Chapter 87

I ran, no, sprinted back to town, my hair glowing as I used my mana nature to speed up as fast as I could. At the gate, I flashed my adventurer’s guild card to the guard, who let me through without stopping me, already knowing who I was. Granted, my eyes were blue.

Through the gate, I made my way to the adventurer guild, then to the reception area, where I saw Emma.

She was talking to someone, but I jumped into their conversation.

“Nyx?” Surprised by the sudden intrusion, her eyes glance to the blood on my clothes before meeting mine. What happened?”

“Can’t say out here, but where’s Clare? We have to leave Farsbarow.”

Sensing my urgency under my expressionless face and barely raised voice, she then said.

“She is in the office; we’ll discuss this on the third floor. I’ll wait for you there.”

Nodding and going to the office in the back, Emma apologizes to the person she was speaking to as he looked confused by our interaction, followed by waving for another receptionist to take over her counter.

In the office, I walked up to Clare, who was in her cubicle, which also drew the attention of the other office workers there.

“Nyx, what is wrong?”

Concern showed on her face as she knew what I was feeling and a bit of what I was thinking.

“We can’t speak here; let’s go to the third floor to an office to speak in private with Emma.”

Quickly, putting everything down, one of her coworkers asks if she was okay and what was going on, but Clare ignores him as we leave and go upstairs to the third floor, where Emma was waiting.

She opened the door to the room to let us in, and when she shut it, she took out a device from a drawer in a corner.

It was a copper-colored disk of some kind with a complex sequence of runes on it.

Emma placed it on the coffee table in the center of the room and put her hands on it, causing it to glow. I felt mana flowing through it, followed by a thin field of mana expanding out of it.

Now, seeing that she was done, she told us to sit with a serious face.

Sitting, I told her…

“I mess up.”

“Mess up how? How bad is it? Did someone find you?”

She and Clare looked at me with concern, seeing all the cuts and blood stains on my clothes.

“How do I put this…” Trying to know where to start, I decided on just telling them the worst news first, followed by the less bad ones.

“Kinda… Maybe… beat up my ex-fiancé, Prince Edwen, as well as my brother and two other people from influential families?"

Not looking them in the eye, I cringed inwardly, because this really reminded me of my biggest screw-up in my past life—when I accidentally got a general caught up in my usual fights with my sister Norn. Granted, this blunder surpasses that by a long shot.

“Huh???!!!!” Emma, completely shocked by what I said, asked to clarify.

“By Prince Eric and your ex-fiancé, do you mean the third prince of the kingdom?”Emma’s voice faltered, her shock only deepening. She pressed a finger against her chin, falling silent as if struck by a sudden thought, her eyes narrowing like she was figuring something out.

“The prince, your brother, and the other two—wait! Don’t tell me?”

Placing her head on her forehead, she then said, “But… how? I’d thought they were in another country. Clare, didn’t you say you were keeping an eye on them?”

“Yes, I have, Ms. Emma. Unfortunately, I lost track of them roughly a week ago.”

Facing me with deep regret, Clare bowed in apology. “I deeply apologize, Lady Rita, for my oversight.”

“Huh… Clare, there is no need to apologize, but could you tell us why you didn’t tell me?”

“Yes, I would also like to know.”

Plainly speaking, she answered. “I thought I had gotten rid of them permanently.”

Repeating the last part, Emma coincidentally shouted out what I was thinking in my mind. “Wait, what? What do you mean by ‘permanently’?”

“Exactly as you imagine, Ms. Emma.”

Wondering if I had heard that right, as well as Emma, Clare proceeded to tell us in great detail how she was dealing with them, like putting up bounties in the underworld through a web of proxies, funded with money she’d obtained by blackmailing several noble families and companies using dirt my father had kept.

In addition to that, she had hired people to spread unsavory rumors about them, fed them false leads to distant and dangerous locations, unleashed monster hordes in their path, and more.

“Lady Rita, I will do my best to make sure this doesn't happen again, and I will redouble my effort to get rid of such pests.”

Another silence fell after Clare had said that, where I tried my best not to react under my usual expressionless self, where Clare couldn’t read me because, honestly, I think, no, know that she is taking things out of hand. Emma, on the other hand, was barely keeping together after Clare casually admitted to trying to take the life of royalty.

“So, Clare, is it just that, or is there more?”

