The sun rose at the morning as usual, but the town had heavy atmosphere at this time. Baston didn't have to guess because it was related to him. As soon as he destroyed the statue, the effect should be vanished from the town. The one who was under the influence of dark potion would realize their
life force quickly went depleted. At that night, everyone should already sleep while some people kept guarding some areas. The town mayor must be alerted, but everything was destined to be too late.
Everyone who drank the weird juice before would never think they died in their sleep. At least, Baston could assume they didn't feel any pain and agony before death. Even though there was a guilty feeling, but it was
for greater good. Part of it was also for the quest from the old book. Baston woke up from his bed with heavy eyes. Although he already knew beforehand this would happen, his heart felt uncomfortable.
Together with Panto, both of them enjoyed the least breakfast they could had at this moment. It was a simple meat porridge with
vegetable soup. There must be more than this but the atmosphere wasn't right inside the inn. The fat boy could guess the impact was quite tremendous if the whole town were saddened by the incident.
"Excuse me, is there something happen right now? It seems most people are in sorrow," Baston asked the innkeeper, even though he already knew the answer.
The innkeeper sighed sadly, "It was like this. Yesterday, someone silently broke into many houses around the town. The person poured a poison into a few drinks, so the victim didn't realize that they unconsciously took it. When they fell asleep, they didn't wake up again. Everyone checked on them and found all of them had already died."
"Really? I can't believe someone dared to do so. Have all of you reported about this?"
"Well, yes of course…" the innkeeper hesitated to answer, "By the way, I'm sorry but I'm so busy right now. This is the best breakfast we can serve for this morning, so I hope you don't mind it."
"Oh, it's alright…"
"Thank you. Then, excuse me…"
Baston was flabbergasted when listening to such a story. It was nonsense because there were many incoherent points at there. Still, he guessed they made up this one because they were in panic. If they told the truth, everyone in this town would be condemned harshly. Everything from now on would be like a living hell. People around would stay away just like seeing a person with plague. The town must not let people from outside knew this fact, so they decided to spread a lie considering what they had been doing for all these times.
Baston acted like he was never involved at all, but Panto who was beside him knew exactly about what he had already done to this town. It was a cruel thing to end the lives of people, but there was nothing they could do. He didn't know much about dark magic, but most of it would end in a bad way. Rather than waiting for a full trouble, then it was better to solve at earliest as possible. The merchant boy didn't comment much, only waiting for what Baston would do next.
Baston himself asked further about it and found most people in the town were attending the grand funeral at the graveyard. There was still a guilty feeling inside him, so he decided to go to look for it. At the very
least, he wanted to see the little girl for a last time. The innkeeper felt grateful that his guest took the initiative to respect the dead one. Some of his guests already complained and he could only promise to give a free
treatment for one more day of staying here. He was annoyed but he could do nothing since the guests already paid and they expected a good service from the inn.
The innkeeper then ordered one of his workers to lead the two gentlemen to the graveyard. The funeral procession was still ongoing, so everyone could see much sorrow from many people. The most striking came from the town mayor who was weeping hard in front of his dead wife. It looked he really loved her, even though time already corroded her youth.
"Why… Why you have to die before me?" the mayor shouted hardly, "Do you hate me so much? Do you don't love me anymore?"
"We already made a promise back then to become one in life and death. Now, why did you leave me first?"
"Do you want me to marry again, huh? Look at me! Tomorrow, I will marry the beautiful and young girl, so you will condemn me. But, what will you do? If you are angry, go back to life once again and stop me then!"
"Mayor, please…" his butler counseled him, "Don't be like this. If you act childish, madam won't get her peaceful rest…"
"WHY NOT? WHY SHE CAN REST WHILE I'M WORKING ALL THE TIME? IT'S NOT FAIR! IT'S REALLY NOT FAIR!!!"
The town mayor was having his hardest time in his life. He kept sprouting nonsense but everyone knew he grieved so much about his wife. Baston could see the man was very fond of his partner, unlike many nobles out
there who liked to have many women at their disposal. He himself was trembled when listening his weeping. If only he let everyone did like usual, perhaps, no one would need to get drown in the sorrow. Even though so, he would have to do it because it was for greater good.
Baston bypassed the mayor and everyone else expressionlessly. He might regret about what he had done, but it was useless since it had already happened. Step by step, he walked with one purpose until he saw the little girl's family. Beside them, there was a small grave which indicating the body of little girl that must be laying forever inside. Some
flower bouquets were brought and spread among the soil.
