Chapter 118: The North (2)

Amidst the dense forest, a green bug glowed from its rear. Bright clusters of light gathered, becoming a green moon, then scattered like countless stars. Fabian, having arrived near the edge of the Elven forest, gazed at the river cutting across the forest and plains, lost in thought.

He was now at the closest distance an ordinary human could approach. Fabian knew that elves, with eyes glinting, were hidden in the shadows between the forest trees. He knew that if he crossed the river without permission, dozens of arrows would fly from those shadows.

Ever since Petunia Titi, a member of the Hero’s party, had crossed into the forest, humans associated with the Hero could never cross this forest. No matter how many times permission was requested, the only answer was refusal.

Even though he was the Master of the Thieves Guild, he couldn’t evade the elves’ pursuit in a forest he had never entered before. He was a friend to the back alleys and thieves, far from being a hunter. Petunia Titi. She was the archer of the Hero’s party and an excellent huntress.

Even in the forests of the Demon Realm, her tracking skills and ability to handle spirits were always a great help. Fabian believed that it was thanks to her that all party members could return alive and unharmed.

“Petunia.”

Fabian spoke towards the other side of the river. Although no answer came, Fabian could sense a presence beyond the forest. Like reeds swaying in the wind, the entire forest stirred whenever Fabian spoke.

“I want to talk. If I can’t come to meet you. Don’t you have to come out to meet me? We were comrades who fought together to defeat the Demon King, after all. You live for hundreds of years, but humans die in just a few decades. Mobius might die within 20 years. Do you intend to wait until we all grow old and die? I want to talk. If I can’t enter, then you come out and let us face each other.”

Fabian chose a method uncharacteristic of an assassin. This was because he still considered Petunia Titi a comrade. Unlike the other comrades filled with vengeance and resentment, Petunia Titi was an elf who joined the party solely for the Hero, Wolf.

Thinking back, it felt like fate from our first meeting.

By chance, we took a wrong turn and entered a forest where demons lurked. While our party, unfamiliar with the woods, was unfortunately struggling, we coincidentally encountered Petunia Titi, who had ventured far out to hunt demons at the time.

The five of us cooperated firmly and defeated the demon.

Petunia Titi, while gruffly slicing the demon to death, seemed to have fallen in love at first sight with Wolf, who protected her during the chaotic battle. She voluntarily joined our grim, cruel, and vengeful adventuring party.

[What good fortune.]

Fabian remembered Mobius the magician saying that. Mobius’s magic tower wasn’t far from the Elven forest. Even from where Fabian was sitting now, he could see the brilliant light emanating from Mobius’s Grand Magic Tower. If he squinted just a little, he could even see the carts bustling back and forth from the magic tower.

The carts were packed densely with people, like beans in a steamer. There was no spark in their eyes, and their postures felt like those of dolls. Fabian knew those people were heading north.

After agonizing over what to do with the ever-accumulating failed experiments, they decided to throw them into the harsh, remote wilderness of the north, much like discarding trash in a landfill.

“Ha……”

Every time Fabian saw such cruelty, he questioned whether he was on the right path. Fabian and the Hero both clearly had goals at first. They were grand goals, in their own way. Fabian wanted to kill bad guys and get revenge on the humans who had enslaved him.

The Hero wanted revenge on the humans who had driven him to the bottom, and he was certain he was the Hero.

Certainty of being the Hero.

Everyone in the party was convinced that Wolf was truly the Hero. Wolf was that strong. Even the Demon King acknowledged Wolf as the Hero in his final moments. Fabian could still remember the Demon King’s laughter.

[Hahahahahaha! Wolf! Hero Wolf! Yes, you truly are the Hero! Hero! Yes! Hahahahahaha!]

So Fabian thought everything would turn out fine once Wolf seized power. He was the Hero acknowledged even by the Demon King. Wolf and ‘we’ were true heroes.

But it wasn’t.

Slaves were being ground into Mobius’s experiments, and Alexander treated nuns like prostitutes, offering them to Wolf. Wolf didn’t reprimand his family for their extravagance and indulged himself in expensive alcohol, food, and women. All Wolf did was kill. And indulge in luxury. Only those two things. He killed those who opposed him. He also killed those who rebelled against his family. Everyone who pointed out or investigated corruption was either demoted or met their death.

