Chapter 37: All Dolled Up in Pretty Clothes

“Good.”

“Whoa, it’s perfect for her. Cute.”

“She was cute to begin with, so everything looks good on her... All right, this one next.”

“U-Umm...er...”

All dolled up in pretty clothes, Charlotte stood there twiddling her thumbs. Angeline and Miriam brought her one outfit after another, and she had become their dress-up doll. While Anessa stood in the back looking rather bored with this whole situation, she too shrewdly held a few sets of clothes she wanted to see on the girl.

After refreshing themselves at the bathhouse, they next went to buy Charlotte clothes. It wasn’t a luxurious shop, but it was an upright establishment that never tried to scam its customers, and it was one of Angeline’s favorite stores.

Both Charlotte and Byaku had been wearing the exact same clothes they had worn during the uproar in Bordeaux, and the fabrics were all stained, dusty, and torn. The bath would have been pointless if they were going to continue wearing those.

Charlotte looked mortified and ashamed to let the girls take care of her clothing as well. However, Angeline insisted they would attract attention leading along a dirty child, and somewhat forcefully dragged her there. This soon turned out to be just a front—she was clearly enjoying herself.

“Try this one on next, ’kay?”

“H-Hey, what about the ones I picked out...”

“Oh my, at first you didn’t look interested. How cunning you are, Anne.”

“If you wanted to join us, you could have said so from the start. Oho ho ho...”

“Grr... Wh-What does it matter?”

“I didn’t say you’re wrong. Now let’s see what Anne’s capable of...”

This time, Charlotte wore the clothes Anessa chose out. At first, Charlotte had been ashamedly trying to make herself look smaller, but she was a girl and a former noble; it seemed she did feel joy in wearing pretty clothing. She gradually got into it, grabbing the hem of her skirt to curtsy and leaning into poses. It was not long before she was enjoying herself, and the three adventurers giggled as she did.

Byaku, meanwhile, was looking on in amazement. How did that haughty, impertinent, and oblivious brat become so meek? he wondered.

“It’s all because of that stupid woman and her red-haired old man. What’s wrong with them...?”

As far as Byaku was concerned, both Angeline and Belgrieve viewed the world through rose-tinted lenses. He would have felt quite a bit more at peace if Angeline had just killed him and Charlotte rather than helping them out. But it seemed her naivety was infecting Charlotte.

Just one warm hand, just one word, the warmth of family... Like hell that’s enough to change someone’s life, Byaku thought, smoldering in quiet rage. He felt something terribly unpleasant, as though his sense of values was being toppled from its fundamental foundation.

He had been ridiculed as a failure, made to live at the very bottom rung, and then forced to murder. His whole life, he had been used as a tool. To make matters worse, there was a demon beyond comprehension eating away at his insides. It was vague even how much of himself was actually him. The pessimism nurtured within him had him convinced that not just the world, but even his entire life was completely inconsequential.

When he was assigned as Charlotte’s attendant, he simply thought it was somewhat of a pain. Time and again, he would look at the girl whose eyes blazed in vengeance, and who put on a far stronger front than necessary, and he would deride her in his head.

But Charlotte was like him in the strangest ways. Her vengeful objective was indeed a dark one, but he envied that she had something that drove her forward. He even found it rather endearing. He knew she was afraid of blood, and so he refrained from killing when he could. At this point, perhaps that was for the best.

And now, seeing her smiling, freed of her dark chains, Byaku was assailed by a great mishmash of emotions. He was a faint bit relieved, but envious far more than that.

Envious? Of what? The words echoed in his head. “I get it. You’re lonely too. Don’t worry, big sis is here for you.”

“Tsk.”

To hell with big sisters. This is idiotic. Surely she crawled out from the same hole I did.

Byaku clicked his tongue again and averted his eyes from the girls. It was around that time that Miriam finally came up and stared deep into his face. Byaku silently ignored her for a while, but eventually, it grew quite disconcerting, and he glared back.

“What’s your problem?”

“Hmm... I was just wondering what clothes would look good on you.”

“Huh?”

His shoulders were grasped firmly. Angeline smiled at him.

“We’ve decided what to get for Charlotte... You’re next.”

“Wha... You gotta be kidding me.”

“Don’t be shy, don’t be shy. How about we start with this...”

Like hell I’m becoming your dress-up doll! Byaku screamed in his head as he hurriedly tried to free himself and flee, but Angeline immediately pinned him down. He once again shuddered at the intimidating air of an S-Rank adventurer.

“W-Wench! Don’t screw with me!”

“I am not screwing around... Merry, strip him.”

“Ma’am, yes ma’am!”

