episode_0021

The house repairs went smoothly.

Though I had initially planned for about two weeks, we managed to fix the roof and second-floor ceiling in just one week.

Now, only the first-floor ceiling remained.

Fortunately, not a single warrior from the Changmoo tribe or even the Brigal people had come by.

Those who did visit seemed like ordinary folks who had come to see their homeland’s heroes after late evening work, content with a small wave from Krisha before heading back.

Yes, this is how it should be.

But despite that, Krisha’s face remained expressionless throughout the entire week.

Linde asked her daily if she was okay, receiving only perfunctory responses without any real reaction.

The only thing she actively pursued was following orders.

One reason the work progressed so quickly was because she worked harder than before, issuing commands to Boget and swiftly moving materials.

That should do it.

While I did care about her well-being, she still ranked lower in priority compared to Boget.

Is there anything more concerning than this emergency race against time for the life of an old, ailing carpenter?

It’s still the same now.

A task embarked upon with the acceptance of potential death by a long-time friend.

A determination to repay me at least a little.

Even if there were divine miracles, this challenge seemed impossible.

It was impossible.

It was never possible from the start.

You fool…

Once we finished the first-floor ceiling, everything would be over.

Boget and I began hammering away.

By lunchtime, I was the only one wielding the hammer.

Quietly, I carried him on my back, continuing the work.

Only Boget and I worked on the second floor, with Krisha being the only one coming here to bring materials.

I instructed Krisha not to speak to anyone outside.

Fortunately, until the end of the day when the work was completed, no one except Krisha noticed.

As dusk fell after finishing the work, I quietly descended with Boget in my arms.

His body was still lukewarm from being carried all day.

His two sons and daughter-in-law wouldn’t realize when Boget had passed.

“It’s your fault!!”

Eldest son Olli suddenly stood up.

“We shouldn’t have done this in the first place!!”

He grabbed me by the collar.

“Father… Ugh?!”

Krisha grabbed his hand firmly.

Olli hesitated and took a step back.

“Stop.”

I told Krisha.

She silently let go of his hand.

“This…!”

Olli’s hand turned red.

You gripped too hard.

“Boget… Your father, he did everything he wanted to do before leaving.”

I looked down at the cooling body.

Sorry.

You would have been angry at such a lie.

Failure is failure.

But I can’t admit it.

“Olli, you’re not wrong. I simply allowed your father to do what he wanted to do.”

“You’re lying!!?”

Olli seemed to forget Krisha’s earlier intervention and tried to rush at me again.

But this time, it wasn’t her who stopped him.

“Enough! Please stop… Sir…”

Blanco, tears streaming down his face, wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

“What…?! Can’t you see this?! Father has passed away!!!”

Olli pointed at Boget, shouting.

“I understand… I know… But how would your father have wanted it…?”

“That’s! …Tha… That’s…”

Olli’s hand slowly lowered.

“Without a doubt… you must be satisfied… Sir… It must be painful… I understand…!”

A hot tear welled up in Branko’s polished eyes and ran down his cheek.

“Father… would have been pleased…!”

“Ugh… Uhh… Uhhhh!!!”

Olli thumped his chest with his fist, then slumped down, crestfallen.

“…”

I couldn’t bring myself to look up.

I simply bowed my head like a sinner, gazing down at my speechless old friend.

***

The funeral proceeded quietly as per the eldest son Olli’s wishes.

Branko barely managed to convince him to receive brief condolences, but I did not attend.

I merely sent two gold coins as a condolence through an acquaintance.

Nobles who admired Boget’s work and merchants who had dealings with him also sent flower baskets through their representatives upon hearing the news, but among them were some who wanted to sell the works left behind by the deceased.

Branko politely asked them to come another time, while Olli angrily chased them away.

His body was cremated with sandalwood and scattered into the river turning the waterwheel at the carpenter’s workshop.

“…”

And I sat beneath the neatly repaired roof of the dining hall, sipping coffee at the table.

“Mr. Rashwood…”

Linde called out.

“Why?”

“Are you okay…?”

“What.”

“Well, that…?”

“I’m fine. I’m used to it.”

“I see…”

Used to it.

The death of someone you’ve known for a long time.

No news to be surprised about.

“…”

“…”

“…Do you think you’ll end up like me someday?”

“I wonder.”

“I… don’t like it.”

“That’s probably why he tried to do what he did.”

“I don’t have any desire to seek out my kin now.”

“That’s a relief.”

“But… I’m a half-blood, right? I might die earlier than you, Mr. Rashwood.”

