episode_0117

The location Marika had revealed was a village not far from their hometown. Close enough that one could reach it in a matter of days if they knew the way, but just distant enough that a casual search wouldn’t immediately lead anyone there.

“They say the darkest place is under the candlestick, but this is a bold choice. If it’s this close to your home, it’s a wonder they weren’t caught sooner.”

Upon arriving and surveying the area, Ian made that observation.

He wasn’t wrong, but the strategy had worked surprisingly well. In a small village like this, few people came and went, so there was little risk of information leaking—or of anyone even thinking to look here for leads.

“Maybe they didn’t care if they were found. By the time they settled here, I wasn’t ready to fight the Hero’s Party yet.”

Arina herself had never once considered returning to her hometown before now. Or rather, she couldn’t consider it.

Because her hometown had long since become a symbol of trauma.

“If I’d had just a little more time, I might have noticed sooner.”

But from the moment she obtained the Philosopher’s Stone, her days had been spent in relentless pursuit.

Arina tugged at the edge of her black glove.

Before her stood the largest mansion in the village. Naturally, housing several women and children would require a spacious home.

The three of them split up to surround the mansion. Ian blocked the back door, Millen climbed the tallest tree to survey the area, and Arina strode boldly through the front gate, crossing the garden with deliberate steps.

With each step toward the mansion’s entrance, countless thoughts and emotions flashed through her mind.

Hatred. Rage. Sorrow. Family. Elation. Friends. Lovers…

Too many things swirled in her head as she stood on the verge of vengeance.

No ambush came, even as she reached the door.

Did they really not notice I was coming?

Shaking her head, she dismissed the thought.

No. It’s far more likely they already knew and fled.

But even at a minimum, there were three children. Moving an entire household with kids in tow would inevitably slow them down.

She could still catch up if she gave chase now. Hoping for clues, she reached for the doorknob—

Click.

The door opened before she could turn it, and someone stepped out.

“Who’s he— Huh?”

The woman’s pupils dilated as their eyes met. Of course they would. From her perspective, it must have looked like an unknown sister had appeared out of nowhere.

“Hello, Linia. Do you recognize me?”

Riel Frost’s appearance had always been somewhat androgynous, but there was no mistaking the woman before her now.

If Linia had seen a wanted poster, she might have known—but for her sisters, recognizing Arina wouldn’t be easy.

“Riel?! Wha—?!”

The moment she confirmed Linia recognized her, Arina yanked her forward and clamped a hand over her mouth.

If there were still porters inside, she couldn’t let Linia alert them.

Knocking her out would make things easier. Just as she was about to strike a pressure point, another voice called out.

“Sis! What’s going on?”

At the worst possible moment, Linia’s younger sister, Libia, stepped out and locked eyes with her.

“Sis?”

“Tch. Sleep for a bit, Libia.”

Mana flared ominously in Arina’s palm. To a trained eye, it was a laughably basic spell—but to a civilian, it was more than enough to intimidate.

Libia immediately raised her hands in surrender.

“W-wait! Bro— no, Sis! Just hold on!”

Ignoring her pitiful expression, Arina prepared to cast—only for Libia to shield her face with her arms.

“Eek! Don’t! The person you’re looking for isn’t here!”

“Not here?”

It could be a lie, so Arina lowered her hand but didn’t dismiss the spell.

“Yeah. The Porter isn’t here.”

“You’d better not be lying. If this is a trap, I won’t spare you just because we’re family.”

Losing to the Porter would mean betraying Ian. If this was a trap, Arina would prioritize her own survival above all else—even if Linia and Libia got caught in the crossfire.

Freed from Arina’s grip, Linia answered instead.

“It’s true! We’re already free from the hypnosis!”

“Free? From the Porter’s power?”

How?

That was the first question that came to mind. If even Marika and Yuria couldn’t resist the Porter’s ability, there was no way these two broke free on their own.

No matter how she thought about it, it had to be a trick.

“It’s true. Come inside and see for yourself—”

“And walk right into whatever trap you’ve set?”

“Weren’t you going to come in anyway? If we wanted to trick you, why would we come out and make you suspicious…?”

A fair point. Since Arina had only grabbed Linia to test her reaction, she released her arm.