“S-Stop!”

Byaku’s eyes darted around as he desperately sought out help. His sights locked onto Charlotte. She was wearing a plain but pretty dress, bashfully showing it off to him.

“Byaku, I think I like this!”

“You too...” His face froze in despair.

They left the shop after a bit of quarreling. It was already afternoon by then, and the sun had begun its descent to the west. They had been so engrossed in picking clothes they had neglected lunch, so that was next on the agenda.

Her soft, comfortable clothing put Charlotte in a fine mood, and she would frequently grab the girls by the hand or hug them. She could hardly contain herself. Angeline felt relieved to see her finally acting as a ten-year-old girl should.

Byaku, on the other hand, was weary and haggard, dragging his feet behind them. After being forced into so many clothes, he was more tired mentally than physically.

They walked through the downtown area, heading for the usual pub. Laundry dangled above them from strings stretched between the tall buildings sandwiching the street. Without warning, a chicken would take off from a side street, children would wander around with runny noses, and men who couldn’t find work would sit by the wayside staring absentmindedly into space. It was a normal day in Orphen.

There were no signs of an impending attack as of yet. Angeline could tell if anyone was looking at them with ill intent, and she was confident she could deal with it. It would be tiring to keep up her guard the entire time. She knew she had to have fun when she got the chance.

Suddenly Charlotte looked a bit restless and a little out of place.

“I need...to return the money...”

This was the same place she had given her speech and sold her amulets.

Angeline frowned. “They’ll smack you. You’ve already had horrible things done to you, right...?”

“Yeah...but I have to return it.”

Charlotte placed a hand to the bruise on her cheek that had faded considerably.

With a wry smile, Anessa patted her on the head. “Do you really have to? Whether the amulets were real or not, having some hope to cling to is what’s gonna help them through it. And the people here grow bored of things easily. If the amulets have no effects, they’ll forget about them soon enough.”

“But...”

“It’s fine. I’m not saying it’s their fault for falling for it, just you don’t have to get so worked up... You’ll all be happier if you can forget about it,” said Angeline.

Charlotte bit her lip. “But then how can I atone...”

Miriam chuckled and ruffled the girl’s hair. Her hair gave off a sweet, floral scent after her bath.

“There are plenty of other ways. Well, for now, let’s put those difficult things aside and get some lunch.”

“Yes, that sounds right... I’m starving,” Angeline said, patting her stomach.

Gripping Charlotte’s hand, Miriam asked, “What do you like to eat, Char?”

After fidgeting a bit, Charlotte hesitantly said, “Umm... I like fish. In Lucrecia, see, there were all sorts of freshly caught fish!”

“Fish?” Anessa said. “Now that sounds nice. The seafood in Elvgren was great, but Lucrecia’s food sounds nice too.”

Charlotte proudly stuck out her chest. “Hee hee, I’m sure it’s even better there than Elvgren! That salted anchovy pasta is downright addicting!”

“Salted anchovies... I’ve been able to stomach them lately.”

“That look Mr. Bell gave when he tried them was a sight to behold,” Miriam said with a giggle.

“Yeah, it was like a smack to the face,” Anessa said, similarly smiling.

Charlotte tilted her head. “Who’s Mr. Bell?”

“My dad.”

“Your father...?”

“Indeed. He’s known as the Red Ogre Belgrieve. He’s tall with red hair and incredibly strong and cool.”

Charlotte spaced out, her eyes wandering in thought. “His hair is...red?”

“It is. Not too common, right? One of his legs is fake, but he’s even stronger than me. I’ll have to let you meet him one of these days...”

After hearing this, Charlotte looked like she would cry again. But she burst into a smile and clung to Angeline.

Angeline was taken aback, but still, she stroked Charlotte’s head.

“What’s wrong, Char...?”

“I’m so happy! Hee hee... Thank you, big sis!”

Charlotte laughed as she rubbed her face into Angeline’s clothing. Angeline didn’t really get it, but for now, decided to continue petting her. Her washed and oiled hair was just right, after all.

Behind them, Byaku heaved a deep sigh.

○

Sheep-shearing season was over, and so was the harvest. The wheat fields were tilled, the vast expanse of grain changing from golden to brown. However, the leaves on the trees were still green, and the light up above came from a summer sun.

The sheep gnawed on the grass with refreshed looks on their faces while newborn lambs romped around nearby. No matter how much they ate, it did not seem like they were putting a dent in the grassy plains.

Some time had passed since the elven master and his student came to Turnera. The villagers had some trouble growing used to the soft-spoken and dignified Graham, but they quickly took to Marguerite, who was cheerful, lively, and somewhat rough around the edges. Her fine looks played a part in having many of the village youths being more accepting of the foreigners.

