Memoirs of the Returnee
chapter-259

I spread a cloth on the floor of the trench and laid out various magical crops on it.

These were things I had stolen little by little while moving around.

"Hmm... Is this enough?”

I asked Grawl. Grawl glanced over the ingredients and nodded.

—Yep. I think we can make a top-grade magic poison. There are a lot of good ingredients growing around here-

To face Beckman, twofold deception is necessary.

The reason he could be promoted to a Balancer despite such a twisted nature is simply because of his exceptional brute force.

He’s probably among the top ranks of the Balancers.

"Right But hey, did you implant the R-elix?"

—Yep.

The R-elix that Johanna had given as a gift. Suddenly, Grawl flipped his stomach open.

—See this tattoo-like thing? With this, I can recharge my magic. Thanks to it, I've become incredibly free.

"Free?"

—Yep. I can now absorb magic from the air. I don’t need the master’s magic supply or mana stones anymore.

"I see."

Grawl laughed heartily, kehehe.

—Oh, by the way. How far do you think she’s listened to the recording by now?

"I’m not sure.”

I went down to the trench pretending to be an agent of Libra and found the recorder for Johanna.

It would be a disaster if Beckman found it first.

"Don’t know? There’s a lot of content, so it’ll probably take some time.”

To avoid even the slightest suspicion from Johanna, I recorded everything I did, all the incidents, materials to report, crops I scouted, threats, and so on.

—I’m looking forward to it.

“...Looking forward.”

I smirked bitterly.

Now it’s up to Johanna.

How she will react to this, and how she will change.

"Yeah. It's exciting.”

It’s Johanna’s crossroads.

If she can't change, then as Zia’s confidant and as an avenger of Libra, I will have to kill her.

-But

Grawl looked up at me with a slightly worried expression.

—What if, she just goes crazier?

"Never. She’s not the type to go mad just because I died. She probably doesn't even know what her own feelings are.”

Johanna is cold and cruel. She has a sociopathic nature with shallow emotions.

—No, not that. Because of this incident, what if Johanna suddenly!

Grawl’s eyes widened.

—Goes crazy for you. She’s an obsessive person. What if she tries to kill Zia to have you?

That possibility isn’t entirely out of the question.

"It’s okay.”

However, it’s not all bad.

"That in itself would be proof that Johanna has changed.”

—Are you sure it’s okay?

"Yes. I've already thought of how to deal with it”

Of course, as Grawl said, there's a chance that Johanna’s emotions could veer off in an unexpected direction.

“Just a word is enough.”

After all, I am someone who cannot be possessed by anyone.

Not even I can possess myself.

Inside the quiet trench.

Johanna was listening to the voice coming from the recorder.

—...Team 3, Day 2. We’ve constructed several trenches. Now, I plan to move between trenches to monitor the enemy and understand the characteristics of the magic space, and then report to Team 1.

Shion Ascal seems to be focused on his mission.

For now, at least.

—This place is where magical crops grow. Not just Beltrod and Cainek, but also the most popular mountain ginseng in abundance.

Shion rambled on about various things related to the magic space. It was the usual voice recording used by Chasers.

Johanna sat in a chair in the trench.

—Successful settlement. We’ll be able to reap astronomical benefits.

So, is it because the astronomical benefits are too burdensome that you planned sabotage?

Johanna frowned.

—Team 3, Day 4. From now on, I will explore the space to identify and organize threats to Johanna’s honor.

Johanna's nose twitched.

If he were a traitor, he wouldn’t necessarily need to leave such records.

—...The Debray family only wants to guard the Domain near the passage they’ve settled in. All the land they own is uniform but not exceptional, so there seems to be no need to take the offensive.

Johanna quietly listened to his words.

—The Belmos organization is aggressive. However, since we’re not facing their Domain directly, if we maintain a stance of restraint and spread discord, we could use them as a breakwater instead...

Always the business-like tone.

Always maintaining composure, calm and collected voice.

To Johanna, the most comfortable decibel to listen to.

—Team 3, Day 6. I’ve completed a preliminary survey of the magic space. I've made a map, and now it’s time to submit it to Team 1.

The bastard completed the geography of the magic space in just a week.

Where each crop grows, what treasures are buried in which land, which Domains the enemies own, everything.

It’s an impossible result unless one splits time over and over again and grinds oneself down without moving personally.

—Team 3, Day 7. It’s suspicious. The Yurkon corporation seems to be aware of my movements.

Yurkon.

The corporation that dared to attack Johanna's farmland.

—Is there someone inside passing on my information? If so...

He seems to anticipate something, but he doesn’t voice it out loud.

Sssht-

Suddenly, Johanna sensed someone approaching from above. She pocketed the coal.

"Milord, it’s time to move. Phantoms roam at night”

It was Beckman. Johanna nodded in acknowledgment.

Leaving the trench, they moved together towards the fortress.

During this time, Johanna didn’t say a word. Beckman followed quietly behind her.

Even to her private quarters.

“...Is there another matter?”

Johanna asked as she sat down in a chair.

"Yes, a report.”

Beckman presented a thick stack of papers with a confident expression.

“I’ve personally compiled and organized the parts I've explored."

Johanna took it from him.

The content, from the first line.

She knew immediately.

She asked Beckman, feigning ignorance.

"Did you do all this?”

"Yes!”

He answered loudly.

Always with a voice as if he had steamed as fuel for the train’s furnace.

Always a voice that seemed to want something.

To Johanna, a decibelthat became more uncomfortable as days passed.

The complete opposite of Shion Ascal.

"The content is vast You did this all by yourself?"

