Chapter 102. Animalistic Instinct

Did she run away because she was hurt by my lack of kindness?

As Claude reached this conclusion, he felt as if he couldn’t breathe.

If he had known things would turn out this way, he would have somehow given her the camellia he had kept in a vase that day.

Wouldn’t that have changed something?

Wouldn’t Seraphina have disappeared?

It felt like his insides were burning to a crisp. At the same time, he resolved that if he ever found her, he would treat her gently, even if it made him cringe so much that he turned into a chicken. Even if it meant starting with just a single word.

Clop, clop.

While he was lost in thoughts about Seraphina, something caught his ear. It was a wagon.

Claude unconsciously glanced up at the moon in the night sky and then lowered his gaze again. It was transporting goods at quite a late hour.

“Suspicious.”

In fact, there was nothing suspicious about it.

In a big city like Elmon, transporting goods at night was common. You move them at night to sell them during the day, after all.

But somehow, it seemed suspicious.

It was purely an intuition based on animalistic senses.

Claude rubbed his chin with one hand. After a brief moment of consideration, he decided to jump out the window.

Or at least, he tried to.

“Damn, why is the window so small?”

It wasn’t something someone with a beast-like large build should say, but in any case, the inn’s window was indeed small.

Since he wasn’t flexible enough to break through the window frame, he pulled himself back in. Of course, he had no intention of staying in the room.

Opening the door and descending the stairs, Claude left the inn. The wagon had already vanished, but he relied on his animalistic instincts to guide his steps.

It went this way earlier, so around here…

“There it is.”

Claude soon found the wagon he had lost track of.

At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary merchant transporting goods, but he just wanted to follow it. In fact, there were other wagons moving around the street at this hour, but that one particularly bothered him.

“Ugh.”

The wagon, which had stopped at a fabric store, was loading various items. He wasn’t knowledgeable about fabrics, but it seemed like they were loading a small quantity of various things.

Quite a variety.

Claude had excellent eyesight. He carefully observed the items the merchant was moving.

It seemed as if they were preparing a variety of materials for a single person. Given the extent, it was likely ordered by a rather famous designer.

Ah.

I see.

A designer…

“Did I misjudge?”

Claude turned around, feeling uncertain.

Just then, his hearing, as excellent as his eyesight, detected a sound.

“…Top-grade jewels, …transport to Ponitan…”

“Got it…”

It was a brief conversation.

As if they exchanged only the minimum necessary information.

And it was information that seemed to have no connection to Seraphina.

However, Claude’s animalistic instinct screamed.

Not to ignore it.

“…Ponitan?”

One of Claude’s eyebrows twisted and rose oddly.

* * *

Hmm, hmm-hmm~

I hummed a tune as I walked along the quiet beach.

Leisurely life, work I love, the wide-open beauty of nature!

Just walking on the sand made me feel like I owned the whole world.

“Miss Chloette, you seem to be in a good mood.”

At that moment, I turned around at the voice coming from behind me. A man with red hair was approaching with a charming smile.

“Sir Cyril.”

He had disappeared a while ago, saying he had some business, but it seemed he had returned.

At the time, Cyril had left in a hurry, looking quite unwell after receiving a hint from a subordinate, so I was worried something bad had happened, but I didn’t pry for details on purpose.

Because I hoped our relationship would remain at that level.

Cyril, who had approached me, saw me dangling the money I had just received from the merchant guild and said,

“If you carry money so visibly like that, you’ll become a target for bad guys.”

Then he placed a wide-brimmed hat on my head, which I had no idea why he had brought.

“……?”

“At least cover your face when you walk around.”

“Shouldn’t I be hiding the money?”

“That too.”

I stared at him intently. Then I obediently did as he said.

Yes.

Even though I thought no one was around and was dangling it, there’s no harm in being careful.

I adjusted the hat Cyril had given me once more and looked at him. Cyril was already watching me.

He glanced over the newly completed dress from top to bottom and smiled smoothly. Then he said in a sing-song manner,

“I came for a short vacation and met Miss Chloette, and now I’m considering staying for good.”

Judging by his good mood, it seemed the urgent matter he had left for was resolved well. Assuming so, I naturally walked alongside him.

“Aren’t you bored?”

