“…. What’s this? Were you eavesdropping outside?” Leticia, who was standing outside the door, interrogated Sixx as she discovered him. Despite Sixx hastily excusing himself, claiming he had just arrived, she looked at him with disdainful eyes as if she didn’t believe him.
“Here comes the boss’s bastard.”
With those words, she left abruptly. Sixx couldn’t understand why she referred to him as the boss’s bastard, but the word pierced his heart painfully. The boss, seeing Sixx’s wounded expression, clicked his tongue and instructed him to come inside.
“Don’t mind what that woman said. She’s just venting her anger for no reason.”
Closing the door behind him, the boss waved off Leticia’s words. Despite their argument, he seemed quite pleased. His temper wasn’t as fiery as one might expect. He sat on the sofa and gestured for Sixx to come closer.
“You did well yesterday. Suddenly being told to deal with Malon Cage must have been challenging for you too. You must have had a hard time due to past grievances, but you handled it well. Admirable, really.”
“Yes…”
Malon Cage? Was he referring to that terrifying man? Despite the grim atmosphere, the name seemed ordinary to Sixx, who nodded in agreement. So, that’s why the boss was in a good mood. Fortunately, Sixx seemed to have qualities that didn’t make the man evaluate him poorly. However, Sixx’s somewhat lukewarm response didn’t dampen the boss’s mood. He still had a cheerful face as he rummaged through his pockets and handed Sixx a handful of silver coins.
“It’s your share. Take it.”
Sixx’s eyes widened. There were more than ten coins, easily. He had never held so much money in his hands before. Although the boss gave him a coin every week, he had never accumulated more than five at a time because he always spent them. Startled, Sixx accepted the coins and bowed his head in gratitude, and the boss smiled, telling him to go out now and closing the door. It was the first time Sixx had received such a clear eviction order from the boss… Malon Cage must be quite a remarkable person, Sixx speculated.
***
“That guy, he’s really scary. Paladin said so. Is he the boss of the organization or something?”
The days that followed felt like a lie, as if that incident hadn’t happened. The following days were relatively smooth. On days without performances, the members always had chores to do, and this time Sixx, Andy, and Corbin were tasked with cleaning the audience seats together. While their hands were busy, their mouths weren’t, and they engaged in constant chatter as usual. Paladin was the leader of the small troupe of people, calling himself Paladin and claiming to be the heir to the throne of a small kingdom in the Middle East. Corbin insisted that he was lying, but wise Andy advised them not to provoke Paladin and those who followed him, as it wouldn’t be good for anyone. Though they were small in stature, they were by no means weak, and they had strong determination. It’s best not to mess with them unnecessarily. Corbin mumbled hesitantly in response.
“What’s an Underboss?”
“It means they’re the second-in-command of that criminal organization. In this city, besides the boss, there’s nobody else who can say anything to that person. They oversee all sorts of businesses, essentially the backbone of the organization.”
“Wow, it sounds like a city legend. Sixx, weren’t you scared?”
“Did Sixx know what he was getting into? Besides, the influence that organization holds is quite significant compared to other cities. There’s only one big organization in the West that can be compared to those in New York or Chicago…”
“I’ve always thought, that guy really knows everything.”
Corbin chuckled. However, Andy spoke to Sixx in a somewhat serious tone.
“Sixx, it might have been lucky for you to come back alive. How could the boss send you to such a person? You’re so kind, even if you don’t always listen well—”
“Come to think of it…”
As something dawned on him, Sixx, who had been listening to Andy and Corbin’s conversation, finally spoke up.
“I ran into Leticia earlier, and she called me the boss’s bastard. Why do you think that is?”
“Leticia must have been really angry. You know how she doesn’t hold back her tongue when she’s upset.”
“No, she seemed genuinely hostile towards me… Could I have done something to offend her?”
“Sixx, don’t worry too much. People often say things without much thought. I’ve called Corbin a stubborn idiot before. Corbin has called me a pretentious mole.”
“Yeah, Andy, that pretentious mole.”
