Life as an Adventurer with the Banished Marquis' Daughter - Chapter 08: Continued – Carriage Journey with the Exiled Marquis’s Daughter, Part 1

Chapter 08: Continued – Carriage Journey with the Exiled Marquis’s Daughter, Part 1

When you kill someone, regardless of whether it’s in self-defense or not, there are always various aftermaths to deal with.

However, this time, there was little to worry about.

The horse-faced demon had turned to ash, leaving no trace, not even bones. The other three attackers had been obliterated into tiny fragments by the magic cast by the horse-faced demon when he was still human. 

The magic, which I initially thought was aimed at me, was actually intended to destroy evidence, with any harm to me being incidental.

According to Merseja, who inspected the scene, there were fragments of something similar to a magical tool used on serious criminals that explodes if they try to escape. This, combined with the power of the spell, ensured that all the attackers’ bodies were thoroughly destroyed. 

Consequently, there was no evidence left to identify the attackers.

Merseja had collected the swords used by the attackers, but he wasn’t optimistic about learning much from them. 

What we did learn was that the enemy was meticulous, capable of deploying attackers with approximately Rank 6 strength, and possessed some unheard-of method to transform humans into demons.

In other words, we had no idea who the enemy was, but staying put would be a bad move.

So, we resumed our journey by carriage.

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“In that case, don’t you think it’s the other way around?”

Erika Solnzari said this while we were inside the carriage, where the door, barely held together with ropes and full of holes, rattled loudly.

I asked her what she meant with just my expression, and she explained.

“Rather than humans transforming into demons, isn’t it possible that demons transformed into humans?”

Ah, I see. That’s another way to think about it. Though it’s an equally outrageous idea, psychologically, it’s easier to accept than humans turning into demons. 

But, I don’t think that’s correct.

Shaking my head, I said,

“Sorry, Erika Solnzari. I think that’s probably wrong. The main attacker did say they were giving up being human. They questioned how they could abandon their humanity in such a way. If a demon had disguised itself as a human, I don’t think they would say that.”

Erika Solnzari thought for a moment and then agreed,

“Yes, you’re right.”

She discarded her previous opinion. It wasn’t that she was convinced, but more that the idea of humans turning into demons was hard to believe since she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes. 

If she had trusted me more, she might not have suggested it, but as a guy who was barely remembered by his classmates, it couldn’t be helped.

“So, Erika Solnzari, it’s hard to even guess who might have attacked you based on the attackers. Do you have any ideas yourself?”

Erika Solnzari gave a sad smile in response to my question.

Seeing the usually strong Erika Solnzari looking so vulnerable shook me more than I expected. 

She noticed something in my expression and raised a hand as if to stop me, even though I couldn’t think of anything to say.

“Honestly, I can’t think of any reason why someone would exile me from the country and then try to kill me.”

Then she changed her expression and asked,

“But why do you call me by my full name?”

Her face showed pure curiosity rather than criticism. 

She looked so pretty and beautiful with that curious expression. 

As I was admiring her, she seemed to remember something and frowned, looking annoyed.

“Speaking of which, I don’t even know your name. Isn’t that quite rude to a lady?”

Her point was completely valid, but as someone who had been her classmate for three years, I felt a bit hurt.

Well, considering the vast difference in status between a marquis family and a viscount family, it’s understandable. 

I placed my hand on my chest and apologized, trying to hide my feelings.

“I apologize for my late introduction, my lady. I am Shin Longdagger, the second son of a viscount, barely hanging onto the lowest rung of the kingdom’s nobility.”

Why can’t I ever stay serious in moments like these?

As I glanced up from my bowed head, I saw Erika Solnzari with her finger on her well-shaped chin, deep in thought.

It seemed my little joke was being ignored.

“I thought you were just a hired adventurer or something… Longdagger, that name sounds familiar… and now that I look closely, you do too… Where was it?”

Her muttering was a bit louder than necessary.

I kept my thoughts to myself as Erika Solnzari suddenly clapped her hands. 

So cute.

“You were in our class, weren’t you?”

Thank goodness… really, thank goodness.

Erika Solnzari remembered me. My life had meaning; it wasn’t all in vain.

She then placed her right hand on her temple, trying to recall more.

“Yes… that’s right. You were one of the insignificant ones watching from a distance.”

I felt my face turn bright red instantly. 

She had noticed, Erika Solnzari herself had noticed.

She had seen my unworthy, admiring glances.

I wanted to praise myself for not screaming out loud in embarrassment.

I quickly turned my face away.

“Why did you suddenly turn away?”

Erika Solnzari asked, looking puzzled.

Did she understand what she had just said?

She mentioned that I was watching her. How am I supposed to face someone who knows I was watching them?

“Why are you so embarrassed? It’s not like the person you were watching is actually here.”

Erika Solnzari joked, trying to make me feel better, seeing how pathetic I looked.

She’s so kind. I like her.

Her kindness calmed me more than my embarrassment. 

When I turned to face her again, I saw Erika Solnzari looking at me with a slightly exasperated expression.

“So…”

Erika Solnzari hesitated for a moment. 

“Am I to assume that you are my supposed husband?”

Oh, dear God.