Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill Chapter 141: Street Fight in the Black Market (1)

Max and Neros remained still for a few more seconds, standing in the middle of that endless sea of robes, hoods, and suspicious creatures.

No sign of Finn. Not a single firefly. Not a single lantern.

Not one small goblin dressed in black.

Nothing.

Neros slowly exhaled through his nose.

"Right," he said dryly. "Can you think of any way to ask about that little idiot without drawing too much attention?"

Max crossed his arms, observing the constant flow of people.

"Honestly... no."

He looked ahead, thoughtful.

"I think the best thing we can do is keep moving and stay low-profile."

He adjusted his hood.

"Finn can’t have gone far. Besides, we’ve already seen several people with the seven-pointed star tattoo."

He discreetly gestured towards a pair of hooded figures in the distance.

"That ans we’re still heading in the right direction."

Neros nodded.

"Understood."

Without saying much else, the two stepped back into the crowd. Carefully. Trying not to bump into anyone this ti. Which, considering Neros’ natural talent for generating social incidents, was already a mission in itself.

Max kept his eyes forward, scanning heads, shoulders, and small gaps between people.

’Co on, Finn... you have to be around here sowhere.’

And then...

"THIEEEEEF!!"

The shout echoed through the entire street.

Max and Neros turned instantly.

A small figure was sprinting through the crowd, shoving people out of the way.

A goblin. Small, skinny, and green. He was carrying a bag far too large for his size and running with absolute desperation.

Behind him, a large orc vendor was chasing him while wielding a broom like so legendary weapon.

"GET BACK HERE WITH MY RCHANDISE, YOU FILTHY LARVA!"

The goblin shrieked and ran even faster. He shoved an elderly hooded woman aside. Jumped over a crate. Slid between the legs of a minotaur.

And the most surprising part of all...

No one seed to care.

The crowd barely moved aside. No one helped. No one intervened. No one even seed particularly surprised.

Max blinked.

’...I suppose this is completely normal here.’

Maybe in a place like the black market, the rule was simple. If it doesn’t affect you directly, it’s not your problem. Horrible logic. But logical nonetheless.

The little goblin kept running straight towards them.

Max opened his mouth.

"Neros, don’t do anything stupid—"

Too late.

Driven by pure instinctive justice, Neros extended one arm and grabbed the little thief by the back of his shirt.

He lifted him off the ground like a troubleso cat.

"AH—!"

The bag flew through the air. Everything seed to slow down.

The vendor’s eyes widened dramatically.

"NOOOOOOO—"

The little goblin also went pale.

"Pip!"

Max saw the bag spinning through the air and didn’t think. He acted.

Sothing moved behind him.

FAST.

His tail.

The long demonic tail from his disguise shot forwards and caught the bag before it hit the ground.

SNAP.

Perfect catch.

Silence.

Neros blinked.

The goblin blinked.

The vendor blinked.

Max blinked too. He looked at his own tail holding the bag.

"...Okay."

He grabbed the bag with both hands.

"I also did not know I could do that."

Neros was still staring at him.

"I didn’t know you could control your tail like that."

"I literally just discovered that myself."

Max sounded just as confused.

The vendor finally arrived, panting heavily.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

He bowed slightly towards them.

"You recovered my rchandise."

Then he noticed the little goblin still dangling from Neros’ hand. And raised the broom with very obvious murderous and vengeful intent.

"Now co here, you little bastard—"

WHACK.

Neros caught the broom with his free hand before it could land. The strike never connected.

The cat man looked at the orc with visible disapproval.

"He’s just a child."

His voice was firm.

"He does not deserve to be hit."

The small goblin, still suspended in the air, was shielding himself with both arms. Trembling.

anwhile, Max slightly opened the bag to check what was inside. And froze.

"...Oh."

Inside was a small chubby chick. Round. Fluffy. Completely white feathers. And three legs.

The tiny bird lifted its head.

"Pip."

Max blinked.

"Well. That is adorable."

The little goblin’s eyes widened.

"Leave Pip alone!"

He squird as much as he could.

"Don’t give him back! Please!"

Max looked up at the vendor.

The orc extended both hands as if this were perfectly normal.

"Alright, you can hand my rchandise back now."

His expression was entirely casual. Like he was asking for a random crate. Not a living creature.

Max hesitated. Just for a mont.

’We shouldn’t cause trouble.’

He thought.

’But I’m also not about to take a child’s pet and hand it over to so weird trafficker.’

The little goblin lowered his arms slightly. His eyes were full of panic.

"Please..."

He looked at the bag.

"I just wanted to save Pip."

He clenched his teeth.

"He’s been my best friend for as long as I can rember."

Max slowly exhaled.

Yep. Decision made.

The vendor clicked his tongue.

