The little children were frolicking, despite their hunger.
　With their voices in the background, Wilfred bites into a loaf of stone-like bread.
　Seeing this, Panira (Rene) gulped down the spit that welled up in her mouth repeatedly.

I thought I was the most unhappy person in the world until just now. But when I heard Panira's story, I felt ......
Did it make you feel like you weren't the only one?
No, not really. ......

　Looking down at the wreckage of the bread, Wilfred mutters, "I got scared.

I got scared. I was scared. ...... Thinking that I was unhappy made me feel like I was doing something ...... horrible. ...... I didn't want to be that person who hates. I don't want to be that kind of person who holds a grudge.

　I don't want to be that person who holds a grudge.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply that Panira was a bad person.
"Well, that's okay.

　It's more of a compliment.
　She's a demon king type girl who likes to be scared.

You don't hate me?
...... I hate you. I've never been so angry in my life.
　I'm not sure what to make of it.

　Wilfred's fingers dug into the hard bread.
　A feeling of anger smoldered in his heart.

But then I imagined ...... myself killing all the people who disgusted me and holding a bloodstained sword. Then I got scared of myself.

　People instinctively hesitate to attack their own kind.
　On the contrary, even attacking a humanoid demon seems to cause psychological resistance.
　Not everyone can kill with impunity.
　Not everyone can hold a grudge that transcends their instincts.

　Wilfred threw the rest of the bread into his mouth and chewed it, looking up at the sky for a while.

He looked up at the sky for a moment, chewing on a piece of bread. "Do not wield a sword for revenge. A sword is for protecting people, that I'm sure Master would say that.
"Master?
I'm sure that's what a master would say. He is not a swordsmanship teacher, but a spiritual master. ......
　I don't even know his name, but he was an amazing person who risked his life to fight demons and protect us. I don't know if he's alive now. ...... No, if he's as strong as his master, he must be alive.
　I hope to see him again someday. So, ...... I'm going to get as strong as I can by then and ask him to fight me. I'm going to make sure I get one and make him roar!

　In the event that you have any questions regarding where and the best way to get in touch with us, please do not hesitate to contact us.

I'm sorry ......, that was irrelevant.

　--Swordsmith.

　I'm not sure what to say.
　I'm not sure what to say, but I'm sure you'll understand.

I also understand ....... You're afraid to hold a grudge.

　I know what you mean," said Eunice, who had been listening intently to Wilfred.

"I used to hate the bandits who destroyed my village, too. For a long time, I was filled with hatred. ......
　But one day, I looked in the mirror and saw a ...... demon. It was my own face, but it looked like something else. ......
　I still can't forgive those bandits. But I've stopped letting it fill my heart with hate. First of all, hating won't help.

　Eunice said quietly, as if she was reading a story to him.
　The pain in her heart was palpable to Panira. It's hard to even remember, and it's even harder to hold a grudge. It's just painful and it's not going to help. That's what Eunice thought.

Someone has to be angry at the unreasonable. But you can't be happy when you're angry.

　Suddenly, a warm voice came to her mind, and Panila (Rene) felt her heart tighten.

　She swallowed down the unrelieved bitterness and sank it deep into her heart, seeking a peaceful life.
　I'm sure there are people who would be happy with that.

　I wonder what happened to Rene at ....... What is certain is that he can no longer do anything but run down the path of revenge filled with the stench of blood and rot. We don't know yet what the end will be. But if we stop, only the worst is yet to come.
　Everything is so different from Wilfred and Eunice.

　--This is no time to be sentimental. I've got to do what I've got to do.

Yeah. I'll give you a reading. Maybe it'll tell you what to do.
Panera, is that it again?

　Panila (Rene) came up with a rather mischievous idea.
　In fact, I was going to give her a letter saying that an adult stranger had told me to deliver it to Wilfred.

"Divination?

　Panilla (Rene) pulls out a set of fortune telling cards from her pocket and thrusts them at Wilfred, who looks at them quizzically.
　Panilla had picked them up on the street. Panilla's favorite pastime is to use these cards to tell fortunes to anyone and everyone.


　After spreading out the cards on the upright barrel, Panilla (Rene) shuffled them into a bunch again and then handed them to Wilfred.

