Chapter 84 – Chapter 3: Strange Guest – 4
Ruev stood at the entrance without saying a word.
It didn’t look like he had come for a quick chat.
However, his expression was too gloomy to say he came here to warm himself.
Tia became anxious and asked again.
“W-what’s going on… ?”
There was no answer back.
Step by step. Step by step.
He entered the house with muddy shoes and placed the lamp on the table.
So quiet that you can hear the sound of crackling wicks.
Tia’s house.
In the frozen air, Ruyev opened his mouth.
“Tia.”
“… Huh?”
“What happened with Posao?”
It was a cold, sharp voice, as if an awl had been forged from ice.
Tia asked, hiding her trembling hands behind her back.
“Uncle Posao… ? Why are you asking me that?”
“Don’t pretend to not know.”
Ruev’s blue eyes did not waver at all.
“You knew that Posao was alive. That’s why they told me not to demolish the general store.”
“… !”
“And this morning, on my way back from the village below, I met mercenaries coming out of the general store. They were quite large and seemed well-trained. I don’t know why they came to the entrance of our village. However, he broke down the door of the general store and asked me where ‘Modales’ was.”
It felt like I already knew everything.
Tia’s face became increasingly pale as she realized that any excuses were useless.
“Where did Posao go? Why did mercenaries invade that general store? Tia, what on earth do you know? It is a matter of the safety of the village. Explain it properly.”
Tia wasn’t the only one who was nervous.
Ruyev was also anxious after smelling the foul smell coming from ‘around the village.’
If those mercenaries made up their minds and entered the village, this place could become a wasteland in an instant.
Even though there are only five people.
The only fortunate thing was that what the mercenaries wanted was ‘Posao’, not ‘Brisden’.
It would be fortunate if we could find Posao safely…
If they couldn’t find it, destroying the general store wasn’t enough, and they could even come to the village.
Therefore, the best Ruyev could do would be to actively explain that Fosao is not related to Brisden and divert the mercenaries’ attention by informing them of Fosao’s whereabouts in detail.
I would have done the same.
From that perspective, Ruyev’s response was excellent.
I quickly realized that Tia was involved in this.
It was also good to quietly and secretly surprise and interrogate.
But.
That person is no one else…
The problem was ‘Tia’.
Tia, who had not said anything so far, lowered her eyes.
“I met Uncle Posao in Deseo.”
“…”
“I opened a new business there, but I guess it didn’t work out. The reason the soldiers came all the way here is probably to hold them accountable.”
Ruev quietly glared at Tia, who explained quietly.
As if he doesn’t want to miss a single word that comes out of that little mouth.
“Soldier from Deseo? The fact that the Deseo soldiers came all the way here probably means that Posao isn’t even there. Did you come here? Then where did he disappear?”
“I don’t know either.”
“Can you really believe that you don’t know?”
“…”
“Tia.”
Ruyev’s gaze was almost close to the correct answer.
But at the same time, he had an expression of uncertainty.
No.
It was a face that had just given up on thinking.
“I really want to believe what you say. But I can’t do that because I’m not Ritz.”
“Loop…”
“Done. It doesn’t matter whether what you say is false or not. “I guess I’ll have to tear down the general store tomorrow before it gets any bigger.”
“That… !”
When Tia tried to object, Ruev shouted in a loud voice.
“Shut up and admit it!!!”
Tia’s body froze at the tremendous shouting.
Red eyes filled with fear shake widely.
Ruyev raised his index finger and thrust it in front of the frightened girl’s face.
A blazing voice issued a grim warning.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking. There’s no use trying to figure it out anyway because I’m not as smart as you, and you’ve already made all the arrangements. But be very clear. I am… I will never stand by and watch you ruin this town. Do you understand?”
Tak.
Ruyev picked up the lantern again.
“It’s been three days since Ritsu woke up. This means that he is the one who will lead Brisden from now on. “At a time when we should be worrying about how to help Ritz, you are worrying about a bastard like Posao.”
“…”
“I want to report it to Ritsu right away, but that bastard won’t even listen to me anyway. Because I only listen to what you say and believe only what you say!”
A finger covered in veins tightly grasped the doorknob.
