episode_0024

“…”

Alan, who led a normal life as usual, had a depth in his expression that Lily could even recognize.

“…”

Not knowing what was going on, Lily couldn’t offer comfort hastily and just looked at Alan with a worried expression, fidgeting her fingers.

“Lily.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lily calmly replied to Alan, who seemed finally ready to say something, waiting for his next words with a serious expression.

Of course, even if a young girl wore a serious expression, it didn’t necessarily look serious.

“It seems like… we might need to move the village soon.”

“What? Already?”

“… It seems like pursuers might come soon.”

“…”

Knowing Alan’s circumstances, Lily quietly kept her mouth shut.

Lily also knew the fact that Alan had unintentionally made a mistake and was now a fugitive.

However… was there a reason to flee this quickly?

“Sir, is there something I don’t know?”

“…”

Alan hesitated a bit whether he should speak, considering Lily’s quick understanding.

“I can’t tell you everything yet.”

“It’s okay. I have a rough idea.”

“…”

Was Lily really close to guessing the truth?

Alan wondered but couldn’t bring himself to ask.

The closer Lily got to the truth, the more awkward it would be for Alan.

“So are we leaving today?”

“Yes. I think it’s best.”

“Alright.”

“Thank you for following me without question.”

“I’ll follow you anywhere since you’re going there anyway.”

“Thank you.”

Alan thought about how he didn’t have a daughter, nor was he of an age where he might have had one by modern standards, but he wondered if having a daughter would feel like this.

Of course, by modern standards, he was already past the age where he should have been married according to the norms of this world.

“Let’s distribute the relief supplies first and then think.”

“Yes.”

Even though they would soon leave this village, wouldn’t it be okay to bid farewell at least?

Thinking so, Alan and Lily diligently distributed relief supplies to the poor people.

“Thank you. It’s sad that today is the last day.”

“I’m sorry. I have my reasons.”

“It’s okay. Our lives will improve now that the Red Fist is gone.”

“… I see.”

Occasionally, when stories about the Red Fist surfaced, Lily would stare intently at Alan’s profile, but Alan maintained a composed attitude as if he knew nothing.

“Something feels off.”

“…”

Ignoring Lily’s muttering, they continued distributing relief supplies, and before they knew it, the end was approaching.

“At least there aren’t many poor people in this village, fortunately.”

“Isn’t this considered few? It looks like dozens to me.”

“If it were an unmanaged village, it would easily exceed hundreds.”

“… Is that so.”

It was a sad reality that she wanted to deny.

“Pursuers will probably arrive tomorrow.”

The Imperial Family and Aileen.

He didn’t know which side would pursue him, but it was obvious that being caught by either of them would not end well.

“I wonder if Aileen… might not stab me in betrayal.”

Especially, Aileen was more frightening.

At least in Alan’s opinion, trust between people was something heavy and essential, something that must be upheld.

As Alan struggled with the guilt of betraying that trust, he feared most what emotions Aileen might harbor towards him.

“Let’s just leave the remaining items as they are and go.”

“… But then, who knows who might steal it?”

“Even if it gets stolen, someone from the slums will probably take it. If that person’s life improves even a little by stealing this, it doesn’t matter.”

“… Yes.”

“He seems too kind.”

Lily couldn’t forget what happened during the time she was still wary of Allen.

Among the two packaged foods, one was a mess and the other was fine, reminding Lily of that day.

Lily thought Allen was trying to bother her, but gradually opened up seeing Allen casually eating the messed-up dish.

Lily would never forget the taste of that day’s food.

“Now, let’s depart.”

“We’re leaving just like this?”

“It’s okay. It might take some time, but we’ve prepared the necessary items for the journey in advance.”

“Got it.”

It was already a dark night, but that wasn’t a reason not to leave.

Staying another night was difficult in case pursuit forces arrived the next day.

“If they come tomorrow… it must be from the royal family.”

