Chapter 77

"Wait."

Just as we were about to get up and start preparing, Tera stopped us.

"...Don't... decide things on your own..."

"Huh? Didn't you come here to seek help from this Elain?"

Leighton raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Or is there something else? Is there something you don't like?"

"What do you plan to do with... my childhood friend... Helena?"

Her voice tinged with anger. Hearing it, I realized something.

Actually, why didn't I notice it before?

Leighton had just said, "We'll take care of the monster tamer and the monster."

"We'll take care of it. If we don't remove it from Claris, the monsters will keep appearing."

Leighton said this casually, without any remorse, as if he were just making small talk, with a light and airy tone.

"Then...!!"

Tera's magic flared up, and her red hair burst into flames.

The air shimmered with a blinding light.

This is bad. Even though no one is around at this time, this will cause a commotion if it continues!

"Then I won't ask for your help! I'll manage on my own..."

"You couldn't, could you?"

However, the flames in her hair were quickly extinguished by Leighton.

With a casual flick of his hand, a wave of white light spread out.

After the wave of fighting spirit passed, her flaming hair returned to its original red.

The cold air returned as if nothing had happened.

"Besides, you shouldn't use large-scale magic here. It can't be covered up easily."

"..."

I was shocked and instantly understood.

A glimpse of Leighton's overwhelming power. The density of the fighting spirit that could extinguish the heat of her flaming hair, which surpassed the fireball I had once cast at a demon, with just a flick of his wrist.

"You must have protested against the monster tamer... Helena, right? But you couldn't persuade her, could you?"

"That's right! I couldn't stop her! But...!"

"If you had persuaded her and stopped her, this tax evasion case wouldn't have happened in the first place... Is that wrong?"

"That's not it... but..."

Tera's voice gradually grew smaller, overwhelmed by the reality being piled upon her, and she hung her head in defeat.

"Still, there must be a way to help her without killing her."

"Hmm. Then let's hear it. If there's a way to save her without her dying, that would be fine too. It would be a waste to lose such a talented mage."

"Maybe if I try to persuade her again..."

"Will that work? From what I've heard, you two are quite close. Yet, you've already given up and are relying on outsiders. Don't you think it's futile?"

"..."

Her counterargument was cut off, and Tera finally looked down and fell silent, unable to withstand the pressure.

It's no wonder.

After a journey where she might have been killed, she finally reached the city, only to be ignored by the authorities and told by the person who offered help that her friend would be killed.

The mental strain is evident.

To be honest, I can't do anything.

Without an alternative plan or any basis for opposition, it's just noise.

I can't come up with a brilliant solution to the tax evasion case.

But what came to mind was a scene from an old pioneer village I had seen.

The adults were pretending to work hard for temporary pleasure, turning a blind eye to the real problem of animal attacks.

Kee, who refused to conform to this pressure, called out for everyone to rise up.

The adults laughed at him, calling it a waste of time.

I remember feeling a strong aversion to this.

Of course, her situation is different.

But like Kee, she stood up.

She made a dangerous journey to the city and desperately appealed to the authorities.

She stood up.

She didn't collude with the wrongdoers or turn a blind eye; she stood up to improve the situation.

Finally, I realized.

By listening to her story, I have become a part of this.

I need to act based on my own judgment, not as a stonemason, but as myself.

I furrowed my brow in thought.

I won't say that Leighton's plan is wrong. But if I don't stand by her here, I'll be no different from the adults who laughed at Kee.

Think. Find a way to reach a satisfactory conclusion for her.

I will continue to be on her side regarding Claris. I decided this.

"Karas, do you have any ideas?"

Leighton suddenly turned to me, who was still pondering.

I do have an idea, but it's not yet ready to be put into words.

"I hope you can save Helena's life."

"Hmm. You say that too."

Leighton now sounded amused.

"Then what do you suggest? I've already come up with a plan to solve the case. In that plan, her death is necessary."

"I don't have an alternative... yet."

"Hmm. Are you giving up already? Has Gustav's wisdom not been passed down to you?"

My words of resignation. Hearing them, Leighton's tone dropped, and he let out a small sigh.

His reaction was strange.

It was as if he was disappointed that I had given up. As if he had been expecting my counterargument.

...Maybe.

Then there is still hope.

I slowly chose my words and spoke.

"I'm not giving up. Tera, it's too early to give up."

Leighton's lips curled up slightly at my words.

This reaction. Indeed.

"What do you mean? You just said you don't have an alternative."

"That's right. I don't have one yet. But there's still time. Until you reach Claris, you can't do anything to Helena."

"True. No matter how powerful I am, I can't kill someone in Claris from here. But the same goes for you. You can't protect her from a distance either."

"Then we'll come up with a plan by then."

"Hmm?"

Leighton listened to me without interrupting.

He was interested. There's no doubt about it.

Leighton was waiting for my counterargument. I continued with confidence.

"By the time we reach Claris, I'll come up with a reason to persuade you. Together with Tera."

Tera's eyes widened. Leighton smiled at my words.

"Hehe, good. That's a good answer."

Leighton interlocked his fingers and cracked them, then continued with a smile.

"Alright. The deadline is tomorrow night, when we reach Claris. Think hard? Time runs faster than shadows."

"I'll definitely think of something."

This is probably the better answer Leighton expected.

Whether to conform to Leighton's opinion or to oppose it. And if opposing, whether to come up with an alternative.

That's what he was looking for. And if I had opposed without a plan, he would have shown disappointment.

Buying time because I don't have an alternative. That's all I can do now.

But I'll think of something by tomorrow.

I closed my eyes, then opened them again, and nodded. I will think of something. I've decided.

"See you tomorrow. We'll meet at the eastern gate when the eight bells ring. Modest travel attire is fine. I'll have a carriage ready for Hedron."

Leighton left with these words. A distant whistling could be heard.

Tera and I were left standing there. I turned my gaze from the direction Leighton had gone and looked at Tera.

She noticed and quickly averted her eyes.

"Alright, Tera, please take care of the request."

"...Ah, okay."

She gave a vague response and trudged towards the counter.

I need to clear my head.

I slumped into a chair and held my head.