4. Rynella’s fate is decided by Rynella (7)
Immediately after Neris uttered the question, the conference room fell silent.
The newspaper staff each averted their gaze, swallowed dry saliva, or closed their eyes as if in pain.
Everyone knew what the outcome would be.
The man’s blazing golden eyes indifferently turned to Neris.
She burst into tears and laughed pitifully.
“Okay, I was wrong.”
It was a trembling voice. Those words mixed with faint cries had the power to move people’s hearts.
“Oh, that was a mistake… off, never! It’s not that I doubted it. It was just something that came out of nowhere… … .”
So Neris begged.
“I, please… Ugh, big. Kyaa!
Of course, it was a futile attempt.
Ian, who threw the hatchet and crushed the rest of Neris’ shoulder, raised his hand without saying a word and retrieved the hatchet again.
Neris was now crouching on the ground. Only the cries and moans coming out of her mouth gave her an idea of the pain and fear she was feeling.
Ian, who had been watching the miserable appearance for a moment, looked around at the newspaper staff and asked.
“Anyone still have questions?”
Of course, no one opened their mouths.
Only then did Ian shake his head and move on. Before leaving, his last instructions were:
“We will investigate the requested information by tomorrow. And then, Branch Manager Neris will take you to the temple.”
Even after Ian left, there was only silence in the conference room for a while.
The only one who can make noise inside is Neris, who twists and groans.
It was a short meeting, but the trainees of the academy branch learned one iron rule.
never doubt
I didn’t even question it, I just had to follow it.
Because I know what would happen if I didn’t.
Cold sweat dripped down the back of the trainee who I didn’t know who it was.
**
“Uh, um… That, that’s right.”
That was the only reaction I would show after hearing Neris-senpai’s long story.
I’m not sure, but I thought it was fortunate that I was officially appointed to the academy branch after being recognized by the imperial family.
In the process, he did something pretty brutal, though.
When I asked what I had done, the answer to why I asked such a question ought to come back, but senior Neris just shook his head with his head bowed.
She kept adding like a habit.
“Oh, I didn’t doubt it. off, never! I didn’t doubt… … .”
Apparently, the last time he was in danger of being burned to death, it seemed that his fears had doubled after he committed violence again.
Even as a Neris senior, I belonged to a superior who could not resist.
If I hit it with my fist, it had to be hit, and if I hit it with an ax, it had to be stamped out. I had no choice but to guess that that sense of helplessness was fueling Neris-senpai’s fear.
It was difficult.
The future ‘me’ seemed to have a purpose, but I was the one who had to be with Neris-senpai throughout the vacation. How are you going to spend your time in such an uncomfortable relationship?
I wanted to complain, but that idiot didn’t have the jaw to listen to me.
As a sigh leaked out of my mouth in frustration, Neris-senpai’s body trembled.
“That, sin, sorry! All right, right now… … .”
“… … What did I do wrong?”
At my continued questioning, Neris-senpai forgot to even breathe, and his complexion went white. Watery, dark green eyes looked at me.
It was an inadvertent remark, but when I thought about it again, it was no different from verbal abuse.
Eventually, I hung my head helplessly.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, so don’t be afraid. Rather, the case of the disappearance of the Percus Territory?”
It was the information I requested from the future.
It was obviously not related to the incident that was about to happen.
Neris-senpai still seemed reluctant to me, but soon began reciting the information he had dutifully stumbled upon.
“That, that… … .”
To summarize the story that followed, it was this.
It is said that recently, there have been many cases of disappearances in and around the Percus Territory.
The exact time was about a month ago, right after I went to the orphanage.
Of course, it was a continent overflowing with demons and all sorts of incidents. The disappearance of one or two villagers was just a common accident.
So, there was no sign of using their hands anywhere else, including the Percus Territory.
However, as senior Neris continued the investigation, there were several commonalities in the disappearance cases.
First of all, the residents living in the outskirts disappear as if they were aiming for.
