"Father, since the matter has sort out, I would like to like to ask Sir. Allan some questions... Can I, Sir. Allan?"
Laren said.
The atmosphere of the hall suddenly become heavy. The tone in which he said those with that serious expression, it was clear that what he want to ask is no ordinary thing.
"...Well, if Mr. Allan is fine with that then I didn't see any reason to deny. But since the inciting is over, we should take our leave."
"No father. This is something that I want everyone present here should know... Mr. Allan, can I?"
He looked into my eyes with a serious expression. I returned the favour, and did same.
'Dang, this situation is way too much.'
After the long moment of silence and for staring each other, I blinked my eyes and sighed.
"There is 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 something you want to ask me? Ha-uh, alright please go ahead."
"Thank you, Mr. Allan... Then can I ask whether you know this name, Rahnu. It's a small village near Kingdom's border."
"...Yeah, I know about it."
"Wait. Brother why are you suddenly asking about that village?"
Before Laren can proceed, Lucia interfered with a question.
"You will know soon... Mr. Allan, few weeks ago that village was raided by Lufi Empire. Do you know about that?"
"Well yeah, actually I use to live in that village before raid. I ran away to save my life."
"You 𝙧𝙪𝙣 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮? I didn't expected that since you so powerful."
This guy is suspicion about. Maybe he knows that it was me who beat all the raiders at the village.
"As they say, 'If there is life then there is a world'. I exactly did that. It's not like I can stand against the raiders. You're just overestimating me. "
"Really? Well if you insist so much then I will believe you. Leon."
"Yes Prince!"
Laren called out Leon and whispered something in his ear.
"As you wish sir."
With that Leon approached knights at door and ordered them something as they leaved the room.
Then Laren turned to me.
"Mr. Allan, when our force arrived that village. It was already destroy. And, more interesting thing is that all the raiders there were unconscious till that the time we arrived. Moreover there was also a grave for all villagers."
He lean forward while he said last part.
"... So, what are you trying to tell me?"
"Well, you see. I think that after raiders destroy the village and murdered all the villagers, someone take revenge on them and beat them all to death."
"...And what it has to do with me?"
"You know Mr. Allan, you have quite a good poker face. You very well know how to hide your emotions... You know what exactly I am talking about."
"..."
I stared Laren. This guy surely know that it was me.
"It was you who did it, didn't you? You were the one who fought those raiders and made that grave."
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"Please don't say that, Mr. Allan. I know it was you."
"W-Wait a minute, brother! Are you saying that it was Allan who beat those raiders?!"
"Exactly."
Laren answered open-eyed Lucia's question. Everyone in the room looked at me with surprised expression.
"...And how can you be so sure about that? Can you prove it."
"Yes, I can."
He said with confidence.
"If I am not wrong, when you saved Leon and my sister, Lucia. You defeated all the assassins by hitting each of them only once, didn't you?"
"...Yes, so?"
"Heh, well when I heard that I was shocked. You know better than anyone else that they were wearing enchanted clothes which protects the one with physical damage. Still you defeated them in one blow, that's quite terrifying."
"..."
The expression of shock and surprise on the face of everyone keep on increasing as Laren spoke.
"You know the raiders who were found unconscious at Rahnu village, were also the knights from Lufi Empire. They were wearing iron armour and when we examine them, visible damage such as dent and cracks were found on them... At first glance, it would seem like they were hit by some sort of heavy weapon but, an experienced person can clearly say that they were all created by melee attack without a doubt...And by one hit!"
"Sorry that I couldn't stand on your expectations, but it was not me."
"Good grief. You are still not willing to admit it, alright then. You know the footprints we found at flower garden were exact same of that we found in the that village."
"..."
"If you still don't accept it, then. Leon bring them."
"Yess, sir!"
Leon ordered knights and they brought some prisoners with them.
'Oh... Hm, seems like this is checkmate!'
They were the ones who I defeated at village. There were 3 of them, one of them was also the leader of the raiders.
As soon as they noticed me, there face turned pale. Fear was clearly visible on there face.
"You all, do you know this man here?"
Laren asked them whether they know me or not. I didn't moved and instead looked down and keep staring the floor.
"Y-Y-Yes s-sir. He the guy who b-beated us a-at village. P-P-Please sir, we beg you. P-Please save us from him."
"Hm, Leon take them."
"Roger."
Everyone's gazes were fixed on me, while I was just staring the floor.
𝙎𝙄𝙇𝙀𝙉𝘾𝙀𝙀𝙀𝙀𝙀
There was a empty silence in the room until Laren broke it. With a smile on his face he said.
"So will you now admit it, Mr. Allan?"
"Heh, hahahahaha!"
I laughed loudly.
I looked up at Laren.
"You caught me. Really. Seems like I can't hide it anymore."
"So, you admit it."
"Yeah, I admit it. It was me. I was the one who defeated those raiders...Heh, I have to say. You really are something... So, what will you do now?"
"You don't have to be afraid. It's not like you did something wrong, instead you have helped us a lot. If you have not defeated those raiders we were never able to caught them. We also obtained some useful information from them."
"Well, that good. But why were you so desperate to expose my identity. It's not like you would gain something from that."
"We would. And Mr. Allan is such a modest person, I wanted that kingdom fully repay your debt. That's it."
He said with a warm smile.
Is this guy for real?!
"But still I am curious about something..."
"What is it?"
"You made a grave for villagers and defeated raiders, to avenge them. But why didn't you kill them? Normally, one wouldn't let go this kind of opportunity to take revenge..."
"Heh, Revenge? Avenge the villagers? That's funny."
"Huh?"
"I didn't fought them because I want to take revenge on them or avenge villagers. It was simply self-defense."
"...Self-defense?"
Laren and everyone give me confused look.
"Yes, it was just a self-defense. I forgot my stuff in the village, so me I returned to village to take it from my house in that village. When I arrived, village was already raided and all the villagers were dead. When I tried to retrieve my things and asked to let me take it, raiders attacked me so I returned the favour. As for the grave, I thought it would be better to respect the dead so I made a grave for them... There were no personal feeling involved. I only lived in that village for a month or 2, not much of the affection I bare for them."
Everyone were stunned by my reply. Laren looked at me with a shocked face.
Well it was true that I nothing to do with them.
"That's quite cold. I didn't expect you were such person, Mr. Allan."
"Please don't take it wrong. It's obvious, isn't it? One only do something when they get something in return. Though if someone needs help, I wouldn't hesitate to lend a hand as long as it's not wrong... But a mortal cannot reverse the death, so there is no point of wasting time on avenging the ones who you don't even hold any affection, is there? And as for me, there is no one in this world who important to me..."
"I-I see... Then sorry for all the trouble again. Please feel free to take your time, Leon will escort you. If you need something, please don't hesitate to inform us."
"Thank you."
With that, I finally get free from all the mess.
Wow, that was tiring. Though I have to say, red hairs is pretty good in massage...