"Of course! It’s possible if you divide the time. Besides, I couldn’t trust the leader of Team 3, so I have been doing this alone for some time...”

He did it all by himself.

Beckman certainly said so.

Johanna nodded calmly.

"Well done.”

Then she skimmed the report again. A remarkable smile crossed her face.

Because it was identical to that of Shion Ascal.

However, she still couldn’t fully trust either side.

Was this man stealing that man’s achievements?

Or was that man framing this one?

The next part of the recording would tell.

"Leave now."

Johanna waved her hand dismissively.

Beckman still stood there.

"Milord, I request that you first deal with Shion Ascal.”

“...What are you asking?

Anger crept into Johanna’s voice without her realizing it. Beckman mistook it for rage directed at Shion Ascal.

"Bring him to me.”

"Yes! I will make sure to bring the leader of Team 3.”

Finally, Beckman left.

The space fell silent.

Johanna closed her eyes. She turned on the coal switch. She transferred the recorded voice to her ears, listening quietly as if through earphones.

—...The exploration is more or less complete.

The voice recording of Shion Ascal continued.

—Ah, I'm tired.

A somewhat everyday remark about being tired.

—Huuuaaahhh...

A yawn, a rather relaxed demeanor that made her chuckle to herself.

Suddenly.

—So you were here.

The heavy voice of an outsider echoed.

—A nice burrow. Perfect for a rat to hide.

Above the darkness where Johanna’s eyes were closed, the scene reconstructed itself.

Beckman, who had come to the trench, and Shion Ascal, who faced him.

—That’s right.

Shion responded to him.

—But, what brings you here?

—What brings me here? You dare to take on the task of surveilling me?

Johanna's brow furrowed.

She clenched her teeth tightly.

—...It's a mission I received in strictest confidence. Surely you haven’t been snooping around Lady Johanna’s quarters?

Beckman sneered.

—It’s to protect our lord. From leeches like you.

"Mr. Beckman. Snooping or intercepting the private affairs of the direct line is a grave offense that can be summarily executed."

—Shut up. You won’t be able to get out of here alive anyway.

‘Won’t be able to get out alive.’

At those words, Johanna was certain. Her closed eyelids shook violently.

—Lady Johanna would prefer me over someone like you.

He, presumptuously, cuts to his own conclusion of her own will.

—You've fallen.

—...Fallen.

Johanna listened to their conversation.

—Then let me ask. Why do you follow Lady Johanna?

—It is because Lady Johanna is a direct descendant of Libra.

—No. The direct line includes Derek, Jade, and Zia, whom you claim to serve. Yet you insist on standing by Lady Johanna’s side.

Suddenly, in Johanna’s heart.

A similar question to Beckman’s spread.

He’s right.

There are four in the direct line of Libra, yet he never refuses her own tasks.

The reason is...

—Is the reason simply because Lady Johanna is a direct descendant?

Johanna opened her eyes.

Strangely, her cheeks were hot. Her heart felt strange.

—Don’t spout such dogshit

Somehow, she anticipated Beckman’s next words.

—You, a mere piece of trash, dare to harbor filthy feelings for Lady Johanna.

Johanna looked at the mirror opposite her. She saw herself reflected in that transparent glass surface.

Shion Ascal was silent for a while.

Sweat formed in Johanna’s hands.

Why was she anticipating his response?

.Yes.

A single word caused strange ripples.

—I may not understand my emotions well, but your argument is persuasive.

A confession of feelings by another.

—Perhaps you're right, as you say.

A passive conveyance of‘perhaps you're right.'

Without realizing it, Johanna tilted her head in confusion. A hollow sigh escaped her lips.

—Ha. What a moron. Are you a robot?

Beckman burst out in scornful laughter.

Shion retorted in a steady tone.

—However, Mr. Beckman, I do not prioritize personal emotions as you do. I simply carry out the tasks commanded by our lord. Therefore, I am different from you.

—Blabber all you want. You're going to die soon anyway.

Crrrrrrrrk!

The sound of surging magical power interfered like noise.

—Beckman. You should not be by Lady Johanna's side. For her sake, if nothing else...

Shion Ascal’s last words were just that.

Kwaaaaaah!

A tremendous bursting sound shook her eardrums.

The recording ended, and Johanna clenched her fist

Suddenly, a strange sensation washed over her.

The world seemed to drift away from her, the space fleeing from her presence... an inexplicable sense of nausea.

She didn’t understand this feeling.

Confused, she desperately compared and contrasted it with her past experiences.

"When...”

When she lost at gambling?

When she saw Derek, who was ahead of her?

When a subordinate or friend struck her from behind?

No.

This feeling was unlike any of those.

Johanna felt herself being swept away by something. Her hands on the desk trembled. The breaths she exhaled were hot.

This shouldn't be happening.

There’s no need for this.

After all, she had only used Shion Ascal. To understand Beckman’s intentions.

Now that she had uncovered Beckman's potential betrayal, Shion's usefulness was exhausted.

So...

There’s no need to be so disturbed.

No need to be agitated.

It was just the disposal of one Chaser.

Johanna looked at herself in the mirror again.

Her face was contorted. All sorts of emotions were tangled up.

Was it anger?

Sadness?

Lamentation?

She didn’t know.

Only Shion Ascal’s voice kept echoing in her ears.

"Perhaps you’re right, as you say."

The possibility that he might have feelings for her.

—Beckman. You should not be by Lady Johanna's side. For her sake, if nothing else-

Telling Beckman that he shouldn’t be by her side...

That’s when Johanna stopped.

All trembling ceased.

In her cooled head, the identity of the overwhelming confusion emerged.

This ‘emotion’.