Time passed, and it had been two years since Alon rescued Yutia and began a steady correspondence with her.
"I have successfully rescued the target this time as well."
"Is that so?"
Alon received the glad tidings from Evan.
"Did you send them to the orphanage?"
"Yes. That makes five now."
Alon nodded at Evan's words.
Over the past year and change, Alon had succeeded in rescuing all three of the Sins he had originally set out to save.
Rescuing the Sin of Greed was a bit of a challenge.
The third one he rescued, the Sin of Greed—currently known by the name Line Grof—hadn't been difficult to save per se; the difficulty lay solely in finding her.
It was the same for the other Sins.
It took a few months to track each of them down, but by working Evan to the bone using his knowledge from the game, he had managed to find them all.
Alon looked at Evan, who had spent the last year running to and fro across the land to rescue the Five Great Sins on his orders.
"You can take a break now."
"Is it finally over?"
"It's over."
"...That is a relief."
Evan let out a sigh of relief and looked at Alon.
"But, Young Master, are you not happy?"
"Of course I am."
"For someone who is happy, your expression doesn't show it at all."
"...Really?"
At Evan's remark, Alon turned his gaze toward the mirror.
Reflected there was the face of Alon, a sight he was now all too familiar with.
Certainly...
The man in the mirror was expressionless.
No, if one looked closely, the corners of his mouth were turned up ever so slightly, but the change was so minute that it would go unnoticed unless one stared with extreme focus.
Alon tried to force his facial muscles to form a smile, but he stopped when he saw his handsome face contort into something resembling a freak.
It feels like my soul possessed everything except the skin on my face.
Unlike his past self, whose emotions were always clear, Alon's current body did not betray his feelings through his face. Even when it did, it was far too subtle.
Not that it's a bad thing.
Of course, Alon only felt a tiny bit of regret about this fact; he didn't think much of it. If his lack of expression caused discomfort, it would be for others to deal with, not him.
Anyway, with this, the immediate tasks I had to do are finished.
Alon smiled inwardly as he thought of the five potential Sins he had gathered at the orphanage.
I didn't expect things to go this smoothly.
In truth, Alon hadn't expected everything to work out so well from the start. Each of the Five Great Sins had more than enough justification for becoming a Sin, and no matter how hard Alon tried to save them, he hadn't been sure he could reach them before they suffered something terrible.
In other words, Alon's only worry was that he might only be able to rescue the Five Great Sins after they were already broken. However, making his worries moot, all five were growing up quite normally.
"Evan."
"Yes."
"You said everything seemed fine when you visited the orphanage last time, right?"
"Yes. Line and Seolrang, who were in poor condition before being sent to the orphanage, had returned to a fairly normal state by the time I went to check on them."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. In Seolrang's case, when we first found her, she sat still like a broken doll, doing nothing. But at the orphanage, she seemed to be doing well. Similarly, Line, who kept her eyes closed as if refusing to see anything when we first rescued her, was reading a book with an interested expression when I saw her last."
Alon nodded. It matched what Yutia had written in her letters.
I didn't know Yutia would do such a good job.
Actually, the reason Alon had left Yutia at the orphanage in the first place was partly to keep her at a distance, but also because her character setting mentioned she had a certain attachment to the orphanage.
However, he hadn't been entirely sure she would take good care of the other children. He had even considered sending professional personnel(?) if Evan reported that things looked slightly off.
There's no need for that now.
Alon smiled.
Things had gone better than expected, and thanks to Yutia's hard work, Alon only had one thing left to do.
Develop the ability to protect myself to some extent.
Of course, as the third son of the Count Palladio family, his life wouldn't be in danger as long as he didn't do anything out of the ordinary. He even had Evan by his side.
But considering this world was based on a dark fantasy, having the ability to protect oneself was essential. He was currently debating whether to learn magic.
"Ah, come to think of it, Young Master, have you heard about the 'Blue Moon'?"
Evan's question broke through Alon's musings.
"Blue Moon?"
"Yes. It's an organization that has recently become very famous in the East. I hear they've been going around hunting other organizations."
"...An organization hunting other organizations?"
"Yes."
"Then they're doing a good deed."
Alon answered bluntly.
Having already fully adapted to the dark fantasy world, praise was what came out of his mouth. If the Blue Moon were massacring civilians, he would have frowned, but hunting other organizations was a different story.
In the first place, Alon had never seen or heard of anyone operating under the name of an 'organization' on this continent whose work didn't involve human lives.
Since they were an organization hunting those who toyed with people's lives, he didn't see them in a negative light. But then...
"The problem is, they say they kill nobles as well."
"...Evan."
"Yes."
"From today on, sleep in the room next to mine."
Alon spoke firmly following Evan's next words.
