Chapter 44

"Frankly speaking, there's a bit of a situation. Alyushia, can I have a little of your time?"

"That's fine, but..."

Talking outside felt a bit desolate, and I wanted to have the conversation inside the building. With that wish in mind, I asked Alyushia if she could spare some time, and it seemed that wouldn't be a problem.

"..."

However, the other girl didn't seem willing to comply so easily. She looked at Alyushia and her expression twisted even more. From a thief's perspective, she probably didn't want to meet the leader of the Reberio Knights. On the other hand, this also meant that Alyushia's face was known among such people, indicating that the knights were doing their job well.

Still, this wasn't getting us anywhere. I wanted to move from here, but would she come with me?

"I'm not trying to restrain you. I'll return this properly later."

"...Damn, fine. Make it quick."

The girl hesitated for a moment before reluctantly nodding. I hoped she understood that I had no intention of harming her.

For a regular thief, this would be the perfect chance to run. No one was restraining her, and no one was even on guard. She was just a girl with dirty clothes standing next to a middle-aged man.

But she didn't run, probably because of the pendant I had. She might get caught if she tried. But she seemed determined to get the pendant back, even with that risk.

It could be that the pendant was incredibly valuable, but that seemed unlikely. If it were, she would have sold it already. As a thief, she wouldn't keep valuable items without cashing them in.

In any case, no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't know the truth.

"Then, let's use the reception room."

"Fine. Come on."

"Shut up. Don't treat me like a kid."

She looked like a child, but I decided not to point that out. I noticed Alyushia's eyebrows twitch when she saw the girl's reaction. Good, I hoped she would give a stern lecture.

After walking through the building for a while, the three of us arrived at a room I had used before when I was kicked out of my home.

"So, teacher. Who is this girl?"

Once everyone was seated, Alyushia spoke, her question clearly about the girl.

"To cut to the chase, she's a thief. She tried to steal my wallet yesterday, but I picked up this pendant. It seems to be hers, and she came to retrieve it."

"Wha—"

"But I don't intend to turn her in. Not for now, at least."

There was no point in being dramatic, so I stated the facts plainly. Alyushia was momentarily speechless, a rare sight. But as the leader of the knights, she quickly regained her composure and gave the girl a cold look.

"..."

The girl was quite tense, like a borrowed cat.

Of course, she would be. Suddenly finding herself in a closed room with a strange middle-aged man and the leader of the Reberio Knights would be nerve-wracking.

"Ah... If you say so, I won't detain her here..."

Alyushia sighed and reluctantly said this.

Well, even if she wanted to, she couldn't.

The laws of this country are quite peaceful. Unless it's a serious crime, they generally only take effect if it's a current offense or a private complaint. In this case, I would have to turn her in or catch her in the act of theft to make an arrest.

It's just a theft, after all. While it's not a good thing, it doesn't immediately endanger lives, so the laws are relatively lenient.

However, there is another reason I don't want to turn her in.

"So, I didn't get stolen from. When I tried to catch her, I was hit with magic."

"Magic...?"

I mentioned this point. Alyushia should understand what I'm getting at.

From my conversation with Hembritz, the possibility was considered low. I agreed with that assessment at the time.

But magical equipment, while not as rare as magic users, is still quite expensive. I realized this when I visited shops in the western district with Kurni and Fissel. Magical equipment is very expensive.

Moreover, magical equipment with direct offensive capabilities is particularly rare and expensive. If it were common, it would become a breeding ground for crime.

So, why does a mere thief have such magical equipment? Did she steal it, or was it given to her? It would be difficult to sell, so she might be using it as is.

The source of the fire that repelled me—was it magic or magical equipment? I think this is a subtle but important point. My intuition tells me so, though it's not always accurate.

"Can you use magic?"

"...No need to tell you."

"It is necessary. As a knight responsible for this country, I cannot let someone with magical talent go unchecked. You know this, right?"

Wow, Alyushia is really pushing it.

The girl's lack of denial suggests she might be a budding magician. I can't see any magical decorations under her robe, but it's possible she has them hidden.

"If you can use magic, you don't need to hide. More importantly, we can't stand by and see a girl like you suffer. We may not be able to be your allies, but we are certainly not your enemies."

"..."

Alyushia is pressing hard, with a relentless momentum.

Even if she recommended this girl to the magic academy, Alyushia wouldn't benefit personally. Her persistence here reflects her character.

"I said before, I don't want to get you in trouble. It's a strange relationship that started with an attempted theft, but I want to help you."

I added my support. The girl, sitting next to me, seemed tense and anxious, but her wariness had lessened.

But it's a strange connection, isn't it? I'm not trying to arrest a thief but want to help her.

Unfortunately, I'm not a hero or a saint. I can't help all the children suffering from poverty.

But if there's a child within reach, and if there's a way to help, it's only natural to want to do something.

"...It's not enough."

"Huh?"

After a moment of silence, she spoke with a determined tone.

"...To bring my sister back, I don't have enough money."

Her face showed a mix of determination and pain.

What? Is this about that kind of thing? I don't understand magic at all. I opened my eyes slightly, but there was no particular reaction, and the silence continued.

Hmm. Bringing someone back to life? It feels like a very ominous situation, but what can I do? (°д°)