People who kill often know a truth:
Killing is easy. Disposing of the body is hard.
But on a continent ruled by sword and magic, this doesn't really apply. People die every day in this world. Slavery is openly accepted in many countries, so talking about 'human rights' is a luxury.
Disposal? Not a problem. In fact, you don't even have to try. Just toss the body. Whether it's the sewage pits outside town or the shady alley slums within, there's always a place where unclaimed corpses naturally belong.
But Allen couldn't just toss. His plan after the massacre was to erase all traces immediately. But when he realized how fragmented the remains were... he gave up and just prepared to leave fast.
And then—on that late night outside Rigait's forest—a helper showed up. A helper who no longer looked at him with those usual half-squinted, indifferent eyes.
So not only the corpses—but the entire camp—was burned down, wiped clean.
Turns out, body disposal is terrifyingly efficient when done by a man and a woman together.
The base of the Rigait bandit gang? Completely erased.
It'll be nothing but forgotten rubble soon…
…unless, from the moment the hunt began until the flames died out, there were eyes watching everything.
Then maybe this glorious wolf hunt will live on in memory… along with the now-vanished bandit hideout.
As the fire faded, two small figures leapt down from a cliffside by the lake at the edge of the forest.
The glow lit up their forms.
An elderly woman—Leta Lia, the current apex of Suijin Ryuu (Water God Style). Allen's master.
And a young girl—Isolty Keruel, Allen's childhood friend since they were four, raised together in the main dojo of the Water God Style.
"I wondered who made Darius so furious that he'd go through all this effort to arrange a secret encirclement. Turns out the target was Allen."
"So he didn't flee to Sharia, but stayed in the Asura Kingdom to get revenge on James? Hah… that boy's still the same, can't swallow the slightest insult."
Leta's tone held the cadence of an old noblewoman—dignified and poised. She moved with the grace of an unremarkable old woman, but to a trained eye, her form held no openings.
Isolty followed behind. Her long, dark hair floated in the wind, faintly lined with blue near the tips.
Unlike Roxy's cold eyes and tight lips, Isolty had bold, delicate features—large round eyes with a soft gaze, a proud bridge of her nose, a height rivaling her master, and long legs from years of sword practice.
She smiled softly when Leta spoke of Allen.
"Yeah... it's been half a year. He's still just as sharp, but his face has softened a bit. His swordplay though…"
Her tone shifted, brows knitting.
"Still a genius. I knew he was hiding some of his strength in Hokushin Ryuu (North God Style), but to use Muon no Tachi (Silent Blade) from Kenshin Ryuu (Sword God Style)… and even solve the flaw of Iwa no Ōgi (Rock Secret Technique)."
Leta smiled playfully, glancing at her.
"He's already on the doorstep of Kanryuu (Flow Perception). No doubt about it—he's a Suisei (Water Saint) now. Don't blame me for stopping you earlier. In that state, you couldn't have brought him back."
Isolty's gaze fell.
"If you went yourself, surely you could've... Don't you want him back at the capital? Last year you said he'd inherit the title of Suijin (Water God) eventually."
Leta looked toward the burning corpses, face blank.
"We've talked this through these past months. James alone couldn't have mustered enough strength to attempt killing Allen atop the Crimson Dragon's Jaw. Seems Darius was behind it too."
Isolty's mask slipped; her well-mannered face twisted with panic.
"You mean... you'll kill him for Darius? That—"
Leta lifted a hand to hush her.
"I heard Allen only looked after you because your parents died young, and Dantolys was a poor excuse for a brother. Always cold-faced. So Allen befriended you out of pity, not affection. Didn't he just give you a few sweets for your fifth birthday when you gave him that finely chosen sword hilt?"
Isolty remembered Roxy standing beside Allen, her bangs shadowing her eyes. The firelight flickered in her memory.
"...Master, I asked if you'd kill him. What are you even talking about?"
Leta narrowed her eyes at her disciple's white-knuckled grip on her sword hilt.
"What am I talking about? Just look at yourself. If Allen were ugly, would you still—"
"G-GRANDMOTHER!!"
Leta clicked her tongue.
"Relax. He's my disciple. I won't kill him. Darius may have saved my life once, but Allen doesn't even know Darius is the true mastermind. There's no real threat yet."
"Then why not bring him back to the dojo?"
"If Darius wants him dead, even hiding him at the main dojo won't help. I'd have to seal him away as a shadow swordsman, train him in secret until he's strong enough to protect himself. But do you really think Allen's the kind to wait in hiding until he masters the blade?"
Isolty's eyes turned up again.
"Then I'll convince him. Or drag him back if I have to."
Leta sighed and stroked her hair.
"You rely too much on him. Is that really for his sake?"
"I... don't know. But if I can do it, will you let me?"
"I will."
"Then I'm going to find him!"
But Leta drew her golden blade and blocked her path, smirking.
"Your childhood friend is yours to claim—but do you really think your swordplay is up to it?"
Isolty's joyful step halted.
"...No."
"Then come back with me. Train. Once you become a Suisei, I'll let you go. If you can claim your beloved then, it's your own strength that wins him."
"Deal!—Wait, beloved?! GRANDMOTHER!!"
The composed noble girl from the capital unraveled instantly at any teasing about Allen.
Leta laughed but soon turned serious.
If that day comes, and Allen returns to train... once he learns Darius is behind it all, we'll clash. I won't kill him. But if he wishes to kill Darius, he'll have to walk over my corpse.
If he can't, he can't have revenge. If he can... then he'll be the new Suijin.
That was Leta's resolve. Darius may be lost now, but once he was her savior. A debt is a debt. Even if it means she bears the name of villain.
"Let's go. Back to the capital."
"Okay—wait! Please wait!"
Isolty ran to a nearby charred corpse, bending down to sift through with her blade.
Leta sighed quietly, watching her.
The remains reeked, ash staining her face. Minutes passed.
Finally, her eyes lit up.
She lifted a broken sword hilt from the remains and held it carefully.
Blood-stained and shattered, she cradled it like treasure.
The wind blew gently.
Her eyes shone.
"I'll bring him back to the dojo. No matter what."
(End of Chapter)
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