Growth (1)

“I’m so sorry!”

After the situation calmed down somewhat, the first thing I did with Lilia was to apologize.

No matter how young she might be, her actions had been excessive. The only consolation, if you could call it that, was that she hadn’t killed anyone.

What Lilia had done would normally be unforgivable.

However, I gave a rough explanation of Lilia’s circumstances. Of course, I kept hidden the fact that she was the daughter of the <Corruptor> Eremus.

What I revealed was a well-edited version of her story from a human perspective. Fortunately, Kruud didn’t object and went along with it.

“Since that’s what they’re saying, let’s put it behind us for the most part. If anyone has complaints, don’t ruin the current mood…”

Kruud glances at me meaningfully. I nod at his look and step forward.

“Yes, those who still have grievances can come find me quietly later. I’ll compensate you.”

These were the words of a Pantheon Temple priest and the hunter’s guild master.

Though there might be dissatisfaction, no one would openly express anger here.

“…Now that I look closely, she is quite young.”

“How much could it hurt getting hit by a kid? Actually, it barely hurt at all. We were just playing along this whole time.”

The hunters showed remarkable understanding. Of course, these bastards were just saying that because of their pride.

They just didn’t want to admit getting beaten by a kid.

“Did it hurt for you?”

“No way, how could it? Ah, seriously. This guy’s actually making jokes?”

“Right? It didn’t hurt, did it?”

“Of course! Didn’t hurt at all!”

“Right…”

“Yeah…”

Wow, such maturity.

The hunters of Rubia are full of such mature people.

In that spirit, I glance at Kruud, only to see him staggering while holding his forehead.

“Oh my, seems someone had a bit of day drinking. Brother. Of course, I understand it’s a joyous occasion. The City Awaiting the Sun had a brief visit from the sun, how happy that must be. Yes, I completely understand.”

At my blatant flattery, Kruud looked like he wanted to say something but soon nodded maturely like the other hunters.

“Wait, let’s talk.”

“Sure. I’ll come see you later.”

I roughly know the situation.

That Anne, the merchant guild master, was the traitor. That’s why she had to be killed.

That they haven’t decided what to do next.

These are matters of intertwined interests that can’t be shared with Lilia.

“Um… did I… no, have I done something wrong again?”

“No, you’re doing well.”

Lilia had only just realized her wrongdoings. She could recognize that now that she had vented all her emotions.

That’s why she’s so subdued.

Children are this simple. Completely honest with their emotions.

“This is an adult matter.”

The merchants probably won’t accept Lilia’s apology even if she offers one.

Unlike the hunters who could brush things off magnanimously, there are monetary issues involved.

But that’s precisely why the most definitive resolution is possible. Most will forgive Lilia more easily than the hunters if their financial losses are compensated.

However, this time it’s a bit more complicated.

The merchant guild master is dead.

What to do with her assets, how to choose her successor, whether professional investigators will come to examine Anne’s crimes.

And whether complex politics will get involved in all this.

These things can’t be confirmed until we dig into them. Yes, what Lilia has already done doesn’t matter anymore. From now on, it’s going to be dirty adults fighting over interests.

“You just need to acknowledge your mistakes and bow your head.”

Whatever happens, these aren’t matters to discuss with a child present.

*     *     *

When we returned to the inn where we were staying with Lilia, we were greeted by the pale-faced innkeeper.

Fortunately, there were no particular comments after I explained that the incident had been reasonably resolved and Lilia had apologized.

It seems this place hadn’t suffered direct damage in the first place. They were just afraid after encountering someone they had only heard rumors about.

The inn situation is fine.

But how about my companions? It’s time to check on them.

“Ah, um… Y-yes. Nice to meet you. Miss… Ms… Lady Lilia?”

“Just Lilia is fine.”

“Why is Lost deciding that instead of the person herself?”

Linea was visibly uncomfortable. After all, this was Lilia who had easily taken down all the hunters, including me and Titan.

It’s not unreasonable to be startled and naturally become formal.

“Lilia is… fine.”

“Ah, Lost. Something seems strange.”

It’s an awkwardly bizarre scene.

Well, Lilia’s attitude is a bit strange to the point of being weird.

That same person who had been rampaging like mad is now so timid and shrinking.

It must be her first time being scolded by someone.

Actually, there was no one who could scold her until now.

She’s thoroughly cowed just from having me nearby who could subdue her.

“Oh, no! What did you do to make a child so dejected?!”

“Why are you getting angry at me?”

She broke my arms and legs, remember? And the one getting angry at me even suffered serious back injuries.

But I guess seeing her act like a child made her put on rose-colored glasses.

I’ve never felt so unfairly treated.

“More importantly, where’s Claire?”

After watching their awkward self-introductions for a while.

I asked about Claire, the only one of our companions missing from this scene.

Titan? That bastard is ravenously devouring food as if to make up for several days of absence.

He’s so consistently himself that he won’t even glance this way.

“Is she sleeping?”

Claire probably isn’t just feeling unwell like usual.

Moreover, I just received an apostle’s position from the celestial gods, so that influence must be significant.

This environment might be difficult for Claire who still can’t handle her holy power.

Now that Rubia has become what you might call sacred ground, the effect won’t be small.

Of course, this phenomenon won’t last long so it shouldn’t be a major problem.

Even the sky that had been revealed over Rubia quickly regained its original gloomy color.

“…Ah, I have something I want to say about that matter.”

