As we walked home, Esie, Gerth, and I eventually parted ways. I carried the injured Sting back with me.
When I entered the house, Stella and Ishla were sitting at the dining table. Stella looked as angry as usual. Before she could start saying anything, I placed the bag of silver and gold coins on the table.
Her expression changed immediately as she opened the bag and gasped in surprise.
-- Where did you get this much gold?! -- she exclaimed.
I began explaining everything that had happened.
When I finished, she hugged me tightly.
-- I'm so proud of you for earning this much gold. Since your father isn't with us, I expect you to bring home this much gold every day. We're going to be rich! --
Was she kidding? I didn't expect my beloved mother to act this way—it was strange, even for her.
I gently lowered Sting to the floor, noticing how Stella and Ishla were still counting the silver coins, completely ignoring the wounded Sting lying there.
-- Kidding aside, I have a bad feeling about those knights. It'll take at least three weeks before Gustav and the others reach the Kingdom's border, -- Stella said, her tone shifting.
Ishla finally glanced at Sting.
-- Is that human still alive? -- she asked casually.
Then, without waiting for an answer, she added, -- Well, even if they reach Gustav, do you really think they can stop him? --
Stella stood up, seemingly ignoring Ishla's comment. She picked up a handful of dirt from the flower pot nearby, and begun chanting. To my surprise, the dirt in her hand suddenly transformed into a bird.
-- Anyway, I'll send a letter to Gustav, just to be safe, -- she said as the bird flapped its wings and flew out of the house.
Later that night, I decided to spend my time in my room practicing the technique Gustav had taught me. Since I couldn't test it without another mage, I focused instead on channeling mana beneath my skin.
It was harder than I expected. Every time the mana reached the second layer of my skin—the dermis—it simply flowed out of my body entirely. I had to concentrate intensely to keep the mana just beneath the subcutaneous layer.As Gustav had explained, this technique worked like a shotgun. If I moved my fist or any part of my body with the right force and velocity, the mana beneath my skin would shoot out, displacing any foreign mana within its range.
It's almost past midnight, so I decided to sneak outside once again, to rome.
-- Hey, where are you going? -- Ishla called out from the roof.
Just getting some fresh air. Why are you up there anyway? - I asked.
-- Can't you see them? -- she replied.
I immediately activated my detection magic. Thirteen humans surrounded the house.
Who are they? - I asked.
-- I don't know. I'm not sure why they're here, but they've been observing us since this afternoon. I didn't tell Stella about it. I don't want her worrying about things like this, especially since she's pregnant, -- Ishla explained.
Suddenly, an arrow shot toward me.
Ishla reacted in an instant, pushing me aside just in time to make the arrow miss. She immediately drew her dagger and vanished, leaving behind a trail of black smoke.
With my detection magic, I tracked her movements. She reappeared right in front of one of the men hiding in the bushes. In a single swift motion, she killed him.
Then, just as quickly, she teleported back to the roof.
-- Go back inside, -- Ishla commanded before blinking toward another target.
Another arrow whizzed through the air, this time aimed at my head.
I cast a barrier in all directions, focusing my detection magic to pinpoint the attackers. Glowing blue threads appeared in my vision, marking their locations.
I jumped to the ground and immediately summoned spears made of stone, launching them toward the men's positions.
Ishla suddenly blinked to my side.
-- Don't kill everyone. Leave one alive for interrogation, -- she instructed before vanishing again.
One of my spears hit its target, piercing the soldier's body. As his lifeless form collapsed, the system spoke:
/System: Side Quest – Killing Lloyd's Platoon [2 Days, 8 Hrs Remaining]
112 Left…
So, these were Lloyd's soldiers...
Ishla! - I shouted.
She teleported to my side instantly. -- What?! --
These are Lloyd's soldiers! - I explained.
-- Interesting. If that's the case, there's no point keeping them alive. Kill them all, -- Ishla said before disappearing once again.
My detection magic showed that seven of them were left, Running in all directions.
