The Raven Boy

It was another day in the city of Rosenheim. The citizens awoke in shock to find their town square completely destroyed.

Many people lost their stores and, without a place to work and earn a living, directed their anger at the Schmetterlings, demanding explanations and compensation.

The Schmetterling family could only apologize and give large sums of money to those affected. However, they didn't give a single explanation of what happened.

Superficial apologies didn't satisfy the citizens, and the pay given to those affected seemed more like a way of asking them to shut up rather than actually helping them.

This increased people's dissatisfaction towards the Schmetterling family, which had also started to raise taxes nonstop and for no apparent reason.

This, coupled with the rumor of an assassin who was targeting the noble houses, caused the previously peaceful and vibrant city to fill with an air of tension and distrust.

Something big was definitely happening in the city, but not knowing what or when it was going to happen filled the citizens with fear and nervousness.

As people were plunging deeper into tension, the man responsible for all this trouble was quietly sipping a cup of tea next to a white-haired woman and a purple-eyed boy with a raven resting on his head.

"So, have you calmed down yet?".

"..."

Arthur asked, but Raven didn't answer.

Only moments ago Raven had woken up and tried to attack him, but it only took one attack from Arthur to immobilize him. 

Realizing that he couldn't win no matter what he did, he finally resigned himself and sat down to tea with them; however, he was still on guard and remained wary.

Arthur smiled as he watched the boy, uncomfortable in his chair, rummage through his pockets for something and spoke to him in a cordial tone.

"You don't have to be so tense; no one here is planning to hurt you."

He said as he held a chocolate bar close to him.

"..."

Raven hesitated for a few moments before finally grabbing the chocolate and starting to eat it. The crow that was sleeping placidly in her head woke up the instant Raven removed the wrapper and began cawing, demanding its share.

Raven broke off a few pieces and handed them over.

Now, giving chocolate to a bird is something you definitely shouldn't do, as it can be toxic to them. But it looks like that raven wasn't a normal one.

"So, are you ready to talk yet?"

"...What do you want to talk about?"

After a moment of silence, Raven finally answered.

"I'll get straight to the point: I want you to join us."

"Young master..."

Livia hesitated a bit but still kept quiet. 

While she too had thought of having Raven join them and had even brought him before Arthur, she still had doubts. The boy still seemed too young to her to bring him into their problems.

But she also understood the situation they were in, being wanted by assassins and one of the empire's shields. The whole empire probably knew their faces by now. They needed all the help they could get.

"I..."

"Of course, I'm not asking you to join us without giving you anything in return."

Raven looked like he was about to refuse, but Arthur interrupted him.

"It's simple: help us, and we'll help you."

"Help me...?"

"I know a little about you, like, for example, that you're not from this continent."

Raven's expression underwent a change for the first time, showing her great surprise.

"How did you...?"

"Let's just say I have my ways, so what do you say?"

"..."

Raves was silent, staring figuratively at the steaming cup of tea on the table, with an indescribable expression.

"Caw!"

"Cherny?"

"Caw! Caw!"

"..."

Raven reached out and stroked the raven resting on his head; after a moment of silence, he finally looked at Arthur.

"Can you really help me?"

"As long as you help us, we'll do our best to help you."

"...Good."

Raven's eyes, though expressionless, showed a glint of determination. 

He rose from his seat and extended his hand toward Arthur.

"My name is Raven, no last name, and this is Cherny."

"Caw!"

Cherny spread his wings and puffed out his chest, looking very proud of himself.

Arthur looked at this amused and took Raven's hand.

"You already know that, but my name is Arthur Reclesia. Oh well, it used to be; now just call me Arthur. And this here is my girlfriend Livia."

"It's a pleasure—wait, what?"

"Hm? Is there a problem?"

"N-no"

Livia wanted to say something, but seeing Arthur's beaming smile, she couldn't do anything.

And... he wasn't wrong anyway.

They'd had an experience or two since they'd arrived in Rosenheim, but in Livia's mind she was still just his personal maid; that was a problem that would be solved in time.

"Very well then, since we are now partners, I will explain our situation to you."

Arthur then proceeded to explain to Raven everything that had happened so far, clearly skipping the part where the Reclesia family were traitors in league with the demons, but he did make it clear to him that they were no good and that their goal now was to destroy the Schmetterling family, which was their major supplier of magical items.