Their days were still occupied with fending off fiends, but they had yet to venture into the depths of the forest again. Belgrieve did not think that defeating the mysterious child would solve the situation, and Graham seemed to share this opinion. From what they had seen from Marguerite’s battle, he was the sort of foe Graham could dispatch without breaking a sweat, and so they decided it was not too risky to watch and wait.

With that said, they kept wary but passed the days with curious tranquility.

“Yeah, lembas I’m telling you. Oh, this is great stuff! Anyways, I ate it all before I got here!”

Marguerite spoke in high spirits, a wood cup in one hand. The young men flocked to her, listening with rapt faces. While Marguerite’s attire was somewhat boorish, her face and her natural mannerisms were a sight to behold; so much so that one couldn’t help but keep an eye on her. The young men of Turnera couldn’t help themselves, as they only ever knew the village girls and traveling folk. The girls, meanwhile, were somewhat miffed.

There was a modest banquet in Kerry’s yard. Kerry, who had been wanting to be on better terms with the elves, invited Graham and Marguerite through Belgrieve.

It was supposed to be more of a family gathering, but the information leaked somehow, and the young men and women of the village all showed up, making it a far bigger gathering than it was supposed to be. On top of cider, a cask of Kerry’s precious grape wine was begrudgingly cracked open. Kerry closed his eyes, telling himself it was a cheap price to pay if it would help the villagers accept the elves.

While he was also a guest at the banquet, Belgrieve sat silently and watched Marguerite and the village folk enjoying their youth. Turnera hardly had any interaction with the outside world of men, yet suddenly they were sharing drinks with elves, who were even further away from their ordinary lives than that. How curious, he thought.

“Then guess what! The suspension bridge was swinging... Huh? It’s empty. Hey, Bell, you got any more wine?”

Marguerite came over to him waving with her empty cup.

Belgrieve smiled. “Are you sure you’re not drinking too much, Maggie?”

“What are you talkin’ about? I’m not even tipsy yet. The wine here goes down nice and easy, right?”

“You’re gonna make Kerry cry, you know. He’s already down two barrels,” said Belgrieve.

However, Kerry—who was sitting beside him—burst into laughter. “Bwa ha ha ha! The wine will have a story to go with it if it can satisfy an elf princess! Oi, you lot, get another barrel from the cellar!”

The young men raced off to the cellar, each vying to have the honor of presenting Marguerite with her next drink. “You don’t all have to go,” Kerry muttered to himself.

The other elf, Graham, was sitting quietly. His face hung and his body swayed from side to side. There was still a little wine left in his cup. Surprisingly, it seemed the old elf was not so strong when it came to holding his liquor. As the drink got around to the other villagers, they urged the elf hero to drink more and more, and so he did—but he was already dozing off as a result.

Duncan patted him on the shoulder. “How are you holding up, Graham? If you’re sleepy, I can take you back.”

“Sor...sorry...”

Graham blinked his hazy eyes as he tried to stand, only to stumble and fall back into his chair.

Marguerite cackled. “You’re still such a lightweight, granduncle! You’ve only had five or six cups, right?”

“Maggie... Drink in moderation... Overconfidence shall be...your downfall...” Graham shut his eyes, the crease on his brow growing deeper.

Duncan supported him by the shoulder, holding the man up with a laugh. “Oh, to think the Paladin would have such a weakness, ha ha ha! It was a splendid feast, Kerry. I will be taking my leave first. Now, Graham, Sir Graham, I’ll help you walk. Let us go.”

“My...apologies... I am...inade...ad uh...apple...?” Graham muttered something under his breath, his head shaking limply to and fro. He was evidently at his limit. Duncan practically had to drag him off. The two had gotten quite close after living together.

Belgrieve felt it was time to leave as well, but he couldn’t leave Marguerite on her own. He sat quietly, slowly savoring his wine.

As she enthusiastically drank from the new cask, Marguerite endlessly told tales of travels and fiends, and the land across the mountains. But night eventually came, and the villagers scattered to sleep for the early morning ahead. The village youths reluctantly left as well, and Kerry’s yard grew silent once more.

Kerry yawned. “Man, that sure was lively.”

“Yeah... Are you all right, Kerry? We went through more of your cellar than expected...”

“Hey, don’t worry about it, Bell. Thanks to that, we all know how easy it is to get along with the elves. But let’s keep it more of a secret next time we have one of these get-togethers, eh?”

“Ha ha, I see. Glad to hear it.”

