Chapter 16

Though Jaekani had boldly declared he would free Huikyung, he was well aware of the practical difficulties. However, it wasn’t an impossible task. The first step he took was to sneak into the slaughterhouse manager’s office.

Although Jaebad, his father, had pulled himself together enough that Jaekani wasn’t being called to the slaughterhouse anymore, it didn’t mean he had no reason to visit. He used the excuse of bringing lunch for his father to enter the premises.

Even though it had only been a week or two since his last visit, the slaughterhouse’s distinctive stench felt unfamiliar, wrinkling his nose in disgust.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

‘Did this smell cling to me before?’ Jaekani wondered how Huikyung might have perceived him all this time. Even though Huikyung hadn’t made any criticisms, the boy felt self-conscious and wiped his nose on his sleeve, worried he might have seemed like an unclean vagabond from the slums.

After handing a sandwich to his father, Jaekani headed straight for the manager’s office.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Although he had no solid evidence, he vividly remembered Bill, who had blatantly tried to block access to the facility building. It seemed like the reaction of someone who knew something.

Slipping into the office when no one was watching, Jaekani began rummaging through the drawers, looking for keys.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Success! He found keys!

But there was a problem.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Not one but two bundles of keys lay before him, and he had no way of knowing which one, if any, would open the metal door or the control device around Huikyung’s neck.

The village might be well-supplied now, but it had its hard times, especially during the winter when food became scarce, and the number of mouths to feed increased. The community heavily relied on rationed supplies and meat from the slaughterhouse during these periods.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

To prevent theft, the slaughterhouse naturally had numerous locks and keys.

Jaekani refused to despair. It might take a lot of time, but trying was better than sitting around complaining.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Fully aware he would be branded a thief if caught, he began discreetly taking one or two keys from the bundle at a time to test them.

He wished he could take the entire bundle, but that would have been too conspicuous. Since the slaughterhouse often needed keys even late at night, taking the whole set would surely alarm the village.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“This isn’t it either,” Jaekani muttered, clicking his tongue after trying three keys in various directions and ways on the metal door. To keep track, he began sketching each key he’d tried on a piece of paper. That way, when he returned the keys to the bundle, he could avoid confusion and test new ones systematically.

“I really thought this one would work. I even heard a click,” he grumbled.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Unlike Jaekani, Huikyung, with his heightened senses as an Esper, hadn’t heard any clicking sound. Still, he refrained from saying so, not wanting to dampen the boy’s spirits after so many failed attempts.

“That makes twelve keys so far,” Jaekani announced.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“How many in total?”

“Fifty-nine.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Not many left, then.”

With forty-seven keys still to go, the task was far from over. Yet Huikyung, detached and unconcerned, spoke as though it was someone else’s problem. Jaekani, on the other hand, felt the mounting pressure.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ve run out of excuses to go back to the slaughterhouse,” Jaekani admitted.

He hated everything about the place—the fishy stench, the sweaty boots soaked from humidity, the relentless grime, and the rough men who worked there.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

For years, he had wondered when his father would finally take responsibility for his own work. Yet the moment Jaebad seemed to mature, it turned out Jaekani needed access to the slaughterhouse more than ever.

“Father is never helpful,” Jaekani complained, shaking his head.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“He’s always been this way. Every single time, everything is always mistimed.”

“You hated the slaughterhouse, didn’t you?”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“I still do. But… I have to help you escape.”

Despite his resolve, all twelve keys he had tried so far had failed. With a sigh, Jaekani looked down at the small metal key resting in his palm. He had never hated an inanimate object more.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Huikyung, come here.”

Determined, Jaekani decided to try every possibility. He wouldn’t just test the keys on the metal door—he would also try to unlock the control device around Huikyung’s neck.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Huikyung’s gaze fell on the key in Jaekani’s hand. Seeing the boy try to fit a long, narrow key into a round keyhole made him incredulous, yet it was endearing enough that he lowered himself to let Jaekani try.

