「Shall we go home?」
Fogas looks at us.
「That is right. Let us go home」
When I nod at onii-chan’s words, Rudok signals to the coachman.
「We will provide strong protection on the way back as well, so rest assured」
Rudok said this with a smile toward us, so onii-chan and I nodded with smiles.
「「Please take care of us」」
The carriage starts moving slowly. Finally, I stick my face out of the window and look at the Viscount Bargal residence.
「What is wrong?」
Rudok looks at me with concern.
「It is just a feeling」
Thinking that this is truly the end with those who killed the real Rina, my feelings do not quite settle.
If it were her, what would she think at a time like this? She would surely be happy that her precious family was protected. But she herself has passed away. Moreover, no one other than my family will probably ever know about that.
『Even though I should be happy that it is resolved… I do not feel completely satisfied』
Yuu enters the carriage and comes to my side.
Ah, perhaps I do not feel satisfied because I cannot tell everyone about the real Rina’s death. I want to properly mourn her. But since I cannot do that, maybe my feelings are unsettled even though they were caught.
「Rina? Are you okay?」
I look at onii-chan and nod.
「I am fine」
When I get home, I will ask onii-chan how to mourn people who have died in this world. Even if I can only tell the truth to my family, I want to send Rina off properly. Although she might have already gone far away.
When the carriage arrives home, Father and Mother rush out of the house.
「「Agus, Rina」」
Getting off the carriage, I run over to the two of them together with onii-chan.
「「We are home」」
「「Welcome home」」
Mother hugs onii-chan and me tightly.
「I am glad you are safe. Truly, I am glad」
Mother’s arms tighten slightly around us.
「Thank you very much」
When I look at Father, he is bowing deeply to Fogas and Rudok.
「Everything has ended safely. There is no one left to torment your family anymore. Please rest assured」
「Thank you. Thank you」
Father grips Fogas’s hand tightly and thanks him repeatedly. Mother also shows an expression of relief at his words.
「Huh? Have you already fixed the wall?」
Rudok raises a surprised voice, so I follow his gaze.
「It is true. The hole in the wall is closed」
The wall, which had been brutally destroyed and had a hole in it during the attack, had been beautifully repaired.
「We could not leave a hole open forever, after all」
When Father says this with a smile, Mother nods as well.
「Rigus-dono is quite skilled. It is repaired very beautifully」
Fogas approaches the repaired wall and nods.
「Rigus-dono. I am sorry to trouble you, but could we ask you to repair the church as well?」
「Eh? Repair the church?」
Father looks at Fogas with a surprised expression.
「Yes, the priest who was managing it destroyed various things, and at this rate, the next priest will not be able to live there. Bishop Arteto also said, 『The church repairs must be done as soon as possible』. Therefore, we planned to ask the master carpenter of this village for the job, but… since he was caught」
Ah, that is right. He was caught.
「Therefore, we were wondering who to ask, but since Rigus-dono is quite skilled, we would like to ask you. If you have other work, it is fine after that is finished. What do you think?」
「I would be happy to. Actually, due to this incident, I considered leaving this village and withdrew from the team I was participating in. Since the captured master carpenter was the leader of the team, I suppose I would have lost the work anyway」
When Father gives a bitter smile, Fogas thinks for a moment.
「Even if you left the team, you are still registered with the Merchant Guild, right?」
Merchant Guild? I recall it is a place that arranges jobs.
『Merchant Guild!』
I glance at Yuu, who raises his voice happily.
「Of course. I intended to work as a carpenter even if I went to other villages or towns」
「In that case, we will submit a designated request to the Merchant Guild. Since the Merchant Guild will gather the necessary personnel, there will be no problem」
『Adventurer’s Guild or Merchant Guild. I am curious! Has Rina ever been to the Merchant Guild?』
Well, I wonder? Does the fact that I do not remember mean I have not been there?
「Fogas-san, Rudok-san. Would you like to drink some tea? We made sweets together with Suna」
As the conversation comes to a pause, Mother calls out to the two of them.
「No—」
「Thank you very much. We will accept」
Interrupting Fogas, who was about to decline, Rudok thanks him with a happy smile.
「Eh?」
Fogas looks at such Rudok with a surprised expression. Rudok taps the shoulder of the surprised Fogas.
「See. They said 『Please』, so」
「I think it would be better to refrain since they are tired」
Sighing at Fogas, Rudok shrugs his shoulders.
「It is my principle to accept kind offers with a smile」
Seeing the two of them, Mother and Father laugh.
「We are not tired at all. So please do not hesitate」
Rudok bows slightly to Mother and then looks at Fogas and smiles. Sighing at that, Fogas bows to Mother.
-0-
— Bishop Arteto’s Perspective —
I watch the carriage leaving.
「It still concerns me」
Fon, who is next to me, looks in the direction of my gaze and tilts his head.
「Fogas should be fine」
「Hmm?」
When I look at Fon with curiosity, he returns a similar expression.
「Who are you talking about?」
I cannot help but smile slightly at Fon’s question. He probably does not expect that I am concerned about a little girl.
「Fon, did you not feel anything when you saw the girl named Rina?」
「Eh? The victimized girl?」
When I nod, Fon furrows his brow deeply.
「Could it be that the effects of the curse are appearing? I learned that rarely, bad effects can appear」
「That is not it. Something else…」
Something else? Certainly, I received an unsettling impression from her. But when I spoke with her, I did not receive such an impression. However, watching her inside the carriage, I occasionally felt unsettled… no, a strong discomfort.
「Is it the influence of the curse?」
Not everything about curses has been elucidated. There are still many things we do not know.
「If there is an influence, it would be protection, or rather surveillance, by the Church, right?」
Fon looks in the direction where the carriage left with a complex expression. Probably, since she is still young, he does not want to confine her to the Church. I agree with that thought as well.
「It seems the church was destroyed by the former priest」
「Eh? Ah, I heard about that story」
Fon tilts his head and looks at me.
「Since important items remain in the church, guarding is necessary. Let us have Fogas and about two others stay in Lanca Village. And the victimized children need mental care. Since they are knowledgeable about curses, they will surely be good conversation partners」
Hearing my words, Fon nods happily.
「Understood. Then, I will choose those who will stay in Lanca Village. It is better if they are people who are liked by children, right?」
If they are under the influence of the curse, the effects will gradually appear. If we observe them for a while, the answer will come out.
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