Corbin chuckled. Andy and Corbin were really amusing. Eventually, Sixx burst into laughter as well. He felt the unease that had lingered in his chest gradually dissipate. Yeah, it must be nothing. Sixx just had to keep performing on stage, doing chores for the circus, and chatting with Andy and Corbin.
“But it’s really surprising that guy just went to sleep and left. Was he tired? Of course, it worked out well for you.”
“I don’t know… He didn’t seem like such a bad person, though.”
“No, he must be a bad person, of course.”
Andy looked at Sixx with a bewildered expression. Sixx shrugged. He knew he was associated with a bad organization, but as someone who had never experienced the true nature of that organization, it was hard for him to perceive. The only basis he could judge on was the man’s behavior last night. The man… He was definitely intimidating, but he didn’t do anything bad to Sixx. If anything, compared to facing death or assault, being treated like a soft and plush pillow was much better. Besides, it seemed like he spoke well to the boss too… Sixx rolled the silver coins in his palm. He didn’t know what he could do with them, but surely they would come in handy somewhere. There was nothing that money couldn’t solve within the circus. When there were areas he didn’t want to clean, he could bribe other members with a few pennies to swap chores, or when he wanted something, it was very useful. Sixx hummed a tune. He felt pretty good. Maybe what he picked up yesterday wasn’t a dud but a winning lottery ticket after all.
Young Sixx didn’t know yet, but in life, if there’s an uphill, there’s also a downhill. Sixx’s fortune soon began to decline within a few days. First, Andy caught a severe cold. Sixx begged separately for a bowl of porridge, slipping some silver coins to the cook for their meal duty that week. Carrying the bowl of porridge to Andy’s room, he was greeted by her pale complexion with a feeble attempt at a smile as she welcomed Sixx and Corbin. Despite her efforts to eat the porridge, she eventually set the bowl down halfway empty and put down her spoon. After taking cold medicine and falling asleep, Corbin and Sixx went outside. As soon as the door closed, Corbin exploded, hurling the tray onto the ground, but he seemed unaffected by the mess.
“That damn boss! This is all his fault!”
“Why, what did the boss do?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Andy asked me not to say anything, but she hasn’t been feeling well lately. She asked the boss if she could take a break for a while, but that bastard told her not to talk nonsense. He even told her to practice new acts… Damn it, I knew something like this would happen!”
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***
A few gloomy days passed. Andy seemed to have recovered momentarily, but her condition worsened again as the boss immediately sent her on stage as soon as she showed signs of improvement. Sixx stood on stage, unknowingly scanning the audience. It was the first time he had scrutinized the faces of the audience while performing. He didn’t know why he behaved like that, and in the end, without finding an answer, he came down from the stage and rushed to the bathroom. Today, they couldn’t get any goats, so they caught several rabbits for dinner. He retched over the toilet. Dark red things poured out of Sixx’s mouth.
Sixx mainly ate goats and rabbits. But there was a time when he ate an old horse. Their smells and tastes were all different, but once they were in his stomach and then taken out, they all became the same. Perhaps humans were similar. In the end, it was all the same meat… The nauseating smell pierced Sixx’s sensitive nostrils. After scraping out everything stuck in his throat, he flushed the toilet. Washing his mouth at the sink, blood mixed with red bile flowed from his mouth. The blood still hadn’t disappeared completely. Sixx thought. Disgusting. He hated eating animals while they were still alive. But what could he do about it? Standing on stage was inevitable. There was no refusing just because he didn’t like it. It was like humans complaining about not wanting to walk on two legs. So what if you don’t like it?
“Sixx, the boss is calling.”
Sixx headed to the boss’s office. Yes, he had been trained to do so… The circus was his home, and if he didn’t obey the boss’s orders, he couldn’t live in this house.
The boss seemed to be in a good mood. Was there something good happening? Thinking of Andy, his smile faltered, but Sixx held it in. The boss praised Sixx’s performance today, patting his shoulder with an unexpectedly affectionate touch.
“You did as usual.”
“Yeah, our Sixx excels at everything. So, it’s probably Mr. Cage looking for you again.”
