Chapter 95
After a brief meeting with Lady Gran, the two of them returned to the village.
Perhaps because it was unusual to see children wandering around on their own, concerned looks from the people around began to reach them.
Occasionally, voices could be heard among the villagers asking, “Were there kids like that in the village?”
Basilian must have heard it too, because he grabbed Flora’s hand and pulled her close to his side.
“Let’s go back once we’ve got all the information we need. If people notice us out like this, we might really get sent to the northern region immediately.”
“Yeah, let’s go quickly.”
“So, have all your questions been answered?”
On the way out of the village, Basilian asked, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.
Grateful that he hadn’t pestered her and had quietly accompanied her, she answered willingly.
“Hmm, some are still left. I’ll tell you once everything’s resolved. By the way, did you hear earlier? Our image in the North has improved. Isn’t that a compliment to you?”
“There was a fairly favorable reaction.”
Basilian nodded at Flora’s beaming smile.
“Isn’t our brother amazing? Because there were suspicious aspects in this incident, he went around checking things personally. It’s impressive—he’s really diligent, like no other son of anyone.”
“If anyone heard that, they’d think your dad and brother are younger than you. Anyway, such a little old soul. Stop acting so mature.”
“I wonder who’s saying that.”
Flora had lived in Morse, so it made sense that her mental age was far beyond seven, but Basilian was only eleven.
It was unusual for someone so young to live so maturely, so he couldn’t bear to listen to such scolding.
Flora shook her head in disapproval, and Basilian muttered, half-laughing, that it was unbearable.
“Anyway, it was good that we came out.”
Seeing his happy expression, Flora laughed along.
Yes, it was indeed good that they came out.
Flora paused briefly as she was about to leave the village’s entrance and looked back.
Since this was the village where the most recent disappearance had occurred, she had thought to check even the green-roofed house—but as expected, there was nothing.
“There’s no pure magical aura left that a demon would leave behind, nor is there any magical presence of a monster.”
Not even the tiniest trace remained—how could anyone say this was the work of a demon?
“Well, maybe it was a secretive abduction that didn’t use magic. After all, it was a demon.”
But even considering that, a suspicious feeling didn’t disappear.
“Secretive abduction could be done by humans too, right?”
There were many questions, but there was still not enough information to fully resolve them.
It seemed that to solve this mystery, they would have to face the demon directly. Who was responsible, and why they committed such acts, would probably become clear soon.
After all, there had been eyes watching them carefully in the village.
As expected, not long after returning to the tent, someone came to the mercenary group.
“I’ve heard that there’s a child in this mercenary group. Where is the child?”
Unlike the mercenaries, the noble knight wore sturdy armor and boldly demanded to see the child.
Perhaps having heard of the situation, Freck did not fluster and replied immediately.
“Excuse me? What are you talking about, coming here all of a sudden?”
Upon hearing that a knight had arrived, the mercenaries hid Flora and Basilian inside the tent.
Seeing their sly smiles, the knight frowned deliberately.
“I came knowing everything, so spare me the useless chatter.”
“There are no children here.”
“Did you not hear me say I came knowing everything? Someone saw that a child was being carried along, whether a mercenary or an attendant! Stop giving me these excuses!”
Freck’s explanations did not sway the knight.
He glared at the mercenary group with a fierce look, as if he could tear the tent apart, and said:
“This demon targets children. We are evacuating them in advance, so cooperate quietly!”
Even the mercenaries knew that a demon’s threat had prompted the formation of this hunting group.
Since being advised quietly by Benio to keep a low profile, they had lived quietly—but that did not make the sightings of Flora and Basilian disappear.
Even the enforcers had seen them, lending credibility to their claim that the children were being summoned for protection.
However, when entrusting Flora to the mercenary group, Benio had said to them:
〈Never trust them. If they ask for the children, deny it. Say they are under Lucifer’s protection and protect them as best you can.〉
He had anticipated such a situation and warned them accordingly.
〈I know it’s a burden, but I’m asking this of you.〉
He even used the word “asking,” which was uncharacteristic for a noble.
Thus, Freck tried to hold his ground as much as possible.
There might be a commotion, but that way, the news would reach Benio, who was carefully observing them.
“Duke Lucifer himself will personally look after them. We can protect the children just fine!”
The knight’s face twisted angrily at the forced tone that seemed as if they were trying to snatch the child away.
“If a knight says he’ll protect a child in a mercenary group, you can’t just nod and say ‘thank you’!”
The knight raised his hand, and Freck, unable to even think of stopping him, prepared to accept the blow.
“I can’t trust someone who raises a hand over such a trivial matter to protect me.”
Ignoring Basilian trying to restrain her, Flora ran out of the tent.
Basilian hurried after her, but the knight had already spotted her.
“Is it really okay for me to follow?”
At Flora’s question, the knight’s fist froze in midair.
He awkwardly cleared his throat and forced a friendly smile.
“The adults here kept trying to put you in danger instead of letting you go. By the way, who’s this beside you?”
“He’s my brother, but he’s a formal mercenary. I’m just an attendant.”
“I see. If he’s a mercenary, then there’s no need for protection. Let’s go with me. The higher-ups will keep you safe.”
As Flora moved to follow, Basilian hurriedly grabbed her hand.
“We could ask Duke Lucifer first; it won’t be too late!”
“But the Duke hasn’t returned yet.”
Hearing this, Basilian bit his lip in frustration. He hadn’t expected Flora to be taken away like this.
“Fool. Anyone can see what’s happening.”
Usually, hunting is like this.
Except in special cases like Lucifer’s, it’s easier to lure someone out than to storm their hideout.
“Since she’s a child of mercenaries, they probably thought of using her as bait without conscience.”
Even if it was revealed that she was under Lucifer’s protection, they would have tried to use her as bait under the pretext of judgment.
“It’s just a matter of timing.”
That’s why Benio had come back to warn them: stay out of sight and quiet.
He tried his best to protect Flora, but she had actually been waiting for this moment.
If it was the demon’s doing, she could finally ask why such things were happening; if it was humans…
“Well, I’ll think about that when the time comes.”
She hadn’t planned the exact method yet, but she would reveal the culprit in front of everyone and ensure they received the proper dreadful punishment.
“I can’t let this go. I just need to…”
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Basilian tried desperately to intervene, but Flora immediately shook her head.
“I’ll be in a safe place, so you focus on your mission. Got it?”
Then she clenched her fist and made a gesture of determination.
When she showed the bracelet with the glass beads sparkling beneath her fist, Basilian clicked his tongue and released her hand.
Seeing Flora hold out the bracelet as if she had anticipated this moment, he immediately realized she had been waiting for it.
“You always do things your way, huh?”
Basilian’s face was filled with displeasure, clearly annoyed, but there was nothing to be done since she had waited for this moment more than anyone else.
“Well, I guess I should at least tell him who’s taking me.”
To reassure Basilian and give the mercenaries some excuse, she explained.
“Who said they’d protect me? The nobles in white clothes?”
“Yes, people carrying out a very noble mission. I don’t know why they’d protect a lowly child like you…”
When Flora pointed to the enforcers, the knight’s answer carried subtle contempt.
Although annoyed, Flora, a genius of acting, hid her emotions and gave a small smile.
The knight, muttering that the child’s laughter was frivolous, shouted at the mercenaries:
“In any case, you’ll be under the protection of an important person, so don’t worry and focus on your duties!”
With that, the knight began walking ahead, and Flora had to wave to the mercenary group from a distance.
However, contrary to the knight’s firm words, Flora was not headed to where the enforcers were staying.