Linea said while drooping her ears. It’s cute, but that’s a signal this isn’t a pleasant matter.

Though we achieved our goal and minimized the damage, it seems problems erupted in places we couldn’t see.

“Should we go upstairs to talk?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Lilia, you…”

Not knowing what Linea wants to discuss, bringing Lilia along probably isn’t a good decision.

But there are too many enemies to leave her behind.

Though the hunters accepted her apology, the issues with the merchants aren’t resolved yet.

“Kid, have you eaten?”

“Huh? Ah, no. Yes? No.”

“Sit down. And eat.”

Fortunately, Titan handled this situation tactfully.

Looking at him like this, far from being thoughtless, he actually has sharp intuition… but sometimes he’s truly incomprehensible.

Is this a cultural difference?

Or is he just strange?

“Can you drink alcohol?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Children shouldn’t drink! Reflect on yourself!”

“Eek… yes…”

Lilia shrinks and trembles at Titan slamming the table and getting angry. Though Lilia would probably win in an actual fight, his frightening appearance leaves her no choice.

“That’s why I don’t drink either.”

Saying that, Titan downs orange juice.

That crazy bastard, seriously…

What is he trying to do?

Well, it is the right values to have.

Even looking like that, Titan is still a genuine 15-year-old kid after all.

And ironically, the one Titan is lecturing who only looks like a kid is estimated to be thousands of years old.

Well, though her actual age is that high, her mental growth hasn’t accompanied it at all, matching her appearance.

“…Let’s go up for now.”

Feeling like I might involuntarily comment if I keep watching, I decided to leave with Linea.

Well, “leaving” just means going up one floor. We’re just heading to the lodging room to check on how Claire is doing.

“…”

Standing in front of Claire’s room door, I glanced at Linea once. She just nodded silently.

“Claire, can we come in?”

After asking with a light knock.

Claire’s voice came from inside with a groggy sound.

“Yes, come in.”

With permission granted, I immediately opened the door and entered.

I see Claire crouched on the bed with a blanket over her head.

It seems this isn’t just about her physical condition being unwell.

“What happened?”

“Well, I thought I should help… I tried my best within what I could do…”

“Did you make a mistake?”

“Ah, no.”

Claire shook her head.

It seems she didn’t cause any accidents while trying to help.

“I did as Lost said.”

“What I said?”

“The trigger… I pulled the trigger.”

“I see.”

Don’t pull the trigger until you’re certain. That’s what I taught Claire.

Being a clever child, she must have sniped from a location where she wouldn’t be discovered.

As I said before, she must have endlessly endured until certainty came.

Taking position in a high place advantageous for sniping while enduring the rain.

Putting in that effort before pulling the trigger.

Claire said she hadn’t failed. It means the sniping was successful.

Which means…

“You killed someone.”

She must have been certain.

But that certainty wasn’t about killing someone.

The target must have been formidable, and as expected, it was probably an attack aimed at Anne who was fighting Kruud.

This was an opponent pushing back a master. If Kruud hadn’t been losing, there would have been no reason for Claire to snipe in the first place.

Claire’s judgment for facing such a formidable opponent was probably to draw attention.

She might not have even had injuring them in mind, let alone taking them down.

But incredibly, Claire’s bullet hit Anne.

The shot meant to draw attention inflicted a fatal wound on the opponent.

This situation was fundamentally different from the magical beasts she had faced until now.

“So… this is how it feels…”

The sensation of killing someone.

Even though it was an indirect act through a scope and pulling a trigger.

Claire felt the responsibility.

“Lost, did you feel like this too when you killed my brother?”

“…”

Linea standing behind gasps and covers her mouth in shock.

She knows there are issues between me and Claire. But she never imagined it would be brought up like this.

Indeed, what Claire just said was a statement that digs into both her own heart and mine.

An act of rubbing salt in wounds.

But… yes.

“I did.”

I didn’t get angry. I didn’t scold her for being rash.

Because it means she’s struggling that much.

So I decided to understand.

“So this is how painful it was. How… how did you endure it?”

“Well… I’m not sure. It’s not something that can be summarized in one word.”

There must have been various factors.

I remember the situation wasn’t good enough to worry about such things.

To begin with, my first kill was an atrocious criminal.

“I’ll skip the superficial talk. You must know the truth.”

Claire is a clever child.

She’ll know that what she did wasn’t just killing someone, but saving countless civilians.

By killing one person, she saved many. Moreover, that one person was an undisputed villain.

Then there’s no reason to suffer. That’s the objective fact.

But even knowing that, suffering is what makes us human.

“So just suffer. Suffer and worry.”

Because it’s better than being indifferent.

That’s all I can say.

A few words can’t summarize the answer about human life.

Of course, those few words might help resolve the worries.

But I want Claire to properly contemplate and decide.

This time, I hope she builds her own subjective view without being swept up in others’ views.

Isn’t she a child who has been locked up for far too long?

A child who has endlessly compromised without having her own perspective.

I hope she fully accepts the weight of her actions and finds her own answer.

“Come down to eat if you’re hungry. I’ll tell the innkeeper. You can worry all you want, but do it while eating. After all, we do these things to live.”

With those final words, I led Linea out of Claire’s room.

Believing she would understand the meaning of my words.

*     *     *

Then, around when we went back down to the dining room on the first floor.

As if proving my prediction right, Claire came down not long after. Though she didn’t look like she had found an answer to her worries…

“If there’s any left, I’d like some too.”

At least she didn’t seem to plan on just sitting still.