episode_0069

“How do you… .”

Without thinking, those words came out of my mouth.

At this moment, I was reunited with a relationship I had passed by only once a year ago, and that relationship saved my life?

It is too dramatic to be dismissed as a mere coincidence.

“… Maybe─”

“I didn’t really follow you around. It’s true that I followed the prince’s killer, but I didn’t know it was you. It was also a coincidence that I saw you lying down.”

“… … .”

As if guessing what was to come next, she struck a chord.

Just as she had predicted, I wondered if she had been following me all along for some purpose.

If you think about common sense, the chances of meeting again with a relationship that happened to pass by in that situation and saving your life are so slim that it’s difficult to judge.

“Isn’t it amazing? I never thought we would meet again like this. I wonder if fate really exists?”

It’s fate.

I thought that was exactly right.

In any case, this is only when fate really exists.

“… How much time has passed?”

It’s good to be surprised that that slim probability has become reality, but there are things you need to check first.

Therefore, we decided to postpone the surprise for now.

“It’s been two weeks since you fainted.”

“… … .”

Two weeks.

It’s definitely long.

However, if you look at my physical condition, it was an understandable time.

If I suffered a wound like this, I would be on the brink of death.

“Originally, it would have been better to receive treatment from a priest… I avoided that because there was a possibility that I might not know. Because you never know where information might leak out.”

I nodded internally at the calm explanation.

I thought it was the right decision.

In my state at that time, even the priest would have had doubts and wondered about me and how I ended up being hurt like that.

I can’t be sure, but considering Elbrent’s information power, it’s quite possible that the information was leaked.

“First of all, you are officially missing and are tentatively rumored to be dead. It seems that Elbrent has not completely stopped tracking him yet, and those seeking the bounty still seem to be wandering around with their eyes turned on, but you can rest assured that all traces have been erased and it has been confirmed that no one has been traced. … Oh, by the way, this is Aguilem.”

After hearing her words next, I was quite surprised.

Aguilem.

If that’s true, it’s definitely quite far away from the place where the swordsman was fought.

It would take a few days just to travel alone, but if I had to carry it on my back and even pay attention to tracking, it would have been truly a penance.

If I hadn’t properly erased the traces in the process, I wouldn’t have woken up like this, so if this is really Aguilem, then everything she said should be considered the truth.

If you think about it that way, the woman in front of you is definitely not an ordinary person.

The ability to carry me through that place and carry me to Aguilem, several days away, without being detected, the ability to completely erase all traces, and that strange ability to disguise.

I can’t think of myself as an ordinary person at all.

Curiosity arose towards her.

What on earth does he do, how does he have such abilities, etc.

However, there was no way he could shamelessly ask such a thing when he owed his life to him.

“Rather than that, let’s talk about that. How did you kill the prince?”

“… … .”

The sudden question left me speechless.

“On the outside, he didn’t seem like the kind of person who would do something like that… Well, from the outside, what it means to be a human being is something you don’t know.”

Looking straight into my eyes with transparent eyes, she continued speaking.

“… … .”

I was worried.

Because the matter was not too light to reveal everything.

“Was there something going on? Had no choice but to kill the prince?”

“… That’s how it feels.”

In the end, I chose to equivocate.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk, it was that I was worried.

As a benefactor who saved my life, I want to tell you everything without hiding anything,

Because I don’t know what kind of negative impact revealing the existence of the ‘organization’ might have on her.

“Well, I don’t know what the circumstances are, but I’ll have to live carefully from now on. It feels like you’re dead until the rumors disappear completely and the world forgets you exist.”

“… … .”

It’s just as she said.

I don’t know what actually happened, but there is no way for me to clear my name now.

… No, it’s not that it doesn’t exist at all, but there are only methods that are difficult to try for one reason or another.

“Well, don’t be too gloomy. If you live quietly and change your appearance or magic, no one will recognize you. Instead, you should refrain from doing anything that stands out too much.”

It’s just as she said.

I can change my appearance as much as I want with magic, and if I don’t show up consistently, the rumors will someday be forgotten.

It’s just that you won’t be able to live under the name Wade Heblon.

