Ruin (3)
The day felt interminably long. It was strange to even think that. Ever since the two of us arrived in Istius, our routine had been the same monotonous loop.
On the way back to the inn as the day ended, dust clung to Ailin's hair, but Adelaide's hand didn't move to brush it away. Up in the attic room, they kept their usual silence, each in their spot. The bundled luggage sat untouched in the corner, the knots still tied tight.
Ailin stretched and stood. "Gonna step out for a bit."
"……Where."
"Bathroom."
"……Okay."
"Be right back."
Footsteps faded. The creak of stairs descending, then the door downstairs opening and closing. Adelaide held her breath. She counted silently in her mind—twenty, thirty. Waiting until the sounds completely vanished.
Now.
She sprang up, closed her eyes before the bundle, and took a shallow breath. Last night, she hadn't dared. Fear of what she'd find. But ignorance was no longer bearable.
A gentle tug, and the knot came undone easily. The cloth parted, revealing the contents: three pouches of jerky, a handful of coins, sundry items. And—
A dagger.
She checked the hilt first. Plain wood wrapped in leather cord. Common enough. But beneath the wrapping, an engraved emblem: a spread-winged eagle crossed with a sword. The Royal Guard's insignia.
Her fingers traced it. Maybe it was just similar. Maybe she wanted it to be. But the wing angle, sword tilt, border groove—perfect match. Below it, two letters etched deep.
Z. A.
Zenon Adwell.
Adelaide's mind went blank.
No.
Her grip tightened on the dagger.
It could be... loot she picked up.
Yes. Zenon must have dropped it while she carried him fleeing. Memories surged.
"Vice-Captain, check this out. I engraved my initials."
"……Engraving names on gear violates regs."
"Aw, just initials. In case I lose it."
"Don't lose it, then."
"You never know. What if I drop it in battle?"
"Pick it up."
"You gonna fetch it for me, Vice-Captain?"
"……Look after your own stuff."
"So cold."
After that, Zenon always carried this dagger. Not just for combat—versatile. Slicing meat, trimming leather, cutting rope. He babied his gear. He wouldn't lose it.
So the only way it ended up in Ailin's bundle was if Zenon couldn't keep it anymore.
……No. No. I don't know yet.
She repeated it like a mantra. But dawn's conversation overlapped.
Multiple corpses in the forest. Signs of flight and capture. Broken bones. Mutual stab wounds.
That night her subordinates ran for their lives, when Ailin offered the deal. She chose to stay. They fled into the woods. Ailin hadn't pursued... or so she'd thought.
But the time after she passed out. Ailin's shadows could track them. Catch up. Slaughter. Loot.
Jerky. Coins. Dagger.
Then return and say she'd planted a shadow. Snap her fingers, and heads explode.
Mind racing, the puzzle's final piece clicked.
They were dead from the start.
Her knees buckled. Already on the floor, but she sank lower. Back hunched, forehead pressing onto her hands clutching the dagger.
Zenon. Kairin. Derek. That night she stayed, they ran, were hunted, died in the woods.
Then Ailin returned. Said they lived. Obey, and she'd spare them.
On that word, she endured the thing shoved in her mouth.
On that word, the crushing of her toes.
On that word, being dragged before villagers.
On that word, bound to the pyre, she didn't draw her sword.
On that word, she called her master.
All lies.
"I......"
Finally, the truth she'd evaded spilled out.
"Knelt on corpses."
She clamped her mouth shut. Jaw trembled despite clenched teeth. Any sound, and she'd shatter. Already breaking, but she clung to the shell.
Tears flowed. Down cheeks, jaw, onto the hand gripping the dagger. No thought to wipe them.
Memories flooded. Tales of her men. Zenon's cooking. Kairin's blunders. Derek's claps. Ailin listened to the end. Thanks for hearing, and she snapped irritation.
She'd shared memories of the dead. Assumed they lived. They must be alive. They have to be.
Ailin knew. From the start. But said nothing.
……Why.
She'd sicced Karmine on him. Checked his callused palms. Broke the leg of a soldier bullying slums.
All by the hands that killed her men.
Lips moved, no sound.
Sorry.