“Perhaps.”

“But… if I were to die, and you thought you’d remain the same as now… it’s a bit unsettling…”

“You foolish girl.”

I set down my coffee, approached Linde, and tousled her hair roughly.

“There’s no way that would happen. You’d probably be sadder than now.”

“Oh… really?”

Even if Linde were to die tomorrow, I wouldn’t shed a tear.

We haven’t spent enough time together yet.

But there’s no guarantee we’d be the same in a hundred or two hundred years.

“Yeah… and I’m not unaffected by your current state.”

The death of a friend is familiar.

But being familiar doesn’t mean being unaffected.

The emptiness in this heart is real.

Tears just don’t flow as easily now because I’ve shed too many before.

“Oh, um, I see… I’m sorry for saying strange things…”

“It’s fine.”

I sat back at the table, sipping my coffee, and after a while, there was a commotion outside.

Looking out the window, I saw a crowd gathering.

There were no knights at the window, but it was clear they were people from Brigal.

And Krisha, who had been sweeping the yard, was now sitting weakly.

“Damn it.”

I gulped down my coffee, got up from my seat, and went outside.

Linde followed me.

“Using the law to torture a helpless old man! Aren’t you ashamed?!”

“And you call yourself a hero?!”

“Oh, no… I…”

“Krisha!”

Linde rushed over and embraced the weakened Krisha.

“L-Linde…”

“Krisha, let’s go inside quickly…!”

“This witch!”

“Witch! Witch!”

“Your daughter corrupted Krisha! Tsk!”

“Oops!”

Someone spat on Linde’s clothes.

I opened the closed door and stepped outside.

“You…!”

“Get out of my house.”

I struck the guy who spat on Linde’s face.

His nose broke, blood splattered around.

“…”

The room fell silent for a moment.

“…This bastard!”

“Who are you!?”

Two other men couldn’t contain their anger and rushed towards me.

Who am I?

Do you even know who I am and barged into this house?

I grabbed that guy by the collar and threw him at another person.

Unable to withstand the flying adult male body, he fell backward, entangled with others.

“Huh?!”

“Aaah!”

Those who realized that the situation was strange took a step back.

They’ll probably retreat on their own.

It will be quiet for a while.

Or maybe not.

Doesn’t really matter.

“Huh!”

Doesn’t really matter.

“My arm…!”

Just stop it.

“Stop… please stop!”

I can’t shed tears anymore.

“To think there’s such a crazy person…!”

“Run away!”

…”

Everyone flees.

Leaving behind people bleeding, bones broken, and minds lost.

Hands are sticky and lukewarm.

Yet the chilling coldness that pierces the heart remains.

“…”

I turned my head and looked at Linda and Krisha.

Linda was crying.

Krisha, who had tear marks as she cried earlier, now just looks at me with a stern face.

Leaving them behind, I went into the house and brought back a few bottles of healing potions.

When I stepped outside, the furious faces of the previously absent Vanguard were waiting.

They sure know how to make such expressions.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Horan asked.

“They were just powerless civilians.”

Ignoring him, I opened the potion cap and poured it over the fallen.

Do you think that erases your guilt? Everyone saw your violence clearly.

“So what?”

“We will not overlook the abuse of our Briagal Kingdom’s people. We will protest to the Lord directly and report to the royal family!”

“Do as you wish.”

Healing potions are not omnipotent.

These are low-quality ones that just help wounds heal faster.

Still, they probably contain painkillers, so it should help a bit.

I shook the last bottle, emptied its contents, and then stared at the empty bottle quietly.

As much as I wanted to throw it at Horan, I held back.

If you take the potion empty bottles to the Alchemy Guild, you could buy new ones a bit cheaper.

I decided to value a few extra coins more than those guys.

“And Krisha! From now on, we will pro…”

“Get lost.”

I spat on the ground.

“This is my house, and those kids are my guests.”

Then I stepped back and closed the door forcefully.

“Let’s go in.”

…”

Krisha, without saying a word, helped the sobbing Linda up.

It was the opposite before.

“…”

Horan didn’t call us back.

Of course, it’s clear that things won’t just end like this.

Reporting to the Lord is a fact, and the Briagal royal family will likely use this issue diplomatically.

At worst, Linda and I could be driven out of this city.

It’s probably best to do something right now.

It would be good, but… I’m fed up right now.

Just fed up with everything.

Let’s have a drink first…

“Rasiwood.”

After closing the mansion’s door and going inside, Krisha called me.

“Why?”

“Th… thank you.”

I felt a little better.