If you do something that stands out, there is a risk of being discovered, but if you live quietly as she said, you will be able to live without any danger.

However.

‘… ‘You can’t do that.’

That can’t be possible.

If I don’t move, the continent will probably end up in the hands of the ‘organization’.

Although my colleagues are aware of the existence of the ‘organization,’ they have no idea about its details, and it is difficult to respond to the organization even if they want to do so.

Although my colleagues all have tremendous potential, background, and power, they are either unable to exert great power right away or are bound by certain restrictions.

Rachel or Ira, Mary, Alexis or Cedric.

It is true that they all have outstanding talent.

Just looking at his current state, he is nothing compared to his peers.

however.

In other words, it is only at that level.

Even if they are overwhelmingly superior among their peers, when viewed by an overall standard, when compared to everyone else on the continent, they are merely outstanding.

It may be a few years from now, but there are limits to what they can handle now.

Although Estelle’s power is enough to shake the continent at any moment, she is not without limitations.

She holds the title of the next emperor of Reinberg.

Therefore, it is difficult to interfere in the affairs of other countries. If that were to happen, it would itself escalate into a major diplomatic dispute.

In the end, the only one who can’t properly interfere with the ‘organization’s’ plans is me at this point.

Therefore, I had no intention of living quietly and hiding.

… Well, there is no guarantee that you will be able to enjoy the rest of your life in peace even if you live like that in the first place.

If I don’t do anything, war will break out soon and the continent will be devastated, so I won’t be able to live in peace unless I live in a remote area far away.

Because of this, I had no intention of living quietly.

“… I guess so.”

On the surface, I answered it that way.

Because I couldn’t make her worry by saying something pointless.

“Oh, by the way… … .”

“Why? Are there any more questions left to ask?”

“That… It’s not a question, I just have a favor to ask… … .”

“What is it?”

I felt bad about asking for a favor in a situation where I was so blessed, but I had no choice because I couldn’t move my body, so I forced myself to open my mouth.

“… I’d like to contact my group… … .”

I was unconscious for a week.

From what I heard from the woman, it seemed like the rumor had spread tentatively that I had died, so I thought it would be a good idea to notify my companions.

You may have been shocked to hear the news, or you may be very worried, even if you don’t believe the rumors.

but.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

The woman shook her head with a slightly sorry expression.

That’s a bad idea.

It doesn’t mean it’s a rejection, it just means it’s not recommended.

Mystery arose.

“For what reason?”

“Because the Empire is probably watching the people around you.”

“Ah.”

Her answer left me speechless.

“ Since the Empire is not certain of your death, they have probably assigned people around you as well, and if they make a clumsy attempt to contact you, they will find out that you are alive. I don’t know if there is a reliable means of contact that will never be discovered, but… Isn’t that right?”

“… … .”

“Then I think it’s better to stay like this for a while. I think it would be better to try to contact you after your body is fully healed and the empire is certain of your death.”

I couldn’t say anything.

Because it was truly a straightforward theory.

Normally, this is something I would have thought about a long time ago, but I was so distracted and anxious that I seemed to have overlooked it.

“… Thank you.”

“What. I just said one thing.”

The woman stood up with a smile.

“Then I’ll leave. I have some work to do. I’m lying down and resting well.”

“Ah, before that… … .”

“Huh? Why?”

I caught her leaving.

“What should I call you?”

“Ah.”

After hearing what I said, the woman opened her eyes wide for a moment and looked worried.

“Hmm… That’s right.”

Even though she was just asking for her name, she couldn’t answer right away and was worried.

I could roughly guess the reason.

The abilities she showed.

Secretly escaping the scene with me behind, erasing traces so perfectly that not a single tracer could catch him, a strange ability to disguise that cannot be recognized unless you witness him changing his appearance in front of you, and finally, the feeling I felt the day we first met. Sharp living.

They all point to one thing.

“… Call me Belle.”

Therefore, it was understandable that she did not want to reveal her name easily.

“Rest in peace.”

With those words, she left the room.

I stared at the door she closed and left for a while.

And so, our strange life together began.