Does the Assassin Girl Dream of the Mana Doll?

Each of Them and What Follows…

“I’m back…” After going through the usual procedure, Letty opened the door and stepped inside.

She had returned to Walls, the town where Old Bob’s shop was located. After finishing her “business,” Letty intentionally waited for a day before coming back.

“Welcome back, Letty-san!” Ellie greeted her with excitement, standing right in front of her as if she had sensed her owner’s footsteps. Although Letty had never owned a dog, she couldn’t help but squint at Ellie’s sparkling smile.

“Ya… I’m back, Ellie,” Letty responded, finding it oddly difficult to say. The feeling of unease wasn’t uncomfortable; instead, it carried a peculiar sense of pleasure.

Their gazes locked for a brief moment.

“Hey, you’re back already, Ghost. Nah, maybe I should start calling you Egret instead?”

“Welcome back, Ghost. Oh, should I go with that name too?”

Upon hearing their voices, Old Bob and Rita emerged. Letty hadn’t informed them about her teleportation ability, so she returned after a day to have an alibi.

After raiding the guild and rescuing Rita, the three of them temporarily returned to Walls. While tending to Rita’s injuries and sorting out the information, they reached a conclusion. To confirm their findings, Letty returned to the capital alone. And, as expected, their hypothesis proved to be correct.

“Um, what to do now that the guild is no more…”

In response to Egret’s comment, Rita and Bob nodded in agreement.

“You’re right… Greg’s gone, and we’ve lost a considerable number of our members.”

“Yeah, we can’t carry on with that kind of work anymore.”

Regret tinged their voices, but overall, both of them displayed a straightforward attitude. They knew that a profession like theirs would eventually come to an end, and they had prepared for it from the beginning. Merely having their lives intact was a fortunate outcome in itself.

“Oh, anyway, it turns out the client was involved too.”

“Just as I suspected. You took care of the retrieval, right?”

“Of course,” Letty confirmed, nodding in response to Old Bob’s question.

Rita let out a sigh, “Being betrayed by those guys was irritating… But since you handled it, I guess it’s fine.”

“Mm… Rita, thanks. Your information was invaluable.”

Rita playfully ruffled Letty’s hair, and Letty narrowed her eyes in response. Then, Ellie approached and tugged at Letty’s arm. “Letty-san, doesn’t your backpack seem more bulging than when you left?”

“Oh… I retrieved this while I was there.” Letty placed her backpack down and took out a leather bag. It was tightly packed and unusually heavy.

“It’s the mithril silver coins he was sharing with Hans. Probably half of the 300 later gold coins, so around 150 coins. I didn’t count them though…”

Letty placed the heavy bag on the table. The later gold coins had been increased as Greg had requested. It seemed like he had prepared for it from the beginning. After all, they were going to share the spoils.

Seeing the bag, Bob and Rita exchanged thoughtful glances.

“Now, what should we do? If we combine it with the money we took from the guild, it’s quite a sum. I don’t think it’s something we should keep in this rundown place.”

“Yeah, if we were to divide it among ourselves… I can’t help but feel like it would invite nothing but trouble. I mean, fairness is important, you know.”

When the two left with Rita, they took as much money as they could from the guild’s vault. It’s a little secret that Ellie, despite her appearance, was quite strong and able to carry a considerable amount. But Letty and Ellie kept that between themselves.

In total, they had managed to secure over 1,500 mithril silver coins, along with a wealth of gold, silver, and jewels, amounting to over 1.5 billion in value. They had moved and concealed these riches in the warehouse of Old Bob’s shop.

“No one seems to have noticed so far, as long as we avoid spending it suspiciously. But I can’t shake this feeling of unease,” Old Bob grumbled.

“By the way, Greg mentioned something,” Letty interjected, catching the attention of the grumbling old man.

“Hmm? What did he say?” Rita asked, curious to hear the details.

“In case something happens, he said we should distribute what remains among the remaining members and disband. He considered it a parting gift for our next journey…”

“That guy, did he really say something like that?”

Both Old Bob and Rita understood that Letty was not the type to fabricate stories for personal gain. In fact, if Letty had desired the money, she could have easily eliminated them on the spot. They were well aware of Letty’s capabilities and character, so Greg’s words were likely genuine.

“That fool… Despite being an unreasonable rationalist who always stuck to his principles, he had some peculiar traits,” Old Bob remarked.

“Yeah, it may have been a calculated decision, but I couldn’t bring myself to hate him.”

Both of them directed their gaze towards the leather bag, and a brief silence ensued.

“Egret, did he mention the amount?”

“He jokingly said something like around 50 mithril silver coins.”