"I see, but from what you said, I can understand that you already have a plan made. How could I get in on it?"

"Well, I hadn't thought this was going to happen, but your presence alone could make things simpler."

"In what way?"

"Hahaha, you'll see."

***

After chatting and learning that Raven didn't have a place to stay, they decided to put him up in their tailor shop for the time being.

By the time he finished his talk, the sun had already set, and they decided to go rest.

"Raven, huh? That was unexpected."

Arthur, in his room with Livia asleep beside him, thought to himself.

Raven was a character who also appeared in the novel, though his story was left unfinished as far as I could see it.

He first appeared as an obstacle for the protagonists, as he was at the time hunting a criminal that the protagonists were chasing as a way of training given by Akihiko.

After confronting each other several times and seeing that Raven was not a bad person, they worked together to capture the criminal and give the pay for his capture to Raven.

But that's not what's important; what really matters is where Raven comes from, something he casually remarked to Kein in one of their conversations. 

The continent of Akitsushima, located in the eastern kingdom across the sea.

Why Raven was so far from home was something he didn't say, but what he did say was that he would return once he had raised enough money. Implying in one of his conversations that there was someone he wanted to rescue.

That's why he set out to help him, not only to be able to make use of his exceptional strength but also because he could be the connection to meet one of the allies he had in mind.

"For the moment it only remains to wait and see."

With that, Arthur closed his eyes, falling fast asleep.

***

"Damn it!"

Crack-!

A goblet flew out, crashing into the wall and shattering into a thousand pieces. The servant standing there could only stare at the floor as he trembled.

"How the fuck is it that they still haven't caught that son of a bitch!"

Dieter blurted out, looking extremely irritated and somewhat drunk.

"I'm sorry, sir...we're doing everything we can to—"

Boom-!

"That's bullshit!"

Dieter grabbed the servant by the hair and slammed him hard against the desk.

"Do you know how much funding we've lost because of that fucker!?"

Boom-!

"I can't even buy my favorite wine anymore without worrying about expenses!"

Boom-!

"On top of that, I have to deal with that bitch of a princess who keeps sticking her nose into issues she shouldn't! Why can't she just act like a simple adoptive like the other noblewomen!?"

Boom-!

"Did you even for a moment think about how I feel?!"

Boom-! Boom-! Boom-!

Red tinged the desk, and the servant had long since stopped moving.

Dieter didn't even give him a glance before ordering the servants outside to clean up the mess.

After a few minutes, the office was completely clean as if nothing had happened; it just showed how experienced the servants were in this kind of situation; they even decided on the body perfectly without anyone noticing.

"Fuck, those fucking bastards are going to pay for it."

As Dieter muttered his frustration, a servant fearfully opened the door.

"M-master..."

"What the fuck do you want! Didn't I say that no one could enter without my permission?"

"Th-that. The Reclesia family responded to our request for help and said they were sending someone."

Dieter paused at the servant's words and asked in a calmer tone.

"Who did they send?"

"T-to the number four squadron of the penance branch."

"The fourth squadron..."

Dieter lowered his head, and his expression became unintelligible, but soon after, a shrill noise filled the room.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Dieter began to laugh uncontrollably with a maniacal expression.

The startled servant slammed the door and ran out, but Dieter paid no attention to him and continued laughing for a few minutes before finally stopping.

"The fourth squadron..." 

The Penance Branch.

It is a force created by the Reclesia with the goal of hunting down and eliminating the most vile criminals in the empire.

It is commanded by the eldest son and future heir of the Reclesia, Agravain Reclesia.

The fourth squadron is known as the most bloodthirsty of the 8 squadrons that make up the penitence branch.

The fourth squadron is a special case, as it is made up entirely of heinous criminals who earned the death sentence, but due to their excellent skills, the Reclesia saw fit to use their strength to do good for the empire.

They are usually assigned the most dangerous and most deadly missions, but to this day the fourth squadron has had a 100% success rate on every mission they have been sent on.

"Yes... with this, I won't have to worry anymore.

Dieter was clearly aware of the fourth squadron's reputation, but he didn't give a shit about housing criminals as long as they could get rid of the pest that had been bothering him so much.

"If I treat them well, I might even win their favor."

With that, Dieter pulled out another bottle of wine and drank it with a calmer heart.

******

WE ARE BACK!