Now, only four remained...Three...
Ishla moved with incredible speed and precision, annihilating them one by one.
Finally, the blue threads marking their positions vanished entirely. I couldn't sense any of them anymore.
/System: Side Quest – Killing Lloyd's Platoon [2 Days, 8 Hrs Remaining]
105 Left…
Ishla reappeared near me.
-- We need to clean this up. To be fair, I'll use my teleportation magic to send most of the corpses to the lake. You, however, will take care of your kill, -- Ishla said.
Why not just teleport them all? I only killed one. - I protested.
-- Because I'm teaching you to take responsibility, -- she said with a smirk before vanishing again.
Okay, okay, Grandma, - I muttered, mocking her as I headed toward the soldier I had killed.
As I approached the scene, a horrible sight greeted me.
The soldier lay sprawled on the ground, impaled by my earth spear. Blood and guts were scattered everywhere. His eyes were wide open, staring into nothingness—but it felt like he was looking deep into my soul.
I gagged and vomited on the spot.
This was nothing like killing goblins. Goblins didn't exist in my previous world, so killing them felt almost like playing a video game. But this? This was entirely different.
I forced myself to move closer, kneeling beside the corpse. I gently closed his lifeless eyes, trying to ignore the stench of blood and guts that made me feel dizzy.
The soldier wasn't wearing their usual full armor, Just a Chainmail. He had a bow, a quiver of arrows, and a small dagger tucked into his side pocket.
As I move his body, a letter fell from his pocket.
I picked it up and read it slowly.
My knees began to shake as I saw the words:
"Dear Dad,
I miss you so much, but I'm so proud of you for being a soldier and keeping our Kingdom safe. I can't wait until you come home so we can play together again. I love you more than anything, and I'll be counting down the days until I see you."
Tears welled up in my eyes.
This is terrible. It's not my fault you died. Why were you even here, you dumb fool? Why did you attack us? If you had just stayed away from us, you'd still be alive, going back to your kid. It's your fault, not mine! - I shouted at the corpse, anger and guilt swirling inside me.
I wiped my eyes as I slowly buried his body with earth magic. The smell of blood still lingered in the air.
Then Ishla appeared beside me.
-- What are you doing? -- She stomped on the twig. -- You don't want to leave a mark where you buried your kill.
She looked at me, smirking.
-- Oh, is this your first kill, brat? I almost forgot you're just a child. You act so mature for your age, -- she teased, her tone playful but sharp.
Why are you still here? Why not go back to your forest or wherever? - I replied, annoyed.
For starters, if I weren't here, you'd be dead. And second, there's something strange happening in this kingdom. A surge of anomaly. That's why the Goddess Maiden of the Forest sent me here, --
What kind of anomaly? - I asked, my curiosity piqued.
-- I'm not certain yet. But it's likely something—or someone—born into this world who shouldn't exist. Creatures like the Goblin King, for example, -- she replied, her tone darkening slightly.
I hope that's not me...
-- Anyway, go back to your room. I'll keep watching the vicinity, -- she commanded, her tone firm.
I turned and slowly walked back to my room. In my hand was the crumpled letter from the soldier's child. I cast a small flame spell and set it on fire.
I watched it burn, the words disappearing into ash. The faint glow faded, and a cold breeze swept through, scattering the ashes into nothingness.
I climbed back through my window and lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
The weight of what I'd done suffocated me.
Every person has their own life, their own story. That soldier… he was just following orders. Protecting his kingdom, protecting his family. And yet, I ended it all. I tore him away from the people who loved him.
If those soldiers hadn't chosen this path, what kind of life would they be living right now?
If he weren't a soldier, where would he be right now? Would he be at home with his child, laughing and playing games? Would he be holding his wife close, whispering about their dreams for the future, while lying in the comforts of their bed instead of lying lifeless beneath the earth?
it wasn't my fault. It's not my fault, is it?
I wish there was a way to change their fate...