Reset Life – Chapter 74

Chapter 74: I’m…… This is my First Time (4)

I don’t know what’s happening in Dakard Barony, but…… Ah, could it be because I sold the salt farm land at a high price?

I had uneasy thoughts but put them aside. If that’s the case, I’ll make an anonymous donation later. Yeah. I turned my head and asked the next person.

“What brings you here, Namias?”

“Me too…… because of farewells.”

“Excuse me? Why you too, Namias?”

“Artshever has disappeared from the Imperial Capital.”

“What?!”

This time, I was truly shocked. Artshever left the Imperial Capital? No, why? Could it be that his words about needing to reflect meant this?

Namias continued.

“My mission is to chase after him. So, I must follow.”

“Hmm, I suppose you must. It’s a shame. The house will suddenly feel empty again.”

It’s sudden, but two guests are leaving. Well, it’s not like I had more than two guests to begin with.

Especially Aila, I heard she has a good reputation among the servants. They must be disappointed.

Namias raised her red eyes to look at me and said.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

“I want to take Joey with me.”

“What? Joey?”

I turned my head. Joey was scratching his head with an awkward expression. Joey hesitated and said.

“Well, Hyung-nim…… Namias said I have a good aptitude for that holy spell or whatever. It’s a bit dangerous to go alone, isn’t it?”

“That’s true, but…… Is that why you’re going?”

“I…… I would like your permission, Hyung-nim.”

Joey asked, embarrassed but resolute. I felt a sense of emptiness and leaned back on the sofa, sighing deeply.

Well, I’m planning to lay low for a while, and Joey needs to experience the world more.

Above all, Joey would be happy to know that someone needs him. Especially since that someone is Namias.

But still…… to all say you’re leaving at once, as if you’d planned it. It makes my heart feel empty.

I nodded.

“Go ahead. With your size, our manor is indeed cramped. See the wider world. See if you can move the world with your strength, go and see that.”

“Thank you, Hyung-nim.”

I can’t force someone to stay if they want to leave. I’m also relieved that the person he’s going with is Namias. However, it’s still not easy to get used to the people around me leaving one by one like this.

I looked at the last remaining person.

“Teacher, are you going somewhere too? Come to think of it, you didn’t bring Lea with you.”

“No. I just……”

Levidian stammered, unable to speak. Normally, I would have pressed her for an answer, but I had lost all desire to do so.

Is this the feedback of misfortune?

Is the result of so blatantly trying to change history just being alone like I was in the beginning?

It’s so futile and empty that my heart feels hollow.

I laughed bitterly and rose from my seat.

“I have some work to do, so I’ll excuse myself first. I’ll tell Baron Hiltenpens to prepare your rooms, so please rest comfortably.”

I thought Aila and Namias would eventually leave. But to come so suddenly and say they’re leaving before I could even prepare myself, it hurts quite a bit.

For some reason, the conversation we just had hurts more than the cold treatment I received here…… I wonder why?

Before leaving the drawing-room, I looked back. Levidian was still sitting silently with her head bowed.

Baron Hiltenpens didn’t express his displeasure openly, but he had a knack for saying things that made you feel it.

The Baron, with his robust physique, pushed me to the brink of frustration and then magnanimously allowed the people to stay.

Thanks to the Baron, I think my patience has grown a lot lately.

“So…… how is the investigation going?”

“Hmm. We’ve got a general idea. The list of suspects has narrowed down considerably. The problem is the goods. The path they took is unclear.”

“They must have been sold as stolen goods.”

Baron Hiltenpens spoke casually, but I shook my head with a serious expression.

“No. It’s too early to think that way. Even if they were stolen goods, considering the situation around here, is there a place that could buy such a large quantity?”

“At least to the north…… there wouldn’t be.”

From here, Orknesia continues for a while to the north.

Orknesia is an area heavily influenced by the Eastern Army, to the point where there’s a joke that military supplies are sold in general stores. Smuggled military supplies aren’t even used as firewood in Orknesia.

I crossed my arms and decided to do the Baron a favor.

“A considerable amount of supplies have gone out, enough to create a hole in the accounts. Let’s say food can be mixed with other things and sent out, but clothing, weapons, and tools can only be sold as stolen goods, so it’s difficult to make a large sum of money unless it’s a large quantity at once. What would you do in that situation?”