“I believe that is all, my lady.”

Honestly, hearing all that, all I could think of was, Wow… It was almost like she had a personal beef with my brother, and his companions were just unintended bystanders who were caught up in all of it. That is just more than straight-up harassment.

After hearing all that, Emma then turned to me and said. “Nyx—I mean Lady Rita, you can’t be fine with this? Right?”

Not showing any reaction to the unbelievable things Clare has said, I guess Emma would say that.

“No, I’m just as surprised as you are.” Then, facing Clare, “I think you overdid it; I would rather not take the risk of it all leading back to us, even if there is none.”

“I see, Lady Rita, then I will stop all actions relating to them.”

“Good, but… Keep the bounty up; you’ve already put it up, and there is no point in taking it down now; it would cause more problems.”

“Yes, Lady Rita.”

Bowing in confirmation, I then said, “Alright, where did I leave off?”

Emma, leaning on the sofa, looking like she had a massive headache, said, “You were talking about beating up the prince.”

“Right.”

I proceeded to tell them further, going into detail on how I met Aria, excluding her having a crush on me, fighting off some direwolves, and then fighting her companions. I kind of also exclude the part where they tried to beg me to stop, which I ignored. So, I told them that it kind of spiraled out of control, where one came after another, and I had to fight them because it was self-defense at that point.

In the end, I finished off by telling them how, after knocking them all out, I eventually realized who they were, a detail I hadn’t noticed at first, since I didn’t expect to see them, and Eric and Edwen looked different from the last time I’d seen them.

Telling her all that, she looked at me exactly the same as Clare when Clare told us about how she was dealing with my brother searching for me, like we both were crazy and insane.

With a massive sigh, she said. “Alright, I’ll have someone prepare a carriage for you to take you to a neighboring village, and I’ll get your things. I will also be notifying the guard to tell me of their arrival, so sit tight and don’t go anywhere, okay?”

“Yeah, I don’t plan on getting caught after all.”

“Good.”

Leaving the room, I ask Clare about our next course of action while we move to another place to hide, because honestly, what are the odds that I would find my brother in the middle of the woods of all places? It was next to zero, but it did happen.

After sorting everything out, we decided it was best to wait and see what happened next because I was just plain unlucky encountering them, and it’s unlikely that they would do anything. They are definitely looking for me in secret, mostly because of Eric, who is a prince, especially with the fact that he sneaks into another country unannounced, which would lead to massive political repercussions if he were to be found out.

Confirming our plan, we waited patiently for Emma to gather our things. When she returned, with everything packed and ready for us to leave, we double-checked our belongings, just in case Emma had missed anything. Fortunately, nothing was missing. We then changed our clothes, with Clare swapping her guild uniform for traveling attire, while I changed out of my heavy white cloak and torn, bloodied clothes for my old grey cloak that can be flipped to a black one, along with a fresh set of clothes. Emma led us out a back exit, with a carriage waiting for us outside.

Leaving Acton and heading toward a village, in the complete opposite direction of where I encountered my brother and his companions, went relatively smoothly. And when we got there, it was the dead of night.

Going to the only inn in the village, we were fortunate to find an empty room with two beds for the night.

Paying the innkeeper, we put our things in our room, then got something quick to eat in the tavern next door, and went to bed.

Sleeping lightly in case anything happens, I awoke to the slightest disturbances several times throughout the night. Most of it is just someone using the bathroom or drunken villagers stumbling around to their homes.

The next morning, I awoke as soon as I heard Clare rise from her bed. "Seeing you getting up also," she said.

“Lady Rita, did I wake you?”

“Yeah, kinda, but it’s fine; I was sleeping lightly anyway.”

So with that, I stretched a bit in bed and yawned, then got up as we did our usual routine for the day, and when that was done, I put on all my gear, and we went to the tavern next door.

It was still dark when we entered, and we ate a proper breakfast to make up for last night’s light dinner. When we left after a filling breakfast, the sun was rising, so we then went back to our room to wait because Emma said that she would be coming to us to give us an update on what was going on at a predecided meeting place, but it was still too early, and she hadn’t arrived yet.

However, as we walked back and by the door to the inn, I heard a bunch of voices that I didn’t want to hear.

“Hey, I should be with Ilesha; you three should take the other room. I’m the one paying.” said a blonde-haired boy.