“Don’t do anything stupid. Always be by Ritz’s side. “Everyone will be watching you.”
After saying his last words, Ruyev went out.
“This is a warning.”
Bang!
As soon as the door closed, darkness fell in the house again.
Tia barely exhaled her frozen breath.
Her bright red eyes… Innumerable emotions and thoughts were intersecting in a complex way that was difficult to imagine.
But soon the eyes became clearer.
With eyes that seem to have decided on something.
The guy slowly raised his head.
At that time I could see.
The shadow of my past hiding in the grass beyond the window.
Hwaaaaah-!
The memory illusion dispersed.
I stood holding on to the doorknob of Tia’s house.
“…”
I realized when the past I just saw was from.
It was that day that she sneaked out at night and went down to her big house to return her ‘pocket knife’ that Tia had left behind.
And then I saw Ruev coming out of Tia’s house.
I am… I had doubts.
I’m sure the two of them did something strange.
I even imagined holding a knife and killing Ruyev.
But the reality is this.
My whole body shakes from the shock.
From beginning to end, Ruyev never lied to me.
The prediction that Tia was involved in a serious incident and that Deseo’s soldiers would come to the village was also accurate.
… Finally, Tia says she shouldn’t be in this town.
Everything he said was a judgment to prevent crisis from coming to Brisden.
But… Ruyev failed.
As he expected, I didn’t listen to a word of what he said.
Because I couldn’t accept the advice to expel Tia.
Ruyev must have been frustrated as the situation gradually progressed to the worst.
… But it’s strange.
Nothing happened in Brisden.
Tia remained in the village.
I’ve never seen anything like Deseo’s soldiers.
She didn’t even know it existed.
Even if Ruev, who noticed first, runs away.
Digging up firewood just became a little more difficult, but I didn’t get caught up in Tia’s plot.
Then…
What did Tia do?
How did she deal with Deceo’s elite soldiers?
As I slowly looked back on her memories, I suddenly realized something.
“No way.”
She put her hand in her pocket.
An awkward feeling immediately.
Of all the things I’ve ever owned in my life, this is the most expensive, exotic, and rare thing.
Zech.
She carefully put it between her fingers and took it out.
A red jewel that can be clearly seen is set on gold.
Ruby ring.
Even if you turn it slightly, light dazzles on the polished surface.
Could this be a ring that has existed for a very long time?
Even as I held it in my fingers, vast stories were whispering to me.
In these visions of long, old memories, all I was looking for was a single moment from just a few days ago.
This is Uncle Joseph just before arriving in Brisden.
* * *
The exact time when Ruev attacked Tia’s house.
There was Uncle Joseph in the bar in the village below.
He was dressed as a traveler carrying a large backpack, as if he had just arrived in Taildon and was looking for a place to stay.
The bar lady looked surprised when she saw her uncle.
“What. You can’t believe it… Joseph?”
“Haha! Long time no see! Lily’s older sister still looks the same as before. Haha!”
“Oh my god! “What is this?”
Taildon is originally a place where many travelers go.
Uncle Joseph’s appearance was met with considerable welcome.
As soon as I sat down, I was offered free alcohol and food, and they even offered me a free room as a favor.
Even if I said it was okay and refused, it was reckless. That’s how great my uncle’s reputation has been since ancient times.
The lady asked.
“How was your life in Deseo?”
“Haha. It’s been a series of difficult days. Now I live as a free citizen, but I don’t have any trouble being watched by former mercenaries. “I barely made time to come here.”
“Anyway, welcome back. Are you going up to Brisden as soon as the sun rises tomorrow?”
“Huh. Because that’s why I came.”
They were chatting happily and casually drinking a glass of beer.
In the back, people were murmuring among themselves.
“… So what happened to the lord’s hide and seek game?”
“What kind of trivial game do noble people play? “It’s bullshit they always say.”
“I guess so?”
My uncle, who heard the story, laughed haha as if it were absurd.
“There are still strange rumors going around about Taildon. “Now it feels like old times.”
“So, suddenly a rumor like that started going around. “Our lord is playing tag.”
Haha! Who is the tagger?”
“They say they are bandits with axes and bows.”
At that time.
My uncle slammed his glass down.