Cage? Sixx’s heart, which had almost forgotten his existence, suddenly revealed itself loudly. Oxygen quickly circulated through his body, making him dizzy. But he hadn’t seen him at today’s performance.
Ah, maybe… Sixx realized that he had overlooked the possibility of him sitting in the back seats. So, did he come to watch the show again today? And did he summon me to the crater again? Sixx swallowed hard. The moment his name came out of the boss’s mouth, fear was the first thing that dominated Sixx’s body.
Malon Cage was a terrifying person, and like everyone else, Sixx feared him. The man had a gun and had even attempted to smash Sixx’s head barehanded. Despite Andy and Corbin’s words, he was someone never to be approached.
It wouldn’t have been surprising if he changed his mind and killed Sixx. If he was really as great as people said, he could easily dispose of a child without attracting much attention. But even if the man had a gun or a knife, Sixx, transformed into a wolf, had enough power to confront him.
Humans could never be a match for wolves. Yet, when he stood in front of him, whether as a human or a wolf, Sixx couldn’t move a muscle. It felt like something invisible was pressing him down.
Had the rabbits and goats he devoured on stage felt like this? Malon Cage was undoubtedly a more powerful predator than Sixx. If he were to compare him to an animal, he would be a top-tier predator like a leopard or a tiger.
Sixx simply couldn’t think of him as an ordinary person.
However, whatever the boss’s philosophy about the show was, ‘Fear is addictive!’ Sixx had never understood that phrase, but now, somehow, he felt it crudely. The emotions stirred by the news of the man’s return were undoubtedly fear, but strangely, Sixx didn’t dislike that fear.
Was this what the boss meant by ‘addiction’? Thump, thump, thump. His heart was pounding fiercely, showing no signs of calming down. The path to the crater felt precarious, like both sides were cliffs.
In his mind, Sixx defined the man. Malon Cage. The underboss of Portland’s largest crime organization. A ruthless man who could casually kill someone. And…
“Do you not want to be summoned again?”
He was the second customer to visit Sixx. Sitting on the sofa, leaning back just like before, smoking his cigarette, he raised one corner of his mouth into a smile when he saw Sixx. It was as if he had sensed Sixx’s heart pounding as if it were about to burst at any moment. Sixx licked his dry lips nervously. He couldn’t answer the man’s question.
Do not want? What could I not want?
In front of this man, even simple things were hard to think about properly. What he hated most was eating rabbits and goats while they were still alive. So, what about this?
“…I didn’t know you came again today.”
“Oh, today I sat in the back. You thought I didn’t come, so you were relieved, huh? Too bad.”
He chuckled. Flustered, Sixx couldn’t find the right words and hesitated. It was awkward whether he agreed or disagreed. The man noticed Sixx’s hesitation but didn’t comfort him. Instead, he seemed slightly interested in Sixx’s discomfort. Perhaps it was amusing to see a creature capable of killing dozens of people with a single question, behaving stupidly and helplessly without properly understanding his strength or abilities. Did they find it amusing because even the most ferocious beasts, who could kill at will, couldn’t grasp their own strength or abilities and were stupidly begging for help? Until the man spoke again, Sixx couldn’t say anything in response.
“Actually, I’m not particularly interested in things like circuses. It’s just that the guy I’m doing business with this time seems to like this kind of entertainment quite a bit. He kept insisting on meeting here, so I reluctantly agreed to listen. It would look weird if a scoundrel like me just came here to watch the show and left.”
“That does seem strange…”
“I have a lot of eyes around me in my position. Since no one knows what I’m up to, they’re worried. So, if I don’t call someone, they’ll wonder why I came here.”
“Right, I see…”
“Oh, it’s better not to say this anywhere else. Not to me, and not to you either.”
Sixx just nodded quietly. He didn’t know what world the man was living in, and he had no way of knowing. He didn’t understand what the man was saying, but Sixx resolved to keep his mouth shut no matter what.
“But, why did you… call me again?”
