Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are So Hot! [BL]-Chapter 143: Mercy and Consequences

"Here, take this," Damien said, holding out the earring.

"What?" Elyon looked stunned, his gaze darting between Damien’s face and the small jewelry in his hand.

Damien shrugged. "It reminded me of you when I saw it, so I bought it. I think it suits you better than me. Consider it a thank-you for today."

Elyon’s face flushed. "Wha—?! If you think I’m giving it back, forget it!"

"Uh, yeah, of course. It’s yours now," Damien said, smiling at Elyon’s unexpectedly delighted expression.

Elyon turned around, almost flaunting the earring toward Cedran as if to show it off.

Seeing how happy it made him, Damien couldn’t help but think he should’ve bought something even better. Silently, he promised himself that one day, when he had his own money to spend freely, he’d find a proper gift for Elyon.

...

After exploring the entire main street and buying the requested souvenirs, the group was wrapping up their market trip.

The most challenging item had been for Sebas. At first, Cedran had led them to a shop specializing in dried meat, but after Damien mentioned some details about Sebas, Cedran suddenly changed their course.

They ended up buying what was essentially a block of salt-cured meat. Damien couldn’t shake his doubts.

"Are we sure this is okay?" Damien asked, holding the heavy, briny slab.

Cedran nodded his head confidently. "Absolutely."

As they walked, Damien’s thoughts were interrupted when a child in a hood darted out of a side alley and collided with him.

"Whoa!" Damien stumbled, but Elyon, still arm-in-arm with him, caught him before he fell.

Meanwhile, Cedran moved with lightning speed, pinning the child to the ground.

"H-Hey! Let me go! Somebody help!" the kid yelled, flailing wildly.

Ignoring the protests, Cedran rummaged through the child’s clothes and pulled out a familiar, grimy leather pouch.

"Ah, a pickpocket," Damien muttered. The whole scene was so stereotypical he almost found it amusing.

Just to be sure, Damien checked his belongings—and indeed, the pouch was missing until Cedran retrieved it.

The child eventually stopped struggling, seemingly realizing the futility of it. The hood slipped back, revealing a pair of black canine ears.

A dog-person? Or maybe a werewolf Damien wasn’t sure.

The bystanders, after glancing at the scene, quickly resumed their own business, giving the group a wide berth.

"So... Cedran, what happens now?" Damien asked hesitantly. Surely the punishment wasn’t too severe, right?

"For first-time pickpockets, they’re branded on the wrist with a tattoo," Cedran replied.

Damien’s eyes fell to the child’s exposed wrist, where the sleeve had been pushed back during the struggle. There, a small X-shaped tattoo was already visible.

"...And if it’s not their first offense?" Damien asked, already dreading the answer.

"The dominant hand is cut off," Cedran said bluntly.

"What?! No! If that happens, I won’t be able to survive!" the child cried, thrashing in renewed desperation.

Cedran sighed, locking eyes with the young thief. "Boy, do you have a job?"

"Yes! I work for Master Buryats, hauling goods! But work dried up today, and I—well, I made a mistake, okay? I regret it! Please, don’t turn me over to the knight patrol!"

"Unlucky for you," Cedran said with a cold smile. "I am one of those knights."

The child froze in terror.

"However," Cedran continued, "I’ll speak to this Buryats of yours and make sure you can keep your job. But don’t expect any leniency if this happens again."

Hearing Cedran’s words, the pickpocket paled and fell silent, trembling.

"P-please, Sir Knight... Have mercy...!" the boy hiccupped, tears streaming down his face. "My five siblings are waiting for me at home... If I don’t earn money, my sick little brothers and sisters will..."

At that, the boy broke into sobs, burying his face in his hands.

Damien couldn’t bear to watch.

While he believed that people should face the consequences of their actions, this boy seemed about the same age as him. Losing a hand at this stage of life would destroy any future he might have.

What’s more, the boy had a family relying on him. That thought stirred something in Damien’s chest, and before he realized it, he had moved.

He snatched the leather pouch from Cedran’s hands.

"Damien?" Cedran said, raising an eyebrow.

"C-Cedran, this pouch... It was in my clothes. T-that boy is innocent. Please, let him go," Damien stammered, spouting an excuse so weak even he doubted it would work.

Cedran frowned deeply, studying Damien in silence for a long moment.

"If that’s what you want, Damien," Cedran finally said, releasing the boy and standing back up.

Relief washed over Damien, though guilt gnawed at him.

"I’m sorry, Cedran," Damien thought.

The boy scrambled to his knees, bowing deeply before Damien.

"Thank you! Oh, thank you, my lady!"

Damien cringed at being called "my lady" but said nothing.

"Um, I can’t give you everything, but..." Damien said, taking three small gold coins from the pouch and pressing them into the boy’s hand.

He decided he’d find a way to repay Theo later—maybe with something from his world.

The boy stared at the coins in his hand, stunned, before suddenly springing to his feet.

"Thank you so much!"

And then, just as quickly, he spat on Damien’s face.

"...Huh?"

"Like I’d actually thank you, you idiot! You sucker!" the boy shouted, laughing mockingly before bolting down the street.

"Why, you little—!" Cedran started to chase after him but stopped, remembering the others were there.

Meanwhile, Elyon had deftly stepped away just in time to avoid the spit, now watching the whole scene unfold while doubled over in laughter.

Damien wiped his face, groaning inwardly. "I hope you get mana sickness..."

"Damien," Cedran said, his tone firm. "Showing mercy isn’t always the right thing to do."

"...I understand."

But deep down, Damien had wanted to believe he’d done something good.

"What will you do if he doesn’t change? If he repeats the same crime—or worse, escalates to something even more terrible because of this? Could you take responsibility then?"