Chapter 79

When Colette stepped out of the hospital room with Rainer, they found someone else waiting beside the nurse—a stranger.

The newcomer, a youth with an androgynous face and a friendly, approachable smile, introduced himself as El. Colette guessed he was roughly the same age as her and Rainer, perhaps slightly younger.

El explained that he was an apprentice merchant who had arrived in the village that day. As soon as he mentioned having traveled from the direction of the neighboring town, Rainer pounced on the information.

"Did you see a pair of people in black robes on your way here!?"

At those words, the dark premonition smoldering within Colette flared into certainty. Rainer intended to hunt down the robbers who had attacked his parents and stolen the sword.

Logically, the idea was reckless. Challenging an opponent who had defeated two people—people far stronger than Rainer, who trained him daily—was nothing short of suicide. If El confirmed he had seen figures matching the description of those who attacked the Griffiths, Rainer would be off in an instant.

Colette desperately wanted El to say he hadn't seen a soul. Her silent prayer went unanswered.

"Come to think of it, my uncle did mention seeing a couple of suspicious figures while we were traveling last night. I can't say for sure if it’s the same pair, though."

"Is that true!?"

"Yeah. I’ll go ask him for the details."

Everything was falling into place far too easily.

The "uncle" El mentioned was the traveling merchant he was apprenticed to. They followed El to one of the village's few inns.

"Wait here just a second," El said before disappearing up to the second floor.

A few minutes later, he returned with a man in tow.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Uncle, these are the two I mentioned—Rainer and Colette."

"Hello there. I heard what happened. You’ve certainly had a rough time of it."

"Yes... Um, we heard you saw some suspicious figures last night. Do you remember anything about them?"

"What they were like, eh? It was dark, and I only had my night lantern, so I didn't get a perfect look... but let’s see. It was a pair of them, and even though it was the middle of the night, they had their robes pulled low over their faces."

"Anything else?"

"I think they were carrying a box—something long and thin."

"That’s them! No doubt about it!" Rainer shouted.

Two people in robes carrying a long, thin box. The description and the direction they’d fled lined up perfectly.

With the evidence mounting, there was little doubt these were the thieves. This meant Rainer’s path was now set in stone.

"I can't just sit around. I have to go after them right now...!"

"C-Calm down, Rainer!"

"She’s right," El added, backing Colette with a perfectly sensible and calm tone. "You’ll need supplies to track them, and even if you leave this second, you won't catch up to them easily."

Rainer’s temper cooled slightly at the logic, and his voice dropped an octave.

"B-But... I have to get that sword back. It’s incredibly important to me."

"Even so, it’s dangerous to go alone against people that Leona-san and the others couldn't beat."

"I know that! But are you saying I should just let them get away?"

"That’s not what I’m saying! We know what they look like and what they’re wearing. If we tell the Security Force or the Knight Order, they’ll catch them!"

"If we wait for them to move, those guys will be long gone!"

Rainer was heating up again. In response, Colette’s own voice grew sharper. Their arguments went in circles, never meeting.

A sharp clap-clap interrupted the brewing fight. El had struck his palms together.

"Let’s both take a breath. Whether you decide to pursue them or contact the Security Force, you need to move quickly. In situations like this, speed is everything."

"Ugh, I guess you’re right..."

"Actually, the Security Force probably should have been notified already. It wouldn't hurt, regardless of what you choose to do."

Colette was left speechless. She had been too confused to think that far ahead, but more than that, her mind had been paralyzed by the sheer terror of Rainer running into danger.

Ignoring Colette’s internal struggle, El pulled a pen and parchment from a large shoulder bag and gave a pleasant smile.

"I’m actually quite good at portraits. If you saw what they looked like, tell me. It might help find the culprits."

---

El stared at the sketch he’d just finished and let out a soft sigh.

Harold usually acted with meticulous foresight, yet El couldn't help but think he’d been surprisingly sloppy here.

The features Rainer described belonged to a young man with somewhat sunken cheeks and purplish hair. The boy’s testimony that the man’s eyes were lifeless aligned perfectly with Harold’s claim that these "dolls" lacked emotion.

If this description got out, it would undoubtedly make things difficult for Harold’s group. They couldn't keep their faces hidden twenty-four hours a day; someone like that would stand out anywhere. If they were seen, the risk of their identities being exposed would skyrocket.

It was a simple problem.

"I’ll go deliver this to the Security Force," El told the pair before parting ways. As soon as he reached a secluded spot, he stashed the sketch deep inside his bag.

This time, they had been incredibly lucky to prevent a formal report. Even El had been caught off guard; he hadn't imagined Harold would let his subordinates' faces be seen, even if it wasn't Harold himself.

While sketching, El had probed subtly and confirmed that Colette and Rainer hadn't told any other adults or the doctor that they had seen the culprits' faces.

If El suppressed this information, Harold’s risk of running into trouble would decrease. Naturally, El chose to conceal the facts.

He had already sent a messenger on horseback to Harold. If it turned out Harold had intentionally revealed their faces for some reason, El could simply file the report later.

It was more than a little tedious, but that was because Harold stubbornly refused to provide even the bare minimum of information. He likely thought there was no need—which was another way of saying he didn't trust them.

If El at least knew what Harold was trying to achieve, it would be much easier to coordinate.

But lamenting that now changed nothing. El had something more pressing on his mind.