“I would gather them in one place. Sell them all at once when a suitable amount is collected.”

“It would be difficult to move such a large quantity, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s only for this season. If you go about 2 kilometers southeast from here, there’s a river that flows all the way to the vicinity of the Imperial Capital. The river is frozen now, but when it thaws, you can load it onto rafts or boats and transport it all at once…… Ah?!”

“Do you understand now?”

I smiled. Lucy, who had contracted with me yesterday at a higher price than the Baron, told me about the items the fences in this city had recently handled.

Among the handled stolen goods she brought to me, there were no military supplies except for food. This means that the remaining supplies haven’t been released as stolen goods yet.

The Imperial Law is strict regarding military supplies.

Even transportation requires a permit issued by the government. While they may be lax about other things, they are thorough in cracking down on military supplies, so smuggled military supplies have no way of being sold other than as stolen goods.

And stolen goods are originally sold at low prices. You need a large quantity to make a significant amount of money. In that sense, waterways are more convenient for smuggling than land routes.

The Baron’s face became that of a child who had just realized he was a year older.

“Then there must be a large warehouse somewhere……”

“There should be, but it hasn’t been found. Even after looking through the city’s warehouse registration and inspection logs, we couldn’t find anything similar. That’s where I’m stuck. Are there any suitable locations outside the city?”

The Baron thought for a moment and shook his head.

“If there was a space large enough to store that many goods, it would have become a monster’s den long ago. When the city was built, all such places in the vicinity were eliminated. There might be a few places further away from the city, but the monsters are dangerous.”

“I see. Anyway, if we can just figure that part out, we’ll be able to catch the culprit.”

“Ah, I see.”

Kindness always brings good results. For the first time here, I saw the Baron’s face filled with admiration. Then, the Baron quickly changed his expression.

“Ahem! Hmm! Then please continue your hard work, Sir Arisein.”

“I will, Baron.”

Watching the Baron walk away with a dignified air, I felt a small sense of victory. He probably saw me as just an appendage of the Duke’s family, but now his perspective might change a bit.

As I returned to my room after parting ways with the Baron, Lucy was walking towards me. I had asked her to gather information, is she done already?

She saw me and bowed deeply.

“I’ve placed what you requested on the desk.”

“That’s much faster than I expected. Was it difficult?”

“No. It wasn’t that difficult. And you have a visitor in your room.”

“A visitor?”

Lucy didn’t answer my question. She just smiled.

After greeting me again, she walked away, and I scratched my head and headed to my room.

When I opened the door, the first thing I saw was the desk, and then the low table and two pairs of single-seater sofas in front of it. And there was a person sitting on the sofa, drinking tea.

“Teacher.”

“Ah…… Risel.”

My intuition, for reasons unknown, told me that she wasn’t the same person I knew. But the answer was already clear from the moment she greeted me with surprised eyes and a hesitant attitude.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to go to the desk or to the seat opposite her. Then, seeing that there was a teacup for me, I made my decision.

It’s been a while since I sat facing her like this. Just a moment ago, my seat was at the head of the table, so I mostly saw her profile.

She tried to look at me but avoided my gaze, looking at her teacup instead, and so on. This was quite a refreshing sight. I don’t know why she’s so nervous.

Finally, she managed to open her mouth.

“Ah, um, I’m sorry for coming so suddenly while you’re busy.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I didn’t get to hear your answer earlier. What brings you here, Teacher?”

“I…… well, that is…… Sigh.”

She stopped mid-sentence and sighed. Is it that difficult to even state her purpose for coming here?

I was about to speak again when I suddenly remembered what Aila had said before leaving. When someone is having trouble speaking, think about it three times before answering, right?

I moistened my throat with Lucy’s still-terrible tea. To be honest, the only feeling I have left for Levidian is curiosity.

When she made me undergo that harsh training and I had to be treated by Namias, I was angry and said those things, but after ten days of calmly thinking about it, I couldn’t understand ‘why’ she did that.

Usually, I could grasp her mood to some extent, but back then, I felt a sense of urgency from her.

Why?

Even now, she seems to be having a hard time speaking.

I asked in a calm tone.

“How is Lea doing?”

“Huh? Ah, um. She’s doing well. She’s healthy. Risel, you too…… It’s good to see you healthy.”

