Home/I confined you, but I have no ill will/ch 75

75.

"If you left, at least live well."

Martin's thought slipped out.

"Right—should have."

"It's a pity."

"Thanks for thinking so."

"Hm?"

Something was off—she was alone, yet someone answered. She sprang up, drawing her sword—but lowered it upon seeing the intruder.

"Kailun."

"Hey—long time."

"Kailun."

"Hmm—twenty years, give or take?"

She couldn't help shouting.

"You bastard!"

Memories were beautiful—reality changed. After Kailun left, Martin struggled with a foolish chief and clumsy juniors. She'd aged faster than anyone.

"Long time? Long time? "

She threw her weapon and punched—but Kailun dodged.

At least he's kept in shape.

"So harsh to an old friend?"

"One who abandoned his friends!"

"I had reasons!"

"Your reasons! Why are you here—how'd you get past security?"

"Haha—I know this place like home. But your security's gotten lax."

She boiled over.

"Only because it's you!"

She finally punched him—hard in the gut.

"Ugh—you witch!"

"Shut up—so what's your business?"

She sat on the desk.

"You're supposed to be dead."

"I'm not."

"Does Lady Ibelin know?"

"Why is she 'lady' and I'm 'bastard'?"

"Answer!"

He rubbed his stomach and sat up.

"No—she thinks I'm dead."

"Really? What's so important you'd deceive even your granddaughter?"

Her eyes sharpened. What could be that important?

"Remember the Teyrin operation?"

"Of course—the seer experiment."

Teyrin had sacrificed lives to create artificial seers—so Pabeln's Intelligence attacked and destroyed the facility.

It wasn't just justice—the kidnapped children were Pabeln subjects.

"Infuriating."

They'd gone mad—killing researchers, burning data, but couldn't save the children. They had to flee Teyrin's knights.

They could have stayed, but didn't—or chose not to. Even knowing the children's fate, they'd looked away.

"Kailun."

Martin bit her lip.

"Was there a survivor?"

Her worst fear was confirmed.

"Yes—he's now a seer for Teyrin, with high accuracy."

"Then everything unexplained makes sense."

But was it possible? Had they succeeded? Using that seer to scheme? Her head ached.

"What will you do?"

"Save him."

"What?"

She stood. Killing would be understandable—easier than saving.

"He won't be the same—he's managed by Teyrin now! It's too hard!"

"But watching my granddaughter made me think—the child I couldn't save. Then I had a miracle."

"What miracle."

"Martin—"

He looked her in the eye.

"Ibelin can see the future."

"What?"

"Remember the children collected for experiments? One was from a seer family—she's the same. Our family has always been seers."

"Is that possible? The age of magic is over."

"The Intelligence Department uses its relics—you're one to talk."

"Fine—say she's a seer. What's your miracle? Are you a seer too?"

"No. If I were, I'd have saved my family. Ibelin can't fully see the future—just glimpses of uncertain branches, infrequently. But—"

She listened.

"I saw the Teyrin seer once in a dream."

The child had no proper name, destroying himself to see the future.

"Unknown."

She'd heard that name—often linked to mysterious events.

"I want to save him."

She'd done many missions, sometimes committing sins—but Kailun couldn't bury them like she did.

"He might be fully assimilated into Teyrin."

"I don't care."

"What if you die?"

"I'm already dead, aren't I?"

"You're a real bastard."

"Thanks."

"It's not a compliment—you'd sadden your granddaughter to save someone? If she finds out you're alive, and you walk to your death—"

"She'd be sad."

He said calmly—she barely resisted punching him again.

"Your actions could break peace between Teyrin and Pabeln."

"Teyrin already wants to—being the spark isn't bad."

"Did you come to warn me?"

"In a way."

"Wait."

She took a deep breath and screamed.

"AAAAARGH!"

Loud enough to pierce soundproofing—her staff whispered the witch was angry again.

"Hoo."

She approached and kicked his shin.

"You fool—how could you do this alone!"

"Then will Intelligence help?"

She kicked him again.

"Repay me later."

He'd come expecting this—it was infuriating, but she knew it was the best way.

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