“Not at all. This is the most enjoyable time of my life.”

Seeing him slightly lift the corners of his mouth, I nodded in agreement.

This is the most enjoyable time for me too.

After struggling on battlefields and having all the tormentors disappear, I felt incredibly relieved.

“By the way, have you heard?”

“Heard what?”

“The undead have appeared again in the Grodes Mountains in the North.”

“Ah, yes. They tend to appear whenever there’s an opportunity.”

“Is that so?”

“What’s reported in the newspapers is just a fraction…”

Seeing the newspaper in Cyril’s hand, I absentmindedly blurted out and then quickly stopped myself.

“You seem to know quite a bit.”

“Hahaha. I picked it up somewhere, but I can’t remember where I heard it. It must be a false rumor. Hahaha.”

…No way.

I saw it with my own eyes, damn it.

But I couldn’t pretend to know about it.

Most people couldn’t feel the war with the undead, and Cyril was surely one of them.

No matter how unaware he was of outside news after staying in rural areas, I couldn’t let any clues about my identity slip from my lips.

“Cyril, just a moment.”

Then Cyril’s subordinate approached and whispered something in his ear.

Just like a few days ago, Cyril’s complexion darkened.

“Is something wrong?”

“It was just getting fun, but I guess I have to excuse myself first.”

With that, Cyril handed me the newspaper, telling me to read it if I got bored. In return, I wished him luck.

“I hope it goes well.”

Once again, I didn’t delve deeply into it.

I just hoped that, whatever it was, no great misfortune would befall him.

I quietly watched Cyril’s retreating figure until he was far away, then turned my head.

Crunch, crunch.

The sensation of sand clinging to my feet felt pleasant.

After walking for a while, I settled down in a spot where I could clearly see the beach’s line on both sides. Maybe I should read the newspaper for the first time in a while.

“Hmm?”

Reading the newspaper without much thought, my brow furrowed.

[…A top-level ability user has appeared to fill the void left by the missing Purifier Seraphina. A monster with purification abilities stronger and broader than any purifier in history…]

Isn’t this a local newspaper?

Glancing over it, it seemed to be from a fairly influential newspaper company. Usually, when he left Ponitan and returned, he only brought local newspapers, but this time it seemed Cyril had traveled quite far.

Could he have recognized me?

Suddenly struck by anxiety, I felt like I aged ten years in one second.

The newspaper featured a portrait of me drawn by someone unknown. It couldn’t be said to be exactly like my face, but it was very similar.

And next to it…

‘It’s Aveline.’

Looking at the illustration placed side by side, I swallowed dryly. A flame-like joy that bloomed inside me erased the anxiety that had been surging.

Yes.

This is the timing.

It’s been about half a year since I ran away.

Finally, the long-awaited moment has come. Now, the three heroes will forget about my existence and start obsessing over Aveline.

Johann, who is keen on revealing talented people, Claude, who wants useful personnel for the Grodes Mountains right away, and Mihail, who is obsessed with the light of purification.

In many ways, Aveline will fulfill what they desire more.

So please take care of things behind me, heroine.

[……However, there are rumors that the heroes still need Seraphina’s abilities. They are said to be searching for her whereabouts…….]

As I continued to read the article, my expression darkened.

Strange.

Didn’t the gentleman handle it so that I was considered dead? Why are these guys still looking for me?

No, more importantly, Aveline has appeared, so why aren’t they preparing to fall in love and instead wandering around aimlessly?

<But be careful.>

<The three heroes are looking for you.>

<You might get caught.>

Suddenly, a ridiculous dream I had a few months ago came to mind.

Damn it.

Why is it coming to mind at this timing, making me feel uneasy?

I tried hard to push the anxiety aside.

It’s just a dream. Even if it really is connected to Yoon Jia, didn’t she say the letters were moving erratically?

Destiny is something you carve out for yourself.

I changed my name and hid in a small seaside village with no connections, so no matter how great the three heroes are, how could they possibly find me?

The fact that they’re still doing this, as stated in the newspaper…

Yes.

It’s just because Aveline has only recently appeared.

Before long, these guys will gradually fall in love with her, and they’ll completely forget about someone like me.

That will be the true freedom.

I firmly clenched my fist, resolving to endure just a little longer.