Chapter 20: Goal

It might be only a matter of time before they catch me.

This speed potion doubles my speed, but it only lasts for a minute.

I considered running towards the capital instead of the forest, but I’d be caught quickly. The forest is my only chance.

But even as I sprint, I hear Yerin’s voice behind me.

“Stop right there, Allen!!!”

I’m faster for now, but once the potion wears off, she’ll catch me in less than twenty seconds.

That’s why I chose the forest.

Allen frequented this place, whether for guild requests or his own potion ingredients.

He knew it like the back of his hand, even after his long journey with the hero’s party.

He knew it, but I don’t.

My confidence comes from Allen’s incredibly detailed descriptions of this forest.

I studied them carefully, thinking they might be important.

It’s only been a day since I read them, so I should remember most of it.

Yerin, on the other hand, barely knows this forest. She’s only been here once, when she first met Allen.

…Or so I thought.

“Allen! Stop!!”

Why is she still on my tail? The potion is almost gone…！

She’s not just following me. She’s anticipating my moves, even taking shortcuts I don’t know.

How can I escape if she’s this good…?

“…Oh, this is…”

I stumble into a clearing. It looks… different. Artificial.

This is where Allen and Yerin first met. The magic circle is gone, replaced by fallen leaves.

A few trees surround the area, creating a small sanctuary.

“This place is quite far from the inn…”

Have I been running for that long?

The speed potion is about to wear off.

Damn it, am I going to be caught…?

Just then…

“Aah…!!”

“…?!”

Yerin’s voice, a cry of despair.

Is she… reminiscing? Thinking about how kind Allen used to be, and how cruel he is now?

I don’t have time for sentimentality. My reality is far more pressing.

Sprint!

I push myself to the limit, hoping to lose her before the potion wears off…

“…Huh? Where’d she go?”

Suddenly, she’s gone.

Fizzle…

“Phew. It’s over…”

And just as I realize she’s not chasing me anymore, the speed potion wears off.

“This is my chance.”

I need to hide, use the terrain to my advantage.

Then, when it’s safe, I’ll head back to the capital. The inn is too risky.

“Aah…!!”

I chased Allen, and now I’m here… in this special place.

Where I first met him. He’s running from me now, but back then… he approached me.

Oh, Allen… please come back to your kind, innocent self…

I’m so sorry… I’ll do anything, I’ll repent for my mistakes…

Just… please don’t run away…!!

“Huh?”

But fate is cruel.

I was lost in thought, and Allen disappeared.

No…！ I have to bring him back…!!

But…

“…Where do I go from here?”

Whenever I visited the capital, I always came here, to thank the heavens for bringing Allen into my life. It was my sanctuary, my source of strength.

I know this part of the forest well… but beyond this point, I’m lost.

I don’t know which way to go. The forest ahead looks… unfamiliar.

“Aaargh…!! Aaaaaah!!”

I scream in despair, in the very place that once brought me solace.

I leave the forest, my mind consumed by the thought of failing to bring Allen back. I see an inn…

Grab

I pick up the cloak I discarded earlier, the one I used to hide my face.

“Huh?”

A strange mark on the ground. Like a puddle that dried up, leaving a stain.

But this puddle…!

“…Teleportation potion…!”

It’s unmistakable. The same kind of puddle Allen used to escape from us…！

How could it leave such a lasting mark? But if it’s a potion, a potion imbued with magic… it’s possible.

But why is it here? Someone must have used it… Huh?!

“…That female scent…”

The scent I noticed when Allen was close to me. The scent of another woman.

Could it be… her?!

“…That window… that’s Allen’s room…!”

The puddle is right below Allen’s usual room.

And… when Allen came out of his room, it looked… messy.

No.

“…No… no. It can’t be.”

If it was what I’m thinking… Allen’s masculine scent would be stronger, or there would be a stronger female scent.

Or the room would be warm, or Allen’s clothes would be disheveled.

Luckily, there was none of that.

…But still. Some woman was with Allen, and she used this potion to escape.

So, the messy room… Allen helped her escape.

Grind…!!

I bite my lip, drawing blood. I have to control my anger, or I’ll do something rash.

Allen… helped another woman.

That thought alone is enough to drive me insane.

“I’ll find her… and I’ll kill her…”

The b*tch who seduced Allen, the btch who received his help.

I won’t forgive her.

I’ll kill her instantly.

No, that’s too lenient.

Should I dismember her and show Allen her mangled corpse?

Should I torture her, show him her fear, her ugliness, her filth?

