Chapter 94: Sepia Rivayden 4
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 94: Sepia Rivayden 4
"But how do you know?"
Sepia removed the mask Loki had placed on her and turned to him. He was currently being pestered by the spirits—though "pestered" mostly involved the sulking spirits tugging on his hair or clinging to his sides.
It’s more comfortable than I thought.
Sepia stared at the white mask in her hand. With its frozen, smiling eyes and the exaggerated upturn of its mouth, it made whoever wore it look somewhat ridiculous.
Watching Loki wear it all the time, she had wondered if it was inconvenient during a fight, but having tried it on herself, she found it wasn't uncomfortable at all. It felt so natural that if she wore it long enough, she might even forget it was there.
"Ahahaha, that tickles! Stop it, okay? Please? Sepia, what did you just say?"
"I asked how you knew who killed my parents."
"Hmm. I certainly understand why you're curious. But are you only asking that now?"
"…I was a bit overwhelmed earlier," Sepia muttered softly, her face flushing a deep crimson.
She had been so stunned by the news that he knew the killer's identity that she had completely forgotten to ask for the details.
"Just answer me! How did you find out?"
It wasn't particularly surprising that Loki knew about the tragedy that had struck her village. Marquis Rivayden had offered a massive reward to anyone who could identify or kill the person responsible for the massacre of Sepia’s parents and her fellow villagers. Countless adventurers, detectives, and knights had investigated in hopes of gaining wealth, fame, or the Marquis's favor, but not a single one had succeeded.
As Sepia became famous for her extraordinary talent, her tragedy became equally well-known. Some looked at her with pity, while others used that tragedy as a weapon to hurt her. Thus, while everyone knew of Sepia’s past, no one had ever discovered the identity of the man who caused it—until now.
"Sepia, do you remember what I said earlier? I told you that I recently avenged my younger siblings."
Sepia didn't see how that related to her parents' killer, but she remained silent and listened.
"I’m the same as you."
The same? Sepia didn't understand what he meant.
"In what way?"
"The bastard who killed my siblings was also a necromancer. A different one from Betzdo, the one who killed your parents, but a necromancer nonetheless."
"............................"
Loki calmly told Sepia about his past. He spoke of the children he had met in the back alleys, how those children were killed and manipulated by a necromancer, and how he had been forced to lay them to rest with his own hands.
Sepia couldn't say a word. She never imagined that Loki, who was always smiling, carried such a heavy burden.
Loki explained that he had obtained information about Betzdo while in the process of hunting down that necromancer.
"To be honest, if I show you this, you'll definitely believe me. I wasn't planning on showing you because I was worried about the shock, but..."
Loki recalled Betzdo’s face. He had never seen the man in person, but he had seen his character model many times in the game. He debated whether this was the right move, but to earn Sepia’s absolute trust, it was necessary.
Visualizing the features, Loki used an illusion to manifest Betzdo’s face in the air.
"............!"
Sepia stared at the man’s face appearing in the void.
It was him. The man who had slaughtered the villagers and killed her parents. The man whose face she recalled every single day so she would never forget—so she could kill him the moment they met—was right before her eyes.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!!!
Just as Sepia’s emotions flared and the spirits began to go berserk again—
Click.
She felt that same cold sensation on her face. Loki had put the white mask back on her.
"Sepia, take a deep breath. Slowly. That’s just a fake I created."
"Haah... haah..."
Following Loki’s lead, Sepia took slow, deep breaths. Loki waited in silence until her breathing steadied.
"..........I’m okay now."
Sepia wasn't sure if she was saying that to Loki or to herself.
"You believe me now, right?"
"It’s not that I didn't believe you! It’s just...!"
"I know. It’s a heavy matter. It’s only natural for you to get emotional."
"..........Can I really do it?" Sepia buried her face in Loki’s chest and murmured in a weak voice. Her body was trembling uncontrollably.
Until a moment ago, she thought she could definitely get her revenge if she did as Loki said. But if she was shaking this much just from seeing a face, could she really go through with it?
As she was drowning in anxiety—
Tap, tap.
She felt someone lightly patting her head. Then, a serious voice, different from his usual playful tone, reached her ears.
"Like I said before, don't worry. I’ll be right there by your side."
"..............Okay."
Tap, tap.
The palm on her head felt a bit awkward, but strangely, her heart began to settle. She felt so comforted that she wished she could stay like this just a little longer.
Tap, tap.
Tap, tap.
Tap, tap.
Tap, tap.
Tap, tap.
Tap, tap.
Taptaptaptaptaptaptap.
Snap.
"How long are you planning on petting me?! That’s enough!"
She might have wanted to stay like that for a bit, but she never imagined he would keep doing it for an entire hour. He had tapped her so many times that her head was starting to ache.
"Well, you see? Your hair is so incredibly soft that my hand just moves on its own. Even now, look! My right hand is moving by itself!"
Loki’s right hand trembled as it crept toward Sepia’s head again, while his left hand desperately tried to hold it back.
"Pfft!"
