Chapter 76: Another Beginning of Misfortune (2)

[76] 11. Another Beginning of Misfortune (2)

Rem brought the two unconscious women back to his home. It wasn’t a calculated act, but an unconscious one.

He had to hide this somehow.

And so he arrived at his house.

Rem restrained the two women with magic tools, and then tossed them onto the floor. He sat down heavily in a chair, burying his face in his hands as he thought.

*I messed up.*

That was his first thought.

The excuse, that he had no choice because his life was in danger, followed soon after. But he asked himself: *Was there really no other way? Were there no gentler methods?*

“Damn it.”

Rem spat out a curse, pushing those regrets away. What’s done is done. The important thing is what comes next.

His primary goal, of course, was this:

Protect his current way of life.

Make this incident disappear as if it never happened.

And live like this until he dies of old age.

But how?

He knew that he’d already gotten involved in their conflict. It was impossible not to.

Only a fool would think that there wouldn’t be repercussions after having knocked someone out and restrained them.

“Your guts are small compared to your magical skills. Thankfully.”

The voice pierced through his thoughts. Rem looked up and saw Feya, who’d just woken up.

She looked at him with an emotionless expression and then said,

“You’re worried that you got involved in something you shouldn’t have, aren’t you?”

Hitting the nail on the head.

Rem bit his lower lip.

Feya chuckled and looked at Rosalia.

“I have a suggestion. Release me and hand her over.”

Rosalia’s body, who had seemed unconscious, suddenly twitched. She sat up and looked at Rem.

“You mustn’t do that! I…!”

“Shut up.”

Rem’s cold voice silenced Rosalia. He glared at her, then turned back to Feya.

“What’s in it for me?”

“I won’t touch you. And I’ll even compensate you for those broken magic tools and the damage to your shop. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

Feya’s sky-blue eyes shone.

“And to ease your guilt, I’ll let you know that she’s a thief. She stole the Imperial treasure. She’s a traitor to the Empire.”

“It’s a lie! I did it for the sake of the Empire’s…”

“I told you to shut up.”

Rem’s mechanical eyes turned towards Rosalia. Rosalia’s expression hardened, and her head dropped at that moment.

Feya smirked coldly and continued,

“So, hurry up and release me, then I’ll take her and disappear from your life.”

Rem’s brow furrowed as he heard her words. He placed his hand on his chin as if in deep thought, and then, snapping his fingers, he chanted.

[chunp]

*Baam-*

Feya, struck by magic, rolled her eyes and collapsed onto the floor.

“You tried to kill me a moment ago, and you think I’m going to believe you? You think I’m an idiot or something…?”

Then he turned to look at Rosalia.

“You?”

“Me…?”

“Yeah, don’t you have anything to say?”

Rosalia had a blank expression for a moment before furrowing her brow as if deep in thought.

Then, suddenly, she placed her forehead on the ground and said,

“I apologize.”

Rem raised an eyebrow. Rosalia continued, still prostrated on the floor.

“As a knight whose duty is to protect the Empire and its people, I have done something I shouldn’t have. I sincerely regret my actions.”

“However,”

She trailed off, her tone tense.

“You must release me.”

Rosalia’s tone was now tinged with desperation.

“I’m aware that it’s a shameless request. But I am currently carrying out an important mission. An extremely important mission on which the fate of the empire hangs. If I fail…”

“So, what can you do for me?”

Rem’s emotionless voice cut her off. His words landed on her trembling shoulders.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Knight, but I’m not interested in the fate of the empire. My only concern right now is how to make sure I don’t get involved in your business.”

“If, if that’s the case, you can just release me! Then I’ll take care of her myself…”

“No, it’s not just that barbarian woman who’s the problem.”

Rem scratched his head in frustration.

“Look, it’s not just that woman who’s chasing after you, right?”

“… That’s correct.”

“Then what do you think will happen when the others come looking for you after you leave? They’ll find out that my shop was destroyed, because, thanks to your little brawl, it must have already spread throughout the city.”

“…I see.”

“And the barbarian woman is gone, you’re off on your journey, and I’m alive. What do you think they’ll assume? Of course they’ll think that you and I are accomplices, right?”

“…That would be the logical conclusion.”

“And then what would happen to *me*?”

Rosalia didn’t answer, and Rem didn’t bother to say it out loud. Whatever might happen, it wouldn’t be easy to maintain his current way of life.

Rem, trying hard to suppress his irritation, said,

“So, tell me what you’re going to do about this tangled situation.”

At those words, Rosalia’s face turned ashen. Eventually, she bowed her head deeply and muttered.

“…I’m truly sorry.”

In other words, she couldn’t do anything.

Rem let out an exasperated sigh and ran his hand through his hair. He stood up from the chair and paced around around the living room, desperately racking his brain.

Then, he suddenly stopped and chanted,

[ituned]

The magic tool that’s restraining Rosalia had disassembled. She smiled broadly and said.

“Th-Thank you. I will surely repay you for this kindness…”

“Cut the crap and draw your sword.”

Confusion appeared on Rosalia’s face. But Rem ignored her and pulled out some bandages from a shelf. He rolled up his sleeve and then wrapped them tightly around his bicep.

