Episode 103
Translator: RaidenTL
Episode 103
He was something of a model student. He painted by the book, depicting his subjects with a precision so meticulous it was chilling. He had even been called a genius a few times.
But a true genius was on another level entirely. Siene, who created chaotic art that defied all rules and threw the viewer into a state of confusion, had made a name for herself without any of the support Lucian had received.
Naturally, he was displeased. Having believed his entire life that he was the best, it was only after seeing Siene’s work that he realized he had been a frog in a well. An instinctive revulsion had blinded him, preventing him from recognizing the value of her art.
“But the more I watched her from the side, the more I realized its worth. That girl… she must never put down her brush. That’s why I want to do anything I can to help. I stepped back when I heard she’d found an anonymous patron, but I had even considered sponsoring her under my own name.”
Elysia, the patron in question, retorted bluntly.
“Then do a better job.”
“Of what?”
“She’s terrified that if she gets married, her husband will make her give up painting. You should just marry her and give her your full support. You’re both equally crazy about art, so you’d be a match made in heaven. Don’t you think?”
Lucian’s face twisted into a ridiculously contorted mess.
“You—How can you say something like that without even batting an eye?!”
“I’m leaving. Hey, do a good job. Don’t mess this up, or you’ll have me to answer to.”
Leaving the beet-red Lucian behind, Elysia chuckled and placed the painting into her inventory.
♥ SYSTEM: You have ‘1’ unread mail! Would you like to check it? Yes | No ♥
Ah, right. I left in such a hurry that I forgot to read one. She selected ‘Yes,’ and a letter dropped into her hand. After reading its contents, Elysia gasped and looked up.
‘Case Request’ has occurred. Will you accept the request? Y | N
*
Evan, who had been reading a book while leaning against the sofa, keenly picked up on a faint sound coming from the window. With a fluid motion, he set his book down neatly, opened the terrace door, and looked down. In the dim evening glow, he saw brown hair dyed orange by the sunset.
Elysia, who had been picking up another pebble to throw, met his gaze. Just as he was about to wonder at her unsmiling face, her lips, set in a firm line, called out to him.
“Senior, there’s trouble.”
“Trouble?”
“Do you have a moment?”
Without even checking the time, he headed straight downstairs. The two reunited in the dormitory lobby and walked out of the building, holding hands and talking in low voices.
“You said there’s trouble. If you couldn’t give the painting to my brother on time, I can—”
“Ah, no, I just dropped the montage off at the Sylvester estate. It’s not about that… I received a letter.”
Evan took the letter from between her fingers and unfolded it. His expression hardened at the unsettling contents. Elysia, looking troubled, chewed nervously on her fingernails before lifting her head with a determined expression.
“I have to go.”
“You’re going to Fragola Village? Even if you leave now, you won’t arrive until tomorrow evening.”
“I’ll take care of that.”
As Evan stared at her blankly, his face asking, How are you going to do that?, Elysia spread her arms wide in a gesture.
“How about a hug?”
“…?”
“Don’t doubt me.”
He let out a laugh as if the suggestion was absurd, then brushed Elysia’s hair back from her face and replied.
“How could I ever doubt you?”
The man stepped forward without hesitation, a faint smile on his lips as he bent down. Elysia’s hands moved swiftly as she wrapped her arms tightly around him.
♥ SYSTEM: Using the map function to travel to ‘Fragola Village.’ ♥
In an instant, a flash of light seared their vision. When the blinding light faded, the two of them were standing in the middle of a pitch-black country forest. As Evan stood there, mouth agape and looking dazed, Elysia took his hand with a nonchalant expression and pulled him along.
“Let’s move quickly.”
“What… was that?”
“I used the game’s map function. Since it was urgent, I just hugged you and brought you with me.”
He let himself be led blankly through the forest where he couldn’t see an inch ahead, but he managed to quickly regain his senses.
Seeing Elysia begin to lose her sense of direction, he stopped her. After a brief glance at the stars in the night sky, he immediately found his bearings and strode forward.
“How do you know the way?”
“When you live in the army, the first thing you learn to memorize is the position of the stars.”
“Not a very romantic reason.”
As if in agreement, the man let out a short laugh. Elysia’s gaze swept over the hand pulling her, up the thick arm and broad shoulders connected to it. Then she spoke in a light tone.
“Siene told me to tell you to be on your guard. Something about how fathers with daughters will be eyeing you covetously from now on?”
“Being eyed covetously sounds scary. You’d better protect me.”
He turned his head toward Elysia, who had burst out laughing at his playful whining, and asked in a hurt tone.
“Is that all you have to say?”
“Should I whip you into shape instead?”
“I’d like that.”
