Chapter 4. Are You Good at Swimming?

Magical Boundary Blackmore.

The hiding place of heinous criminals with bounties on their heads, and monsters isolated from society.

A place from which it's said no one returns alive, practically a tomb in its own right.

Because the region itself is so vast and there’s no reliable information, all sorts of absurd rumors about Blackmore naturally spread by word of mouth throughout the Empire.

That forgotten beings from mythology reside within.

That unspeakable, grotesque strangeness has consumed Blackmore.

Or that all sorts of opportunities are buried throughout.

Every single one is a phrase designed to pique human curiosity.

In reality, it *was* a place befitting the title of Magical Boundary.

Because of that, Blackmore was always a headache for the Imperial Family.

Leaving it alone was a stain on the Imperial Family’s honor, but intervening presented a mountain of risks and expenses.

Then, at that very moment, the Emperor made his stance clear.

Along with a single sentence: that he would recognize Blackmore as official imperial territory.

Those words represented the Imperial Family's will to no longer neglect Blackmore.

However.

“I simply don’t understand.”

“What is it this time?”

The Imperial Palace office.

Two men sat facing each other, sipping tea and conversing.

The man in uniform let out a short sigh and continued.

“I heard you dispatched a single Administrator.”

“….”

“Luke Richter, a mere fledgling who just received his Government Post.”

The Prime Minister, who had been listening quietly, nodded.

It was a natural reaction, since he was the one who personally sent him to Blackmore.

“It’s Blackmore we’re talking about.”

“I’m aware.”

“Even the Special Task Force or the Holy Order knights can’t handle Blackmore.”

“That’s right.”

*Thwack*!

The man who had been speaking set down his teacup.

With a somewhat agitated expression.

“Haa.”

He took a short breath after finishing his sentence.

And lowered his voice heavily.

“You must withdraw him immediately.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Even dispatching a large-scale force is barely enough to manage that place. What can a single person, a newly appointed junior official at that, possibly accomplish there?”

It was a reasonable question.

Blackmore is a place that even the Imperial Family had given up on after all this time.

Assigning a low-ranking Official to the position of managing such a place…

It was practically the same as sending a perfectly healthy young man to his death.

However.

“He can accomplish nothing. If he were an ‘ordinary’ junior official, that is.”

“…?”

Luke Richter.

The second son and bastard of the Richter Family.

He graduated from the Academy with excellent grades, but other than that, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him.

But the Prime Minister’s expression was quite serious.

His face showed not a shred of doubt in his judgment.

Strange.

Something’s strange.

“He’s not… just an ordinary Noble’s son?”

So he asked.

He couldn’t bear it any longer.

After asking the question, he slowly examined the Prime Minister’s face.

He continued to sip his tea with an indifferent expression.

And slowly.

Very slowly.

“…”

He nodded.

Without any explanation, he simply nodded.

As if he couldn’t answer anything more.

“…Huh.”

That was the end of it.

****

*Screech!* *Screech!* *Kyaaa!*

I sat blankly, staring out the window.

Beyond the window, a doll-like beautiful girl was hunting Monstrous Beasts with a dagger in one hand.

With a bright smile, like a child who had found a new toy.

‘…Can you even call that hunting?’

I don’t know.

Wouldn’t it be more like a one-sided slaughter, or a massacre?

‘It’s been two days, hasn’t it?’

Two days.

It’s already been two days since I first met Rudine.

I slowly retraced my memories.

Calling me her benefactor, she followed me around so persistently.

Despite my repeated attempts to dissuade her, she stubbornly followed me and eventually made it all the way to my office.

The result is what I see now.

Recognizing this place as her home, Rudine, at some point, started hunting… no, slaughtering all the Monstrous Beasts that approached.

“……”

I made eye contact with Rudine.

She looked at me with her blood-splattered face and smiled brightly.

It was a smile that seemed to be seeking praise.

That sight was just like…

‘…A guard dog.’

I turned my gaze away from her beaming smile and fell into thought.

Honestly, it's convenient.

She doesn't cross any lines, doesn't show any hostility, and she even guards the place well.

I still don't know her intentions, but so far I haven't found anything bothersome about her.

‘What should I do about this?’

Born under the Heavenly Star of Slaughter, she has an innate nature that craves blood.

That means she satiates her hunger and thirst by ripping, tearing, and cutting living things.

