Chapter 29
Swoosh-.
Gently rippling waves.
A warm breeze blowing from somewhere dishevelled auburn hair.
A familiar silence echoes in the ears.
It was a strange landscape.
An endless expanse of water surface.
The sky-blue background resembles a sea.
In this lonely scene.
"......"
The fox opened her closed eyes.
What's reflected in her blurry vision is none other than a dazzlingly bright sky blue.
A vast ocean is waiting for the girl.
She feels a hard object against her back.
Turning around at the strange sensation, she sees iron bars standing straight surrounding her.
The surface is rusted as if weathered by time.
It was a one-room prison standing in the middle of the sea.
"Ah..."
The fox immediately realizes it's a dream.
It was a nightmare that had been tormenting her for the past 2 years.
It was a familiar scene.
She looks around just in case.
Iron bars densely confined the girl. Beyond them, nothing existed.
Just waves crashing emptily.
Creak-.
The fox grabs the iron bars behind her and stands up, exerting force.
The old metal bar groans.
"Ugh, ugh......"
Her movements stagger.
The floor was slightly submerged in the water surface. Thanks to that, rippling sea water covers the girl's ankles.
Yet her clothes and tail weren't wet at all.
This was a point indicating the current scene was a dream.
Whee-ee-e-.
A sea breeze suddenly brushing by caresses her cheek.
A characteristic salty smell spreads at the tip of her nose.
Air cooled the heat refreshingly. The fox furrows her brow tightly.
Because she considered that kindness a mockery.
"I'm sick of this."
She mutters faintly.
The fox stood leaning against the iron bars. Anguish flickers in her black eyes.
She looks weak as if about to break at any moment.
This place was lonely.
It was as if this entire landscape was created to isolate her.
Only the sea in the background.
Not even a trace of human presence can be heard.
She was perfectly alone.
"...I hope I wake up soon."
A lament chewed over quietly.
The continuing silence was peaceful and beautiful, but it was also terrible beyond that.
The fox waited silently.
To wake up from the nightmare.
For this disgusting sense of loss to be filled.
***
The day after having the nightmare.
As soon as she opened her eyes, the fox went to find the snake. Because she had a request she wanted to make.
The boy responds tilting his head.
"Miss Irene?"
"The children. It's been over a month since we've seen them. I want to show my face once."
"Hmm."
Tak-.
The boy closes the book he was reading.
After being silent for a moment as if lost in thought, he soon smiles faintly.
"Huhu, you seem worried."
"Well... I can't say I'm not."
"I understand. They must be precious people to Miss Irene."
"If you understand, let me meet them."
Irene answers gruffly.
Though she was worried, the desire to just see them was greater.
Perhaps because of the nightmare she had last night.
She wanted to meet the children.
-Sister! Where did you go?
-You idiot! Don't cling to her when she's tired!
-These, these kids are fighting again... Please scold them.
She desperately longed for those purely shining smiles.
She needed an escape from the loss that was painfully choking her heart that felt like it might go out at any moment.
When she held the children in her arms, she came to her senses.
There were still things left to protect.
It was what supported her so she wouldn't collapse.
"...Please."
Though her voice was sharp as usual, it sounded somewhat pitiful.
The boy who had been silent soon opens his mouth.
"Hmm... Well, alright."
"Really?"
"I was thinking I should drop by once anyway."
"......"
Swish swish-.
Her tail that had been drooping regains strength and moves.
Though she didn't seem to realize it herself, it was a reaction that revealed everything when she was in a good mood.
A fond smile spreads on the girl's lips.
Until then, she hadn't expected it at all.
The place they were heading to meet the children.
That is its identity.
Would be a city called the worst slum in the empire.
***
Irene's request to let her meet the children.
I was just thinking I should show my face to those guys too, so I immediately nodded.
It would be lonely to go alone.
"Then shall we go?"
Is there any need to delay?
On a weekend with no classes. We immediately left the academy and boarded a carriage heading to our destination.
After some time passed, we arrived at an alley.
"Customers, this is as far as the carriage can go."
The coachman refused to go any further.
It was a kind of unspoken rule.
No matter what, don't enter the 'City That Doesn't Cry'.
Putting aside issues of looting or robbery... it was uncertain whether you could even come out alive in the first place.
Thanks to that, we had to walk.
"Are the children really here...?"
"That's right."
"This is a slum."
"It's safer than you think, so you can just go in. Or do you not want to see your younger siblings?"
"...Fine. Let's go then."
We walk side by side.
As we enter deeper into the city, our vision blurs. As if frost is forming on our pupils.
It was a regional characteristic.
The City That Doesn't Cry, Rukiye.
Regardless of the weather outside, thick fog always lingers here.
Thanks to that, it's perfect for villains to make their nest.
In other words, the neighborhood security is a mess.
"This atmosphere doesn't seem suitable for children at all......"
Irene furrows her brow.
It seems she's starting to realize this isn't an ordinary slum.
"Are you sure they're really in a safe place...?"
"Of course."
"There's killing intent in every alley. Isn't this closer to a den of criminals?"
"The streets themselves might be a bit dirty... but the place where your siblings are is definitely safe."
"I find that hard to believe."
"Don't worry. I'll guarantee it."
At least as far as I know, that's the case.
Because they're the ones I raised.
I could confidently assert that there were few places safer than this on the continent.
I brushed off her worries with a bright smile.
"Your siblings are in a 'good place'. I sent them there personally."
"...You. Can't you stop talking like that?"
