Ch.102102. I’ll Remember

“What kind of work handling is this?!”

Naidryan couldn’t understand why they were blaming her.

The ones who had remained at the estate with time to spare were the council elders.

Of course, they must have gone to inspect the forest they were supposed to receive as a gift, but there was no way Naidryan, who had been away with the hero’s party, could have known beforehand that the forest was in poor condition.

Nevertheless, the elders pressed Naidryan.

“You should have done some research before accepting the land!”

“Elder, we all heard the news about this forest being given to us at the banquet. I couldn’t have known in advance…”

“Aren’t you the elf closest to the Imperial Princess and the Shield Knight? Are you saying you couldn’t even get a hint beforehand?!”

No matter what she said, everything became Naidryan’s fault.

The archer felt a surge of indignation and frustration rising within her.

Her expression vanished completely from lack of composure as she tightly clutched the bundle of letters from Investor Lee that she kept close to her heart.

To others, they might be just simple letters, but Naidryan couldn’t express how much comfort they gave her whenever she felt upset or troubled.

He was the only one who praised her and encouraged her to become someone greater.

The research was in its final stages.

Once it was complete, Naidryan planned to meet Investor Lee without fail.

She didn’t mind if he was ugly.

She already expected that they would be of different races.

This feeling that had grown beyond desperation into deep longing for someone who truly understood her was like an unstoppable carriage.

‘Even so, this forest isn’t normal.’

Not only were the trees bizarrely twisted in appearance, but there was also an unpleasant magical energy permeating the place that was impossible to identify.

It felt as if the plants were glaring at the elves.

There was a sense of wariness, as if trying to drive away uninvited and unwelcome guests.

‘And that lingering cold chill too.’

She might not have noticed elsewhere, but being in the forest made it clear.

Vengeful spirits with deep grudges were wandering through the forest.

Judging by how she was shivering despite wearing layers of clothes, the resentment was substantial.

“Let’s find where the spirits are gathering. Then we can ask Arsil to perform a purification.”

“Hmph, with the Church collapsed, what use is a Saint?”

“She’s still the only one who can use holy power.”

“Ah… always improvising everything…”

What other option did they have in this situation besides the Saint’s purification?

These elves probably just disliked her.

If they disliked her so much, why did they keep making her work?

Her dissatisfaction continued to pile up.

To make matters worse, when it started raining, the elders caused another commotion, complaining about the lack of preparation for bad weather.

The archer completely erased all expression from her face.

Roughly pushing through the undergrowth and trudging forward with heavy steps, Naidryan.

It was in this very displeased state that she encountered Ravin and Arsil.

“This is elven land.”

As soon as she said it, she realized her mistake.

Due to her bad mood, her tone came out far too imperious.

Arsil, too, didn’t remain silent in the face of Naidryan’s arrogant attitude.

“…What did you just say?”

Not just Arsil, but Ravin was also snickering behind her while drawing his dagger.

The rogue’s combat style of using stealth to attack from behind was not favorable against archers and mages.

“This is my hometown! Who are you to claim it’s elven land?!”

“T-this… this place is your hometown?”

“Yes, the alley where I was born and raised!”

How is this an alley?

Naidryan, who had considered it merely ruins within a vast forest, raised a mental question mark while feeling perplexed.

This forest given by the Empire was really the Saint’s hometown?

Even the usually timid archer inwardly cursed the Imperial Princess and Rainford for such an absurd act.

They must think we’re complete fools.

“Even so, this forest was officially gifted to us elves by the Empire. Here’s the certificate with the imperial seal!”

*Swoosh-!*

Though startled, Naidryan proudly displayed the certificate.

Reading each character carefully from a distance, Arsil realized the content and seal were genuine and gaped in shock.

“Rinasien, you bastard… our hometown…”

“Our?”

“Ah, I’m from here too. Plus our porter as well.”

Only then could the archer understand the strange undercurrent flowing between the three members of the hero’s party.

From what she could see, Arsil and Ravin didn’t get along well originally, and the porter seemed to be hiding his identity, which was causing Arsil to lose her composure due to some past bullying.

Being one of the more perceptive elves, she immediately grasped their relationship.

“Who gave them the right to hand over this land! I absolutely cannot accept this!”

“What will you do if you don’t accept it? Will you formally protest through the Church? The Church is already gone. Even if it existed, I doubt they would convey Arsil’s protests, would they?”

“You…!”

After enduring so much, seeing even the usually polite archer behaving insolently towards her, Arsil trembled with rage.

The Saint took out dragon scale gloves from her inventory and firmly put them on.

“Are you looking for a fight?”

“…”

“You want a violent confrontation? Just like you’ve always done.”

Unable to tolerate it any longer, Naidryan also drew her bow.

Ravin’s smile deepened as he watched.

She couldn’t fight while protecting the elders.

Moreover, as an archer, she wanted to avoid fighting between fellow party members, but with hot-tempered Arsil, it seemed unlikely she would back down easily…

“No, I won’t fight.”

“What…?”

She backed down easily.

Arsil sighed and removed her gloves.

“Fighting would just mean we’re fighting among ourselves. It won’t change this miserable situation.”

“Arsil…”

Naidryan was greatly surprised, while Ravin raised one eyebrow.

“Then do you acknowledge that the ownership of this forest belongs to us elves?”

“…”

Arsil didn’t answer.

Instead, she began gathering scattered bones into the center.

