Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Breaking the Lie - 4
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Adwin’s resolute words left us all quite surprised.
I had been planning to recruit him into the party from the start, but I was still pondering the best way to convince him.
For him to step forward like this on his own?
‘Before the regression, Kaild had a tough time recruiting Adwin.’
[Back then, Mariana had already vanished, and they hadn’t even found Somel’s statue, so he had no motivation at all.]
Exactly.
All Kaild had said was something like, “Let’s defeat the Demon King together so no other victims like us have to suffer.”
The words themselves sounded noble, but they wouldn’t have resonated with a boy who’d lost his mother and fallen into despair.
Even so, Adwin had accepted the offer.
What a good kid.
That was when Mariana spoke up.
“Son. Not everyone in the past hero’s party came back happy after defeating the Demon King. Look at Archmage Iori—he died in the final battle.”
“......”
“You might not come back. Is that okay with you?”
“No, it’s not. Of course not.”
“Then......”
“But I will come back, so that assumption is pointless. Right, Maide hyung?”
Why turn the arrow on me?
Everyone’s eyes turned to me.
I steadied myself and replied.
“I have no intention of losing any party members just to kill the Demon King. Not you, and not anyone else.”
“......!”
I’d meant it for Adwin, but oddly enough, Neril and Jenia both smiled faintly.
Adwin looked at Mariana as if to say, See?
“My necromancy will definitely be helpful. I can even summon the souls of past heroes and warriors right now.”
“Yes, of course that would be helpf— What?”
“Huh?”
“What did you just say? You can summon the souls of past heroes and warriors?”
“Well, I’ve never actually tried it before. But separating Repia’s soul this time gave me a bit of a feel for it.”
“......”
“It’s not that impressive. It just means I can find their souls in the afterlife. It doesn’t mean they’ll definitely answer my call.”
Even so, Mariana gaped in disbelief.
I was the same.
‘Amazing. Was this kid such a genius?’
Even before the regression, Adwin could summon up to hero-level souls.
But warriors too?
‘Did he level up by separating Repia’s soul? But with this kind of talent, he could’ve done it before the regression too.’
They’d gone through several quests together back then.
There hadn’t been this incident, but there were plenty of other opportunities to level up.
Yet before the regression, Adwin had never once summoned a past warrior’s soul.
I thought it through and arrived at the answer myself.
Offense hadn’t shown his shadow necromancy before the regression either.
Come to think of it, there were times I’d been shocked discovering Jenia’s swordsmanship or Neril’s magic prowess—things I hadn’t known about before.
Was it the same for Adwin?
‘Kaild really hadn’t won over any of our hearts back then.’
That was when Jenia spoke.
“Ms. Mariana. Your son’s already grown up so much.”
“......”
“I understand your worries, but Maide vouched for him. If that’s not enough, I’ll vouch for him too. I promise to bring Adwin back safely.”
“But.”
“Come on, Ms. Neril, say something at a time like this?”
Neril crossed her arms and said flatly.
“I’ll try.”
“You’re terrible at reading the room.”
“That was my attempt?”
“For you, that’s something. I’m proud of your growth.”
“I do still have room to grow.”
“Wow......”
Mariana quietly placed her hand on Adwin’s shoulder.
Her hand was trembling, but not from anxiety.
“Really. When did you grow up like this?”
“......”
“Go on, then. You’re all grown up now—I can’t keep you under my skirt forever.”
“Mother.”
“When you come back after defeating the Demon King, let’s have a celebration party. Just the three of us.”
Adwin nodded with the brightest smile imaginable.
We left Rayners territory.
It seemed like Adwin’s first time leaving the territory—he spent the whole time excitedly peering out the carriage window.
“Riding in a carriage makes me feel tall!”
“Optical illusion.”
“......Neril noona’s so cold.”
Neril’s eyes widened.
She clearly loved being called “noona.”
Her tone softened considerably.
