Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: A Name Like Parrot (2)
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At first, Amy didn't understand and blinked, but when she realized what Tess was implying, she turned her head away with a flustered expression.
“What a strange thing to say all of a sudden. What does Shirone have to do with my graduation?”
“But it's true, isn't it? Shirone is still Class Four, and you're in the graduating class. Plus, with your skills, you'll definitely be able to graduate next year. When that happens, you'll leave for the capital, won't you?”
The moment she heard the words 'leave for the capital,' Amy's heart suddenly began to race.
She had never once considered it before. But realistically, it wasn't something in the distant future.
“It has nothing to do with me.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Amy said in a cold voice, but Tess couldn't sense any sincerity in her tone.
After a moment of silence, Amy, just as Tess expected, revealed what was on her mind.
“Still… he promised. That he would definitely catch up to me. That was the condition I gave for him to speak to me casually.”
Tess pursed her lips in surprise and let out a soft ‘ooh.’ If their conversation had gone that far, the feelings they had for each other weren't so trivial.
“Hmm. Of course, Shirone is amazing. But didn't he reach Class Four in just half a year? No matter how much of a genius he is, can he graduate that easily?”
In truth, Amy knew it too. The achievements Shirone had made so far were something ordinary people couldn't even dream of imitating.
An 18-year-old boy who had lived without even knowing magic had reached Class Four in just half a year.
To hope for more than that might be greedy.
Amy gazed at Shirone's back as he walked ahead. Had Shirone ever thought about this? If she really did graduate, would he miss her?
It was difficult to take even one step ahead among people who were all doing their best. But Shirone was already several steps ahead. Perhaps he was running with all his talent, burning it to its very limit.
Amy knew this, but she couldn't help feeling upset. She glared at Shirone's back with a piercing gaze and sent a message with her thoughts.
‘You'd better hurry and catch up. If you fall behind, I swear I won't let you off the hook.’
Having finished their secret, girls-only conversation, the two quickened their pace and caught up with Shirone and Rian.
Reunited, Shirone's group chatted about this and that as they climbed the hill toward the villa. Suddenly, Tess stopped and warned in a low voice.
“Shh. Quiet.”
“Why all of a sudden…?”
Amy asked, looking back at Tess. At first, she thought Tess's playful side was acting up again. But when she saw her serious expression, she immediately shut her mouth.
Tess, who trained in saber swordsmanship, focused on using sensory-type builds within her Schema.
While not on the level of an archer, her sensitivity to stimuli far surpassed that of an ordinary person.
Shirone and Rian, belatedly sensing the atmosphere, approached her. Tess raised a finger to her lips, signaling them to be quiet as well.
“There's someone in front of the villa. Based on their lung capacity, it's a man. If he has an average build, his height is probably between 170 and 175.”
Rian gripped the hilt of the straight sword on his back. After the commotion they'd caused at the royal palace last night, the possibility of an intruder was high.
“I don't sense any hostility, but be prepared just in case.”
Tess moved forward, silencing her footsteps like a cat, and the other three slowly followed her.
When they reached the villa, they could see someone standing in front of the door. Visible only as a silhouette, he stood perfectly still, looking elsewhere.
Shirone's group advanced without letting down their guard. But before they had taken more than a few steps, the silhouette lost its strength and collapsed to the ground.
After exchanging glances, Shirone's group rushed to the door.
The midnight visitor was Jis. It was impossible to find a single unbruised spot on his face from wherever he'd been beaten.
Shirone grabbed Jis by the side to support him. Just the touch of his hand made Jis contort his face in pain.
“Gah! Ah, it hurts!”
“Are you okay? Who did this to you?”
“Get… get away from me!”
Jis shoved Shirone away. He knew who he'd gotten into this state for, so he couldn't even be properly angry. At least in front of Amy, he didn't want to show any weakness.
Jis slumped down, his back against the door. The moment Shirone moved to help him up again, he twisted his lips into a painful smirk and let out a hollow laugh.
“Been out having fun until this hour? You've got it easy, don't you?”
Jis looked to be in critical condition, but Tess didn't let her guard down.
He was the one who had lured Amy into danger with strange methods just last night. No matter how injured he was, she had no intention of trusting him.
Amy, on the other hand, approached without hesitation. It wasn't that she trusted Jis, but as someone who knew the rules of this world, she had a good idea of what had happened.
“What in the world happened to you? Tell me. Was it Falcoa?”
Instead of answering Amy, Jis lifted his head and glared fiercely at Shirone.
The thought that he could glare at Shirone with such confidence actually made him feel better.
He had protected Amy's life even as his own hit rock bottom. For the minute it would take to explain the situation, wasn't it okay for him to be the protagonist?
“Hey, you. Listen up. Protect your girl properly.”
“What are you talking about?”
When Shirone tilted his head in confusion, Jis scowled fiercely. He'd suspected it ever since his conversation with Amy in the carriage. Their relationship wasn't something that could be clearly defined.
That made him even angrier. He didn't understand why he had to suffer like this because of Shirone, who had everything he didn't.
“I'm talking about Amy, you bastard! If you're going to cause trouble like that, you should protect her to the end!”
“I don't understand what you're saying at all. Why Amy? We were together all day.”
Jis recalled Falcoa's orders. The memory was so absurd that another hollow laugh escaped him.
