Chapter 6
“Weren’t these people supposed to be closed off? Weren’t they supposed to reject outsiders and only treat fellow villagers like family?”
Celine could only blink in confusion.
No. She had never worn such a blank expression in her life, but she simply couldn’t help it now.
“Shall we go?” Felix asked kindly as he led the way.
He was still carrying her suitcase.
Lillian gave Celine a thumbs-up.
The information was completely wrong.
Still confused, Celine just wanted to get to her lodging as quickly as possible.
Instead, she had to walk down a path formed by villagers standing on both sides as if they were welcoming the Emperor himself.
The young villagers waved enthusiastically.
The elderly, their white hair shining, smiled warmly from their wheelchairs.
Even the little children had dressed in their nicest clothes and jumped up and down excitedly.
…Ellen, when did you get over there?
Ellen was practically bouncing like a happy foal.
“I’m Teacher’s very first student! Number One! Leon, did you know? Teacher loves wine!”
Leon looked shocked.
…Forget that.
These people were greeting a teacher they had never even met as if she were an old friend.
No, that’s even stranger!
This mission suddenly felt much more difficult.
“We’ve all been waiting for you,” Lillian said as she walked beside her.
Why? Why would you wait for someone you’ve never met? I’m only a hired teacher.
Celine couldn’t understand it, so she simply nodded without saying anything.
There was nothing in the manual about handling a situation like this.
“Today happened to be the monthly day when we go into the city. But Ellen kept insisting that we hurry back because he didn’t know when you would arrive. Thank you so much for coming.”
“…Yes. I’ll do my best.”
She answered politely, but her stomach felt uneasy.
“Welcome!”
“We’re so glad you’re here!”
This feels ominous!
The smiling children only made her anxiety grow stronger.
The Black Agent No. 413, Celine Ravens, had absolutely no immunity to this kind of warm atmosphere.
In fact, it reminded her of one terrible truth.
The Reaper with Purple Eyes always brought death, never good fortune.
Ten Years Earlier
After surviving the training academy, Celine was sent on her first mission at the age of fourteen.
She was one of the youngest graduates to be deployed.
That day, she was waiting with Agent No. 412, whose number came right before hers.
“413, you’re lucky. Your first mission is only reconnaissance.”
He was the first—and ultimately the last—friend she ever had among her fellow Black Agents.
Unlike most agents, who had been raised by Shad since infancy, No. 412 had entered the academy relatively late at the age of seven.
Perhaps because of that, even after years of training to suppress emotions, he had managed to keep his humanity.
Celine herself had wandered between orphanages before being taken by Shad at the age of five, so she too had entered later than most.
Whenever he could, 412 taught her things the academy never did.
Suddenly he said,
“I’m scared.”
“You? You graduated second in the academy, 412.”
“And you graduated first, 413.”
Looking into her eyes, he continued,
“I’m not afraid of dying.”
“I’m afraid because of this damned alchemy. Wars never end because of it. Humanity has lost everything… nature too.”
“…You and I included.”
Celine tilted her head.
“Really?”
“I think so.”
Picking up the alchemy rifle beside him, 412 lightly jumped down from the rock onto the ground below.
Looking back up at her, he said,
“My first mission is infiltration and target elimination. Agent 399 is supposed to back me up.”
“But do you think I can trust that?”
“If anything goes wrong, I’ll just die for nothing.”
“Be careful.”
“Only you and the Doctor would ever say something like that.”
“You stay safe too.”
“Let’s meet again after we’re both back.”
After separating from him, Celine headed toward the great bridge near the Empire’s border.
The bridge crossed a deep valley and connected the Empire to the neighboring mercenary kingdom of Gautrant.
Her assignment was simply to monitor military activity.
She silently climbed the tallest tree in the forest and settled onto the highest branch.
From there, she could overlook the entire valley.
Holding her telescope, she observed the area for hours.
Nothing unusual happened.
“…There are a lot of people over there.”
Beneath the bridge stood the Lucais Monastery, which also operated an orphanage.
“Sister! Look over here!”
“Oh? Very good.”
She could clearly read their lips.
Several nuns were tending a vegetable garden with around fifteen children.
The children laughed brightly.
The clergy looked warm and kind.