Yes, cut these. Do you know how to cut a card?
You don't have to believe me. You don't have to believe me. Fortunes don't always come true.
Not really. You can read something a hundred years in the future and it will come true.

　Panila (Rene) retorted to Eunice's admonishing tone.

　I don't know now whether Earth's fortune-telling was really correct or not, but in this world where magic exists, fortune-telling is not to be taken lightly.
　But as Eunice said, it is true that they are not very reliable.

　--≪See-Through.

　There's nothing wrong with a match pump.
　Panira (Rene) uses a simple spell to look at the cards that are still face down, mix them up, and arrange them the way she wants.
　Then she turned them over one by one.

...... is very good for money. There's going to be some unexpected extra income.
"Huh. ......
Where do you think the money is coming from?
I don't know that much. It's linked to the waiting section, so it might be related to an unexpected encounter with someone. Suddenly some rich guy gives you some money.
I'd like some money, too, if that's really possible. ......

　Eunice's head snapped up at the ridiculous prophecy.

I'd like to get some money. All the other directions are dead.
And west is ...... the way to King's Landing. You'll get killed if you go there.
See, that's why you can't hit me like this. That's enough, Panira. You'll get us in trouble.
Yes.

　Panila (Rene) put away her cards as Eunice admonished her.
　The point is to give her a little push, so the foreshadowing is fine.

　I'm sorry.

"Who ......?

　It was after dark when a mysterious person came to visit Wilfred's mother Humena in her hospital room.
　Before he knew it, a shadow was standing in the corner of the room, not even making a sound as he opened and closed the door.
　A suspicious figure, dressed like a desert man, hiding everything but his eyes. He was about a size larger than Wilfred.

You're not a ...... priest, are you?

　Wilfred, who was present, stood over Humena as if to protect her as she lay up in bed.
　The mysterious figure held up a finger to Wilfred.

"Quiet, please. I'm the one who took care of your father.

　The voice of the mysterious person was a bit husky and calm, but it was a mature alto voice, which belied the impression of a girl or a boy.
　The mysterious person who hides her entire body seems to be a woman.

"Your father," he said, "is .......
For Yuyin?
I'll start with this. I borrowed it from your father a long time ago.

　The mysterious woman handed Wilfred an old leather bag as if to force it on him.
　Wilfred peeked inside and saw a glint of gold, as bright as the sun, piercing his eyes.

　A gold coin.
　Gold coins, so much gold that it weighed down the leather bag.

"This is a lot of money!

　"Such a lot of money!
　When Wilfred handed the leather bag to Humena in dismay, she was also in awe. She looked at him anxiously, wondering if he really wanted to give her such a thing, but the mysterious woman didn't seem to mind.

Come on, please. It's not in the best interest of either of you to stay in this city.
　...... I've arranged an exit route to Gilesh Hattar. Even if Noah Curio is staring at you, he won't be able to harm you if you flee to the Federation, which is currently at odds with you over Ciel-Teira.
"Come to ...... now?
Yes. Let's get out of here under the cover of night. Or is there something you really want to take with you, something unfinished in this city?

　The two looked at each other as the mysterious woman spoke.
　I can't leave anything at home that I want to take with me, and I've already brought most of it to the hospital room.

　If there was anything else on his mind, it was Yuyin's mourning, but the temple leader of this city was a reasonable man. Regardless of public opinion, he hospitalized Humena to shelter her and placed Wilfred in an orphanage under the temple. If left to the head of the temple, he would make sure that Yuyin was mourned until his reincarnation.
　I don't care about the bones or ashes. Some sects emphasize the handling of the body, but the family's beliefs are standard. What was important was the reincarnating soul, and after mourning, the body was returned to the earth with thanks to the gods.

It's okay.
　But ......, why are you doing this to me?
"As I told you before. I am indebted to your father.

　Humena was suspicious, but the mysterious woman was adamant.


　Humena was not sure if she could trust this woman.
　But Wilfred was different.

"Mom, ......, it's okay. It's all right.
"Right about what?
I think it's fate.

　I didn't believe in fortune-telling, but it was funny to see it come true like this.
　Wilfred's heart was beating as if he had found a treasure map.

　God had not abandoned the righteous.
　He gave us the opportunity to rise up and live strong through the unreasonable.
　Destiny was pushing Wilfred's back.

"Let's go to Gilesh Hattar. My father will be watching us.