Lia (2): Not Enough
The first man stepped into the clearing.
The dying embers of the campfire stained the tip of his boot red.
Behind him, one.
Two.
Torches appeared one after another from between the trees.
Just as Lia had said, there were eight of them.
Four with swords. Two with short spears. A little farther back, a man aiming a crossbow as well.
The last one held a metal plate the size of his palm instead of a weapon.
The red sigil on the plate pulsed like a heartbeat.
Woom.
In the same rhythm, the brand on Lia's neck flared hot.
Lia's ears flattened completely back.
"Found you."
The man with the metal plate smiled.
"Number 17."
Leon took a step forward.
As if to shield her, he naturally stepped between the two of them.
"You tracked her with that?"
Leon pointed at Lia's neck.
The man didn't answer.
Instead, he slowly looked Leon over.
A cloak covered in dust from days on the road. Clothes that didn't look expensive. A single sword at his waist. Otherwise, just an ordinary young man.
"You're the one who took Number 17 out of the carriage?"
"Yeah."
"And cut the shackles too?"
"That's right."
"Then this will be quick."
The man held out his hand.
"Hand over the beastkin."
Leon asked,
"And if I refuse?"
A brief silence fell.
Then laughter erupted from all around.
"If you refuse?"
"Is he fearless, or just stupid?"
The lead man pulled a small pouch from his coat.
Thud.
The pouch dropped at Leon's feet.
Coins clinked inside.
"Payment for the trouble of getting her out of the carriage."
Leon looked down at the money pouch.
"Take that and get lost. Don't get involved in merchant guild business for no reason."
Lia's gaze also went to the money pouch.
Of course.
I knew it would be like this.
It was over now.
He had cut the chains. Given her food, spent a night together. That alone was an unusually large amount of kindness.
Lia knew people like this.
People who wanted to believe they were good. When they saw something pitiful, they reached out a hand. If it looked hungry, they gave food; if they saw a wound, they applied medicine. In that moment, it was sincere. That was why she couldn't trust it more.
If they found a trembling kitten by the roadside, they would hold it in their arms. Feed it. Pet it. Get the feeling of having done a good deed today.
But if the cat got sick. If it cost money. If it bit their hand. If it started to inconvenience their life. Only then would they let go. Realizing only at the very end that they never intended to take it all the way from the start.
Leon would be no different.
He had happened upon an overturned carriage. There was a pitiful slave inside. He cut the chains and gave her food. Up to here, he was a sufficiently good person. So she hoped he would be satisfied before it became dangerous.
Because fairy-tale stories didn't exist in this world.
Leon bent down.
He picked up the money pouch.
Lia's tail drooped weakly.
And then.
Leon threw the pouch back.
Thud.
The man caught it reflexively.
"...What are you doing?"
"I don't need it."
"Is the money too little?"
"No."
Leon's hand went to his sword hilt.
"I said I don't need it."
The laughter stopped.
The ease gradually disappeared from the man's face.
"You don't seem to know who we are."
"I don't."
Shing.
Leon drew his sword.
Torchlight flowed along the blade.
"And I'm not particularly curious."
The men all raised their weapons at once.
The crossbow string was drawn taut.
Lia opened her lips.
"Leon."
"What."
"Just go."
Leon didn't look back.
"Where."
"Anywhere."
A short silence.
"No."
"..."
The lead man bared his teeth.
"Get him."
The first sword came flying.
The fight tilted much faster than Lia had expected.
At first there were eight.
Two swordsmen split left and right and charged at Leon. The left one cut first, the right one stabbed where he would dodge. Movements they had practiced many times.
Leon didn't move until the sword was about to touch him.
And at the last moment, he stepped half a pace to the side.
The first blade sliced empty air.
The flat of Leon's sword struck down on the man's wrist.
"Guh!"
The sword fell from the limp hand.
Leon grabbed the falling man's shoulder and pulled him forward.
The second sword coming from behind hesitated as it faced its comrade's back.
In that moment, Leon was already beside him.
Thud.
The sword pommel struck up under the chin.
The man's body collapsed bonelessly.
"What the—!"
A spearman aimed for Leon's back.
Lia's ears pricked, and she reached out without realizing it.
Leon didn't look back.
He raised his sword to deflect the spear tip aside and stepped into the open guard. His elbow drove into the chest. The man whose breath was knocked out folded over. A knee came up into his chin.
That was the third.
Lia's ears gradually relaxed.
He was strong.
It wasn't simply that he was good with a sword. There was no waste in his movements. He didn't swing his sword flashily either. He moved only as much as needed to make the opponent fall.
Striking the wrist. Hooking the ankle. Using the body of a falling person to block other attacks. As if he had known from the start who to take down first to collapse the rest of the formation.
