Chapter 57: Allen Has a Childhood Sweetheart???

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Those familiar with frequent killers know this well: killing is easy, but disposing of the body is difficult.

This, however, does not apply on the continent of swords and sorcery, where people die daily and slavery is even sanctioned by various nations. In such a world, laws protecting human rights are but a luxury.

Disposing of bodies is no challenge here, as there is no need for elaborate concealment—one can simply discard them carelessly. Whether it’s the fetid ditches outside the city or the neglected corners and slums within, both serve as perfect resting places for nameless corpses.

Yet Allen could not simply “discard” his victims. After slaying them, he had intended to destroy the bodies immediately. But upon realizing how troublesome it was to handle the scattered remains, he abandoned that plan, opting instead for a swift escape.

At that moment, deep within the forest outside Ridget City under the cloak of night, a helpful ally appeared—no longer indifferent or half-asleep to Allen’s plight.

As a result, not only were the bodies incinerated, but the entire camp was burned to nothing.

When men and women collaborate on such grim tasks as killing and body disposal, the speed can be astonishing.

The thieves’ stronghold outside Ridget City... vanished utterly from this world.

Soon enough, it would become just another neglected ruin, unnoticed by anyone.

...

That should have been the case.

But what if, from the start of the hunt to the final act of erasing evidence, someone had silently observed the entire process from afar?

Would this grand spectacle of hunting the Mane Wolf be recorded in their eyes, along with the memory of the now-vanished thieves’ den?

As the flames ebbed, two slender figures leapt down from a cliff midway between the forest’s edge and the lake’s far shore, away from the burning camp.

The campfire’s glow licked their forms.

One was an elderly woman named Leta Lia, the current pinnacle of the Water God Swordsmanship and Allen’s master.

The other was a young girl named Isolute Kaerel, Allen’s childhood friend since he was four, both trained in the Water God’s grand dojo.

“The old woman wondered who had angered Darius so much to orchestrate such a meticulous ambush in secret. I thought it was some formidable adversary seeking his life... but it turns out the main player was Allen all along.”

“Seems he didn’t flee to Sharia but stayed hidden in the Asra Kingdom... Is it revenge against James, then? That boy hasn’t changed; he still can’t bear even the slightest insult...”

Leta’s words carried the measured cadence of an elder of high rank, laced with the dignity of a noble and master swordsman. Her gait suggested a simple old lady at first glance, but to any skilled swordsman, her form betrayed no weakness.

Isolute followed behind, her soft black hair in a princess-cut style flowing in the air, the firelight flickering through strands tipped faintly with a blue glow.

Unlike the cool, half-lidded features of Lochisi, Isolute had a distinctive, vivid face. Her large, round eyes drooped slightly at the edges, radiating warmth. A high nose bridge framed her face, adding a touch of stubbornness beneath her gentle demeanor.

Tall among her peers, she was almost as tall as Leta, likely from years of sword training, with impressively proportioned legs.

Hearing Leta speak of Allen, Isolute smiled softly with gentle eyes.

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“Yes... It’s been nearly half a year, and senior brother remains as sharp and bold as ever, though his features have softened somewhat... His swordsmanship…”

Her expression shifted as she frowned.

“...Still a prodigy. I know he’s been holding back with the Northern God Style, but the Water God Style... to think he has mastered the Silent Blade technique... and even solved the greatest problem of the Rock Essence secret technique.”

Leta’s wrinkled face showed a hint of amusement as she turned to look at Isolute.

“He’s already on the doorstep of the ‘Sense Flow’ style. There’s no doubt he’s the Water Saint now. Don’t blame me for stopping you earlier; even if you had gone down there, you wouldn’t have been able to bring him back to the capital.”

Isolute lowered her eyelids.

“If you personally intervened, that should be no problem... Don’t you want him to return to the capital? Last year, you even said the position of Water God... would eventually be his...”

Leta stared expressionlessly at the charred remains beneath their feet.

