The Unwanted Undead Adventurer: Volume 12, page 14
Normally, such matters would never have proceeded so quickly...but it was not hard to guess that Isaac had played a hand in that.
Dorothea and Dieg, who had both been detained for a day to give their statements, had been shocked to find out that the execution had already happened. Still, it wasn’t impossible for trials to go that fast, so they simply chalked it up to the fact that Amapola was a vampire. After all, if vampires weren’t dealt with swiftly, they were often quick to escape and increase in number.
“So this...is Amapola...” Dieg murmured, studying the jar of ashes.
“How did you meet her, anyway?” Dorothea asked.
“Well, my memories are vague...but I think I crossed paths with her as she was running away from something in a back alley. She looked to be in distress, so I invited her into my home for a meal.”
“What, so you were hitting on her?”
“No! I wasn’t... Well, I suppose it does sound like that doesn’t it? Regardless, everything afterward is hazy.”
“That must have been when she took control of you. Still, it’s good that this all concluded without either of us getting hurt.”
“Maybe not in a physical sense, but...I’m certainly going to be disowned. How am I going to live from here on out?”
“You don’t know for sure that you’ll be disowned. Save the thinking for after you explain the situation to your father. And if you do get chased out...you can deal with that when it happens.”
“You’re awfully optimistic, aren’t you? I should learn from your example...”
While the pair were busy with their conversation, Isaac spoke to Rina, who was at the edge of their group. “Now then, it’s time I made my departure,” he said. “Convey my regards to everyone else, won’t you? I wish you the best on the rest of your commission.”
After a moment of consideration, Rina asked, “What happened to Amapola in the end?”
“She was ‘executed,’ of course.”
The tone of Isaac’s voice made it obvious that he was lying—he had probably smuggled her away somehow and arranged matters to make it look like she was actually dead. He must have decided that was the safest option, given the possibility of vampire hunters picking up Amapola’s trail. Even Nive would have to give up if her quarry was executed and reduced to ash, most of which had been buried in the earth.
Then again, Rina wouldn’t put it past Nive to dig the ash up, sniff it, and declare that it didn’t smell like a proper vampire. Nevertheless, she had faith that Isaac had taken such fanaticism into account. She doubted there was any cause for concern.
After a brief while, Isaac made his departure. Shortly afterward, when Dorothea finally realized that he was no longer with their group, she asked Rina where he’d gone.
“He had something urgent to take care of, so he left,” Rina explained. “He told me to tell you that he was sorry, and that he sends you his regards.”
Dorothea and Dieg both accepted that readily, likely because they recognized how deep into their conversation they had been. They apologized for not noticing, and just like that they set off back to Maalt.
Their journey was peaceful and quiet, and they didn’t encounter a single problem. Dieg wasn’t going to be putting any more sinister plots into motion, and Amapola wasn’t around either. The journey was so trouble-free, in fact, that Dorothea seemed to take it rather badly.
“I...really went through a lot, didn’t I...?”
Apparently, this was the most peaceful trip she’d had in the entirety of her two years as a traveling merchant. Still, she didn’t appear to think that the hardship she had gone through had been pointless. According to her, “It was a good experience in the end.”
When they arrived in Maalt, a pair of unexpected individuals were waiting for them at the guild.
“Father?!” Dorothea and Dieg cried out simultaneously.
Indeed, it was their fathers—the directors of the Merrow and Esol Companies. The look in Dorothea and Dieg’s eyes was clearly asking why they were there.
“Dieg,” his father began. “I noticed that you were getting involved in some rather odd business, so I came to stop you. As it seemed to involve young Dorothea being in danger, I informed Rudo, and he decided to come along too.” Rudo was Dorothea’s father, while Dieg’s father was named Jude.
Dieg’s face went pale upon hearing his father’s words, but nevertheless, he proceeded to explain the situation to the two men. After he had finished, they both looked noticeably surprised.
“He’s never been one to tell extravagant lies,” Jude eventually said to Rudo. “So I’m inclined to believe him. But I must still offer my deepest apologies for the fact that he exposed your daughter to danger. I will be sure to punish—”
Rudo interrupted with a shake of his head. “No, there will be no need for that. I doubt anybody would have been able to resist the vampire’s control, much less simple merchants like us. Punishment should not be a concern. And in a sense...it seems that my daughter has grown as a result of young Dieg’s actions.” He turned to his daughter and smiled. “Dorothea. You’ve gotten much hardier since the last time we saw each other.”
“That’s what you say to the daughter you haven’t seen in two years?” Dorothea said incredulously. “Not...that I suppose I mind.” She turned to Dieg’s father. “Uncle Jude, I have no wish for your son to be punished. He might have been the cause of much hardship for me over the past two years, but all of it allowed me to learn just how difficult the path of a traveling merchant can be.”
Jude looked uncertain. “But...are you certain about that?”
“Um, Father,” Dieg said. He looked as though he were summoning up his courage to speak.
“Yes...?”
“Regarding my punishment...please dismiss me from the company.”
