Episode 7 – The Archer’s Daughter

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A tavern in a corner of the city of Plavis.

From a small building made of clay bricks, cheerful music and laughter poured out incessantly through the cracks in the door.

People mingled and drank together even if they weren’t in the same group, and the bartender and servers were busy attending to the guests.

I tipped the bartender handsomely, asking him not to let anyone approach, and rented a room with a table all to myself.

Of course, I bought everyone a drink, and I paid the busy waitress a generous tip as well.

In the room where no one could enter, Lara and Lily sat drinking cool draft beer.

I took off my mask without worrying about people’s eyes and lay down on the bed, telling Lara what had happened at the academy.

,So, you went and made such a fuss?”

Lara tapped her beer glass on the table and asked me accusingly.

Her tone and expression showed her discomfort without filter.

I shrugged and replied.

“That Rose, she’s more of a hopeless thug than I thought.”

“…How did that small, cute Rose become like that?”

“Yeah, Lily said the same thing, that she wasn’t like this before.”

“She was nice, cute, and took good care of her younger siblings for a five-year-old.”

“Everyone is nice and cute at five years old.”

“You haven’t raised a kid, have you?”

Lara glanced sideways at Lily, who was sitting next to her.

Lily, feeling her mother’s gaze, cleared her throat and quietly sipped her beer.

Could it be that even this quiet Lily was a tomboy who gave Lara a hard time when she was young?

When I stared at her, Lily’s face turned red and she turned her head away.

Amused by her daughter’s shyness, Lara said with a mischievous smile.

“Do you know I cut my hair because of Lily? Every time I went to sleep, Lily would…”

“Uwaaaaa!”

“Ugh! You scared me. Lily! How can you shout in your mom’s ear?”

I was a little surprised too.

It seemed like it was the first time I’d seen Lily shout so loudly.

Lily seemed a little surprised by her own shout too.

I quickly changed the subject before Lily got too embarrassed.

“You both say she was such a nice kid, but she was spouting such harsh words?”

“I wonder what happened while we were gone… Besides, that Banata girl is also bothering me.”

“Banata? Why her?”

“I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere before.”

“15 years ago? You have a good memory.”

“I’m not kidding, Ed, and why did you suddenly decide to sponsor her? Do you know something about her?”

“Yeah, I know.”

I took out an envelope from my pocket.

Lily tilted her head and asked me.

“What’s that?”

“A letter from Banata.”

“How does Ed-ssi have that… Ah…”

“Stole it, what else.”

The basics of a thief are pickpocketing.

Even after being dead and resurrected for nearly 20 years, my light fingers were still the same, and my skills were as good as ever.

I fluttered the letter I had stolen from Banata and said.

“This letter was sent by a maid named ‘Mena’.”

At that moment, Lara was so surprised that she dropped her glass.

I smiled and asked.

“Familiar name, isn’t it? Lara.”

Mena. Of course, Lara knew her.

It was definitely the name of the maid who took care of her at Robin’s mansion.

A quiet and gentle wolf beastman, Lara still remembers the taste of the black tea she used to brew.

Why is her name suddenly coming up here?

Lara looked at Ed.

“According to the letter, I don’t know the details, but it seems Banata is Robin’s child with that woman named Mena.”

“Is that true?”

“Yeah, I thought it was strange that Rose was so composed even when she was talking about the orphanage, but who knew she had this secret.”

Lily, with wide eyes, opened and closed her mouth.

That’s because Banata was the same age as Lily.

But she had no memory of seeing her at the mansion at all.

“But… I’ve never seen her at the mansion.”

“Did he want to hide her? I don’t know the details.”

“…”

“We’ll find out soon enough. Lara, tell me everything you investigated today.”

“Ah… okay.”

Lara answered, but she was still sitting there with a dazed expression.

Was it that shocking that Robin had touched a woman other than the party members?

I got up from the bed and snapped my fingers twice at her to get her attention.