“Explain. How did you break free from that bastard?”

“There’s nothing to explain. He released us himself.”

“You expect me to believe that? That he just let you go, knowing I’d come for him?”

It was beyond suspicious. Just as Arina prepared to cast again—

A pure, innocent voice scattered the mana she’d gathered.

“Mommy!”

A little girl with tousled silver hair and blue eyes—resembling Libia more than Arina—rubbed her eyes sleepily, as if she’d just woken from a nap.

“Iris? You’re up already?”

The moment she spotted her mother, Iris came scampering over. Nestled in Libia’s arms, the girl blinked at Arina.

“Mommy, who’s that lady?”

“Hm? She’s… Mommy’s sister. So she’s your aunt.”

“Aunt? But she looks… younger?”

A side effect of her transformation, perhaps. Arina’s body had regressed in age, making her appear even younger than Libia.

With her demeanor aside, her outward appearance suggested she was in her early twenties—hardly old enough to be a mother’s elder sister in the eyes of a child.

“Your aunt is an amazing mage. She’s probably looked like this since Grandma’s time!”

“A mage? Wow!”

While Libia fumbled through an explanation and Iris marveled, Arina couldn’t tear her eyes away from the girl beaming at her.

“This kid… the Porter’s?”

“…Yeah.”

It wasn’t entirely unexpected. Ever since she’d heard the Hero’s Party had children, she’d considered this possibility.

Arina’s frown deepened as her gaze met Linia’s. You too? The unspoken question was answered with a nod.

“So he really did it. That bastard. And then he just left you all behind and ran?”

“We’re not the only ones here. …Want to come in?”

Calling the other two back to prevent any escape, Arina stepped inside the mansion—where a group of children chattered excitedly.

The thought that they were all the Porter’s made her sick. Fortunately, each resembled their mother enough that she could at least maintain a composed facade.

Among them was one unexpected face, standing out like a weed in a flowerbed.

“Uncle Klaus.”

Klaus, his beard being tugged by a girl who looked like Leona, was wrapped in bandages from head to toe.

“Riel… you’re late.”

His eyes, which should have been filled with defeat, held an eerie calm. None of the cold precision he’d shown when facing Arina, nor the fury when he’d left to save Leona, remained.

Only the hollow gaze of a man who’d aged decades in an instant.

“Seems you owe your life to someone.”

“Yeah. I couldn’t even beat my own daughter, and she didn’t even use fire. Maybe it’s time I retired.”

“A year frozen in ice would take its toll on anyone. So? Why are you still lazing around in your enemy’s home? Did one loss scare the great Flame Knight Commander into submission?”

“Riel—”

“Arina.”

Linia’s interjection stopped her from pressing further, but Arina still glared at Klaus with undisguised contempt. Klaus, however, merely bowed his head, stroking his granddaughter’s hair.

“You’re right. Maybe I’m just making excuses. But it’s over now. Leona seems to be doing well, so I’ve decided not to interfere anymore.”

“Ha. Seeing your granddaughter made you go soft? You’re acting more like a grandpa than the old man himself.”

“You should stop too. Just forget everything and go home. It’s for the best.”

“Like you did? I could never.”

“I know I have no right to say this to you now. But as a father, let me give my daughter’s friend one piece of advice. For your own sake, let it go.”

“Then I don’t need to hear it. That bitch Leona was never my friend.”

The reason she’d left the children behind was obvious—she’d trusted Arina wouldn’t harm innocents.

“But it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a cowardly piece of trash who abandoned his own kids. And you’re fine with leaving your daughter with someone like that?”

“Oh— Sis, that’s not it.”

“Are you defending that bastard now?”

“It’s not like that.”

Cutting off Arina’s irritated retort, Linia spoke up.

“Riel—no, Arina, right? He didn’t abandon us or the kids. He left us behind so we wouldn’t get caught up in the fight.”

“Same difference. Even if he knew I wouldn’t attack you, the fact remains that he—”

“He left a message.”

This time, it was Libia.

“He’s waiting in the Rhinebeer Mountains, not far from here.”

The Porter hadn’t run. He was simply waiting in a place fit for battle.

“He said to tell you… he’ll settle things there.”