“To be so generous even in the event… after he’s gone… Greg, seriously…” Rita said with a wry smile at the amount, which was unimaginable based on Greg’s usual behavior.

Old Bob’s expression, on the other hand, appeared somewhat melancholic, tinged with sadness.

“Well, with that amount, it’s tempting to accept it without hesitation. It’s a delicate line between coincidence and calculation… He was an unpredictable man,” Old Bob mused.

“Isn’t it fine? That’s just how he was, and it’s enough,” Letty added.

“Well, yeah. Alright, shall we bring a bag to divide it?” Old Bob suggested, rising from his seat.

While observing him walk toward the back, Rita rested her elbows on the table. “He was that kind of person, right? I mean, I can’t say I liked Greg, but, you know… I didn’t dislike him, and I recognized him as our master,” Rita reflected aloud.

“Yeah… That’s probably true… I somehow understand. But when you speak about him like that, what kind of person was he?” Letty inquired.

“Oh, that… it’ll be a long story… Hey, old man! Bring some booze and glasses too. Let’s raise a toast to him!” Rita called out to Old Bob from the table.

“That’s fine, but I need an extra hand here, Rita. Come here and help me carry them!”

“Yeah, yeah, coming…” Muttering like that, Rita stood up. “I’ll be right back,” she said, winking at Letty and Ellie with one eye. She disappeared into the back, and after a while…

“Was he really that kind of person?” Ellie asked.

“I wonder… maybe he was.”

“Oh… is that so? Hmm…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing~” Ellie turned her face away, an unusually rare gesture from her.

The conversation had been going in a direction she couldn’t quite grasp, and it seemed to involve someone significant to Letty, which added to the weight of the topic. In short, Ellie was feeling a little left out.

“It doesn’t seem like nothing…”

“No, really… it’s nothing. Um, Letty-san… To you, what kind of person was he?”

“For me… well… hmm…” She pondered the words for a moment.

What kind of presence did Greg have for me? It’s something that can’t be summed up in a few words.

“It’s complicated… I can’t say I liked him, but I never disliked him either. He was the one who took me in. I was indebted to him, and I might have felt a sense of gratitude…”

Now, there was no way to confirm it. She was keenly aware that her thoughts were being colored by the filter of his death.

“What’s with the gloomy atmosphere? Come on, let’s have another round before we continue! Oh, Ellie, can you handle alcohol?”

“Ah, yes, I’ll be fine. Um, Letty-san, are you okay?”

“If it’s just drinking, there’s no problem.”

“This girl has a good resistance to most poisons, you know. Thanks to that bastard Greg.”

“Oh, yeah, that was rough, huh? I’ve thought many times, ‘Does he really go that far?'”

Glasses were placed in front of Letty and Ellie. And some snacks that seemed suitable were brought along.

“Let’s set aside the gossip for now. First, let’s make a toast… To Greg and our fallen comrades,” Old Bob changed his tone and lifted his glass with a solemn atmosphere, and the other three followed suit.

Then, they clinked their glasses and took a sip.

“Old man, you’re feeling generous, huh?”

“You see, Rita, since it’s a special occasion, why not?”

“Well then, bottoms up!” Rita poured herself another drink, her lips curling with satisfaction.

Once alcohol was involved, their already lively mouths didn’t stop. While watching Rita and Old Bob getting excited about this and that, Letty would occasionally join in the conversation.

Ellie found their interactions endearing… but also a little bittersweet, especially as she looked at Letty.

“By the way, what are your plans moving forward? As for me, I’ll continue running this shop,” Old Bob said.

Rita pondered for a moment before replying, “Well, I suppose I could manage anything, but honestly, I feel like settling down somewhere. I’m a bit weary, you know?”

“In that case, I can arrange one or two job opportunities for you. You’ve got plenty of skills that are in high demand,” Old Bob said.

“Old man, do you have connections with a brothel?” Rita asked.

Old Bob chuckled and replied matter-of-factly, “Actually, I do. You could easily find a place in high-class establishments. And if needed, I can even introduce you to maid positions at the royal palace or with a duke.”

Bob’s face was flushed with a cheerful expression, but his tone remained firm. It seemed like he was serious.

“Come on, let’s drop the jokes! Me, a high-class prostitute? And working as a maid for the royal family or a duke?”

“I’m not joking. I’m serious. Of course, you would have to be cautious with your words and actions. Your education and upbringing, your ability to present yourself appropriately, all of that would come into play. The knowledge and training Greg provided you were meant for precisely that purpose. You may not realize it yourself.”

Rita reluctantly admitted, “Well… I suppose it could be useful for that kind of work… Ah, damn it, it’s getting on my nerves again! What’s up with that guy?!”