It was a question Sixx squeezed out with courage. If it was the first day, it was understandable, but why did the man call Sixx again? If he wanted to harm him, he would have executed it immediately after the last time, without the need to call him again. Since he said he wasn’t interested in kids, it wouldn’t be for a night game…
“I had to call someone, and apart from you, there wasn’t anything else I wanted to call, even after seeing everyone again today. Well, it might be a matter of my taste… Ah, and…”
The man’s words abruptly stopped. The last breath of the almost completely smoked cigarette flowed between his thin lips, turning into a white cloud as it slowly drifted out. Once again, he scrutinized Sixx from head to toe. It seemed as if there were only black and white in the man’s world. Sixx watched as he lightly tapped the ashtray with the shortened cigarette, unable to breathe properly. He was a conspicuous person no matter what he did. Sixx felt like he understood why those around him wanted to uncover his every move. Perhaps even Sixx would have done the same. Watching him was never boring. If the man were to step onto the stage, no one would be able to look away from him. Was this the pleasure brought about by fear?
“I became interested in conducting an experiment of sorts.”
“An experiment…?”
“I won’t go into detail, but I haven’t been sleeping well lately. It’s not like me at all, but it’s been like this for about three months now. Strangely, I just can’t seem to fall asleep. I’m exhausted to death, but sleep just won’t come.”
“Ah, that must be tough.”
“You’re just a kid, so you wouldn’t understand, but it’s what they call insomnia. But strangely enough, I slept really well that day. It was like I hadn’t slept that deeply in ages.”
That day… If it was that day… Sixx recalled the day the man first called him. He thought he was going to die, but apart from briefly being the man’s pillow, nothing happened. He had thought that he was doing a pretty good job as a pillow when he saw the man sleeping without any movement, but he didn’t know there was such a backstory behind it. So, for the man, it had been a rare good night’s sleep.
“I didn’t feel like bothering anyone aimlessly, so I thought it would be more efficient to close my eyes and turn in. Well, I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep tonight either, but I felt it was worth checking. Of course, you’ll have to do a good job as my pillow again, won’t you?”
“I’ll do my best…”
The man chuckled wickedly. Fortunately, Sixx had also come wearing his performance robe today. Closing his eyes to transform into a wolf, his whole body cells stirred noisily. He felt the robe’s tie, loosely tied around his neck, coming undone. Seeing a wolf appearing before him, the man snapped his fingers. It was a sign to climb up. Unlike before, Sixx didn’t curl up on the top of the bed. He had been worried that his fur had stiffened due to not eating well while taking care of Andy lately. It would probably feel better if his fur were soft… But the man lying on Sixx’s back didn’t complain at all. Sixx tried not to even breathe heavily. He regretted not scratching his nose as he worried that he might accidentally wake the man up.
“…You’re warm.”
Startled by the sudden voice, Sixx barely managed to keep himself from flinching. He thought his heart was going to jump out of his chest. Warm? Could it be that Sixx’s body was too warm for him to fall asleep? But he didn’t have the ability to lower his body temperature… What should he do? Flustered, Sixx made a sound like “Eek” before quickly shutting his mouth. Crazy. A pillow making noise was something that shouldn’t normally happen.
“Now you decide to make noise? It was so quiet, I thought you were dead.”
The man didn’t seem angry. Phew, that’s a relief. Sixx inwardly sighed in relief. Could it be that the man was unhappy because Sixx was too quiet? But being a pillow was his job anyway… He wavered, unsure of what to do. However, the man didn’t seem to expect any particular reaction.
“Come to think of it, I don’t even know your name. It wouldn’t be right to keep calling you ‘wolf cub’ forever, so I’ll listen next time. …Now, from now on, just stay quiet. I’m trying to sleep.”
It felt a little unfair. Until the man spoke, Sixx had been doing his job perfectly. Of course, he didn’t have the courage to argue with the man like that. Before long, the man’s movements gradually slowed down, and his breathing pattern changed as well. At the same time, Sixx’s agitation gradually subsided. Seeing the man fall asleep so quickly that it felt like he was lying about having insomnia, Sixx thought that maybe this was something only he, Sixx, could accomplish. Suddenly, he felt a bit responsible for this. The night was long, but it was also short. For the man’s sake, Sixx decided to become the night itself. To help him sleep more comfortably than usual, Sixx stopped all movement in his body as if he were a stone. Not even a single hair would move until the man woke up. Even his heartbeat, racing fast, slowed down to provide a more comfortable rhythm as Sixx breathed in very slowly.
