Chapter 47

"Lucy said firmly with a sincere gaze, 'I cannot let someone who deceives a child like you and even involves you in evil deeds run free. Moreover, the sin of defiling the way of magic is grave.'"

I was a bit surprised that she had such anger from this perspective. I knew she was obsessed with magic, but I guess she couldn't serve as the head of the Mage Corps without having a strong sense of ethics.

"From a general standpoint, someone who taught Mui false things should not be forgiven. Even if the task of taking them down is left to the Knights or the Mage Corps, I would greatly agree with the sentiment."

"...Even if we do that, my sister is already..."

Mui's reaction was dull. She must have stubbornly believed the words of that person and engaged in evil deeds only to bring her sister back to life. Now, with Lucy's words, it's as if the ladder she was climbing has been suddenly removed, leaving her in a state of shock. Still, it's better that she can still communicate. Despite being a child, her mental strength is impressive.

"Mui."

Lucy sat down next to Mui, who was sitting in a chair, and placed her hand on Mui's clenched fist.

"I feel sorry for your sister. But if we leave the one who taught you lies unchecked, both you and your sister will be disrespected. Is that acceptable?"

"..."

Mui's gaze remained downward. In such moments, finding the right words is surprisingly difficult. Comforting her in a superficial way would be meaningless and could even backfire. In this regard, Lucy's choice of words is nearly perfect. The person who deceived her not only deceived Mui but also used the death of Mui's sister to further their own ends, thus insulting her as well.

I am neither a hero, a vigilante, nor a righteous man. I do feel anger, but I'm not light enough to act on it, and my connection to Mui is tenuous.

But Lucy is different. Whether the connection is tenuous or the other person is a former thief, it doesn't matter to her. She has a far superior emotional core, one that could be called her essence. The result of following this emotional flow is what led to her challenging me to a duel on our first meeting. However, in this case, her core seems to be guiding her in the right direction.

"...It's not right. It's not right, that's for sure..."

Lucy responded without hesitation to Mui's words, which were spoken with great effort. Aliushia and I were completely ignored, but it felt wrong to interrupt this atmosphere. This was a scene where silence was appropriate.

Although she was the last to connect with Mui, Lucy was undoubtedly the one who was closest to Mui's heart at this moment. The way she shifted the topic from the existence of resurrection magic to external factors was masterful. This is impressive. Perhaps it's a matter of experience, but I'm not trying to be sarcastic.

Now, if this could be resolved quickly, that would be ideal. How about it?

"...The one who taught me about the existence of resurrection magic... I don't know his name. He only called himself 'Yoiyami'..."

"Yoiyami..."

Mui began to speak. As expected, I had no clue about the name. I could guess that Yoiyami was probably an alias, but I had no idea who he was.

"Yoiyami... I suspect it might be the 'Yoiyami's Evil Hand.'"

"Aliushia, do you know about them?"

That was about all I could say, given my role as a listener.

"Yes. They are a band of thieves that I occasionally hear about in the capital. If he called himself Yoiyami, he could be their leader."

"I've heard of them too. They're just small-time crooks, no doubt."

Hmm. It seems this Yoiyami guy isn't highly regarded. That's probably true. If he were a major figure, the Revalio Knights and the Mage Corps would be making a bigger deal out of it. There would be a task force or something. Since that's not the case, it suggests they're not a big deal. At least, that's the common sense view.

"Letting yourself be used by such a small-time crook will also tarnish your dignity. Don't worry, I'll beat him up for you."

"...I believed him... I believed him..."

She was at a loss for words. Indeed, if we belittle Yoiyami too much, it would also belittle Mui, who was manipulated by his words.

"...No, that's not right. I'm sorry."

Lucy muttered, looking a bit uncomfortable. Dealing with a girl at this age is quite challenging, especially given the circumstances. If she were just a delinquent, it would be easier, but it's not that simple.

"By the way, do you have any parents?"

Lucy's next words made me open my eyes in surprise.

What? She's asking that now? It's definitely a loaded question. Normally, she wouldn't have parents. If she did, she wouldn't be a thief. This girl really reads the room sometimes and sometimes doesn't.

"...I don't know my parents. I've been with my sister since I was old enough to remember."

"...Are you from the Southeast District?"

"Southeast District?"

The term raised a question. The capital, Baltrean, is divided into districts centered around the Central District, but I had never heard of a Southeast District. It's unlikely that I just didn't know, given the high volume of people and goods flowing through Baltrean, both from within and outside the kingdom.

In such a large city, the geography is generally well-defined. Even when I visited the Western District with Kurni, I didn't hear about such a district.

"...The boundary between the Eastern and Southern Districts has low property values and poor security. It's a colloquial term, but it's used in the city..."

"...Ah, it's okay, Aliushia. I get it."

I stopped Aliushia, who was explaining with a rare bitter expression. I could guess what she meant.

In short, it's a slum or something like that. The Knights, who are responsible for maintaining order, would find it difficult to acknowledge the existence of such a district, as it would be like admitting they are failing in their duties. Of course, it's not just the Knights' responsibility; it involves administrative issues. In a small village, it might not be a concern, but in a large city, there are many entanglements.

"There are mages from the Southeast District, you know."

"I didn't say anything about that..."

I don't know how Lucy interpreted the exchange between Aliushia and me, but she added an unnecessary comment. I don't intend to discriminate based on where someone is from. Even at our dojo, there were people with unclear backgrounds.

"Wherever Mui was born or raised, she is still Mui, and the fact remains that she is a girl with the talent to be a mage."

"That's right."

Of course, the fact that she committed theft doesn't disappear, so there should be appropriate punishment or discipline. Once her sins are cleared, she can start fresh. She should be able to attend the Mage Academy with pride. But first, she needs to clear the lingering regrets and remorse.

"Sorry, I digressed. Mui, do you know where this Yoiyami is?"

"...I don't know if he's there, but the place we've been staying is in the Central District."

"...In the Central District?"

I reacted involuntarily to Mui's words. I haven't thoroughly explored the Central District, and I'm not that familiar with the geography, but I haven't seen any signs of such a dangerous group in the areas I've seen. Maybe they're hiding, so I wouldn't notice.

"...Aliushia, how will the Knights act?"

"We will strengthen patrols based on the information gathered, and if we can pinpoint their location, we will consider a raid."

In response to my question, the Knight Captain spoke calmly, but her tone conveyed a strong resolve. As someone responsible for the capital's security, she can't treat this as someone else's problem. Knowing that a den of evil is nearby, the direct authority of the kingdom wouldn't just sit idly by. Especially if Aliushia is in charge.

And I'm not opposed to the raid. I don't know how much my role as a special instructor will influence things, but I'm willing to help if my skills can be of use. Dealing with thieves who aren't specialized in combat should be manageable.

"What are you talking so casually about?"

Just as I was asking Aliushia about the organization's actions, Lucy interjected with a sigh.

"We're going to take them down now. Mui, lead the way."

"Now!?"

My voice and Aliushia's voice overlapped.