Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Lennon Orphanage (2)
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The long table was laden with food.
The delicious aromas stimulating my nose made my mouth water even before I started eating.
It was quite a lavish spread.
It felt like the first proper meal I'd had in a very long time.
"This person is my guest. Around these parts, they're known as the 'Three Brothers of Crey Mountain'—not sure if you've heard of them. We may belong to different groups, but what we do isn't all that different, so I thought I'd set this up. This friend here really wanted to meet you all."
At Cross's introduction, the burly man laughed heartily and greeted us.
"Haha! Glad to meet ya! Name's Cracker."
His gravelly voice belonged to a man with a shiny bald head and a wild, jutting beard. Sparse on top, bushy below—it was like his hair had grown upside down.
"I'm Allen. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Iriel. Nice to meet you."
"It's Jenes."
The warm greetings came to an abrupt halt at my curt introduction. Allen let out an awkward laugh and quickly smoothed things over.
"…Haha. I've certainly heard of the 'Three Brothers of Crey Mountain.' It's an honor to meet you."
"Hahaha! Honor my foot. If anything, I'm the honored one for being recognized!"
Cracker boomed with laughter at the simple compliment. His loud voice made him seem like a noisy fellow.
"Let's talk properly over the meal."
At Cross's words, the meal finally began.
"Mm."
I tore into a chicken leg first and nodded. The tender, chewy texture drew a gasp of admiration.
With no interest in their casual chatter, I focused solely on eating and tuned out their conversation.
It would have been even more satisfying if not for the guy who'd been staring at me unabashedly since earlier.
I ignored his gaze, but he eventually spoke up anyway.
"I've heard the gist of your story. You took down Vitero all by yourself."
At Cracker's words, Cross smiled awkwardly.
"He kept prying, so I gave him the rough version. He's one of the independence fighters, after all…"
Cross must have learned about it from Allen.
Probably while talking about Veron.
Even then, Cracker kept fixing his intense gaze on me.
"You don't look all that strong at first glance. Hard to believe you felled Vitero alone."
I shoved some meat into my mouth and responded indifferently.
"Never asked you to believe it."
"Haha! Must've misunderstood me. Not doubting you or anything. Just surprised by your skills."
Despite my prickly attitude, he replied with his usual hearty laugh. His laughter was loud, but he didn't seem like a bad guy.
Thirsty perhaps, he downed his beer in one go, wiped the foam from his beard with his sleeve, and cautiously spoke up.
"So, here's the thing… It's a bit much to ask a stranger, but could you lend me that strength of yours?"
I stared at him steadily.
"Shouldn't you explain what it's about first?"
"Ah, right. I got ahead of myself."
Scratching his bald head sheepishly, he glanced around unnecessarily before speaking gravely.
"I'm planning to assassinate Itzriel this time."
…Itzriel.
I mulled over the name quietly before asking.
"Who's that?"
At my question, Cracker's mouth fell open.
"You're with the independence army and you don't know Itzriel?"
"Jenes doesn't know much to begin with."
Allen stepped in to defend me from the side. I shifted my gaze from Cracker to Allen.
The guy slicing his meat finally noticed my menacing stare and hurriedly explained about Itzriel.
"Well, you see, Itzriel's the one who captured His Highness the Crown Prince in the past."
"Captured the Crown Prince?"
That means he's the bastard who caught me.
"Yes. He was with the Royal Palace Knights' Leonir Lancers back then. He chased down the fleeing Crown Prince, handed him over to the Empire, and gained fame for it. Didn't know he was around here, though."
Cracker added to the explanation.
"After that, he was awarded a barony for his service. No territory, but he commands the Antler Deer Unit stationed in Cartusi and wields unchecked power in the area."
As I listened to them, I racked my brain for memories from my past life. Soon enough, I recalled how I'd ended up dragged to the underground dungeon.
Ah, that asshole's name was Itzriel?
He was the one who'd humiliated me so badly I'd forgotten his name out of sheer resentment.
It was through him that I'd first truly felt Francia's downfall.
Old memories bubbling up, I scraped the inside of my cheek with my tongue.
My cheek throbbed for no reason, as if it'd been punched yesterday.
I said,
"You've already made the assassination plan?"
Cracker nodded firmly.
"Of course. Planning to carry it out in a week. We already have a plan to capture him. I'm asking for your help to bolster our forces and raise our odds of success."
Meaning the plan was already fully in place.
So all I'd need to do is add my sword to it.
"If you agree to help, I'll fill you in on the details on the way to the main base. It'll be dangerous, of course, but the chance of failure is very low. That's why I'm asking even a stranger like you."
Assassination in a week.
My next destination was Cartusi anyway.
