Chapter 16: Riven and the Woman with a Hidden Face〇

"Why are you here."

"Hmm? I just came to see how your little venture turned out. Bit disappointing though, wasn’t it?"

She put on an air of calm, but I could tell.
That smile wasn’t as serene as she wanted it to look.
That was the way a person speaks when there’s something burning underneath.

"So by that tone, you make it sound like this whole thing was your setup."

"That’s right. And what if I said it was?"

I leveled my sword straight at Trishel.
The woman before me was a masterful mage—one slip could mean death.
Damn it. I should’ve taken an antidote potion beforehand. I’d left the paralysis lingering, thinking a little rough work wouldn’t be a problem.

"Whoa now, don’t get the wrong idea. I’ve no intention of fighting you."

She raised both hands as if surrendering. But who could trust that? With a mage, all they need are eyes and a mouth to kill you on the spot. A pose means nothing.

I laid Charlotte back down on the ground instead of trying to rouse her, and reset my stance for battle.

"Aah, so you don’t believe me. Figures. Well then, how about this?"

Without a care, she stepped closer.
I raised my guard to the utmost, but she didn’t cast or strike. She simply walked right up to the tip of my sword—and guided it to her own throat.

"See? This way, you can kill me before I do anything. Doesn’t that make you feel safe enough to talk?"

…If I had even the faintest will to kill, she’d already be dead.
Standing on the edge of death, why was she so calm?

Then I understood, when I looked into her eyes. Those were the eyes of a madwoman.
The eyes of a zealot who would throw her life away without hesitation if it served her purpose.
I’d thought she was just a strange one, noisy but harmless. To think she’d hidden this side all along.

"What’s your goal."

"My goal? Hm, well, you could say I’ve already achieved it. Even if the results were less than perfect."

"It’s not me, then. Your goal was to have her taken."

"Bingo! Exactly! Or, in your words—‘a matter of mutual benefit.’"

She was openly admitting she’d worked with them.
No wonder the abduction had gone so smoothly. If they had someone on the inside, that would’ve made it easy work.
But the reason—I couldn’t see it.

"Why."

"Why what?"

"You cared about her, didn’t you? So why would you let her be harmed?"

At my question, Trishel blinked at me with eyes like a clueless child.
From what I’d seen, at worst she disliked Charlotte a little. But having thugs abduct her? That didn’t match at all.

"Aha! Wait, do you actually think I disliked Charlotte-chan?"

"What?"

"Of course not! I adore Charlotte-chan. I could even say I love her."

Even with a blade at her throat, she twisted her body like nothing was wrong. That pure smile on the brink of death only made her insanity more vivid.
…Madwoman.

"That’s exactly why I want Charlotte-chan to change. More and more."

"What do you mean."

"She’s too kind. She needs to hate people more, resent people more, loathe people far, far more. She’s just too innocent to survive in this town."

Her eyes held nothing but shadow, not a glimmer of light.
The pressure in them made me involuntarily step back.

"You had a sad past, didn’t you? That’s why you used others to live, isn’t it? Yeah, I get it. But even so, at your core you’re too kind. You can’t help but reach out a hand, even when it puts your safety at risk."

Her expression turned rapturous, but her words never stopped.

"You need to be dirtier, more defiled, dragged further and further down. Otherwise—the princess we seek will never be born."

Even with my sword grazing her throat, blood trickling out, she turned feverish eyes toward the sleeping girl. There was no other word for it but madness.

Then those crazed eyes swung suddenly toward me.

"You see, you’re the anomaly here. When the Black Clan of all people showed up in this town, I almost panicked. Too late to drive you out now—you’re already part of Charlotte-chan’s world."

"You… know of my lineage?"

"I do. Everyone who deals in the underworld knows. At least, those who matter."

She said it with a smile that masked her darkness.

"Too bad, but you’ll never get what you’re looking for. Even if you find it, you’ll only end up destroying it with your own hands."

"What do you mean. What do you know."

"What do you think I know? Hmhm, I’m not telling. You’re Black Clan. If you were ready to give up, maybe I’d let you confirm the answer—but that’s all."

The Black Clan. Only a rare few called us that.
…How much did she know that I didn’t?

I was only ever a low-ranking member. I didn’t know the whole picture. But she—she sounded like she understood far too well.
Could it be—she knew the reason why I, why that one, had no choice but to end up like this?

Her lips curled in a mocking smile, as if daring me to find out.

"If you want answers, then keep diving into the dungeons. The answers are still waiting there—yes, even in the one you’re in now.”

With that, seemingly satisfied, Trishel drew her throat away from my blade.

I couldn’t move. Maybe it was simply that I’d been overwhelmed by the pressure of a madwoman. Whatever it was, I was frozen in place.

My eyes stayed fixed on her back as she walked away. Then, as if remembering something she’d forgotten, she turned around and called out.

"Ah, right. One last thing—I’ll tell you this much. Those people I let you spare? Don’t worry, you’ll never see them again. I’ll take care of it properly."

And with a casual farewell, she slipped into the alleyway and vanished.

One second, two, three. Ten seconds passed before I finally released my guard.

It had been something unreal. I should have been the one holding her life in my hands, but instead it felt like she had been clutching my very heart.

A hallucination from the paralysis? No—that wasn’t it. That woman truly had another face she’d hidden until now.

