactly! Everyone assumes we’re boys. There is no reason two girls would be under suspicion.”

“Hmm...” Discordia pondered. “Okay, I’m down.”

“Awesome!” I cheered. “Let get it before Layla gets back. Hopefully she didn’t panic and run home first to grab it.”

We began to walk back home.

“I always forget she works at adventures’ hall. But why would it be a bad thing if she returns it? She could claim the reward on our behalf.” Discordia reasoned.

Our apartment was within sight.

“Ha! As if that women would do something bad to get ahead. She chose to work a job in this modern age. If I didn’t know how petty she could be over anime I’d assume she was a saint.” I stated.

We began to walk up the stairs to our apartment. It was unusually vacant, likely everyone decided to join the manhunt.

“A saint, huh... I can only see her as the women who lords over us with her anime taste and knowledge.” Discordia stated coldly.

I nodded my head, seeing it from her perspective. Opening the door to a dark apartment, I calmly walked over to the pile.

“Yep... She took it...” I observed, blankly staring where it left.

“Maybe... You moved it...”

I shook my head, defeating Discordia’s optimism.

“It’s gotta be here!” Discordia immediately plunged, digging through the pile of garbage, not accepting reality.

“Even if we find her, she'll certainly overpower us with her magic.” I internally cursed her ability to relax people.

As I stood silently in defeat and Discordia dug through the pile, I felt a sudden presence.

“Ack!” Scaring me white, A strong arm wrapped itself around my neck, lifting me up with ease.

“What!? Hey!” Discordia stood up, ready to attack.

“Stay down or your friend gets it!” A bigger body man stated threateningly, blubber had me in his clutches.

I... I’m caught...?  With this moment, my reality shattered. Evading the police and general hooligans, this big man caught me in my own home.  This is the end for the chibi looter.