Published: March 21, 2026
After Akira stopped me from following and left the night and the meeting room, Lilis also went out to get medicine. The hero summoners, perhaps wanting to sort out the situation, gathered around the table and were patiently explaining the demon king's plan in simpler terms to the two who still didn't understand.
They'll probably be okay. If so, the person I should be by now is...
"Ria, are you all right?"
I rubbed Ria's back in place of Noah, who was clutching her head in pain.
"...Did my family have to die just because they wanted to bring the dead back to life?"
Ria whispered.
"My biological father died before I was born, and my birth mother was killed by demonic beasts when I was young. They were the ones who taught me what family is."
The staff in Ria's hand trembled slightly.
Though she wasn't crying, her vacant eyes seemed to be staring off as if tears were falling from them.
"Why were they my family? Why did my family, who lived quietly in a small village, have to have their lives consumed like trash?"
From Rusty's description, Ria's family probably didn't even have bodies left. He said there were Elves among the sacrifices. That means even her kin's remains are gone. I must tell Father and have the people who were taken identified properly and given a proper burial.
To me, a High Elf, the Elf people are my family. The demon king's plan made me feel nothing but anger. The only reason I'm not breaking down now is my age. So the youngest of the summoned from another world, while prioritizing understanding right now, not falling apart is praiseworthy. I used to think of them as just Akira's attachment, but they have incredible mental strength. I wonder if everyone from another world, including Akira, matures like this.
"...I cannot forgive the demon king."
There was a dark tone in Ria's voice that made me catch my breath.
"Ria—"
"If it's revenge, don't do it."
I didn't know what to say; the name that came out of my mouth was swallowed by the voice that followed.
When I looked up, Crow was standing next to Ria, looking down at her. I had thought he had quietly left the room since he stayed silent during Rusty's explanation.
"At the very least, you who have achieved revenge are not in a position to deny Ria's feelings."
Even if it was ultimately Akira's decision, I hadn't forgiven him for letting Akira soil his hands.
I glared up at Crow's high face, but his gaze never left Ria.
"Because you achieved revenge."
He'd arranged so they could speak together while we were off the ship, and when they returned to the ship, Ria—beaming—was able to tell him her feelings plainly, and she thanked him for it. Crow's response was not what Ria wanted, but it was still a step forward. My happiness about that had been erased by Rusty's story.
"You will stay by my side until my last moment. Are you going to break the promise you made by getting distracted by revenge?"
"Lord Crow..."
"At least your mother Lilia, regardless of revenge, would want you to live happily. I, who spent the little time I did with her, guarantee that. Your foster mother, who said she was related to Lilia, would probably think the same. ...That's what mothers are like."
I didn't miss the glance Crow threw toward Noah as he spoke the last sentence.
Noah, who was taking the medicine Lilis handed her, didn't notice. This awkward parent-child pair had been a recent cause of Akira's worries, but they might finally be freed.
Crow's words erased the dark light that had appeared in Ria's beautiful eyes.
"What should I do with my life now? Now that I know, I can't go back to before I knew. What should I do from now on..."
I heard that Ria had been adopted into the Uruk royal family to get to know Crow. Now that she had left the Uruk royal household, she had no home to return to and was left adrift. That may be why she unconsciously turned toward revenge. At least while thinking of revenge she didn't have to think about herself.
"If you have no place to return to, I'll prepare one. The Elf territory does have many Elves, but it's not without other races. The port especially has plenty of work related to trade ships, and as a former princess I can recommend you as a bridge to the Beastmen territory. And if you're one of the people I brought, Ria will be welcomed."