He thought back to the argument between Rainer and Colette. Rainer wanted to hunt the thieves immediately, while Colette sought a third-party resolution through proper channels.

It didn't matter who was right. If they stayed at odds, there was a risk that Rainer would set off alone.

According to Harold, the two were supposed to pursue him as a pair. At the very least, Harold was betting on it.

What if Rainer and Colette split up?

That would be a headache. He had to find a way to make Colette follow him. He had already sent word to Harold that there was a chance the two might not stay together.

For now, he would observe them and wait for Harold’s reply.

Lost in thought, El returned to the duo, only to find Rainer missing.

"Oh? Where’s Rainer?"

"...He said he was going to get ready to chase them."

"Getting ready" likely meant weapons and gear—travel supplies. Rainer seemed fully committed to leaving immediately.

Colette, watching him go, looked miserable.

"Are you worried? About Rainer?"

"Yeah. No matter how you look at it, it’s just too dangerous..."

"I suppose. But if you feel that way, why don't you go with him?"

"I can't. I... I’m not good at fighting."

Not good at it, she’d said. That might have been the truth.

However, El noticed something on her thighs—black leather holders designed to house circular rods. They were empty now, but they were clearly weapon holsters.

Disliking combat and being unable to fight were not the same thing. If she had grown up with Rainer, it was highly likely she had received some martial arts training from his parents.

If she had such an extreme aversion to fighting despite that, was it her innate nature, or had something in her past planted that seeds of avoidance?

(The past, huh. Come to think of it, Harold spoke as if he were already acquainted with Colette and Rainer...)

The face of his employer—whose own past and identity were shrouded in mystery—flickered in El’s mind. He decided to probe a little deeper.

"Still, I wonder what kind of people would rob Rainer’s house."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't mean to be rude, but this is a tiny village far from the capital. There isn't much here worth stealing. The fact that they broke in suggests a very specific motive."

"You mean the sword? Couldn't it have been a coincidence?"

"A random pair of thieves who just happened to be stronger than Rainer’s parents, both of whom are former adventurers? That seems like an unlikely coincidence."

When coincidences stack up, they become an inevitability. This entire incident had been orchestrated.

Possessing that awareness changed how one acted. El hoped Colette and Rainer would develop a healthy sense of suspicion; they were both a bit too honest, perhaps a byproduct of being raised in the countryside.

"I guess... when you put it like that..."

"The stolen sword must have been incredibly valuable. It makes me curious."

After all, it was a legendary blade most thought was a myth. For someone like El, who was a mass of intellectual curiosity, the mystery was irresistible. If someone like Justus was using such roundabout methods to collect it, there had to be more to the story.

"Rainer’s parents found it in a dungeon back when they were adventurers."

"A dungeon? How romantic."

"You think so?"

"Of course! It’s the ultimate way to get rich quick."

To dig into Colette's past, El maintained a trivial, friendly conversation. She didn't seem to have any guard up to begin with, but he couldn't just dive into her secrets. He wouldn't get answers today or tomorrow, but they were destined to be around each other for a while. These small interactions would pay off later.

El waited with Colette for Rainer to return, filling the silence with harmless chatter. Then, seizing a moment where the conversation lulled, he spoke with feigned casualness.

"Still... robbers in black robes."

"Do you know something?"

"No. It’s just that whenever I hear about people in black robes, a certain person comes to mind."

"A certain person?"

"I wonder if you’ve heard of him, Colette. A man named Harold Stokes."

The moment the name left his lips, Colette’s expression shifted violently. That reaction alone spoke volumes about their connection. She tried to hide her agitation, but she was a pathologically bad liar.

"I-I’ve never heard of him."

"I see. He’s quite famous in the capital. He’s around the same age as you two, but they call him the kingdom’s worst villain."

Colette’s face twisted with sorrow. El continued, his eyes fixed on her.

"A traitor who tried to start a war despite being a knight. The 'Knight Killer' who left the order and slaughtered dozens of his former comrades. Those are just the highlights; there’s no shortage of stories about his cruelty."

"..."

Colette fell silent, looking down as if she couldn't bear to hear another word.

Someone who didn't know Harold would have been shocked to hear such a villain existed. Someone who hated him would have agreed with El’s assessment.

What kind of person reacted like Colette?

Only someone who knew Harold’s true essence—someone who knew he wasn't the monster the rumors claimed—would find El’s words unbearable. That meant she was one of the rare few who had experienced the clumsy, hidden kindness of a man who spoke only in barbs and sarcasm.

"Maybe the culprit this time was that Harold—"

"That’s not true! Lord Harold would never, absolutely never...!"

She choked back the rest of the sentence. It wasn't because she doubted Harold, but because she realized she had let her heart speak before her head could stop it.

But it was far too late.

Colette’s face drained of color, the expression of someone who had just let a forbidden truth slip.

"...Colette?"

"N-No. That's not... I didn't..."

She shook her head frantically, repeating her denials. She looked younger than her years—small, weak, and terrified of something.

A past so heavy she was desperate to hide it, and one in which Harold played a major role. El was now certain. He reached a conclusion that, for Colette, was nothing short of ruthless.

"I understand. I’ll act like I didn't hear a thing."

He gave her a reassuring, outward smile. Honest as she was, she was easily fooled and muttered a small thank you.

Colette had no way of knowing what El was truly thinking.

Colette Amerere. If he dug into her history, he would likely find a piece of Harold’s puzzle.

It was right then and there that El began digging into Colette’s past.