That would add about three days to the original schedule, but it was tolerable.
Plus, he was one of the more infamous traitors, so success would spread the White Lion's fame far and wide.
And above all, I wasn't one to let debts slide.
I nodded readily.
"I'll help with that plan."
* * *
A world sunk in darkness.
I sat on the gently sloped rooftop, savoring a pleasant buzz. I'd gotten the booze from the kitchen. The strong alcohol burned down my throat.
Nice.
The intoxication spread through my veins to every corner of my body.
Memories I'd forgotten—thanks to Itzriel—were creeping back alongside the booze.
That was when I heard a rustling sound.
A black shadow popped up from the nearby eaves.
It was Iriel.
"…Huh?"
Spotting me, she froze in place. Without even looking, I asked.
"Not sleeping? What're you doing?"
"Oh, just… Can't sleep."
She shuffled over hesitantly and sat beside me.
I asked,
"Veron's asleep?"
"Yeah."
She clearly had a complicated mess of feelings and had come out for some air.
Over the past days, Iriel had cared for Veron like her own child.
She must have grown quite attached by now.
I took a swig from the bottle and said,
"This is better."
"I know. Just feeling a bit wistful, that's all. Gimme some booze too."
"It's strong."
Iriel boldly snatched the bottle from me and chugged some. She shuddered violently as she set it down, then handed it back.
"Warms you right up. Feels good."
For someone saying it felt good, Iriel's face was all scrunched up.
"Quit moping and go to bed."
"Moping? Seeing Veron just reminds me of my own childhood for some reason. Even though I barely know anything!"
Reminds her of her childhood?
"Can't imagine why. You weren't a kind, good kid like Veron."
"How would you know what I was like as a kid!"
Iriel raised her voice, clearly upset.
"Don't need to see it to know."
"Jeez."
She looked baffled, then her eyes lit up as if realizing something, and she turned to me.
"Right, you said you were at Weylun Palace? What'd you do there? Ten years ago, you would've been a kid too."
"None of your business."
At my reply, Iriel pouted and grumbled. It was the usual preamble about how I couldn't hold a conversation.
Not wanting to hear it, I asked,
"What about Veron reminds you of your childhood?"
"None of your business."
Iriel shot back saucily.
I was at a loss for words for a moment.
So this is what it feels like.
Not exactly pleasant to be on the receiving end.
But unlike her words, she kept talking.
"It was when we were fleeing the kingdom with my brother. Lost my parents overnight, everything changed completely—it was really tough."
A story even Lucian hadn't told me.
Something I'd been curious about but never dared ask.
I gave a bitter smile, and Iriel went on about her feelings back then.
"The world I knew just collapsed out of nowhere. But I had my brother, so I felt secure. Looking back now, he was only 18."
"Must've been hard on him thanks to his immature little sister."
"Yeah, pretty much. I was a clueless kid back then."
I nodded approvingly at how readily she admitted it.
At least you know that much.
"But Veron's only nine. And he has no siblings to lean on. That's why he worries me. I know exactly how it feels to lose everything in a day."
"We were there instead."
"That's a relief."
"Like I said before, he'll be fine."
"I think so too. He'll pull through. He's always smiling. That's what worries me more, though."
I understood what Iriel meant.
He was a child who'd lost his parents.
Yet we'd never seen Veron so much as cry, let alone whine.
He must be hurting, but he didn't complain even a little.
Not because he was okay, but because he'd shut the door deep in his heart.
At least Iriel was there.
She'd taken good care of the boy's feelings.
That was plain fact.
"You played a big part."
"Yeah. I did, didn't I? Hehe."
Iriel laughed happily, high-pitched.
Then she suddenly shook her head side to side.
"Ah, hurts my pride. Got happy from the compliment."
…What was she doing?
I looked at her pitifully. Sensing my gaze, Iriel quickly made excuses.
"It's a woman's pride. You get the gist, right?"
"Not interested."
Iriel gaped at me and clicked her tongue.
"Jeez, you know you're not just disinterested—you're bad luck too? Ever thought of learning some proper conversation skills?"
At Iriel's earnest look, I chuckled and tilted the bottle. She shook her head and continued.
"But I think I've gotten used to that tone now. Sitting here talking like this and all. Still rude as ever, but compared to at first, lately you've been…"
Mid-sentence, Iriel suddenly stood, dusted off her butt.
"I'll head in first. The booze made me sleepy all of a sudden. Maybe a little drunk. It's strong stuff. Drink in moderation. Don't get found passed out in the yard tomorrow morning."
With that, Iriel scurried off.
I watched her retreating figure steadily, then turned my gaze back to the night sky.
With her chatter gone, the night quickly regained its peace.
I sat quietly and tilted the bottle.