Chapter 164
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 164
"F-fire!"
"Quickly! Get water from the well!"
Awakened by the sudden blaze in the dead of night, the villagers grabbed whatever containers they could find and rushed toward the well.
"Hey, that well is blocked!"
"Roen cleared it! Hurry!"
The villagers lined up, frantically drawing water before sprinting toward the chief’s burning house.
Fwoosh—!
The log cabin, engulfed in a maelstrom of fire, was slowly collapsing.
The village chief stood by, his hand trembling as he gripped his staff, staring at his home as it burned to the ground.
Something has gone wrong.
If Duron had killed Roen, he should have been out by now. The house was already a funeral pyre, yet there was no sign of Duron. Was he planning to burn to death alongside Roen?
…I can’t let Duron die too.
He had already lost Amy. To think he might lose his son-in-law as well because of that bastard Roen... After a moment of agonizing hesitation, the chief gritted his teeth and shouted.
"Quickly! Put out the fire!"
"Yes, sir!"
Swoosh—!
Just as the villagers began to douse the roaring flames with the water from the well, two figures arrived on the scene.
"What’s going on?!"
Roen’s maids, Ciel and Freya, had arrived.
"Tch."
Ciel stared blankly at the collapsing house for a heartbeat before charging straight into the thick, suffocating smoke. The chief reached out to stop her, then hesitated and lowered his hand.
Though Ciel was the maid who escorted the atrocious Roen, the chief didn’t hate her. On the contrary, she was a welcome sight whenever she delivered the supplies sent by Lord Kaiser to the village. He didn’t want to see her get hurt, but he held back, hoping she might be the one to save Duron.
She might save Roen as well, but that couldn't be helped. To save Duron, he had to endure that possibility.
Hk.
Just as Ciel was about to breach the burning house, using her mana to push back the intense heat—
Boom—!
The roof of the log cabin suddenly exploded, and Roen burst out through the thick smoke.
Thud.
Roen leaped from the second floor and landed safely on the ground. Slung over his shoulder was a man the maids had never seen before.
"Lord Roen!"
Ciel and Freya rushed to his side in a single bound.
"Are you alright?"
Instead of answering, Roen lowered the man from his shoulder to the ground. Putting aside the stranger's identity, Roen thankfully seemed to be unharmed. He didn’t appear to have inhaled much smoke, and his clothes were intact, suggesting he hadn’t been touched by the flames.
Was it the effect of an artifact?
After confirming Roen’s condition, Freya surveyed the chaotic scene. The village chief’s house burning in the middle of the night. The mysterious man Roen had carried out.
"Duron! Are you alright?! Duron!"
And the village chief, rushing over to the man whose hands were drenched in blood.
Roen said nothing, merely looking down at the chief and the man. His eyes seemed to hold an unreadable mix of anger, sorrow, and regret.
"Ah…"
From that look alone, Freya began to understand. That man, holding a grudge against Roen, had attacked him in the night. The fire must have been set to kill Roen or to destroy the evidence. Perhaps even the village chief was involved; his attitude toward Roen today had been strange, after all.
Having pieced it together, Freya parted her lips with difficulty.
"Roen, don’t tell me today’s incident was…"
But Roen cut her off with a heavy sigh.
"No. Nothing… happened."
*
That morning.
We immediately packed our things and left the village. On our way out, the villagers gathered to see us off.
They were all subdued. Perhaps because of the fire, they were terrified of what I might report when I returned to the main castle. The son of a great lord had nearly burned to death while staying in their village; it was only natural for them to be afraid. Worse, that son was the infamous Roen, so they couldn't help but worry about what kind of retaliation might follow.
I spoke to the fearful villagers.
"Don’t worry. This incident will not be reported."
That included not only the fire but also the assassination attempt by the chief and Duron. I would keep this matter quiet.
"Roen, but…"
Freya, who seemed to have grasped the gist of the situation, tried to protest, but I stopped her immediately.
"Stop. That’s enough."
This was a decision I had reached after a long night of deliberation.
…If I report this and have those two punished, will I feel any better?
Aslan, for all his kindness, was merciless in his enforcement of the law. The chief and Duron, who had tried to harm me, would not survive. The crime of attempting to murder a noble carried a mandatory death sentence—and they would die only after enduring horrific torture.
While their attack was infuriating, I didn't wish for such an end for them. After all, the original Roen was the one who had provided the cause.
Today’s events were simply Roen reaping what he had sown.
Perhaps this was the burden I had to bear, having been given a new life in Roen’s body. And besides, their assassination attempt hadn’t actually threatened me in the slightest.
Not only did a warding stone alert me to the attack in advance, but I was also constantly protected by the Aegis Shield even while sleeping. I had no fear of being stabbed. With my enchantment magic, I could break through and escape any situation. Even if they had poisoned my food, it wouldn't have mattered; I had the Silver Dragon Armor of Invulnerability to All Poisons.
No matter what they tried, I was safe.
In the end, Roen was the cause, and I suffered no actual harm.
That was why I decided to let the incident go. The only unsettling part was the origin of it all. I still couldn't understand Roen’s motive for harming Amy.
