Chapter 62: Charlotte and Her Origins

We waited for Trishel to return, and just in case, I finished dyeing my hair before moving on to the strategy meeting.

Riven, probably worn out from lack of sleep, had gone over to the bed and was already fast asleep. Sleeping too much during the day makes it harder to sleep at night, though...

Well, let him sleep. He can’t really join the discussion anyway.

We sat down across from each other.

For once, our faces were serious. No jokes were allowed here.

"Alright then, Trishel."

"Yeah. I’ll answer anything I can."

Anything she can, huh.

"And if it’s something you can’t answer?"

"‘I can’t say.’ That’s all I’ll say."

"So, I can take it that you’ll never lie?"

"...Got it. I won’t lie. If that’s what you want, Charlotte."

Trishel looked like she had steeled herself for something.

It felt a bit too dramatic, and I couldn’t help but laugh a little.

"Understood. Then, I’ll start asking questions."

What should I clarify first? It’s not like the number of questions is limited, but the first one feels important.

...I’ve decided. This is what I should ask first.

"As a baseline, let me confirm. Is there any way to heal Riven’s eyes and ears other than having Salem do it?"

Whether we fight Salem or avoid her, none of it matters if Riven isn’t healed. That’s why this has to be asked first.

Trishel’s eyes went wide, like she hadn’t expected that to be the opening question. She held her mouth, clearly considering how to answer.

"...There is a way, besides Salem. But the details—"

"‘You can’t say,’ right?"

Trishel nodded.

I ground my teeth lightly, but just knowing a way exists is still progress.

"Then, is that method something we could carry out right now?"

"If we’re just saying possible or impossible, then yes, it’s possible... but not in our current state."

"I see. And you can’t tell me what would make it possible, right?"

"Sorry."

"It’s fine. I expected as much."

So there is a way, but it’s not realistic. I shouldn’t cling to false hope in a desperate situation.

Next question.

"If we escaped from this town, would Riven survive?"

"If you went that far, I think Salem would let him go. She doesn’t exactly want to kill him."

"And if I escaped with him?"

"Then she won’t give up. She would never give up."

The answer came without the slightest hesitation.

She waited for me to finish asking, but she could’ve just cut me off halfway—the intensity in her reply was that strong.

"No matter what you do, she won’t give up on you, Charlotte."

"And why is that?"

"There are things I can tell you, and things I can’t. Do you still want to hear it?"

"Yes. Tell me everything you can."

If she’s asking that, it probably means there’s something inconvenient for us in the truth. But I can’t back away now. This isn’t the time for that. We have to keep moving forward.

Trishel glanced over at the sleeping Riven, then quickly turned back to me.

"...That auction the other day—do you know why we won?"

"Huh?"

The sudden change of subject caught me off guard.

What does that have to do with why Salem won’t give up on me?

But Trishel’s eyes were dead serious. There wasn’t a trace of joking in them.

...I thought about it. Why did we win?

"Because everyone did their best together, right?"

That was the only conclusion I could reach. Riven, Trishel, Reynard—everyone gave it their all, and we just barely came out ahead. Wasn’t that the reason?

Trishel’s eyes dimmed with a trace of sadness, and she shook her head.

"No. We won because you were there, Charlotte."

"...Because of me?"

I couldn’t believe it.

Thanks to me? No way.

I barely fought at all. All I did was cling to a leg to slow her down for a moment. By the time Riven struck the finishing blow, that monster sister had already regained her movement. It wasn’t because of me.

What did I even contribute?

Trishel looked genuinely conflicted, unsure whether to say it or not. About ten seconds passed. I stayed silent, neither rushing her nor pressing for answers.

Because I knew she would tell me.

At last, she made up her mind and blurted it all out in one breath.

"—Charlotte, you have the ability to negate the powers of the Black Clan."

"...What?"

"That final moment. Normally, Rosalind’s Authority of ‘Collapse’ should have shattered the blade, ending everything. But it didn’t."

—Because Charlotte touched her.

Trishel’s eyes closed, as if in resignation.

After blinking several times, a chill ran deep through my core.