But his brain didn’t stop. There was no need to stop. While the man was sleeping, Sixx’s mind chewed over and over the repercussions of the last words the man had said before falling asleep. He said he’d hear Sixx’s name ‘next time.’ The man was planning to meet Sixx again. There was no way for Sixx to refuse the man’s summons. Even if Sixx refused, the boss would drag him over forcibly. Hearing this news, Andy and Corbin would pity Sixx and be angry together. Sixx’s mind became a mess of thoughts. The tangled thought circuits led him back to fundamental questions. But was he really so afraid of meeting the man? Put simply, did he dislike him? Of course, Malon Cage should be disliked. Everyone judged him as scary, evil, and cruel. Moreover, he had tried to kill Sixx. Now, he might be sparing Sixx due to his caprice, but perhaps the man was the type to save the best food until last.
Yet, Sixx was still agonizing over how to introduce himself to him. He had never introduced himself before. Introducing Sixx was always someone else’s job. The boss introduced Sixx to the audience, and Corbin and Andy introduced Sixx to the other members. Since Sixx rarely befriended new people before them. But this time was different. The meeting with the man was entirely Sixx’s. He had come to find Sixx. No one else but Sixx. The monster that turned into a hairy wolf and ate rabbits and goats.
“My name is Sixx. No, too stiff. My name is Sixx. Too stiff. I am Sixx. Seems too simple. This is Sixx. Too arrogant. It’s Sixx. Can I call you Malon?”
As Sixx pondered over such thoughts as ‘I’m Sixx. S, I, X, X. Unlike numbers, there are two Xs,’ suddenly the weight that had pressed against his side disappeared. When he woke up, he saw the man fixing his hair and breathing out shallow breaths. The sight reminded him of a beast becoming defenseless, making Sixx swallow hard as if he had caught a cold. His throat felt scratchy. The sound of bells outside indicated that the man had completely dressed and left.
***
The next morning, Sixx was summoned again by the boss and received a silver coin. It became clear that this was the most prosperous time in his life. If he could continue earning like this, becoming rich might not be such a distant future. Feeling his pockets full, he felt an impulse to go out into town on a holiday. Because all his clothes and shoes had become too small, he needed new ones. Normally, he would get what other members discarded, but now that he had money, it wouldn’t be bad to buy some from a proper store.
That’s how it is, I guess I won’t become rich like this.
Sixx chuckled softly and headed towards the tent where Corbin and Andy stayed. It was to ask them to go out into town together. It would be much more fun to go with them than to wander around alone. As Sixx arrived at his destination and was about to go inside, he heard familiar voices.
“I disagree. That guy can’t be trusted. He’s definitely trying to get on the boss’s good side!”
“Letty, he’s not the kind of person you think he is. Besides, he doesn’t have that much power. Are you trying to cover up everything now? If Clay is on that side, we should definitely be prepared on this side too—”
“Corbin, Andy—! Are you there?”
The two protagonists arguing seemed to be Leticia and Corbin. Not wanting to be questioned again by Leticia about eavesdropping, Sixx purposely made a noise and called out loudly for Corbin and Andy. Then, there was a bustling sound from inside, and soon Corbin opened the door and came out. He seemed slightly flustered and his face looked a bit guilty. Leticia and Corbin… It wasn’t uncommon for members to secretly talk behind each other’s backs, but this combination felt somewhat unexpected. However, since there was no need to show that he had overheard their conversation, Sixx deliberately brought up a different topic.
“Corbin, do you want to go to town on the upcoming holiday? Of course, with Andy too.”
“Yeah, sure. Andy would like that too. But why, is there something to do?”
“I got some money this time too. Let’s buy clothes and shoes, and let’s go to a diner too. I’ll treat.”
At the mention of diners, Corbin’s face turned pale. Although they had led a somewhat harsh life compared to their peers, not being able to resist the tempting and stimulating desserts sold at Diner seemed to be the nature of kids their age.
