Chapter 186 – Honestly
Lia felt the grip on her arm weaken and turned around.
The orc known as the leader released her and stepped back.
“Kweek, don’t I have to pretend to eat her?”
“Save that acting talent for a little longer. You still have one chance left to make that bastard outside fall over in terror.”
Ran emerged from behind the orc as the two exchanged a gruesome yet frivolous joke.
When his gaze turned toward her as she stood silently, Lia unconsciously clasped her hands together.
“You did well. Now we only have to find an opportunity to capture that man and knock him unconscious. Lia, go inside and rest. You head to the opposite riverbank and wait for the guide to arrive.”
After giving those welcome instructions, Ran walked past Lia and followed the guide.
Lia hesitated as she watched the orc head away in search of the entrance, just as Ran had instructed.
She understood perfectly well that the uncomfortable task was over and that she could leave the rest to Ran and the leader.
Ultimately, however, Lia turned around.
There was one thing she wanted to ask Ran and confirm immediately.
She could hear his answer later, but she felt as though her thoughts would become complicated again if she did not ask him now.
Perhaps her mind was already so overloaded that she could no longer think about anything else.
Lia quickened her steps and caught up with Ran and the orc.
“Is something wrong?”
Startled by the intensity with which Lia followed him, wearing such a frightening expression, Ran questioned her.
Lia briefly caught her breath before quickly speaking.
“Ran, may I ask you something?”
Ran examined Lia, soon confirmed that nothing was wrong with her, and resumed walking.
“I’ll have to answer while we walk. Is that all right?”
Lia answered by following him.
“Ask whatever you want. I’ll answer unless it’s something difficult to discuss.”
Feeling strangely reassured by Ran’s casual response, Lia spoke.
“Do you remember when I asked why you brought me along without telling me anything beforehand?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“You explained why you didn’t tell me in advance, but you never answered the rest of my question. Why did you specifically choose to bring me?”
“You followed me all the way here to ask that? So suddenly?”
Lia awkwardly nodded at his questioning gaze.
That was not what she truly wanted to ask.
She had many other questions.
Had ordering her to lure the guide been some kind of test?
Had she passed that test?
And if she had failed, what would have happened to her?
However, when faced with Ran’s unreadable expression, she found it difficult to voice those questions.
What ultimately emerged was the question she had left unanswered earlier that day.
She regretted it immediately.
She feared that the answer might be even more painful to hear than the questions she had swallowed.
What if they had merely needed someone from Lucha Village and had chosen her because she was the most obedient?
“That….is something I must apologize for again.”
Made anxious by the apology that preceded his answer, Lia scratched the back of her hand.
“I also intended to make you lose your attachment to the village. Otherwise, I didn’t think you would follow us. As you know, there are very few trustworthy people in this world.”
Lia stared at Ran with startled eyes, having never expected that answer.
He watched the guide flee through the newly discovered exit without saying anything, then headed toward the entrance.
Lia followed him and continued speaking.
“Then you trusted me from the beginning? Why? How could you know whether I would side with the temple...?”
Ran stopped at the entrance, turned, and looked at Lia.
Now that they had left the darkness behind, she could read the emotions on his face.
The change was subtle, but she was certain of one thing.
He did not understand her in the slightest.
Ran spoke with an expression suggesting that he had heard something ridiculous.
“You knew from the beginning that there was something strange about us. Despite that, you still said you wanted to accompany us.”
As though the matter were insignificant, Ran turned right and continued walking.
“It may be difficult to believe now, but I didn’t deceive you quite as thoroughly as you think. Anyone who observed carefully could tell that Ratel was hostile toward the temple. Besides, when you saw that man collapsed inside the cabin, you immediately realized that Ratel had done it, didn’t you?”
“Th-That was only a joke. And when the priests captured Ratel in the village, all I did was watch. I never even thought about helping him escape. Looking back, everything that happened was unfair....”
“When he’s openly provoking people like that, you can leave him alone. That bastard actually becomes quieter when his life is genuinely in danger. That’s when you should be more careful.”
Was he some troublesome puppy that required special handling instructions?
Nearly distracted by the remark that was impossible to ignore, Lia forced her thoughts back into order.
“No, that isn’t what matters. Even if Ratel is truly in danger, I might betray all of you.”
“I don’t know what answer you’ve been trying to hear, but there was no one who could replace you. As I said, there are very few people in this world whom we can trust.”
“That means I’m also...”
Ran frowned at Lia’s hesitation and continued inability to accept his answer.
“You may not know this yet, but many people hate us. Jing, in particular, is probably being discussed by countless people of Abiran who don’t even know his face. Most of them are probably debating how much more horribly he should have died.”
“Jing? Why Jing, of all people...?”
Lia, who still did not know Jing’s identity, asked blankly. However, Ran apparently had no intention of explaining that part and changed the subject.
“What I mean is that none of them would think Ratel had been ‘captured’ by the temple. Likewise, no one would suggest rescuing him.”
“.......”
Rendered speechless, Lia followed Ran out of the cave in a daze.
“You’re useful in many other ways as well. That’s why I forced the matter somewhat and brought you along, but I’ll deceive you less often from now on…. I can’t promise that it will never happen again.”
It was both embarrassing and honest.
He had been so honest that he had even added a warning that he might deceive her again. Yet that casual confession put Lia’s mind at ease.
It felt as though he were merely stating the truth, making everything seem genuinely insignificant.
* * *
Why isn’t she saying anything?
Lia, who had suddenly approached me with a frightening expression and bombarded me with questions, quietly raised her head and looked at the sun, which had not yet completely set.
It was fortunate that she appeared to have regained her composure despite looking anxious earlier, but what had she ultimately wanted to say?
