Drawn Mochi Volume 3 Chapter 14.2: Honey Trap and Trap Breaking *9

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“Oh, you…” (Croix)

　Then, Ms. Croix got upset, quickly looked away, turned her head… gently shook my hand off.

“No. Like I said earlier. I’m a dangerous spy that targeted you, you know?” (Croix)

“It’s fine.” (Tougo)

“No. …Besides, if I stay here, I’m going to become useless.” (Croix)

　Then, Ms. Croix chuckled with a troubled look on her face.

“I’m not going to be able to do my job. I can’t have my heart feeling such things. I won’t be a spy.” (Croix)

“Then why don’t you quit your job and live here?” (Tougo)

　When I suggested it, she chuckled. I wondered if I had said something strange.

“That’s no good either. You can’t live without money. A self-sufficient life is… it’s not bad, but it’s not for me.” (Croix)

　While saying that, Ms. Croix looks around.

　Horses. More horses. Bamboo. The house beyond that, and the forest beyond that. And the sky.

　Looking around at all those things… Ms. Croix’s eyes were a little downcast.

“Maybe my life of spending money is also ‘food for the heart’. Or maybe it’s poison for my heart. However, once I eat it, I can’t go back. The food in this forest is very nice and delicious, but I can’t get the other one… If you stay here, I will still want both.” (Croix)

　…Ms. Croix said that, but her eyes were looking at the horses, and at the forest.

　When I looked into her eyes… I just said.

“Then you will have both.” (Tougo)

　If you want both the money and the forest, why not get both? It is so sad that you can only have one or the other.

“I will hire you.” (Tougo)

　…I think this is probably where I could spend my money.

　The moment I said that Ms. Croix’s eyes widen. Laocles’ eyes also widen. Fay burst in a fit of laughter.

“I see! Tougo! That’s very bold of you!” (Fay)

“Yes, but I don’t think there’s anything else I can do. But I don’t know where else it will go.” (Tougo)

　I’m fortunate that I don’t have to worry about money… I’m not particularly in need of spending money, so I’m going to use it. Since, I don’t really need to spend a lot of money… and if I do have to spend money, it’s probably to hire models.

“…Does that mean I’m going to be hired by the Redgarde family?” (Croix)

“No. Not me, Tougo just hired you!” (Fay)

“Hire… Does this boy have money?” (Croix)

“More than enough for me…” (Tougo)

　Oh, but I said that in the heat of the moment, but what kind of money do I have? I know that it’s enough money to buy 100 hams and still have some left over…

“…He has enough money to hire a dozen spies… and still have a lot left over.” (Laocles)

　When I was thinking, Laocles talked for me. I see. I can hire a dozen spies, Ms. Croix. Hooray.

“That’s what it means. Don’t worry about Tougo’s financial resources.” (Fay)

　“Impossible,” said Ms. Croix, her voice sounding shaky. Yes, but I’ll paint as many jewels just so I could hire you as a model.

“If you want to live here, I will build a house for you. If you want to go to town, I’m sure the horses will give you a ride, and if you need your own personal summoned beast, I can get one for you, too…” (Tougo) [T/N: Tougo became a Daddy Long Legs.]

“Wait, wait. Wait. You… um…” (Croix)

　Ms. Croix held her forehead and groaned… and then looked at me with eyes that were still a little moist and said,

“I thought you were just a cute boy… Really, you’re a boy who’s going to feed me.” (Croix)

　…I’m a little happy to be upgraded from a cute boy to a food boy.

　Ms. Croix decided to “stay here for the promised two months” for now… After that, she said she would think about it slowly.

“Well, it’s had to decide quickly. To suddenly change your way of life.” (Fay)

“Rather, It would be suspicious if she makes a quick decision.” (Laocles)

“Yes.” (Tougo)

　While talking to Fay and Laocles, we watch Ms. Croix playing with the horses outside the window. Ms. Croix was looking anxious a while ago, but it seems that the horses got her attention are now playing with them in the spring. And now, while playing with the horses, she has a slightly peaceful smile on her face.

“If a spy wants to escape from the underworld, they must be prepared to do so. Once they fail in their mission, they lose credibility. Furthermore, if they decide to betray their client and exit the underworld, that will mean they would lose their credibility as a spy forever.” (Laocles)

　…I see. I simply thought about it and said, “Why don’t you stay here” or “I will hire you”. Hmmm, if Ms. Croix likes her current life, I think she would be very lost.

“Well… but isn’t it okay? Ms. Croix said, ‘it had been a long time since I had seen flowers’, right?” (Fay)

　Then Fay said with a grin.

“In other words, Ms. Croix is already ‘seeing flowers’. … Either way, she can’t go back to her original life. It’s going to be very hard.” (Fay)

　That’s my fault. I don’t know what to do. I took away her choice. I should have proceeded more carefully.

“Well, it’s going to be fine. Thanks to Tougo.” (Fay)

　Fay said and patted my back.

“It’s my fault, right?” (Tougo)

“Yeah. Thanks to you. Because Ms. Croix herself thinks that looking at the flowers in the forest is also wonderful, right? Isn’t that better?” (Fay)

　…I wonder if that’s so. I was thinking that there are people who don’t need food for their hearts.

　But… yeah, that’s right. Looking back on it now, I can see.

　When I went to the flower garden with Ms. Croix, the reason why Ms. Croix looked confused was probably because her heart was surprised by the food it hadn’t been able to eat for a long time. I had heard from Teacher that if I suddenly put food into an empty stomach, the stomach would freak out.

　…If her heart didn’t need food, maybe it wouldn’t have been puzzled in the first place.

　The reason she was confused was because she hadn’t fed her heart in a long time… which means that her heart is a heart that needs food.

“…From now on, I want her to eat various food for her heart.” (Tougo)

“Oh, isn’t it fine then? Feed, feed. Keep feeding Ms. Croix!” (Fay)

　Feeding. …Somehow, I imagined Ms. Croix standing side by side with the Phoenix chick.

“Well… this is a good opportunity. If you’re going to hire Croix, it’s a good choice. I’m not sure how much help it would be to have one good spy around. I’m reasonably good at physical fighting, but I’m not so good at fighting with my mind. She seems to be better at that.” (Laocles)

　I think so too. Ms. Croix probably has what we lack… So she could help us a lot.

“And if I hire her, I can paint her as much as I want.” (Tougo)

　And most importantly, if we hire Ms. Croix and have her stay here, I can paint her as much as I want! I can draw this beautiful person as much as I want! I can draw as much as I want of Ms. Croix, who is going to eat a lot of food for her heart and become more and more beautiful! …What a fascinating event!

“I hope she’s going to accept…” (Tougo)

　I looked out the window and watched Ms. Croix playing with the horses while she laughed.

　Please, I hope she will accept being hired as a model!