“Older Brother!”
Yeny cried out, worried for Jared’s safety.
“…Who exactly is he? Turning everything he touches to sand, it’s beyond the scope of magic,” Rosa muttered resentfully, collapsing weakly to the ground beside Yeny. Yeny, believing Jared would be unharmed, turned her sword and gaze towards Rosa.
“…I wish I knew. You’ve been investigating my Older Brother a lot, haven’t you? Don’t you know? Isn’t this phenomenon of turning to sand a form of Earth Attribute Magic?”
“No. Earth Attribute simply refers to mages who possess multiple attributes such as Earth, Fire, and Water. There is such a thing as Earth Attribute Magic, but it’s merely the magic that allows an Earth Attribute Mage to handle multiple attributes simultaneously. At the very least, modern magic cannot turn not only inanimate objects but humans into sand.”
“Thank you for the explanation. Now, what should I do? Should I kill you here for cornering and causing my Older Brother to go berserk, or should I keep you alive to hand over to my Older Brother… Honestly, I’m hesitating.”
Perhaps eliminating Rosa on the spot was the right thing to do if she considered Jared’s well-being. Yeny herself didn’t mind being taken hostage, but she was filled with regret that it had become a burden or shackle for Jared.
“Kill me. But I want to know about your skills. Your swordsmanship is not that of a fourteen-year-old child. How much time did you spend on daily training?”
“No, not particularly.”
“What?”
“I only train to the extent of practicing self-defense. Any more is forbidden by my grandfather.”
Rosa’s eyes widened. For her, who had continued rigorous training since childhood, it was unbelievable that a girl with swordsmanship surpassing her own only trained casually.
“I’m surprised Baron Daum, known as the Sword Demon, forbade your training after recognizing your talent.”
“According to him, I have a talent that surpasses my grandfather’s. However, I have little interest in fighting, nor a reason to fight. Even with a sense of justice like anyone else, I’ve never felt loyalty in my life. My grandfather must have feared me gaining power under such circumstances. And he told me I should seek ordinary happiness. Therefore, I remained a weak girl without wielding any power—until you hurt my Older Brother.”
She hadn’t resisted even when she was taken away, obeying his instructions. But had she known then that she would be taken hostage for Jared’s sake, Yeny would have undoubtedly resisted.
“Did you stir up trouble unnecessarily…”
“Both my grandfather and grandmother believed I needed a constraint. Since I have to live with this body that is instinctively optimized for combat the moment I grasp a sword, I needed someone to guide me, and someone I could protect—the person I loved, Jared Murphy.”
“…I see, Jared Murphy is your constraint.”
Rosa laughed. Jared himself probably never knew that the girl he was trying to protect could protect herself so thoroughly. In that sense, Jared seemed pathetic.
“He is my constraint, and the person I want to protect.”
“However, Jared Murphy was taken by Olivier Alway.”
As if to retaliate, Rosa said something malicious, but Yeny merely smiled.
“No. My Older Brother belongs to no one. Besides, even if Olivier and my Older Brother get married, my feelings will not change.”
“…So foolishly straightforward.”
While muttering in exasperation, Yeny paid no mind to the remark.
“That is what it means to love someone. Don’t you have anyone you love?”
“I have no one I love.”
Rosa chuckled at Yeny’s counter-question. Having lived her life immersed in battles since birth, she had no romantic experience. Moreover, she considered such emotions unnecessary. However, Yeny called it a waste.
“Then you should fall in love. The world changes simply by falling in love. You seem fixated on strength, but if you fall in love, you’ll surely stop pursuing only strength.”
“Nonsense.”
“You think so because you don’t know love yet.”
As Yeny asserted this, just as Rosa was about to retort—an explosive surge of magic rose from the ruins of the mansion.
“…Older Brother?”
Shifting her gaze from Rosa to where the mansion had stood, Jared appeared, brushing off sand.
“Older Brother!”
Although she had believed Jared would be safe, Yeny rushed towards him out of joy at confirming his well-being.
“Are you alright?”
“Sorry, I’m fine. Yeny, what about you?”
“I’m fine too.”
“Well, just as I have things I want to ask Yeny, I imagine Yeny has things she wants to ask me…”
“No, I won’t ask until my Older Brother is ready to speak. However, now that you’ve seen me fight, I believe I must tell you everything about myself.”
Yeny’s words were so convenient for Jared that he couldn’t help but ask if it was alright. But Yeny nodded with a beaming smile. Jared, with a sense of relief at not having to reveal his secrets, and a pang of guilt towards Yeny, moved back towards Rosa.
“Yo. You got pretty roughed up, huh?”
“Hmph. Your cousin’s skill was superior to mine. I was surprised, but I have no complaints. Yeny Daum is strong. Undoubtedly, stronger than you.”
