国产午夜亚洲精品AⅤ

Chapter 86

In the end, even though Eleris seemed a bit strange, it was clear that she wasn’t guilty. At least, that was the judgment that Charlotte seemed to have come to.

There was no actual evidence, only circumstantial hints, and not a single shred of proof to transform those hints into full-blown conviction.

I wondered what would have happened if Eleris hadn’t been present. There might not have been any evidence in the scroll cabinet, but the golden strand of hair, which could have belonged to Baalier, would have been found on the bed, and Charlotte would have pursued Eleris relentlessly with just that piece of evidence.

“... Here. To cover the repairs to the door.”

Charlotte handed over two gold coins to Eleris.

“Th-Thank you, Your Highness...”

Two gold coins would surely be more than the actual cost of the repairs.

“Excuse my abrupt intrusion, Elena.”

With those words, Charlotte left the shop. It seemed she had no more questions for Eleris. Before she left, Eleris and I locked eyes.

“...”

“...”

No words passed between us, but it felt as if a lengthy conversation had taken place.

***

Charlotte stepped out onto the street and walked for a bit only to suddenly stop in her tracks.

“It still seems suspicious no matter how I think about it.”

Charlotte still hadn’t let go of her suspicions. She dragged me into an alley and looked at me.

“So... Are you saying that everything that person just said was a lie?” I asked.

“Even if she has nothing to do with this incident, she was just too suspicious.”

Her words made my mind freeze all over again. I thought Charlotte had been convinced by the act, but apparently, she wasn’t convinced at all.

“The items in highest demand in scroll shops are offensive magic spells. But she’s not selling them just because there’s a possibility that they could be used in a crime? That means that doing business isn’t her real objective. It’s as if making a profit doesn’t matter to her. I looked at the account book, and she barely makes enough to cover rent. However, the records show that the scroll shop has been operating for over two years. Which means that she’s kept an unprofitable business running for two whole years.”

The first point of suspicion: A scroll shop that did not sell any offensive magic scrolls.

Also, the shop has continued to operate despite making no profit, which indicated that business was not the real goal.

“And then, the rooms upstairs. Leaving the strand of hair aside, there were barely any household items.”

“That’s... right.”

Whether or not Baalier was involved in this was irrelevant. Charlotte was already of the opinion that Eleris herself was too suspicious.

“It’s as if the owner could disappear at any moment, and we wouldn’t know what they were doing in there, or even how they lived.”

The second point of suspicion: The living space was so anonymous, and there was no way of knowing anything about the owner’s lifestyle from it.

Eleris’s living space, which lacked any signs of daily life, was so empty that it wouldn’t have been surprising to find out that it was a vacant room.

Leaving aside the issue of finding Baalier, the shop owner named Elena herself seemed suspicious enough that Charlotte seemed to have concluded that an investigation was necessary.

‘What if she accuses Eleris of being a demon spy?’

Of course, given her abilities, Eleris might manage to slip away when the moment arose, but then she’d disappear from the capital forever, and I’d never see her again.

Something had to be done about this situation.

Whether by diverting Charlotte’s attention or some other means, I had to do something to get Eleris out of danger.

Charlotte was already convinced that the shop was a front, and that there was another purpose behind it. She would start investigating Eleris, using her own influence or her resources, so it was only a matter of time before Eleris was identified as a demon.

“Charlotte, don’t get this wrong, but listen.” Perhaps it would be better for me to halt Charlotte’s train of thought by revealing some of the truth myself. “I think we need to stop.”

It was do or die.

***

“We need to stop.”

At those words, Charlotte narrowed her eyes as if to say, “What do you mean?”

Charlotte’s expression betrayed her utter incomprehension. Although the evidence wasn’t perfect, she had found a lead that cast undeniable suspicion on Eleris. She probably believed that digging deeper into Eleris’s circumstances could somehow lead her to Baalier.

“If what you’re saying is true, then this person is running the shop for some other reason, right? And you’re wondering why she would go through the strange effort of running a scroll shop that specifically doesn’t sell offensive magic spells and is deliberately operating at loss. Correct?”

“That’s right.”

Charlotte remained quiet after that, as though she was willing to hear me out.

“Although I don’t know what her other objective is, don’t you think that putting herself through all that trouble for no reason could mean that she’s just kind-hearted to the point of being a little foolish?”

She had an odd policy of not selling offensive magic scrolls because they could be used to facilitate violent crimes. My point was that, regardless of anything else, this suggested that the person was at least inherently good-natured.

Charlotte nodded faintly in agreement. “I suppose so. But how does that relate to us having to stop here?”

“According to what you said and your speculations, the person you’re looking for entered that scroll shop, and I agree with that. That part seems certain.”

I was trying to offer Charlotte truthful information through plausible reasoning, all while attempting to get her to stop further speculation.

“And surely that child realized that there was some problem with trying to sell a demon scroll. So he would have attempted to sell the Fireball scroll at the next shop, right?”