Perhaps it wouldn’t be the same for elves living among their own kind, but the ones who left to the outside world would be keener on getting to know humans. Belgrieve patted his chest, relieved.

That was when Marguerite pranced over. She had drunk a considerable amount but did not look drunk in the slightest.

“Aww, they all left.”

“I think we should get going too. We have an early morning.”

“I haven’t drunk enough... Hey, Bell. Keep me company a bit longer. Duncan and granduncle ran away.” Marguerite sullenly kicked a stone at her feet.

Belgrieve kneaded his beard, looking rather troubled, but Kerry smacked his back with a laugh. “Go drink until you’re satisfied! The cellar’s all yours! I’m going to sleep, but I think I can trust you two!”

“Just what I wanted to hear! You’re a good man, Kerry!” Marguerite laughed.

“No, I’d feel bad... How about we just take a bit home with us? Let’s start again when we get back, okay?”

Marguerite nodded, and the two said their goodbyes to Kerry.

They each carried a large bottle of cider back with them down the moonlit path. The moon was so bright they didn’t need a lamp to light their way.

Marguerite had a skip in her step; in fact, it almost looked as if she was dancing. Her glossy silver hair shimmered like glass in the moonlight.

“You look happy.”

“Heh heh...” Marguerite bashfully chuckled, then lined up beside him and matched his pace.

“This has always been a dream of mine. Getting together, drinking, and talking about pointless stuff.”

“Hmm. You don’t do that in elven territory?”

“We have banquets, yeah. But everyone’s so, well, sophisticated. They don’t laugh aloud or mess around, none of that. They always talk about philosophical or practical concepts with serious faces. How should I put it... Their banquets are a sort of intellectual exchange to deepen their thoughts and knowledge. Yeah, something like that. It’s suffocating to me.”

That didn’t sound so bad to an adventurer who was always talking about pointless things.

Marguerite folded her hands behind her head. “Hey, how about we go to the forest again? I won’t let my guard down this time. I’ll listen to what my granduncle says too. How about it, Bell?”

“Hmm... Well, I feel pretty lost on the matter. I can’t help but think about that kid.”

“But the kid is the cause of all this, right? Won’t it be over if we beat it down?”

“I’m not so sure. I get the feeling it isn’t that simple. According to Graham, the massive mana filling that space seemed to be cut off from the child.”

Marguerite folded her arms and thought. “Those old elves back home are always talking and talking, and nothing gets done. That’s why I’ve gotten to thinking it’s best to just get out there and crush the problem at the root. Am I wrong here?”

The evening dew was beginning to set in, and he could see a dampness growing on the tops of his shoes when he stepped on the grass. Belgrieve looked out into the distance.

“It will solve it if he really is the cause of all this. But we should put in some effort to make sure he is the real cause. It’s easy when you have a clear bad guy, but there are plenty of times where they aren’t really the root of the problem.”

“Urgh... I hate that sort of thing. I wish the world was simpler than that, where good people are good and evil people are evil, see. Beat up the bad guy, and then it’s happily ever after. My granduncle’s stories all got resolved after he took down an atrocious fiend. It would be a whole lot easier if that worked on bad people.”

“Ha ha, right... But fiends aside, people aren’t good or evil. It would be a lot easier if you could take every obstacle down without a moment’s hesitation, but you end up missing so many of the little things. The small things hidden by the thrill of victory and cheers of acclaim.”

“Then what do you think I should do, Bell? What sort of world is ideal for you?”

Belgrieve awkwardly scratched his cheek. “Turnera is almost everything I know... But I think it’s important for people to properly confront things. It’s amazing if the answer comes easily, and that makes it a lot quicker, but...” He stroked his beard. “I think there is meaning in thinking and caution too. Life is not just pure repetition, and proceeding smoothly isn’t all there is to it. So you gotta think and hesitate and live on regardless. I’m sure that’s when you discover new things and grow. That is the sort of life I cherish.”

“Is that how it works? I wouldn’t really know.”

“Ha ha... I’m getting pretty old. You’re still young, Maggie...”

Marguerite stuck out her lips into a pout and prodded Belgrieve. “Don’t treat me like a child.”

“That’s a bad habit of yours. You’re too quick to start sulking.”

“I ain’t sulking, stupid.”

Marguerite bounded off. In the distance, he saw her throw open the door to his house.

“Granduncle!” she shouted. “Are you asleep?!”

“Whoa, Maggie?! Don’t startle me like that!”

There was a din—a crashing sound, perhaps from Duncan falling out of his chair. Belgrieve slowly made his way towards the house. Putting aside whether they were defeating the child or not, it would be best to get another look at the situation. All of a sudden, he wondered, What would Angeline do in this situation?