Should I destroy her body, piece by piece, and make him watch her suffer?

…

Yes.

My priorities have changed.

I was planning a life with Allen after defeating the Demon King. But now… everything is twisted.

My top priority is bringing Allen back.

And my second priority… is finding the b*tch who was with him.

Swoosh

I need to return to the palace. If I delay any longer, something might happen, and I’ll lose my chance to catch Allen.

And I need to… explain the murder…

I leave the forest after some time.

I thought Yerin, in her crazed state, might be waiting for me, but I quickly dismissed that idea.

And I was right. The cloak she used to hide her face is gone.

Yerin, even in her rage, maintains a sliver of rationality.

She knows she can’t afford to let this situation escalate. The news of the murder will spread, and her activities will be restricted. She can’t let that happen.

She’s smart, with exceptional observation and judgment.

But her mental state is fragile, and her obsession with Allen has pushed her to the brink…

“…I can’t come back to this inn anymore.”

After what happened today… Yerin will be looking for me. And this inn will be her first stop.

I managed to escape this time, but next time… I might not be so lucky.

And I don’t want to cause any more trouble for the innkeeper.

It’s time to say goodbye. I loved the cozy room, the comfortable bed… but this inn wasn’t meant to be part of my slow life.

Creak…

“…Allen! Are you okay?!!”

“Yes. Noel is probably fine too. I teleported her away.”

“Oh… thank goodness.”

He’s worried about me and Noel, even after what happened to him.

He’s a truly good person.

“Uncle… I don’t think I can come back here anymore.”

“I don’t know what’s going on, Allen. But if it’s related to the hero’s party… I understand. But Allen…”

“…?”

“I’ll wait for you. Just like I waited for you to return from your journey.”

“…Uncle.”

Damn it, what’s with this atmosphere? It’s like a tearful farewell between lovers separated by war.

Well, not lovers, but… close uncle and nephew…

“Oh, right. You need to take your potions. You said you’d take your collection after defeating the Demon King.”

“Ah… yes. I did.”

Allen’s secret stash, filled with every kind of potion he’d ever made. He was planning to focus on potion making after defeating the Demon King.

And I need them too. That’s partly why I came back to the inn.

“…Take this.”

“…Huh?”

The innkeeper pulls out…

“…A bag?”

“I had a feeling you’d come back empty-handed. And your old bag was falling apart anyway.”

It’s smaller than Allen’s old pack mule bag, but perfect for a solo adventurer. Good quality material, too.

“Uncle… you shouldn’t have… This inn isn’t doing well…”

“Shhh! Don’t worry about it. I just dipped into my savings. It’s no big deal! Just take it!”

That’s… even more of a burden.

I don’t want to jinx things, but…

“Thank you, Uncle! I’ll never forget this!”

I can’t refuse. It’s too perfect for my current situation.

I take the bag, go to my room, and pack the potions.

“…I’ll come back when this is all over, Uncle. And I’ll repay you for the bag…!”

“Don’t worry about the bag. Just come back and see me sometime.”

“Yes…!”

I leave the inn, a strange sense of determination filling me.

Thump. Oof…

“Ouch…！ What was that…?”

The potion Allen gave me…

I poured it on the ground, as he instructed. After a moment, it started to glow.

I jumped onto the glowing puddle, as he said…

Whoooosh…

“Whoa?!”

I was sucked into… somewhere. And now I’m here.

Ugh… I landed on my butt… it hurts…

“Ouch ouch…”

But… this isn’t my house.

Hmm… Oh! Right! Before I jumped, I was thinking about the royal palace!

The palace I always saw from the outside… I thought it would be fun to go inside…

“…Is this the palace?”

Yes, it is! I’m at the entrance of the royal palace!

The palace I’ve only ever seen from afar!

…This is amazing! Allen’s potion!

It really brought me where I wanted to go!

“Wow!”

I’m so amazed, I just stand there, staring.

Then…

Creak…

“Haa… where did Yerin go after causing all that trouble… Huh?”

Someone comes out of the palace.

She’s… very pretty.

“Um… how did you get h—”

“Hello! I’m Noel! Allen’s potion brought me here!”

I was taught to greet strangers and introduce myself.

And I should explain how I got here, because it might seem strange!

“…Did you just say Allen?”

“Yes! Allen is my kind, wonderful friend!”

“…My name is Angeline. Noel, shall we talk? Not in this stuffy palace, but… outside.”

“Huh…? Okay!”

Her name is Angeline. She seems nice.

Mom always said not to talk to strangers… but she looks kind, so it should be okay, right?