Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Capital Advance - 2
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Agril carried our carriage on its back, demanding expensive meat... no, divine power as payment.
The Tot territory was quite a distance from our current position, so it took a full three days of nonstop flight.
Even before my regression, I'd ridden Agril several times, but this was my first long-haul flight like this.
We finally reached our destination when Neril racked up 25 straight wins in the card game Adwin had suggested.
“Agril. You did great. Really.”
“Krurr.”
“Let’s eat later, okay?”
Jenia soothed Agril and sent it off. Then Neril spoke up.
“So? How are we going to find this Gert Jinail guy?”
Surprisingly, Offense was the one who answered.
“I’ll handle it.”
Jenia said in surprise.
“You, Offense? Why?”
“Who could be better at kidnapping someone than me?”
“But Offense, you’re not involved in this. This is clearly personal, not a hero party matter.”
“Heh. Then why are your party members rolling up their sleeves for this personal issue?”
Jenia faltered, at a loss for words.
Offense chuckled and continued.
“Your old party felt completely different. And surprisingly, I’m quite fond of this atmosphere.”
“Offense.”
“That’s why I’m helping. The assassination commissions I took as an assassin were based on whether they appealed to me, not the reward. Think of it the same way.”
“Got it. Thank you.”
What a nice sight.
Our party was functioning organically like a single living organism, without me having to direct anyone.
The same roster, but Kaild’s party before the regression never had this smooth vibe.
I said.
“Then I’ll shamelessly ask for your help. Book a place and wait?”
“An empty warehouse would be better than an inn room, if possible.”
“Why?”
“Because...”
His eyes darkened.
“He won’t open up easily. And if he’s noisy, it’ll bother the neighbors.”
Two hours later.
We came face-to-face with the mage named Gert in an inn room.
Offense grumbled.
“I said an empty warehouse would be better.”
Neril replied.
“I’m sleeping in a bed.”
“At a time like this?”
“Got a problem? And I’ve blocked the sound with magic, so don’t worry.”
“This guy’s a mage too.”
“Ha.”
Offense nodded as if Neril’s short scoff had said it all.
Tsk.
He removed the gag, and Gert shouted.
“You bastards! Do you know who I...”
“Not the gardener?”
“R-right. The gardener. How dare you treat a gardener like this.”
“Hmph. Whatever. Jenia. What now?”
At the mention of Jenia’s name, Gert’s expression changed.
After all, Jenia was a big name in the Knights of Light.
No way he wouldn’t recognize her face.
Jenia pulled up a chair and sat down.
She matched eyes with Gert and asked.
“You know who I am, right?”
“No way... the Knights of Light...”
“Yes. Jenia Side, vice-captain.”
“T-this situation makes no sense. Why did you kidnap me? I’m a mage dispatched by the Knights of Light too.”
“Because you filed a false report.”
Sweat trickled down Gert’s forehead.
Jenia continued coldly.
“This is where my friend Ophelia Mace came for her last mission. She went missing here in this territory.”
“......”
“And it was reported as the work of the Witch of Atrocities, Neril Slaine. You were the one who reported her mana residue lingered, right?”
“......”
“Why did you lie?”
Gert spasmed.
“I didn’t lie!”
Sigh.
I checked his Blood Letters.
There it was, clear as day.
-Neril Slaine.
No need for the Eye of Omniscience.
By filing that false report, Gert had added to Neril’s infamy, committing that sin.
‘Trail. Can you show the Eye of Omniscience to others too? I want to reveal this guy’s secrets to everyone.’
[Don’t talk nonsense.]
‘So many things you can’t do.’
[More things I can.]
Anyway, if that’s the case, torture it is.
Sure, back in the Avis territory, I was the one who tortured that coachman-disguised assassin guild member.
“Jenia. Let me handle this now...”
Stab.
That was when it happened.
Without warning, Jenia drove her dagger into Gert’s knee!
I—and all of us—could only stare in shock.
Adwin spoke up.
“S-sis? You okay?”
“Yeah. Perfectly fine.”
“But I’ve never seen you do something like that...”
Jenia shook her head.
“Right now, I’m neither a Knight of Light nor a servant of the heavenly god.”
She turned to me and continued.
“If this man hadn’t pinned it on the Witch of Atrocities, the investigation for Ophelia would’ve continued. We might’ve found her.”
“......”
“Ophelia was my colleague and friend, someone I trusted more than anyone. So...”
“......”
“So please don’t hate me even if I get a little rough.”
I nodded without hesitation.
“It’s not a little.”
“Huh?”
“Not a little. Even if you get really rough, I wouldn’t hate you. Don’t worry.”
She smiled softly.
But that smile vanished clean when she turned back to Gert.
“Shall we start again?”
“Ugh... If your captain Dame knew you were doing this... Aaaagh!”
Stab.
Jenia plunged the dagger into his other knee.
She spoke in a voice dripping with chill.
“You’re asking for the whip, you.”
Whether Jenia’s torture was brutal or Gert’s resolve weak, he confessed everything in just 20 minutes.
“Ugh. Forgive me. I was just following orders.”
“My question was who gave those orders.”
“......”
“Where should I stab next?”
“It was Dame Side.”
Jenia froze for a moment.
Then she ground her teeth and yelled.
“You’re insane. You think naming my father gets you out of this?”
“Sob... No. It’s true!”
“You...”
“When I was dispatched for the investigation, Dame called me aside secretly and ordered me. Just pretend to investigate and report that I confirmed the Witch of Atrocities’ residue.”
Clang.
Jenia dropped her dagger.
She looked at Neril in disbelief.
“I-is this true?”
“I wouldn’t know what Dame ordered exactly.”
“At least it means you were never in this territory, right? Right?”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“I did. I said I didn’t kill Ophelia.”
