Chapter 12: The Weight of Evidence and a New Dawn

The chain of evidence was now complete. It was a pity the camera crystal lacked a recording function; otherwise, the Hyena Squad’s conversation would have been enough to condemn them with irrefutable proof.

By the time Elara returned to Windchant City, the streets were already sparsely populated with early risers.

She gazed at the horizon.

The sky was about to brighten.

Quickening her pace, she hurried towards the Golden Road Trading Post. She needed to develop the camera crystal’s footage before heading to the Guild.

“Last night was a bit… ah-hem—”

Serene yawned languidly, chatting with another receptionist.

“Hehehe, were you dreaming of a man?”

“Oh, get out of here, honestly.”

Elara stepped in from the fading twilight outside the door.

“Miss Black Rose!” Serene instantly switched to work mode. “You’re up remarkably early today.”

“I have something to report.”

Serene understood immediately.

After reviewing the contents of the memory stone and Elara’s initial suspicions, Serene realized the matter had exceeded the Guild’s sole jurisdiction.

“I’ll report it to the Vice-President.”

A few minutes later, Serene hurried down from upstairs.

“Miss Black Rose, the Vice-President wishes to see you.”

Elara paused for a second, then followed Serene up to the top floor.

“President Sevia, this is Black Rose.”

Serene ushered Elara in, then turned and closed the door behind her.

“Have a seat.”

Sevia, who was seated at a desk by the window, spoke, gesturing to a long bench closer to the desk. The two memory stones Elara had brought lay beside her hand.

The Vice-President was a half-elf with brown hair and hazel eyes, rumored to be over two hundred years old. Though her appearance remained in its prime, a gentle kindness softened her gaze.

Elara settled onto the padded bench.

She covertly observed the Vice-President. Before, she had only occasionally seen her from afar; this was their first face-to-face encounter, and she felt a slight nervousness.

It wasn’t just because Sevia was the Vice-President, but more so due to her formidable strength.

An S-rank Wind Mage.

Those who reached S-rank were invariably rare geniuses, favored children of magic itself.

“Black Rose, I know you.”

Sevia’s words startled Elara. She recalled only an indirect encounter with the Vice-President during the treant incident half a month prior.

Such a minor event shouldn’t have warranted this kind of attention.

“The treant incident half a month ago was handled exceptionally well; you are an outstanding adventurer,” Sevia paused. “No need to misunderstand.”

Just as excellent students are always favored by their teachers, this was Sevia’s view of Elara—a highly promising junior.

“So, regarding the Hyena Squad’s plot to harm their team members, tell me all the details and your hypotheses. I’m listening.”

Elara took a few seconds to compose her thoughts, choosing her words carefully as she recounted everything from the initial encounter to their return journey, and then her nighttime investigation where she stumbled upon the Hyena Squad destroying the crime scene.

She then meticulously explained her conjectures about the quest location and the trail of blood.

Sevia closed her eyes, falling into a brief contemplation.

“Actually…” Elara hesitated. “I also overheard their conversation, but…”

Elara wasn’t sure if this could serve as evidence, as she had been the only one present.

“Tell me what you heard.” Sevia took a sip of water from her cup.

Elara then roughly repeated the three men’s conversation.

Upon hearing it, Sevia’s expression gradually grew serious.

“I will contact the City Guard for an investigation,” she said, looking at Elara. “Thank you for the crucial leads.”

Elara politely replied, “This also involves my own feelings and concerns. So…”

She made to stand, her intention clear.

“Very well, take care.”

****

Back home.

Hilvyn was still asleep.

Elara, utterly exhausted, quickly cleaned up and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep almost instantly.

When she awoke again, the sun was high in the sky.

The first thing Elara did upon opening her eyes was search for the person beside her.

Hilvyn was lying on her side, propped on an elbow, her blue eyes fixed intently on Elara, a faint smile playing on her lips.

She was so close Elara could feel Hilvyn’s soft breath on her face.

“What are you doing?”

Elara’s face flushed, and she shyly turned her head away. The proximity, the gaze, the expression—it was all too intimate.

“Master’s sleeping face is simply too lovely. I just had to look~”

Hilvyn, unfazed, confessed candidly.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen Master sleep in; it’s quite rare.”

Elara glanced at the brightly lit sky outside the window.

“I told you to call me ‘sister’.”

Hilvyn chuckled, not responding to the correction.

She swung her legs off the bed and brought over the breakfast she had bought for Elara from the small table.

“I bought bread, bell beef patties, and rice porridge.”

Hilvyn handed the tray to Elara and then moved the small table closer. “Hehe, it’s still warm, Master. Eat quickly.”

Elara felt a warmth spread through her heart; the lingering frustration from yesterday was largely dispelled by Hilvyn’s cheerful smile.

“When I was buying breakfast, I noticed people from the City Guard. There were so many out,” Hilvyn casually mentioned, leaning by the bed.

Elara paused her spoon mid-scoop of rice porridge, swallowing the food in her mouth.

“Perhaps something happened in the city.”

She then resumed eating her porridge and patties.

Hilvyn toyed with the pendant Elara had given her, turning it over and over, unable to put it down.

“You like it that much?”

Elara pointed to Hilvyn’s hand.

“Mm.” Hilvyn nodded matter-of-factly. “Because it’s a gift from Master.”

“Speaking of which.” Hilvyn suddenly remembered something.

“Master, where are your parents?”

Elara froze for a moment, then quickly returned to normal.

“I ran away from home.”

“Eh? Why?”

‘Because she wasn’t the “child” of these parents. Though they had given her an abundance of love, so much that it made her feel guilty, she knew in her heart…’

‘All that love was meant for the original owner of this body. She was merely an outsider, a cuckoo in the nest. How could she shamelessly enjoy something that wasn’t hers? She knew she didn’t possess such a disposition.’

‘So, for the first few years after her transmigration, she lived as if under someone else’s roof, constantly fearing exposure.’

‘Finally, she came of age and found an opportunity to escape her “family.”‘

“Don’t ask.”

As the words left her mouth, Hilvyn visibly drooped with disappointment.

Considering her words might have sounded a bit distant, Elara added, “Because the memories from back then aren’t very pleasant. It’s all in the past now, and I don’t want to revisit them.”

Unexpectedly, Hilvyn suddenly looked at her with a gaze full of pity.

“Master, you’re so pitiful…”

Her blue eyes shone brightly, and she suddenly hugged Elara tightly from beside her.

“I’ll be a good family member for Master and stay with Master for a lifetime!”

Elara finally managed to wriggle free, then said earnestly, “Don’t keep saying ‘a lifetime’ and ‘forever’.”

“Eh~ Master’s turned into a teacher again, lecturing me.”

Hilvyn grumbled softly.

“I’m not—” Elara instinctively retorted, then suddenly realized her left brain was battling her right. “You’ll understand when you grow up.”

‘Bringing out Earth’s famous sayings, huh?’

“Eh—am I not grown up yet?”

However, by elven age standards, Hilvyn was still just a babbling infant.

“No, you’re not.” Elara replied decisively.

Elara finished the last spoonful of porridge.

The matter with the Hyena Squad should have a resolution tonight.