“Snap out of it, do you still have feelings for Robin?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then it’s a problem, Lara. You know?”

I approached her and grabbed her face with my right hand, turning her gaze to meet mine.

Lara’s gray eyes, flustered, stared at my stern face.

I smiled crookedly and said, growling.

“I’m going to kill Robin.”

“…I know, Ed.”

“I’m saying this for our friendship, Lara.”

“…”

“Robin must meet a painful death at my hands.”

Lara looked at me with trembling eyes.

Reflected in her eyes was my terrible yet sweet smile.

At that moment, what I was looking at was not Lara, but my imaginary self tearing apart Robin’s corpse.

Lily watched the scene, feeling the alcohol wearing off.

It wasn’t like this at first.

Lily felt that Ed was gradually changing.

He was a kind person even though he had become an undead.

Lily often made big mistakes in the process of converting the various treasures and items that Ed had brought from the Demon King’s Castle into cash, such as being scammed or selling them at ridiculously low prices.

But Ed never got angry.

Rather, he would comfort her, saying she had a hard time, or take her for a walk to change her mood.

Lily sometimes blushed while walking with Ed.

Just like in the memories of Lara that she had read, Ed was always cool, kind, and funny.

However, after coming to this city, Ed was gradually becoming darker.

Whether it was because the full-scale revenge plan had begun, or because of the stress of playing the different identity of Baron Salvie,

He had become sensitive recently, constantly joking around while also being anxious.

His actions were also becoming more violent.

Lily was worried that the chains that had stretched out from his arm on the day she first met him would strangle Lara’s neck at any moment.

It felt like he could break her mother’s neck as easily as he had broken that bow that day.

“Ed… please let go of Mom.”

“…”

I was embarrassed.

…Why was I grabbing Lara’s face?

It didn’t seem like it was something to get that angry about.

Lately, it seems like my actions often go out before my brain even gives the command.

In Rose’s case, the original plan was to approach her slowly and naturally make contact with Robin.

Before I knew it, I was forcibly pressuring her to bring her parents.

This won’t do. Something is definitely wrong with me now.

Lara glanced at me, who was embarrassed, and Lily, who was anxious, and then smiled and pushed my hand away.

“Okay- aren’t you holding a lady’s face for too long? Pervert Ed.”

“…Haha, sorry. Is Lara pretty or something?”

“If you knew I was pretty, why didn’t you hit on me sooner?”

“I prefer younger women.”

“If you’re going by human standards, I’m younger than you, you know?”

“You’re really becoming an old lady if you’re worrying about that.”

“You little shit.”

Lara and I naturally started acting out a situation.

Lily smiled awkwardly as she watched us.

＊

Forcibly smoothing over the awkward atmosphere,

Lara explained the structure and security of Aureo Academy, which she had investigated during the day.

Then, she handed me the list of the Hero’s children who were attending the academy, which she had found out.

I folded the list and put it in my pocket, saying, ‘Let’s rest for today,’ and left the room as if running away.

The mother and daughter left in the room didn’t say anything.

Lara picked up the dropped beer glass and placed it on the table, standing still, and Lily was looking at her with pity.

“Mom, are you okay?”

“…Yeah, you don’t have to worry about Lily.”

“You don’t look good, are you sick somewhere?”

“No… I’m just worried about Ed.”

“Mom…”

Lily lowered her head.

The day when the shocking scene of Robin betraying and killing Ed flowed into her head.

The memories that flowed into Lily’s head that day were not all from the Hero.

The memories of her own mother, Lara, had also flowed in at the same time.

Memories of Ed seen through Lara’s eyes.

She didn’t know it well when she was young, but Lily could understand it well enough now.

Lara was definitely in love with Ed.

Stupid Ed.

Even though she made it so obvious, he didn’t notice at all,

A fool who only looked at Mela.

Ed, as seen through Lara’s memories, was very cool.

His words of praise every time she worked hard to hunt.

His hands skillfully cooking the prey, saying she had worked hard.