“…It doesn’t fit,” Jaekani muttered.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Of course not.”

It’s a flat key, Huikyung thought, running his fingers over the round keyhole with a faint smile. Though he had known it wouldn’t work, Jaekani’s disappointment made him sigh again as if it had been a genuine attempt.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“We’ll find the right key eventually,” Jaekani said resolutely.

The small words of comfort made him nod enthusiastically. Yet a lingering fear crept into his mind. What if none of the fifty-nine keys worked?

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

What would he do then?

Jaekani shook his head vigorously to banish the dark thoughts. There were still over forty keys left. It would take time to steal and test them all without drawing suspicion, but he would cross that bridge when he came to it.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“Is that a determined expression, Jaekani? Adorable,” Huikyung said, smiling at the boy’s tightly pressed lips.

* * *

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“…This is so damn frustrating.”

“What kind of language is that?”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Jaekani hesitated, on the verge of throwing the fifty-ninth key to the floor. He clenched it tightly, the jagged edges biting into his palm, but the pain couldn’t drown out his disappointment.

“Can’t we just break it open?”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

This was the last key he had left. He had hoped—prayed—that this would be the one.

Looking at the two keys sitting in his outstretched palm, Jaekani sighed. He had double-checked while stealing them, comparing them with his notes to make sure he wasn’t taking duplicates. Even after trying them, he’d carefully sketched them again for comparison.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

There was no doubt these were new keys, but neither fit the iron door.

“How many times do I have to tell you? This isn’t just any old metal,” Huikyung said, shaking the bars vigorously.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The control device around his neck emitted an unpleasant noise in response.

“Stop! Don’t do that,” Jaekani said, alarmed.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Huikyung’s face remained calm, but Jaekani’s expression was anything but.

“It hurts, doesn’t it?”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Though Huikyung didn’t say anything, Jaekani realized belatedly that the control device inflicted pain whenever the bars were struck. He was shocked, having often vented his frustration by hitting the bars himself.

“It’s not that bad,” Huikyung dismissed, waving a hand.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

But Jaekani didn’t believe him entirely. He had picked up on the fact that Huikyung lied more often than he let on. If Huikyung ever managed to rip off the device, Jaekani wouldn’t be surprised to find burn marks on his neck.

“Then don’t hit the bars. Just the lock…”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“That’ll probably trigger it even more,” Huikyung replied.

“Shit.”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

‘He swears like an adult now?’ Huikyung thought, amused. The curse wasn’t awkward but carried genuine frustration, which made Huikyung smile wryly.

Jaekani, however, was too deep in thought to notice Huikyung’s reaction.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Think about it again. Some of the people who come here must know something, right?”

“I told you, I don’t know.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“But you’ve seen my dad stumbling past here while drunk. Even if you don’t know their names, you can describe what they look like, can’t you?”

“Uh…”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Huikyung trailed off, hesitating, and Jaekani immediately frowned.

They hadn’t known each other for long, but after countless nights spent talking, Jaekani was starting to get a sense of Huikyung’s habits. Specifically, he was learning to tell when Huikyung was about to dodge a question or weave a lie.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Forget it. If you’re just going to say you were busy making flower rings again, don’t bother answering,” Jaekani snapped, clearly irritated.

He couldn’t hide his frustration at Huikyung’s refusal to answer any question properly.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Wouldn’t it help their escape if Huikyung shared more information?

Jaekani couldn’t understand why he seemed to care more about Huikyung’s escape than Huikyung himself. The boy often felt exasperated by the man’s overly cautious and secretive demeanor.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ironically, Huikyung’s secrecy only made Jaekani more curious. What was he hiding? Why was he so reluctant to reveal anything?

If Jaekani had an Esper ability—something that could force people to speak the truth—he’d use it every second of every day to make Huikyung spill everything.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Jaekani pouted, quietly resolving to uncover the truth, one way or another.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com