He thought he already encouraged himself to face the little girl, but as soon as he saw those flowers, the sinfulness from yesterday was burdening him. The fat boy felt he didn't have the right to give his last respect to her grave. Even though her family didn't know him, but Baston himself felt shameful in front of them. He indirectly killed the little girl and right now, he dared to come to her grave just like an innocent passerby. Thinking further, he didn't have such a courage to do that.
"Excuse me, who are you?"
The daughter of the family was still sad over her little sister, but she could calm herself down. While both of her parents were busy
weeping over their little girl, she noticed Baston who kept staring at them. She thought the fat boy had any business with one of them, but the direction of his eyes pointed to the grave of her sister. In the end, she took the liberty to ask him even though she never met with this fat boy.
"Me… I am…" Baston hesitated before he told her, "I'm just a guest from the inn here. In many days before, I have fortunate moment to buy the flowers from this little girl. It was fresh and beautiful to see it every morning. I never thought she already slept forever…"
"Ah, you are the one she told us. She said you're such a kind young master who bought some flowers from her…" the girl wiped away her tears before she told her parent, "Father! Mother! Look who comes before us! This is the young master who bought the flowers from my little sister before."
"This… thank you very much, young master…" the father quickly bowed down.
"Thank you very much. You might not know that she was very happy before. She said someone finally cherished the flowers. The little girl even told us that she could have a good dream in her sleep," the mother added.
"It's alright. I don't do much. I just saw the flowers was beautiful, so it was a shame to let it withered down. That was why I decided to buy it in the end…"
Baston made a short conversation, telling the family about how he encountered the little girl. Of course, he wouldn't dare to tell the truth about what he had done before. Judging from the reaction, everyone would
curse him and pick anything they could see to kill him if they found out the young master in front of them was the one who was responsible for the little girl's death. The family thought such a kind boy wanted to say his last farewell, so they excused themselves for a while. They let Baston to have a personal time with the little girl.
"I'm sorry we have to meet again like this, little girl…" Baston muttered in front of her grave.
"You're such a good girl. You showed patience and persistence when selling the flowers. Even though no one bought it, but you kept smiling. I really wonder why you still insisted on doing it. You are happy when no one ignored you and you are also happy when someone finally bought the flowers. Sometimes, you might let your sad emotion came to your face, but you quickly shoved it away."
"I just want to say that… I'm sorry, little girl… I can't save you…"
"If only I'm stronger, there might be a way. Unfortunately, I'm still weak at present…"
Not far from Baston, the family heard what he was talking about and felt he was such a good boy. They thought he felt guilty although he was just a simple customer of their daughter. Truly, she found a good person in her life. Alas, they could only mourn for her from now on. After looking at the grave of little girl, Baston then excused himself. He also gave her family some money about a thousand pounds. The family was shocked because they never saw such a big amount in their life. They rejected his kindness but Baston insisted, telling them that he couldn't rest well if they didn't accept it. At last, they took the money but they assured him they would use it in case of
emergency.
"Thank you for the money, young master," the family was very thankful, "You're such a good man. It was our daughter's fateful encounter with you. I hope you will be successful in every effort you have."
"A good man, huh?" Baston smiled ruefully before he quickly left them.
The fat boy then nodded to Panto that his business in here finished, so they could go back to the academy. Panto himself didn't get the guilty feeling of Baston, but he could see what kind of impact for this town. In his
mind, the cult was the main perpetrator and they could only fix a little. Although there was no evidence, he believed it was like that since all Baston did must be because of the cult itself. After getting inside the carriage, he
focused on tidying up while Baston gazed at the graveyard for the last time.
The quest had been finished, but he didn't have any motivation to look at the old book. This time, his heart was very heavy. It was
for greater good, but sacrificing the happiness of some people made him felt
bad. He thought he could survive in this world by playing a little drama, yet the reality struck him shockingly. Not all the quest could end in a happy ending. Still, he believed he could do better if he had much knowledge.
Baston subconsciously sighed, contemplating what he would do next. He should do the next quest, but he didn't have any spirit to do that anymore. At least, he needed some rest in order to arrange his mind. While he had this intention, there was something budged beside him. He glanced and found the flowers he bought from the little girl before. Until today, he kept the flowers so it was still fresh and alive. Looking at it, he smiled and chuckled. It reminded him back of her happy smile, lifting his spirit a little over the downcast.
"I hope you live at the flowery house in the heaven, little girl…"