The Devil's Reluctant Visit
Abigail reached the dilapidated shack a short distance from the village. The rhythmic sound of chopping wood came from behind the shack, steady and unhurried. She walked slowly toward it.
There stood the man—bushy hair, a patchy beard thick with unkempt growth, and brown hair already streaked with gray. He looked even older than she remembered, as if years had been shaved off his life since she last saw him.
"No luck today, Sam. Tomorrow again..."
Jack lifted his head, one good eye widening. The moment he saw Abigail, the words died on his lips.
His gaze was rough, weathered, yet it held something warm—something like affection for the girl who had once been his apprentice.
"It's been a while."
Jack tossed the axe aside and answered with a flat, tired voice.
"Yeah... it's been a while, Jack."
"Have you eaten?"
He wiped sweat from his brow with a rag, and Abigail shook her head in silence.
"Come on in. I can't promise it'll be good, but I'll make something."
Abigail followed him into the shack. She scanned the walls: dried herbs hanging from strings between the beams, shelves crammed with bottles of medicinal ingredients. The only thing that stood out was the thick herbal scent, and even that felt oddly out of place in this ordinary little house. It made her uneasy, as if the sturdy mercenary she once knew shouldn't belong here at all. Her eyes lingered on Jack stirring a pot over the fire.
"Are you still collecting herbs?"
"What else is an old, injured mercenary supposed to do? Gotta eat to live."
He tasted the broth with a small spoon and nodded.
The man who once made enemies tremble on the battlefield was gone, replaced by an ordinary housewife's routine.
"Sit down. Today's batch is pretty good."
Abigail ate what Jack set before her. The spices were too heavy, the meat under-seasoned, the flavors too loud and clashing. She chewed in silence, then glanced up at him.
"Is this... well done?"
"Cooking's harder than it looks. Way easier to fight those Kelot bastards."
Jack's words drew a soft, surprised laugh from Abigail. She went back to stirring the spoon.
They ate in silence. After a long while, Jack finally spoke.
"You've grown strong. I could kill you with one hand now."
"If you can't beat an old, injured man, you don't deserve a sword."
Abigail said it lightly, but Jack's eyes shone with something like pride.
She knew the Empire's academy was impressive, but she still couldn't believe two years had changed her so completely. She knew her own talent, yet the fire burning in her eyes was far beyond anything he could have imagined.
Her gaze felt heavy, so Abigail frowned slightly and kept eating.
"So... you didn't come all this way just to see me. Why are you really here?"
"... ..."
Jack waited patiently. Abigail clicked her tongue and turned away.
"To clear the past."
"The darkness inside you?"
He didn't know the full story of her past. He'd met her during mercenary days, and she'd never spoken of it. Yet those red eyes had always reminded him of a wounded beast—filled with rage and cruelty.
The eyes that had first caught his interest were the ones cursing the entire world.
What kind of hell had turned a child into that?
Luckily, the academy had given her happiness. Her eyes looked clearer now, but as she spoke, the old darkness slowly crept back.
"There's no darkness. Only things I have to do."
The words dripped with killing intent. Jack exhaled softly.
"You've dropped out of the academy?"
"No... but... when this is over, I won't be able to go back..."
Mention of the academy made her eyes flicker. Watching her hesitate, Jack smiled with quiet joy.
She had endured talents he couldn't teach and a despair too deep for words. It was extraordinary just to hesitate between revenge and the academy.
If he could have taken her place, the balance never would have tipped.
Maybe if she had stayed a little longer, the darkness inside her would have faded.
But she had chosen revenge.
Even if it meant throwing everything away.
"What can I do for you?"
"Sorry."
"... ...?"
"I told you to forget the past and live in the present. But I know I won't be able to stop you."
Abigail swallowed her emotions and spoke calmly.
The first time Jack heard those words from her, his expression went blank.
"I know you tried to help me escape the past. But I can never let go of it. That's why I came to apologize."
Jack smiled faintly. His body trembled slightly, a strange mix of joy and pain on his face.
The cold child who had left without a word when heading to the academy now acknowledged his efforts.
It made his heart ache. He wasn't sure if it was the last time he would see her.
He didn't know who her target was, but the obsession in her eyes said she wasn't someone to take lightly.
