chapter 7
Arileti lightly patted Leon's shoulder in encouragement before leaving the stables.
Repaying what one receives applies not only to grudges but also to kindness. She had gifted Hezeit a splendid piece of bait in the form of the commander of the Black Lion Corps. Whether that investment would pay off now depended entirely on Glenn's abilities.
Sneaking quietly, Arileti headed back to her room.
Because of that, she failed to notice someone carefully watching her from behind the stables.
As she made her secret return, a question suddenly occurred to her.
"Wait a minute. Didn't Glenn Hezeit ask earlier whether I was also connected to the White Forest?"
Also?
Does that mean there's someone besides me whom he suspects of being a Sage?
Arileti tilted her head in confusion.
That can't be right...
...Well, whatever.
I'll think about it after I wake up.
Whether it was a side effect of having returned to the body of a five-year-old child, or because she had just faced a Sword Master head-on, overwhelming drowsiness began to wash over her before even half a day had passed.
Arileti crawled under her blanket—
and fell fast asleep within three seconds.
Here's the English translation of the chapter excerpt:
"But why am I here?"
In the blink of an eye, Arileti had arrived in the Hezeit territory.
The problem started when she used her ability on Leon Bodafeti and promptly fell fast asleep. When she opened her eyes, she found herself wrapped up in a bundle and dangling from someone's broad back.
"Huh...?"
"You're awake, little Sage! Time to eat."
Glenn and the knights had one rule: whenever Arileti woke up, they fed her warm food first. They also kept stuffing things into her bundle—a heated water pouch.
Holding it against her chest while clinging to a sturdy back made her eyelids grow heavy all over again.
"You shouldn't kidnap people, mister..."
"Yesss, little lady~ The lord's castle is just a bit farther. We'll put you in a nice soft bed soon. Be good and go back to sleep!"
First on Duncan's back, then on Sir Tombel's, and on the final day, Glenn Hezeit's once again.
As she spent her days eating, sleeping, and being passed from one knight's back to another, they had already reached the northern frontier.
Once they passed through the sturdy city walls, the lord's castle appeared not long afterward.
Arileti looked up at Hezeit Castle with cold eyes.
"Poverty..."
What was this ruin?
An old, gloomy fortress loomed like an eyesore in one corner of the territory. The dark green curtains hanging in the windows were tattered in places, and icicles protruded wildly from the window frames.
Even the banquet hall they entered was filled with a biting chill.
There were only two worn-out tables stretching out from the seat of honor, dozens of backless chairs, a few shabby candlesticks, and silver suits of armor lined up along the walls.
No golden pillars, marble tiles, grand beams, or imposing sculptures—the kinds of things one expected in a noble's castle—were anywhere to be seen.
"This is pretty bad."
Do people actually live here? Don't they even use heating...?
The place felt almost as bleak as the imperial underground prison where she had been confined near the end of her first life.
She had known the territory wasn't wealthy, but she hadn't expected it to be this bad. Now she understood why the Third Prince Rasian had never managed to gain much momentum despite having the support of the Marquess Hezeit.
"He's a marquess in name only."
Glenn began issuing orders to the knights.
"All right, distribute the supplies to the people right away. They've been waiting. Tell them we'll purchase additional food from Nemar Territory once the snowstorm clears. So ask everyone to hold out just a little longer."
The knights unloaded the chests they had guarded so carefully during the journey.
So that was what they contained—money and food.
The young lord's heir had to travel personally just to earn money? Just how desperate was their situation?
More importantly, with the territory in such poor shape, what gave them the confidence to support the Third Prince? Sympathy?
"Well, they didn't ignore me when I was buried in the snow, either."
"...It's a problem when you've got nothing but a soft heart."
The words slipped out before she realized it.
Glenn turned his head. He had sharp ears.
"What was that, Aril?"
Ever since learning her name, Glenn had faithfully used her nickname instead of calling her "kid" or "little one." He also hadn't relentlessly interrogated her about what happened at the Gringen Church.
Because of that, Arileti had gradually become a little more comfortable around him.
But now was different.
After seeing the castle, her voice trembled slightly.
"Mister, do you have no money?"
"Oh?"
Glenn shot her an incredulous look.
"Why do you get to be Aril while I'm just 'mister'? I'm not that old, you know. Calling a blooming nineteen-year-old 'mister' is hurtful."
Then what should she call him?
"How about 'uncle' instead? Uncle. Sounds nice, right?"
No thanks. That would make her grow attached.
"Mister, are you poor?"
"'Mister' is what you call my father. And yes—not just a little poor. Very poor."
"..."
"It's because it's winter. The roads to nearby cities are blocked. When spring comes, things aren't usually this bad."
The roads were blocked? Why?
Glenn stretched and clasped his hands behind his head.
"Still, our territory is the safest in the area. You can wander around inside the castle if you want, but whenever you go outside, make sure you hold onto Sister Tanesa's hand. She's a born northerner who's survived out here her whole life. Or you can ask one of the knight uncles to carry you."
After thoroughly ruffling her bangs, Glenn handed Aril over to Tanesa.
"Here, Tanesa. Wash her, feed her, dress her, put her to bed. For now, focus on taking care of this child."
"Yes, Young Master."
Patting Arileti on the bottom, Tanesa cheerfully said,
"Come on, baby. Let's go with big sister now. Time for a good scrub and some food."
"No, actually, I should be leaving now—"
"We should find you some padded winter clothes too. Though I'm not sure we have any baby-sized ones!"
Before she could even finish speaking, Arileti began to feel uneasy.
No matter how kind Glenn Hezeit was, and no matter how warmly everyone treated her, she wasn't someone who should stay here.
She had already eaten far too much of their food.
Now that she knew just how desperately poor this territory really was, the guilt only grew stronger.
"I can't let myself get attached."
The people who helped you when you were weak and miserable were always the ones you remembered most.
In her first life, it had been Albert.
In her second life, Luciu.
In her third life...
She hoped there would be no one she remembered.
"I need to go somewhere quiet, somewhere no one can find me. The White Forest. I'll go to the White Forest."
And there, this time, she would finally bring her life to an end.
Arileti steeled her resolve once more.
But when the next day arrived, Arileti still hadn't managed to leave.
She had packed her bag and everything—only to get caught.
"Kid—no, Aril?"
While conducting an early-morning inspection, Glenn found himself staring down at a hole in the wall with a somewhat bewildered expression.
Arileti, who had somehow managed to stick her head through the remarkably tiny dog hole, looked equally awkward.
"...Hello."
"Why are you coming out of there at this hour? Did the heater in your room go out?"
Instead of answering, the child braced herself with both hands and wriggled smoothly out of the hole.
The yellow forsythia-colored bag Tanesa had given her dangled from her back.
Mission failed.
What do I do now?