“That’s not...!”
She tried to shout something.
But she couldn’t.
Her sharp mind had pieced it together.
“No way... not just this, but all those heinous crimes piled on you...?”
“......”
“Neril. Please answer me.”
Neril let out a deep sigh and glanced at me.
I nodded quietly.
Then she said.
“Yeah. I have a backroom deal with Dame.”
“......!”
“Thirty years ago, Dame found me. The world thinks I lost that fight, but we didn’t even battle.”
“Neril.”
“We just made a deal. Any unsolved cases or crimes that couldn’t be exposed would go under my name. I accepted for the reward... and the reward.”
Jenia stared at the floor.
I wanted to say something, but figured Neril was better suited for this.
A long while later, Neril cautiously spoke.
“Disappointed in me? For hiding it all this time.”
“Disappointed? Yes. I am.”
“Sorry...”
“I’m disappointed that you thought I’d be disappointed in you!”
Neril’s mouth fell open slightly.
Jenia was crying.
But she smiled at Neril.
I’d never seen such a sad smile.
“I told you last time. I’m not a child.”
“......”
“What were you about to say earlier? Reward and something else? Then you changed it.”
“......”
“He has your weakness, doesn’t he? Neril.”
Strangely, Neril—who should’ve been emotionally drained—swayed unsteadily, while Jenia seemed steadier.
I quickly supported her back.
Jenia continued.
“I know you’re not the type to chase jewels or money from traveling with you. And you’re not the type to hide secrets from a comrade like me.”
“......”
“There had to be a reason you couldn’t tell. My father has your weakness. Right?”
Neril nodded weakly.
Jenia wiped her tears with her arm and went on.
“The one I’m truly disappointed in isn’t you, Neril. It’s my father.”
“Jenia.”
“I admired him my whole life. Always strong, always great. The one I loved second only to the heavenly god.”
“......”
“And yet, to boost the Knights of Light’s prestige, he cooked up a scheme and used you. Even in the case where my friend went missing.”
She took a deep breath.
Then slowly stepped away.
“Sorry. I need a moment alone.”
“Okay.”
“Can I leave the rest to you?”
Offense nodded.
“I’ll handle it.”
“Thanks.”
Click.
She opened the door.
Neril, leaning halfway on me, reflexively called out.
“Jenia!”
“Yes?”
“Can I stay with you?”
“Sorry, but tonight I want to be alone...”
“Please.”
We all looked at Neril in surprise.
The Witch of Atrocities, who had plunged the world into terror, wore desperation on her face.
I’d never seen her care this much for anyone.
‘I knew they’d gotten unbelievably close...’
But enough to step up for a sad, depressed ‘comrade’ like this.
After a moment, Jenia smiled faintly.
“I wouldn’t think you’re the comforting type, Neril.”
“I’ll try.”
“Alright. Do your best. I do want comforting.”
“Don’t expect too much.”
“Come soon.”
Neril nodded slightly to me and headed out.
That’s when Gert freaked out.
“Lady Jenia! You can’t just leave like this!”
“......”
“I’m innocent. Spare me!”
Thud.
The door shut fully.
Gert screamed at the top of his lungs.
“Aaaah! This is ridiculous. What did I even do wrong?”
“Hey.”
“Huh? Gah!”
Crash.
I kicked over the chair he was tied to.
He toppled backward, flailing.
“Fine, filing the false report—can’t ignore the captain’s secret orders.”
“......”
“But beyond that, you’re a real piece of work.”
I checked his Blood Letters.
120 victims from his sins.
“Besides the false report, confess every wrong you’ve done, one by one.”
“I’ve lived a blameless life, bold under heaven!”
“Oh. Sorry, should’ve led with this.”
I leaned close to his face and whispered.
“Don’t think you can hide your sins from me.”
That night.
Sleepless, I stepped out of the inn when I heard a door behind me.
I turned. It was Neril.
She held two teacups.
“Have some. Black tea.”
“I figured. What else would you bring?”
“Chatty tonight.”
“Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”
I took the cup she offered.
The sky was disgustingly clear tonight, stars blooming everywhere.
“Jenia?”
“Asleep. She cried her heart out... but calmed down by the end. She’ll be fine.”
“......”
“Why stare like that?”
“Wondering who cried more. Your eyes are red.”
Neril turned her head slightly.
And sighed softly.
“I don’t even know why I stepped up. Doesn’t feel like me.”
“I think this is you.”
“What?”
“The Witch of Atrocities’ crimes are all fake. Strip those away, and this is the real you. Like now.”
“Heh. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I’m plenty bad. You’d be shocked if you knew.”
I know.
This time, I looked at her Blood Letters instead of her eyes.
Her atrocities as the witch were fake, but the sins in those letters are real.
Neril, who’d committed far more than average.
But I have no reason or right to dig them up.
“Yeah? Well, I’m no saint myself.”
“That’s not the line for this.”
“Anyway, feeling better? Go sleep. Want to share with Jenia?”
“Why squeeze into one bed when I have my own room?”
That’s when a new voice came from behind.
“Good thing. Was worried you’d say yes.”
“Jenia?”
Her eyes were so puffy, she looked like a crucian carp.
Neril asked, flustered.
“Did I wake you?”
“No. Hungry.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“...Yeah.”
She scratched her head and bowed slightly to me.
“Sorry for the spectacle earlier.”
“Whatever it was, seems minor. I don’t even remember.”
“Heh.”
She chuckled softly.
But she wiped the smile and asked seriously.
“Can I ask a big favor? You can say no. Really.”
“Shoot.”
“Can I make a quick trip to the capital?”
She looked up at me cautiously.
......
No, you don’t have to look that desperate.
The capital was our next stop anyway.