Even if she finished her revenge without a scratch, she would become a wanted fugitive.
An old man like him would only get in the way. If he let her go now, her future would have no light.
"All right. Go do what you have to do."
Jack gave her a gentle smile.
He wanted her future more than he wanted to solve her past. He would support whatever choice she made, and stand as her strength.
Abigail stared at him, stunned, then nodded and stood up.
She opened the door to leave, stopped, thought for a moment, and turned back.
"Thank you, Jack."
Jack's eyes filled with tears.
This was the first time he had heard those words from her.
When he protected her as a child, taught her, gave her gifts, shared meals and experiences—never once had she said it.
She was leaving, and he watched her go in silence.
---
"Here it is."
Zeroa studied the map and the distant shack, then spoke.
They were still a bit far, but after Rai dismounted, the others did too.
"Hey, you're too noticeable. Take this one and go play somewhere. Don't come back until I call."
Rai ruffled Diana's cheek. Black Horse let out a loud neigh, grabbed the reins of Philia's horse Piyo, and trotted off toward who-knew-where.
"Don't do anything stupid. You're busy—don't get knocked up."
Black Horse glanced back at the warning, then walked away with the energy gone from his steps.
Piyo, Philia's worried mount, seemed to understand the horse's words. Philia forced herself to relax.
"Then let's meet Abigail's old teacher."
She knocked on the door. Jack opened it.
"Who is it?"
"I am Rai Redford, an instructor at Regandia Academy in the Empire."
"Ah... I see."
Jack's eyes widened as he took in Rai and the group behind him.
"Why did you come all this way... wait, are you here because of Abigail?"
"Yes. Abigail..."
"That girl actually talks about me? I'm so happy. Raising that cold girl was hard work, but she turned out fine, right? How is she doing? Ah, we can't talk out here. Come inside."
Jack cut Rai off and kept talking, then threw the door wide and welcomed them in.
Zeroa, guessing Abigail wasn't here, exchanged glances with the others and followed Rai inside.
"Please sit. I have nothing prepared for such a long journey. Sorry."
"Aw, don't worry. We came without anything either."
Rai sat. Diana immediately claimed the seat right next to him.
Philia stood behind her, unmoving.
"The table only seats four, but we can bring another chair. Make yourselves comfortable."
"No, thank you. It's kind of you, but I'll stand. Zeroa, sit down."
Zeroa glanced at Philia, then moved to the opposite side.
Jack poured tea and handed cups around, then sat beside Zeroa with a bright smile and turned to Rai.
"How is Abigail doing at the academy?"
Jack looked like a father eager for news of his daughter. The tension in Zeroa eased.
He thought the always-frowning, irritated Abigail would fit well with Jack. Zeroa sipped his tea.
"She was taught some weird habits by a useless teacher, and she's been trying to unlearn them."
Rai laughed cheerfully. Zeroa stared, unable to drink.
"Ah... ah, that's embarrassing. I taught her how to use a sword. I was just a pathetic mercenary; you'd think an instructor would be too weak for her."
Even with the rude words, Jack scratched the back of his head and bowed.
"No, Abigail was already strong when she entered. You taught her well, Jack."
Zeroa tried to smooth it over, flustered.
"But she was still a handful. It was Rai who made her strong. At first she was just a dog with its leash cut. Perfect for war—easy to kill."
Diana jumped in with a rude remark. Zeroa's eyes widened as he checked Jack's expression.
Jack just grinned.
"So she's grown into a fine student now. I'm glad. Honestly, I worried she wouldn't adapt. Having such a wonderful teacher is a relief."
"Yeah, I'm the only one who can handle it when that troublemaker causes trouble."
Rai smirked.
Philia set the tea on the table. Diana, chin in hand, watched and teased.
"That looks good on Philia. Why don't you drink it?"
"You drink it."
"I don't want cheap leaves that make it taste strong."
Zeroa checked Jack's expression again.
It was a fight, but the content was enough to make anyone feel uncomfortable.
"I-I have a nice aroma, don't I? It should taste good."
Zeroa quickly grabbed the cup before anyone could stop him.
But Philia reached out and pressed his hand down before he could drink.
"It has medicine. Don't."