When I announced I would not speak of the matter, the chief and Duron silently bowed their heads. I didn't know what they were thinking. Were they grateful I spared their lives, or disappointed they failed to kill me? Were they inwardly sneering at my soft-hearted judgment, or were they already sharpening their blades for revenge?
But one thing was certain.
Inwardly, they must be feeling considerable anxiety.
Even though I said I would keep this quiet, there was no guarantee I would keep that promise. Roen had the power to annihilate an entire village with a single word. Having to live with that constant, gnawing anxiety… that would be the minimal punishment I could give them.
"Let’s go."
Just as I was about to leave with my companions, a little boy darted out from the crowd and handed me a bundle.
"Here, take this."
It was Jimmy, the chief’s grandson and the son of Duron and Amy. Inside the bundle was leftover food from yesterday.
Seeing Jimmy in such a disheveled state, I felt a pang in my heart, thinking it was because he wasn't receiving proper care after Amy's death. But had Jimmy not heard the curses his grandfather and father had directed at me? It was strange how friendly he was. He might be too young to understand, or perhaps they had made a point not to speak of me in front of him.
I accepted the bundle Jimmy offered.
"Thank you."
"It’s nothing. Oh, Roen. Can you come a little closer for a second? I have something to tell you."
I bent down and leaned my ear toward him. Jimmy whispered softly, his voice meant for me alone.
"Before my mom passed away, she told me to thank you. She told me to be sure to tell you, but I’m a little late."
"……"
She thanked me?
Jimmy added, "You can’t tell anyone. Mom said it was a secret. She said Dad and Grandpa wouldn’t understand even if they heard."
I see.
I didn't know the full story, but perhaps Amy’s death was something she herself had wished for. I still didn't know Roen’s exact intentions, but hearing Jimmy’s words made my heart feel a little lighter. It seemed that, at the very least, Roen hadn’t killed her out of pure malice.
"Thank you for telling me."
I patted Jimmy’s head and stood up. Then, I left the village without looking back.
"Let’s go."
*
Three days later.
After leaving Morefit Village, we reached the main fortress of the Devalis family and the heart of the western front: The Final Wall.
"Hoo."
After a difficult climb over a high hill, a massive city spread out below us.
"It’s been a while."
Freya smiled as she looked down at the scenery. A golden plain stretched out under the setting sun, and a massive, triple-layered wall soared so high it seemed to pierce the heavens. Near that wall lay the home of hundreds of thousands of people.
This was the border that separated the lands of demons from the lands of humans—humanity’s final bastion. The Devalis family’s main fortress, 'The Final Wall.'
I, too, smiled as I gazed at the magnificent view. This was where the final war to stop the demon horde had unfolded in the latter half of the game's main quest. It was a strange feeling to see the vibrant, lively scenery of the present overlapping with the ruined landscape I remembered.
If this Final Wall were to fall and the city be destroyed, just how many people would die? And at that moment, would I be able to simply dismiss the dying as mere NPCs?
I silently looked down at the city before turning my gaze to Ciel and Freya. They were NPCs from the game as well… but I no longer saw them as simple characters. At least, the people I had seen in this world so far were all living, breathing human beings.
As I stared at her, Freya tilted her head. "What is it?"
"It’s nothing."
We gazed at the city for a short while before proceeding inside.
A checkpoint guarded the city’s perimeter. When our party stood before it, the guards’ eyes widened.
"Lord Roen? Ciel? You’ve returned so soon."
"Something like that. May we enter?"
"O-of course. Lady Freya, you’re here as well. Welcome to the Devalis domain. Shall we provide an escort…?"
"Not necessary."
Who would dare attack Roen within the Devalis family’s main fortress?
Crossing the drawbridge over the River Seine, which was guarded by soldiers, we entered the city center. The marketplace was bustling; the streets felt like they were in the middle of a festival. Despite facing the demon lands just beyond the wall, the city was brimming with vitality. It was a testament to the people’s faith in Aslan’s rule and the Devalis family.
As we walked, I could hear people murmuring.
"Roen? It’s Roen."
"Isn’t he supposed to be at the Union?"
"It’s vacation. Shh, lower your voice. You’ll get noticed."
I thought I had grown used to such reactions, but it still felt strange to be treated this way in my "hometown." If anything, since this was where Roen was most active, his infamy was likely even greater here.
People whispered even as they looked at Freya, who was following behind me.
"Why is she here again…?"
"Didn’t they break off the engagement?"
"Looks like they’re getting back together. They were always so close since they were young."
"Really? Then the Devalis and Gunhild families will be joined by marriage?"
All sorts of comments reached my ears, but Freya showed little reaction, as if she had prepared herself for this.
We walked along the main road leading to the castle and soon reached the main gate of the outer wall.
Rumble—.
Without us knocking, the massive stone gate began to rise as if it had been waiting for us. Beyond the gate, an old man in well-maintained armor stood at attention.
The Devalis family’s head steward, Fernandez.
He was no ordinary servant; he possessed the intense, sharp aura unique to a master warrior. He bowed to me in greeting.
"Welcome, Lord Roen. Duke Aslan is waiting for you."