156 – I Want to See Your Face
Around the time the sun was halfway through the sky.
An untimely commotion broke out in the capital of the empire.
-Isn’t that the warrior?
-Really? Where?
People’s attention was drawn to the appearance of a warrior who had always shown only a decent appearance, running around to the extent that his hair fluttered.
She was a woman who would have shaken her hand normally, but she didn’t seem able to afford it now.
‘Where did he go… !’
Contrary to the expectation that they would find it soon, Tommy was nowhere to be seen.
That time when the hero’s face showed impatience. A warrior who noticed the gathering of knights in the distance.
The smoky blonde, who drew attention among the knights, stopped her at her feet.
“That’s terrible… Who would do this…”
“Viola?”
From noble mtl dot com
– Chuck!
The knights saluted like swords as soon as they see the hero.
Apart from his status as a hero, among the younger knights, he was a far superior senior than Viola or Herald, so it was an action that came out naturally.
“Huh? Senpai… Not the hero, what’s the matter here…”
When Viola asked, the warrior who accepted the knights’ salute answered.
“I’m looking for someone. He’s a 10-year-old boy. Have you seen him?”
“A boy about 10 years old…”
Viola, who closed her eyes and thought about her, shook her head.
“I didn’t see it on the way, but how many kids would you like me to send you?”
As soon as she finished speaking, the knights showed a will to find them even if they searched the entire capital.
At Viola’s consideration, the hero shook her hand and refused.
“No, you look busy too. But what are you doing here?”
“That’s it…”
As Viola moved away from her body, the scene of the incident came into the hero’s eyes.
“This is…”
It was four pale corpses that seemed to have drained of all their blood.
Seeing the warrior’s frown on her face, Viola put her hand on her head and opened her mouth as if in trouble.
“Even considering that it happened in a back alley, the method is too cruel. I deliberately didn’t stop breathing and let him die in agony.”
The back alley was a place that could be called the darkness of the empire.
It was a hiding place for those who were weeded out who could no longer live with their faces up, and living there meant being isolated from society.
From the Empire’s point of view, it serves as a kind of filter and is like a beehive, so if you carelessly poke, the bees will come out, so it was only managed so that it does not grow in size through a process sometimes called ‘cleaning’.
The warrior’s eyes quickly scanned the corpses.
As Viola said, the word “Terrible” Was too appropriate.
“…Each is a different fatal wound.”
“You can see it too.”
After saying that, Viola let out a sigh and continued.
“This is no ordinary guy. Judging by the condition of the bloodstains and the wounds on the corpse, he took care of four well-built adult males in an instant. He must be adept at killing people.”
The warrior muttered as he looked at the petals scattered around.
“This type of thing is a big deal…”
“That’s right. He must be a dangerous guy who thinks his crimes are art.”
– Eudeuk.
Viola continued, biting her teeth.
“In addition, they left evidence that they were making fun of our knights.”
“Evidence?”
“Look at this.”
Looking at the direction Viola pointed, I saw footprints clearly imprinted on the bloodstained floor.
By the way, it’s a pattern I’ve seen a lot.
-Mr. Did you make it yourself?
– Yes? Oh well, that’s right….
A warrior who is dazzled by an unforgettable geometric pattern.
“….”
“This must be meant to ridicule the Knights. Stupidity. With such clear evidence left behind, if we continue the pursuit based on this…”
“…No, I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Yes?”
When I asked what that meant, the warrior replied.
“…I guess it’s someone I know.”
“Is that true?! Just tell me who you are, and I’ll send my troops right away to catch you!
Seeing the excited viola, the warrior opened his mouth with a sigh.
“…A member of our party.”
“….”
Viola was silent for a moment, then looked back at her body.
“…Looks like you did something to die for.”
As Viola said that, the tips of his ears turned red.
He must have been embarrassed by giving meaning to the knights until just now, mocking them.
When the truth of what was thought to be a serial killer’s debut was revealed to be justice, Viola ordered her body to be sent to the crematorium.
“That… I’ll go now. You’ve worked hard, Viola.”
“On the contrary, I only received help. Thank you, warrior.”
The warrior, who was out of his seat, put his hand on his pounding head.
He was already busy looking for Tommy, but in the meantime, his head hurt when he heard that he had crawled out and committed another murder.
‘He’s not the kind of person….’
Thought there must be a reason, the hero decided to talk about it later and decided to focus on finding Tommy for now.
After that, the warrior who wandered around for a long time but didn’t get any harvest returned to the orphanage with a sigh.
“Tommy…?”
“Sister?”
There he found Tommy on his knees with his hand raised.
***
– Hurup.
An old man who was sitting across from the warrior and sipping tea opened his mouth as he put down the cup.
“You came back shortly after you left. I’m sorry. I brought out useless words.”
“No. If you came back safely, that’s it.”
“That’s right. I’m glad you’re safe, at least…”
The warrior who looked at the sighing director also couldn’t express his current feelings.
Sure.
She looked at the flowers Tommy had given her.
A flower of the same type as the petals seen at the scene of the murder.
The fact that Tommy has this flower means that he was there.
When I tried to ask where she got it from, Tommy spoke first.