Although Irene’s exact location was unknown, the imperial capital wasn’t far from here.

“The Emperor… that sinister person.”

While Allen inhabited the body of a nobleman, having gone through modern society, the concept of an Emperor was negative to him.

Not incompetent, yet not exceptionally capable either.

Just possessing the basic skills expected of an Emperor.

However, ambition was a much larger presence than those abilities.

That was how Allen viewed the Emperor.

“… He plans to use Irene.”

Without needing to assess the situation, it was obvious.

The Emperor would somehow try to manipulate Irene to strengthen his authority.

And his existence was akin to being an Achilles’ heel for Irene.

If it were revealed that a member of the Hero Party was a spy for the Demon King’s army… both sides would suffer, but the blow to the Heroes would be the greatest.

A foolish hero who didn’t even know there was a spy in his party.

At least Allen didn’t want to attach such a title to Irene.

“… I wonder how she’s doing.”

Knowing he didn’t deserve to think that way, today of all days, Allen missed Irene.

“Father, I don’t understand what you’re thinking.”

“… It’s for the Crown Prince.”

“Sending me, the Crown Prince, to find a mere member of the Hero Party is for my benefit?”

“I’m not entirely sure of His Majesty’s intentions, but it shouldn’t harm Your Highness.”

“Fine.”

Having returned to the capital not long ago, the Crown Prince, on orders to search for Allen, was full of discontent while on the move.

Being sent to find a mere member of the Hero Party, not even the hero himself, was frustrating.

His father might have his reasons, but the dissatisfaction was unavoidable.

“… Still, when we meet, I can ask a few questions.”

“What do you mean?”

“What the hero likes. What weaknesses he has. Weaknesses are good to know.”

“It may not be easy to find out.”

“I’m the Crown Prince… and you won’t tell me? That doesn’t make sense.”

Heh heh heh-

With a sinister smile, the Crown Prince took out a small piece of paper from his pocket.

“I wouldn’t show this to anyone else… but I’ll show it to you, Knight.”

Saying so, he handed the paper to the Knight Commander, revealing a drawing of a naked woman.

“What is this?”

“Oh, it seems information about the hero’s three sizes recently leaked. This drawing is based on those sizes.”

“…”

The captain was beyond incredulous, approaching the absurd.

The fact that he, as the prince of the empire, didn’t realize how weighty a warrior’s name could be, spouting such nonsense.

“Where is the empire heading…”

“Haha. Surprisingly big-hearted… I usually only wear armor, so I didn’t know.”

“…”

“It would be good to personally confirm by uncovering later.”

“…”

The captain couldn’t say anything.

He couldn’t dissuade the prince or sympathize with him.

All he could do was remain silent.

But whether speaking or not, the prince just smiled while looking at the picture on the paper.

“This is insane.”

The captain gradually resented the emperor who had promoted the prince to vice-captain of the imperial knights.

***

“Eileen.”

“Yes.”

The warrior party spoke quickly.

While riding and riding, Rebecca called out to Eileen.

Hee-yah-

With words hanging in the air, they stopped in their tracks, and the warrior party also halted.

“What will you think when you meet Allen?”

“…”

Eileen couldn’t speak.

It was a matter she couldn’t easily decide due to emotions she couldn’t even describe to herself.

“At least… Jenny and I have forgiven Allen. No, there was nothing to forgive. He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“…”

“But Eileen. You are different. Will you forgive him? Or… demand repentance?”

“Well…”

In all honesty, she just wanted to run into Allen’s arms, but as she grew closer to him, her thoughts became more complicated.

Seeing Eileen’s conflicted feelings, Rebecca urged her to sort out her thoughts first.

“For now, meet him…”

“Meet him?”

“… I don’t know.”

“… Alright. There’s still about two days left, so take your time to think.”

The warrior party started running and talking again.

Even as they rode on, Eileen’s mind remained endlessly complex.