"Listen."

He smiled, revealing so rather questionable teeth.

"If what you want is money, we can settle this at my shop."

Max turned towards Neros.

Neros looked back at him.

They understood each other without speaking.

The cat man gently lowered the little goblin to the ground. Brushed a bit of dust off his clothes. Then crouched in front of him.

"I apologise for getting in your way."

His tone was surprisingly soft. He even offered a small smile.

The goblin child stared at him. At his scarred face. His cut ears. His stern expression.

And...

Didn’t react at all. No fear. No discomfort. No rejection. Just normal surprise.

Neros froze for a second. Clearly not expecting that.

Sothing subtly changed in his expression. Softer.

More human.

Or well.

More cat.

Then he stood up. And punched the vendor directly in the face.

THUD.

The orc was sent flying backwards.

"DON’T SS WITH CHILDREN."

Max smiled.

"That was actually pretty good."

He reached into his infinite backpack.

"Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have known how to start either."

He pulled out his hamr.

CLANK.

The surrounding crowd reacted instantly, as though they had slled free entertainnt. A circle quickly ford around them.

Shouting. Whistling. Applause. Cheers.

"FIGHT!"

"CO ON, BEAT EACH OTHER UP!"

"I’m betting twenty coins on the cat man!"

Max quickly handed the bag to the little goblin.

"Here."

He smiled at him.

"Take the chance and run."

The child hugged the bag tightly against his chest. His eyes sparkled.

"Thank you."

He smiled brightly.

"Pip and I appreciate it."

Without wasting a second, he ran off through the legs of the crowd and disappeared.

The vendor, sprawled on the ground, got back up furiously.

"YOU BASTARDS, MY RCHANDISE!"

He grabbed his face, then shouted towards sowhere outside the ring.

"My son!"

He pointed at Max and Neros.

"These idiots are ruining our business!"

He staggered back to his feet.

"Take care of them! They hurt your father!"

Heavy footsteps echoed through the crowd.

THOOM.

THOOM.

THOOM.

Max looked up.

And saw another orc approaching. Even larger. Much, much larger. Almost absurdly enormous. Broad as a wall. Though with a sowhat vacant expression. And a slightly clumsy deanour.

The giant orc nodded once, but said nothing.

Without another word, he charged straight at Neros.

The crowd exploded with excitent.

"OOOOOOOH!"

Neros imdiately took a fighting stance.

Max sighed, adjusting his grip on his hamr.

And couldn’t help but think:

’Good thing we weren’t planning on getting into trouble.’

The vendor smiled with vengeful satisfaction.

"That’s it, son! Crush him!"

The giant orc kept advancing. Each step made the dirt floor tremble slightly.

Neros bent his legs slightly and tightened his fists.

"Very well."

He waited until the orc was close enough. Then launched a direct punch to the stomach.

THUD.

Nothing happened.

Neros blinked.

"...Eh?"

The giant orc slowly looked down at his stomach. Then back at Neros. As if only just realising soone had touched him.

The crowd let out a long:

"Ooooooh..."

Max’s eyes widened.

"Oh no."

The giant orc simply extended both arms. And grabbed Neros by the legs. Lifting him off the ground as if he weighed absolutely nothing.

"What the hell!?"

Now Neros was the surprised one. He tried to break free. Twisted his torso. Tried punching.

Nothing.

The grip was absurdly strong.

"Release ."

The orc simply lifted the cat man slightly higher. Then slamd him into the ground.

BOOM.

A cloud of dust exploded upwards.

The crowd scread with excitent.

"OOOOHHHH!"

"That had to hurt!"

"DO IT AGAIN!"

Neros barely had ti to inhale before being lifted again. And slamd back down.

BOOM.

Max watched as a small brown cloud started spreading over the improvised fighting ring.

And then he had an idea.

"Perfect."

He slightly opened his cloak. And activated the enchantnt.

A dense violet mist began pouring out from beneath his clothes, rapidly expanding across the entire circle.

Within seconds, the entire fight was swallowed by purple smoke.

The crowd reacted instantly.

"HEY!"

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!"

"I CAN’T SEE ANYTHING!"

"THEY RUINED THE SHOW!"

Max smiled inside the cloud.

"Exactly."

Through the smoke, dull impacts could still be heard.

BOOM.

THUD.

CRACK.

Apparently, the giant orc was still using Neros as an urban demolition tool.

"Well," Max muttered, tightening his grip on the hamr.

"That ans he’s still alive."

Three magical circles appeared in front of him, glowing through the violet mist.

Three figures erged from the ground. Skeleton knights. Lining up in front of Max.

Max smiled with satisfaction.

"Alright, boys."

He spun the hamr once in his hand.

"Ti for the counterattack."