Hear Them Out: Judas's Shadowy Past

Elijah discovered something peculiar in the background report on Judas that had come from elsewhere. You should hear people out to the end.

Judecca, the massive circular arena that boasted an enormous scale, kept this document. Gladiators who fought well quickly became famous there, and famous gladiators drew in crowds, popularity, and money in equal measure.

Judecca's gladiators came through two paths: they either scouted and trained people themselves, or bought slaves already trained from outside.

'But this... it's unnatural.'

After reading the document through, Elijah asked, "Who sold Judas to Judecca?"

"Gomorra, my lady. But Gomorra said he came from another market, and there's no record of that market in the documents."

"They traded a trained slave but left no ledger?"

It was unnatural. Suspicious, even. The better a slave was trained, the greater the reputation of the group that trained them. Not just Judecca, but other arenas would seek out and trade with that group too. It was pure profit. A ledger proved it all.

Yet they left no record.

"Who was the man who won the bet on Judas?"

"Angra."

A name she'd heard somewhere before. Elijah drummed her fingers on the desk, sifting through her memories. Then it hit her.

"...Angra, as in one of the Moon Church's bishops?"

"Yes, my lady."

The Moon Church, worshippers of the moon. They stood in opposition to the Bebel family, who served the sun god. Not enemies, but not friends either. Long ago, in the distant past, they'd been at odds. Back when they split from the primordial one. They'd allied to seal away the evil god, and more recently, signed a peace accord.

'Come to think of it...'

Elijah recalled Judas. The moment he'd used mana. As a mage herself, she'd read his mana with precision and delicacy. A faint silver mana spreading softly. It felt cool against her skin. Most mana was pale blue, with no tactile sensation.

'It was similar to the holy power from a Moon Church priest.'

Elijah's lips curved upward without her realizing. It felt like stumbling on an intriguing, amusing puzzle.

"The Moon Church doctrine forbids slavery. So was Angra secretly using slaves? Owning a slave market? Or did he take him intending to free him?"

"We couldn't confirm that far, my lady."

"Interesting. Dig deeper. It might even involve the information guild..."

Elijah twisted her lips and let out a sigh through her nose. The information guild. Even the Bebel family struggled to unearth their secrets. Their loose, cell-like structure made force or threats pointless. When they got involved, things never resolved easily.

"But worrying about them would just give me a headache. Focus on the Moon Church first."

"Understood."

"And about that Garum fellow."

Elijah pulled out another document detailing Garum Diamond's background.

"He's a direct descendant of the Bleset baron's house."

She fetched yet another paper. A contract for railway construction rights. Conveniently, it involved a line passing through Bleset territory.

"We can use this to haggle the price down. Separate from whatever punishment Garum gets."

"How shall we dispose of him?"

"Get rid of him. Follow Bleset's customs for the funeral."

"It shall be done."

"Sir Gawain."

At her words, Gawain—who'd been standing still as the dead—stepped forward. His head remained bowed. He didn't dare lift his eyes.

"I'll think a bit more on how to handle you."

Gawain was a knight directly under the main house. Even Elijah couldn't touch him lightly.

"I have no face to show you, my lady."

"If mere remorse fixed everything, how ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠easy the world would be."

Her indifferent words stabbed not just at Gawain, but at the truth of the world itself.

Elijah stroked her cheek. The spot Narcissus had struck still stung. Her birthday banquet was days away, and she was sure the swelling wouldn't fade by then.

Her gaze drifted to the anemones on one corner of the desk. She let out an involuntary chuckle.

Soon, it would be time to go see him.

At that moment, the receiving butler rushed in.

"Lady Narcissus has come to call."

*

"You've finally lost it, you mad bitch."

The duchess grabbed Elijah by the hair and flung her across the room the moment she entered.

"It's not just one—you're inviting that rabble en masse to your birthday banquet at our mansion?!"

Narcissus bellowed, her neck veins bulging.

"Do you want rumors that the Bebel name has fallen into depravity?!"

Elijah had heard about the dueling tournament long ago. She'd dismissed it as petty rebellion. Never dreaming she'd actually invite them to her own mansion.

Anyone who cared about face and reputation wouldn't dare.

But Elijah was dead serious. Narcissus's furious reaction was exactly as she'd intended and predicted.

So.

"Pfft..."

Elijah couldn't hold back her laughter.

"Pfbt, heh, hehehe, hahahaha—!"

It was pathetically predictable. Childishly so. Boring, even.

Yet she kept laughing.

Narcissus scowled at the cackling girl like she'd spotted a bug.

"You crazy bitch..."

Her voice trembled. The creepy, bizarre reaction had robbed her of breath.

"Th-this doesn't solve anything, you wretch! Retract that decision right now! That's an order as duchess and proxy for the grand duke!"

"No."

Elijah's voice turned abruptly cold and low.

"What will you do about it?"

Her face was blank, as if she'd never laughed.