“Eggo waffles, chocolate lava cake, and oh, I’ll order banana split with lots of whipped cream,” Corbin exclaimed, looking happier than ever.
Of course, Sixx also couldn’t resist those treats. He particularly liked banana split. Just thinking about the combination of creamy melting cream, cute and sweet cherries on top, and smooth bananas made his mouth water. Andy also seemed delighted with the suggestion, so they agreed to go to downtown Portland on the coming Sunday.
There was nothing to hinder them. Small problems were solved with silver coins, and there was no trace of complicated issues. Even the weather was expected to be sunny. Since opportunities to go downtown were not common, Sixx and the siblings, Andy and Corbin, carefully planned. First, they would buy clothes and shoes for Sixx. They would get sizes that would last for at least a year. Then, they would go to the general store. There were always interesting items in the general store, so it was fun to browse. Andy, who had a hobby of collecting small and delicate items, liked it the most. After shopping, they would leisurely stroll through the shopping district. But they would never spend money. Wasting budget before reaching the final destination was never wise. Fluffy coconut cake, sweet milkshake, and Jell-O’s pink strawberry pudding were waiting for them.
***
“Sixx! Over here!”
On Sunday, downtown Portland was bustling with people. Covered by the massive crowd, Sixx almost lost sight of the siblings several times, but fortunately, he could chase after them before their scent disappeared from his nose. From afar, Andy waved her hand towards Sixx. Normally, such a distance would be nothing for Sixx, whose sense of smell was particularly keen, but today, amidst the myriad of other scents, their scent quickly vanished. “Don’t fall behind, we need to stick together!” Andy called out. Eventually, Sixx opted to grab onto Andy’s hem. Holding onto each other’s clothes tightly, they moved forward. After about twenty minutes, Andy suddenly stopped the two and pushed them into a building. It seemed to be a large clothing store. Tall and slim mannequins stood in slightly twisted poses. It was difficult to tell exactly where their empty eyes were looking.
“Sixx, how about this?” Andy called out to Sixx. As Sixx stood in front of her, Andy tried on various clothes, looking quite serious. Despite Corbin trying to interject, she didn’t seem to hear him.
“This white striped t-shirt is fine, and this blue one isn’t bad either. Whatever color Sixx wears looks good because of his pale face. What do you think, Corbin?”
“They all look the same to me. Or maybe buy something cheaper. Have you checked the price tags?”
Andy shook her head. Just then, a store clerk in a black vest approached them. She bent down to their eye level with a very friendly smile, then asked where their mother was. It was clear that they were the only children there without parents. “We don’t have that—”
“Corbin, I told you it’s not good to say that! Today, we came to buy gifts for each other. Could you tell us how much these clothes are?”
“There’s a price tag attached inside. This t-shirt is $20, and this one is $25.”
Corbin’s eyes widened at the prices. With that money, he could throw a party at the Diner and still have some left. It was obvious from his shocked expression that he was thinking along those lines. Sixx subtly nodded to Andy. He didn’t have that kind of money. Andy asked the clerk if there were any stores nearby selling cheaper clothes, and they ended up at a thrift store. Corbin grumbled that he knew it would end up like this. Somehow, only well-dressed people were there. Andy seemed a little disappointed, but Sixx didn’t mind. Considering his recent growth spurt, it might be better to buy several sets of clothes from a thrift store. Borrowing her expression, he was growing as fast as bamboo shoots lately (I don’t really know why bamboo shoots, though). In the end, they finished all their shopping there. Unlike the earlier clerk, a middle-aged man at the counter didn’t seem to have any intention of getting up, his eyes glued to the TV. He packed their clothes into a paper bag without even looking up, and Andy exclaimed that she looked different just by changing shoes. As Sixx scratched his head, Corbin chuckled.
