Chapter 74: Purpose of the bandit

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Translator: Soafp

TL: Chapter 73 is being skipped because author deleted the story and said go to the next one?? So, don’t ask where chapter 73 is.

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Two days after the orc extermination…

Among the thieves who attacked Blue Ring’s mansion, only the woman with magical vision’s magic eye had died.

The cause of death was multiple fractures from being bathed in Ashera’s magic. The primary cause was a complicated fracture of the neck bone.

While it wasn’t pleasant for the thieves to die, it was something that couldn’t be helped. However, when it comes to the person who actually dispatched the thieves, it changes the story. I began to understand a little why Mom suddenly asked me to make pudding yesterday.

Ashera seems unchanged. If she were to vent her frustrations or show any weakness, that would be fine. It means she’s relying on someone.

But now, I can’t judge whether Ashera has truly accepted and organized her feelings or if she’s merely enduring.

If she is enduring, I feel like I have to talk to her here, or I won’t be able to forgive myself.

I search for Ashera. I find her on top of a wooden platform in the garden.

I move to the wooden platform with a spatial kick.

“Ashera, is it okay if I sit next to you?”

“Yeah.”

Without looking at me, Ashera continues talking. I sit down next to her.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Wasn’t there something you wanted to talk about?”

“No, not really. I just wanted to be next to you, Ashera.”

“I see…”

“That’s right…”

“…”

“…”

“…So, you know, I killed someone for the first time…”

Ashera started speaking in fragments. It was a self-narration that didn’t require affirmation or denial.

“She was a strong person. In martial arts, she was much better than me… Besides, she had magical vision like me.”

“Yeah…”

“I got poisoned once, and for a moment, it felt like I was losing consciousness.”

“Yeah…”

“I thought I might not win, but Marl, Olivia, Faristea, and others were all behind me… I thought if I lost, everyone would be killed…”

“Yeah…”

“Also, I thought if I died, I wouldn’t be able to see Aldo anymore. Suddenly, I got scared… I fought as hard as I could because if I lost, everyone would be killed…”

“…?”

“Then she died… No, that’s not it. I knew the paralysis would work, and she couldn’t avoid it. I intended to kill her…”

“Yeah…”

“Aldo, aren’t you scared of me? When I tried my best, I could kill someone. I…”

“If for me, Ashera is a kind girl.”

“Kind girl? Me?”

“You can worry about your enemies. If that’s not kindness; I don’t know what that is.”

“…”

“I think…”

“Yes…”

“In this world, there are many good people. Even the person Ashera killed, if the circumstances of our meeting were different… For example, if we had met as hired guards or something, we could have become friends, I believe.”

“…”

“But we met as enemies. In that case, there’s no choice but to accept it. Whether they’re an enemy or an ally… if they’re an enemy, you have to defeat them. Otherwise, you might end up being killed yourself…”

“…”

“In the end, what I want to say is… Ashera is not at fault. I guarantee it!”

Ashera seemed briefly surprised, then smiled a little.

“Aldo, thank you.”

“Yeah.”

From there, we talked about the recent events, including the orc battle two days ago, the rescue of Yuri, and yesterday’s discussion about the pudding. Finally, Ashera seemed to return to her usual self.

Alone on the wooden platform, the conversation gradually stopped, and they found themselves staring into each other’s eyes.

Ashera and I shared another kiss.

“A-Aldo… th-thank you.”

“No, no. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.”

“No! Not for the kiss, for listening to me!”

“Ah, I see.”

“Mou! Idiot”

Ashera’s face turned bright red as she fell off the wooden platform. Midway, she changed direction as if rebounding and ran away. Trying to chase her would probably be futile, I thought to myself.

Alone on the wooden platform, I immersed myself in contemplation.

(Is Ashera so affected by someone’s death… Could it be that my ethical values unknowingly influenced her? I can’t be sure now, but from this point on, I need to be more mindful of those around me.)

Ashera is a resilient girl. She will likely bounce back from this. If not, I and the people around her are here to lend a helping hand whenever she needs.

