Chapter 59

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: There Is No Mercy - Chapter 59

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The preparations for the tournament were finally complete.

Familiar faces passed by amid the bustling crowd.

I set down my drink and stood up.

Bellieta was walking toward me from the opposite side.

Bellieta's outfit, drawing everyone's gazes, looked remarkably simple.

Where's her dress? Why'd she pick such casual clothes?

I smiled and spoke as she drew near.

"Where are you going?"

"Everyone's heading out for the hunting tournament, and just sitting around waiting would be boring. I figured I'd slip into the forest a little."

"You sure that's okay? It's a forest full of magical beasts."

"It'll be fine. They say no magical beasts show up if you don't go too deep—just deer and rabbits mostly. I want to go shoot a few arrows. What do you think, Sierra?"

What exactly was she asking?

I tilted my head at Bellieta's question.

Bellieta took a bow from Piolett Baylor's hand as she followed behind, then drew the string taut.

Nothing was nocked on the string, but the bow was aimed squarely at me.

Unlike her smiling face, the bow looked fierce and sharp.

As I narrowed my eyes, feeling it might pierce right through me, Bellieta's lips parted slowly.

"Piolett and I are going in together. Want to come with?"

"Me?"

"Yeah. You know how to handle a bow. I've seen you do it before. If you're up for it, let's go together."

The smile lingering at the corners of her mouth faded, revealing Bellieta's eyes in sharp focus.

I was perfectly reflected in her pupils.

Bellieta was inviting me.

Into the dark, gloomy depths of a fairly dangerous forest.

To a perilous place where magical beasts might leap out at any moment.

"You, me, Piolett. Just the three of us."

To a place where anything could happen, and no one would bat an eye.

"Is this the place."

The drizzle that began at dawn had turned into a torrential downpour by morning.

A man ascending the mountains toward Riplton halted his steps and looked up at the sky.

The overcast heavens rumbled with thunder, as if foretelling Riplton's grim future.

His mouth, thick with gray whiskers, and his eyes gleaming vividly amid the darkness.

"Haa..."

Even in the height of summer, Harmonia was chill enough to see one's breath.

The raindrops hammered relentlessly down on the man, showing no sign of letting up.

A faint sigh lingered at the man's lips as he gazed upward, then slowly faded as his halted steps resumed.

His cloak fluttered, setting the scabbard at his waist clinking softly.

'Head to Riplton.'

His footfalls grew heavier still with the command echoing in his ears.

Heading to such an unwelcome place felt no different from marching toward a grave to greet the dead.

Thinking of what was soon to unfold there, a bitter taste filled his mouth.

He rummaged in his pack, pulled out a flask, and gulped it down.

As the harsh, bitter liquor burned its way down, his dulled palate revived somewhat.

His callused hand tucked the flask away once more.

Each movement sent the sword at his hip clinking again.

The man stared down at the hilt brushing his hand, then stopped once more.

In the sudden silence, only the rain lashing trees and earth echoed through the mountains.

The man, gazing at the ground, slowly turned.

Hundreds of soldiers stood in orderly ranks where his eyes now fell.

All cloaked alike, they marched with heavy, deliberate steps.

The man regarded them quietly, then let out a wry smile.

'War.'

This was war.

A war no one else had dared wage.

A war that staked lives.

Perilously dangerous, not to be trifled with—yet the man felt his blood surging hot within.

The hand toying with his sword gripped his coat instead, wheeling him about.

His steps resumed, and the march pressed on.

"You've arrived."

Their destination: Riplton, fully engrossed in subjugating the magical beasts.

The very heart of Harmonia.

The forest here, not too deep in, wasn't dark at all—sunlight filtered brightly through the leaves.

Knowing it was home to magical beasts made the beautiful scenery feel strangely off-putting, but it beat anything dim and foreboding.

We followed a neatly cleared path—prepared ahead of time, no doubt—while I stole a glance at Bellieta leading the way.

She hadn't uttered a word since we entered, for whatever reason.

'Hunting, huh...'

I eyed the quiver strapped tight to my back and the arrow in my hand, wondering if they were even usable.

In my memories, Bellieta had never undergone so much as basic self-defense training.

The Bozbon Duke wouldn't abide a single scratch on his precious only daughter.

That was why I'd never seen her wield a bow.

