TFJB 43

Chapter 43

Ah, damn it. How should I explain myself in this situation to be the safest?

I curled my body up and looked up at Kin.

“I am Esmeral—”

“My real name is Ash.”

“Ugh…”

My mouth dried up completely.

“A woman from São Pedro in her twenties, with purple eyes and purple hair. And her real name is Ash… If all of this matches, what are the chances that this person is someone I know?”

“It’s not impossible, but… well, coincidences do happen, so you can’t be sure.”

“If the remains haven’t been found, it also makes sense that Ash didn’t actually die. There wouldn’t have been a body to begin with.”

“…Ugh.”

I had no words.

“Now I understand why you got emotional when you heard about the annihilation of Ash’s family, and why you could recite their information in such detail.”

By this point, it was impossible to deny. I shouted.

“That’s right! I am that Ash!”

It was do-or-die.

I straightened my crouched body and boldly stared Kin in the eyes.

“I originally planned to reveal my identity. But after learning about my family’s death, I didn’t want to tell anyone. So, what are you going to do? Accuse me of deceiving the lord? To the daughter of a benefactor you thought was dead? Huh?”

Kin’s face hardened at my words.

‘Ah, I screwed up. Maybe I overdid it.’

It was that split-second moment of regret.

Kin’s large frame sank down.

“…No. I wouldn’t do something like that to you.”

He collapsed onto the side of the bed and wiped his face repeatedly.

“I never imagined you could be alive. Why did I only think you were dead…?”

“Well, the house burned down completely, and even the neighbors died. So it’s natural to assume a child living there would have died too.”

I shrugged, and Kin asked again.

“Why didn’t you reveal your identity to me?”

“I already told you. It’s my choice. I just didn’t want to tell anyone.”

I couldn’t bring myself to admit that I didn’t want to make contact with a dangerous person.

‘At least I have some sense.’

You need at least a little sense to know what should and shouldn’t be said in front of the person concerned. Especially if that person is extremely dangerous and fierce.

Fortunately—or unfortunately—Kin seemed to understand my situation.

“Of course. It would be hard to reveal yourself in front of someone confessing their parents’ death.”

He wasn’t wrong, so I nodded quietly.

“Then you…”

Kin opened his mouth but shook his head.

“No. First, sit properly. I’ll get you something to drink.”

He stood up and offered his hand. Without thinking, I placed my hand in his.

‘W-what…?’

Kin gave a small tug and lifted me onto the bed.

“Good.”

Then, as if escorting a noble lady, he guided me to a chair and helped me sit.

I rolled my eyes at the unexpected courtesy.

‘Why is he suddenly acting normal? Doesn’t he realize that in this situation, this is weirder than anything?’

Kin’s strange behavior didn’t end there. He seemed to want to make tea and began rummaging through a low cabinet against the wall.

Seeing that made my head throb.

‘As a child, he was so annoying… Why has he changed so much now?’

Nothing that happened tonight was predictable. My head spun.

‘What I need right now isn’t tea.’

I pressed my temples and, feeling reckless, spoke up.

“I don’t feel like drinking tea right now. If you have alcohol, give me that instead.”

“…What?”

Kin froze mid-motion as he rummaged through the cabinet.

‘Did I just go too far?’

As I took a breath, Kin turned his head slowly. The dim light cast shadows over his face, which was now very serious—almost threatening.

‘Ah… I really messed up.’

I tried to think of a way out of this situation.

“…You shouldn’t drink alcohol.”

“Eh? What did you say?”

I asked again, and Kin stepped forward, setting a crystal glass in front of me with a thud.

“You’re too young. It’s too early to drink alcohol.”

The crystal glass held clear water, rippling slightly.

“Eh? I’m twenty, you know? That’s old enough to drink.”

In this messed-up world, questioning drinking age was silly, but if I insisted, the legal adult age here was eighteen. At twenty, I should be allowed to drink.

“But you’re still too…”

Kin trailed off, frowning. He looked very tense, so I quickly grabbed the glass.

“If you won’t give me alcohol, I’ll drink water. Alcohol’s expensive. I’ll drink it well.”

I gulped down the water. Finally, Kin seemed satisfied and sank into the chair across from me. Then he slowly spoke.

“…When did you realize that you’re the Ash I’ve been looking for?”

“As soon as I saw the handkerchief and heard the story. Actually, I have that handkerchief too.”

I pulled out the other half from my pocket, and Kin let out a small sigh.

“So it really is you, Ash.”

“This is a treasure to me as well. It’s the last keepsake from my mother.”

I folded the handkerchief carefully and put it away. Kin, quietly observing, asked:

“Were you not glad to see me at all?”

“Well… I was glad, but the shocking events that happened afterward were bigger.”

Ever since I learned the truth, only shocking things had followed, so there wasn’t much time for joy or relief.

“…I see.”

Kin dried his face and slowly studied me.

“Looking at you now, I can still see some of your childhood features.”

I shrugged.

“Not really. Compared to when I was a child, my features changed a lot. Maybe from all the hardships.”

As a child, I was often told my face looked gentle. Now, people said I looked mature and serious.

Seventeen years had passed, and it was no wonder Kin didn’t immediately recognize me.

I spoke casually, and Kin sighed deeply.

“You’ve been through a lot…”

“Well, are you really surprised by this in today’s world?”

I grew up in poverty. Even if I hadn’t lost my parents, I’d have faced hardships.

‘Becoming an orphan at such a young age made life ridiculously difficult.’

Even if losing my parents was because of Kin, I couldn’t bring myself to hate him.

It was something that had to happen. My life wasn’t easy enough to waste anger on him too.

‘Real enemies are elsewhere.’

If I were to hate, it should be the true enemy.

I slowly told my story.

“I just… struggled to survive. Then, luckily, I awakened and made a living as a fortune teller. Things were okay until the lord brought me here.”

Kin didn’t share much about himself. He just explained that he somehow ended up here.

‘So he hasn’t lived a particularly beautiful life either.’

There would be plenty of time to talk about that later.

First, there was one thing we needed to address.

“So, Lord, now that you know I am Ash and involved in these events… could you explain what really happened? I’m no longer an outsider to this story.”

The truth about my parents’ deaths, which had always been denied to me.

I wanted to know what actually happened.

“Please. I want to know why our parents had to die.”

As I looked him squarely in the eyes, a strange emotion passed over Kin’s face.

“…It’s dangerous. It’s best not to get involved. For your own sake…”

That word again: danger, danger, danger! I bit my lip.

“I’m really curious who is so powerful that even the master of the Ashen Fortress fears them!”

I sneered, and Kin stared at me sharply. His gaze was so clear it felt like being stabbed.

Finally, he seemed to make up his mind and spoke.

“If you have the courage to stake your whole life on this game, I’ll tell you.”