Episode 12: The Lies Unravel, Part 2 (Shifa’s Perspective)
No one but adventurers remained in the Guild.
This was convenient, so under Michelle-san’s command, we began to fill in the Guild’s basement, which served as the dungeon entrance.
Thoroughly.
Knowing that monsters even stronger than the Orc King or Elder Wolf would appear, we planned to fill in the basement entrance, destroy the stairs between the basement and the ground floor, and then demolish and bury the Guild building itself.
Michelle-san urged me to get permission from the Lord, just in case, so I came to the Lord’s mansion.
Though I say “came,” the Lord’s mansion is just a stone’s throw from the Guild. There are only a few buildings in between.
That’s natural, as this town originally developed around the dungeon.
“I see. So, there were monsters of that caliber.”
“Yes.”
Father seemed troubled, but he also appeared to have steeled himself.
“Wait. Is that true? I don’t think it’s necessary to destroy it so thoroughly. What if nothing happens as a result?”
And my sister was there too.
I still hadn’t told them that Jekyll had fled.
I had only reported that an Orc King and an Elder Wolf had appeared, but Michelle-san had awakened and defeated them.
And that the Orc King and its kin were not the bosses of the Stampede.
“Monsters stronger than the Orc King are coming. This is more terrifying than the Stampede three years ago. It can’t be helped.”
If nothing happens, we’ll just rebuild. What is this sister of mine saying?
That’s what I thought, but Father spoke to her as if trying to reason with her.
“Father, you were merely resting, so you wouldn’t understand. We’ve finally rebuilt this much over the past three years.”
However, my sister wasn’t convinced. She must have been making efforts in ways we didn’t know.
Could the missing money have been for reconstruction?
“Elanda. Give it up. This is the fate of a town that developed because of a dungeon. We cannot escape the monsters.”
“But—!?”
“I shall go. They’re likely seeking an on-site decision.”
My sister tried to resist further, but Father cut her off, as if to say time was precious, and headed for the Guild with the assistance of a guard.
“Lord-sama!”
When I went to the Guild with Father, the adventurers noticed.
“Please evacuate, Lord-sama.”
“It’s dangerous here. Monsters could appear at any moment.”
“I was asleep the entire time everyone was working so hard. There’s no way I can simply flee now.”
“Lord-sama…”
Father is adored by the townspeople.
Because he has always worked to develop the town.
Because he is someone who shares their pain, having lost his beloved wife and son in the Stampede.
“Michelle-kun. I heard you fought right after waking up. I thank you. I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Viscount-sama, are you alright?”
“Ah… It seems I’ve burdened you all, and my daughters as well. My apologies. So, what’s the situation? Is burying it truly the only option?”
“Yes. I wish Lux were here, but… where is Lux, anyway?”
Father and Michelle-san both turned to look at my sister.
“He’s… out at the moment…”
Receiving such gazes, my sister still tried to lie.
Unbelievable.
What good would lying in this situation do?
I couldn’t stay silent any longer and shouted.
“That’s a lie!”
“Shifa!”
My sister glared at me, raising her voice as if to cut me off, but I wasn’t afraid of that anymore.
“What is it? Why don’t you say it? That you betrayed and banished him!”
“What?”
“Eh?”
Father and Michelle-san, hearing my words, were naturally surprised.
“Shifa. I did not betray him!”
“It’s standard procedure for an adventurer who’s been missing for half a year to be declared ‘estimated death’ and for their party rights to be transferred. That’s the rule. But to twist that into a civilian death, to seize his personal assets as his fiancée, to strip him of his citizenship, and then to break off the engagement on the grounds of his death—if that isn’t betrayal, then what is?!”
“Kuh… Shifa… You investigated?”
“Wha—…”
“No way…”
I said it all in one breath. Because I couldn’t forgive her. This was too much.
And while Father and Michelle-san were dumbfounded, my sister just kept glaring at me.
“What is the meaning of this, Elanda!?”
“Elanda-sama. I heard from Michelle-san that it was also a lie that Lux… no, Lux-san, stepped on a trap.”
“That Jekyll was the one who stepped on it, and Lux-san merely protected him.”
“…”
As we were speaking, accusing my sister, the other adventurers joined in.
Filled with anger, they wouldn’t stop, even in front of the Lord.
“What’s going on? You said Lux was the one skimping on monster subjugation rewards, and that Elanda-sama and Jekyll would restore them, right? But Shifa-sama said Elanda-sama was the one who didn’t pay out the rewards, and that the rewards and survivor pensions only came from a fund Lux-san created!”
“…”
My sister, her face pale, just listened without answering. She probably couldn’t say anything anymore.
“What does this mean? What’s true and what’s a lie anymore? Say something, Elanda-sama!”
“…”
Even Laila was pressing my sister.
“You said Jekyll and Claire would take command for this Stampede subjugation, right? They both quickly fled, so what’s going on!?”
“Wha—…?”
My sister, who had just been listening in a daze, seemed shocked by the news that Jekyll and the others had fled. Her expression crumbled in an instant.
“Jekyll…? Where did he go?”
“I don’t know. By the time I entered the dungeon, he had already fled. I doubt Jekyll even saw the Orc King and the others being defeated!” Michelle-san answered her flustered voice.
“No… He’s… the father, you know?”
“…”
And at those words, squeezed out with effort, this time it was everyone around her who fell silent.
“What do you mean? The father? Whose father? Don’t tell me, in your belly…?”
“…”
Silent again.
As soon as things get inconvenient for her, this is what she does.