Ravin, noticing what Arsil was trying to do, moved further away to bring back bones from the entrance.

Originally, Lin and Ravin should have done this first.

At that time, their own lives had been in danger, so they had no choice but to leave this tragedy behind with tears in their eyes.

Now, five years later, Ravin and Arsil were finally taking care of it together.

“This was… my hometown.”

The lingering resentment was too strong to allow for burial.

Arsil poured oil that Ravin had taken out from his inventory onto the pile of bones.

“While I was away serving as a Saint in the Church, the Holy Knights came and massacred everyone. Ravin and… the porter were survivors from this place.”

This time, Ravin was truly surprised.

Arsil had deliberately concealed that the Empire was responsible for the Sewage Alley massacre.

The usually bluntly direct woman had actually used her brain to hide information.

It was an action born from wariness of the Imperial Princess and Shield Knight’s intelligence network and power.

In other words, Arsil didn’t trust the elves.

Not even Naidryan, her own party member.

“Rainford told me to betray Luci, promising to revitalize this place. Even though it had already been destroyed and abandoned for years, he hid the truth from me and played with me, who knew nothing.”

Arsil tore the sleeve of her clerical robe.

She soaked the torn cloth with oil and tied it to a thick branch.

“Before the reformed hero’s party departed for the Church, the Shield Knight showed me ten carriages leaving the city gates. He said they were all relief supplies being sent here.”

She tried hard to light a fire with flint.

It wasn’t working well.

Lighting a fire with such primitive methods was Lin’s specialty.

Though her palms were blackened, Arsil didn’t care.

“If I had looked around the estate’s carriages and drivers one more time before leaving, I would have known that those ten carriages eventually came back to the estate without going anywhere… but I didn’t… I was foolishly deceived.”

*Whoosh*

Finally, the fire caught.

“My heart told me to verify, but I didn’t. I just believed what I wanted to believe.”

Arsil threw the torch onto the pile of bones.

The fire spread instantly and grew enormous.

If there had only been bones, it would have been difficult, but thanks to the clothes the victims were wearing when they died, the fire burned well.

“The Imperial Princess and Rainford are liars. Can you trust the promises of such people?”

“You made a contract in exchange for your personal wish. My case is different. This is a transaction between nations—between elves and the Empire. The situations are completely different.”

“You think you’re so smart?”

Arsil let out a bitter laugh.

“I too ignored the voice in my heart that said this was wrong, that it might be wrong, and convinced myself this was the better path, the only path—and this is the result.”

But Naidryan lashed out at Arsil who was trying to teach her.

“What do you… know about my efforts?”

Arsil looked at the archer with sorrowful eyes.

So this is how I was.

If I had just looked sideways a little, if I had just broadened my vision a bit more, I would have seen through these obvious lies, conspiracies, and schemes that I ignored due to my own stubbornness.

Realizing that words wouldn’t get through, Arsil turned her gaze to the blazing fire.

As always, the flickering flames brought a strange calmness.

‘Hey! You finally came?’

“Jack…?”

She couldn’t believe it.

Beloved voices came from within the flames.

These voices were clearly audible not only to Arsil but also to Ravin.

‘Arsil, Ravin! I’m glad you’re safe. Why did you come to this empty place?’

“Lafam? I came to see you all…!”

When Arsil answered, Jack and Lafam giggled.

Not just them, but laughter of young boys and girls echoed from all around.

‘Why come back after you’ve left? There’s a wider, better world out there.’

‘Don’t fight with Ravin, get along well.’

‘Yes, forget this place and succeed out there.’

“But you’re all here!”

Jack responded to Arsil’s wail with a somber voice.

‘Arsil, we all wanted to leave this place. We all wanted to leave together. With you too.’

Lafam continued.

‘We’re all the Sewage Alley when we’re together. Wherever we are together becomes the Sewage Alley.’

‘So now, wherever you are is the alley. Not here.’

“Jack! Lafam!”

The laughter gradually faded.

The vengeful spirits were dispersing.

‘Now that we’ve seen you two, we have no regrets. The other one… he’ll probably come after his revenge is complete.’

Lafam said regretfully.

‘We’re fine now, so please tell him not to push himself too hard.’

Jack said with concern.

“Don’t go!”

‘We have to go. We’ll be watching from the other side! The alley you create!’

“Don’t go!”

‘When you make the alley, give it a better name. What kind of name is Sewage Alley anyway?’

“Please don’t go!”

Now it was impossible to tell whose voice was whose.

Ravin couldn’t hold back and covered his face with one hand.

Arsil was already in tears.

‘Remember us.’

‘We’re everywhere.’

‘Maybe because of where we’re from, we’re like sewage—found everywhere?’

This final exchange penetrated deep into Arsil’s heart more than anything else.

‘Goodbye, Arsil, Ravin… Give our regards to him too.’

“No!”

The once massive flames gradually died down.

Arsil wailed and jumped into the fire, but as if on cue, the flames completely extinguished.

“Arsil, you fool! You’ll get burned!”

Ravin pulled her out in alarm.

The ash pile was still hot, with smoke rising from it.

Suddenly, Arsil embraced Ravin and sobbed.

Finally, Ravin too couldn’t hold back his tears.

“I’ll remember… I’ll remember… that you’re everywhere…”

Even while sobbing,

Arsil repeated the words the spirits had told her for her sake, over and over again.