☀️ Arselia and Akonia

- I have also encountered various types of robbers, and I will tell you this: it is not so difficult to separate the true degenerates from people who have fallen into a difficult life situation. Anyone capable of speaking out is worthy of being heard. And it is never possible to say in advance—perhaps that is exactly what will help them. In my experience, the most incredible things have happened, things you would never believe.

- You know, Ayano, you look young, but from your speech one might think you are already a life-wise old woman; do not take this as an insult, for it is exclusively a compliment to your silver tongue and the words of wisdom falling from your lips. By any chance, are you a servant of the Church?
- And why her and not me, huh?! - Ordermaid suddenly chimed in. - How am I any worse?
- Calm down, Tom. It was merely a guess; perhaps I was mistaken—I know it's hard to believe, but such things happen.

One should not underestimate either the monsters or the hunters' guild, Queensglory-san.

- I don't attribute imaginary achievements to myself! - Nodding to Pipdorm, he prepared himself for a shot from his bow. - Ha!! - When the arrow was a meter away from him, Katsukoy sliced it exactly in half with his spear. - See, I didn't exaggerate at all?.. With all due respect to my ancestors, they lived in completely different times; back then the culture was different, as were the socio-economic circumstances, so trying to emulate them is a doomed venture. But otherwise, hm, perhaps I should thank you; it's good food for thought, only there is one problem—it's unlikely I'll be accepted back into that same society after everything I've done, and I have no intention of losing my freedom or dangling from a gallows.

Living in the forest, you will never meet either the girl of your dreams—with whom you would not just want to temporarily "experience warmth," but start a family and continue the lineage, which is the most important thing in life—nor a worthy job that would make you feel far more spiritually fulfilled.

- So, uh, now, one moment, - the guy spends some time rummaging through his bag, then brings out an old-looking notebook, - here, I record everything in my diary. Let's see... Five months at a construction site, half a year as a shop clerk, two months as a watchman, seven months as a street cleaner, one month handing out flyers, two months as a loader. And those who rejected me... Anakimusa, we worked together in the store, said I was too short for her; Azeretta, the principal of the school where I worked as a watchman, said I was too young; Aglia, a neighbor and childhood friend, said I'm a good guy but that she has no romantic feelings for me; Arantia, a nurse where I worked as a street cleaner, said I earn too little, even though our pay is roughly the same; Argaya, a former classmate, told me to go kill myself and never approach her... She was a failing student in school, by the way. And Avria, just an acquaintance, said I'm too boring. - Sigh. - A dream?.. I don't even remember anymore... But you say all this, though you likely wouldn't have even noticed me if we had met under normal circumstances, is that not so?

- Ooh! By any chance, are you talking about the Risserlang agency "Let's Be Beautiful" or whatever it's called?.. - she looked at Sonata and the others. - If so, then fate itself has brought us together today! - taking out a Temple notebook and twirling a cherry pencil between her fingers, she opened it to the required page. - I beg you, tell us everything you know about this case! You have no idea how useful information from someone in the guard would be for us. We are going to cut this tumor out of Risserlang, and no red tapes will stand in our way. We already have its former head in custody, and all the officials who may have condoned this await a very unenviable fate, you can be sure. And you know what, Escape-2-san?.. Imperial law enforcement agencies need honest and just people like you more than anyone else. This is not local flattery—I truly believe so. Believe me, I myself have already encountered... let's say... less than worthy representatives in those organizations,

- Is that so?.. That's an unexpected turn. Hm. Ginlimzi now runs this agency, the son of the previous manager, a talentless hack who hasn't worked a single day of honest labor in his life, but there isn't much to tell here. By communicating with witnesses and gathering circumstantial evidence, I managed to determine that the last place the victims headed before their disappearance was this very organization. - The former guardsman hands Ayano the notebook with records, which include, for example, testimonies from Riykumer's classmates, according to which on day X she intended to visit "Let's Be Beautiful". - You can keep it. I have already stained my honor, and there is no way back into the guard anyway.

- whispers to Sonata. - Listen... If we manage to get out of here with little bloodshed, then perhaps we could reinstate him or even promote him?.. Or am I just fantasizing and the train has left the station? A man like that shouldn't be wasting away in this cursed forest. Why do people like him eat reindeer lichen while Victor Losses slaughter civilians? This is absolute nonsense.

- Such questions should be decided by someone like Naria or Draco Mellis; in a legal sense, you and I are powerless.
- Ayano-sama, - Ahuli also spoke in a whisper, - what do you mean by little bloodshed?

- Yes, as an example. In our time, you know, people desperately need this service—with all our low-activity sedentary jobs and so on. And I haven't observed such a niche being filled anywhere I've been, except for one single place that nominally doesn't specialize in it and leans more toward the spiritual aspect. So, perhaps I have just opened up a real gold mine for you, Massage-san.

- Yes, thank you for that, Lady Ayano, however, implementing such a plan will certainly require money, connections, and other resources which I do not yet have. Moreover, if I am recognized, they might hold me accountable for my time as a robber. You know, it's a paradox of our cultural-legal system—even if you are ready to leave the dark path and return to the light, the laws still force you to remain in the shadows.

- I see... - Ayano nodded. - Yes, I heard something like that in the news. But listen, Managerovich-san, not everything has to be limited to dracoblocks. If you really worked very successfully in this profile, then with your experience, you could become a manager of a hotel, a ryokan, a dormitory, or anyone else. Do not think that you "lost your favorite job," even if that is factually true. Better consider the thought that your favorite job evolved into a new quality, which will both develop you in this same field and bring you new interesting experience. Do you understand what I mean? Life does not end after dismissal. And being here in the forest, you clearly cannot regain even a microgram of the previous life you loved so much.

- Oh! And do you think they'd take me as a manager of a student dormitory, preferably a women's one? Girls are more tidy after all, and male strength in household matters will be useful to them more often than to men themselves, even young ones. I had never even thought about such a prospect before. I think such a job would bring me pleasure every day, a-ha-ha-ha-ha!

But allow me to ask, do you sincerely believe that Arselia would approve of her prodigal son going all out like some default robber? Of course, we cannot pretentiously put words in her mouth and pretend that's how it should be, but think with your own heart—would Arselia have done something similar if she were in your place?

- But I'm not doing any such thing! I repeat—I am not! I only heal these people and help them in every possible magical way; I don't hurt anyone myself! I don't even touch women! Therefore, I am guilty of nothing! Not guilty!

Pure love is a wonderful feeling, one of the highest; however, everything in moderation. By taking medicine beyond measure, you harm your own body, and perhaps the same applies to your situation. Have you considered such an option? True love—it is inside you, and you have no need at all to bring it before public judgment, that's what I mean. Quite the opposite—a quiet love is capable of nourishing the heart of its object and other involved people far more fully than one spoken vulgarly.

- Allow me to add to my dear friend's words that a spiritual rank is only the official side of faith; no one can forbid you from bringing love to and from Arselia into the world, regardless of where or in what status you are.
Ayano and Sonata's words made the wannabe-priest mutter something unintelligible, first lowering his eyes, and then his head, making it impossible to read the emotions on his face any longer.

- Ladies, ladies! - Melty Sambrosia drew the travelers' attention back to himself. - And would you not tell us what fates brought you here? After all, you make a most unusual quartet.