Retorting, a red-haired boy said. “Really, Philip? You’re paying because you’re the only one with some money left, since we’ve all run out of money paying for our gear to be repaired and restocking our supplies. I should stay with her since I was the one who paid the most.”

Agreeing with him was a grey-haired boy with a pair of glasses. “I agree with what Richard is saying, though I believe I should stay with her since I managed to navigate us here back to civilization, after you—” He pointed his finger at the red-haired boy. “Got us lost.”

“Wait, hold on there, Henry.” Stopping the grey-haired boy was a silver-haired boy with blue eyes, he countered. “Weren’t you the one who suggested going through the wilderness to begin with?”

“Yes, and what of it, Alan? I distinctly remember you three agreeing to it, so we do not have to deal with bandits or any assassins constantly coming at us. It’s not my fault that you all can’t read the stars to navigate after my glasses broke.”

“Really? Then why didn’t you try using your magic to help us navigate to begin with, four eyes?”

Glaring at the red-haired boy, he sarcastically said. “Right… It’s not like I knew beforehand that I could stretch out my wind magic to scout out a road.”

“So? You’re the smart one—why didn’t you figure that out earlier?” angrily scoffed the blonde-haired boy.

“Maybe it’s because it’s crazily mana inefficient; you should know that, so don’t try to blame me for getting us lost since you're the one they were targeting, Philip.”

Placing an emphasis on his name, mainly because of his royal status, all four of them glared at each other till the person, the reason they are all bickering, spoke up.

“Everyone, stop fighting!!! Let us all calm down and take a deep breath, please.”

Looking from outside the window, I gulp a bit, wondering how the hell they got here.

Taking a step back, I looked at Clare and said, “Clare, go to our meeting place with Emma; wait there. I’ll meet with you after I get our things.”

With a serious expression, she nodded, already knowing that there was no room for discussion from reading my thoughts.

Seeing Clare running off, I took a breath to calm my nerves, then focused on controlling my mana to fill up my mana channels, making just my eyes turn blue. I blink a bit and look at my reflection in the mirror to confirm that my eyes are blue as I walk into the inn with my hood on.

There I’d walk up to the counter as Aria was reining in her companions, or more like love interests, and say, “Excuse me, I’m planning on checking out now.”

She, hearing my voice, snapped her head toward me as she was in the middle of scolding everyone.

I looked back and tried to act like I also recognized her, although it didn’t show on my face.

Gasping in surprise, a bright smile formed on her face, and she said. “It’s you, Blake?”

Getting really close up, she then said, “It’s really good to see you. I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

Then, looking back at her companions, I also looked at them, and they glared at me for some reason.

“I’m really sorry that they attacked you; you see, they tend to be really protective of me.”

Scratching her head, with a wry smile, she bowed deeply in apology. However, as she did that, they flinched when I looked at them, but the jealousy soon took over, and they went back to glaring at me.

Not noticing it when Aria finished bowing to me, she turned to them and puffed out her cheeks, really miffed that they weren’t apologizing to me with her.

“Well?? Are you all not going to apologize?”

“We don’t want to—he’s the insane bastard who wouldn’t stop even when we begged.”

“Eri— I mean Philip, this again? Does Blake look like the person who did that?”

“No, not at this moment, but when he is in a—”

“Philip…” cutting Eric, Aria looked at him with a sad look, with a hint of disapproval.

“Is that what you all think, too?”

As for everyone else, the look on their faces was the same as Eric’s, united, agreeing with him. However, under her saddened gaze, it immediately broke, and they caved in.

Really begrudgingly, they put aside their feelings and apologized while introducing themselves, specifically their aliases: Edwin for Philip, my brother Eric for Alan, Serell for Henry, and Issac for Richard.

“Hello, I am Blake. I, umm… accept your apology, and I also would like to apologize as well; I was partly to blame as well.”

After saying that, Aria smiled at them, which, for some reason, completely enraptured them, but when she turned to me with that smile, it was back to glaring at them.

What are they? A bunch of beasts? Aren’t they supposed to be high-born children, especially Eric, who is a prince of all people?

I may be out of the loop of noble and political affairs for the most part, but I can’t help but worry that this kingdom would be in serious trouble if this is what we get for the next generation of leaders for the kingdom.

Internally sighing to myself, I said, “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. I can help you with that.”