“We’ve discussed it many times these months. James couldn’t have sent so many experts to encircle Allen at the Red Dragon’s Upper Jaw. Now, it seems Darius’s shadow was behind last year’s assassination attempt in the dark as well...”

Despite her noble upbringing and refined demeanor in the capital, Isolute’s composure faltered, revealing anxiety.

“...Are you saying you intend to kill him for Darius? But...”

Leta sighed and gave her granddaughter a helpless glance, raising a hand to silence her.

“I’ve heard that Allen often looks after you because he feels sorry that your parents died young and that you’re alone. That brat Dantoris can’t fulfill his duties as an older brother and always wears a stern face, so Allen befriended you—not out of affection. Remember when you carefully chose a sword hilt for his fifth birthday? Didn’t he only give you some small treats in return?”

Isolute’s mind involuntarily recalled the figure of Lochisi beside Allen—her bangs shadowing her eyes, her expression obscure and unreadable in the flickering firelight.

“...Master, I’m asking if you will kill him... What are you saying? I don’t understand...”

Leta squinted, watching her disciple’s hand tightly gripping her sword hilt.

“What am I saying? Just look at your reaction! Haha, child, if Allen weren’t so good-looking, would you even care about him...?”

“!! Grandmother!!”

Leta shrugged helplessly.

“Don’t worry... I and he are master and student; I won’t kill him... Though Darius saved my life, Allen doesn’t yet know he’s the mastermind behind it all, so Allen poses no threat to Darius’s life.”

“Then why not bring him back to the dojo...?”

“Whatever the reason, it’s true Darius wants him dead. Even if we brought him back to the main dojo, he wouldn’t be safe in the capital. For his safety, I can only keep him deep within the dojo, secretly training him as a shadow swordsman until he can protect himself. But... do you think he’s the type to quietly hide his identity until his swordsmanship matures before emerging?”

Isolute narrowed her eyes at Leta and cautiously asked,

“Then I should just persuade him... If not, can’t I forcibly bring him back?”

Leta sighed, reaching out to stroke Isolute’s black hair.

“You rely on him too much... Is that truly good for him?”

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“...I... don’t know. But... if it really works... would you agree?”

“I would.”

“Then I’ll go find him right now!”

Leta blocked her path with the golden sword at her waist, a smile flickering in her eyes as though she had successfully guided her.

“Your childhood friend should be brought back by you, naturally. That’s without question. But is your current swordsmanship level sufficient?”

Isolute had just taken a step forward, her flying hair betraying her joy, but her bright expression faltered upon hearing those words.

“...Not enough.”

Leta smiled and clasped her hands behind her back.

“Come back to the dojo and hone your swordsmanship. When you reach the rank of Water Saint, I will release you. Whether you can bring your beloved back then will depend on your own skill.”

“All right! ...No! What beloved? Grandmother!!!”

Isolute, usually composed and proud in the capital, would lose her composure at lightning speed whenever Leta teased her about Allen.

Leta ceased her teasing and turned her head, immediately suppressing her smile.

‘If that day truly comes, when Allen returns and trains diligently within the dojo... the day he realizes Darius is the mastermind behind it all will be the day we clash... I won’t kill him, but if he truly wants to kill Darius... he must step over my dead body...’

‘If he cannot kill me, he cannot exact revenge. If he kills me, he will be the new Water God.’

Leta had no intention of burdening Isolute with such a cruel destiny. Though Darius had fully fallen, he was once her savior.

Repaying kindness despite a tainted reputation — that was Leta’s resolution.

“Let’s go back to the capital.”

“All right... Wait! Please wait a moment!”

Isolute sprinted over to a patch of blackened wreckage nearby. Under Leta’s somewhat helpless gaze, she bent down and searched through it with the blade in her hand.

The charred remains gave off a foul stench, and the smoke stained her face black.

Time passed as she searched. Finally, her eyes lit up as she lifted a sword hilt from the debris, cradling it carefully and examining it closely.

The hilt was broken, dried blood crusted and cracked in her palm.

In the night breeze, her gaze shone brightly.

“I will definitely bring him back to the dojo!”