The smile he gave while secretly taking care of the most delicious part.

His ears that listened most sincerely when discussing reconnaissance.

His eyes that recognized her efforts and sacrifices before anyone else.

Those nights when they joked around and laughed while talking,

Even his insensitivity, not noticing Lara’s feelings at all and only looking at Mela, was something she admired as a woman.

It seemed that Ed’s happiness was only next to Mela, and even if Ed wasn’t her lover, they were friends who had built beautiful memories.

That’s why Lara had given up on Ed.

However, as beautiful as Lara and Ed’s memories were, the memory of the Hero betraying Ed was desperate.

After the day Lily first told Lara the truth about Ed’s death,

Lara was as sad as she remembered Aunt Mela being in the past when she was in despair.

She was also so sad about Ed’s death that she was out of her mind, but she couldn’t show it in front of Mela,

Lara cried every day, shedding the tears she couldn’t shed back then, and woke up from nightmares.

Perhaps that’s why Lily had no complaints about Lara raising her in the Vortex Forest.

She desperately realized how much Lara missed Ed and how much she regretted marrying the Hero who killed Ed,

And she didn’t want to see her mother continue to suffer for the rest of her long elven life if she couldn’t properly bury Ed.

Lily also had a slight crush on Ed, as if she were looking at a prince in a fairy tale.

Although he was an undead, Lily wanted her mother’s unrequited love to be rewarded in some way when she ended up living with Ed, who had miraculously come back to life.

However, after watching the two of them for four months, Lily realized that their relationship was hopeless.

Ed, who had only treated Lara as a friend in her memories, had been distancing himself from Lara even more since he came back to life.

Lily felt that it was because of her.

The ‘daughter’ who was the result and evidence of Lara and the Hero’s relationship

Even that kind Ed had never looked me in the eye and talked to me.

If those blue eyes that resembled Robin’s ever caught Ed’s eye, Ed would immediately stiffen and shut his mouth.

Sometimes, she seemed to see deep regret in her mother’s eyes as she looked at her and Ed.

After finishing her thoughts, Lily carefully asked Lara.

“Mom… do you regret meeting the Hero?”

“…Lily.”

With just that one word, Lara immediately understood what Lily was thinking.

Of course, she regrets it.

Those eyes that apologized for not being able to save him even after killing Ed shamelessly,

That mouth that clumsily made excuses, saying that the power of the Holy Sword had disappeared because it had killed the Demon King and fulfilled its role,

That hand that dared to cut Ed, that touched her and Mela

If she could go back, she would tear him apart in front of Ed’s grave.

She wanted to scatter his corpse pieces all over the Vortex Forest, making them nothing more than the excrement of monsters and beasts.

But Lily’s question was no different from asking if she regretted giving birth to her.

Lily was never included in Lara’s regrets.

The only truth and love in her marriage, which started with lies and continued with deception, was her daughter.

Her daughter, who realized the truth that was difficult to bear at such a young age.

Poor Lily, who silently endured the difficult life in the remote area, had done nothing wrong.

As much as Lara felt sorry for Lily, she felt that Lily was pitying her.

Lara stroked Lily’s hair and said.

“What I regret the most…”

“…”

“Is not telling Ed that I liked him.”

Ed likes the Saintess anyway.

Ed will be with Mela.

I didn’t reveal my feelings to Ed.

Looking back now, Ed and Mela didn’t end up together after all.

He’s miraculously by my side now, but Ed will never look at me.

Because he will never love me, who was a friend in the past and is now the wife of his enemy.

If only before he died, even just once,

If only she had told him her true feelings,

Could she have become his lover after he was resurrected?

Could she have filled his heart with her love instead of revenge?

Lara stroked the face that had been squeezed by Ed’s violent hand.

She feels that the kind and cheerful Ed is disappearing.

Will he return to the Ed she loved back then after he finishes his revenge?

Probably not.

Lara swallowed her tears and said.