“Bandits with axes and bows?”
“I don’t know. I think it’s because there have been ugly rumors about bandits since the public offering. Why do you say that kids get scared around this time of year? Ho ho ho.”
“…”
But Uncle Joseph didn’t look like he was laughing.
It was a look in his eyes that recognized something in this rumor that sounded like a mere joke.
“Please go to the bathroom for a moment.”
After gulping down his drink, Uncle Joseph went out into the night.
There were no people on the street.
It was because it was the time when the guards were patrolling.
My uncle found soldiers chatting in the middle of the road.
He immediately ran out there and waved his hand.
“Hello.”
“What?!”
The guards were startled and pointed their swords and torches at my uncle.
But soon he saw a familiar face and lowered his sword again.
“Joseph?”
“A long time. Lotto. Arndorf.”
“Oh my god. What’s going on?”
“Haha. “I stopped by for a moment because I was thinking about my hometown, and I heard an interesting story.”
My uncle smiled brightly.
“Can I meet your lord?”
The soldiers looked at each other with puzzled eyes.
“No… It doesn’t matter though. I think the lord will be happy to hear that you have returned. But right now, they are busy welcoming guests from Gordburg. I think it might be a little difficult.”
“Okay? Hmm… Then what about Teacher Bean?”
“He is also at the lord’s house now.”
“Haha. “I can’t help it.”
“What’s the matter? If I have something to say to the lord, I will tell it to you when I report patrol.”
The uncle laughed heartily while stroking his head.
Haha! Then what… Please tell me tomorrow morning that I have come and gone. “I will explain later.”
“Okay. Since I’m off duty tomorrow, let’s have a drink together.”
“Yes, yes.”
After parting ways with the soldiers.
I went back to the bar and drank two more beers.
My uncle, who was very drunk, stumbled into the guest room.
And then I took out something wrapped tightly in cloth from my backpack.
When I spread the cloth on the floor, two pure white swords appeared.
It was so sharp that even the slightest swipe would cut off my finger.
My uncle smiled as he stuffed the two swords into his belt.
“Is that ridiculous rumor the work of Ruyev? No, he’s too honest to do something like this. Ritz is smart, but stubborn, so it’s difficult for him to come up with unique ideas. Then… “I guess it’s only Tia.”
Repeating our names, my uncle took out a small box he kept in his chest.
Dalgak.
Inside was a ruby ring.
A bitter laugh came out.
“Those guys have the power to shake the world. Living your whole life in a small mountain valley without knowing anything… “I don’t know if this is sad or fortunate.”
Tak.
My uncle closed the box and thought deeply.
And then, as if he had made up his mind, he laid down on the bed.
The day is slowly dawning.
The twilight sun has just risen.
My uncle went up to Brisden carrying two swords.
Jeez. Jeopuk.
Footprints remained on the low-lying snow.
I followed the footprints up and soon found five bandits sitting in the forest.
They got up when they saw Joseph coming into the forest.
The man holding the ax asked.
“… “What is it?”
“Uh. Nice to meet you, kids. “I want to tell you a few things.”
Uncle Joseph explained with a smile.
“The Dragonez do not welcome foreigners very much. Especially bandits with vicious weapons. Therefore…”
“Stop talking bullshit, you idiot.”
“Haha! Aren’t you being so dismissive? As far as I know, the village chief at least listened to everything I said.”
The bandit got angry and approached.
“I told you to fuck off. I don’t want to fall behind…”
Sigh-!
I couldn’t hear the backstory.
Tuk. Fighting.
Because the head that had already fallen off was rolling around in the snow.
“Sorry. “I also tried cutting off a conversation once.”
The uncle looked at the next guest with still smiling eyes.
The opponents are four elite soldiers.
Nevertheless, I leisurely wipe the blood from my cheek.
“Did you send it from the palace? It seems like you’ve sensed that things are going awry there these days, right? Why. Are you uneasy because it seems like Teilden is collaborating with Gordburg? “Is she going to rebel?”
“… “Who are you?”
“You know what to do. She was going to die anyway. Well, if I had to say it anyway…”
My uncle grinned and raised the knife.
“… Can we say that he is the person who came to serve the ‘next king’?”
