episode_0084

Ruyef stood by the entrance without a word.

He didn’t seem to have come for a short chat.

And to say he came to warm himself, his expression was exceedingly gloomy.

Anxious, Tia asked again.

“Wh-what’s going on…?”

There was no reply.

Thump. Thump.

He entered the house with dirt-caked shoes and placed the lamp on the table.

So quiet that the wick crackled.

Tia’s house.

In the air where even breath froze, Ruyef opened his mouth.

“Tia.”

“…Yes?”

“What happened with Fosao?”

It was a cold, sharp voice, as if an ice pick had been honed.

Tia hid her trembling hands behind her back and asked back.

“Uncle Fosao…? Why are you asking me that?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know.”

Ruyef’s blue eyes didn’t waver in the slightest.

“You knew Fosao was alive. That’s why you told me not to tear down the general store.”

“…!”

“And this morning, on my way back from the lower village, I met mercenaries coming out of the general store. There were quite a few of them, and they seemed well-trained. I don’t know why they came all the way to the outskirts of our village. But they smashed the general store’s door and demanded to know where ‘Modaless’ was.”

He seemed to know everything already.

Realizing that no excuse would work, Tia’s face gradually grew paler.

“Where did Fosao go? Why did mercenaries raid that general store? Tia, what exactly do you know? This concerns the safety of the village. Explain it properly.”

Tia wasn’t the only one feeling anxious.

Ruyef also smelled the stench of trouble brewing ‘around the village’ and was uneasy.

If those mercenaries decided to enter the village, this place could be instantly devastated.

Even though there were only five of them.

The only fortunate thing was that the mercenaries wanted ‘Fosao’, not ‘Breezedon’.

It would be fortunate if they could find Fosao safely like that….

If they couldn’t find him, they might not stop at smashing the general store and even come to the village.

Therefore, Ruyef’s best option would be to actively explain that Fosao had no relation to Breezedon, and to specifically inform the mercenaries of Fosao’s whereabouts to divert their attention.

I would have done the same.

From that perspective, Ruyef’s handling of the situation was excellent.

Quickly noticing that Tia was involved in this matter.

It was also good that he questioned her with a quiet, stealthy ambush.

But.

The opponent was none other than…

The problem was that it was ‘Tia’.

Tia, who had been silent until now, lowered her gaze.

“I met Uncle Fosao in Deseo.”

“…”

“He started a new business there, but it didn’t seem to go well. The fact that soldiers came all the way here probably means they’re looking to hold him accountable.”

Ruyef stared silently at Tia, who was explaining softly.

As if not wanting to miss a single word coming from her small mouth.

“Soldiers from Deseo? If Deseo soldiers came all the way here, it means Fosao isn’t there either. Did he come here? If so, where did he disappear to?”

“I don’t know either.”

“Can I really believe you when you say you don’t know?”

“…”

“Tia.”

Ruyef’s eyes were almost approaching the truth.

But at the same time, his expression lacked certainty.

No.

It was simply a face that had given up thinking.

“I truly want to believe your words. But I am not Ritsu, so I cannot.”

“Loop…”

“Enough. It doesn’t matter if your words are false or not. I’ll have to tear down the general store tomorrow before things get worse.”

“But that…!”

As Tia tried to object, Ruyef shouted in a loud voice.

“Shut up and admit it!!!”

At the tremendous shout, Tia’s body froze.

Her fear-stricken red eyes trembled greatly.

Ruyef raised his index finger and thrust it close to the scared girl’s face.

His burning voice issued a grim warning.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking. It’s useless for me to try and figure it out since I’m not as smart as you, and you’ve probably already prepared everything. But understand this clearly. I… I will never just stand by and watch you ruin this village. Do you understand?”

Click.

Ruyef picked up the lamp again.

“It’s been three days since Ritsu woke up. He’s the one who needs to lead Breezedon from now on. At a time when you should be thinking about how to assist Ritsu, you’re worrying about scum like Fosao.”

“…”

“I want to report this to Ritsu immediately, but that bastard won’t listen to a word I say anyway. He only listens to your words and trusts only your words!”

His veined fingers gripped the doorknob tightly.

“Don’t do anything foolish. Always stay by Ritsu’s side. Everyone will be watching you.”