"... ..."
Zeroa looked at Jack, stunned. He slowly set the cup down and placed his hand on his sword.
Rai leaned in, inhaled from the cup, and chuckled.
"Poison, huh? You really wanted to kill us. Tsk~ But you still underestimated us too much."
"... ..."
Jack said nothing, just stared at Rai.
Rai met his eyes for a moment, shrugged, and took a sip.
"Instructor...!"
"It's fine. I'm not dying. I've built up a tolerance from eating too much poison. This much is nothing—I can sleep peacefully at night."
Rai drank a few more sips and placed the cup in front of Jack.
"You really think about Abigail?"
"You asked her?"
"No. I know she never talks about herself. I just investigated."
The word investigation made Jack frown.
What had Abigail done to make someone look into her entire background?
It was a misunderstanding, but it made Jack uneasy. Rai answered lazily.
"I'm here to take her to the academy. Will you help?"
"... ... If you're helping Abigail, just leave her alone."
"Do you mean to let Abigail become a criminal?"
Philia stepped forward, and Jack looked at her briefly, then gave a hollow laugh and shook his head.
"From the way you talk, it seems Abigail had a happy time at the academy. I'm glad."
"... ..."
"You couldn't see the deep resentment in her eyes. But I could."
Jack lowered his gaze, eyes empty.
"Her eyes were locked in obsession. She couldn't see the world in front of her. Like trapped in fog, nothing bright, no flowers, no happiness... nothing at all."
"... ..."
"I reached out to her through the fog... but my hand couldn't touch her... Thanks to all of you, the fog has lifted a little, but in the end... even your hands couldn't reach her."
As he spoke, Jack's head bowed lower.
"Well... thank you for the tea."
Rai realized he couldn't talk him out of it, stood up, and left.
Diana and Philia followed. Zeroa watched Jack warily and stood as well.
As Zeroa reached the door, Rai had already left. Jack stepped in, smiling brightly.
"I will bring her back safely. Wait comfortably. Let's all eat together. By the way, I love beef."
"... ..."
Rai didn't wait for an answer and left.
Zeroa and Jack met eyes awkwardly, exchanged a stiff greeting, and closed the door with perfect politeness.
Jack remained alone. He stared at the steaming tea, forced a bitter smile.
"People have changed for the better... I'm glad."
Thinking of the three who left, Jack quietly began cleaning the table.
He wiped the tea stains with a cloth, then slumped against the table and prayed.
He prayed to every god he knew, again and again, for Abigail to return safely.
* * *
"Here it is."
Zeroa looked at the map and the distant shack.
They were still a way off, but after Rai dismounted, the others followed.
"Hey, you're too noticeable. Take this one and go play somewhere. Don't come back until I call."
Rai ruffled Diana's cheek. Black Horse neighed loudly, grabbed Piyo's reins, and trotted off.
"Don't do anything stupid. You're busy—don't get knocked up."
Black Horse glanced back, then walked away slowly.
Piyo, Philia's worried mount, seemed to understand. Philia forced herself to relax.
"Then let's meet Abigail's old teacher."
She knocked. Jack opened the door.
"Who is it?"
"I am Rai Redford, an instructor at Regandia Academy in the Empire."
"Ah... I see."
Jack's eyes widened as he took in Rai and the group behind him.
"Why did you come all this way... wait, are you here because of Abigail?"
"Yes. Abigail..."
"That girl actually talks about me? I'm so happy. Raising that cold girl was hard work, but she turned out fine, right? How is she doing? Ah, we can't talk out here. Come inside."
Jack cut Rai off and kept talking, then threw the door wide and welcomed them in.
Zeroa, guessing Abigail wasn't here, exchanged glances with the others and followed Rai inside.
"Please sit. I have nothing prepared for such a long journey. Sorry."
"Aw, don't worry. We came without anything either."
Rai sat. Diana immediately claimed the seat right next to him.
Philia stood behind her, unmoving.
"The table only seats four, but we can bring another chair. Make yourselves comfortable."
"No, thank you. It's kind of you, but I'll stand. Zeroa, sit down."
Zeroa glanced at Philia, then moved to the opposite side.
Jack poured tea and handed cups around, then sat beside Zeroa with a bright smile and turned to Rai.
