.｡.:✧ Chapter 66 ✧:.｡.

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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From my perspective, shaped by a life solely within the forest and akin to an elf’s conservative views, the idea of an unmarried man and woman sharing the same room was utterly incomprehensible.

Even during my time as a guide in the Demon Realm Forest, I went to the extent of adding separate guest rooms for travelers in need of lodging.

“The first-floor room looks like this, somewhat more spacious than the second floor.”

She quietly toured the room before slowly placing the pillow she held in her arms onto the bed.

“……Sigh.”

Taking a deep breath and sneaking a glance behind, Rin revealed a mysterious smile as she gently pulled back the blanket.

“Let’s sleep.”

“Don’t put on that sticky voice.”

Teasing Rin for deliberately speaking in a sultry tone, she giggled and swiftly lay down on the bed first.

‘It must really be because she’s scared, right?’

Although I had accepted Rin’s explanation that using magic with the power in her chest mark, without proper restraint due to a mix-up with the bandits, might be true.

Her current demeanor seemed nothing short of a pretext to share the bed.

“Aren’t you going to sleep?”

Observing Rin gently smoothing the spot next to her for me to lie down, my mind was in turmoil, but eventually, I turned off the lights and lay down immediately.

Turning away to face the opposite direction from Rin, I wished her goodnight.

Though there was no reply, she stealthily caressed my back with her hand.

“Stop it.”

“Daniel, you know…”

I was about to retort, but Rin was quicker.

“You saw in the future, didn’t you? That I’d go berserk with this power?”

“……”

Slowly turning over, I looked at her.

The room was shrouded in darkness, with the curtains drawn so tightly that not even moonlight could penetrate, but my eyes had already adjusted to the darkness, allowing me to see her face clearly.

There she was, trembling with fear, a poor village girl burdened with an unwanted power.

“Will I lose my self and harm others, or manipulate them like I did with the murderers today?”

“……”

Unable to provide an answer, I remained silent, and she continued speaking.

“There’s a line drawn inside me. Crossing it feels like there would be no turning back.”

“That won’t happen, I’ll protect you.”

Looking up at the ceiling as I spoke, Rin smiled sheepishly and gently took my hand.

“It’s all right, except for one thing. Just in case, if it seems like I might hurt you or cause you pain, just kill me.”

“……”

“Understood?”

Her voice was a soft whisper, and unknowingly, I gripped her hand tighter. It might have hurt her, but instead, Rin seemed pleased, ensuring she held my hand even tighter.

“There won’t be such a time.”

“I know you’ll protect me. But just in case, if there’s a ‘what if.'”

“There are no ‘what ifs.’ You will overcome that detestable power, win against it, and live without any problems. Think about what you’ll do after graduating.”

“Hehe, what should I do after graduation?”

“Given your talent in magic, you should consider that field. The dean seems to be eyeing you.”

“Uh, really? But rather than dealing with magic academically, I want to help ordinary people in simple but significant ways.”

“Is that so?”

Realizing I knew little about Rin’s future beyond becoming the Commander sparked my curiosity.

“I want to be a doctor who uses magic. Like Old Man Bench in our village, he’s getting too old to examine patients, so I’ll take over.”

A doctor who uses magic.

While such a role would make for an exceptionally capable doctor, in reality, few existed.

With better paths widely available for mages capable of healing magic, the rarity of such individuals as doctors was notable.

“Not bad at all.”

To me, she might have seemed a bit fanatic, but to others, she remained the kind, caring girl.

Having been the first love of many boys in the village, she would undoubtedly attract a continuous stream of male patients if she became a doctor.

“When you were bitten by that wild dog, I thought about it. You and Ares were both scratched and hurt.”

“That’s true.”

“If my dear ones are in pain, I want to be someone who can erase that pain.”

“I see.”

“Yes, so Daniel. I will definitely overcome this power and become a doctor.”

Rin spoke slowly, her voice fading as she yawned, indicating her sleepiness. Without saying another word, I remained quiet, and she gradually fell asleep, though she never let go of my hand.

“Yes, you can do it.”

***

“Wake up.”

“Mmm.”

“Wake up.”

“……!”

Startled awake by the gentle shaking of a small hand, I opened my eyes to see Sen, with her white hair, standing before me.

