Chapter 26

"Gasped."

After all of our troubles dealing with the Schatten who possessed the Faerie. Sekki was so severely injured that he could barely walk with us when we arrived back at the restaurant. The old man and the other guests at the inn were taken aback to see us in such bad shape. Nonetheless, the old guy was staring at Selpi with confusion.

"S-selpi? A-are you really Selpi?" he asked, his voice shaking as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing right now. They're like a pair who haven't seen each other in a long time.

The Faerie's pupils dilated. As she says a strange name out of nowhere. "F-Flander? Is that you? Flander?" They both sounded as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing right in front of them, but it was a little cheesy for me.

"Old man, Sekki needs medical attention. Please can you treat this guy first and foremost?"

"A-ah! right." and finally, we've got time to rest.

We should not have brought the Faerie. She was the mountain's guardian spirit. Sekki, on the other hand, has decided to bring her back with us, citing the fact that the Faerie was killing itself by protecting the corrupted mountain for so long. I'm not sure what he meant, but it wasn't my problem if he wanted to bring or even care for the Faerie. In any case, it doesn't appear that he wanted to tame the Faerie, so it would seem that everything was centred on taking care of her. Furthermore, the Faerie appears to be an acquaintance of Sekki's father.

I was in the restaurant, sitting in one of the customers' seats and waiting for the soup to be served. That brat was successful in getting those supplies back, but I couldn't see him anywhere. He must have visited his brother.

"Sekki…"

Tracing back the memory domain that I saw. He, of all of the people, the fact that he was in that place and appeared to be the one who massacred everyone in that place. I couldn't say I did understand what I just saw nor even pretend I didn't see it. It wasn't all that, the young boy who was in there too. He was conscious of the things happening around that time.

"Here is your newly fresh-made soup." Sekki's father itself was the one who brought the soup to me. When I glanced at his face, a smile was written on his face. "A-ah, thank you, old man."

"Not at all, my dear. Thank you. These supplies you've recovered were for a week and you've just took them back like a hero. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be able to open this restaurant for another week. How much profit do you think we'll lose if that happened?" He said with a very solemn voice, "This restaurant, this inn was too old and we are nearly unstable to fund it but you've just saved us. That's why I've decided that your food here is free of charge."

As he presented me with something I was not expecting. "Are you certain about that? You've stated that you're on the verge of losing funds. You might lose your entire business if you give me free food."

"Ha! This business will go nuts for a young lady like you. Don't be concerned, sweetie; it won't be. We've got you on our side," he said carefreely, a wink in his eyes. That made me feel a little sick, but I'll probably just ignore it.

Joke aside, I was a bit concerned about that man.

"How is Sekki? Is he still recovering?"

"He is fine. Don't worry about him."

Regardless of what he says, the slash on his chest was too severe to ignore. "Here is the bill on the supplies, Flander. Kenia requested I give it to you."

Selpi abruptly went close to us, giving a piece of paper to the old man. "Eh? Is Selpi working at this restaurant now?" that fast? She hasn't rested yet, has she?

"Y-yeah. I offered her before, but she stated that she wanted to begin immediately. Anyway, she doesn't seem to mind. Right, Selpi? "

"Hm. I'm glad that I'm with Flander now." but that wasn't the question. She's a unique Faerie indeed. "I'll get back to the counter, my dear. Tell me if you still need something and I'll quickly get it for you."

"Thank you."

Selpi is deeply attached to Sekki's father, which comes as a surprise. I'm glad she has a place to stay now, though.

Now then, before it gets cold, I better start eating this free food.

The soup still has the same appearance. It appears to be disgusting to eat, yet it adds to its uniqueness. However, if you serve this at the academy, you will receive a penalty and will most likely be punished as a result.

I ate the soup to my heart's pleasure.

"Hm! Delicious as ever." I couldn't just ignore this food, and I think it became my favorite one.

[Restaurant door forcibly opened]

My seat's table begins to tremble violently as if there was an earthquake. There were also footsteps marching directly to where I was sitting. When I lifted my face, though, everything quieted down as I discovered there were some strange men staring at me.

"W-who are they?" People started to gossip while witnessing these strange people.

"Aren't they members of…"

They were wearing a purple formal uniform; I think I've seen it before but I just couldn't remember where.

"We regret to inform you, Miss Altair Euphemia, that you are under arrest for your involvement in the Faerie who was manifested to be linked with the Schatten. You have the option of remaining silent; nevertheless, anything you say will be used against you."

My eyes widened from the shock I couldn't bear. Why are these people going to arrest me because I aided a Faerie? How did they determine that the Faerie was under Schatten's control, and why would they arrest me simply because I assisted the Faerie in breaking free from its link?

"I don't get it. You people are arresting me for a ridiculous reason?"

"Take her."

"Eh?"

These unknown people surrounded and were about to seize me when the old man intervened.

"Wait a minute, why are you arresting her?! She didn't do anything wrong, did she? What's the harm in saving a Faerie?!" The old man attempted to defend me by shoving these idiots away from me.

"Yeah! Why are you arresting her? She didn't hurt anyone, and in fact, she was the reason those bandits were captured in the first place. So, what's the deal?" Some of the restaurant staff expressed their displeasure.

"We don't have anything to explain to you people," but the weird people's leader acted coldly and refused to engage in further explanation. "Either you go calmly with us or we have to haul you away aggressively."

I want to refuse, but what if this restaurant gets caught up in all of this? It's not going to help us at all.

Even if I don't want to go with them, to end this problem, "Alright. Take me," I said, agreeing to be arrested. They cuffed and escorted me wherever I needed to go.

In the end, I wasn't able to finish my favorite food because of these people.

****

Sekki later in the evening woke up. However, he wasn't expecting what he heard from his father.

"She was taken by the Silversehl's men. That poor girl will be subjected to things she wasn't supposed to."

"...I'll get her back."