“What I regret the most is not being able to stop Ed from changing like this…”

＊

Even though it was late at night, carriages were busy moving around on the streets.

Several cargo carriages were carrying various items and food supplies towards Aureo Academy.

Why are they suddenly making us work at this late hour?

A rumor was circulating among the disgruntled coachmen.

Perhaps the Hero-nim might be visiting the academy.

I was cooling my head by watching the procession of carriages from the rooftop.

I don’t even understand my own actions from earlier.

Lately, I feel that Lara and Lily’s gazes towards me are filled with worry.

Since they’re always with me, they must have noticed that I’m becoming more violent first.

I wrapped my right hand in demonic energy.

In an instant, black chains covered my arm and swayed steadily.

Over the past four months of preparing for revenge, I had become very familiar with both demonic energy and divine power, and I could now handle them as if they were my own.

I even recently figured out how to convert demonic energy into magical power.

Of course, I haven’t learned how to use magic yet,

And I need to go through the process of wrapping myself in demonic energy first and then converting it into magical power, so I can’t use it in front of people,

But I thought it would be useful someday, so my usage of demonic energy had recently increased significantly.

Could it be that the Demon King sleeping in my head is trying to dominate me again because of that?

The Demon King in my head and the will of divine power had both become quiet recently after I took their power as if I were stealing it…

Lara’s face, warning me that I would get closer to the Demon King the more I used demonic energy, came to mind.

“I should apologize to Lara later.”

I stood up, determined.

The Hero or Jennifer might come tomorrow.

Neither Lara nor I had any information about their recent appearances, so I decided to break into Rose’s room and find out something.

I’ll also return Banata’s letter while I’m at it,

It’s usually better to move your body when your head is complicated.

I noticed a familiar burly coachman among the procession of carriages.

I jumped down from the roof and naturally came out of the alley, approaching the coachman.

The coachman recognized me and slowly stopped the carriage.

“Aren’t you Baron-nim? Why are you here at this hour?”

“Good evening, Hobeoba-ssi.”

Rose had attacked me during the day,

Which led to the Hero being summoned.

Hobeoba readily agreed to give me a ride when I explained that I was going to ask if there was a way to wrap things up before things got out of hand.

Hobeoba hid me among the luggage in the carriage and arrived at the academy, saying that he wanted to enter secretly to prevent noisy rumors.

The guard I saw during the day opened the academy’s iron gate with a wave of his hand this time as well.

According to Lara’s investigation, that gesture is not simply a magic to open the door, but a kind of detection magic,

The academy has a magic that intruders who enter without going through that gesture will definitely be caught.

It was a more troublesome magic than I thought, but fortunately, with Hobeoba’s help, I succeeded in infiltrating the academy more easily than I thought.

Hobeoba said he would be leaving in 30 minutes, so he told me to take care of my business and started taking out the luggage from the carriage.

30 minutes,

It’s enough time for stealing.

After getting far enough away from Hobeoba, I took off my mask and put on a hood that completely covered my face, concentrating demonic energy on my right hand.

A jet-black chain shot out from my right hand with tremendous force and was embedded high on the outer wall of the academy’s dormitory building.

I grabbed the chain and quickly climbed up.

‘The 2nd graders’ dormitory is on the 3rd floor’

Thanks to Lara’s information, I found Rose’s room in 2 minutes and entered through the window.

Fortunately, Rose wasn’t in the room.

I quickly looked around the room, looking for anything that could be information.

The book I saw during the day was open on the table, and next to it were numerous notes and traces of magical experiments scattered haphazardly.

Banata said she had high grades, and she certainly seemed to study hard.

Well, the position of being the daughter of the Hero and the magician who caught the Demon King might be a huge burden for the child.

Dozens of bundles of letters were piled up in the corner of the room.

But the letters weren’t all received by Rose.

Rather, they were letters that Rose was sending to Jennifer.

All the letters had been returned unopened.

“I understand why her personality is like that.”

A daughter rejected by her great mother.

I thought Rose was a little pitiful.

.