Chapter 90
The screams grew closer, drawing everyone’s gaze toward the alley. Between the people frantically rushing out, a monster appeared.
A monster?
Its sudden appearance was shocking, but investigating the reason could wait. Eluana focused on the beast, which was crushing a building wall with its forepaw.
It had the massive frame of a lion mixed with a leopard, with threateningly long fangs and a silver beard fluttering under its muzzle, flaunting its presence.
Eluana swallowed hard. The moment had come to decide—fight or run.
“Sing, is it a monster we can handle?”
Sing answered briskly.
“Piece of cake. It’s just a cub. Shall I take care of it?”
That hulking thing was a cub? Surprising, but fortunate if it meant they could handle it.
“I’ll protect Ann and Ring.”
Just as Eluana took out the satin pouch given to her by Duke Spes, Ring spread his arms to block her path. At the same time, Potio dashed into the alley.
He was heading toward a boy who had fallen after being shoved aside by fleeing people—the same pickpocket from earlier. The monster turned its head toward them.
Eluana shouted urgently.
“Sing! Quickly!”
“Yes!”
Closing the distance in an instant, Sing pulled out his whip. The monster gaped its jaws, ready to swallow Potio and the boy whole. Sing’s whip snagged a signboard hanging from the wall. Using the recoil, he leapt up, landing lightly on the beast’s nape, and drove his sword straight in.
Green blood gushed like a waterfall from the monster’s mouth, drenching Potio and the pickpocket boy.
Without even a death cry, the massive body convulsed, then thudded heavily to the side. Sing jumped down from its back and asked,
“Are you all right?”
Potio and the boy opened their eyes amid the pool of blood. The boy scrambled away immediately, while Potio brushed back his blood-soaked hair.
“Still not dead, huh.”
Eluana, arriving late, yelled,
“What are you doing! You could’ve died for real!”
“Probably.”
“What?”
“But I figured that kid deserves to live more than I do.”
What nonsense was that? It wasn’t about noble or commoner. Every life had value.
Rising from the pool of blood, Potio continued,
“He’s at least trying to survive. Me? I live just to die.”
“Are you going through puberty?”
“Guess so?”
Potio gave a crooked smile, oddly sorrowful beneath the green stains.
“If you’re going to live, live well. Don’t live just to die! Don’t let yourself get used, don’t waste your life in debauchery either.”
“Strange. Everyone who knows me nags me like that.”
“That’s not strange at all.”
If anything, not scolding Potio would’ve been strange.
The city guards arrived belatedly and questioned Sing, who gave an excessively long and detailed explanation. Meanwhile, Potio stared down at the monster, its throat pierced and blood bubbling.
“Seems like it was still young. Pity.”
“You pity the monster?”
There were all kinds of people in the world, but sympathy for monsters was new.
“The only crime it committed was being born one. Don’t humans eat other animals—cows, pigs, chickens? Monsters just see us as food, too.”
“That’s oddly convincing. Still, that doesn’t mean we should just let ourselves be eaten. Monsters live their way, we live ours. We were just stronger this time.”
“True. But being stronger doesn’t mean everything is permitted.”
“That’s true too. But this was self-defense.”
“That’s true as well.”
Talking with Potio felt like wandering deeper into a maze. When the monster finally stopped bleeding, Potio turned away.
“I’d better wash up. Thanks for sparing me, anyway.”
“You do realize you almost died, right?”
“I only thought… if a monster killed me, maybe it’d stop someone else.”
“What does that even mean?”
“Something a moody teenager would say. Be careful of my sister.”
Again, he warned her. Shavia must be serious about her schemes, even preparing that fan.
“I met her yesterday, actually. Her Majesty the Empress invited me.”
“So, you got recalled over your infamous romance scandal, huh.”
“Something like that.”
Potio was about to walk away with a lazy smile when he suddenly froze.
“Wait… didn’t you take some medicine? Yesterday my sister picked something up before heading to the Imperial Palace.”
“No. I’m fine. I even took an antidote.”
“It might not count as poison. My sister’s concoctions… If you feel anything strange, see a healer immediately.”
Judging by his reaction, she had ingested—or nearly ingested—something yesterday. Perhaps Ceyron’s earring had neutralized it, but she’d best confirm.
Still, something about this felt strange.
“Why are you telling me all this, Potio?”
“Because you seem better suited to being alive.”
“…Thanks for the pep talk.”
“My sister needs to fail once. She’s had everything come too easily. It’s about time she learns not everything bends to her will.”
“In that case, I’ll do my best to show her failure.”
“Don’t torment her too much. She’s got a fragile heart.”
“Shavia? Fragile?”
“I’m off.”
Grinning slyly, Potio walked off the other way. With every step, drops of blood splattered, tinting the dirt green.