Twang!
The crossbow fired.
By the time Lia's ears caught the sound, it was already too late.
But Leon had moved before that.
He hid his body behind a tree.
The arrow went off course and embedded in the trunk.
Leon immediately twisted his body. He pressed down the blade of the fourth man charging at him with the flat of his sword, and struck the temple with the end of the hilt.
"Ugh...!"
One more person fell.
The number that had been eight was now four before they knew it.
From then on, the atmosphere changed.
The men no longer tried to surround Leon. They watched each other. Waited to see who would move first.
"...Wait."
One man stepped back.
"What the hell is this guy..."
Leon flicked his sword once.
The blood that had gathered on the tip scattered onto the dirt ground.
"Not coming?"
The man farthest back spat a curse.
"Fuck!"
Instead of charging at Leon, he turned his body. He abandoned his torch and fled into the forest.
"Why is there a guy like this in a backwater place like this!"
Leon didn't chase.
He only looked at the three remaining.
One of them dropped his sword first.
Clang.
A moment later, the other two's weapons also fell to the ground.
The clearing grew quiet.
Only the low groans of the men who hadn't lost consciousness yet flowed.
Leon let out a long breath.
And as if nothing had happened, he sheathed his sword.
Click.
Lia was watching that scene.
"...You're strong."
Leon turned.
"Me?"
"Yeah."
"Doesn't suit me?"
Lia thought for a moment.
"Yeah."
Leon's expression twisted oddly.
"You're honest."
Lia looked at the fallen people again.
Eight men. One person had taken them all down. Moreover, most were still alive. It wasn't that he couldn't kill them, but that he didn't kill them. Lia could tell that difference at least.
And yet.
"Still, you should stop."
"That again."
"Yeah."
"Why."
Lia was silent for a moment.
"There's a strong person."
"A strong person?"
"Yeah."
"Who."
"That person is different."
Leon looked down once at the ones fallen at his feet.
"Stronger than these guys?"
Lia immediately nodded.
"No comparison."
At those words, Leon showed a little interest.
"You saw him yourself?"
"Yeah."
It was the first day she had been dragged to the branch office.
Lia had been locked in an iron cage. Outside, three mercenaries were raising their voices with the merchant guild people. About not receiving enough commission. About the contract being different. It was a matter of no concern to Lia. No matter who won, the cage door wouldn't open.
Curses were exchanged. One mercenary drew his sword.
Then a middle-aged man walked out from inside the building.
Graying hair. Worn clothes. An ordinary sword that could be anywhere. He didn't even draw his sword from the start.
The first mercenary charged. His wrist was grabbed. The next moment, he was slammed into the ground.
The second brought his sword down from behind. He didn't even turn his head. He slightly shifted his body to dodge the blade, and struck the man's chin with his elbow.
The last one didn't fight. He tried to run. He kicked a loose pebble. The stone hit the mercenary's ankle precisely. The man rolled on the dirt ground.
It didn't take long to end.
No one around could make a sound.
That day, Lia learned for the first time. That when people see something too strong, they don't even scream. They just hold their breath. And stay still.
"I saw him before."
Lia said.
"Fighting."
"How was it."
"No one could touch him."
Leon scratched his chin once.
"I see."
"He said he was in a famous party in the capital."
His steps stopped for just a moment.
"The capital?"
"Yeah."
"What party."
Lia shook her head.
"I don't know."
"You didn't hear?"
"I wasn't interested."
Leon laughed softly.
"That makes sense."
He crouched in front of one of the trackers who still had consciousness.
"Hey."
The man's body flinched.
Leon pointed at Lia's neck.
"How do you remove that."
"..."
"If you don't talk, I'll continue what I was doing earlier."
"I'll talk!"
The answer was quick.
"The brand on the neck is linked to the Master Plate at the branch."
"Master Plate?"
"It's a magic tool used when registering slaves. Unless you erase the ownership registration there or destroy the Master Plate, the brand won't disappear."
"The branch is."
The man closed his mouth.
Leon narrowed his eyes.
"Don't tell me."
He turned his head and looked down the road.
"Is it in that town?"
"...Yes."
Leon stood up.
"Perfect."
Lia asked,
"What is."
"It's close."
Leon started walking straight away.
Lia stayed in place for a moment.
From behind, the groans of the fallen men could be heard. One person had already fled to the branch. Soon the merchant guild would know. That strong person too.
But Leon didn't stop.
A few seconds later, Lia followed him.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Dawn was coming.
Around the time the sun rose, a small border town appeared below the hill.
Old wooden palisades. Low roofs. The faint voices of people preparing for business could be heard.
Leon walked ahead.
Lia followed a few steps behind.
The distance was a little closer than when they first met.
Lia looked at Leon's back.