The farther away from the center, the worse the security was. No one cared if a life or two went back and forth.
Also, among the residents staying in the outskirts, it was suspicious that only those who had gone out to a particularly distant place were disappearing one by one.
It was analyzed that it seemed to be the work of those who intentionally target only ‘people who can disappear’.
However, due to the lack of investigation time, no conclusive evidence could be found. Neris-senpai explained that he couldn’t find out who was behind it either.
It was only natural that I had only one day left.
Even so, senior Neris glanced at me with anxious eyes throughout the report. It was a sign of fear that I would be dissatisfied.
Read at noblemtl
Just by looking at that series of actions, I could tell what Neris-senpai thought of me.
In the end, I had to deliberately squeeze out compliments to reassure her.
“I did a good job in a short amount of time. It wouldn’t have been easy since it was a rural estate, but it was enough. Start the detailed investigation by going to Percus Manor, and take care of yourself first.”
At my instruction, Neris-senpai hesitantly stood up.
However, there was still a feeling of disbelief in those eyes, and a moan of “Keuk” came out of my mouth.
Should I say I’m sorry even now?
It couldn’t be. A boss whose attitude changed quickly in just one day was worse than a consistently bad boss. It was because I didn’t know which rhythm to match.
I didn’t have many options.
Still, unable to erase my apologetic heart, I rummaged in my arms. The space expansion pouch that the princess gave as a gift was of high quality, so it could hold more items.
One of them was ointment.
I strode and approached senior Neris. I had to witness the scene in real time as the dark green eyes were stained with fear, but that time was only a moment.
Tak, he said, and squeezed the ointment into Neris-senpai’s hand.
To Neris-senpai, who looked bewildered, I spoke with a sigh.
“… … Take good care of yourself.”
Of course, there was a high possibility that senior Neris had better medicine than me as he handled poison.
This was nothing more than a catering act to lighten my heart. Even so, Neris-senpai, with a face that disbelieved this kindness, repeated opening and closing his lips several times.
I wanted to only arouse Neris-senpai’s fears at the most. It was right after that judgment was made that my lips recited the words of parting.
“Then, see you next time.”
Only then did senior Neris come to his senses and bowed his head. I just waved my hand and left.
Only a few questions remained in my heart.
How does the disappearance of Percus Territory relate to the Dark Church?
I don’t know what they’re plotting, but it wasn’t a plan with good intentions.
As the images of the flesh nest and Mitram’s remodeled maid passed through my mind one after another, I became somewhat impatient.
It was now time to head home.
**
The one who grabbed my ankle as I was about to get ready to go to the Percus Territory was a person I hadn’t seen in a long time.
It was Elsie senior.
She, with her lovely appearance as always, was fidgeting in front of my room. It was a face I hadn’t seen in a few days, so I couldn’t help but admire it.
“Senior Elsie!”
There was a misunderstanding last time, the moment I was about to say that.
I had no choice but to stop walking.
Elsie’s outfit was unusual. She always wore a conical hat and an academy uniform, but today she was wearing quite a bright outfit.
Anyone can see that it was a street wear.
While I was flustered, my eyes met Elsie-senpai’s. Senior Elsie was also quite surprised as soon as she saw me.
Elsie, who was hesitantly avoiding her gaze and fidgeting with her fingers, closed her eyes tightly.
And as if he had made up his mind, he shouted at me.
“Hey, date!”
In fact, I haven’t heard in a long time, and Elsie’s suggestion continued.
“Just the two of us… Uh, where are you going… … ?”
Elsie-senpai lowered her head with a blushing face.
Elsie sunbaenim, who finished her flower arrangement properly, was very lovable.
Even I, who had seen Elsie-senior many times, involuntarily fluttered.
So I couldn’t even open my mouth for a while.
The answer I managed to squeeze out was one word.
“I think it will be difficult because I am busy today.”
Elsie-senpai made an expression as if the world was collapsing.