Almark – Northern Sword, Southern Wand

Two days after the three went on a picnic, Almark and Morgan decided to quit the winter mansion.

They didn't have much luggage. I didn't have time to travel.

Wendy and the others say they're leaving here two more days after Al Mark's departure for Garentle.

On the morning of the departure day, Almark and the others went to greet the servants who had taken care of him.

Everyone spared me goodbye because of the incident, and it seemed like they had something like a sense of solidarity and intimacy with the two boys who went through it together.

In particular, Morgan has gained a mascot popularity among his servants, with one more day, two more days to go, and an extended stay suggested.

The appearance of Morgan and Millet holding each other in tears, combined with their appearance, only seemed to be a parting between the real relatives.

The two finally visited Ward.

This honest old butler welcomed the two as calmly as usual.

"Please come back anytime. This is what happened, but I will show you the genuine hospitality together."

Ward laughed at the two people who conveyed their thanks.

But before we broke up, Almark had one thing to check with Ward.

I was wondering if I should ask, but I couldn't get away from Almark's head.

If that were my thoughts, that would be great.

"Mr. Ward, I need you to tell me something."

Yes, what is it?

Ward answers gently.

"It's about that day."

Almark said that Ward's face was a little dark.

"Is this about raid day?"

"Yes"

Almark nodded.

"Please talk to me."

Encouraged by Ward, Almark opens his mouth.

"The three of us were in the dock that day."

Thank you very much.

Ward nods.

"Wendy told me when I heard a raid from the outside and explained the situation."

Almark clearly remembers her words.

"'I won't let anyone kill me anymore.'"

When he heard that, Morgan nodded, "Oh, you said that."

"There were a lot of other things I had to do at that time, and I couldn't afford to think deeply... but I thought about it later."

Ward listens silently to Almark.

"Nobody was killed by mercenaries yet. And yet, Wendy said," No one else. "

Almark looked up at Ward.

Looking straight into Ward's eyes and questioning himself, Almark looked painful.

"... Wendy used to be killed by someone important?"

For a moment.

Then Ward looked back at Almark and shook his head saying no.

"No one was killed."

But Ward turned away from Almark in the middle of his words.

Take a deep breath and shake your head again.

"I can't hide it from you two. However, during that time of crisis, I often do that....."

Ward looked straight at Almark.

"... because you two have full trust, let's talk about it. As I said, the young lady has lost a good servant, like a sister."

"My daughter, named Tilia, was brought here to play with her daughter. I was five years older than your daughter."

Taken by Ward, they were in an unpopular room that was used as a mansion storage.

Ward tended to lie down, but started talking indifferently.

"Of course, there is a difference in identity, and Tilia herself understood it, but Miss Wendy admired Tilia as if she were her real sister. If someone you don't know sees, they look like real sisters."

"Why is that?"

"It's poison."

Ward was trying to speak indifferently.

"It was when my daughter turned six. I will omit to mention the details, but Tilia accidentally drank the drink that her daughter was supposed to drink. It was poisoned.... Tilia was 11 when she died."

"Poison..."

Morgan groaned and Almark looked as if he had bitten something bitter.

"As for the sadness of the young lady, it's already... I had an unexplained high fever and fell asleep for days. In the meantime, strange things continued to happen every day in the Mansion."

"Strange things."

"Yes, a lot of voices can be heard from an unmanned room or the furniture arrangement has changed sometime. If you think about it now, it might have been like your daughter's magic."

According to Ward, Almark remembered Wendy's magical runaway on the night of the raid.

I wonder if the death of my sister and the girl I adore made me feel the same way that night.

"... do you know who did this?"

"I found out right away. I didn't actually see him, but as a gardener, he was the man who entered the Mansion... and he was a mercenary from the north."

Mercenaries of the North.

Almark's heart aches again with a blade.

Is that a mercenary in the north?

Wendy has been robbed by mercenaries in the north?

"The man couldn't escape, he was hunted down and killed himself. After all, I didn't know why I wanted to kill your daughter, so I did."

I don't know why Wendy's life is being targeted.

... just like this one.

A strange match leaves an ominous hunch in Almark's chest.

"Even after the fever dropped and she woke up, the girl was severely blocked. Are you crying or blurry every day without stepping out of the room...? And I closed my heart to everyone in the Mansion, including Elmond and his wife."

"... Wendy did that to me."

Almark murmured.

Should I have listened to this story?

I want to close my ears while asking myself.

Ward doesn't show any emotion for Almark's reaction and continues to be indifferent.

"For days and months... this has continued. No one was able to do anything. The young lady was rejuvenated when she visited."

"That guy...."

Morgan repeats.

Ward nodded.

"Yes, I'm Yologue, Dean of Nork Magic Academy."