Interlude 29
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Purume still hasn’t gone to meet Angelica, nor has she gone to meet Ryūgūin, who could be another key figure.
One of the reasons for this is that dungeons have been discovered at an unusually rapid pace lately.
Not only has paperwork increased, but direct requests and mediation work from the Guildmaster have also multiplied significantly. This has necessitated much more negotiation with high-level parties.
However, even with how busy she is, if Purume had worked three days straight without sleep and left the rest to the vice master, she could have managed to find time to meet with Ryūgūin and Angelica.
The reason she doesn’t is still her fear of Angelica directly severing ties with her.
Later, Purume will deeply regret her poor judgment.
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Purume uses her home-grown informants to search for Yamada-like individuals, starting from the surrounding areas and working her way through meticulously, but no relevant information turns up.
She often suffers from splitting headaches, nosebleeds, and even collapses while coughing up blood, but each time she takes painkillers and grits her teeth to endure.
It’s during one of these times that a subordinate visits her office and informs her:
Angelica and her group have failed to explore the Time Dungeon, and in an attempt to make up for it, they’ve attacked the Holy Knight Ashley Noble and stolen the Sword of Affirmation.
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Madison’s angry voice echoes from the Contact Pearl, directed at the Hero’s party.
Madison seems to be yelling something in a raised voice, but Purume can no longer understand.
Her barely remaining reason insists that she should take responsibility, that she has made a mistake.
「I’m sorry about my daughter. Are you short on manpower?
I’ll go directly to Arrogance or Virtuous myself.」
It’s the first time in her long life.
Her knees feel weak, and if she relaxes, she might collapse and start crying.
Why did they do such a foolish thing?
If she could, she’d want to hear the reason.
「And if I manage to survive this battle, I’ll take full responsibility and resign as the Guildmaster of Greeneyes.」
No matter how much she thinks about it, she can’t understand.
What her daughter was thinking to do such a thing.
How the dungeon will appear now that the seal has been broken.
Last time, lives were lost on the scale of tens of thousands.
How many sacrifices will be needed this time to contain the seal?
She doesn’t understand anything.
The only thing she knows is that she must clean up the monumental blunder her daughter has committed.
And probably, heading to the front lines of the region where forces are thin this time means she won’t return alive.
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Although the discussion with Madison is over, Purume lacks the energy to stand up from her seat and remains slumped over her desk.
Suddenly, she feels a desire to see her father and mother.
Once the thought occurs to her, it’s impossible to stop her hand.
She takes out a sheet of paper from her desk drawer and picks up a pen.
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「It’s been a while. How are you?
I’ll come back home once this big job is finished.
From Purume En Dynast Fil Al-Taib Ixis」
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Purume calls a subordinate and asks them to send the letter.
However, just before handing it over, she hesitates.
───I will surely return to you
She suddenly remembers her daughter’s letter.
Even if she sends this letter, Purume will never be able to return to her hometown.
Angelica, who promised to return, was an unfilial daughter.
Purume can’t make her parents experience the same heart-wrenching sadness she felt that day—the pain of having an unfilial child.
So Purume changes her mind.
「I’m sorry, let’s forget about the letter after all.」
「Are you sure?」
Purume nods and turns her back to him, slightly raising the letter.
To the subordinate, it looks like the usually calm Guildmaster is crying.
In that moment, blue flames engulf the letter.
It’s a beautiful, fantastical, and sorrowful blue.
The letter has now turned to ash, scattering through the open window, carried by the wind, disappearing into the air.
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