Chapter 34

* * *

After the foul smell had dissipated, Oboork closed the door.

I stood close to the stove, basking in the warm heat, while Oboork looked around at the arrows.

During this time, I had thoroughly examined the inside of the cabin.

It was literally a mess.

It was fortunate that it was cold; otherwise, it would have been infested with bugs. Moreover, there were piles of empty bottles in the corners.

It was as if he was performing a ritual to drive away health.

It seemed he wasn't eating properly either.

If he kept drinking on an empty stomach, he would end up dead.

'This way, even a non-existent illness would appear...'

"Uncle, Uncle."

"What?"

"I'm hungry."

"...What?"

At these words, Oboork's gaze, which had been fixed on the arrows, turned to me.

I smiled sheepishly.

Then, Oboork spoke in a troubled voice.

"...There's nothing to eat."

"Huh? Then what does Uncle eat?"

At my question, Oboork closed his mouth tightly.

"That's not right."

I frowned with concern.

"You need to eat a lot to stay healthy."

"..."

"You need to eat a lot to live tomorrow and the days to come."

Oboork's eyes trembled slightly.

From the way his rugged face softened, it seemed my words had hit a nerve.

Oboork doesn't dream of tomorrow. He lost his daughter and the person he cherished like a daughter.

What he had lost was not a hammer but the will to live.

"Exactly..."

After a long silence, Oboork slowly spoke.

"Exactly... you sound just like our daughter."

"..."

"Indeed, it's been so long since I heard that voice..."

Oboork let out a resigned sigh. His voice, mumbling absentmindedly, was filled with despair and longing.

I remained silent, unable to speak rashly. Eventually, he spoke again.

"...You were much smarter and prettier than her."

His gruff voice was laced with deep affection.

"But she's gone now. She drowned in the lake you were staring at for so long today."

"..."

"And I lost the person I cherished like a daughter too."

Oboork's expression darkened.

He clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly.

The gesture seemed both like trying to grasp something and like checking his empty hands.

"It's all my fault. I should have told her not to go. I should have been stricter... "

"Uncle."

I cut off his self-blame.

"It's not Uncle's fault. Uncle saved me."

"..."

"If you had found her earlier, you wouldn't have lost her. That... it's not Uncle's fault."

Oboork's Adam's apple moved.

I continued without stopping.

"Your daughter would think the same."

"How... how do you know that?"

"My mother... she died because of me."

Oboork's eyes widened at my words.

I had never told anyone this before.

No one had ever been curious about our story.

The mother I remember was a famous thief.

But that was an old story.

After having me, she said she had given up all her activities.

However, there weren't many jobs a woman with a child could do.

In the end, my mother resumed her activities.

And she hanged herself from the wall, facing people's condemnation.

I didn't intend to justify my mother's actions.

But at least, if I hadn't been there, my mother might not have died.

This fact had weighed on my mind all this time.

"But if it were my mother, she would say this."

"..."

"It's not your fault."

Oboork's eyes trembled.

I continued without stopping.

"Wouldn't your daughter say the same?"

Oboork remained silent.

I waited patiently, hoping my words hadn't hurt him.

"A few years ago."

Oboork slowly spoke.

"There was someone who said the same thing as you."

"..."

"You look very much like her."

A faint smile appeared on Oboork's lips.

I blinked in surprise at his smile.

At that moment,

A strong wind blew, causing the window to rattle.

My gaze instinctively turned to the outside. The sky was turning red.

'Already this late?'

I jumped up. I had been away for too long. If Loyna found out I had gone to the lake, it would be the end.

"Uncle, I'll go now. I might get scolded for being out too long."

Oboork nodded and handed me the arrow he had been examining.

I hesitated as I reached for it.

"Uncle, I'll lend this to you just for today."

"...Lend it?"

"Yes. In return, please play with me next time. With my friends too."

I smiled, and after a moment's thought, Oboork said,

"Alright, I will."

And he agreed.

"Where should I go?"

"Hmm, that's..."

I thought for a moment and smiled.

"To the duke's castle."

"...What?"

"The duke's castle. I'll come to meet you."

Before Oboork could ask more, I quickly ran towards the door.

"I'll be waiting, Uncle!"

Leaving those words, I hurriedly left the cabin.

* * *

As I stepped out of the cabin and approached the red lake,

Caw!

A crow perched on a snow-covered tree cawed loudly.

'Why do you keep cawing so frighteningly...'

Shuddering, I tried to leave quickly, but the crow flapped its wings and flew up.

I thought it might attack me, but the crow silently circled above the red lake.

My gaze naturally followed the crow to the lake.

'Wait a minute.'

I took out the vial I had secretly taken from Oboork's cabin.

The medicine inside the vial was clearer, but...

'It looks similar.'

Could it be that this isn't medicine...

I stopped my thoughts and closed my mouth.

'I have one more thing to investigate.'

I glanced at the crow and hurriedly continued on my way.

I had a mountain of things to do.

* * *

The next day, I was walking briskly, on time.

Inside the training ground, Baron Amanta and Damian were practicing with swords.

I slightly opened the door and peeked inside.

Damian, holding a wooden sword, lunged at the baron.

The baron parried Damian's sword and, taking advantage of the brief opening, swiftly countered.

The speed was something I could never match.

'Even though the baron has been a knight all his life...'

Damian was also impressive. He truly was the male protagonist.

After a few more clashes,

Bang!

With a loud noise, Damian's wooden sword flew out of his hand.

The baron's sword stopped just in front of Damian's neck.

Phew. Damian let out a long sigh and bowed his head.

The baron silently sheathed his sword, and the knights who had been watching stood up.

It meant the training was over.

I took this opportunity to quickly enter the training ground.

"Damian!"

At my strong call, Damian's head snapped up.

"Ellie..."

Damian quickly got up and approached me.

"You worked hard in training? Wow, look at all this sweat."

I took out a handkerchief and wiped Damian's sweat as if I had been waiting for this moment.

"Not at all."

"Really? Your cheeks are so red."

"It was, but I'm fine now."

Damian looked up at me and smiled.

"Miss Ellie, you're here."

At that moment, Baron Amanta approached me.

"Baron, hello."

"Miss Ellie, hello."

His voice was still stiff, but it was much warmer than before.

It seemed he enjoyed sparring with Damian to some extent.

That meant Damian's skills were that good.

"Thank you for helping today."

"Not at all. The young master is so skilled that I'm the one learning from him."

"Really?"

I opened my eyes wide in disbelief.

"Yes. He's now at a level where he can train with a real sword."

The topic of swords came up!

I seized the opportunity and asked quickly.

"Is there a difference between a wooden sword and a real sword?"

"Of course. The type of sword a knight can wield varies greatly depending on their skill."

Baron Amanta nodded, then his expression turned wistful.

"...If only we could make a new sword."

He sighed, genuinely regretful.

"Huh? My friend can make swords."

"Friend? Who is it?"

At the baron's question, I smiled.

"Um... I can't remember his name; it's too difficult."

I smiled and continued.

"I'm meeting him today. Would you like to come along?"

The baron shook his head, his eyes shining.

"I don't want to intrude on a meeting between children."

"Ah... I see..."

I deliberately let my shoulders droop in disappointment.

The baron flinched.

"Bu... but if you don't mind..."

The hesitant baron sighed.

"What am I doing at my age..."

He muttered to himself but nodded.

"Yes. I'll go with you. Since you invited me, I should go."

"Really?"

I perked up immediately.

"Then Baron, you're coming too! My friend will be here soon!"

"...I don't know if he'll welcome me."

The baron hesitated, but I ignored him, smiling in anticipation of the upcoming meeting.