Bright-eyed and with an even brighter smile, she blushed and waited expectantly for what I had to say next, which also gave me even more glares from everyone else.

“I’m checking out right now. I guess I could lend you my room; I already paid for one more day. Maybe you could have it.”

“Really, thank you so much!!!”

Smiling even more than before, she took a step forward, and to my surprise, she went in for a hug.

Surprised by her sudden action, I stood there stunned while also feeling, now, furious glares seeping in pure envy boring down even more on me.

Uh… you can let go now. Umm… why aren’t you letting go? This is starting to get a little awkward.

Her grip on me was really tight, and I had a sinking feeling that if I tried to pry her off, they would get even angrier.

Wait a second… I heard someone breathing heavily. Looking at the source, I saw Aria burying her face into my clothes as she hugged me tightly.

Huh…A thought came to mind: maybe I shouldn’t read her thoughts because I think it’s safer for my sanity if I don’t.

“Umm… I think it’s time for me to go.”

Saying that, fortunately, she let go of me dejectedly, though I did catch the slightest bit of a perverted smile on her face and rough breathing, which sent shivers down my spine.

Then, facing the innkeeper, I ask, trying to change the subject. “Is it fine with you?’

He nodded at my question and said it was fine for me to give Aria the key to the room I’d paid for.

Quickly going to my room, I pack up everything as quickly as possible, then I do a quick sweep to see if I missed anything.

Then, leaving my room with my things and Clare’s things, I found Aria, my brother, Eric, and the other two waiting outside.

“That looks awfully heavy. Why don’t I give you a hand?”

Happily saying that, Issac and my brother cut in, saying that Aria shouldn’t do it, and I, a man, should carry it on my own, which honestly is a good thing since I don’t really want them to follow me back to Clare, so I told them.

“That’s fine. I really need to get going anyway, or I’ll end up late meeting with a friend I’m traveling with.”

“Ohhh… That’s a shame; I really want to talk some more.”

“Yeah, it’s a shame, but I have to go now. Goodbye.”

Carrying both my things and Clare’s, I hurried down the stairs and quickly made my way to the meet-up place previously discussed, which was a bakery.

Upon entering, I told the storekeeper that Emma told me to come here, upon which she then quickly led me into the basement, with Clare sitting in a chair waiting for me.

She asked if I was alright, and I told her I was fine before telling her what had happened. Afterward, we discussed our next moves, because honestly, the chances of me running into them twice seemed extraordinarily low—so much so that our conversation veered a bit into conspiracy territory—until Emma arrived two or three hours later.

We informed her of what happened, which she was shocked to hear, naturally.

Giving our opinion and some of what we discussed, we figure that they would go back to Farsbarow to try looking for me.

Hearing all that, Emma asks Clare.

“Why don’t you try going back to Acton? The third knight order should still be there.”

At her question, Clare and I both realized what she meant because that seems like a good place to hide and far enough away that my brother wouldn’t choose to go, especially since I overheard them saying that they were running out of funds.

“If my lady decides, then I will follow.”

They looked at me for a decision, and I decided against going back to Acton because what are the chances of encountering them in there? With my encounters with them, we would likely cross paths.

With that, I told Emma that we would not be going to Acton because of the highly unlikely chance that they would go there, being very likely, and that I would rather wait it out until they run out of time trying to find me and go back home.

Hearing my reasoning, Emma seems skeptical but agrees to it, so we went back to Farsbarow.

Back in Farsbarow, we went back to the inn we were staying in. Emma had put Farsbarow on high alert while also keeping a close eye on my brother and his companions.

I had to stay in our room, trying to keep a low profile and not get seen by anyone because of them, which got pretty boring.

Fortunately, Clare had brought back some books from Mable’s library that I’d requested after she finished work for me to read, since I had nothing better to do. They focused mainly on magic, specifically about magical combat and what to expect when facing various types of mages.

I spent my days reading by the window and practicing my magic to stay sharp, following this routine for a week straight. Then, one day, as I was practicing, I noticed a group of hooded individuals walking down the streets, which was nothing particularly unusual, but it caught my attention nonetheless because it was how I pass the time.

One of them seems to notice my gaze on them and… and… I saw someone with pinkish blonde hair looking right at me.

No, you've got to be kidding me? Aren’t they still in that neighboring village? How the heck are they here?

As I thought that, the door to my room suddenly slammed open, and I saw Clare running in.