"Will you kill me?"

"You...!"

"You won't. Then will you cancel my birthday banquet, just days away? No, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you can't. The invitations are already out."

Narcissus had no retort. Her clenched fists just trembled.

"All the duchess can do is beat a frail girl like me. Pity. And even more pityingly, your barbaric act can't undo my decision or change reality."

"......"

"Duchess. Act so carelessly, and you'll achieve nothing."

At the end, Elijah flashed a brilliant smile. Picture-perfect. Eerie. Not quite human.

"I-I'll remember this! Mark my words!"

As Narcissus fled, Elijah sneered.

Today's events only piqued her curiosity more. What would happen if Narcissus met Judas? Would he be insolent to her too?

She rose, smoothing her clothes with practiced ease. Her bright smile faded.

Lia hurried over to fix her attire and apply rouge to her reddened cheek.

Elijah struggled to keep a straight face. Lia had gone pale watching her maniacal laughter, then bowed her head, unable to watch more.

Thankfully, Elijah paid no mind to Lia's expression. She just glanced at the wall clock.

"Tell Judas I'm heading his way."

"...Yes, my lady."

*

"Hello."

Judas was already at the stables. It had felt awkward at first, but now Elijah was used to the place.

"A pleasure to see you, Lady Elijah."

Judas, his face patched with gauze, bowed.

"Shouldn't you be resting?"

Judas doubted his ears. By his reckoning, she wasn't the type to worry about others.

"Thank you for your concern. It's nothing."

Elijah's cheeks were red again today. Judas thought little of it. Just excessive makeup for a child, he figured.

"If you say so."

Stablehand Bradley brought over the wooden stool. Elijah stepped onto it. Routine by now.

Judas stroked the moon deer as usual, feeding it yellow parasol mushrooms one by one. The deer remained docile; Elijah, stiff as ever.

Days of repetition, yet brushing the deer still felt awkward and hard for her. Judas stole glances at the odd sight.

Her, of all people, struggling and awkward. Even after days.

Was she still just a kid? The adult Elijah he knew didn't mix with animals. Lucky if she didn't incinerate them on a whim.

"Um, pardon me."

Bradley approached cautiously.

"What if you brushed her yourself, my lady?"

"Brushed?"

"Yes. Livestock get brushed too."

"You want me to do that?"

Fair point. Brushing livestock was work for the servants who tended them.

"Oh, dear me, forgive me! I just hoped you'd bond more with the moon deer... Animals love grooming from their beloved owners. You've gotten closer these past days, so I thought it might help... No other intent, I swear."

"Hm."

Elijah gazed indifferently at the deeply bowing Bradley. Her pursed lips betrayed her pondering.

"Bring it."

Bradley fetched the animal brush. Elijah took it, squinting.

"This is a brush...? It looks like a knife."

She held it at arm's length, glaring like it was dangerous. It looked like it'd scalp a person.

"Animals have thick fur and tough hides, so it's fine."

Elijah frowned skeptically. But curiosity won. Brushing. Something her maids did for her.

She started tentatively, barely grazing. Not a proper brush.

"You can go harder."

At Bradley's words, Elijah tilted her head.

'Won't it hurt...?'

She added force carefully. Swish, swish. A satisfying sound, like sweeping the floor.

Finally, a proper brush.

"...Shedding fur."

She grumbled but kept going. Judas watched, bemused. Unaware he was staring outright.

'What am I even seeing?'

Days later, and Elijah tending the deer still felt off. Unimaginable. Yet it suited her. Just a clumsy girl. The rosy doll-like child brushing away—it was like a painting.

'Like a kid on a farm brushing animals for fun.'

Her briefly exposed wrist bore more scars. Judas glanced, then looked away. Mindful of Lia's gaze.

'Not staring like last time.'

What happened to add more scars? Did Lia know? Probably. Nobles had servants for baths.

The dueling tournament. Suspicious too. Elijah wouldn't invite mere guard candidates to her birthday banquet.

He hadn't wanted to go, prize money and food aside. Adult Elijah went berserk on her birthdays. Massacres on another scale. That worried him. What if it happened again?

But... Judas looked up at young Elijah. No trace of the madness or murder in her focused brushing.

Maybe it'd be fine this time. She wasn't as strong a mage as her adult self yet.

Elijah was fully immersed in brushing. Unbeknownst to her, this routine had become her favorite time here.

In the stables, with Judas, tending the moon deer. The one time of day she could think of nothing.

Just follow the footstool Lia moved. Brush the deer diligently. That's all.

At some point, she welcomed it. Pointless, really. Better to read a book or process papers.

But she didn't want to give it up. No idea why. First time feeling this.

Judas felt the same, really. He could've skipped it. Someone else could feed mushrooms.

But...

Elijah loosened her brushing, glancing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at Judas. Odd creature. Stood out in this mansion.

