Ch.6Ready to Part (2)

Walking through these ruins, where the only trace of human habitation was a moss-covered, collapsing wooden house, I often found myself reflecting on how fleeting and fragile human civilization truly is.

This village, which must have been built by people who gathered here in this remote area and combined their strength, now lay in ruins with nothing but trees, weeds, and moss remaining.

I couldn’t help but draw parallels to my own circumstances—rising from commoner to nobility, only to lose my entire family. With a bitter feeling in my heart, I headed toward one wooden house that remained relatively intact.

Since I had only recently recovered and was too weak to venture into the forest to cut wood myself, I planned to salvage suitable timber from these collapsing houses to make a grave marker for my sister.

From the tree’s perspective, wouldn’t it be better to become Laila’s grave marker rather than remain part of these decaying ruins?

Just to be safe, I had already obtained permission from Ms. Milwood.

I approached the house that looked most intact from the outside.

Then I took my knife to the log that served as a wall and scraped away the thick layers of moss.

I don’t know how long this place had been abandoned, but the condition of the wood was surprisingly good.

“Good, I’ll use this wood.”

After cutting off the amount of log I needed with a saw, I placed it on the ground and slowly rolled it toward Ms. Milwood’s cabin.

Ms. Milwood had gladly lent me several tools, including the saw I had just used, and offered me the small yard behind her cabin.

There was a small table and various tools there—a sort of workshop where she said she made things whenever she needed them.

‘I’m not particularly skilled with my hands, so I mostly just make tables and chairs.’

That’s what she said, but if the table and chairs inside the cabin were her work, her craftsmanship was more than adequate.

Though rough and rustic, they were well-balanced and sturdy without any wobbling.

“Heave-ho.”

Upon reaching the backyard, I set down the log haphazardly, then collapsed onto the table, wiping the sweat from my forehead with my sleeve.

I was already exhausted before even starting the work.

Just rolling and carrying a log that I could have easily lifted before my injury had my muscles trembling and sweat pouring down like rain.

With a body in this condition, even if I managed to escape the forest safely, I had no idea what I would do afterward.

My family’s estate had likely already fallen into the hands of my parents’ killer.

Perhaps the Count’s family, who had been close to my parents, might have taken some action, but society had fallen into chaos after the hero and demon lord perished together, with monster attacks continuing unabated. The Count’s family, having invested heavily in the hero, was also facing difficulties, so I couldn’t expect much help.

My uncle was behind the murder of my parents, coveting the family headship.

He couldn’t have planned alone to kill his own brother, sister-in-law, and their children—there must have been someone backing him, and that someone was surely targeting the Count’s family.

The Count and Countess might also be in danger.

The reason for the Count family’s financial difficulties was that they had invested in the hero’s party, trusting my sister.

I desperately hoped that the Count’s family, who had been like benefactors to us, would remain unharmed.

“What should I do…”

What should I do after leaving this forest?

In my current physical state, even revenge seemed difficult.

If my uncle discovered I was still alive, he would surely try to kill me, so I would need to hide my identity and live quietly somewhere. But I wasn’t sure if I had the skills to support myself.

I had studied magical theory diligently and possessed considerable knowledge, but jobs requiring desk work wouldn’t hire a suspicious person hiding their identity.

Despite having a sister who was an archmage, my own practical magic skills were severely lacking, and with my battered body, becoming an adventurer was out of the question.

I no longer had a family or noble house to help me.

“…Hah,”

I sighed and looked up at the sky, but still couldn’t see any clear solution.

My future looked bleak.

That’s when it happened.

Something ice-cold touched my sweat-soaked cheek.

“Ah! Cold!”

“What are you doing? Daydreaming?”

“…Ms. Milwood.”

Ms. Milwood was holding two bronze cups in her hands.

She handed me the cup she had pressed against my cheek and spoke.

“Take a break and drink this. It’s hot today.”

“What is it?”

“Water with lemon juice and honey. I added ice too.”

“No wonder it’s so cold.”

“Hehe,”

She had become comfortable enough with me to laugh so cheerfully in my presence.

It was a shame that she still kept her face hidden, but that cute laugh made me imagine what might be beneath that cloth.

I wouldn’t be disappointed if Ms. Milwood wasn’t beautiful, but somehow I was convinced that a beautiful face was hidden beneath that cloth.

I accepted the cup from her, ignoring her innocent laughter, and slowly moistened my lips.

The sweet and sour liquid swirled around my mouth before slowly sliding down my throat.

The sweetness seemed to boost my energy, while the sourness cleared my mind.

“…It’s delicious.”