The Blue Moon organization never appeared in the original work, so they'll probably disappear before the story starts... it should be fine. Ah, come to think of it, Leo has been in a bad mood lately. Was it because of that?
After thinking about it for a moment, Alon shrugged and began to write a letter. It was to reply to the letter Yutia had sent yesterday.
"Hmm..."
For the record, Yutia's letter from yesterday was the same as usual. It contained some greetings, a brief update on the status of the people he had asked her to look after, and a list of sponsors.
After checking it, Alon started with his usual greetings. He considered writing about the 'Blue Moon' he had just heard about from Evan, but then decided against it.
The Blue Moon was said to hunt organizations and nobles; they wouldn't hunt an orphanage full of orphans.
Having finished the letter as usual, Alon sent it off via the mercenary guild.
It was a peaceful day.
####
A few weeks later, at the orphanage in the East.
At the meeting that had begun to be held regularly every week since they started their 'activities' in earnest, Yutia was reading the letter Alon had sent.
"Is that a letter from him? Let me read it too! Me too!"
"I want to read it, too."
As Yutia read the letter, one girl waved her hand energetically while another girl on the opposite side raised her hand slightly.
Even within the dimly lit hideout, their golden and green eyes shone brightly. They were Seolrang and Line, the future Sin of Pride and Sin of Greed, respectively.
"Here."
"I can really see it?! You didn't show us last time!"
"It's about time you all saw it."
When Yutia smiled and handed over the letter, Seolrang, Line, and Deus—who had been sitting quietly beside them—all looked at the letter with curious eyes.
A moment later.
"...Is this a directive?"
"It just looks like an ordinary conversation..."
"...."
They all expressed doubt as they re-read the letter. The letter truly contained nothing but mundane, everyday talk.
When Deus looked at Yutia with an expression demanding an explanation, she smiled and explained.
"It's only natural that it looks that way. He commanded from the very beginning that it be written to look like a normal conversation."
Yutia then pulled a slightly worn letter from her bosom and showed it to them.
"...."
The contents of the letter were ordinary. It began with light greetings and naturally suggested that they exchange letters regarding the 'orphanage' periodically.
"...?"
"Isn't this also just a normal letter...?"
Seolrang and Line looked puzzled.
However, Deus spoke as if he had realized the true intent of the letter without much difficulty.
"Is it because secrets must not be leaked that you exchange letters in this manner?"
"Exactly."
"I see."
Deus nodded, glanced at Seolrang and Line who were still staring at the letter, and asked.
"If you are worried about secrets leaking, wouldn't it be better to use a magic communication tool or have us go and listen to him periodically?"
"That's true."
"Then why go through the trouble of using letters like this?"
"Because that is his will."
Yutia added with a smile.
"If he has decided to do it this way, we simply follow. There is no need to question or think about it."
"...."
At those words, Deus felt his throat go dry for a moment.
Her emotions were generally calm, but whenever she spoke of him, she displayed a devotion so thick and visceral that it sent shivers down his spine.
"...I understand."
Thus, Deus quietly affirmed as he looked at the fanatical light in her red eyes. The 'report' began after Yutia collected the letters she had shown the members and tucked them carefully back into her bosom.
"Seolrang. What about the North?"
"You mean the slave traders?"
"Yes."
At Yutia's words, Seolrang gave a bright, flawless smile.
"I took care of them all."
"Your identity?"
"They didn't find out! The clothes Line made for me are definitely good. I gave them a quiz, saying I'd spare them if they correctly described my facial features, but no one could answer."
"And then?"
"I pulled them all out. Their heads."
The words were far too cruel to be accompanied by such cheerful laughter, but Yutia calmly turned her gaze to Deus.
"The South?"
"A group called Avalon was running rampant, so I cleared them all out. And something came up there that I need to mention."
"What is it?"
"The leader of Avalon is the eldest son of the Count's family where he resides, isn't he?"
Yutia nodded silently at Deus's words.
However.
"...It seems the eldest son of the Count's family intends to poison him."
As soon as those words were spoken.
"...What?"
The atmosphere froze.
Seolrang, who had been laughing cheerfully just a moment ago, pinned her ears back and began to read the room. Line, who had been watching tentatively, fixed her gaze forward.
Deus was the only one still looking directly at Yutia, having anticipated this reaction. Even so, he felt as if cold sweat were pouring down his body from the sheer intensity of the killing intent in the air.
After a short silence.
"...Are you certain?"
"There was a written directive."
"Did you bring it?"
"Yes."
As if waiting for the question, Deus pulled a letter from his bosom. Yutia read the letter without so much as a blink.
[After the Count, who seems to have little time left, dies, quietly poison and dispose of him.]
As she read that final line.
"...I see."
Yutia gripped the directive tightly.
"So that's how it is."
She whispered softly, her eyes chillingly dark.