“What are you…”

“Cut it.”

Rem declared as he placed his arm on the table and said. It took Rosalia a moment to understand what he meant.

And when she finally did, she couldn’t help but cry out,

“Are you mad? Why would you cut off your perfectly good arm…”

“Because that’s how I can avoid suspicion. You stupid bitch.”

Rem grimaced and continued,

“You’ll take that woman with you, and later when the others come looking for you, I’ll tell them that you attacked me as well. And this arm will be the proof.”

“But there’s no need to go that far…”

“Scars and wounds heal. We need irrefutable evidence to avoid suspicion. And besides, it’s not like I can’t get a new prosthetic hand.”

Rosalia stared at Rem’s bronze hand with an astonished expression. Rem, looking at her with irritated eyes, said again,

“So, hurry up and draw your sword. Now.”

And then he shoved a piece of wood into his mouth.

Rosalia looked at him with bewildered eyes for a moment, then her expression turned resolute.

“I’m sorry. I will repay this debt.”

*Bullshit*, Rem grumbled, his words muffled by the piece of wood. Then he turned his head away from his arm.

Rosalia took a deep breath and drew her sword. She assumed a stance and raised the sword above her head.

And then…

*Knock, knock, knock.*

“Rem! It’s me, the Baron! I brought some good alcohol!.”

The tense atmosphere vanished in an instant. Rem sighed and let the wood he had been biting fall from his mouth.

“It’s someone I know. Just hide behind the counter. I’ll send him away.”

Then he stood up and headed for the door. Rosalia, feeling a sense of relief, sighed.

And then, just as Rem was about to reach for the doorknob, a sense of foreboding crept into her heart.

“Wait, if you open the door…”

But her premonition was a beat too late.

In Rosalia’s field of vision, Rem with a dagger stuck in his abdomen comes into view.

Rem looked down at his stomach, then stumbled backwards. And then, suddenly, he collapsed to his knees on the floor.

Rem tries to grab the dagger with trembling hands.

A cold voice came from behind.

“I suggest you don’t resist. That dagger is coated with paralytic poison.”

[Rem! It’s me, the Baron! I brought some good…]

Rem, like a broken machine, slowly raised his head.

It was an auburn-haired woman with freckles. The woman turned off the magical device that played the Baron’s voice, and drew her sword.

“Subdue her.”

In that instant, the knights who had been standing behind her rushed towards Rosalia.

Rosalia resisted, but numbers are hard to overcome. Soon, Rosalia was subdued and her cheek was pressed against the floor.

Rem, feeling his body stiffening, barely managed to speak.

“Who… are you…?”

“Captain of the Central Knights’ First Division, Sheila.”

“Why did you… The Baron’s voice…”

“He cooperated when I asked nicely.”

Sheila answered, then she pulled a sword from her waist. Rem’s pupils trembled.

“Wait… What are you…”

“I apologize.”

A truly remorseful expression appeared on Sheila’s face.

“I can’t let you live.”

“What… what does that…”

“Wait! Sheila! That person has nothing to do with this! He knows nothing!!”

Rosalia shouted desperately, but Sheila’s expression didn’t soften.

“Those are the Prince’s orders. To eliminate anyone who might know anything about this.”

Rosalia’s pupils trembled, and she shouted in a distorted voice,

“Are you really going to follow such a cruel order, Sheila?! Are you going to abandon your honor as a knight?! Come to your sen… Mmmph!!”

A knight’s hand clamped over her mouth. Sheila looked at her sadly, then back at Rem.

“I’m truly sorry.”

And she raised her sword.

Looking at the blade slowly rising towards the ceiling,

And feeling his consciousness gradually fading,

Rem thought to himself,

*Life really is a bitch.*

*I finally found peace, left my past behind, and was about to start a new, happy life and now this?*

He even felt like giving up.

*Is there a reason to live, enduring this kind of misfortune? Shouldn’t I just rest now?*

But, in the end, Rem remembered *her* words.

[If you die, I’ll die too.]

*God, why did Amy have to say that?*

[utsb]

*Kwaaang-*

“W-Wait!!”

“Damn it! Ugh!”

“No!!”

The magic tools he had hidden throughout the house activated simultaneously, bombarding the knights. Caught off guard by the surprise attack, they fell.

Sheila, quickly regaining her composure, shouted,

“Don’t panic! Fight back calmly… Oof-!”

Her face struck by an attack, she rolled across the floor. She looked at Rem, who was struggling to his feet, her eyes wide with shock.

“The poison should have already spread, how…”

Rem spat out black blood from his mouth, then wiped his mouth.

“I’ve developed quite a tolerance after having eaten all sorts of strange things in the magic tower. Ugh…! It hurts like hell though…!”

Rem pulls the dagger out from his stomach.

Then, he turns around.

There stood Rosalia, who had somehow freed herself from her restraints. She came to Rem’s side and said, her face full of guilt.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Fuck you, bitch.”

Rem spat out a curse and then focused his gaze ahead.

Sheila was getting up with a contorted face, and the knights, having regained their composure, were calmly dealing with the magic tools.

The situation wasn’t looking good.

Rem grimaced and said,

“Let’s talk after we get out of here.”