Chapter 12 - Astrea familia
"Who is this Alise you're talking about?"
"Eh? Big brother, don't you know?"
The question made Leah's eyes widen, and she looked at Noah with surprise and suspicion, as if she were looking at a savage who had just run out of the mountains.
"It's Sister Alise Lovell, the captain of the Astraea Familia! They're a Familia of justice! You don't even know that, big brother?"
Looking in the direction Leah was pointing, Noah saw a group of girls moving like graceful birds through the crowd.
There was a masked blonde elf, a girl with a red ponytail and emerald green eyes, and a long-haired girl in a tranquil kimono.
There were eleven in total. They were busy playing, arguing, and helping out, exuding a cheerful atmosphere completely different from the people around them.
The sunlight seemed brighter around them, making them easy to spot.
Amidst all the laughter and joy, Noah stood there in a daze as another scene emerged before his eyes.
A golden sunset, long mountain shadows, a clear stream... The evening breeze dispelled the summer heat, cooling his sweat-soaked clothes and refreshing his lungs... In the distance, smoke rose from a city, red dragonflies flew up from the grass beside him, and the faces of his companions were before him...
It was a vivid landscape that did not exist in this world, that no one else knew, that existed only in the depths of Noah's memory.
So deep that he thought he had forgotten it, but he knew he never could.
"...Brother? Big brother?"
Coming back to his senses, Noah felt a slight warmth deep in his eyes, while Leah looked at him with curiosity and a bit of mischief.
"I know Sister Alise and the others are beautiful, but don't get too carried away! If you want, Leah can introduce you to them!"
Ignoring the girl's playful look, Noah took a deep breath and regained his composure.
Looking at the little girl, who had a bit of a mischievous streak, Noah didn't smile, but his eyes became much softer.
"Thank you for the candy. May I ask what I can do in return?"
The abrupt change in topic made the little girl tilt her head, looking very cute but not very quick-witted. "Return?"
"Of course. Since you have performed an act of justice, I should reward you, right?"
Leah came to her senses and immediately shook her head firmly.
"How can I accept that?! Sister Alise said that justice is unconditional!"
For a moment, Noah's eyes became serious, but it passed so quickly that even Leah, standing right in front of him, didn't notice.
Instead of directly refuting the girl, he asked another question.
"Do you think there are more strong and wealthy people in this world, or more weak and poor people?"
Although the topic changed abruptly again, this time Leah gave a direct answer. "Well, of course there are more weak and poor people."
"So, do you think justice with rewards can attract more people to participate, or justice without rewards?"
The girl's brain completely stalled this time. She looked at Noah with her mouth agape, unable to say a word.
"Justice without reward is a game for the strong and the rich. Rewarded justice, however, is for the weak and the poor. It is justice for the majority of people in this world." Noah held out his palm to Leah.
"So, tell me what you wish for."
Leah felt like something was wrong with his logic, but she couldn't put her finger on it. "I... I..."
"It doesn't hurt to be a little bolder. Think carefully. What is your greatest wish?"
"Eh? How can I do that? It's just a piece of candy, I can't be too greedy."
Interrupting Leah with a raised finger, Noah stared into her eyes. "Little girl, you must admit that people have different values. Therefore, the same gift will have completely different worth when given to different people."
Noah held up the candy between his fingers.
"If you gave this candy to a beggar who was about to starve to death, it would only help them live one more day, so the reward you would get would be a simple thank you. But if you give it to me..."
Leah inexplicably felt the silver-haired boy exude an aura that was simultaneously terrifying and mesmerizing.
Although they were looking at each other at eye level, she felt as if she was being looked down upon from a superior position, and she couldn't help but tremble.
Her heart beat faster, her breathing became rapid, and her cheeks grew hot. It was as if she were standing on the edge of a cliff, her whole body shaking.
"Even though it only makes me a little happy, the value it can bring is beyond your imagination. So, tell me your wish..."
A child's instinct made Leah feel that the decision she was about to make would affect her whole life.
"...I... I want peace!"
Holding the doll tightly, Leah's eyes flashed with a strong light. "I hope Mom, Dad, and everyone in Orario won't have to worry anymore! I want to put a smile on everyone's face!"
After she finished speaking, Leah took a sharp breath and looked at Noah nervously. In her sight, Noah nodded slowly and stood up.
Whether he had expected it or simply didn't care, Leah couldn't see anything unusual in his expression.
"No problem. You'll get what you want."
Noah spoke in a light yet firm tone, as if a god were pronouncing judgment on the future.
Then he turned, and under the girl's gaze, disappeared into the crowd.
In front of a stall selling fragrant meat soup, the blonde elf who was helping cut fruit suddenly seemed to sense something and stopped what she was doing.
Her blue eyes, like the clear summer sky, swept across the crowd, but when she found nothing unusual, she frowned.
That's strange. Was someone looking at me just now? That gaze was unsettling.