He was strong. Much more than she had thought. But she didn't know what that changed.
There was a strong person in the place that confined her. Different from the people Leon had taken down. If she confirmed how strong that person was directly, Leon would turn back too.
People could be brave in front of unknown dangers. Because they hadn't yet imagined themselves dying. Because they believed they could somehow win. But when death really stood before their eyes, it was different.
Lia had learned that.
There was a price to a person's goodwill. A piece of bread. A moment of time. The effort of swinging a sword a few times. That much could be paid for the feeling of being a good person.
But life was different. No one would stake their own life for a slave whose name they didn't even know.
When he met him, he would know. Leon too. Lia too. That in the end, the world was just as she knew it.
"Leon."
He looked back.
"What."
"Stop now."
"Stop what."
"Me."
Leon's steps stopped.
Lia said calmly,
"You freed the chains."
"Yeah."
"You gave me food too."
"Yeah."
"You took down the people who came to catch me too."
Silence.
"Isn't that enough."
Leon looked at Lia's neck.
On the black brand, red traces still flickered.
"Not enough."
"It's fine."
"What is."
"I."
Lia's voice was dry as if resigned.
"This much is fine."
Leon looked at her for a while without saying anything.
Lia tried to find satisfaction in those eyes. Relief at having done enough good deeds. An excuse to go back now. But there was nothing.
Leon turned his body again.
"Not for me."
Lia's ears moved.
"...What?"
"That."
Leon tapped his own neck with a finger.
"It bothers me."
And he started walking again.
Lia stood in place for a moment.
Why.
That thought came again.
It didn't seem like he was seeking gratitude. He wasn't after money either. He didn't have a grudge against the merchant guild. There was even less reason to like her.
So why did he keep walking.
Lia followed again.
"There's a strong person."
"I heard."
"Very strong."
"Heard that too."
"You could die."
Leon answered nonchalantly.
"That could happen."
Lia's steps stopped.
This time she really couldn't understand.
"Then why are you going?"
Leon stopped too.
He slowly looked back.
His gaze met her golden eyes.
Lia took a step forward without realizing it.
"Why don't you abandon me?"
The wind passed between the two of them.
Her deep navy hair swayed.
Lia herself was a little surprised at the question she had uttered.
It was the first time. That she felt she really wanted to know what Leon was thinking.
Leon looked at her for a while.
But he didn't answer.
He just turned his body again.
"Let's go."
"..."
Lia didn't get an answer.
The central street of the town wasn't that large.
After passing the morning market and a few inns, people's voices quickly decreased. Instead, warehouses and stables increased. It was the outer district where merchant guilds stored goods.
The road gradually narrowed, and the air mixed with the smells of hay, leather, and oil.
Lia's steps slowed.
Even after she started leading the way, she hesitated over the direction several times. It wasn't because she had forgotten. It was because she remembered too precisely.
When they turned the last alley, a high wall appeared.
A building with almost no windows, unlike the other warehouses. A black iron gate. The merchant guild's emblem engraved above it.
Lia said lowly,
"...There."
Leon looked up at the building.
"The Master Plate is inside too?"
"Yeah."
It was then.
Lia's ears stiffened.
A familiar smell. Tobacco. Tanned leather. The smell of old iron.
Beside the black iron gate, a middle-aged man was sitting on a wooden crate.
Graying hair. Faded travel clothes. Between his knees stood a long, worn sword.
The man took the shortened cigarette from his mouth.
Lia's tail curled close to her legs.
The man's gaze slowly rose.
First he looked at the brand remaining on Lia's neck. Then Leon standing in front of her.
He dropped the cigarette to the ground. Crushed the ember with his boot. And stood up from his seat.
Leon examined him silently.
He wasn't even holding his sword. He wasn't standing with force either. Yet no opening was visible.
Lia said hurriedly,
"Leon."
"Yeah."
"That's him."
Leon didn't take his eyes off him.
"He's strong."
Lia's ears trembled slightly.
He had finally recognized it.
"So leave even now."
"It's fine."
"That person is different."
"Yeah."
Lia bit her lip.
"If you know, why..."
He took a step forward.
"So you're that swordsman."
Leon didn't answer.
"I heard you took down eight trackers alone."
"One of them ran away though."
"I heard it from that guy."
His gaze went to Leon's scabbard then back up to his face.
"Not bad for a young one."
He completely blocked the front of the iron gate.
"But turn back here."
Leon asked,
"No intention of stepping aside?"
"None."
Lia reached for the end of Leon's cloak then stopped.
Her fingers trembled finely in the air.
His hand slowly rose to the sword hilt.
Leon also gripped his sword.
He said,
"Last chance."
Leon didn't answer.
His fingers tightly wrapped the sword hilt.