But Fabian had no choice but to follow such a Hero. Because the Hero had freed Fabian from slavery. Because Wolf was the one who helped him, who wandered lost after losing friends and ‘family’, grow as an assassin.

It was Hero Wolf who gave him the name Fabian, and the glory of being part of the Hero’s party that saved the world.

The wind blew.

Fabian blinked as if waking from a dream. A cool forest breeze swept over Fabian’s entire body. As if the forest was waking up, branches rustled, and the wind echoed from deep within. Someone was walking among the straight, tall trees.

Fabian knew that gait. It was light for an elf, a swaying movement of the whole body as if riding a rhythm, hair tied neatly in one bunch, and light, active clothing adorned with leaves.

“Petunia.”

Her long ears perked up when Fabian called her name. Her face was pale, and tear tracks still remained in her eyes. Her slightly sunken cheeks and pale lips indicated that she still hadn’t recovered from the pain of heartbreak.

“…What is it. Speak.”

Petunia Titi spoke in a weak yet firm tone. Fabian could understand her sharp attitude. Petunia had truly done her best as an elf. She always took care of Wolf, stayed by his side, and tried to win his favor. When Wolf was badly injured, she was the first to nurse him, and she even asked the other party members to create time for her to be alone with Wolf. When they went to defeat the Demon King, she even asked Wolf for a hug.

But Wolf always rejected her. Her final request for a hug, her confession after defeating the Demon King-he coldly refused everything.

There was only one reason. Because he couldn’t love Petunia.

After the confession, Petunia silently packed her belongings and disappeared from the party. Only we returned to the capital. Even amidst the glory, Wolf never once smiled. Now, Petunia was glaring at Fabian, having lost her smile as well.

“Speak. Fabian. Why have you come?”

Fabian had come all this way to tell a predictable story. Let’s forgive Wolf now and have a meal together like we used to. Everyone wants to talk to you. We can’t live as long as you, so we hope you’ll reconcile. Wolf is very sad, so it would be good if you could be his strength.

But, but Fabian couldn’t say those words. Facing the river, he could only bite his lip and look away. He was a professional assassin. He could change his expression at will in front of his assassination target, and unlock a securely fastened lock with just a piece of wire.

But now, he couldn’t change his expression freely before her, nor could he brazenly fulfill an audacious request as if it were natural.

“Fabian?”

Petunia frowned. Fabian thought.

If she were to see us now, what would she think? If she knew Wolf was sleeping around with dozens of women, Alexander was treating nuns like prostitutes, and Mobius was grinding slaves into his research, and if she found out that Fabian was murdering Wolf’s political rivals, what kind of expression would she wear?

When Petunia was around, the Hero’s party was quite a fun group. Alexander was a lecher, but he always knew how to keep his boundaries and make cheerful jokes. Wolf was taciturn, but he was affectionate towards his comrades. Mobius, as the elder, often gave advice and led the party. Petunia, as the mood-maker, lifted the spirits when the atmosphere grew gloomy.

But time had passed.

Just as the world had escaped the Demon King’s grasp, we had let loose the reins and were running wild.

“…..I was sorry.”

So, that was the only thing Fabian could utter. Petunia’s face hardened even at his abrupt apology. Sadness seemed to well up in her face again.

“…..Forget it. Disappear. Don’t ever come back.”

She turned away, her legs stretched out straight. Petunia’s hair swayed. Fabian stared blankly at her retreating back. Couldn’t I have sent her off with kinder words? Still, wouldn’t it have been better to ask her to come just once?

Fabian asked himself, then shook his head. This was the best. He truly thought this was the best for everyone.

She disappeared beyond the shadows.

The wind blew. It blew fiercely, as if trying to push Fabian away. Fabian stepped back and looked up.

Fabian sighed deeply while looking at the sky. The vast, blue sky and a single black dot. Like a black star had appeared, the jet-black dot grew closer.

Fabian squinted and stared intently at the black dot. What had been merely a circle began to spread its wings wide and flew towards Fabian. It was a carrier pigeon used by the Thieves Guild.

Stroking its head, he opened the small note tied to its ankle.

[Target escaped from Ithaca. Seems to be in the North currently.]

Fabian scoffed.

In the end, Fabian had to kill someone again. Someone who had mustered the courage for love and justice.