Moonlight fell upon his dark hair as he laughed in a low voice. They had reached the edge of the forest, which was also the beginning of the village. Elysia and Evan spotted a familiar house and walked toward it without hesitation.
It was evening, a time when the house should have been brightly lit, but it was completely dark, with no light seeping out from anywhere. It was only when she was right in front of the house that Elysia saw a woman standing in the moonlight.
Zenia’s face was pale, as if she had been standing in the cold wind for a long time.
“…Zenia.”
“My husband is drunk and asleep. Let’s go out for a moment.”
A look of relief washed over Zenia’s face when she saw Elysia. Before anyone could stop her, she walked straight out the door, her feet bare.
As Elysia stared at her feet in surprise, Zenia answered with an awkward expression.
“My husband doesn’t like it when I go outside without his permission. So…”
“Wear these.”
Elysia immediately took off her own shoes and placed them at Zenia’s feet, gesturing with her eyes for her to hurry. Zenia, who had been waving her hands in refusal, seemed to have lost the energy to argue and quietly slipped on the shoes Elysia offered.
Then, another pair of shoes was placed at Elysia’s feet. Seeing Evan’s large shoes in front of her, Elysia’s mouth fell open.
“Put them on.”
“Uh…”
“Don’t make me the bad guy who lets his lover walk around barefoot.”
“Well, I won’t refuse then.”
Figuring it would be rude to decline, she quietly accepted and put them on. The three of them walked to a nearby stream, where the sound of the rushing water would likely drown out their voices.
The washing area was empty, as everyone was at home having dinner. Elysia had Zenia sit on a rock and asked.
“What happened?”
“Actually… after you left, Miss, I kept thinking about it. Whether I should ask for your help, whether I should really run away…”
Tears streamed down from Zenia’s doe-like eyes.
“But then, about three days later, a letter came…”
“A letter?”
Zenia’s hands trembled as she handed a piece of paper to a wide-eyed Elysia. Covering her eyes with one hand as if exhausted, she lowered her head and said.
“It was for me. It wasn’t left by the postman. My husband was out for a bit, and when I finished my chores and went out to the yard, this was on the wall…”
The paper was crumpled, as if Zenia had opened and closed it several times, but it was clearly high-quality paper that must have been crisp originally. Elysia slowly read the sentences written on it.
「You are suffering far too much for the price of one bad marriage. All alone, with no one to save you. Everyone turns a blind eye to you and your child because they live off your husband’s land, but I believe you deserve a chance, too.
I plan to murder your husband in one week. The method of murder is yet to be decided, but if you have a preferred method, I will consider it.
From your savior.」
“What is this?”
It was the rambling of a lunatic. Elysia muttered to herself, her expression blank.
“…He’ll kill your husband for you?”
“I—I never asked anyone for something like this! Miss, I’m innocent. Please, please believe me…! What should I do? If my husband finds out, he might k-kill me… He’ll accuse me of plotting his murder with a lover… hic, he definitely will…”
“First, calm down.”
Noticing Zenia’s trembling shoulders, Elysia soothed her. Her hands were already busy rummaging through her pocket for her notebook. She popped the cap off her fountain pen with her mouth and jotted down a question.
「Why?」
Why on earth would someone make such an offer? Was it a third party who stood to gain from Zenia’s husband’s death? Or was it really, as the letter said…
Someone who believes they’re saving people.
If it was the latter, he was a completely crazy bastard. In her experience, there was nothing more troublesome than someone who committed crimes drunk on their own sense of justice. Lost in thought, her fingertips tapped against the notebook.
Evan took the letter from Elysia as she naturally passed it to him, his brow furrowed.
“…I’ve seen this handwriting somewhere before.”
“You’ve seen it?”
“I’m not sure. I’m not good enough to identify someone by their handwriting like you are. But I’m certain, somewhere…”
He stared intently at the sentences on the paper as if trying to figure something out, then shook his head and asked.
“Have you seen any suspicious people around here?”
“I’m always at home, so I don’t know, but not that I’m aware of. P-please save me… If my husband finds out, he’ll really kill me…”
Her plea ended in a sob. Elysia tried to speak in the kindest tone possible to Zenia, who was hunched over, fat tears dripping onto her skirt.
“For now, we’ll hold onto this letter. How long ago did you say it arrived?”
“…Two days ago.”
“Then until the scheduled date… how long is that, Senior?”
“Five days.”
At his short reply, Elysia suppressed a sigh. Today was almost over, which meant they only had about four days left.
You have accepted the ‘Case Request.’
Client: Zenia Morris
Request: Find the sender of the mysterious letter.
Having made her decision in an instant, she spoke firmly.
“We’ll pack our things and come back tomorrow.”