Chapter 15: Chapter 25. Return (3)
Numerous carriages were stationed at the rear camp.
Inside the carriages were supplies such as food, weapons, and artifacts, necessary for combat, all packed to the brim.
These were the supplies from the capital that came every quarter.
The supply workers who descended from the carriages started unloading goods according to their assigned groups.
While everyone was preoccupied with the task, including the knights, two of the suppliers tasked with food exchanged an indecipherable signal.
They wore expressions of intense nervousness as if searching for something hidden.
Suddenly, assuming they were moving goods, they rushed towards the food storage.
True to the nature of a frontline storage, the food supplies were neatly organized in their designated places.
The destination for these suppliers was a pile of salt bags.
As usual, one kept a lookout while the other began rifling through the salt bags.
"Found it!"
The supplier's face lit up as he found what he was looking for.
He lifted two wooden boxes from among the salt bags.
"What's this? Two this time?"
"It seems we have more demonic beast blood collected! Can we take more this time?"
Their mood lightened as they eagerly opened the first box.
Inside the box was a glass bottle filled with a ruddy liquid.
"Ho? There's much more than before, isn't there?"
"Honestly, the last time the amount was too little to even skim off, but this time it seems Sir Renard has really put in some effort! Hehe!"
The suppliers grinned at the prospect of skimming off a portion, but there was still the second box left to check.
"Oh, this box is rather heavy?"
The second box was twice as heavy as the first.
When they lightly shook it, it didn't sound like bottles clinking but rather emitted a dull thud.
"What's this? Did they include an unprocessed demonic beast corpse?"
The unusual sensation prompted them to put the box on the ground.
Anxiety gripping their hearts, they carefully opened the box and then—
"Eeeek!"
"What, what is this?!"
The two of them scrambled away from the box without hesitation.
The contents were far from what they had expected.
"What did we just see?"
"Was that… was that Sir Renard…?"
They crept back to the box to reconfirm its contents.
It was a box the size of a human head, and within it lay the severed head of Renard Crimson, Seven-Star Mage Knight, eyes wide with fear and horror.
"How… How did this happen? Why is Sir Renard here?"
His head, which was the supplier of the demonic beast blood they received, had inexplicably turned up.
The supply workers were genuinely horrified.
"Wait! Then what's in that bottle? It is actually demonic beast blood, right!?"
A surge of unease struck them as they turned their gaze back to the glass bottle from the first box.
The blood, unusually vivid red today, which is supposed to be darker due to the mix of demonic beast blood, confirming that it belonged to some other life form.
"Could it be… Renard's…?"
"Who did this? Who's behind this?!"
Shock and fear consumed the supply workers as they lost any semblance of composure.
Dust swirled around them as they frantically looked around, wondering if the perpetrator was nearby, but they saw nothing.
The rigid gaze from Renard's eyes seemed to convey a silent warning to flee the scene.
* * *
After completing the supply transport, the members were boarding the carriages again.
Among them, two particularly shaken suppliers stood out.
It was abundantly clear even without shouting "I'm incredibly nervous right now" that these two were complicit with Renard Crimson in skimming off the demonic beast blood.
– Whisk! Swipe!
They kept vigil, turning their heads in all directions.
Clearly, they had found the "gift" I left and were now stricken with fear.
Having confirmed the conspirators, I turned away without a second thought.
[Are you just going to let them go?]
"I can't kill them when they still have duties to perform. They have a very important mission to carry out—sending my warning all the way to Garam Kingdom."
The trafficking of blood collected from the demonic beasts at the frontline was orchestrated by Renard Crimson, a mage knight from Garam Kingdom.
Before burning the corpses of the slain beasts, they preserved small parts of the bodies in a small-dimensional box, later extracting the blood and transporting it via supply workers who were in on the scheme during quarterly supplies.
The final destination was Garam Kingdom's Magic Society.
As one might imagine, it was an act of excessive curiosity and research enthusiasm.
Garam's Magic Society, recognized across the continent, was a gathering of those obsessed with magic.
While Ushif Empire's Magic Society recruits talent based on established magic and nurtures masters adept in handling such, Garam's society did the opposite—researching the origin and foundation of magic to constantly create new spells and pursue new limits for humanity.
In short, it was a gathering of those who are mad about magic.
And the blood of demonic beasts was a resource for their ongoing research.
I never expected them to have started this kind of activity so soon.
Had those foolish supply workers not succumbed to their greedy desires to skim off the top, this supply chain could have continued undisrupted for several more years.
