Witt and Kaelxi hadn’t even reached Cesecity when they spotted Slave Catcher Squad members interrogating travelers at the city gate from afar.
Military units didn’t communicate like civilians writing letters. Each squad had garrison mages relaying messages via crystal balls.
The Slave Catcher Squad members who hadn’t used the teleportation array received orders to stay in Cesecity. They kept interrogating passersby, hunting for Kaelxi’s trail.
From their earlier talk, Witt knew if Kaelxi was caught, she’d be sent straight to the Royal Capital.
Going there now would be like a lamb to the slaughter. Their best bet was to flee the Buchert Kingdom with Kaelxi and escape to another country.
They hid in the woods east of Cesecity, still a distance away.
“The nobility’s Slave Catcher Squad wields such power?” Witt stroked his chin, pondering how to cross Cesecity with Kaelxi and slip past the kingdom’s border.
“Damn it! Stroke your own chin when you think!” “Why are you stroking mine!” Kaelxi raged inwardly but stayed silent.
Her eyes dropped, staring speechlessly at Witt’s hand on her chin. She cursed him a thousand times as a pervert in her head.
But Kaelxi knew she was at his mercy now. Pleasing Witt in every way was her only option.
After his resurrection, Witt wasn’t foolish enough to believe Kaelxi followed him out of love.
The smarter Witt surely suspected she was using him to escape the Slave Catcher Squad.
Even if he kept her close, it only proved he’d fight the squad to the death for her. She didn’t know if he’d defy the kingdom’s army for her sake.
Given Witt’s strong sense of justice and his earlier defense of the kingdom’s laws, she feared him learning the enemy wasn’t just the squad—but the army itself.
A suspect requiring the army to hide their identity must have committed grave crimes.
She dreaded Witt sending her to the Royal Capital as a criminal. He might beat her on the way—or do even scarier things.
To make Witt reluctant to send her away, she needed him to truly fall in love with her again.
So when Witt stroked her chin, Kaelxi chose to...
“Huh?” Witt stared at the silent, almost shy Kaelxi, surprised.
He’d expected her to dodge or call him a pervert.
He released her chin, then gently scratched it with his index finger.
Kaelxi suppressed the urge to flinch. She closed her eyes, tilted her chin up, and feigned enjoyment—as if begging, “Keep scratching, don’t stop.”
Witt found her incredibly cute, like a little kitten.
“Little wildcat, meow for me.”
“Meow~ I’m not a wildcat. I’m Witt’s little house cat~” Kaelxi opened her eyes, gazing at the stunned Witt with affection. She even rubbed her head against his hand.
*Ugh! I’m going to puke!*
*He really is a pervert, making me meow!*
*But for sticking with him, a little sacrifice is nothing!*
Seeing Kaelxi act like a real kitten, Witt doubted his suspicions.
He’d thought she only pretended to like him to escape the squad.
Based on his sharper mind and days with her, he didn’t believe she’d act this way without genuine feelings.
But remembering her history of deceiving him, he wondered if she was still faking.
Noticing his doubt, Kaelxi steeled herself. She grabbed his scratching finger and lightly licked it.
“Am I a good little kitten?” She stared up with big, watery eyes, craving his praise.
“...Yes. Kaelxi is good.” Even smart Witt wavered.
He’d never seen this before.
Kaelxi felt smug: *Still the same fool. Easy to manipulate!*
She didn’t realize each time she won Witt’s trust, the price grew higher.
At first, a few words sufficed. After he saw through her, she had to act like a kitten.
Next time he uncovered her lies, the cost might be...
“Witt, what were you thinking just now?”
“I was figuring how we enter Cesecity together. If we buy supplies inside and leave via the west gate, that’d be ideal.”
“This way, we exit closer to the border. No getting lost in forests. And with full supplies, we won’t worry about food or shelter.”
“Go for it, Witt! You’ll find a way!” Kaelxi cheered brightly, but thought: *Idiot. Why not go alone? Why drag me in?*
*Staying in the forest longer is safer!*
*Still not smart!*
She didn’t know Witt insisted on taking her because he’d never part with her again.
Witt was afraid too.
He feared Kaelxi facing danger without him—like earlier.
He refused to make a convenient choice he’d regret forever.
Suddenly, he spotted a passerby’s suitcase. He eyed Kaelxi—the size seemed perfect.
Kaelxi squirmed under his object-like gaze, clueless about his plan.
Witt stepped out of the bushes. “Excuse me, sir. Selling your suitcase?”
“Not for sale! My whole livelihood’s inside!”
“Asking weird stuff—you sick?”
“I’ll pay one gold coin.” Witt pulled out his wallet and handed over the coin.
Kaelxi winced. He must’ve met Grandma Elisa earlier and taken the wallet.
*Why waste a gold coin on a suitcase, fool?*
*Does he know it holds some magic item to sneak me in?*
The lucky man snatched the coin and dashed away from Cesecity. He’d come for perfume trade, but with bag and goods bought out, Cesecity was pointless now.
Witt opened the case, dumped the bottles and jars on the ground, and examined it. He glanced at Kaelxi.
“Hmm. Size is just right.”
Watching his odd behavior, Kaelxi stepped out. “Witt, why buy this case?”
“A Rogue’s body is flexible, right?” Witt studied her joints, convinced his plan would work.
“Huh? Yes, but why ask?” His dissecting stare made her want to bolt.
“You should squeeze into this case, right?”
“No way! Impossible!” Kaelxi spun to flee at this madness.
Witt caught and lifted her.
“Don’t force me! I’ll do it myself—I can fit, I can fit, no!”
...
Witt tested the suitcase’s weight. It felt fine.
The exterior looked normal.
He carried it toward the city.
“Sob... you’re bullying me... I was being good...”
A little girl’s sobs and complaints drifted from the case.
Witt tapped the case lightly on the ground.
“Quiet. You don’t want to be found, do you?”
Inside, Kaelxi cried silently.
