Chapter 177
Her long, flowing white hair, a slender body that felt thin. Even a smiling face wearing red sunglasses.
She looked harmless, but here was our childhood friend, Livia, who had somehow risen to the position of Branch Leader.
Seeing her, I couldn't help but sigh first. Normally, I would have greeted her properly, but the timing was a bit awkward right now.
The Extermination Notice had just been posted a few days ago, and she was showing up now. Slightly flustered, I immediately asked her purpose.
“What's up? You're not here to recruit me for Lemegeton again, are you?”
“That's harsh~ After so long, I'm visiting, and that's the first thing you ask?”
At my words, she chuckled playfully and feigned hurt. Perhaps because we'd talked a bit last time, she seemed much more comfortable with me than before.
But that was only for a moment. Her playful smile soon vanished, and she continued.
“...I just came to see your face, since I might not be able to later.”
“...”
Livia, speaking like that, looked somewhat pathetic. Like a criminal awaiting trial. It seemed she had heard the news about their Extermination.
Well, that place would be full of Otherworlders, so the news would spread quickly.
Hearing her words, I made an ambiguous expression. I couldn't be cold to someone saying things like that.
...Well, you've come.
With that, I led her into my Cave.
*
Even though I, as a native, lived in the Forest. I kept a few types of tea in my House for civility's sake.
Not because I liked tea myself, but because guests often visited my House. Chae-rin and Haneul, who came to visit all the time, were a given, and many others came occasionally for business.
It was already quite a trek to get to my Cave from the Forest, so I wanted to send them off with something. Because of that, my House had a surprising amount of food.
I offered her tea and some light cookies, just like now. Perhaps because Baking Technique had advanced thanks to the Otherworlders, cookies were now quite cheap and good.
You really have everything here.
After entering the Cave, Livia immediately started chattering. It wasn't a particularly serious conversation.
She had a subordinate who managed finances, and the kid was too arrogant. Strangely, her subordinates seemed unusually afraid of her. She'd tried a small Fireworks display once, and the sight was truly beautiful, and so on...
Most of it was trivial everyday talk. Of course, that wasn't to say it was bad. Rather than always having serious discussions, I also enjoyed such comfortable conversations.
Judging by her demeanor, it seemed she really had just come to see my face. It was convenient since I only had to nod along appropriately, but my heart grew even more uneasy.
She claimed she came to see my face right after hearing the Extermination Notice, yet she kept talking about everyday things with an ambiguous expression. Didn't it seem like she was trying to put her life in order?
...So, what are you going to do?
Therefore, it was I who eventually brought up the main point first. Everyday conversation was nice, but I still wanted to know if she had a plan. Fortunately, Livia seemed to understand what I was saying and replied with a bitter smile.
“...I have to fight.”
“Can you win?”
Lemegeton wasn't a weak organization, but I didn't think it could defeat the Extermination Squad.
From the start, the scale of this Extermination Squad was different. Rumor had it that not only Knight Commanders but also people from the Ruryeon Kingdom and other countries were participating.
No matter how skilled they were, this time the sheer scale was different. As if they were determined to uphold their promise to eradicate them root and branch, the momentum of this Extermination Squad was extraordinary.
Livia seemed to know that fact too, as she nodded calmly.
Of course, there will be sacrifices... and that could be me.
That reaction alone told me she was taking this seriously. Livia soon continued.
“It's okay, though. I always thought something like this would happen eventually. There's a way to win.”
“What is it...?”
“That... I can't say.”
Bowing her head deeply, she said that. I sighed briefly. Indeed, even though we were talking comfortably like this, she was still a person belonging to the opposing faction.
If Knights were to discover this friendly scene right now, they might try to arrest me too.
Anyway, given our differing positions, it was natural for her to be reserved.
As I frowned for a moment, she cautiously asked me a question.
“Speaking of which... did you also participate in this Extermination?” “Yeah, I did. I did, but...” “Ah, yeah... you did, but?” “...I don't know, *fuck*.” “Uh, uhm?” “I'm saying I don't know how I should act.”
My chest felt incredibly stifled, somehow.
As I said before, I wasn't particularly keen on this Extermination.
The reason wasn't some grand cause or conviction, but simple affection.
I certainly thought that organization deserved to be destroyed. I'd suffered at their hands, and serving Demons wasn't sane to begin with.
But my heart inexplicably weakened just because there were people I knew there. Thanks to that, my head just felt needlessly complicated.
Scratching my head in annoyance, I made her an offer.
“Hey, why don't you just live at my place?”
“Uh, uhm...?”