“That would make sense.”

“What do you think a shop owner like the one we just met, someone who is wary of magical terrorism, would think if she saw a kid carrying around such a dangerous offensive magic spell?”

A scroll shop owner who is against the use of magic for violence and terror sees a child carrying a Fireball scroll...

“She would’ve taken it away... or something like that?”

“She would have paid for it, taken it away, or somehow made sure the child couldn’t carry it around, right?”

Indeed, Eleris had bought my Fireball scroll without even knowing who I was, and she had certainly seemed angry when she’d wondered why a child would be carrying something like that around.

“But she would have also noticed that the boy who had intended to sell the Fireball scroll was carrying a scroll book with him as well.”

“That’s... probable.”

It was true that Eleris had believed me to be someone who was stealing and selling scrolls, hence she had snatched away my scroll book to check for other dangerous items. And that was when she discovered the demon scroll. Charlotte looked perplexed, as if she didn’t understand where I was going with this lengthy speculation.

“From here on, it’s all conjecture, but listen.” It wasn’t conjecture but the truth; however, I had no choice but to phrase it that way to Charlotte.

“The shop owner probably checked the contents of the scroll book and recognized that the boy had a demon scroll. If that’s the case, that means that the shop owner is probably a mage.”

Eleris was a vampire mage, to be exact, but I only revealed half of that truth. Though, if Charlotte asked me how I knew, I would have nothing to say.

“If we assume that the person recognized the demon scroll, naturally, they would have asked where it had come from, right?” I continued.

“Yes, probably. What exactly are you trying to say?” Charlotte asked, seemingly confused about what I was getting at.

She always lost her composure when it came to anything related to Baalier.

Of course, it was also true that what I was saying seemed quite random.

“I believe that the shop owner is protecting the child in some way or another.”

Before we got to the more dangerous core of the truth, I decided to share half of the truth with Charlotte.

“If it’s true that the shop owner is a mage and she can recognize demon scrolls, and if she’s a good person, then it’s evident that she would have helped the child after realizing the child was in danger.”

Whether it was by hiding them or sending them far away, I didn’t specify the method, but Charlotte seemed to be contemplating various possibilities.

“If we’re certain that this person is protecting the child, then isn’t that all the more reason to investigate her? And how do you know whether this person is protecting the child or not? Your thoughts are mere conjecture. But fine, let’s say your conjecture is true. If we go along with what you’re saying, then this person is our only lead, so why should we stop here?” Charlotte questioned.

“Because digging deeper could actually put the child in more danger.”

My words caused Charlotte’s eyes to widen in alarm.

“If we find the boy, that means Vertus might be able to find him too.”

Finding the boy was a desirable outcome, but Charlotte hadn’t thought about what would happen afterward.

“We’ve already caused a scene out in the streets, and I don’t know how far the news has spread. But if you think you’ve found a meaningful lead, Vertus might find out about it as well. If we start digging further into this and attracting more eyes, Vertus is bound to catch on.”

Charlotte might be able to locate the boy, but there was a risk that this information could also reach Vertus. Therefore, in an attempt to find the boy, it was possible that we’d actually put the boy in greater danger.

“I already confirmed with my supernatural power that the boy is safe. I may not know how he’s getting by, but forcefully uncovering the information that this shop owner is hiding could put him in even more danger.”

“...”

There was insufficient evidence behind my conjecture for it to be deemed the truth.

For it to hold, my speculation that Eleris was a mage, the hypothesis that Eleris recognized demon scrolls, and the presumption that Eleris, being good-natured, would have helped the child out in a tough spot all had to be true.

My point was that, if Eleris really had a clue that could lead to the boy, it would be better not dig into her further.

The essence of my statement was that it was advisable not to investigate her further, regardless of whether she was related to Baalier or not.

“But we can’t be sure. Of course, I’m not doubting your supernatural powers... But whether that person is genuinely protecting the child or not... we can’t be certain, can we?”

Charlotte seemed to believe that it was all just speculation. Eleris might be a lead, but the truth was that she might also be completely uninvolved, and the boy could have gone missing somewhere else entirely. Charlotte seemed unwilling to stop digging based on such unclear circumstances.

“Fine. Let’s go back then.”

“Back?”

“Yeah. Maybe if she gets the impression that we’re not going to back down easily, she might spill something about the truth.”

Of course, that was all nonsense.

There was no need to pressure her or do anything of that sort. All I needed to do was signal to Eleris that it was okay to talk, and she would spill everything.

***

We returned to Eleris’ shop once again. The wide-open entrance meant that the interior of the shop was plainly visible. Eleris, who had been sitting idly in plain sight, sprang to her feet as we returned.

“Y-You’ve returned, Your Highness.”

The day had passed, and the crowds were thinning. People occasionally cast curious glances at the shop with the gaping entrance as they passed by, but no one seemed to stop to eavesdrop.