With an expressionless face, she was waking me up, prompting me to rise immediately. However, the weight felt beside me made me pause.

“What’s this?”

Rin was fast asleep, clinging tightly to me. Whether it was a habit or not, I carefully detached myself while mindful of Sen’s gaze.

Hoping to avoid any misunderstanding, I was about to explain, but Sen, seemingly unbothered, gestured towards the door.

“There’s a visitor.”

“A visitor?”

“Hurry up and come out.”

Following Sen, who frowned as if she had seen something distasteful, I quickly threw on an overcoat and stepped outside.

“Mister…”

Michelle was nibbling on bread handed to her by Hayun at the counter.

“Michelle?”

“I found her crying alone in an alley after a dawn patrol and brought her here.”

“In an alley?”

Approaching Michelle, who looked as if she was about to burst into tears any moment, she began to speak, her voice trembling.

“This morning, some people in armor came to our house, threatening us with swords! They told me to go outside and play for a while, but my dad was shouting at them, giving them a hard time…”

“People in armor?”

Suspecting I knew who she was referring to, I asked Michelle to calm her.

“Was there a woman among them? Wearing glasses, with blue hair, and a badge featuring a crossed hammer and mallet on her chest?”

Michelle nodded vigorously as if I had guessed correctly.

“Yes! Yes! How did you know, mister?”

Impressed, Michelle looked at me as I slowly stood up, murmuring with a bitter smile.

“It’s Heini Rosales. The inspector must have noticed something odd about Mikael.”

Then, Rin emerged from my room.

While Sen and Michelle showed little reaction, Hayun was surprised, glancing back and forth between Rin and me before poking me in the ribs.

“Switching girls just because you got dumped once? Eris will be sad!”

“It’s not like that.”

“How is it not?”

Hayun seemed to view me almost as scum, and my attempts to convince her otherwise failed.

Sighing, Hayun began to regret helping me woo Eris, but I quickly returned to my room to change into outdoor clothes.

“I’ll go check it out.”

Assuming Heini was still at the Portren mansion based on the timing of Michelle’s appearance, my guess was right.

Just as I thought, Heini was storming out of the Portren mansion.

Seeing me, she pouted and crossed her arms.

“So, you knew something?”

‘Was it her competence that wrapped things up quickly, or did the threat to her life make her more efficient?’

Heini, realizing I was aware of the situation and given our enmity with the Tudogs, didn’t seem inclined to hide anything from me.

“It’s 100%. Mikael Porten is involved with the Tudogs. I crossed the main gate after knocking down the guard captain, and I found a list of names and items not in the official records.”

“……”

“But the numbers don’t add up. ‘Driver1’ means there’s one driver, but next to it, it says ‘People50’ and so on. No carriage can carry that many people.”

“……”

“And from what I’ve seen, you have a piece of the puzzle that I don’t.”

Heini approached me, her glasses glinting as if she was conducting an interrogation.

The number of people listed probably matched the number of bodies I saw at the hotel.

“Yes, I’m aware. But what happens if I tell you?”

“Uh? Perhaps you’ll… receive a commendation? I might personally offer a reward…”

Heini’s response was vague and evasive, but my concern wasn’t for myself.

“What about Mikael Portren? I’m curious about what will happen to him.”

“Obviously, he’ll be arrested and taken to trial. I’ll be cleared of charges. But given the current situation, it won’t be easy.”

“What do you mean?”

As I asked anxiously, Heini glanced back at the mansion and sighed.

“Even if we bring evidence and arrest him on the spot, the resistance might be fierce. Even if we call for backup, it won’t arrive immediately.”

“……”

If they refuse to arrest on the spot, there’d be no complaint if they were executed there.

Then, Michelle Portren would be left alone again.

“I have all the evidence and material proof you need.”

Seeing Heini’s eyes light up, I seriously offered her a deal.

“I’ll hand everything over if you give me a chance to end this case. At most by tomorrow, I’ll have Mikael Portren arrested and brought in.”

I couldn’t save him with my abilities.

He had committed too many crimes, and the blood of many stained his properties.

All I could offer was a little time.

The impending tragedy too vast for a young girl to bear had grown too large to reverse.

But I wanted to give the girl, even for a moment, time to say goodbye to her father she loved dearly.

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