For a moment, a blush rose on Livia's face. I didn't know what she was thinking, but the offer seemed to fluster her. And I, making the offer, was also flustered myself.
It's an organization doomed to fall anyway. It'll be exterminated soon. You might as well hide out in this Cave.
Honestly, it would be my loss.
If I hid her in my House and got caught, I'd be branded a Criminal in an instant. She was a Key Executive of the enemy organization, and her face was probably quite well-known. If I were caught, my carefully cultivated relationship with the Empire might sour again.
It's actually quite livable here. People don't come around that often... and if you're worried, there's a good spot further inside, and you could stay there.
And frankly, I wasn't that close with her. I didn't know what the past was like, but that was literally just the past.
Looking at it now, I'd only talked to her two or three times.
If I thought rationally, it would be better to just ignore her...
Whatever happens, it's better than getting caught and dying, right? Huh?
In the end, I was trying to hide that criminal with my actions.
*Fuck.*
Still, I didn't want to just stand by and watch someone I knew from childhood die. I was already hiding Demons and Manifestors anyway, so adding her wouldn't make much difference, I figured.
Oh, um...
Indeed, my words this time seemed quite tempting, as her agitation grew even stronger. Her pupils trembled rapidly, and her face flushed intensely. I didn't know what she was thinking, but she was clearly quite agitated.
After a long while... she finally collected her thoughts and quietly spoke.
No, I'm fine.
The answer was a refusal.
*That's a bit unexpected...*
I couldn't help but be slightly surprised. Honestly, I expected her to accept. It was a good offer for her, after all.
Curious about her reason, I immediately asked her.
What's the reason?
Livia hesitated a moment before speaking.
...My Benefactor is there. I can't abandon The One and run away alone.
This was another unexpected answer. I expected something like, “I don't want to turn my back on the Order,” or “Serving Demons is beneficial for survival.” But suddenly, 'Benefactor'?
*Who exactly is she talking about?*
Is The One inside Lemegeton? Come to think of it, something suddenly occurred to me. It was the fact that she was kidnapped by Adventurers after leaving the Orphanage.
I hadn't heard what happened after that, but I could roughly guess. I immediately asked her the question that had arisen.
“Is that Benefactor the person who saved you when you were kidnapped by Adventurers?”
“...!”
At my question, she instantly made a very surprised expression. Just by her expression, I could tell my guess was roughly correct.
“Looks like I was right.” “H-how! No, I never told you, how did you know that?!” “I heard about the kidnapping from the Sister at the orphanage. The rescue was a guess.” “...Ah.”
A faint wistfulness entered her eyes for a moment at the word 'Orphanage.' It seemed she was briefly lost in past memories that she could no longer return to. Her memories of the Orphanage seemed to have been quite good.
Livia nodded for a long time, then spoke in a much calmer voice.
That's right. The One saved me from the Adventurers and taught me Magic. To me, The One is like a father.
“...”
I didn't press her about who that Benefactor was. She wouldn't tell me anyway, and my conscience would bother me too much to dig for information in such a wistful atmosphere.
Instead, I merely speculated carefully to myself. If The One could teach her Magic, The One was probably a fairly high-level Mage.
Livia's Magic Skill was comparable to that of most Magic Tower Masters. I didn't know if she achieved that herself, but just by opening the path for her, it meant her Benefactor's Skill was considerable.
*I can probably ask this much, right...?*
As I thought that for a moment, a sudden curiosity prompted me to ask her.
Speaking of which, when were you rescued? You must have been quite young. That's right. I don't remember clearly, but... it was about two years after I was kidnapped. Two years...?
I made a surprised expression. Wait, does that mean she joined Lemegeton when she was 12? And she'd been there ever since.
That organization existed more than 10 years ago...
It seemed the organization was quite old. After thinking that for a moment, I quietly said one thing to her.
You endured well... for two years.
Considering what I heard today, her life didn't seem easy at all. Two years wasn't that long, but if they were the kind of bastards who would kidnap someone, their character must have been utterly rotten. To have endured there for two years. It was understandable that she hated Adventurers.
As if my words had touched something deep inside her, her face instantly crumpled. Her usual gentle smile vanished, replaced only by reddened eyes.
She quickly bowed her head and replied in a slightly choked voice.
...Yeah.
After that, we chatted idly for a long time again. As if she had returned comfortably and joyfully to her desired childhood. It was quite an enjoyable time for me too. Recalling old memories I barely remembered through her was a valuable experience in its own way.
Alright, I'm off!
It was only when night had fully fallen that she left, a satisfied smile on her face.
And a few days later...
Then, we set out.
The Extermination Squad had gathered. The reason, of course, was to crush Lemegeton.