Elijah's mansion. Everyone but her existed solely for her. Maids, valets, butlers, cooks. Soldiers, knights. Stewards, stablehands, seamstresses, doctors, etc. All selected for Bebel's direct scion, Elijah.

And none chosen by her. Except Judas. Her whim alone brought him.

Not pre-screened for her. Sure, as a guard candidate, he'd swear loyalty like the rest. But his felt... strange. Hard to pin down.

Elijah pondered deeply while brushing busily. A heartwarming sight on the surface. Doll-like girl struggling to groom a deer many times her size.

But no one saw it that way. Not Bradley, not Lia. No one dared view Elijah as a cute girl.

Except Judas. He inwardly cooed, then berated himself as insane. Inner turmoil raged.

Elijah's mind buzzed too, for different reasons. Mountains of work post-brushing. Today's tasks. Tomorrow's. Future plans. Time-bound futures tangled in her head.

'Finish that philosophy theory I paused studying... Then idealistic novels and a play each... Tomorrow, lock down Bleset territory's rail construction and passage rights. Check Eltraite mine rights too... Ah, birthday. Review the guest list myself. Hate seeing siblings. They hate me anyway... All annoying. Tired...'

"My lady!"

Someone called urgently. Voice distant, muffled. Elijah slowly opened her eyes. Her lids trembled faintly.

The stable ceiling swam into view. And Judas looking down.

His hands on her body hurt. Bruised spot. Was he holding her?

She winced in pain.

"How dare you touch my lady!"

Lia thundered. Judas flinched back.

Only then did Elijah realize she'd fainted off the stool. Judas had caught her fall.

"...My apologies."

Judas bowed deeply from a step away.

"Lady Elijah...!"

"Quiet."

Elijah pressed her forehead, waving a hand. Lia, supporting her, froze.

"Be silent. My head hurts."

Blood trickled from Elijah's nose.

"Forgive me, my lady..."

Lia calmed instantly, as if she'd never yelled, and dabbed the nosebleed.

Elijah accepted the touch, speaking nasally.

"Judas."

"Yes, my lady."

"Look at me."

Judas raised his head. Tousled black hair. Golden eyes. Fierce, wild impression.

A bold, wondrous boy who didn't hide his edge even before her.

That boy wore an expression she'd never seen. Faintly furrowed brows. Lips pressed tight in discomfort. Eyes straight but neither insolent nor aggressive.

A face she'd never encountered. Elijah blanked, trying to read it.

No, not first time. Once, her mother had looked at her the same.

In the end, she couldn't decipher the emotion on his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠face. Even Judas didn't realize it was worry.

"Thank you."

Elijah smiled brightly. Only then did Judas realize he'd been worried.

"...Just doing my duty."

Duty. Inevitable instinct. His excuse to himself.

Couldn't let the kid collapse before him. Not just a stumble—she'd lost consciousness, nearly cracked her skull on the stool then the floor. Could've killed her.

So he caught her. That's all.

"Lia."

"Yes, my lady."

"Apologize."

Lia bowed to Judas, exposing her crown without protest.

"I apologize for yelling at my lady's benefactor. Forgive my excitement overriding reason. I was rash. Truly sorry."

Her excessively sincere apology flustered Judas instead. Not empty words—her voice quivered faintly. He felt her genuine remorse.

This world's mindset. A commoner like him touching a noble like Elijah? Grave crime.

Judas was slowly accepting the divide.

"No, it's... fine. Really."

Even then, Lia didn't straighten. Judas, awkwardly eyeing her crown, noticed something odd.

Lia's hair was red. But the roots peeking now were black.

'...Dyed?'

Just then, someone entered the stables. The doctor.

She gaped at Elijah.

"My lady?! What happened?!"

Elijah waved off the rushing woman.

"Dizzy spell. What is it?"

"But first, you..."

"Business first."

The doctor nodded reluctantly.

"Yellow parasol mushrooms won't poison you from mere contact. Safe to handle, my lady."

"Hm. I see..."

Elijah looked down. The sack of mushrooms sat below.

Judas inwardly cheered.

'Can escape sooner than planned.'

He said nothing, waiting for her to dismiss him.

Burdening for him. Unwelcome for her, he assumed.

Elijah eyed the sack, then Judas, and spoke.

Expecting "leave," Judas replied instantly.

"Don't go."

"Understood."

Wrong move.

"...P-pardon?"

Too late. Elijah stared, asking, "You like it here that much?"

"N-no, I mean..."

"Hate it?"

"Not that. It's just... too good for me..."

Judas stammered in bewilderment. The "don't go," his knee-jerk reply. Absurd.

Miguel, Lia, Bradley, the doctor—all stared like he'd grown a second head.

The gaze of shameless paupers begging to freeload in a noble's home.

No proper words came. He blurted stupidly, "Why...?"

Insolent question. Do as nobles say.

Half lord-vassal already.

Elijah seemed unfazed, explaining casually.

Hearing it, Judas doubted his ears multiple times today.