"How is Abigail doing at the academy?"
Jack looked like a father eager for news of his daughter. The tension in Zeroa eased.
He thought the always-frowning, irritated Abigail would fit well with Jack. Zeroa sipped his tea.
"She was taught some weird habits by a useless teacher, and she's been trying to unlearn them."
Rai laughed cheerfully. Zeroa stared, unable to drink.
"Ah... ah, that's embarrassing. I taught her how to use a sword. I was just a pathetic mercenary; you'd think an instructor would be too weak for her."
Even with the rude words, Jack scratched the back of his head and bowed.
"No, Abigail was already strong when she entered. You taught her well, Jack."
Zeroa tried to smooth it over, flustered.
"But she was still a handful. It was Rai who made her strong. At first she was just a dog with its leash cut. Perfect for war—easy to kill."
Diana jumped in with a rude remark. Zeroa's eyes widened as he checked Jack's expression.
Jack just grinned.
"So she's grown into a fine student now. I'm glad. Honestly, I worried she wouldn't adapt. Having such a wonderful teacher is a relief."
"Yeah, I'm the only one who can handle it when that troublemaker causes trouble."
Rai smirked.
Philia set the tea on the table. Diana, chin in hand, watched and teased.
"That looks good on Philia. Why don't you drink it?"
"You drink it."
"I don't want cheap leaves that make it taste strong."
Zeroa checked Jack's expression again.
It was a fight, but the content was enough to make anyone feel uncomfortable.
"I-I have a nice aroma, don't I? It should taste good."
Zeroa quickly grabbed the cup before anyone could stop him.
But Philia reached out and pressed his hand down before he could drink.
"It has medicine. Don't."
"... ..."
Zeroa looked at Jack, stunned. He slowly set the cup down and placed his hand on his sword.
Rai leaned in, inhaled from the cup, and chuckled.
"Poison, huh? You really wanted to kill us. Tsk~ But you still underestimated us too much."
"... ..."
Jack said nothing, just stared at Rai.
Rai met his eyes for a moment, shrugged, and took a sip.
"Instructor...!"
"It's fine. I'm not dying. I've built up a tolerance from eating too much poison. This much is nothing—I can sleep peacefully at night."
Rai drank a few more sips and placed the cup in front of Jack.
"You really think about Abigail?"
"You asked her?"
"No. I know she never talks about herself. I just investigated."
The word investigation made Jack frown.
What had Abigail done to make someone look into her entire background?
It was a misunderstanding, but it made Jack uneasy. Rai answered lazily.
"I'm here to take her to the academy. Will you help?"
"... ... If you're helping Abigail, just leave her alone."
"Do you mean to let Abigail become a criminal?"
Philia stepped forward, and Jack looked at her briefly, then gave a hollow laugh and shook his head.
"From the way you talk, it seems Abigail had a happy time at the academy. I'm glad."
"... ..."
"You couldn't see the deep resentment in her eyes. But I could."
Jack lowered his gaze, eyes empty.
"Her eyes were locked in obsession. She couldn't see the world in front of her. Like trapped in fog, nothing bright, no flowers, no happiness... nothing at all."
"... ..."
"I reached out to her through the fog... but my hand couldn't touch her... Thanks to all of you, the fog has lifted a little, but in the end... even your hands couldn't reach her."
As he spoke, Jack's head bowed lower.
"Well... thank you for the tea."
Rai realized he couldn't talk him out of it, stood up, and left.
Diana and Philia followed. Zeroa watched Jack warily and stood as well.
As Zeroa reached the door, Rai had already left. Jack stepped in, smiling brightly.
"I will bring her back safely. Wait comfortably. Let's all eat together. By the way, I love beef."
"... ..."
Rai didn't wait for an answer and left.
Zeroa and Jack met eyes awkwardly, exchanged a stiff greeting, and closed the door with perfect politeness.
Jack remained alone. He stared at the steaming tea, forced a bitter smile.
"People have changed for the better... I'm glad."
Thinking of the three who left, Jack quietly began cleaning the table.
He wiped the tea stains with a cloth, then slumped against the table and prayed.
He prayed to every god he knew, again and again, for Abigail to return safely.