“What? But why? Both Rudo and Dorothea are saying they’ve forgiven you. While it would be shameful not to accept any consequences, of course, we all know that you weren’t in control of yourself. There’s no need to go as far as dismissing you.”
“No, there is. This was all the result of my own naivety and careless actions. So...please—and I’ve just thought of something else.”
“Oh? And that is?”
“Like Dorothea, I would like to start from the beginning as a merchant, with nothing but my own skill. To see how far I can go.” Dieg glanced at the young woman in question.
Dorothea’s eyes widened. “Dieg...are you sure?”
“Yes. Besides, if I stayed in the Esol Company, someone would eventually use these events as a pretext to slander us. My dismissal would be the best thing for the company. Fortunately, I have an amazingly talented brother. They’ll do just fine without me.”
“I see... In that case, I suppose it would be all right. Say, Dieg—why not join up with me, then?”
“I—what?”
“I know you said you wanted to start over from the beginning, but it’s not easy being a traveling merchant. How does joining me and learning the basics from your senior sound?”
“No—well, you have a point, but...are you certain? After all the danger I put you through...”
“Someone else forced you to do all of that. Besides, two years ago I thought running a business with you sounded fun...and I still do.”
“If you say so, Dorothea, then...I humbly accept.” Dieg turned to Rudo and Jude. “It seems my path has been decided, Father. Director Rudo, forgive my impertinence, but may I ask for your permission in this matter?”
Rudo’s expression passed through a myriad of emotions. It couldn’t have been an easy decision, giving his blessing to his only daughter to set off on a journey alone with a man. Still, that man in question had almost been betrothed to her once, and there was a certain air about the two of them that made it feel like everything would turn out all right.
“I...suppose that’s fine,” Rudo finally said. “It appears that the future we dreamed of two years ago is back on track to come true, Jude.”
“Fate is a strange mistress indeed,” the other director agreed before addressing his son. “Well, Dieg, if that is what you have decided, then you have my blessing. Come, we shall return to Mystera and make the proper arrangements.”
After briefly discussing the matter further, everything was settled. Dorothea granted Rina the final approval to report the commission as successfully completed to the guild, and the young adventurer promptly did so.
“Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done without you,” Dorothea told her. “Truly. I shudder to think what might have happened to me. I’ll likely be in Maalt again in the future, so I’d like to commission you again when the time comes. When it does, I’ll be in your care.”
“Likewise,” Rina replied. “A lot happened, but it was fun, and I learned a lot from you about being a traveling merchant. I don’t think next will be anywhere near as hectic as this commission was, so I’ll make sure to give you a discount!”
With that final joke, the two young women parted ways.
◆◇◆◇◆
Now that Rina had more or less taken care of all the necessary things, she set off on her final task: reporting to the Latuule estate.
“Welcome, Rina. May I presume that you’ve put everything in order?”
As always, the one who greeted her at the entrance was none other than Isaac. She wanted to know exactly how he had gotten here, since she and the others had left first after parting ways with him, but he was the sort of person that made pondering such questions a waste of time. Instead, Rina discarded the thought.
“Yes!” Rina said. “Pretty much everything worked out peacefully with no loose ends. All thanks to you, Isaac.”
Dorothea and Dieg had set out to be traveling merchants together with the blessing of both of their parents—definitely a smooth conclusion to events as far as Rina was concerned. And since Dorothea would no longer have to face excessive danger or hardship during her travels, she had nothing to worry about in that regard either.
That wasn’t to say the young merchant wouldn’t face any hardship at all, of course, but that was unavoidable given her profession and far better than having someone actively out to get her. Rina earnestly prayed that Dorothea and Dieg would one day be able to establish their own company and find success.
“Oh, no, not at all,” Isaac demurred. “You owe it to your own efforts, Rina. Moreover, now that you’ve completed a commission on your own, you finally understand, don’t you? Just how much you’ve grown, I mean.”
Rina realized from his words that he’d been able to tell how insecure she had been feeling about her own strength as of late. “I do, yes,” she said. “I’m sorry for worrying you. It was just that everyone around me was so amazing that it made me feel like I wasn’t much in comparison.”
“I believe you’re not giving yourself enough credit there, but I do understand how one could come to that conclusion after being around Rentt and Lorraine. Still, you must also realize that the difference between their experience and yours is great. Rentt has over a decade of diligent training over you, and Lorraine is an expert who received an education specifically for individuals gifted in magic. It is no surprise that you would be unable to stand shoulder to shoulder with them in such a short amount of time.”
“When you say it out loud like that, it makes so much sense... I guess I just didn’t really think of it that way. I suppose my impatience was getting to me. During the job, I realized how much stronger I’d gotten compared to my past self, and I feel like I can see things for what they are a bit better now. I still have a lot to improve...but I think I’ve definitely made progress too.”
“Should I take that to mean that you are glad that you went?”
“Definitely—and on top of everything, I got to meet Dorothea. I think I’ll take more solo commissions from here on out, just every now and then—at least until Raiz and Lola recover enough to do regular adventuring work again.”