As Rita reflected on her past, she realized that she had used various means to infiltrate the nobility, and it had rarely raised suspicion. In hindsight, it left her with complex emotions, swirling inside her as she twirled her glass.

Often, when the time comes to express what you truly desire, the words elude you.

“And what about you, Egret? Your knowledge and refinement are similar to Rita’s… but you’re not really suited to be a maid I feel like.”

“Me…? I can’t think of anything specific, but…” She paused, taking her lips off the glass.

What do I want to do from now on?

A vague sensation seemed to cling to the air, like a white mist. With a swig, she tilted the glass and swallowed, “Ellie, what about you? What do you want to do… in the future?”

“Huh?… Um… me? Well… yeah… That’s right, I want to be with Letty! That goes without saying!”

“Hey, Ellie?”

Ellie was drunk. Intoxicated in a way that was unbecoming of a weapon of war. Clinging to Letty’s arm, she wore a blissful smile, lost in her own world.

Letty silently pondered if Ellie had a low tolerance for alcohol, surprised by her own realization.

“Oh, right!… I… I want to go on a journey. I want to go west… There are things I want to see… Hey, Letty-san, is that… not okay?”

Being clung to, leaned on, and spoiled. Letty couldn’t resist, nor could she escape. Her ears felt warm; she attributed it to the alcohol. And being relied upon… she wasn’t uncomfortable at all.

“It’s not a problem… Yeah, that sounds good. Let’s do it.”

She was persuaded, but it didn’t leave her with a negative feeling. On the contrary, she felt a sense of excitement, for some reason.

“Hey, Egret. Aren’t you being completely controlled by this girl? She seems to have you wrapped around her finger,” Old Bob teased, observing their close bond.

“Grandpa… You wish you hadn’t said that.”

Avoiding the old man’s teasing and mocking gaze, Letty grumbled. She cast a resentful glance at Rita and Old Bob, who were enjoying themselves a little too much.

Then, Letty suddenly spoke up as if she had just realized something, “Oh, right… In that case… hey, Grandpa, Rita. If you’re both okay with it, I have a favor to ask…”

“Hmm? What is it, what is it? It’s rare for you to make a request, lil sister. I’ll grant anything for you~”

“Wait, no, Rita-san, Letty-san is my master, you know.”

She couldn’t take it seriously. The atmosphere was perplexing, a mix of being troubled yet not uncomfortable. It was the first time Letty had experienced such a feeling.

“You see… I think there are probably still some members remaining, so… I was wondering if it would be alright to bring them their retirement pay while we’re on our journey,” Letty said.

“Oh right, since those backstabbers mainly targeted the capital city, there were some places they couldn’t reach. Plus, it would also help reduce the money here, so it’s not a bad idea,” Old Bob replied.

Rita nodded, “I agree too. I don’t think you’d cheat them anyway.”

“Thank you, both of you…”

“Then, I’ll carry it on my back! As Letty-san’s faithful servant! I’m strong, you know, look, look!” Elli, who was swinging the large chair with ease to demonstrate her strength. She was trusted as a matter of course. Perhaps, she had been trusted before as well.

Now, for the first time, Letty could acknowledge it. It was somewhat awkward.

She tried to pacify Ellie, who swung around the oversized chair vigorously as if to show off.

Could she continue to live?

That’s what she vaguely thought.

“Ellie, come on, I understand… We’ll be together, of course. Isn’t it obvious? Let’s travel together… Being together with you is what I want.”

Letty felt that way because of Ellie. As she said that, she gently held Ellie’s hand.

Ellie suddenly stopped. She stared at their joined hands. Slowly and carefully, she placed the chair on the floor. She cleared her throat with a light cough and took a few deep breaths, “That’s what I mean! Letty-san, you’re a womanizer!” Ellie exclaimed, her face turning red.

“Ellie… I think that’s a bit unreasonable.” Letty furrowed her brow, blushing.

Rita burst into laughter and clapped her hands, “You’re so passionate!”

Old Bob chuckled and gently admonished, “Just make sure you don’t break anything in the shop, alright?”

Ah, certainly. I’m sorry, but… It’s fun, isn’t it? Because the people left behind must keep on living. At least, would they be allowed a small comfort?

Suddenly, Letty looked up at the ceiling, “I’ll keep on living,” she silently conveyed to Greg, Ted, and her comrades.

***

Author’s Note:

To the west, she said. But, after all, she was just an ordinary human. Even for a journey, preparations were necessary.

Up next: A Departing Bird Leaves No Trace

Both work and travel are 80% preparation.