Ch.198198. Would I Have Let You Live?

“You’ve worked hard, my friend.”

“Not at all. I was too weak to protect Brond.”

“Have some tea.”

Fortunately, Village Chief Loris wasn’t stupid.

As we ventured deeper into the Silver Central Forest, an eerie energy transmitted through my entire body, making me stiffen.

If I felt this way, how much worse must it be for the knights and mage of Pandera territory?

And so.

Village Chief Loris turned around, seemingly having made a decision.

It appeared his fatherly love only extended that far.

If he had truly cared about the safety of Pandera’s knights and mage, he wouldn’t have done something as foolish as coming this deep in the first place.

I held the teacup he handed me and tilted my head as if something had just occurred to me.

“But how did the Cerberus come out that far? I heard from Berik that except for one Cerberus last year, none had ever come to the central area before.”

Village Chief Loris’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“…Come to think of it, you’re right.”

“If I had known Cerberus would appear so frequently, I wouldn’t have participated in this monster hunt.”

“Yet despite your injuries, you still followed me deep into the Silver Forest.”

“That was out of guilt. Because I couldn’t protect Brond and his friends.”

Acting is truly remarkable.

The more you do it, the better you get.

Now I could even make tears well up in my eyes naturally.

Loris, seemingly deceived, spoke softly.

“My son is probably already dead. Since Cerberus isn’t intelligent, there’s no chance he’d be kept alive.”

“Is that why you turned back?”

“Yes. I couldn’t lose Pandera territory’s talents just for my selfish desires.”

…There’s someone here who’s an even better actor than me?

When I checked with my Eye, I couldn’t find any trace of ‘sadness.’

Only the words ‘suspicion’ and ‘irritation’ existed in Village Chief Loris’s mind.

By the way.

What was he planning to do with the Cerberus?

Was he trying to secretly kill territory residents who opposed him?

Brond and his companions would have been enough for that.

“…I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. What fault could you possibly have?”

Yes, Village Chief Loris would blame his son for releasing the Cerberus at will.

He wouldn’t know that Brond released the Cerberus because of me.

That’s why I saw the word ‘irritation’ when I looked with my Eye.

“What do you plan to do now?”

“I’d like to slowly investigate deeper into the Silver Forest, even if it takes time. I want to at least find my son’s body. However, that wouldn’t be for the benefit of Pandera’s residents.”

Just listening to him, he sounds like a sage.

Hiding my mockery, I nodded.

“Regrettable, but your words are wise.”

“By the way… did you happen to see any personal belongings on the ground while you were there?”

“Personal belongings? When we went there together earlier, there was nothing except torn clothing, right?”

I feigned ignorance, and Village Chief Loris cautiously continued.

“Like a necklace.”

“…Pardon? A necklace?”

Of course, I had to pretend to be surprised.

What father would look for a necklace when he doesn’t even know if his son is dead or alive?

Village Chief Loris cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Ah, never mind. By the way, when are you going to Alphonse territory?”

“I plan to leave tomorrow.”

“Then, would it be possible for me to accompany you to Alphonse territory?”

“No. I will personally escort Lord Selden Alphonse here.”

“Is that so?”

“No matter what, a superior shouldn’t have to move, right?”

Village Chief Loris’s lips twitched slightly.

It seemed he had already erased Brond from his mind.

“Hmm, if Lord Selden Alphonse cannot come personally, a representative is always welcome.”

No, it would be right for me to come personally.

Especially if the Demon Grass is real.

I showed a gentle smile tinged with pretense.

“I’ll do my best to personally escort Lord Selden Alphonse to Pandera territory.”

“Oh? It seems your position within the Alphonse family is quite solid.”

“It’s not so much about ability, but rather knowing how to play the game.”

“Still, leaving Pandera territory might have been a stroke of luck for you.”

“…Thank you.”

“Then I’ll eagerly await the day you return with Lord Selden Alphonse.”

After ending the conversation and receiving Village Chief Loris’s farewell, I rummaged through my pocket.