Considering the insane acts they perpetrated in my past life, it's too dangerous to ignore—it would be problematic later on.
For now, a warning of this magnitude should suffice.
Having betrayed the existence of someone who knows of their conspiracy within the frontline, they won't dare stir for the time being.
[It seems trouble follows wherever you go, despite your attempts to act for your own benefit. Ever thought of changing your career to that of a problem-solver?]
It's a dreadful thought, but I can't entirely deny it.
As she has pointed out, since my regression, I've unwillingly tangled myself in a series of bothersome events.
With unease in my heart, I headed back to the tent where Emily awaited.
"What's this? Where've you been at such a time, Young Master!"
Emily greeted me with a discontented face as I lifted the curtain.
"Out for a walk."
"Which 'walk' takes place at all hours without warning! I've had to pack everything alone because of you!"
As she mentioned packing, I noticed that her possessions far outnumbered my own.
A servant with more baggage than the master; it seemed we had a mix-up in our servant-master relationship.
"Wow! At least we're finally ending this dreadful life at the frontline!"
Emily, perched upon her heap of luggage, wiggled her legs excitedly.
February 15th, year 986 of the Genesis Era.
Today is the day we leave the frontline to return to the estate.
"For me, it's the beginning of a new hell…"
My sentiments starkly contrasted Emily's excitement.
As a student, I'm bound to attend school.
Now eleven years old, I'm expected to enroll in the Royal Academy which starts in March.
Being a part of the Bert family, which prioritizes ideals and the growth of children, attending the academy was an undeniable formula, and of course, I was no exception.
"I'm so excited! The grand architecture, the antique atmosphere, the superior facilities full of knowledge, and the cuisine I've never tasted before—like heaven on a plate! Surely a far cry from this dull and gloomy place."
I didn't want to shatter her fantasy, but the Royal Academy was far from the utopian wonder she imagined.
It would be better to break the truth to her later; I doubted my ability to manage her hysteria right now.
* * *
The Bert family's estate's front yard looked just as it was when we left.
Descending from the carriage, I saw servants busily unloading luggage—a clear sign that it was Kranz's carriage.
At eleven years old, he was set to join me at the academy.
After our duel a year ago, we hadn't seen each other and frankly, I nearly forgot about him.
Judging by his early packing, he likely intended to leave before my return—a plan I wouldn't oppose.
Just as I considered this, Kranz emerged from the central door and we instantly locked eyes.
"Ah!"
He froze on the spot, then hurriedly sidestepped away.
I had intended to greet him, but he dashed off before I could.
With a hint of embarrassment, my hand awkwardly returned to my side.
[What's with that lousy kid?]
Keiram commented with disdain as he watched Kranz.
"That's Kranz, my half-brother. Don't bother yourself with him."
[More than a brother, he looked like he saw a demonic beast. How badly must you have beaten him for him to react like that?]
Considering our history, I should have been the more aggrieved party.
[Even your father doesn't seem to trust you that much. Why does it seem like you have a contentious relationship with all of your kin?]
It wasn't completely true.
Kranz didn't matter to me anymore, and I had a good rapport with my sister Elise, occasionally exchanging messages during my time at the front. She was practically the only family member to whom I poured my barren affection.
The botheration was another family member entirely—one I might not even leave physically intact.
– Creak
I pushed open the door to my house for the first time in almost a year.
But the scene inside was far from expected—the servants bowed in unison, a gesture that they'd usually reserve for the arrival of a duke, now performed for me.
I should have been the least of their concerns even just a year ago, but it seemed my status had changed drastically.
The peculiar environment mixed with various thoughts as I made my way to my room.
With Emily busy with her luggage, I could afford a brief respite.
As my hand reached for the doorknob, an unusual sensation sent shivers down my spine.
This was supposedly my room, untouched by anyone for a year.
But now, I could feel a presence—a presence that wasn't welcome and obviously not there to celebrate my return.
My hand began to tremble at the door; the idea of tearing apart whatever lay beyond was overwhelming.
Why? Why this reaction?
There could only be one reason for such intense feelings—could he really be there?
That despicable being I wouldn't mind ripping to shreds?
– Creak
The door swung open—operated by someone inside.
As I slowly lifted my eyes from my lingering hand, a familiar yet loathsome face greeted me with a faint smile.
"It's been a long time, Sian."
The bright sunny blonde hair and alabaster skin contrasted with a smile filled with malice.
Memories spanning decades flashed before me—a man I thought was my everything, to whom I dedicated everything, who led me to death.
Ashel Bert stood before me—a sight far from pleasant.
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