Chapter 23

While the surroundings were still enveloped in silence, they loaded as many items as possible onto the cart. When it came to stealing and sniffing out valuables, everyone was very efficient.

"Hey, Ruis... are you taking that princess with us?"

"Yeah, I said I would. If necessary, I'll bring her along."

Saying that, the large man, who was surprisingly timid for his size, looked at Karia, who had climbed onto the cart, with unease. He lightly sighed and patted her back.

To commoners, people of the knight and noble classes were far superior beings. They were often told by their parents that just touching one of them could result in death. Even if they harbored rebellious thoughts, encountering a real noble would likely bring out the deep-seated fear in their hearts.

"By the way, what about the servants? I don’t want to kill them if I can help it... but if they see us, there’s no choice."

"No problem. We won’t make that mistake. We don’t want to do anything reckless either."

Nodding in response, he glanced back at the house.

He didn’t want to kill the servants if he could help it. Once Karia’s disappearance was discovered, they might be held responsible and have their heads cut off, but he didn’t mind that.

He had his own plans. For that reason, he didn’t want to cause any unnecessary deaths. Such actions would only create suspicion.

Had they loaded all the valuables they could carry? If they overfilled the cart, one horse wouldn’t be able to pull it. Then, all that was left was to finish up. To eliminate the last bit of suspicion. And to get the item they were after.

*

He knew where it was. There was no mistake. After all, he had heard it from Karia Bardonic herself. Of course, not from the current Karia, but from the future Karia Bardonic, the brilliant knight. He had overheard her talking in a sweet voice to the man who called himself the savior.

—This is our family’s heirloom. According to legend, it was called a miracle or a mystery.

It had been passed down through generations. Something that had been inherited for generations. In this era, its importance was not yet understood, so it was kept in the underground storage, as the woman had said. He slipped through the open door and stepped into the storage room.

It was dim, dusty, and a chill seemed to crawl up from his heels.

"It’s you, I’ve been looking for you."

Ah, yes. It was carefully secured, but it didn’t look valuable or like an antique. It was just old and seemed to have lost both its value and its reason for being there.

The moment he picked up the old sword-shaped object, a sense of elation that made him want to shout in joy if he could, took over his chest.

Ah, yes. This is the legend itself. The very thing that, in the past, Karia Bardonic had given to the savior, which became his weapon.

—Ah, with this, I’ve crushed one of them.

While trying to suppress the corners of his mouth from curling up, he covered it with a cloth to make it less noticeable and hung it at his waist. Then, as if nothing had happened, he left the basement.

Now, valuables and the family heirloom were gone from the house. The servants were just tied up. If that was the case, the crime would certainly seem to be the work of Karia Bardonic, with no sense of inconsistency. The conditions for shifting all the blame to her were somewhat in place.

*

"The free city of the East... Galuamaria, right?"

"The carriage and guide are ready. There, even the reach of Barberidge Bardonic won’t extend. You can wait there until the heat dies down and plan your next move."

The free city of the East, Galuamaria. With its multiple sturdy walls and the wealth it has accumulated as a trading center between the East and West, it functions as an independent city-state, free from interference by other nations. Even the knight class would be rejected by the people of Galuamaria, who value their autonomy.

"But, thinking that the carriage fare and other expenses will come from the money from selling the household goods, I have mixed feelings."

"Please, spare me. I even took out a loan for this operation. The money we stole barely covers it."

Furrowing his brow, he let out a dark sigh from his lungs.

Yes, the reward for Grandpa Richard, the payment for the banquet, and the new clothes. None of it could come from his meager pocket. So, he borrowed it. From the infamous blue-haired demon, Talvis Teg, on the worst terms.

"Anyway, get going. Once the commotion starts, it won’t be easy to get through the checkpoints."

"…Ruis, what about you? If I’m gone, you’ll be suspected, right?"

Just before getting into the carriage, Karia, with her silver hair in a braid, narrowed her eyes and smiled, asking.

"Ah… I’ll catch up soon. But I can’t return to this country until I pay off the debt. I can’t let that happen."

Ah, that was a lie. A clear lie. The debt to Talvis Teg had already been mostly paid off with the stolen goods.

He had a goal. To become a successful adventurer and go to Arieu. For that, it was best to stay in the Galerist Kingdom. So, this was goodbye to Karia. In the future, you were quick to look down on the weak, cold, and unapologetic, but here, you weren’t bad. I’ll miss you a little.

Just as he was lost in thought, Karia’s white fingers gripped his wrist tightly, as if trying to crush it.

"No."

Gripping, the sound of flesh being squeezed could be heard. He winced and looked at Karia, whose face he knew well. The malicious smile she showed when she was being mean was there.

"Did you think I wouldn’t notice? Fool. I saw right through your plans."

He couldn’t argue. Everything he could think of seemed shallow, and he was at a loss for words.

"But, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter at all. You are—my ally, right? As an ally, you should come with me. If, if by any chance, you betray me—"

—I will make sure to destroy you.

Karia pressed her body against his and whispered in his ear. It looked like a seductive gesture from the outside, but in reality, it was a chilling threat.

This is the worst. What a mess. I was noticed by the one person I couldn’t afford to be noticed by. She might not know all the details, but she knew something was up. She knew and let me go this far.

Ah, what a terrible woman. That’s why I didn’t want to get involved with her. This is the worst, the absolute worst situation.

"Well… you mentioned the debt. It doesn’t matter, right? We’re leaving this country, after all."

Karia said this, forcibly pulling him and dragging him into the carriage. His confused mind and rigid, confused body couldn’t resist, and they both tumbled into the carriage.

"Ruis, you are my ally, right?"

Lying on the floor, Karia looked up at him and said.

She really is a terrible, the worst woman.

"Of course, Karia."

Trying not to show his agitation, he forced a smile and said.

The carriage started moving, shaking slightly, as if to distance itself from Galerist and his plans.

This concludes the first part of the Karia Bardonic story. The next part will be the second part, and due to the Obon holiday, there might be a bit of a delay. I apologize for that.

Thank you very much for reading. If you enjoyed it even a little, I would be very grateful for your reviews, bookmarks, and ratings.

Thank you very much for reading.