Which meant her entourage shadowing me from behind like extensions of her own limbs—Piolett Baylor chief among them—was the reliable piece in play.

"By the way, it's been ages since I was last here. Right?"

"Isn't this my first time?"

"We came here as kids, remember? When we were eight or so? I got all excited chasing a rabbit and lost my way—ring any bells?"

I stared at her blankly, then nodded as a hazy memory surfaced.

Satisfied with my response, Bellieta flashed a bright smile and scanned our surroundings.

"I was terrified back then. Sun high in the sky, not even that deep in, but the tears just poured. Kid me thought we'd be trapped in that forest forever. But you came to fetch me."

Her lips curved softly upward as she gazed nostalgically at the ground.

"I remember it so vividly still. Your face was so calm when you found me bawling. No adults, just you showing up alone, hand outstretched saying 'let's go home quick,' and leading me out. Those little shoulders of yours felt sturdier than anyone's."

Unnecessary sentiment.

I stifled a hollow chuckle at Bellieta dredging up the past like this, waxing poetic on our 'beautiful' history.

Getting all wistful and homesick out of nowhere.

Bipolar much? Not sure how to play along, I just watched her. She glanced my way and beamed.

I tilted my head slightly at the clear smile; she pivoted smoothly.

"I think that's when it started. When you became my most treasured friend."

"Really?"

My flat reply to her abrupt confession drew a nod from Bellieta.

"I know, Sierra. Things aren't like they used to be between us. Friends can't always get along, sure. But I don't want stupid rumors making us distant and tearing us apart."

"What are you getting at?"

"Sierra. I want us to be close again. Best friends in the world, like family, always together. So let's drop the awkwardness and go back to how it was. Please? I'll fix it. I'll set the record straight—those rumors are total nonsense—and chew out anyone who keeps yapping. Let's return to the old days, Sierra."

"......"

Tears brimming, her voice, gestures, expression—all engineered to tug at my heartstrings.

Bellieta was putting on a show of sincere apology, begging to rewind the clock.

Anyone else would've been spellbound.

But enough with the bullshit.

Knowing her filthy thoughts inside out, it only turned my stomach.

How to respond.

What to say.

I'd figured she'd dragged me out here with some ulterior motive, but this? A sudden sob story offensive? Never saw it coming.

I glanced back over my shoulder.

Piolett, who'd been eyeing it, caught my look and whipped her gaze away in a panic.

"......The old days."

I murmured softly, turning forward again.

Bellieta bobbed her head eagerly. "The old days!"

I regarded her calmly—hope shining on her face, yearning to mend fences—then parted my lips slowly.

"Bellieta. Then, like you said, can you clear up all those ridiculous rumors about me?"

"Of course! Truth is, I wanted to step in, but it wasn't my mess, so I held back to avoid pissing you off. Just say the word. I'll bury them under bigger news so they never see light. And I'll correct every last one."

"How thoroughly? The one where I stalk you? Or copy everything you do? Or badmouth you behind your back? How far?"

"All of it. Everything you name, Sierra!"

"Alright then......"

I trailed off after her peppy assurance, letting the silence hang.

Bellieta's eyes sparkled, urging me to spill it all, no holding back.

I smirked, lips twitching, and straightened up.

"Then clear up the rumor that I stole your fiancé, too."

"That goes without saying. Utter nonsense. I planned to anyway—you don't even need to ask. Don't sweat it. Father's putting out an official statement. Once we do the engagement ceremony and show our faces publicly, poof—rumors gone. 'We're friends, so we got close naturally,' like that......"

"No, Bellieta. That's not the fix I want."

"Huh?"

Her words cut short, she blinked in confusion, head cocking.

Meeting those innocent eyes, I offered a serene smile; her brows knit faintly.

"Then what kind of fix do you want?"

"Simple. The rumor about me stealing your fiancé? That's tied to you from the start. So you sever it first."

"......Sever it?"

"Say there was no fiancé to begin with, so nothing stolen. That statement hits harder, doesn't it? Even with a wedding and public appearances, doubts linger. But declare no such relationship ever existed? Doubts vanish, and my rumor with it."

"But Sierra, that's......"

"Ah, sure—if it were a real engagement, it'd be a headache. But I'm not saying officially break it off. Just put out the word now to quash suspicions, then re-announce properly later. 'Wasn't at first, but somehow it happened.'"

"......"

Not bad, is it?