Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 42: Crime

“Why did you agree?” Melton asked after Leui has left. 

“He’s like the rain.” Fedrich answered. 

“Huh?” Melton muttered, confused. 

“He won’t interfere with our mission. Instead – “ Fedrich looked outside. “ – he might be able to help us later.” He told him. 

“How?” Melton asked. 

Fedrich smiled and turned to him. He raised his hand and crooked his finger to him. “Come closer. I’ll tell you.” He said. 

At four in the afternoon, Leui sat beside the knights while he looked outside as the wagon, staring at the rain in a daze. It is silent, as the knights are all serious. They need to eliminate the scourge to restore the peace in the kingdom. They have to defeat the thieves tonight! 

But, the silence to Leui is depressing and Fedrich noticed it. In order to not let the depressing feeling affect his subordinates, he started to chat with Leui. “You think that he was captured by the thieves, so you want to go with us?” he asked. 

“Yes.” Leui admitted. He isn’t ashamed to be found out. 

“What makes you think he was captured by the thieves?” Fedrich asked. 

“Because he’s one of them.” Leui answered. 

A deafening silence fell in the wagon. 

“What?!” the knights exclaimed in shock. 

But, Fedrich looked calm. “When did you find this out?” he asked. 

“I confirmed it this noon, when he didn’t return home.” Leui answered. 

Fedrich didn’t speak. So, Leui has been suspicious, but only managed to confirm it when the person disappeared. “What made you suspect him?” he asked. 

“His daughter.” Leui answered. 

Fedrich looked at him. 

“Her medicines are all expensive and rare, but he managed to keep his daughter’s life this long.” Leui explained. 

A smile formed on Fedrich’s lips. He then turned to look at Melton. See? I told you, he is sharp. But, Melton just gave him an eyeroll. 

Most people living in the rural area are poor, and Dan is a wagon driver. His meager income can barely support his family, but not with an ill child. He and his wife are also from a commoner family with no wealth that they have saved up. If they did, then they must have all used them for their daughter’s medicines and hiring doctors to find a cure for her. Yet, it was all in vain. 

“So, he didn’t disappear but instead joined the thieves.” Fedrich spoke. A thoughtful expression is on his face. 

“He disappeared.” Leui spoke. 

Everyone looked at him. “What do you mean?” Melton asked. 

Leui slowly turned to them. “He was a thief.” He said. Before they could ask again, he continued. “Before Mhir and I arrived, he was a thief. But, after he heard us promise to provide the medical expenses for his daughter, he stopped.” He looked at them. His expression is serious. “Not all thieves are thieves in their heart. Most of them were forced by their situation and so they steal.” He explained. 

He has seen it in the Other Shore. Only the Central Plaza is civilized. But, all the other areas in the Other Shore are in a survival system. Humans, although the weakest, have the highest intelligence among all races. It could be said that strength is inversely proportional to intelligence. This is what it is in the Heiruche Continent. So, the other races definitely are in a worse state than the Central Plaza. 

From their clothing, residence, and more importantly their food… they all have to get it themselves, because their parents, unlike the human parents who will nurture and care for their children, would toss them in the wilderness and wouldn’t care whether they would die or live. They value strength, that is sure, so they want their children to learn to be stronger. But, because of this, they lack familial love, as well as other sense of relationships. 

The more fortunate races are dwarves and elves who adapted to the human’s civilized society so they have an order in their communities. The fairies and nymphs have nature all around to live in and feed in. The trolls are all rough with the way they live, and there is no need for the monsters if they only know how to prey on others. 

So, because of the lack of order in the other races, they plunder others. 

The knights naturally understood, as they have investigated Dan’s family. Dan is an honest person and has a clean life. He is a loyal husband and a devoted father. But, because his daughter has fallen ill, they have consumed their wealth and now he was forced to commit thievery. 

“When Mhir and I arrived, he stopped. Because we gave them money and some medicines that can help alleviate Analiese’s pain.” Leui continued. “He has quit his ‘job’ and went back to being a wagon driver.” He said as he leaned on the wall of the wagon and raised his head to stare at the ceiling. 

Fedrich and his subordinates looked at each other. Could it be because of their internal conflict? Conflict of interests? Decrease in enthusiasm as they lost their reason to commit the crime? They thought as they waited for Leui to continue. 

“His hopes increased after you asked us if we want to go with you to the Capital. Dan’s reason to steal was completely eliminated.” Leui said. “But…” his voice lowered.

“The thieves won’t definitely let him go.” Melton spoke. 

“Yes.” Leui nodded as he lowered his head. 

That’s why he went with them. He just made up an excuse to Mhir and Marie that the knights need a hand. Mhir wanted to go, but he told her to look after Marie and the children, as he would also find Dan and would return with him. Mhir didn’t insist anymore. 

When he found out that Dan was actually a thief, at first, he thought he was a lone thief. But, after he heard about the group of thieves from the knights, he felt that things weren't good. If Dan was acting alone, he can persuade him to quit. In fact, he really quit. However, Dan was actually involved in a group. This isn’t easy to resolve. 

“You know that thieves won’t let Dan defect. But, he defected.” Fedrich spoke. “What if they have killed him?” he asked. 

Silence fell. They are all adults here, so they are all frank. 

“I will take back his corpse, no matter what.” Leui said. 

Fedrich’s brows raised. “You won’t let them live in a fantasy? That their head may just be missing and didn’t die?” he asked. 

Leui’s sore spot was hit. In fact, he has thought of this, too. But – “They deserve to know the truth.” He said. Before Fedrich could speak, he continued. “They have to face the reality, or it’ll just be harder for them later.” He said. This is his responsibility as a guest, or even a passerby in their life. 

Fedrich carefully studied Leui’s expression, but he didn’t speak again after that. Seeing their captain didn’t speak, the knights also didn’t speak. It was already depressing enough that it rained, but it became more depressing to hear a sad story during rain. 

…

“I don’t need protection. I can fight.” Leui spoke when they arrived. 

Fedrich shrugged and let him be. “Our hands are already full, anyway. I was just about to tell you that we can’t protect you.” He said as they walked on the muddy path. 

Leui smiled. “I came here of my own volition. Naturally, I am responsible for myself. So, please don’t burden yourselves.” He told them as he used the scythe to cut away the large leaves blocking them. 

“You’re conscientious.” Fedrich looked at him appreciatively before he resumed walking with Melton. 

Leui didn’t speak anymore and just concentrated on cutting down the large leaves blocking their path. “You must have seen Dan’s face. If you’ve seen him, send me a signal.” He said as he took out a whistle from his pocket. “I’ll look for him over here.” he said. 

Fedrich looked at the thick trees. “This is the Forbidden Forest. Filled with dangers as there were beasts and monsters there. Are you sure you…” he spoke. 

Leui cut him off. “I’ve lived in the Central Plaza and ran back and forth all over the Other Shore and survived for five years. Naturally, I know how dangerous it is, and of course I know how to get out alive.” He said, and then handed the whistle to Melton. “Just ring it if you’ve found Dan.” He paused. “This way, you can also attract them to you, so you don’t need to waste time to find them.” He grinned. 

“But if we won’t…” Fedrich spoke. “You might actually meet them, or the beasts.” He said. 

“The least I could do is to protect myself.” Leui spoke. “I have already prepared myself when I decided to appear on your doorstep.” He told them before he swung his scythe to cut down the big leaves and then disappeared in the darkness, under the cover of the rain.