"Like what?"
"Never mind... Forget it if you don't know."
The fox turns her head with a resigned look.
I was suddenly given up on.
What the. Why is she acting like this?
She should at least finish what she was saying.
I could only raise a bunch of question marks.
Trudge trudge-.
As we were moving our feet after such a strange conversation,
Some shadows blocked our path.
"Hey you two. Stop right there."
A gang appeared from the fog.
They were all wearing robes and holding swords in their hands.
Are they thugs living in the alley?
I calmly look around.
'The number is nine.'
Roughly that many were surrounding us.
Judging by how natural their encirclement is, this doesn't seem to be their first time doing this.
Let's hear what they want first.
"Hmm~ What business do such fine gentlemen have?"
I ask exaggeratedly.
Then one of the robed figures steps forward.
It's the one who gave the order to stop just now.
"You're wearing unfamiliar attire."
"Of course you'd think so."
"You don't seem to be from around here... Outsiders?"
"That's right. We're just dropping by on some business."
"Your guts must be sticking out of your belly."
As I answer leisurely, the guy bursts into a hollow laugh.
He seems dumbfounded by my boldness.
I understood to some extent.
To their eyes, I must look like a weak young master.
A city where crime and murder run rampant.
If there's an idiot wandering around without proper guards, of course they'd want to target him.
"Ha... This is the first time I've seen someone like this."
"I'm honored."
"We don't intend to take your life. Just hand over about 10 gold and we'll let you go quietly."
"You mean pay a passage fee?"
"Exactly."
"Hmm."
I sigh quietly.
To think there are still guys going around collecting passage fees.
And 10 gold is disgustingly expensive.
I definitely wiped them out half a year ago, where on earth did they crawl out from again?
'Don't tell me they didn't manage properly?'
They might have gotten lax because I was gone.
Should I use this opportunity to tighten discipline again?
As I'm lost in such idle thoughts, the fox standing beside me casually speaks up.
"You... What are you going to do?"
"Pardon?"
"They're asking for a passage fee. And pointing swords at us."
"Surely you're not worried about me?"
"Say something that makes sense."
Irene cuts me off coldly.
As if telling me not to speak weakly, her brow was deeply furrowed.
"...You can kill them all with a single gesture."
"Huhu, that's true."
"But I asked how you plan to get out of this because it'll be annoying if we cause a commotion."
"Well..."
I shrug nonchalantly.
"Let's just stay like this for a moment."
"What are you thinking now?"
"Who knows? Maybe a mysterious hero will suddenly appear and save us from this predicament?"
"You can still joke even in this situation......"
Tap tap tap tap-!
As soon as the words leave her mouth, some noise brushes past our ears.
Someone is roughly stamping the ground.
Despite the distance, a faint killing intent can be felt. The scent of a well-trained assassin wafts.
It's a movement I haven't seen in a long time.
"It seems they've appeared."
The next moment.
Slash-!
A sharp cutting sound rings out.
Including the guy who was just running his mouth, the heads of some of the gang members float in the air.
They were instantly cut off.
""...!?""
The robed gang retreats in bewilderment.
Of course, that doesn't mean they can avoid their foreseen death.
Flutter-!
A shadow melted in darkness flutters like a cloak.
The afterimage flashes quickly.
An iron flower blooming beautifully.
It's too fast to catch with the eyes. Two daggers dance in an instant.
Even though covered in fog, the sword path is accurate.
Slash-!
A silver line is drawn on the pitch-black background.
Following the strike that splits into dozens, stars sparkle for a moment.
It's ecstatic.
At the same time, it's cruel.
While our gazes are stolen by the splendid sword dance.
Thud, thud thud...!
The necks of the staggering gang members fall to the ground.
It all happened in less than 3 seconds.
I smile faintly.
"How about that? Someone really appeared, didn't they?"
Though I'm not sure if they're a hero.
I added a meaningless comment, but it doesn't seem to reach Irene's ears.
She's distracted by something.
"Miss Irene?"
"......"
Breathing trembling as if tense.
Following the direction the girl is glaring at, I turn my head and see a person standing among the corpses.
It was a woman exuding an eerie atmosphere.
Long flowing black hair.
Two daggers held in both hands.
A black mask covering the lower half of her face.
It was a unique appearance.
As soon as the woman's eyes meet ours, she immediately starts striding over.
"Oh, she's coming...!"
Irene draws her sword and takes a stance.
Perhaps overwhelmed by the woman's aura? She was in a mentally shaken state.
I calmly soothe the fox.
"Let's calm down for now. She's not our enemy."
"...Do you know her?"
Irene is flustered.
I was troubled by how to explain this, but soon gave up.
It would be easier to understand if she saw for herself anyway.
Thud thud-!
The woman's steps had already reached close range.
A fierce killing intent spreading. It seemed to warn those around that she would cut down anyone who blocked her path.
The woman who had been approaching so roughly.
Suddenly stops advancing in front of the snake.
And then.
"Commander."
She kneels on one knee in place.
After disarming the weapons she was holding, she pays respects in a perfectly submissive posture.
"I knew you would return."
The black-haired woman mutters like that.
Her voice was filled with emotion.
Tears flowed down her pure white cheeks. She seemed to be overcome with feelings.
Her lowered head is full of reverence.
'...This is why I didn't want to come recently.'
A member showing excessive welcome from the start.
And the fox staring blankly at that.
Their gazes pierce blatantly.
Really.
It was unbearably burdensome.