“Oh, really? I just threw it together, so I’m glad you like it.”

“Where did you get the ice from?”

“Magic.”

Magic?

She can use a sword, wield some holy power, and even use magic?

Goodness, how versatile could she be?

I stared at her with a dumbfounded expression.

“What?”

“You know magic too?”

“Yes. But just a little—not enough to be called a mage. I can use some basic spells.”

Basic spells,

That clearly referred to the lowest-level spells of each element.

It was an expression commonly used by students studying at academies, so perhaps she was a child of a noble family who had graduated from one.

I looked at her with slightly envious eyes.

A swordswoman who could use basic magic and some holy power.

It was easy to imagine how valuable such a companion would be to adventurers who constantly walked the line between life and death.

She must have been an extremely capable person during her adventuring days.

Unlike me now.

To calm my frustrated mind, I lifted the cup and emptied the drink into my mouth.

After swallowing the refreshing liquid and crunching on the remaining ice, she handed me the other cup she had been holding.

“Aren’t you going to drink, Ms. Milwood?”

“You know I won’t drink in front of you.”

“…Right.”

She always went to her room to eat separately, even after preparing meals.

Naturally, eating would require her to reveal her face.

“Did you bring two cups for me from the beginning?”

I asked as I took the second cup.

She smiled and slowly shook her head.

“No, I brought it wanting to drink with you. But once I got here, I remembered I couldn’t.”

“…Are you stupid?”

“Oh ho, look at this guy.”

“I’m sorry.”

She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.

Her comment about wanting to drink with me somehow made me feel a little excited, and my face grew warm.

“…Can’t you just drink normally?”

“No.”

“…We’re going to part ways soon anyway.”

“That makes it even more impossible.”

Though she wasn’t emanating killing intent like before, her attitude remained absolutely firm.

I sighed once and then downed the remaining drink in one go.

It must have been quite hot outside, as the ice in the second cup had already completely melted.

“Phew, I feel energized now. I should get back to work.”

“You said you’re leaving soon, but with that body and those hands, it’s going to take a while,”

“…Hmm,”

“You said three days would be enough,”

“It’s still only the first day.”

“Can you finish in the two days you have left?”

“…I’ll have to try.”

Ms. Milwood chuckled at my words.

I wasn’t sure what she found so funny, as I hadn’t said anything particularly humorous.

Of course, she wouldn’t force me to leave if I couldn’t finish in three days.

But I wanted to keep my promise to her, my benefactor.

Besides, regardless of whether I wanted to see her face or not, I also wanted to free her from the discomfort of constantly wrapping her face in that cloth.

I stood up, taking a carving knife from the toolbox beside the table, and said:

“Let’s see if I can do it somehow within three days,”

I approached the log I had brought and applied the carving knife.

Ting!

The carving knife broke helplessly.

“…”

“…”

“Don’t laugh.”

“…Pfft,”

“Ah, I said don’t laugh,”

“Puhahaha! You idiot.”

“…”

Ms. Milwood rocked back and forth, laughing hysterically.

I felt my face turning bright red.

It was certainly a funny situation—right after I had confidently declared I would somehow manage, the tool broke with a “ting” sound.

The problem was that it was also incredibly embarrassing.

“Ah~ That’s so funny. I don’t remember the last time I laughed this hard.”

“…”

“Ash, you really… hehehe,”

“Ah, please stop laughing. I feel terrible about breaking your tool.”

“It’s fine, it was old anyway. I hardly use carving knives these days.”

Ms. Milwood pulled out a small dagger from her waist and handed it to me.

“These days I just use a dagger instead of a carving knife because it’s less hassle. Use this.”

“Ah, yes… thank you.”

“Don’t break it, it’s precious to me.”

“I won’t break it! That carving knife broke because it was rusty!”

“Hmm? Then if you break this dagger now, you’ll have no excuse, right?”

“…If that happens, I’ll work like a dog to pay you back before I leave.”

“Puhehe, what am I going to do with you, with that weak body of yours. It’s fine,”

With a flushed face, I accepted the dagger and pulled it from its leather sheath to examine the blade.

Though not ornately decorated, it had a clean, elegant handle and an incredibly sharp blade that gleamed—clearly a high-quality piece just from looking at it.

I felt almost guilty using such a dagger as a carving tool; it was that good.

Though I wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about weapons, a soft exclamation of admiration escaped my lips without me realizing it.

“…Wow, this…”

“Hehe, be careful not to cut yourself—it’s very sharp.”

I placed the dagger against the cross-section of the log.

The dagger cut into the wood as smoothly as if it were slicing through butter.