“Hmm. You’re a good kid at heart. I’ll be nicer from now on.”
“......?”
Then Jenia’s voice came.
For reference, she had her hands clasped in prayer.
“Sorry, but I’m praying. Could you keep the chatter down so I can concentrate?”
“Isn’t talking to us the real problem while you’re praying?”
“I told the Heavenly God I’d take a quick break.”
Be honest.
You’re a holy knight in name only, aren’t you?
Would that god really grant such immense holy power to a delinquent believer like her?
[They’ve got their reasons, probably.]
‘Don’t talk like you want divine punishment.’
[Oh? Didn’t know you were such a devout believer.]
‘Mercenaries donate a lot to temples. We’re generally faithful.]
You need something to believe in on the battlefield where tomorrow’s not guaranteed.
That was when Jenia spoke.
“Found it.”
“Huh?”
“He answered my prayer.”
“You were looking for something?”
“Yeah. If our next journey isn’t urgent, can we make a detour? There’s a temple not far from here.”
“No problem. What are you looking for?”
Jenia scratched her head with an awkward smile.
“Sir Tiber.”
The Knights of Light don’t get along with Alcahad, but they do have good relations with other groups.
The temples worshiping the Heavenly God. And the priests who manage those temples and gather the faithful.
Holy knights and priests maintain a relationship as close as blood siblings.
Tiber was recuperating at a temple on the outskirts of Rayners territory.
When we requested a visit, the attending priest refused, citing his patient’s limited mobility...
But...
Shing.
When Jenia flashed her Knights of Light vice-captain badge, we were cleared instantly.
As expected, that thing’s an all-access pass in the Empire.
A short while later.
We faced Tiber in a small, quiet room.
Jenia spoke in a refreshingly upbeat tone.
“You look fine.”
“Wha kinda talk is tha now.”
Neril translated.
“He’s saying, ‘Is that the kinda thing to say right now?’ Apparently teeth are precious.”
“Truly cruel, whoever did this. I hope your teeth grow back soon, Sir Tiber.”
“You’re the cruelest.”
Jenia ignored him and addressed Tiber.
“You know why I’m here.”
“......”
“I already reported everything to the captain. I ordered you to hand over the Rayners territory incident to me, and you tried to defy that order. Thanks to Maide here, it ended as an attempt.”
Tiber glared at me murderously.
I waved lightly with a bright smile.
That seemed to enrage him even more.
“Grrr. If it weren’ for you!”
“Couldn’t catch that.”
“If no’ for you!”
What? He can pronounce fine.
Humans really are adaptable creatures.
I shrugged and asked Jenia.
“So? Why did we come see this guy?”
“Got a personal favor to ask.”
“Oh, right. You mentioned that last time.”
“Yeah. Sigh.”
She rested her arms on the table and spoke seriously.
“Sir Tiber. You remember Ophelia Mace, right?”
Her question made Neril and me freeze.
Adwin, clueless, whispered.
“Who’s that?”
“You don’t need to know, kid.”
“S-Sorry, noona.”
“......! She’s Jenia’s old friend and a fellow Knight of Light. Went missing during a mission a while back.”
You’re showing too much favoritism.
‘Ophelia, huh.’
I’d never met her, but the weight that name carried for our party was heavy.
Neril and Jenia’s relationship had improved beyond compare to before the regression, but until this issue was resolved, it would always be a thorn in their side.
Tiber replied in a sullen tone.
“I know. Your entry-mate, wasn’t she?”
“We were friends even before that.”
“Why bring her up? I heard she went missing on a mission. Courtesy of the Witch of Atrocities right there.”
He jerked his chin at Neril.
From his demeanor, he didn’t know about Dame and Neril’s secret deal either.
Jenia shook her head.
“Ms. Neril wouldn’t do something like that.”
“......! What? Did I hear that right?”
“Don’t interrupt. I’m being nice, and you forget your insubordination?”