The peaceful scene held her gaze.
Some of the children looked about her age.
If only I’d grown up somewhere like that…
Her bruised ribs, still sore from being beaten by senior agents the day before, suddenly ached.
Dong— Dong— Dong.
“…Ah.”
The monastery bell echoed through the valley.
Everyone hurried inside.
As the red evening sky spread overhead, smoke rose gently from the monastery chimney like a painting.
At that moment, the communication device in her ear crackled.
Crackle.
“Any movement?”
“No one has crossed the bridge.”
“Only activity around the monastery.”
“Good. If nothing happens by nightfall, return.”
“Yes, Senior.”
Her first mission was going smoothly.
It had been an easy assignment.
Many recruits died during their first mission.
She had begun to believe she would return safely.
I wonder if 412 is back already…
Crackle.
“Oh, right. Another team is operating nearby. Watch your route so you don’t interfere. I don’t want to write another report because of you.”
“Another mission? Who else was deployed here?”
“We’re blowing up the monastery.”
“…Not the bridge?”
“The monastery’s been accused of collaborating with the enemy kingdom.”
“That’s all. Ending transmission.”
Beep.
Only static remained.
At that moment…
Celine saw Agent 412 entering the monastery with the senior agent.
A short while later—
BOOM!!
Cold sweat poured down her face.
“No!!”
“Teacher?”
The blurred world slowly came back into focus.
Felix was standing in front of her, looking concerned.
Present
“Are you alright?”
Celine remained frozen.
She swallowed hard.
I almost pulled the dagger strapped to my thigh and stabbed Felix.
His sky-blue eyes were right in front of her.
She had once heard that the eyes of the extinct elves were unimaginably beautiful.
If the imperial descendant is really a half-elf… maybe they’d have eyes like his.
She had already thought his eyelashes were far too long for a village chief.
His nose was too perfect.
He was annoyingly handsome.
Why does this man keep getting so close to me?
“…Yes? Did you call me?”
Despite her thoughts, those were the words that came out.
She had even unconsciously raised her voice by a note.
It’s a mission.
Everything is for the mission.
Her throat suddenly felt dry, and she rubbed the back of her neck.
“What were you thinking about the whole time?” Felix asked.
“I kept talking to you while we were walking, but you never noticed.”
“I… didn’t notice?”
“No.”
That can’t be right.
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
“…I see.”
“I must be more tired than I realized.”
She smiled awkwardly.
Whenever she remembered that day, she always lost herself.
Thanks to these unnecessarily warm and kind villagers, the memories she had buried deep inside had resurfaced.
“You were probably overwhelmed by the villagers,” Felix said.
“They’re all very excitable.”
“It was difficult for me at first too.”
“But they’re warm people.”
“Warm enough to melt even those eternal snowfields.”
“I think you’re right.”
Celine’s eyes widened.
Wait.
He said it was difficult for him at first?
Wasn’t he born here?
[Information Updated: Felix is not originally from Elderwick.]
While carefully watching his back, Celine followed him deeper into the village.
Eventually, Felix stopped in front of a cozy two-story house built from warm yellow bricks that looked as though it had come straight out of a fairy tale.
Thick ivy covered its walls beautifully.
A smaller annex, connected to the second floor by a little suspension bridge, was built from the same yellow bricks and roof tiles, though it had its own separate entrance.
This house is practically a mansion compared to the rest of the village.
Nearly every house she had passed was a single-story log cabin.
A few were brick houses, but none were as large as this one.
“Is this my residence?”
“Yes.”
“It’s the largest and nicest house in Elderwick.”
“It certainly looks that way.”
“Thank you.”
As she spoke, Celine held out her hand.
“My suitcase, please.”
“I’ll carry it inside.”
“That’s alright.”
“You’ve already carried it this far.”
“I’m very strong.”
“It isn’t any trouble.”
“And actually…”
“Actually?”
Celine met his eyes.
She didn’t think there could possibly be another surprise today.
His sky-blue eyes curved into crescents.
“The truth is…”
“…”
Felix scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed smile.
Don’t smile.
I have a bad feeling about this.
“I’m sorry.”
“The truth is…”
“This is also my house.”
“…What did you just say?”
