Chapter 127: I Will Help You

The message arrived by evening.

The girls were getting ready to return to their treehouses to sleep when Elder Isadora suddenly paid a visit.

“The Demon Tribe Army leader you asked me to watch for was spotted in the Northern Forest earlier. Also, there’s been an unknown change in the Sacred Spring Seal. We’re sending people to investigate.”

Celes was a bit confused by the first half of the sentence, but her attention was quickly drawn to the latter half.

“There’s a problem with the Sacred Spring Seal?”

“It’s a change, not necessarily caused by outside factors.”

Isadora looked at the pink-haired human girl.

“Miss Ayla, if you’re free tomorrow, would you come with me to take a look? I’d like to hear your opinion.”

Celes frowned slightly.

“We’re not going together?”

“It’s just to take a look, nothing else. No need for so many people.”

She addressed the other girls.

“These are troubled times. Elder Trinia wants you to visit her tomorrow—she has something she needs your help with.”

Busy. Everyone’s busy.

Ayla thought it over.

It was just a seal inspection, shouldn’t take more than a few hours.

Once done, she could find a reason to get a Dragon Hawk and then slip off to the Northern Forest to settle things with the Bloodslaughter King.

BYD Traitors, your Demon King is coming for you!

“Are you sure we don’t go together?”

Leah was unwilling.

“But… but…”

She tried to think of a reason to go along too—like, I’m also smart and can help by watching from the side.

But saying “I’m also smart” didn’t sound very smart.

At that moment, Saintess suddenly thought of a reason.

“But if anything happens, I can guarantee Ayla’s safety.”

Vina was surprised.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Didn’t I say it before? Ayla is the Honorary Chief of the Church Division, with an internal priestly status. She’s already completed the Initiation Ceremony at the Church that night.”

Leah said proudly.

“I personally helped her join… I performed the Ritual myself. So as long as I hold her hand, the power of Healer’s Blessing is strengthened.”

Don’t think bringing the pink-hair to the church that night was just for sleeping—important things were done too.

See?

The bond was formed.

However, Isadora didn’t agree to this request.

“Rest assured. We’ve checked the Sacred Spring’s condition. We’re just going to take a look.”

Ayla was thoughtful.

If that’s the case, then there’s probably something she wants to talk about alone.

“It’s fine, Miss Leah.”

She gently reassured Saintess.

“I’ll be back after a look.”

“…Alright…”

With companions watching, Leah didn’t dare push further.

The next day, the girls prepared for their first separate actions since arriving in Elf Territory.

Ayla went with Isadora to check the seal.

The others went to see Trinia and hear her request.

“I want to act alone.”

Zero suddenly raised her hand.

Celes agreed, not even asking why.

A free agent in the team should go wherever she wants—otherwise, why call her a free agent?

Last time in Harbor City, she’d run all over on her own and turned out to be crucial.

What’s the most important thing in a five-person team?

Trust!

Everyone assumed Zero had her own plans and ideas.

Ayla thought so too.

Until, that night, when she returned to the treehouse and was suddenly hugged from behind on the bed.

This size—was the Assassin girl.

“Sorry, Ayla. I wanted to make a bit of footstep noise, but the ground’s too soft. If you don’t step hard, it doesn’t sound at all.”

It was true.

Even if Leah came here, there’d be no footsteps.

Ayla wasn’t alarmed, not surprised, not even the big white bunny twitched.

After so many times being climbed on at night, she was used to it.

That’s how Hero squads were—girls always had worries or troubles. Whenever they did, they’d come to climb into bed and talk.

After all, she was the gentle big sister everyone trusted.

“Zero, do you need something this time?”

Fine, let’s talk—then hurry up and go to sleep.

Then she heard the girl behind her speak.

“Ayla, you want to secretly kill that Bloodslaughter King, don’t you?”

Ayla closed her eyes, then opened them again, teetering on the edge of fainting.

Calm down. Don’t panic. Maybe it’s just a wild guess, like when Vina did a few days ago.

“When we went to gather intelligence the other day and caught a Demon Tribe Army prisoner, you asked their leader’s name. After that, there was a hint of killing intent from you.”

Zero said slowly.

“Then, just now, when the Elf Elders mentioned the Demon Tribe Army leader’s appearance, the killing intent showed again.”

Ayla’s heart, which had been floating, finally sank.

So you have killing intent perception? You should’ve said so earlier!

But then again, yeah—a Legendary Assassin would definitely have that skill…

“Ayla, actually, what Vina said is true, isn’t it?”

The person behind hugged her tighter, both affectionate and threatening.

“You’re the one who gave the orders, so when you found out they didn’t follow them, you got angry and decided to kill them.”

“….”

It really was like that that day.

Ayla’s heart pounded as she tried to keep her voice small.

“Zero, listen to me.”

The room fell quiet.

“Zero?”

“I’m listening, Ayla. Go on.”

The girl’s voice was soft.

“Or did you not make up your mind yet?”

That was basically asking if you hadn’t finished making up your story.

It couldn’t be yes, but it wasn’t no either.

“Actually, I… was influenced by Magic.”

Ayla whispered pitifully.

“You’ve seen what Magic is like, pushing the boundaries between life and death. Sometimes I hear voices that don’t exist and feel insecure.”

Without security, seeing traitors makes you want to kill—very reasonable, right?

If only she didn’t use that excuse every time, it might be more believable.

A few soft laughs came from behind, not clear if they were amused or just couldn’t hold back.

Forget Zero, even Ayla could barely keep it together.

Who grabs an excuse and throws it around every time? Say it once or twice, fine, but seven or eight times—who’d believe it?

“What do you want to do?”

She asked directly.

Her green-tea voice cracked a bit, with a hint of despair and pleading.

Zero stopped laughing, loosened her arms a little, and hugged Ayla’s waist gently.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell them.”

“…Then why are you saying this tonight?”

“Because I’m worried about you, Ayla. Afraid you can’t kill that person. I want to help you.”

The girl whispered by her ear.

“Tomorrow, let me go with you.”

So she climbed into bed in the middle of the night and said all this—just to help kill the traitor?

Seriously?

Ayla’s pounding heart flipped a few times.

She thought for half a minute, then tentatively asked:

“Do you have any conditions?”

“No, not really. It’s just… Seeing you and Miss Leah together made me jealous.”

“If there’s a chance, can we be that close too?”