Carmen (4)
The woman walked.
With slow, steady steps on her own two feet, following the path she'd come from, she strode out proudly.
And finally, as a free woman facing the world once more, she stepped forward with a radiant smile blooming on her face.
"Doesn't look too bad."
The woman walked slowly, gazing around as if everything were utterly novel.
Her eyes sparkled like those of a child seeing the outside world for the first time.
The neighborhood wasn't exactly high-class—I'm not sure it's the best first impression—but I couldn't bring myself to stop her.
How could I, when those eyes were shining so brightly?
"Are you satisfied?"
"Somewhat."
There were parts I regretted, sure. But this was enough to satisfy me.
At least I'd managed to properly rescue everyone in sight.
"Earlier, I really thought you were gonna take his head off."
"I put some weight behind it, but... did it come off cringy?"
"It suited you well."
"Thanks, even if it's just polite words."
I'd tried to set the mood so they wouldn't underestimate me, but saying it out loud nearly killed me from secondhand embarrassment.
Still, it had been necessary. I couldn't let them look down on me.
It wouldn't happen again. At least, I hoped not.
"Let's head over there first. We should have a talk, right?"
In the brief moment I'd been chatting with Allerton, the woman had already wandered quite a distance ahead.
I hurried after her with quick steps—she was nearly out of sight—when suddenly, she stopped.
She'd paused atop a small hill, where the entire Dark District sprawled below in a single glance.
I climbed up after her and tossed a light question her way as she stared blankly downward.
"How are you feeling?"
"......"
She said nothing.
She simply turned to me, staring with those vivid red eyes.
After gazing at me for a long while, she bowed deeply at the waist and expressed her gratitude.
"Thank you."
It was just a short phrase, but it carried a profound weight.
The emotions welling up from deep within her heart came through crystal clear, even without a reply.
I gently soothed her reddening eyes and slowly began the conversation.
"I'm Ian. And you?"
"...Carmen."
"Good. Carmen. First off, sincere congratulations on regaining your freedom."
I meant it.
She must have endured so much suffering. I hoped this would be enough for her to finally find some peace.
But I couldn't tell her to relax just yet.
"That said, you can't let your guard down. The arena and that cartel are still out there—and they're furious."
"But they won't act rashly, knowing you're watching over me. They fear you greatly."
"While they're too scared to move, you need to head somewhere safe."
No matter what, this situation couldn't drag on after we left—with Carmen still here.
If she stayed, the Ulpis Cartel would absolutely try for revenge.
They couldn't handle a Swordmaster, but they could overwhelm a top-tier fighter with enough expendable muscle.
"Anywhere else you could go back to?"
"...No. Probably not."
"Do you know your hometown?"
"That... I don't really..."
"Do you remember where you lived before the arena?"
"A little... but not the details..."
I'd hoped to send her somewhere if she had a place, but it seemed not.
No matter how many questions I asked, her answers were all vague—nothing concrete enough to pinpoint a location.
"I see. You really..."
Nothing.
She truly had nothing.
Our brief talk made it clear: this woman knew next to nothing about the world.
She'd been the arena's champion for so long? Years of total isolation from the world—it made sense, really.
I couldn't bring myself to press with more questions.
"We're heading to the capital tomorrow. Far from here."
"If you have nowhere to go, would it be okay if we escorted you there?"
Instead, I made a proposal.
Keep her close until she could somewhat fend for herself.
Not forever, of course, but the road to the capital? That was doable.
"For the time being, I look forward to your care. Ian."
I said it and offered my hand for a shake.
Carmen hesitated for a moment, then carefully took it, watching my reaction.
"Ah, blood..."
Something sticky clung to her hand from the grip.
The blood from that earlier brawl—it had dried right there, stuck fast.
Leaving her hand bloody didn't look good, so I pulled a napkin from my pocket and wiped it for her.
"It's all dried up—won't come off easily."
I rubbed hard while holding her hand, but it wouldn't budge. Dried blood, bits of torn flesh... it was stubborn.
"What should I do from now on?"
Carmen, who'd been watching quietly, asked in a soft voice.
"Hmm? Not sure. I'm not you, so it's hard to say for certain."
"But if I had to guess... You're strong, Carmen, so picking up the sword again as a knight could work. Or set weapons aside entirely and try something new."
I couldn't dictate what she should—or would—do.
I didn't know her well enough.
But I had words for the woman about to live freely for the first time.
"How about thinking about what you want to do?"
There must be things she couldn't do all this time. She should start there.
At my words, she pondered for a bit before answering cautiously.
"...The night sky."
She turned aside, as if entranced by something.
There hung the night sky. A handful of stars, a massive moon— a breathtaking expanse of deepest black.
"I wanted to see that night sky."
Unlike the grim landscape sprawling below, it displayed a serene beauty, like a world apart.
"Now you can see it whenever you want."
The otherworldly dream she'd harbored in her heart.
"Until it's no longer special to you."
It was no longer just a dream.
"Hoo..."
Bad luck.
Of all things, caught in a Swordmaster's sights—utterly crushed without a fight.
If it'd been some other noble, he could've sicced his backers on them and held out. But this? Unstoppable.
"Still tingling."
He glanced down at his side.
Where his arm should have been—nothing. Just faint traces of it being ripped away.
"But I barely kept my life, so... fortunate, I guess."
He'd witnessed it once, back in his youth.
The overwhelming might of a Swordmaster.
Trampling armies like ants, shredding walls and spells alike—that destructive spectacle made them seem like beings from another realm.
Surviving an encounter like that? He could call it fortunate, in a way.
Losing the champion stings, though...
Bought her cheap as a kid, and she'd become the arena's golden ticket.
Heavy investments down the drain—regrettable, but unavoidable.
Should've handled her the moment she bolted. Better to chalk it up as a loss and move on.
Messing with something a Swordmaster spared? Who knew what disaster that'd bring. Best not even look her way.
"More importantly, time to clean up the mess..."
Overhaul the arena's lineup on the fly, make excuses to the nobles who'd been propping them up.
With rough days ahead, all Gillion could do was sigh quietly.
He flicked away his nearly burned-out cigar and moved to stand—
"Such a pity. Deep City's boss, mauled badly by a feral cat."
Someone strode in.
Gillion turned cautiously at the growing footsteps approaching him.
A man in a black cloak.
His face was shrouded in shadow, but those gleaming violet eyes stood out vividly.
"...Who the hell are you?"
Not a subordinate. Not from a rival cartel either.
But whoever he was, he'd infiltrated the deepest sanctum of Ulpis's stronghold without a sound.
Impossible to guess his identity easily—Gillion asked warily.
"Ah, you mean me?"
The man didn't flinch or show open hostility.
He just pointed at himself with a finger, let out an awkward chuckle, and approached amiably.
"Oops. How rude—I haven't even introduced myself properly."
He smiled at Gillion, bowing politely in greeting.
His every gesture oozed leisure, his face spread with a smile that seemed utterly harmless at first glance.
But Gillion knew better.
In this godforsaken world, guys who smiled that leisurely...
"Name's Pistorious. Just a humble servant, but I attend a great one."
...were all utterly unhinged.
"Got a question that's been nagging me."
The man who'd named himself Pistorious had, at some point, dragged over a chair from god-knows-where and sat right across from him.
Then, fixing Gillion with those unsettling violet eyes, he posed a single question.
"Mind giving me the details on any run-ins you've had with the northern Swordmaster?"
The moment their eyes met head-on, Gillion realized it.
The thing before him was far more dangerous—and terrifying—than the likes of him.