Cartia (4)
No matter how thoroughly she investigated, she could learn nothing of the girl’s past.
Blind.
A body utterly unsuited for combat.
Equipment that was anything but efficient.
A career so short it barely registered.
A timid, fragile personality.
Handing a Fragment of the End to someone who failed to satisfy even a single criterion was beyond comprehension.
True, the special treatment she had received back in Alrba Village had been given without much thought. At most it had meant easier commissions and a few extra coins.
But surrendering Carpeng’s Fragment along with every last material? That was something else entirely. Those things had been bought with Luci’s life. They were what Luci—who had shared their cause—had given everything to obtain.
Until now she had never once questioned Her decision. This was the first time doubt had taken root. And just as that small doubt began to swell into full-blown suspicion, everything was swept clean away.
Word arrived that the adventurer carrying Carpeng’s Fragment had slain both Master Kalt and the Tyrant. After that, questioning was no longer possible.
In its place, however, rose a far more irritating emotion: unease.
A Master, she could kill if she staked her life on it. The Tyrant, though—never. And the girl had supposedly done it alone. No one in their right mind could pull off such madness.
So she was afraid. If a being like that ever betrayed them and became an enemy, could they even hope to handle her? Perhaps right now, while she was still young. But given time? Absolutely not.
That was why she had to understand her.
The past had already been scoured and yielded nothing. So she abandoned the past and dug into recent movements instead. What she found was a spectacle. The rumors especially—exaggerated, yes, but never outright false. The tales of the “Blood Fiend” in particular were backed by far too many witnesses to dismiss.
Princess Charlotte had sent word that it was merely the side effect of Carpeng’s Fragment and nothing to worry about… yet the unease refused to vanish completely.
Using a magic beast’s fragment always eroded the mind. There had even been a Platinum-rank adventurer whose mind had fully become that of a beast and who had been executed for it. Platinum. Not Master, but still those called superhuman. If even they could not withstand the side effects of an ordinary fragment, how much worse would a Fragment of the End be? She could not even begin to guess.
If the erosion had already progressed to a certain point… then this decision would have to be reconsidered, and the Fragment of the End reclaimed. Or, at the very least, she would have to force the girl into a soul oath the same way they themselves had sworn.
Lady Rubia would hate her for it… but there was no choice. She refused to stand by helplessly again. If her own life could paint a different future, then it would not be a meaningless death.
And so, the moment the girl arrived in Cartia, she finished every preparation and moved.
First she needed to gauge the true range of that “Qi Sensing” the girl supposedly used so skillfully. She approached under her Unique Ability, Stealth—a technique so refined that even most Platinum adventurers or knights of equal rank would never notice.
She was discovered. Instantly. Effortlessly.
Can that really be called Qi Sensing…? If it were, her brain should have melted long ago. Impossible to believe. Had the girl scattered mana like a web? That was possible; those gifted in mana control sometimes did exactly that to sense their surroundings.
So she offered a handshake, wearing a ring that could measure the other party’s mana reserves. Their hands met. Yet inside the girl’s body there was not a single drop of mana. Even ordinary townsfolk carried a trace amount. She had none. Not one speck.
She should have stopped there. The answer was already clear… but she had wanted absolute certainty, and so she crossed the line.
And then she understood exactly what stood before her.
The aura that erupted from that tiny frame—the sheer rank that crushed the entire region of Cartia—told her everything.
They were already too late.
Uh… what do I do…
I mean… I did go a little overboard because I was so angry, but the second Rubia hugged me the anger just melted away.
Why is Rubia suddenly doing this…? Is she hugging me so I won’t stay mad?
B-but… shouldn’t Rubia be scolding that person with me?! That mean woman kept trying to steal Rubia away from me! Did Rubia not know that?! Huh?!
And that… that, that, that annoying little smile! It’s so irritating!
“I’m sorry, Noah.”
U-umm… should I let the anger go for now? But if I drop it this fast, won’t I look like a complete idiot? I-I should hold onto it a little long—
“I’m… truly sorry.”
The arms wrapped around my shoulders tightened, and the soft sensation against my back grew even… even…
Mmm… well, if Rubia is asking like this… looking a little stupid is fine. I… I only need Rubia.
“Hah… haah…”
I slowly steadied my breathing and reined in the mana that had been pouring out like crazy. Next time I should be more careful about releasing it so recklessly. Just a short burst and half of it was already gone…
After packing the gathered mana neatly back into my body, I turned to return the hug. But then Bishur’s next move froze every thought in my head.
“I apologize.”
She dropped straight to her knees and bowed her head deeply.
“Uh… Ru-Rubia, why is she suddenly doing that…?”
“…What?”
Rubia must have sensed something odd as well; she released me and turned toward Bishur.