“......”
“The disappearance was pinned on Ms. Neril because her mana residue was left behind. Or rather, that’s what the report claimed.”
Neril’s expression darkened.
Jenia had her back turned, so she didn’t notice.
“Please find out who submitted that report.”
“Ha. I heard Ophelia’s mission was on the other side of the continent. Why should I go through that hassle? I’ve got my own next mission waiting.”
“You won’t have a next mission.”
“......What?”
“The captain dismissed you from the Knights of Light.”
Bang.
Tiber shot to his feet.
“You crazy... Hng.”
But he meekly sat back down.
Jenia, Neril, and me.
No mere squad member could withstand the pressure from all three of us.
“Sit.”
“I-I’m already sitting.”
“Good.”
Jenia continued calmly.
“On top of your insubordination against me, you let some evil spirit possess you. And you showed that to all of Rayners territory.”
“......”
“Is there a better way to tarnish the Knights of Light’s reputation? Be grateful it ended with dismissal.”
“Guh.”
Tiber trembled.
Then Jenia spoke in a subtle tone, like dangling bait.
“But it’s not impossible to make up for it.”
Tiber’s eyes lit up.
Jenia nodded as if confirming his thoughts.
“If you grant my request, I’ll recommend your reinstatement to the captain.”
“V-Vice Captain.”
“Immodest as it sounds, the captain hardly ever rejects my recommendations.”
Tiber hesitated, then cautiously spoke.
“The Knights of Light dispatch mages to territories across the continent. But only the captain knows their identities. As you well know.”
“Yeah. If the lords knew Knights of Light mages were operating in their lands, they’d hunt them down. Their safety requires secrecy.”
“Then just ask the captain. Anyone else maybe not, but you’re the vice-captain.”
Jenia fell silent at that.
The air suddenly grew heavy.
After a long pause, she spat out.
“The captain isn’t infallible either.”
“......!”
“So keep this request from him. A secret.”
Tiber was surprised, but not as much as Neril or me.
Especially me—my shock bordered on dismay.
‘Jenia saying that? The Jenia who idolizes her father just below the Heavenly God?’
Neril had changed unbelievably too, but Jenia as well.
[She’s starting to doubt her father for the first time.]
‘Probably.’
[At this point, you could just tell her about the secret deal.]
‘Then the leverage Dame holds over Neril becomes dangerous.’
[Can’t have both at once.]
‘No. A hero can. That’s what makes him a hero.’
I clenched my fist.
Someday, I’d untangle this knot myself.
Tiber said.
“I don’t get it, but... fine. I’ll find out which mage was assigned to the territory Ophelia was dispatched to?”
“Yes.”
“Uh, you promise the captain...”
“Don’t worry. If you do this, I’ll strongly recommend you.”
Tiber nodded.
Jenia stood and extended her hand.
“Please.”
Back in the carriage after the meeting with Tiber.
Neril was unusually watching Jenia’s mood.
Jenia tried ignoring it at first but soon snapped.
“What? If you have something to say, spit it out.”
“Ah. Yeah. Ahem.”
“It’s not like you, Ms. Neril. That wishy-washy attitude.”
“......Why do you believe me so firmly? That I didn’t kidnap Ophelia.”
Jenia let out a hollow laugh, as if asking what she meant.
“You said it wasn’t you. And Maide vouched for you.”
“That’s it?”
“I’ve spent enough time with you to see and feel a lot. I don’t think the title Witch of Atrocities suits you.”
“......!”
“You don’t have to tell me your circumstances. That’s for me to figure out, not for you to explain.”
Neril opened and closed her mouth a few times before saying.
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll allow it.”
“Allow what?”
“You can call me unnie. Like how Adwin calls me noona.”
I could hardly believe those words came from Neril’s mouth.
Jenia stared at her for a moment.
Then she spoke.
“You’ve finally lost it.”
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