Although Rina’s two party members still hadn’t healed from their injuries, they had come far enough along that they’d probably be able to start working again soon. The day when they would be able to accept commissions as a full three-member party wasn’t far off. Rina wanted to be fully confident in herself before that time came.
“Be careful not to overdo it,” Isaac cautioned. “But that does sound like a good plan.”
“I’ll be careful,” Rina agreed. “Oh, come to think of it, what happened to Amapola?”
“Ah! Right. Come on out, Amapola.”
A shadowy silhouette formed at Isaac’s side, quickly morphing into the shape of a person. After a few seconds, Amapola was standing there.
“You summoned me, Master Isaac?”
Instead of the robe Rina had last seen her wearing, she was clad in the maid attire worn mostly by the other female servants of the Latuule family. Evidently, she had been well and truly hired on. Furthermore...
“That was Splintering just now, wasn’t it?” Rina asked. “You already know how to do that?”
Rina’s surprise was understandable—Amapola hadn’t been capable of that when they’d fought not long ago. If she had been able to Splinter, the fight would have proved much more difficult. Her inability had also served as proof for her being a stray vampire. Yet now, she had pulled it off without a problem.
“She has spent a long time as a vampire,” Isaac explained. “Essentially, she already had the foundations down. After some trial and error, she proved to be a quick learner. If we continue with her training, I daresay her strength will improve quite rapidly. Of course, such is the duty of a Latuule family servant.”
Although Isaac was unreserved with his praise, Amapola’s expression looked slightly sick.
Her training must be really rough, Rina thought. “Hang in there, Amapola,” she encouraged.
The woman nodded, still looking ill. “I’ll try...”
“Come to think of it,” Rina said, a thought suddenly occurring to her. “Why did you target Dieg anyway? I mean, I know you wanted to control someone influential to secure a safe place that you could live, but surely it would have been easier to dominate Dorothea, right?”
“You...can say some pretty horrific things, despite looking like you wouldn’t even hurt a fly.” Amapola sounded astonished, but her expression quickly turned into acceptance—she had probably just remembered exactly how badly Rina had beaten her. “Our charm ability is highly effective on people with darkness in their hearts, but weak against those without. Because of his talented older brother, Dieg had always had an inferiority complex. By amplifying that, it was a simple matter to take control of him. Dorothea, however, didn’t have much in the way of those emotions within her.”
That makes sense, Rina thought. When she’d first met Dorothea, the traveling merchant had been quite wary, but the more they had talked, the more that had faded to reveal the optimistic and straightforward young woman beneath. It was news to her that such people were hard to control...but she still thought that Isaac could manage it.
That kind of thing was probably where the difference in a vampire’s ability really shone through.
“Was that the only reason?” Rina asked.
Amapola considered the question for a moment. “Well...I suppose some small part of me wanted to cheer Dieg on. He gave me food and shelter when I was running from a vampire hunter, so I wanted to help him achieve his desires. Looking back, though, I realize that I went too far...to say nothing of the methods I used. Desperation has a tendency to undermine all sorts of plans and intentions...”
The woman’s eyes were focused somewhere far away as she spoke. She must have felt terribly cornered by the desperation she spoke of.
“Are you going to live here from now on?” Rina asked.
“Yes, as a servant of the Latuule family. I still haven’t met the mistress, though...”
“Well, she is asleep. I’m sure she’ll wake up sooner or later...right?” Rina directed that last part at Isaac.
The man nodded. “Naturally. However, only Mistress Laura herself knows whether that will be tomorrow, in a month, in ten years, or a hundred.”
Rina thought that was a little too long, personally—but then again, that was probably just how vampires were.
Chapter 5: Maalt, Sweet Maalt, and a Visit to the Blacksmith
“We’re finally back...” Lorraine murmured, when she saw Maalt’s gates through the gap in the carriage’s curtains. “I know we didn’t actually spend that long in the royal capital, but it feels like it’s been ages.”
I felt the same way. Maybe it was because we considered Maalt our home—our base of operations, so to speak. Hathara was my home, home, strictly speaking, and Lorraine’s was somewhere in the Lelmudan Empire, but it was here in Maalt that we had built lives for ourselves. Perhaps it was only natural for us to feel so much nostalgia even after only leaving it for a little while.
“You think anyone’s changed?” I wondered aloud. “Well, even if they have, it can’t be that much.”
“You do hear stories about people leaving somewhere for a year or two and coming back to find out their acquaintances have had children and such,” Lorraine said. “But we were gone for less than a month, so I doubt anything’s changed. Though, since I imagine that the Academy and Tower have been running about doing their business, we might find that there have been other kinds of changes...”
The Tower was the country’s magical research institution, and the Academy was its educational one. They existed in many places, not just Yaaran, and while their names varied, most people just referred to them by those names. No matter which country you went to, in the Academies and Towers you would find future leaders of nations being educated and research groups who were indispensable in the pursuit of uncovering the secrets of magic.
And people from those two organizations were currently staying in Maalt in immense numbers.