Should I tell Reynard? No. Speaking out could stir something unpredictable. Judging from her attitude, she intends to keep playing her usual role unless someone drags the truth out of her.

That she slipped away before Charlotte woke was proof enough.

So this is something I’ll have to keep locked inside my own chest.

A bead of sweat slid down my temple.

"…Hah. If I can’t overcome something like this, I’ll never become a king."

The Black Clan. That name being spoken by an obstacle I hadn’t foreseen.

I’d already resolved to overcome anything, no matter what came my way. Now my blood was burning even hotter.

Someday, I’ll wring the truth from her mouth.

"Well then. Still asleep, huh, this one."

I let out a small sigh and looked down at the girl.

After all that noise, she showed not the slightest sign of waking.

Just how deeply do you have to sleep for this? Honestly, she was far too carefree.
To have made it this far alive in that state—she must’ve been blessed by the people around her.

"Hey. Wake up."

I gave her shoulder a light shake. No response.

…Truly carefree.

"Guess I don’t have a choice."

Carrying a sleeping girl on my shoulder wasn’t exactly ideal, but she had no right to complain.
No—she’d been rescued from kidnappers. She didn’t get to complain.

Sliding my arms under her, I hoisted her onto my shoulder.

Her limbs hung limp, swaying loosely. If I walked out like this, people would think I was a kidnapper.

I clicked my tongue and shifted her position.
I slung her onto my back instead, looping her arms around my neck so it looked like I was just giving a piggyback ride.

Honestly. Why did I have to waste brainpower on something like this?

In the end, she didn’t wake until a good while later.

"Hm… huh? Where is this?"

"You’re awake."

"Eh?"

The foolishly blank-faced girl—Charlotte—had opened her eyes atop the bed of the inn I was staying at.

I’d carried her here since the stares in town had been insufferable.

"Don’t dawdle. Get up already."

"…Riven-san?"

"—Big sis!"

"Wah! What’s—!"

The girl I’d been protecting suddenly clung to Charlotte, who had only just woken up.

"I’m sorry! It’s my fault, I’m so sorry…"

"Oh—you’re… Wait, then what about me—?"

"Idiot."

"Why are you calling me that all of a sudden?!"

Her sheer carefreeness made me mutter something harsh without thinking.

She truly had no sense of danger. I can’t believe she’s made it this far alive.

I shook my head in disbelief and sank into a nearby chair.

She turned her silly, blank-faced gaze toward me.

…Fine. I guess I’ll explain.

"You were kidnapped."

"Kidnapped… eh! Ah, right, they drugged me—oh, that was contraband!"

"…Don’t you have something to say to me?"

Finally seeming to understand the situation, she glanced around the room before meeting my eyes.

I kept my expression neutral and waited for her response.

Whatever interpretation she gave it, she nervously folded her legs under her and placed her hands on the bed.

"My apologies for causing trouble…"

"That’s not important. What matters is, do you have any idea why you were kidnapped?"

She paused, thinking for a moment.

After nodding a few times and convincing herself, she turned her face back toward me.

"Was it because I’m cute?"

"What?"

"No, just kidding. Please don’t get mad."

…She had the audacity to joke at a moment like this.
Did she really wander alone for a while? I can’t see how she could survive on her own.

"Seriously speaking, women walking alone get kidnapped quite often."

"…So you’re used to it, then?"

"No, no, no. I’m not used to it. I have had plenty of close calls, but actual kidnappings? Only a few times."

A few times. So luck still followed her.
Maybe the nickname “Goddess of Fortune” shouldn’t be retired just yet.
Well… surviving in the end counts as luck, I suppose.

"Did someone instruct them to kidnap you, or anything like that?"

"Ah… well, not exactly. But I think they’d probably come at me directly, you know…"

So, as I suspected, she had no knowledge of Trishel’s hidden side.
Better to keep it to myself, at least until this mission is over.

A troublesome matter. Tomorrow, I’ll see how they respond and plan my next move accordingly.

Charlotte seemed to interpret my sigh as frustration and fidgeted nervously.

Watching her, the filthy little girl panicked as well—an oddly comical sight.
I’d made sure Niel stayed outside, which was the right call. If he were here, they’d just waste time chatting and playing instead of focusing.

"In any case, you were rescued. Next time, don’t expect there to be one."

"Y-Yes! I’ll be careful! Thank you so much!"

"And as for that woman—deal with her yourself."

I wasn’t going to take responsibility. Whoever picked her up first should be responsible.
I’d been told the backstory beforehand—this girl had been kidnapped while trying to help, which I understood.

The two girls exchanged glances, then turned uncertainly toward me.

"What is it?"

"Um… thank you!"

The shabby little girl spoke first.

"I, um… I’m useless, just a disposable pawn this time… so to think someone would help me…"

Her words were punctuated by tears, falling uncontrollably.

Charlotte hugged her protectively.

"In this town, it’s common. Children, slaves—they’re everywhere behind the scenes."

Her voice was pained, but enduring.

…Too pure, huh. I see now.

"Until now, I’ve never shown myself in public. Really."

This girl was probably prepared by that woman. Most likely as a pawn, disposable.
A rotten person. Maybe that’s normal in this town.

…Now I understood my frustration with this place.
Looking at it, it’s like glimpsing the future of my country.
If anyone like them ascends the throne, my country will end up just like this town.

I have to do this. I must accomplish it.

No matter what hardships lie ahead.