In other words, she was born inherently evil.

It can't be cured.

It's a nature engraved in her soul.

It's not a disease, so how could it be cured?

Some call it a curse.

But is it really a curse?

‘It’s a talent.’

Her nature, specialized for killing, is not a curse but a talent.

At least in this place, Blackmore.

It’s not for nothing that the protagonist of the original story risked coming all the way to Blackmore to recruit her.

Let's think about it.

Even though I’ve become the Administrator of this place, it doesn’t mean I have to rot here for the rest of my life.

The Empire’s Regional Administrators are assigned new posts every five years.

‘I just need to endure for five years.’

Five years.

It's a long time, but it’s not unbearable.

It’s too late to chase her away now anyway.

She’s not the type to listen even if I tell her repeatedly, and she’s not someone I can drive out by force either.

Then there's only one option left.

‘Building rapport.’

Honestly, it won't be difficult.

She already considers me her benefactor.

‘Good.’

The house is safe, and I've got more hands now.

With her help, exploring the Labyrinth shouldn't be too difficult.

Isn't there a saying about enjoying it if you can't avoid it?

Yeah, enjoy it.

It's not really something to worry about.

A little while later.

“Luke?”

She finished washing up and returned to the office.

She stared at me with wide eyes and asked,

“What are you doing?”

“Work. Help me out a bit.”

“I’m hungry.”

“I'll give you food after we finish this.”

Her gray eyes sparkled like jewels.

My suggestion piqued her interest.

She sat down demurely and asked in an excited voice,

“What kind of work?”

“Making signs.”

“…?”

Tilt.

She tilted her head, looking completely confused.

“Signs?”

“Yeah.”

“Why are we making signs?”

“I told you, it's work.”

“???”

She blinked at my answer.

Still not understanding.

“You know this place is a suicide hotspot, right?”

“Yeah.”

“But this is my workplace, you see?”

“Yeah.”

“So, if people keep offing themselves left and right in my workplace… what do you think happens to me?”

Correct answer.

It becomes a fucking problem.

Especially if one of them happens to be a Noble.

“You can write in the Imperial language, right?”

“…Don’t underestimate me.”

“Then we’re good. Here, take this brush and just copy what I say onto the signs. Easy, right?”

I quickly handed her the signs and a brush.

Preparations complete.

“Okay, just copy it down.”

“Okay.”

I speak, and Rudine copies.

A truly simple, repetitive task.

However.

“…?”

A question mark appeared above Rudine’s face as she was writing.

As if… greatly perplexed.

****

*Thud thud thud.*

*Rustle.*

“Quiet.”

The girl murmured as she walked.

Blackmore was, as she expected, a wilderness devoid of any human trace.

“…”

She walked.

No destination, no direction.

She came here to die, so why would there be any?

“Haah… haah…”

Her steps grew heavier, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

There was a moment she almost tripped on a rock, but she continued on, one step at a time, her expression unchanging.

A faint stench stung her nose.

Dead trees stood packed together.

Like her future, it was gloomy and depressing.

Then.

“…A sign?”

She saw a sign in the distance.

With some sort of writing on it. Definitely a sign someone had put there.

What is it?

Why is there a sign in a place like this?

She slowly approached the sign.

And, lowering her head, she checked the inscription.

[ You are not alone. ]

“???”

What?

Not alone?

Is there someone nearby?

"...!"

*Swish swish!*

She looked around but couldn't find any trace of anyone.

And this wasn't the end.

As if measured with a ruler, at specific intervals, other signs were firmly planted in the ground.

“What is this?”

She couldn't contain her curiosity.

So, she started walking in the direction the signs pointed.

To check the messages on each one herself.

[ Stop! ]

She stopped.

Is it talking to me?

[ Where are you going? ]

What?

Creepy.

[ You are a valuable person. ]

???

Suddenly?

“……”

She was annoyed.

Already depressed, these absurd signs were getting on her nerves.

But even so, she couldn't suppress her curiosity.

After walking for some time, she began to see a steep cliff in the distance.

*Whoosh!*

A dizzying precipice.

And beyond it, the vast ocean.

And.

At the edge of the dangerous cliff, the last sign stood planted.

Its message:

[ Are you a good swimmer? ]

*Crack—!*

The sign shattered under the girl's kick.