Leaving his final words, Ruyef went outside.

“This is a warning.”

Slam!

As soon as the door slammed shut, darkness fell over the house once more.

Tia barely let out the breath she had been holding.

Her red eyes, bright with vivid light, were complexly interwoven with countless emotions and thoughts, almost impossible to imagine.

But soon, her eyes cleared.

With eyes that seemed to have decided something.

She slowly raised her head.

It was then that I could see.

The shadow of my past, hidden in the bushes beyond the window.

Whoosh!

The memory illusion dispersed.

I stood holding the doorknob of Tia’s house.

“…”

I realized when the past I had just seen was from.

It was the night I secretly slipped out and went down to the main house to return the ‘pocket knife’ Tia had left behind.

And I saw Ruyef coming out of Tia’s house.

I… had been suspicious.

That the two of them must have done something strange.

I even imagined holding a knife and killing Ruyef.

But the reality was this.

My whole body trembled in shock.

From beginning to end, Ruyef had never lied to me.

His prediction that Tia was involved in a serious incident and that Deseo soldiers would come to the village was also accurate.

…Even the last part, that Tia shouldn’t be in this village.

Everything he said was a judgment made to prevent a crisis from befalling Breezedon.

But… Ruyef failed.

As he had predicted, I didn’t listen to a single word.

Because I couldn’t accept the advice to banish Tia.

Ruyef must have been frustrated by the situation, which was spiraling towards the worst.

…But it’s strange.

Nothing happened to Breezedon.

Tia remained in the village.

I never saw Deseo soldiers. I didn’t even know they existed.

Even when Ruyef, who had noticed it first, ran away.

Chopping firewood just got a little harder, but I wasn’t caught up in the conspiracy Tia had brought.

Then what in the world…?

What did Tia do?

How did she handle Deseo’s elite soldiers?

As I slowly retraced my memories, I suddenly realized.

“No way.”

I put my hand in my pocket.

Immediately, an unfamiliar sensation.

Among all the things I’ve ever owned in my life, it’s the most expensive, alien, and precious.

Slide.

I carefully slipped it between my fingers and pulled it out.

A red gem, transparent enough to see through, was set upon gold.

A ruby ring.

Even with a slight turn, light sparkled dizzyingly on its polished surface.

Had it been a ring that had existed for a very long time?

Even now, holding it in my fingers, vast stories whispered to me.

Within these long, old memory illusions, what I sought was only a single moment from just a few days ago.

Namely, Uncle Joseph, just before he arrived in Breezedon.

***

At the very moment Ruyef raided Tia’s house.

Uncle Joseph was at the tavern in the lower village.

He looked like a traveler, carrying a large backpack, as if he had just arrived in Tailedon and was looking for a place to stay.

The tavern hostess looked surprised upon seeing Uncle.

“What? Are you… Joseph?”

“Haha! Long time no see! Lily Noona looks just like she used to. Haha!”

“My goodness! What in the world!”

Tailedon was originally a place frequented by travelers.

No small amount of welcome poured out at Uncle Joseph’s appearance.

As soon as he sat down, free drinks and food appeared, and they even offered him a room for free as a kindness.

Even if he declined, saying it was fine, they were adamant. That’s how great Uncle’s reputation had been since old times.

The hostess asked.

“How was life in Deseo?”

“Haha. A series of difficult days. I’m living as a free citizen now, but those from mercenary backgrounds have it tough, always having to watch their step. I barely made time to come here.”

“Anyway, it’s good you came. Will you go straight up to Breezedon when it gets light tomorrow?”

“Yeah. That’s why I came.”

They were chatting happily while casually having a glass of beer.

People whispered among themselves in the back.

“…So what happened with the Lord’s hide-and-seek?”

“Why would esteemed people play such trivial games? It’s just kids’ nonsense, as always.”

“Right?”

Uncle, having heard the conversation, laughed dismissively.

“Tailedon still has strange rumors going around. It finally feels like the old days.”

“Exactly! Suddenly, rumors like that started circulating. They say our Lord is playing tag.”

“Hahaha! Who’s ‘it’?”

“They say it’s bandits with axes and bows.”

At that moment.

Uncle placed his glass down with a thud.