“He told me to bring her, even if I had to kill her. He told me to put a Lethal Loop in a drink and give it to Amy. Said she'd have no choice but to drink it anyway.”
“That crazy…!”
Rian's eyes widened like a tiger's as he clenched his fists. The others listening were just as furious.
Of course, Amy wasn't foolish enough not to recognize Falcoa's scheme. But considering her pride and the power of her Red Eyes, something terrible could have happened.
As the thought occurred to her, Tess shuddered with a chill.
“He's insane. I knew he wasn't normal, but I didn't think he'd go this far.”
Shirone's voice was also trembling like never before.
“So that drink…”
“I threw it in the trash. I told him I couldn't do it. Do you get it now? I'm the one who protected Amy. Not you, me! I put my life on the line to protect her! Understand, you idiot?”
Shirone's group remained silent. They couldn't refute it, nor did they want to.
Shirone knelt down, meeting Jis's eyes.
“Jis, we…”
“So!”
Jis cut Shirone off with a sharp yell. The force of the shout sent a searing pain through him, as if his ribs were breaking. But the tears streaming down his face like a waterfall were not from the pain.
“So…”
Jis prostrated himself. He pressed his forehead to the ground and spoke in a sobbing voice.
“Please, help me.”
Shirone's group could say nothing, only look down at the prostrate Jis.
“My sister… I think my sister's been taken. After I came to, I went to the shop, but they said she'd gone home. I went to the house, but she wasn't there either. So I went looking for her… but no one will help me. Please, find my sister. I'm begging you.”
Having pleaded with Shirone's group, Jis broke into the sobs he had been holding back, repeating the word ‘please’ over and over.
Shirone watched him, feeling anger and sadness seep into him at the same time.
How long had he wandered the streets in such a battered state? Who would care about a little sister from the back alleys? The image of him calling his sister's name amidst everyone's indifference came vividly to mind.
“My sister. My little sister. My everything…”
“Do you have any idea where they might have taken her? Your sister, I mean.”
Jis shot his head up. He had come here because there was no one else to ask for help, but he knew that helping him meant a direct confrontation with the Freeman organization, the rulers of the island.
Even for mages, it was a task where their lives couldn't be guaranteed, so he hadn't thought they would easily agree. That was why he had pleaded with the resolve to throw away his own life.
But Shirone, without a moment's hesitation, was asking where his sister had been taken.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
Jis bowed his head again and again. This was the only way he could express the extent of his gratitude.
Watching this with a displeased look, Amy grabbed Jis's arm and pulled him up.
“That's enough. Just act like you usually do. It's weirder for us when you're suddenly like this. Let's go inside first. We'll talk while we treat your wounds.”
“B-but my sister…”
“You idiot! If we rush in recklessly just because we're in a hurry, we'll be the ones who get taken down first! If she was kidnapped on her way home, we still have plenty of time. We'll fly there if we have to, so let's treat your injuries first.”
Amy supported Jis as she opened the villa door. Though she was worried about the girl named Yuna, tending to his wounds came first.
Once Jis was lying on the bed, Tess removed his clothes. Having mastered numerous combat support skills, she could tell his condition at a glance. From the shape of the bruises, his ribs were clearly damaged.
Tess pressed on various spots on Jis's body.
“Ugh! Ow, that hurts.”
“Of course it hurts. You were beaten this badly. They really didn't hold back. Bear with it a little longer. I need to check your organs too.”
Tess pressed down on Jis's abdomen with all her strength. The organs, protected by skin and muscle, were difficult to check without applying such rough pressure.
“Uggggggh!”
Despite the excruciating pain, Jis desperately endured it. He knew that the sooner his treatment was over, the sooner they could go rescue Yuna.
“That's a relief. You've got a cracked rib, and the rest are just simple bruises. Your organs are fine too. You're surprisingly sturdy.”
Jis gave a bitter smile. He wasn't a good fighter, but thanks to picking fights with countless nobles, he was all too used to getting beaten up.
While Tess applied a pressure bandage, Jis explained the situation.
Considering Yuna's quitting time and the time it took her to get home, the kidnapping was estimated to have happened about two hours ago.
“They must have taken her to their hideout, so they probably haven't arrived yet. But I'm not asking you to make it in time. As long as Yuna is alive…”
Amy cut Jis off.
“No, it's fine. They'll be moving by carriage, so if we borrow some horses, we can definitely catch up. Where exactly is the hideout? It sounds like it's pretty far from here.”
“I've never been there myself. I heard it's on the north side of the island, but I'm not sure if that's definite.”
“No. That's probably the place.”
Shirone was certain that was their hideout. The northern side of the island was a natural cliff. Wasn't that the reason they had bypassed the island and docked at the southern port when they first arrived?
Besides, the north was close to the Kergo Autonomous District, a place beyond the government's reach. There was no better environment to use as a hideout.
“Alright, let's get going then. Can you stay here by yourself?”
Jis nodded. Even if his injuries worsened, he was determined for them to go.
Still, his expression was dark, weighed down by the guilt of sending uninvolved people into the jaws of death.
“Are you sure? It's ridiculous for me to say this after asking for your help, but those guys are really strong.”
Amy snorted. Even if it wasn't for Jis's sister, she had been planning to deal with that man, Falcoa, sooner or later.