-I didn’t buy that….
-What?
-That’s actually….
Tommy confessed that he had stolen her bouquet and that her black-haired uncle had saved it from her bully, and that she had received it from him.
Through Tommy’s testimony, the puzzle was finally put together.
The reason why he went outside and why his footprints were left on the scene.
The fact that he killed people didn’t matter anymore. The important thing is that the gift he prepared for himself has arrived.
The director opened his mouth to the warrior holding a single flower as if it were precious.
“The person who saved Tommy was the one you cared about. That’s right.”
“That’s right. There are all these coincidences.”
The director chuckled.
“Do you know what they say when coincidences repeat themselves?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s called destiny.”
“….”
As the director happily watched the red-faced warrior lower his head, he suddenly had an idea.
‘I want to see your face at least once.’
I couldn’t stand it because I was curious about what kind of person he was that made a child who was always supposed to be a warrior so timid.
After thinking, the director asked.
“Durandal.”
“Yes…”
A warrior who struggles to raise his head, saying that we should still make eye contact and talk.
“This old man has a favor for me. Will you do it?”
“Yes…?”
***
At some point, the darkness was just around the corner.
In the room where only a small candle was lit, only the shadow of a man was swaying.
– Smart.
When the sound of knocking on the window broke the silence, the locked window opened and a figure skillfully climbed through the window and entered the room.
The man who was watching all of that thought as he placed his hand on the teacup.
‘Your skills have improved since then. Teaching is worthwhile.’
Now a woman’s voice resounded in the room where the two shadows shimmered.
“The hero is back.”
The man took a sip of his tea and opened his mouth.
“I’m glad you came back late. You worked hard. You can go and rest.”
However, the woman who got down on one knee stood firm despite the man’s words.
“What is it? Anything else to say yet?”
To the man’s question, the woman raised her head and answered.
“…Why are you making Chloe do this?”
As soon as the atmosphere cooled down, I put down the teacup I had been forcibly drinking from earlier.
“That’s it, it looks like there’s something going on.”
– Click.
Saying that, I activated the magic tool connected to the chandelier on the ceiling, and the room was brightly lit.
If you’re a thief, you should have a secretive atmosphere like this. Does that pink cat know romance?
But apart from that, she waggled her tail in a low position as if she didn’t like her.
“Master has changed. He doesn’t even play with Chloe these days…”
Looks like he’s quite upset that he occasionally brushes off his half-folded ears.
Come to think of it, yes.
It is true that she has been neglecting her recently because her body is working on a schedule that is not enough even for two.
“Okay. Come here.”
As soon as I tapped her knee pretending to be able to overcome her, Chloe came up to her and settled down on her lap as if it had never happened.
“Nyaang~”
Rounding her body in a circle, she soon began to groan and make pleasant sounds.
I skillfully put my hand where Chloe wanted.
– Burr.
Chloe shudders as she scratches the back of her triangular ears and the top of her wagging tail.
“Not there, but a little further down… Uh, yes, I like it there…”
There are many things I wish for.
-Ssukseuk.
Still, he scratched it as he wanted without saying anything.
“Hunaang…”
A guy who enjoys my touch with a melting expression.
It feels like something is healing when you’re like this.
Of course, that price also existed.
-Kyuwoo!
Because I have to endure the ramblings of the jealous Kyudol.
Kyudori asks if you can’t be satisfied with yourself.
Sorry Kyudol. But you have no hair
I don’t mind doing this to people, but when I’m scratching the soft fur, I feel a sense of connection.
Is this a hobby that can never be shown to others?
I thought I was dug to the bone. Is it because he has such a cat-like personality?
It was a time when we were satisfied with each other and mutually helped each other.
– Smart smart.
I flinched at the sound of knocking.
Who are you at this hour?
Then he soon revealed his identity from the other side.
– I am a warrior. I have something urgent to tell you.
The words gave me goosebumps.
Feels like a visit from the grim reaper.
Since it was past dinner time, I was planning to stay in my room, but I never dreamed that he would come to me like this.
Bulkkeok.
“Nyaang?”
Immediately, I put my hand between Chloe’s armpits and stood up.
Then I went closer to the window.
“Nyahak?!”
I opened the window and kicked Chloe out.
I heard a strange sound as I fell, but I tried to ignore it.
-Mr. Ian? A strange sound came from inside….
“Oh, nothing! Get out now!”
After sorting out my private life, I hurriedly opened the door and faced the warrior standing there.
“….”
“….”
What is it? What is it?
A hero who seldom speaks out even though he has something to say.
If you feel bad, that’s not the case again.
-Gulp.
However, I was nervous when I saw that he was making a very troubled expression.
“Hey…”
Breaking the silence that seemed to last forever, she opened her mouth.
“…Wish. There are still two left, right?”
‘Two?’
I can’t understand the warrior’s words at all. Two of them, well, I just blew one up and went on my way.
But I decided to stay put. If that person misunderstands me, it’s fine for me.
While thinking about that, the hero looked up at me and said, as if he had made up his mind on something.
“One of them. I’ll write it now.”
Then he continued with a flushed face.
“I want you to go somewhere with me tomorrow.”