Next, they stopped by a general store for Andy. Andy was eager to browse through the small and cute items that fit perfectly in her palm. Corbin seemed disinterested and laid down on a sofa in the corner, but in truth, Sixx didn’t mind those items either. He flipped over a snow globe multiple times, where glitter and white snow poured down each time. It covered brown brick houses, red cars, and little dogs running around in the yard. Reality wasn’t as beautiful as this, but the world inside the snow globe was perfect. Inside that brick house would be the kids they saw at the clothing store earlier. They would be wearing the clean, expensive new clothes bought by their parents, not worrying about clearing snow, and happily spreading jam on freshly baked toast to eat.
What snapped Sixx out of his reverie was a faint ringing coming from somewhere. Ding dong, that clear sound rang out, and it suddenly occurred to him that it might be the man himself. The bell rang when Sixx entered the Crater, and when it was time for the man to leave, his subordinates rang it from outside. However, this bell sounded a bit different from the ones used in the circus. At first, it seemed similar, but this one was thinner in tone and had a longer resonance. Sixx put down the snow globe and moved in the direction of the bell sound. Nobody except Sixx seemed to pay attention to the sound. It was expected. Yet, he strangely couldn’t stop his legs. It was just a bell ringing… Suddenly, he found himself in a corner of the general store. Two men, who looked like adults, were chatting while ringing a bell. They seemed completely unaware of Sixx’s presence.
“They say you can distinguish it if you listen carefully. Here, listen. The sound is different, right?”
The shorter man among them said. He was talking about exactly what Sixx had thought when he heard the bell earlier. The other man weakly agreed. Then, the shorter man said, “Well, if you listen carefully, you might be able to distinguish it,” and picked up the bell. He seemed to be about to buy it. They passed by Sixx with their heads bowed and headed for the checkout counter. They were people he had never seen before, and they didn’t have any particularly noticeable features. However, as they passed by him, Sixx caught a familiar scent from them. It was oddly familiar. Well, it’s probably nothing. Sixx encountered countless scents in a day. Sixx returned to Corbin and Andy. Andy was holding two items she had carefully chosen in her hands. A droplet-patterned headband and a small music box. Andy looked very pleased holding them, so Sixx quickly felt good too. They dragged Corbin, who was chewing gum, out onto the street.
The shopping street located in downtown Portland was filled with all sorts of flashy things. It might not rival Times Square in New York, but the dazzling new products shining from beyond the shop windows were enough to dazzle the eyes of the three people and then some. Although the audience called them monsters, there were slightly immature children among the monsters who grew up privileged in society compared to their peers. Even Corbin, who urged them to go to the Diner quickly, forgot to hurry them along and got distracted by the sights. Humming along to a pop melody coming from somewhere, Sixx stopped in front of an electronics store. It had something written in red letters on paper, but Sixx didn’t understand because he didn’t know how to read or write. Sixx approached the glass to browse the products. There was a machine slightly larger than Sixx’s hand with angular shapes. It was a pretty green like a Christmas tree. It looked like a radio, but the radio in the Diner’s office seemed much bigger than this. Sixx couldn’t believe that such a small toy-like thing actually worked. So he stuck to the glass and stared at it for a long time. Corbin, who appeared out of nowhere, explained its identity on behalf of Sixx.
“New product release. It’s called a portable transistor radio.”
“Wow, a real radio?”
“Don’t set your sights on such expensive stuff. You won’t be able to afford it anyway.”
“How much do you think something like that would cost?”
“At least 50 dollars, I bet.”
To Sixx’s surprise, the price was even more staggering. The t-shirt he bought earlier didn’t even cost a dollar… Eventually, Sixx sighed and backed away from the glass. It was an amount that would be difficult to save up for even if he worked for several years. Since he couldn’t predict when the man would find him, it seemed better to just give up cleanly. Corbin draped his arm over Sixx’s slumped shoulders and said, “Let’s go eat something you like quickly,” leading him away. And that evening, they became the customers who ordered the most food at the diner. Sinking into soft, oversized red chairs, they ate dessert so sweet that it paralyzed their tongues, brought by a waitress wearing a black apron.
***
Even as he entered the Crater, Sixx was still reminiscing about the taste of the banana split he had that day. It might be the most delicious food in the world. If only he could have it every day. Plus, there were many new items on the menu since he last visited. Next time, he must order the sundae with loads of chocolate syrup. Sighing with longing, Sixx went inside. As usual, the man greeted him, smoking his cigarette.