The necklace that had been on the Cerberus dangled at my fingertips.

With a smile on my lips, I headed toward Wartman’s house.

*

“I’d like an explanation.”

After a very long silence, Wartman was the first to speak.

I responded leisurely, as if I had been waiting for this.

“What kind of explanation?”

“We’ve had many conversations among ourselves, and the most discussed topic was how you became so strong.”

“You want me to explain to you how I became strong?”

I sighed briefly, and Berik, who was beside me, chimed in.

“W-what about the magic!? You’re a knight, so how can you use magic?”

“Should I call it talent? I was born with magical talent.”

“…Then what about swordsmanship?”

“Since I have talent in magic, swordsmanship must be from effort, right?”

“And you expect us to believe that?!”

“If I explain it like this and you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.”

Berik’s cheeks trembled.

Then, he bit his lip firmly.

“You didn’t… use dark arts, did you?”

“Dark arts?”

“Otherwise, becoming this strong in such a short period doesn’t make sense.”

“Should I explain it as talent that bloomed late?”

“Jawill Wilson!!”

I smirked at Berik, who raised his voice.

“If I had really used dark arts, would I have left you all alone after you saw it?”

“…Huh?”

“Would I have let you live?”

Wartman and Berik looked at each other like dumbfounded mutes, as if they hadn’t expected this.

Watching them, Clara closed her eyes tightly and then opened them.

“If I hadn’t sided with you, would you have killed me too?”

“No, there’s such a thing as giving advance notice out of courtesy.”

“…Just because of that?”

“What more do you want?”

“N-nothing…”

Out of frustration, I slammed my palm hard on the table.

Then I took out the necklace that had been on the Cerberus’s neck from my pocket and placed it on the table.

“Listen carefully. This is a necklace that couldn’t be bought even if you sold the entire Pandera territory. What does it mean that Brond had this?”

Clara, who was relatively smart, calmly picked up on my words.

“It means Village Chief Loris is amassing wealth behind the scenes.”

“Exactly! The important thing is that Village Chief Loris acts clean on the surface but does shady things behind the scenes.”

Wartman, who had been listening to the conversation, sighed briefly.

“That’s not so surprising. Most people living in Pandera territory probably know that.”

“But they wouldn’t have known he was taking this much money under the table.”

“That’s true, but Village Chief Loris also sacrifices a lot for Pandera territory…”

I crossed my arms heavily and nodded my chin.

“Have there been any missing persons in Pandera territory recently?”

Berik stretched his neck forward.

“How did you know? Three people have gone missing in the past year.”

“Three people in this small territory?”

“They probably entered the Silver Forest and were eaten by monsters—”

“And Village Chief Loris arbitrarily concluded that.”

“W-well…”

“Were the missing people those who opposed Village Chief Loris or Brond?”

At my words, Berik and Wartman seemed to ponder deeply, and then their faces turned pale as if something had occurred to them.

Wartman adjusted his posture and raised his voice.

“Most of the missing people had issues with Village Chief Loris. Why didn’t we think of that?”

I looked at Clara with heavy eyes.

“Clara, do you really know nothing? Are you sure you weren’t involved in the incidents?”

Clara fidgeted with her fingers, her face pale.

“Absolutely not! I only joined them for drinks after work because Brond threatened me, but I never encountered them separately during work. Berik knows this too.”

Berik nodded, confirming Clara’s words.

I stretched my neck toward her.

“What kind of threat?”

“…My mother is sick.”

“You mean there’s no mage who can treat her?”

“There was exactly one in Pandera territory. No, there was.”

“…If there was one and now there isn’t, that means that person was one of Brond’s companions?”

“That’s right. Now there’s no one in Pandera territory who can treat my mother.”

I leaned back in my chair, looking at Clara’s gloomy expression.

“When I return to Lake territory tomorrow, let’s take your mother with us. I know someone who can provide excellent treatment.”

“…Huh?”

I curled up the corners of my mouth toward Clara.

“And on the way, I’ll let you meet the person you’ve been wanting to see.”