Someone was running toward them. Turning, Eluana saw Kazar approaching.
“I knew it. Whenever there’s trouble, you’re there.”
“It wasn’t me this time. I resolved it. A monster appeared in the street. Luckily it was young, so Sing killed it quickly, but lives were nearly lost.”
Feeling like a walking disaster, Eluana rushed to explain.
“What’s a monster doing here?”
“No idea. Something’s off. Same as in Arden.”
Monsters had appeared in Arden too, still unresolved, and now again. Kazar turned first.
“Let’s talk on the way back.”
As Eluana moved, Sing and Ring followed at once. Unlike cheerful Ring, Ann wore a troubled expression.
In the moment of danger, Sing had acted, Eluana had declared she’d protect them, and Ring had shielded her in turn. Only Ann had frozen, doing nothing.
Among them, only Ann knew Eluana’s secret—that she was Cantio. Her grandmother had told her:
“There must be at least one around her who knows. Duke Spes wishes you to be that one, Ann.”
But she had failed to act.
Ann gazed blankly at Eluana and Kazar walking ahead.
“Another plot from Marquis Pegimul?” Kazar asked.
“He’s suspicious, but his son nearly died too.”
“Pegimul’s son was here?”
“Yes. Probably just coincidence?”
“Still, be careful. Pegimul is dangerous.”
“Right…”
Noticing the Spes knights circling nearby, Eluana changed the subject.
“What about your investigation?”
“There’s an iron mine in the mountains of Lute’s territory. A merchant bought it a few years ago. Since then, men who look like knights have blocked all entry.”
“A merchant?”
“Don’t know who yet. Line is meeting with Edelweiss’s people to learn more. Tomorrow we’ll use concealment artifacts to sneak inside.”
“Then I’m coming too.”
Kazar halted.
“…You’re coming?”
“It’s a mine. I won’t be a burden.”
“No.”
His unusually firm refusal made Ann breathe with relief—surely Eluana would have to stay at the villa. But then Eluana’s answer left her gaping.
“Yes.”
Defiance clear, Kazar scrubbed his face in exasperation.
“If I leave you, you’ll just sneak after us, won’t you?”
“Of course.”
Her expression said, Why even ask? and Kazar sighed deeply.
“Those kidnapped kids… They weren’t treated kindly. What you’ll see won’t be pleasant.”
“Have you forgotten where we first met?”
“Still—”
“It’s a mine. I won’t slow you down.”
“…Will there ever be a day when I can stop you?”
Thus, Kazar yielded, and Eluana’s participation was set. Grinning, she strode on—then suddenly stopped.
“Oh, right. Kazar.”
“What?”
“I think I might’ve taken something strange.”
Hasem’s wagon rolled into Arden. The townsfolk waved as they spotted him.
“Hey, isn’t that Hasem?”
“He’s early this season.”
“Got any good goods?”
They greeted him warmly. Smiling, Hasem halted his cart.
“Hello, everyone.”
As he climbed down, more people gathered. Visiting once each season, Hasem was a welcome guest. Farmers abandoned their fields to see what wares he had brought.
He pulled back the waterproof cloth covering the cart. Inside were grains, vegetables, fruits, jerky—and a small supply of spices.
A woman with an apron, wiping her hands, approached.
“With the Vita siblings gone, no one here buys spices. Bring more grain next time.”
“I didn’t bring these to sell. They’re all for sharing.”
The crowd froze.
“What? Are you sick? Something incurable?”
“Yeah, people only act out of character before they die.”
“Did you go senile?”
Hasem chuckled.
“No, I’m fine. Just keeping a promise.”
A nosy man pressed,
“So, we can really take this?”
“Of course. But share it fairly—every household gets some.”
Still, the people hesitated, knowing Hasem wasn’t well-off. But free food is hard to refuse. Someone finally grabbed a sack of grain, and Hasem explained further,
“Take the whole cart around the village. I packed one bag of grain per household. As for vegetables, fruits, and spices—each family chooses one.”
“You’re sure you’re not ill?”
“I’m not. I just need to rest—I’ll head back today.”
“Then have dinner at our house! My wife’s cooking is the best.”
“I’d love to. Go ahead, make the rounds first.”
Smiling, Hasem climbed the hill.
It was his usual resting spot in Arden, where there were no inns or shops. Lying on the grass, he gazed at the blue sky, nameless weeds poking his cheeks, wind ruffling his bangs to reveal the scar on his forehead.
“Nice weather.”
After a while, he rose. The cart and villagers were out of sight now. He walked straight toward the northern forest.
Parting waist-high weeds, Hasem finally reached a hill in the forest’s center. From there, a massive magic circle spread below.
But the statue that should have stood within it was gone.
“Huh. Serus isn’t here.”
Rubbing his chin, Hasem turned and headed back down the hill.