Surprisingly, the encounters with the man continued. He came twice a week, once a week, or sometimes not at all. Speculating, perhaps he only came to see the circus when he had ‘business partners,’ as he had mentioned. Like Sixx’s performance, his meetings with the man followed a similar pattern each time. In short, the man would bite Sixx, and before turning into a wolf, they would exchange a few simple words. The time Sixx spent hesitating at the door seemed to get shorter and shorter, feeling as if the need for a deep breath he had before entering the Crater was a lie. The man now seemed less interested in harming Sixx. Perhaps it was because Sixx was doing a good job as a pillow. The man now called him Sixx. In fact, the introduction of that name, for all the deliberation, was very unremarkable. It was sad.
“My, my name is Sixx—”
“Sixx? Isn’t that a number? Why?”
With the man interrupting Sixx’s introduction like that, Sixx couldn’t even finish his prepared speech.
“I’m the last act now, but when I first came in, I was the sixth performer.”
When Sixx was young, he couldn’t transform into a wolf as freely as he could now. Sometimes, no matter how hard he tried, not a single hair would appear, and other times only his tail or ears would stick out. Instead of entrusting the entire performance to such a Sixx, the Ringmaster had him assist one of the teams performing in Part 1. Because that team was the sixth to perform, his name became Sixx. After hearing the story, the man’s evaluation was simple.
“How dull.”
Also, there was a change in the way Sixx addressed the man. Although Sixx knew the man’s name was Malon Cage, he had never actually pronounced that name. Even in his mind, he had always referred to him as ‘the man.’ However, when Sixx addressed the man as ‘teacher’ during their conversation, he raised an eyebrow. As Sixx stumbled over his words, the man chuckled, remarking that such a title didn’t suit them at all. So, what should I call you? When Sixx asked,
“Just call me Malon.”
The arbitrary command came back. Sixx shook his head vigorously, refusing to comply. The Ringmaster couldn’t let such insolence slide, but what Sixx overlooked was that the man was many times, even hundreds of times, more intimidating than the Ringmaster. Seemingly unfamiliar with rejection, the man narrowed his eyes and asked Sixx again. Are you refusing to listen to me? Tearfully, Sixx accepted the man’s second chance. No, Malon. The man smiled contentedly at Sixx’s submission. So, Sixx began to call the man Malon. Upon requesting permission to address him as Mr. Cage in front of others, permission was granted. Malon was by no means an easy person to deal with, but Sixx didn’t mind his encounters with him. When facing him head-on, Sixx’s heart raced at more than twice its usual speed, which probably wasn’t good for his health, but since he didn’t need to meet his gaze while being a pillow, it was okay.
Above all, what pleased Sixx was that Malon, plagued by insomnia, would fall into a deep sleep within minutes of laying against Sixx. The fact that only Sixx could make that terrifying man fall asleep filled young Sixx’s heart with pride and arrogance. The only regret was that Sixx couldn’t examine Malon’s face closely while he slept, but since Sixx had a mission to fulfill, there was nothing he could do about it. It seemed unlikely that he would have the opportunity to see Malon’s sleeping face in the future. However, there was one more thing that only Sixx was allowed to do. It was the moment Malon woke up from his sleep. When it was time for him to get up, he would wake up at a frighteningly precise time, but with just a few hours of sleep, he would wake up with a slightly lingering expression of regret, not enough to shake off all the fatigue he had accumulated over the years. As he sat up in bed, wiping away the remnants of his nap with a dry washcloth, Sixx felt a little excited at the thought of peeking at something he shouldn’t be seeing. I wonder if anyone else will see this besides me? Sixx wished he could be the first. At their first meeting with Malon, Sixx had merely wished for a painless death, but repeated encounters with him had gradually made Sixx look forward to them little by little.
Why is Malone biting Sixx?
it was a mistranslation on my part. 베고 means to cut/bite and also to rest/sleep. so i used the former in the wrong context. sorry for the mistake.
Thank you!
Thanks for the chap!❤️❤️❤️