To the dead? To herself, chanting they'd live?
Tears wouldn't stop. Wipe and wipe.
The door opened. Adelaide sat in the corner. Dagger clutched in both hands.
Sudden urge to flee. Turn, descend stairs, exit inn, walk away.
Who cares what happens to an NPC. Never have before.
Bloodshot eyes, tear tracks on cheeks, dampness under jaw. No expression. Not hate or rage—just one thing.
Why.
She stood frozen, gripping the doorframe. She'd known. From the beginning. This day would come.
"……Come in."
Voice cracked.
"……Adel."
"Sit."
I sat as ordered. Not my usual spot—right before her. Knees nearly touching.
She stared at the dagger, then spoke quietly.
"My men...... are they alive."
"……."
Before, instant reply. Alive. Don't worry. Can't trust me? Could say it now.
Mouth wouldn't move. Staring at her. My face reflected in her black eyes.
"Answer."
"……I killed them all."
Once truth was out, it flowed easy.
"From the start."
"……."
"Chased them right away that night. When you stayed. Caught up in the woods, slaughtered every one."
"……The food and coin you brought after."
"Theirs."
"Zenon's dagger too."
"Loot. Looked useful, picked it up."
"Loot......"
"They're NPCs. Never people to begin with."
"……NPCs."
"Yeah. This is a game."
Had to say it. Everything I'd held back.
"This world's a game. Your men, Zenon, everything here—fabricated fiction. I'm the only real one. Kill, smash, whatever...... It's fine, 'cause they were never alive."
"……."
"Right? You get it, Adel......?"
Adelaide looked up blankly. Face of incomprehension. Tried, gave up.
"……One thing I get."
"What?"
"You're utterly insane......!"
The words stabbed my chest. Expected it. Knew "game" would trigger this.
Before I could continue, she moved. Hands on my throat in under a second.
"Ghk—!"
Body flipped back, back slamming floor. She mounted, strangling.
Shadows could end it. Yank arms, shove her off, snap fingers one by one.
Didn't.
Tears poured from her eyes. Teeth gritted, throttling, sobbing.
"Everything I endured......! Every humiliation from you......!"
"Gh, urk......"
"All for nothing......! On dead men's graves—! I—! I knelt to you......!"
Grip tightened. Vision narrowed. Dark edges closing in.
But her face clear. Gritting teeth, crying, strangling—not to kill, but no other way.
And wail.
"Why...... why do this to me......!"
Body jerked. Her tears hit my face. Hot.
"Shoved it in my mouth...... said obey and you'd spare me......! Clung to that......!"
"……."
"Toyed with my feet...... dragged as criminal...... endured 'cause my men lived......!"
"……."
"All, lies——!"
Voice broke. Sobs swallowed words. Face soaked. Jaw quivered, couldn't close properly.
Swordmaster? Pitiful sight.
No pity. Something else clawed inside.
"I'll remember you forever......! Next life, the one after! To rip you apart——!!!"
"Grrk......! Kkh, kh!"
Suddenly, golden radiance enveloped Adelaide. Walls cracked, floor shook. Her hands released my throat. The shadow inside her vanished.
Her eyes blazed gold. Holiest power.
And I knew instinctively.
Hero.
Adelaide snatched the dagger from the floor. Golden haze over Zenon's blade. Straight thrust at my heart.
Shadows surged to block. Melted on contact with light.
"Ngh......!"
Blood sprayed, but she pressed. Tear-streaked face, relentless. Stab, slash, stab.
Floor collapsed. We plummeted through attic debris to below. Innkeeper's scream.
Dust rose; golden blade flew. Shadows as shield—tips melted, but held. Then wall exploded, street visible. Blasted outside.
Rolled, stood—Adelaide already out.
"Adel——!"
No reply. Light slashed night street again. Shadows twisted path; dagger glanced, severed building pillar. NPC screams erupted.
"Adel——! NPCs around!"
Why say that? Mouth moved first.
Adelaide, rage-consumed, eyes only on me. No care for bystanders, unlike her.
Wall-run to rooftop—she matched instantly. Still crying.
Truly—pathetic.
A corner of my heart throbbed.