“The weather is cold, but thanks to the training, I’m healthy.”

“I see.”

The conversation stopped again. The firewood occasionally crackling in the fireplace poked at the sides of the silence.

She was still sitting with a troubled look, and I pitied myself for having to enjoy this silence with terrible tea.

After a moment of silence, I decided to try a different approach.

“Um……”

“I……”

She and I stopped talking at the same time and looked at each other. We stared blankly for about three seconds. Levidian took a deep breath and spoke with a determined look on her face.

“I wanted to apologize.”

“Excuse me?”

“Even I think it was too much training. I think I was impatient. So, I pushed you too hard. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

I was taken aback. I hadn’t expected her to apologize like this. What should I say?

“I…… I’m fine. I’m not injured. But there’s something I want to ask. Why did you make me undergo such harsh training?”

Good. This sounds natural.

While I was satisfied with the question I had asked, she flinched and slightly turned her head to avoid my gaze. Huh?

Then, she slumped her shoulders, closed her eyes, raised her head, and took a deep breath. What the?

“That is…… Umm…… Haa. I guess it’s no use. They say determination weakens with time……”

She bit her lip again. What could be the reason she’s struggling so much? A sense of unease crept up on me. Hey, get back in your place.

“I guess I’m not ready yet. I’ll tell you when I’m ready. I’m really sorry.”

“Huh? Um, does it require that much preparation?”

She closed her mouth tightly and wore a thoughtful expression. She soon let out a sigh. Her face also seemed to redden a little. Huh?

“It’s like, mental preparation. That’s what I need. I’ll tell you soon. Is that okay?”

“Yes. Well, if it’s soon……”

Is it a serious matter? But I had a feeling it might not be a serious matter at all. Considering her personality, even if it were a serious matter, it might not seem so to me.

She breathed a sigh of relief, placing a hand on her chest. Then, she gave me a bright smile, something I hadn’t seen in months.

“I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Ah, by the way, are you busy these days?”

Her demeanor returned to that of a teacher about to instruct me in swordsmanship. She was much more pleasant to look at than when she was hesitant earlier.

Hmm, it seems like she’s suggesting we talk like we used to.

Come to think of it, I haven’t heard the reason yet, but I’ve accepted her apology for now. Besides, there’s no particular reason for me to be cold to her.

I’m still at a slight disadvantage, but since it’s her, I can tolerate it.

For the first time this year, I showed Levidian a smiling face.

“Yes. Well, there are various things happening……”

She and I had a pleasant conversation.

January 18th, Imperial Year 373.

“Hmm, that’s quite a difficult situation to understand.”

“Right? But the suspects have been narrowed down to three. The culprit is among them.”

I showed Aila the profiles of the three suspects. She nodded as she examined them.

“One of the three. The truth is always one. You’re getting closer statistically. You need to bet on Grandpa’s honor here.”

“What do you mean?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing. My grandfather was involved in law enforcement.”

Aila waved her hand dismissively and took a sip of tea, then spat it out. Ugh, so unladylike.

“Puah! What is this tea?! It’s miserably tasteless!”

“You get used to the misery after drinking it for a while.”

“Ugh…… I’d rather eat salt from our salt farm than get used to this.”

Aila stuck out her tongue and shook her head. Even though she seems easygoing, she’s quite picky about tea. It’s a bit sad that I won’t be able to see this side of her soon.

“How did you end up drinking this tea? Tears are welling up in my eyes. Sob, sob. I pity your stomach.”

I’m not sad at all. Don’t talk about people and their internal organs separately, hey.

“I’ve already given up on the taste of the tea. It’s a representation of how they treat me in this region, so to speak.”

“Is it that bad? Well, Baron Hiltenpens is quite unpleasant. It seems like he’s just leaving this whole matter to you and doing nothing. Are all the Orknesia vassals like that?”

“I wonder. What do you think? Anyway, what were you going to talk about?”

Aila opened the window and threw out all the tea left in the cup and pot. After shaking the cup and pot empty, she stared into space for a moment and then spoke.

“Hmm, no, just…… Ibi-unni seemed a bit cheerful since yesterday. Did you make up?”

“I don’t know if you’d call it making up. I haven’t heard the whole story yet, but we’ve somehow recovered the old atmosphere.”

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