“I feared Noah-nim’s power. The power that slaughtered thousands of magic beasts, subjugated Carpeng, killed a Master, and even defeated the Tyrant alone… that power terrified me.”
Her already-lowered head sank even further.
“So I dared to test Noah-nim. After Carpeng’s Fragment, then the materials, then even the Tyrant’s Fragment… I believed I had to understand the nature of someone who would monopolize such national-treasure-grade equipment. I deliberately provoked you.”
She placed the hands that had been resting politely on her knees flat against the ground.
“This was my own unilateral decision, made in defiance of my superiors. Please… please let it end with my head alone.”
“W-what…? H-head?! What are you—”
“There is no need for concern. I left a will in my office, so no one will be able to hold Noah-nim responsible. Therefore… I beg you. As cleanly as possible, in a single—”
Bishur finally pressed her forehead to the dirt and trembled faintly. I rushed over in a panic and forcibly yanked her head up.
“Eek…! You’re bleeding from your forehead! And what do you mean ‘in a single’… I-I don’t do things like that…!”
Has she lost her mind?! She has definitely lost her mind!
Okay, sure… sure, I was annoyed. She kept acting like she was trying to take Rubia from me… but killing her is completely out of the question! I’m not some executioner!
This is all because of those ridiculous rumors! Whoever started them, I’m going to find them somehow… and… and… give them a good thrashing… for real…
“B-but…”
“Ugh… what ‘but’?! Stop saying weird things and get up already!”
I shuddered and hauled Bishur to her feet, then brushed the dirt off her knees and clothes with a few firm pats before shaking my head.
“O-of course… I was angry, but… um… I don’t think being suspicious was wrong.”
Charlotte had said the same thing before we even came to Cartia, so… yeah. I can understand it well enough.
An adventurer who appeared out of nowhere, climbed the ranks at breakneck speed, became the priestess’s escort, killed thousands of magic beasts, subjugated Carpeng, beat a Master, sliced through an avalanche, and then took down the Tyrant alone… yeah. That would be terrifying. So terrifying you wouldn’t even dare step on her shadow…
Of course, what I actually did myself wasn’t that much, but from everyone else’s point of view that’s how it looks. And the rumors make me sound like a complete monster. If someone like that decided to go on a crime spree… who could stop her?
So I get it.
“No, Noah. This was wrong.”
“Eh… Ru-Rubia?”
I had been dusting Bishur off and more or less accepting the situation when Rubia suddenly walked over.
“No matter how close I am to Bishur-nim, no matter how much help we have exchanged… this is not acceptable.”
“I know… I am sorry.”
The knees I had just forced straight began to buckle again. I was going to lose my mind for real…
“Stand up. Stand up and speak.”
“May I truly raise my head…?”
“Haaah…”
Rubia let out a deep sigh and placed her hand on Bishur’s forehead. Gentle divine power flowed out and began healing the wound.
“The way you tested Noah was wrong, and the way you are apologizing is wrong as well. Right now… the fact that Bishur-nim could not trust Noah is the same as not trusting me. Do you understand?”
“…I understand.”
“The sense of betrayal is enormous… I never expected to feel this way in this city.”
Once the healing was finished, Rubia took my hand, spun us around, and started walking.
“Let’s go, Noah.”
“Huh…?”
While speaking with Bishur her face had been furious, but the expression looking down at me now was… incredibly, incredibly happy.
“Bishur-nim will return on her own. And we’ll have to meet her again anyway to receive the Tyrant’s Fragment and the subjugation reward.”
“Th-that’s true… I guess…?”
“So there’s no need to talk right now. My mood is already ruined, so let’s just go for a walk, the two of us.”
Rubia’s steps were light. The fingers tracing over my hand felt mischievous.
“…Ru… Rubia…?”
“Yes! I’m Noah’s Rubia, you know? Hehe.”
Ah. I’m doomed.
Why… why did I say something like that…? Weren’t there other, better things I could have said? No, no… that was the best thing to say. But… but teasing me with it is just too much!
“Th-that was… I just… um…”
“Why? Are you going to take it back now? Then I’ll go play with someone else.”
“N-nooo! Ugh… I don’t want that.”
“Then don’t deny it. It sounded so wonderful. Haaah… my heart still feels like it’s going to burst.”
Rubia leaned down, still holding my hand, and pressed it against her chest.
Thump-thump-thump-thump—
Behind the soft sensation I could feel Rubia’s heart racing wildly.
“Ru… Ru-Rubi… Rubia… w-we’re outside… outside…”
Rubia swallowed hard.
“I told you, didn’t I? Not just anyone can enter the Cartia mainland.”
“Hup…”
“There are no eyes watching, and it’s quiet—perfect for a walk.”
Her hand began sliding up my wrist.
“And look, the sun is starting to set. It’ll be… so much fun, won’t it?”
“O-outside is… really n-not okayyy…”