“Bandits with axes and bows?”

“I don’t know. It seems like ominous rumors about bandits started circulating after the tribute. You know, around this time, they try to scare the kids. Hohoho.”

“…”

However, Uncle Joseph’s expression was not one of amusement.

His eyes showed that he had realized something in this rumor that sounded like a mere joke.

“Excuse me for a moment, to the restroom.”

Uncle Joseph, who had gulped down his drink, came out onto the night street.

There was no one on the street.

Because it was the time when guards were on patrol.

Uncle spotted soldiers chatting in the middle of the street.

He immediately darted towards them, waving his hand.

“Hello.”

“What?!”

The guards, startled, pointed their swords and torches at Uncle.

But soon, seeing a familiar face, they lowered their swords again.

“Joseph?”

“Long time no see. Roto. Andorf.”

“My goodness. What’s going on?”

“Haha. I just dropped by, missing my hometown, and I heard an interesting story.”

Uncle smiled brightly.

“Could I possibly meet the Lord?”

The soldiers looked at each other with flustered eyes.

“Well… it’s not that it matters. The Lord would probably be happy to hear you’ve returned too. But he’s currently busy welcoming guests from Goldburg. It might be a bit difficult.”

“Oh? Hmm… Then what about Teacher Bin?”

“He’s also at the Lord’s residence right now.”

“Haha. Oh, well- I guess it can’t be helped.”

“What’s wrong? If you have something to tell the Lord, I’ll convey it along with my patrol report.”

Uncle stroked his head and laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! Well then… please tell him tomorrow morning that I stopped by. Tell him I’ll explain later.”

“Alright. I’m off duty tomorrow, so let’s have a drink together.”

“Alright, alright.”

After parting ways with the soldiers.

He went back to the tavern and had two more beers.

Uncle, pleasantly drunk, stumbled into his room.

And from his backpack, he took out something tightly wrapped in cloth.

When he spread the cloth on the floor, two pristine white swords appeared.

They were so sharp that a mere touch seemed capable of severing a finger.

He fastened the two swords to his belt and Uncle grinned.

“Is that absurd rumor Ruyef’s doing? No, he’s too honest to do something like that. Ritsu is smart but stubborn, so he’d find it hard to come up with unique ideas. In that case… it must be Tia.”

Repeating our names, Uncle took out a small box he kept hidden in his chest.

Clink.

Inside was the ruby ring.

A bitter laugh escaped him.

“Those kids have enough power to shake the world. Yet they’re living their whole lives in a small mountain valley, knowing nothing… I don’t know if that’s sad, or fortunate.”

Click.

Uncle closed the box and pondered deeply.

Then, as if having made a decision, he lay down on the bed.

The day slowly dawned.

At the moment the faint sun had just risen.

Uncle carried the two swords and ascended towards Breezedon.

Crunch. Crunch.

Footprints were left on the low-lying snow.

Following the footprints, he soon found five bandits sitting in the forest.

They rose from their spots upon seeing Joseph enter the forest.

The man with the axe asked.

“…What is it?”

“Oh. Nice to meet you, kids. I’m here to tell you a few things.”

Uncle Joseph explained with a smiling face.

“Dragonez doesn’t particularly welcome outsiders. Especially not bandits with ominous weapons. So…”

“Shut up and get lost, you idiot.”

“Haha! Aren’t you too sharp with your dismissal? As far as I know, the village chief at least listened until the end.”

The bandit flared up in anger and approached.

“I told you to get lost. Unless you want to d-…”

Slash!

The rest of his words were not heard.

Thud. Thump.

Because the severed neck was already rolling in the snow.

“My apologies. I cut someone off too, for once.”

Uncle, still with smiling eyes, looked at his next guests.

The opponents were four elite soldiers.

Even so, he casually wiped the blood from his cheek.

“Sent by the royal palace, perhaps? It seems they’ve also noticed the unsettling atmosphere lately, haven’t they? Why? Are you anxious that Tailedon is joining hands with Goldburg? Afraid of a rebellion?”

“…Who are you?”

“What’s it to you? You’re all going to die anyway. Well, if I must say…”

Uncle grinned and raised his sword.

“…Should I say I’m someone who came to serve the ‘next king’?”