Charlotte glanced at the open entrance, and then gestured toward the stairs.

“There’s something I want to discuss with you upstairs.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Eleris hesitantly went up to the upper floor, looking visibly tense.

“I won’t ask much.”

“ ... Yes.”

This time, Charlotte hadn’t come to press her for answers.

“I believe you’re definitely connected to the child’s disappearance.”

As Charlotte’s near-certain words rolled off her tongue, Eleris grew visibly flustered.

“However, I also understand that the child could be faced with a variety of dangers. Therefore, I’ve formulated a hypothesis that you might be hiding or protecting the child, for all we know. You’re protecting the child because someone might mean to do them harm, and you’ve even lied to me because letting such information reach my ears could be dangerous too... That’s the gist of it.”

Charlotte thought that this was excessive speculation, and didn’t necessarily believe it.

That was why she wanted to do everything within her power to confirm it. She was asserting that this was her own line of reasoning, based on my conjecture.

“I will use all means at my disposal to investigate you, whether you choose to speak or not. If there’s something you need to confess, you might as well tell me now. And if uncovering the truth actually endangers the child, I think it would be better to stop right now,” Charlotte continued.

Charlotte took a deep breath and then looked at Eleris.

“Elena, do you think that my search for the child could put them in danger? Is that why you’ve hidden the information from me?”

From behind Charlotte, I caught Eleris’s eye. With a slight nod, I gave her the sign.

And clearly, Eleris acknowledged it.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Charlotte froze in shock, as I looked on blankly.

***

On the way back to the Temple, Charlotte walked as if her soul had left her body.

“Be careful. You might trip over something.”

“Oh. Ah, yes.”

In the end, with all strength drained from her body, Charlotte couldn’t keep walking properly and just managed to set foot outside of the shopping district only to slump down onto a nearby bench.

Charlotte covered her face with both hands and sobbed quietly. It was then that I realized that people could react this way even because of immense joy.

Charlotte was crying tears of bliss.

—Yes, I am protecting the child. Your Highness, I am already aware that you mean no harm to the child. I know this because the child has told me.

However, there are too many out there who are after that child. That is why I could not disclose the truth, even to you. I apologize for this.

Your Highness, I’m only telling you this because you said that you would find out everything from me no matter what.

The child is doing well, and I believe it would be better for you not to know where the child, is or what he is doing.

I am also a mage. Although I’m not very strong, protecting a child is well within my capabilities. It may be difficult for you to trust me, but I hope that you will.

Ultimately, Charlotte had witnessed the moment in which my conjecture became the truth.

Charlotte had remained frozen for a long time before collapsing in a heap on the spot. Then she broke into violent sobs as if she was about to run out of breath. In my attempt to protect Eleris, I had inadvertently exposed her instead.

Charlotte had protected me, since I was a means to reach Baalier. Therefore, it was only natural that she would also protect Eleris, who was safeguarding Baalier.

“He was safe... he was safe after all. He’s been safe... he’s been safe this whole time!”

Even though she hadn’t directly seen Baalier’s face, just finding out that someone was protecting him was enough. Charlotte was overcome with emotion, weeping with gratitude.

—I believe it should be possible to facilitate the exchange of information between Your Highness and the child without risking danger. Through letters, for example.

However, a direct visit from you would be dangerous for both me and the child. So, when exchanging messages, it would be better if you sent someone else on your behalf.

Eleris had done more than merely understand the meaning behind the signal I’d given her, and went a step further.

—For instance, the boy who has come with you today.

Eleris had even provided a pretext for me, in the guise of Reinhart, to come and go from her shop.

What consequences my act of revealing part of the truth would bring was uncertain. But if I had done nothing, it might have led to the discovery that Eleris was a vampire.

It might not have been the best solution, but in that moment, it had been the best one I could think of.

Despite everything, Charlotte was relieved to hear that the boy was safe and that she could at least exchange letters with him.

Charlotte, having regained her composure, took a deep breath and looked at me.

“This matter absolutely must not reach Vertus’s ears.”

“Of course.”

Her words were a warning to me to keep my mouth shut, and her own hope that Vertus would not discover anything about the day’s events.

My outlandish conjecture had been just that—conjecture. And Eleris’s sudden openness had been due to my prompting on the spot. Charlotte could have found it strange that Eleris’s lips, which had been sealed until then, had suddenly opened.

Nonetheless, Charlotte couldn’t deny that it was because of me that she had been able to pinpoint the child’s whereabouts.

“Thank you, Reinhart,” Charlotte said, cautiously holding my hand.

“It was just good luck.”

I couldn’t bring myself to meet Charlotte’s gaze; her eyes were rimmed with tears as she smiled. Her hand, which was holding onto mine, felt a little cold.

“It’s cold. Let’s go inside.”

“Sure.”

Of course, this wasn’t the end.

Charlotte would now have to do her best to protect Eleris, just as she had committed to protecting the boy.