It felt like I had asked something I never should have. Something inside me was restless, unsettled.

"Salem bears a deep grudge against the Black Clan. That’s why she’ll never give up on you, Charlotte—because you can negate them."

"W-wait! What is that supposed to mean? Why me—why would I have something like that!?"

I shot up from my chair, my voice rising in anger.

Trishel quietly shook her head. That was her way of saying she couldn’t tell me.

"...Then what am I?"

"I can’t say."

"I’m just a person! Just a village girl! I’m not some important figure—"

Trishel kept her eyes closed, lowering her head slightly.

I didn’t want to accept it. I couldn’t. A part of me had always suspected, but I told myself it wasn’t true.

But if you say it to my face... how am I supposed to deny it?

For a moment, I lost the ability to speak. My gaze drifted aimlessly, not knowing what to do, until I sat back down heavily in the chair.

Trishel didn’t move at all during that time.

"...Trishel. Did you know from the very beginning? About my origins—things I don’t even know about myself?"

"...Yeah. I knew."

Damn it. Control yourself. Don’t get angry.

Now isn’t the time. I can’t afford that.

But why didn’t she tell me? What was everything up until now for?

Why did she try so hard to make me hate her? And why has she been helping me lately?

I clenched my fists tight on my knees.

My teeth ground together so hard it felt like they might crack.

"Everything you’ve done to me... was it all because of my origins?"

"...Yeah."

"If that’s true—!"

Why am I getting so emotional?

This is the same girl who, back when I was new to town, hounded me, chased me relentlessly, even harassed me. It’s only recently that she’s started acting like a friend.

So why? Why now?

"If I had just been an ordinary girl, in trouble back then—what would you have done? If I wasn’t me?"

"...Sorry. I don’t know."

Ah.

That troubled smile of hers left no room for lies.

It was the truth. At the very least, she’d been answering me with complete sincerity the whole time.

What is this feeling? She kept saying she liked me, and I found it annoying.

But now that she says it was only because of my origins—why does it hurt?

The strength drained out of me, and my arms hung limp at my sides.

"I was born a servant."

I hadn’t even asked a question, but Trishel spoke on her own.

"I was born a vassal of a certain clan, and raised accordingly. So... I’m sorry. I don’t really understand other ways of living or thinking."

"...That clan. Was it connected to me? To Salem?"

"That’s something I can’t say."

A dry laugh escaped me.

"Then let me say this first—there’s no blood relation between Salem and you, Charlotte. Not even distant relatives."

"Then why!"

What is this clan she keeps talking about? If there’s no blood relation, then what kind of clan is it?

And what am I? Who am I, really?

If what Trishel says is true—then because of me, Riven ended up like this.

It’s not a misunderstanding on their part. Not at all.

"Sorry."

No. I don’t want her apology.

I keep hearing words of apology. What am I supposed to do with that? What am I supposed to do at all?

What does she expect from someone like me, who can only hide behind others?

Or maybe even that expectation is my own misunderstanding.

I don’t know. I don’t know what’s right or wrong.

Ah… so this is what she meant when she steeled herself not to lie.

I get it now. As Trishel, she probably didn’t want this topic brought up.

But now, there’s no running away.

"...Did Salem start targeting me because of that auction the other day?"

"I think so. The detailed reason is... ‘I can’t say.’"

"Why didn’t she make contact before this?"

"‘I can’t say.’"

"Then why are you willing to answer me now? You could have avoided it, right?"

"—‘I can’t say.’"

I slammed my fist onto the desk.

My head felt like it was about to explode.

"This is my last question."

It’s time to end this.

If I go any further, I’m the one who’ll break. This isn’t a situation where I can talk about the future.

"If we deal with Salem, will everything be resolved?"

"…No. There are others who think like her, besides Salem."

That’s all I need to know. Enough.

"...Understood."

I stood up.

Without another word, I headed for the door.

"Hey, Charlotte."

"I understand already."

Trishel also stood from her chair, as if trying to stop me.

I reached for the door, turning my face toward her.

Our eyes met. Trishel froze.

"I’ll handle it."

And just like that, I stepped out of the room.

To create the future I’ve envisioned.