"Huh?..." Heron became confused as to how this Imagi reacted. He thought Merim would just leave after hearing that he had no more responsibility.
"I'm going to talk to them. I apologize for the loss of your son. I'll do something about this."
Heron looked at Merim leave.
'That was the complete reaction I'm expecting from this cold Imagi!'
"W-wait!"
"You don't have to worry, Mr. Enova. Since I failed to cure your son, I can put his death to justice."
Heron hesitated to stop Merim again.
'Heron, what are you stopping him!? Isn't this good? Those townspeople will taste the wrath of justice!'
'But what if this Imagi learns that we're hiding something from him. If Sir Merim goes out and did us justice only to find out that we are hiding the most important part, we will be in trouble!'
'You're right... we don't have the power to go against an Imagi, after all.'
After his thoughts clashed against one another, Heron finally decided to say.
"Actually, Elihim is still alive!"
"He is?" Merim raised an eyebrow. He found something suspicious.
'Now that I remember it. They are awfully cheerful for a family that just lost a family member.'
Lyssa and Ellie peeked from the first room upstairs.
"Yes. Although the townspeople indeed tried to kill my son, he survived."
"So where is he now?"
"He... he's still out there. We're trying to search for him."
"Search for him? You don't seem to be." Merim turned to him, "Is there something you are trying to hide from me, Mr. Enova?"
"Hide? Hahaha, of course not, Sir Merim!"
"Hm... then I'll see if I can find your son. I'm still responsible for his health anyway." Merim was about to turn around when Heron held his shoulder.
"Wait! There's no need!"
At that moment, Merim's eyes turned sharp and his arm swung, his hand swiftly grabbed Heron by his neck.
"Argh!"
"Heron!" Lyssa shouted from the room as she hurried out.
"Daddy...!" meanwhile, Ellie was too scared to come out.
"What are you doing to him!?"
Lyssa shouted in fear. If this Imagi tried to attack them, it would be more fearful than the seven men the other night.
"You, people! Did you throw your son out because he has an incurable illness!? I've received news this morning that your town is proposing reconnection to the city, is this all part of your plan!?"
Merim tightened his grip.
"Even if he is the cause of your poverty, that doesn't mean you can just throw him away! And now, you are blaming our fellow townspeople even though you are colluding with them!?"
"Stop! That's not true at all! Heron can't breathe!" Lyssa tried to remove Merim's hand.
But only because of Merim's decision that Heron was released from his grip. Even though he should just be a scholar, he can take out an experienced hunter easily using physical strength.
"Speak, if you don't want me assuming things, speak truthfully!" Merim domineeringly ordered.
Lyssa was about to open her mouth as Heron coughed harshly. However, she glanced at Ellie and said, "At least not in front of the child."
Although Ellie already knew what happened, they didn't want her to remember it.
Sitting on the table once again. This time, it was Lyssa who was sitting opposite Merim.
Heron was inside the room, resting together with Ellie.
"Is mommy going to tell the truth? But Elihi said he wanted it as a secret!"
"We have no choice, Ellie. Also..." Heron stood up and looked at Merim through the gaps of the door, "It seemed that we are also misunderstanding that Imagi's character. I think we can trust him to keep it a secret too."
"But... if you're going to tell that to anyone and tell them to keep it a secret then it wouldn't be a secret!" Ellie rebuked which made Heron laughed.
"You're just six years old, why do you think that far?"
"Elihi told me!"
"Oh... but it's fine. I think Sir Merim deserves to know it. Although it is his obligation, he continues to come here every week for the past two years without stopping to check up on Elihim."
Ellie tilted her head, she failed to understand it.
Noticing this, Heron just simply said, "It's better to tell him the truth instead of any misunderstanding, Ellie. After all, we can't make an Imagi an enemy."
"Hmph! But Elihi is a stronger Imagi!"
"Hahaha, you're right. But Sir Merim isn't only one guy, he represents the Emeralkan Academy. All the Elite Academian there are stronger than him, especially their principal. Do you know, in the West Green, the Emeralkan Principal is on the top 100 strongest Imagis?"
"Woah..." Ellie was amazed even though she didn't know what that meant.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Lyssa retold the story. This time, truthfully in full details. Merim found some consistency in the story and knew that Lyssa is not lying.
"When I saw they took Ellie as a hostage, I don't know what to do. So when they asked for the Artifact in exchange for letting Ellie go, I gave it to them."
"Then they didn't do as promised, correct? I already know this part, keep going."
Lyssa's face darkened.
"They took Elihim, beat up Heron while some bastards tried to touch me and tried to undress me. However..." Lyssa then looked at Merim in the eyes.
Merim gulped, the story was now heavier than earlier.
"Before they're successful, all of their arms bent."
"All of them?" Merim raised an eyebrow but was confused.
'Sure, it's weird that they are in unison, so what?'
"The other way around." Lyssa continued, making Merim shiver, "We just heard several cracks as their elbows broke and their arms were forcefully bent by an unknown force... the other way an arm should bend." she repeated.
Merim then glanced at his elbow and moved it inconspicuously.
"Someone saved you but took Elihim away?" he asked to hide that he felt a little scared from the story.
Lyssa shook her head.
"No... when the man who took my son away had his arms bent too, Elihim dropped on the ground limply. I took Ellie at that moment and tried to turn my head away, however, I couldn't help but look."
"Then?"
"The men who didn't expect such a situation froze until they were about to scream. But, not a single sound came out of their mouth."
Merim frowned, "Are you still speaking the truth, Mrs. Enova?"
Lyssa nodded and continued, "After that, I saw Elihim, who dropped on the ground, stood up."
"..."