“I know, right?”
“Tell me, Jared Murphy. What was that just now?”
Rosa had certainly expected to be asked. However, he had no obligation to tell her.
“…Someone dwelling within me was meddling—I have no reason to tell you more than that.”
“…I see. Then, one more question. What about me? Kill me if you want, or I’ll target you again and kill Hannelore Alway and Olivier Alway.”
“That won’t happen.”
“What do you mean?”
Jared sat down beside Rosa and informed her that Emilia had gone to tell her father about all her mother’s misdeeds. With this, her mother, Cornelia Alway, would likely be unable to lay a hand on Hannelore anymore.
“Is that so… I thought she was a foolish woman, but I misjudged Emilia Alway.”
“…Therefore, it will be of no benefit for Waalthe to target Hannelore and Olivier any further. Even so, if you still persist in pursuing them, spewing nonsense about the organization—”
“What will you do?”
“I will crush all of Waalthe. I will expose everyone hiding and destroy them, no matter how long it takes.”
“…You said it?”
“I did.”
Jared had indeed decided to crush Waalthe if they continued to target Olivier and her mother. The Pfeil’s attack, Rosa’s kidnapping of Yeny—these two instances of being one step behind were unacceptable to Jared. He would not let it happen a third time. Fortunately, with Emilia Alway having revealed everything to the Duke, and Cornelia’s misdeeds coming to an end, Waalthe would likely gain nothing, and only incur losses. While there was a possibility Emilia was lying, Jared, having heard her directly, believed her words were not false.
“So, what about me?”
“Honestly, I don’t want to let you go like this. Because if your wounds heal, you’ll target me again, won’t you?”
“That’s right. I will target you. Not related to any mission, next time I will kill you.”
“However, I have no fighting spirit left. If your client is caught, you won’t target Olivier and the others anymore, will you?”
“…That’s right. Waalthe won’t do something as absurd as continuing a pointless request even after their client is caught. I myself did not approve of that woman’s request.”
“Then, it’s fine for today. It wasn’t me who defeated you. However, I need one promise. If you don’t, I’ll have to kill you here.”
“Say it.”
Jared took out a knife, placed it at Rosa’s throat, and whispered into her ear.
“Never take hostages again, that’s a boring trick. If you want to fight me, come at me head-on.”
“…Understood. I promise.”
Confirming her acceptance, he put away the knife. Simultaneously, figures clad in black appeared, surrounding Jared and the others. As Jared tensed, one of them spread their hands, as if to show they meant no hostility.
“Jared Murphy. We no longer intend to fight.”
“What do you mean?”
“Currently, based on Emilia Alway’s testimony, Duke Alway has taken action himself. Therefore, we will no longer interfere with Hannelore Alway, Olivier Alway, or Jared Murphy.”
“Well, that’s appreciated.”
Likely, Duke Alway had assigned guards. Cornelia’s greatest fear must have been her husband’s wrath. That was why she’d hidden and even hired an assassination organization. However, she probably never expected her own daughter to act against her, let alone an organization like Waalthe. How the Duke would judge Cornelia from now on was irrelevant to him. He was simply relieved that Waalthe would no longer target Olivier and the others.
“And, though it is a presumptuous request, we would appreciate the return of Lady Rosa. We are prepared to offer our lives if necessary.”
“No, that’s fine. I’d be troubled if you gave them to me. Take her away quickly.”
“…Thank you. Come, Lady Rosa.”
“I’m sorry.”
Leaning on her subordinate’s shoulder, Rosa stood up and declared to Jared.
“Jared Murphy, as promised, I will challenge you to a fight next time.”
“Bring it on anytime, I’ll send you packing.”
“And, Yeny Daum.”
“Me?”
Surprised to be called upon, Yeny exclaimed.
“I apologize for taking you hostage. And I will definitely repay my debt from today’s defeat.”
“I don’t want to fight… Let’s start by having tea together.”
Yeny’s oddly detached remark left Rosa bewildered, and Jared laughing. Then, Rosa was led away by her subordinates.
“Wait a minute, Rosa Roen.”
“What is it?”
“It was swept under the rug because of that foolish adventurer, but could you continue talking about my mother, which you were about to say earlier?”
“…You will know eventually. At least, there’s no need to say it here and now.”
“What do you mean by that?”
He wanted to press her about his deceased mother, but Rosa likely wouldn’t tell him.
“Eventually, you will know the true identity of Liz Murphy, and the blood that flows within you.”
With those words, Rosa disappeared with her subordinates. Left behind, Jared stood up and offered his hand to Yeny.
“A lot happened, but let’s go home.”
“Yes!”
His cousin gratefully clasped his offered hand, her smile blooming. Remembering a time when they had walked hand-in-hand, Jared and Yeny returned to where their loved ones awaited them.