Watching his antics, a laugh escaped her lips. Right. With a guy like this helping her, there was no reason to be afraid.
"If you like it that much, I’ll give you special permission to touch it," Sepia said, flipping her pink hair back with a flourish.
"............."
Contrary to her expectation that he would immediately start petting her again, Loki just crossed his arms and stared at her.
"Now that you've actually given me permission, I don't really feel like doing it anymore."
Whack!
"Just go die!"
* * *
The next day.
After lunch, Loki and Sepia were walking across the Academy campus to attend Professor Gedra’s class.
"By the way, how is Lania doing?"
Lania was Sepia’s younger sister, whom they had run into at the cafeteria with Johanna. Unlike Sepia, she wasn't adopted; she was the biological child of the Marquis and his first wife.
"Sigh............." Sepia let out a deep sigh at Loki’s question.
"Is something wrong?"
"It’s not a serious illness, but Lania has a weak constitution, probably inherited from Mother. She catches colds easily. It seems she caught one again after sneaking out to play."
"I should go visit her later. Do you have any other siblings besides Lania?"
Flinch.
Sepia paused for a moment, her expression souring instantly.
"There is one... but I don't really want to talk about him. I don't even consider that piece of trash family."
Unlike when she spoke of Lania, there wasn't even a hint of affection on her face.
"If you're feeling down, should I pat your head like yesterday?"
".... No need!"
Stop.
As they headed toward Gedra’s class, someone appeared in front of them. The moment Sepia saw the man leading the group, her face contorted in blatant disgust.
The man had blue hair similar to Lania’s, but the color was much duller.
Darun.
Behind him stood more than ten people, all of them armed.
* * *
Currently, Marquis Rivayden had two wives. The only person Sepia considered her mother was the first wife.
When the first wife was unable to conceive due to her naturally frail health, the second wife gave birth to a son and named him Darun. The first wife eventually had a child as well, but like her mother, the girl was born with a weak constitution.
Thus, Darun had never doubted that he would be the one to become the next Marquis—until Sepia appeared.
It wasn't that Darun lacked talent in swordsmanship, but Sepia’s talent was of a legendary caliber that made Darun’s look pathetic by comparison. Believing that Sepia would steal the position of family head, Darun bullied her relentlessly behind the scenes.
"Did your parents commit suicide and set this all up just to get you into this house? Or maybe you killed them yourself?"
"Otherwise, it makes no sense that you're the only survivor. Oh! Or did you sell your body and beg for your life?"
Darun never hesitated to use Sepia’s tragedy as a weapon. Of course, Sepia cursed him out every time, but she never told the Marquis or the first wife. If Sepia found happiness through Marquis Rivayden, the first wife, and Lania, then all the stress she received within the household came from Darun.
Seeing Darun now, Sepia reflexively swallowed the curse that was about to fly out. Normally, she would have unleashed a torrent of abuse, but Loki was behind her. She didn't want to show Loki a fight with a guy like this.
So, she tried to ignore him and walk past, but—
"Hello. I’m Darun Rivayden, a second-year. Nice to meet you."
Darun offered his hand to Loki with a loathsome smile.
Don't get close to him. Ignore him.
Sepia couldn't bring herself to say it out loud. She couldn't force Loki to ignore a greeting from a member of the Marquis's family just because of her personal feelings.
Years ago, shortly after Sepia was adopted, she had become friends with another noble girl. Darun had left Sepia alone but had viciously bullied that girl instead. Sepia only found out much later, but there was no physical evidence to prove it.
As Sepia closed her eyes, wishing for this moment to pass quickly—she realized she didn't hear a sound.
Sepia opened her eyes slightly and looked at Loki. Loki stood there with both hands in his pockets, staring blankly at Darun’s outstretched hand.
"Ah, are you asking me to grab 'this'?"
Slide.
Darun’s lip twitched at the word "this," but he didn't say anything as Loki pulled a hand out of his pocket. Darun assumed Loki was going to shake his hand, but instead, Loki used the hand to scratch his head.
Scratch, scratch.
"But what should I do? I’m not particularly glad to meet you."
"..........Ahahaha, you're as interesting as they say. May I at least know your name?"
Darun’s smile was more distorted than when he first spoke. He, too, realized that Loki was blatantly ignoring him. However, he hadn't lost his temper yet because there was something he wanted from Loki: the magic tools Loki had used during his fight with Rophri and during the midterm exams.
If he could figure out the manufacturing method and sell them, he could significantly bolster his standing within the family.
A commoner like this will fold easily if I just offer him some money.
Darun intended to just exchange names and move on for now.
"I am Sepia’s friend, Tom Cruise."
Everyone present stared at Loki with stunned eyes. There wasn't a single person there who didn't know Loki’s name.
"......Wasn't your name Loki?" Darun asked, his smile finally cracking. He never imagined the guy would give a fake name.
What followed was even more unexpected.
"What, you already knew? Then why did you ask?"
While everyone stood there dumbfounded, Loki continued calmly.
"Are you trying to pick a fight with me right now?"