Omake 5: Prince of Layabouts
An orange-armored man with pink unkempt hair stood afraid looking at every corner of the living quarters in Begnion. He thought debt collectors were one thing, but to think his latest one would be so... terrifying! He quietly complained against his newest employer who subjected him to this tribulation...
"Until your debts are completely repaid, don't even think about leaving the company. Or getting sick. Right then! I trust you'll do your best," Ike concluded. Just as Makalov was about to complain to himself, Ike turned back at him.
"By the way, since Marcia told us to straighten you out and ensure you live like a proper man, I decided Jaffar here will watch your progress..." Ike announced. Soon, a cloaked man with spiky red hair and a dark vest with an exposed midriff appeared and landed right behind the commander.
The act scared Makalov along with the fact that the man's amber eyes seemed to stare straight into his soul. Makalov felt chills upon feeling Jaffar's gaze on him. It was like the Grim Reaper telling him his time was coming.
"Jaffar here was once hailed as the Angel of Death. Take that as you will..." Ike uttered those words before he left. As if it were a death sentence passed to the young man.
Jaffar stood silently staring at Makalov, causing him to shudder in terror. The daggers he held looked rather... exotic.
Since that day, Makalov was too terrified to complain or gamble. Whenever he thought he was in the clear, Jaffar could be seen in the corner watching him as if reminding the man to live honestly. He had goosebumps every time he spotted the assassin. Even the way the assassin conducted in battle was befitting his title.
He was not being paid since he was indebted to the company. As a result, he was forced to work for free. So any spare gold to come across was sparse.
It was only until he found out Jaffar was away tending to some errands that he finally felt a weight off his shoulders. Finally, he could tend to his favorite pastime... the gambling hall. Holding some money he... borrowed from his sister, he was about to leave the compound to gamble.
"Finally, I have some room to breathe... Now I can be free!" Makalov declared with glee.
"Oh? Is that so? What makes you say that?"
Makalov creaked his head around to spot a man with trimmed blond hair, and stubble on his chin, wearing a dark attire with a matching trench coat with green belts. A man most considered handsome based on how easily he could cause some maids to blush and women to give appreciative glances to himself.
He was the older brother of the green-haired lass he saw of the same age as the commander's sister. Quite friendly and approachable compared to his younger brother, who looked ready to bite and bark during battle.
"Jaffar is helping Nino with getting ingredients for tonight's meal. But right before he left, he asked me to watch over you so you don't wander off to unsavory places," Lloyd then held out his hand, as if demanding something. His welcoming smile turned into a more neutral expression, but that was more unsettling. "Marcia also seemed distraught to find her purse somewhat lighter. I'm glad to know you found the money that was dropped somewhere like the good brother you are. Right?"
His last word was like a growl. It was as if Makalov was being stared at by a predator, a wolf. No wonder, their family were all canines! What kind of vicious animal was their little sister?
"R-right! In fact, I'll even treat my sister to a good meal with the gold I managed to scrounge up just recently on the battlefield!" With that, Makalov scurried off to his sister's quarters with Lloyd nodding approvingly.
As Lloyd watched Makalov run away, he sighed to himself.
"Good grief... it's worse than I thought. And his sister was subjected to such an ordeal with him being in debt to pirates..."
A brother should look out for their siblings. Not having debt collectors at his neck while subjecting their younger sister to be forced to foot the bill. There were times when the pink-haired pegasus knight wished her brother was more like himself and Linus.
"Well, at least we're here to straighten him out," Lloyd remarked as he walked to the market to regroup with Nino and Jaffar.
The latter could easily cause sellers to panic with one glance. While he could rest assured that no merchant would attempt to charge beyond market price with the assassin, he might be needed to smooth things over during transactions.