It became clear that the attackers’ target was Faristea. However, the reasons behind kidnapping Faristea remain elusive. I know I need to stay vigilant, as another attack could happen based on those motives.

I moved to my father’s office and knocked.

“Father, it’s Aldo. I’d like to have a talk if that’s alright.”

“…Come in.”

In the office, my father and Roland were present.

“Al, the pudding from yesterday was delicious.”

“I also had some, and it was really tasty. Thank you very much.”

“If it makes you so happy, I’ll make it again sometime.”

The conversation lightened up with the talk of pudding, but I wanted to ask about the attackers without beating around the bush.

“Father, do you know why Faristea was targeted?”

“Al, that’s a sudden shift.”

“Yes, but depending on the reason, there might be second or third attacks.”

“Well, that’s true. They seem to be operatives of the Dark Guild.”

“The Dark Guild?”

“They take on high-paying requests that the regular guilds won’t touch.”

“And why would this Dark Guild go after Faristea?”

“I don’t know all the details. But it seems they considered transporting Faristea to Cashew’s city as their mission.”

“Cashew’s city…”

“Nogue von Cashew, the second son of the current head of the Cashew family. He seems to have given the orders.”

“If that’s known, why…”

“They probably used Cashew, who has a strained relationship with the Blue Ring, as a cover. Just to be sure, I’ve sent a letter to the king, and Cashew’s family should be investigated under royal orders.”

“And the mastermind?”

“It’s someone who uses a noble family as a pawn. They won’t let us catch the ringleader. But at least settling the score with Cashew would be helpful.”

“Just settling the score for the attack on the mansion?”

“Seems that way. Cashew seems to be in disarray too. Nogue kidnapped the head and the heir and acted on his own.”

“…So for the Cashew family, losing an unnecessary fight and just claiming compensation.”

“That’s right. Nogue is probably looking at a death sentence anyway.”

“It feels like everyone is losing in this situation.”

“Well, if you look at it in terms of gain or loss, Blue Ring is only gaining. Despite the ups and downs, we suffered no real damage. If Faristea had been left to the kingdom or the Elven country, she might have been kidnapped. It turned out to be safe because she was within Blue Ring, and that’s another favor we’ve received.”

“That’s… certainly true.”

“There was no harm, and everything went smoothly. These words may be easy to say in hindsight.”

“…”

“Al, I appreciate what you did. Thank you.”

“Please stop. I couldn’t have done anything alone. I managed somehow by borrowing magic from El. I’m sure I wouldn’t have been able to defeat the female thief that Ashera took down.”

“You can’t win against her?”

“In a mock battle, I can’t beat Ashera. I think we’re just incompatible. The female thief she defeated had the same fighting style as Ashera. Moreover, her martial arts skills were superior to Ashera’s. I probably wouldn’t have won.”

“So, this time, each of you complemented each other’s weaknesses?”

I looked at my father.

Indeed, I used my expertise to achieve results. Ashera and El did the same. Even Marl defeated a thief in combat.

“That might be true…”

“…”

“…”

“In that case, the issue is what happens from now on. Ultimately, the motive for kidnapping Faristea remains unclear.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“What do you think we should do, Al?”

“Do you have any connections to this Dark Guild?”

“Roland, what do you think?”

“I remember there are many nobles connected to the Dark Guild, but as Blue Ring, we don’t have any past relations.”

“I see. In that case, there’s probably nothing we can do other than strengthen security.”

“That’s probably the case. I was hoping you could somehow figure something out, Al.”

“I can’t do something like that.”

While joking around, there was an underlying sense of relief in my father’s expressions.

“For now, let’s strengthen security and observe the situation.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a plan.”

“Actually, it seems that Lewis and Nero want to take on another request…”

“Lewis and Nero are energetic, huh?”

“I feel like going too.”

I shared the recent story of being laughed at by my mother for not succeeding in any of the requests.

My father chuckled as he began to speak.

“I understand. You already did your best at the Orc’s Nest. If you’re going out with someone like Ashera or El, or anyone else, I’ll allow it without an escort.”

“Really? Thank you very much, Father!”

“Just don’t overdo it.”

And so, under certain conditions, I was allowed to go out without an escort.