Surely she was not planning to say that there were plenty of people who could replace her and that she intended to turn back.
I could not force her to accompany us, but neither could I find someone else.
Was she less desperate because Edan had not died? Or perhaps the situation simply felt too burdensome.
I slowed down and closed the distance between myself and Lia, who had become excessively quiet compared to moments earlier.
“You don’t need to feel burdened by the possibility of betrayal. There isn’t anyone among us who hasn’t betrayed the others at least once. We’ve all stabbed one another in the back.”
In my case, it had not been once but dozens of times, although I prudently kept that to myself.
It would be troublesome if she concluded that I could not be trusted at all.
It was impossible for a person to live with complete honesty.
“Anyway, there’s still time before sunset. Tell us once you’ve made your decision.”
Even as I concluded that Lia was unlikely to speak no matter how much I questioned her, the guide continued diligently forward.
As expected of a man who had made a living guiding people toward their deaths, he expertly followed the path where an orc awaited him.
By the time he finally reached the riverbank, the leader was already waiting there.
A moment later, the man encountered the leader, and his scream echoed through the forest.
At the same time, Lia, who had been silently following behind me, finally spoke.
“I understand now. I know why you specifically asked me to lure the guide.”
I turned at the sudden voice behind me, and Lia continued while staring directly at me.
“This is my final opportunity, isn’t it? My chance to withdraw and run away.”
She was correct, but only under the most unlikely circumstances.
It would only matter if Lia refused to accompany us.
“You aren’t a fugitive yet, Lia. Even if you separate from us, you won’t be able to return to your original village, but at least you can avoid being hunted.”
The moment I finished speaking, Lia suddenly stepped forward.
Then she charged straight toward the guide without hesitation.
What was she doing all of a sudden?
The leader, who had been approaching the guide by the riverbank while waiting for my signal, also noticed Lia charging toward them at terrifying speed and looked at me in surprise.
However, I had no idea what her sudden action meant either.
Her intentions were revealed immediately.
Thud!!!
The moment Lia entered striking range, she swung her fist without the slightest hesitation.
Her punch, packed with all her accumulated resentment and everything Jing had taught her, struck the guide directly beneath the nose.
The guide collapsed without even managing to make a sound.
Two of his front teeth flew from his mouth and rolled along the riverbank beside his body before being swept away by the water.
Breathing heavily, Lia lowered her fist and turned toward me with a considerably relieved expression as I approached her.
“You said you would think about it until sunset.”
“I just finished.”
Lia answered as though it were nothing, dusted off her hands, and smiled.
Her expression had remained troubled this entire time. Apparently, she really had wanted to land a blow on the guide.
“He appears to be unconscious anyway, so hit him as much as you want. You’ve already struck him once.”
When I added that I could even leave and give her privacy, Lia burst into laughter.
“It’s all right. That one blow made everything clear.”
What had become clear?
When I frowned in confusion, Lia looked at me with lingering amusement on her face.
“I remembered why I followed all of you when we had only known one another for a few days. There was never much to consider.”
Having reached her own conclusion, Lia effortlessly lifted the guide and dragged him out of the river like a piece of luggage.
* * *
“He was struck beneath the nose, but one of his molars came out as well.”
Jing muttered while examining the unconscious guide to ensure he was still alive.
“Well, only living people need teeth. He probably doesn’t have many meals left to chew.”
Ratel, who had dragged the knights out of the cave, placed one on either side of the guide.
“K-Kweek, are all these men going to die?”
The dimwit—no, the idiot—had been watching us gather the three unconscious men and now asked in alarm.
“Yes. The people those two served won’t want it revealed that there was trouble involving the holy relic.”
People who hated exceptions and leaks would never risk keeping a mere guide alive.
“Kweek, d-do these two have to die as well?”
The idiot sounded distressed as he pointed at the two knights.
“Why? Do you want them to survive?”
“Kweek....”
Unable to answer immediately, he glanced toward the leader.
The leader eventually sighed at the tactless idiot, who could not even bring himself to offer an empty denial.
“....Kweek, leave those two alive.”
He spoke as though reluctantly granting permission, but that was not my decision to make.
“What do you two want to do? You were the ones who nearly died at the hands of these men.”
I looked toward Jing and Lia. Unlike the relatively composed Jing, Lia’s expression stiffened.
“I don’t care. They may never regain their sanity anyway. Perhaps leaving them like that would be more agonizing than death.”
“I….don’t care either. Whichever happens, neither of them will be able to live comfortably.”
The moment Lia’s tense voice granted permission, the dimwit’s expression brightened.
“Kweek, then w-we’ll look after them for a while.”
Perhaps afraid that we would change our minds, he quickly dragged the two knights away from the riverbank.
“Well, now we only need to send this one man off the island. What method do you intend to use?”
Jing alternated his gaze between the guide left alone and the distant mainland.
“I’ve never explained exactly what abilities I possess, have I?”
“That is….true. Is it relevant to our present situation?”
I looked in turn at Jing, who questioned me with a puzzled expression; Lia, who appeared equally curious; and Ratel, who stood several steps away with a sullen face.
Then I approached the water and submerged my hand.
There had been several lakes within the Imperial Forest.
As though it were only natural for a forest belonging to the imperial family, they had gathered every imaginable animal from across the world there. As a result, I knew several creatures that remained active even in cold weather.
Otters, for example, did not even hibernate.
Calling them would not be difficult, but I could not help feeling awkward about doing it in front of other people.
Once my submerged hand began to sting from the cold, I inhaled deeply and spoke.
“If any of you can help, gather here. I only need you to transport one human.”
“To whom are you speaking?”
Jing asked in confusion, but I did not need to answer.
The splashing water, the approaching bubbles, and the three animals emerging from within them answered in my place.
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