Chapter 20: I met Eledva once again

The maid introduced herself as Anna. She looked young—probably around my age. Her short brown hair hung just above her shoulders, with long bangs that completely covered both of her eyes.

But something about her felt off… as if she was hiding more than just her gaze behind that curtain of hair.

Her voice was soft, and I couldn't sense any hostility from her. I simply followed her in silence until we reached the other side of the mansion, where guests were allowed to rest.

She explained that this would be the room I'd be staying in, and that she would serve as my personal maid for the duration of my time at the estate.

However, there was something strange about the quarters I'd been assigned to. It was quiet, and far away from the main estate, where Princess Clarice and the others were staying.

But if things went south, I could handle it easily.

For now, I'd play along and see what that man, Lucas, was really planning.

I thanked her politely before telling her I had something to take care of.

She bowed gracefully, and I left the mansion, blending into the crowd of townspeople.

Lindow Town was as lively and crowded as ever. Most people made their way toward the large building known as the Adventurer's Guild, but that wasn't my agenda today.

Instead, I headed toward the darker, shadier part of town, where the slums were, and where the underground organizations lurked in the shadows.

This area was known as Foolshope, a lawless, poverty-stricken district within the town. It was strongly advised not to venture here unless you were prepared to be robbed… or worse, killed.

In Foolshope, you could find almost anything: illegal drugs, unregistered weapons, prostitutes, black-market slaves, and even underground organizations for hire.

I learned about this place back when I was with the Hero Party—before I regressed. It was here, in Foolshope, that we uncovered the whereabouts of the group known as the Crawling Lion. More importantly, I could never forget the people I saved that day… especially one slave. She was a beastkin girl, a member of the lion tribe—an ancient race believed to be nearly extinct. I reached out to her, offered her help… and eventually, she became a member of the Hero Party. At first, she clung to me, cared for me in a way that neither Alice nor Clara ever did. She was kind, loyal—even protective.

But over time, I started to notice the shift. I saw her speaking with Isaac more and more. And eventually, she left my side… and began to follow the Hero. The last thing she said to me still lingers in my mind: "You're not a chosen hero. You're the monster everyone's been whispering about. Staying with you… will only bring misfortune."

However, this time is different.

I know now that the beastkin girl would eventually betray me—using my kindness just like before. If I had the chance again, I would never reach out my hand to her in the first place. Besides, that event won't happen for another three years. She's probably not even in the slave market yet. When I first saved her, she told me she had been an adventurer… until someone tricked her and sold her into slavery.

I seemed like, when time arrived, she would just wait here for Issac, the chosen hero came to pick her up.

I began venturing deeper into the district, struggling to ignore the prostitutes and shady merchants who kept trying to lure me in and pressure me into buying their illicit goods.

Eventually, I arrived at a small, run-down building with a broken-down appearance. I slowly pushed the door open with hand and stepped inside.

The interior appeared to be a tavern. Bottles of alcohol; were lined up on the shelves, and an old man stood behind the counter quietly wiping a glass.

When he looked at me, his expression suddenly shifted to hostility. Without warning, he hurled a sharp blade in my direction.

I easily dodged it by shifting my body to the side, then calmly returned to my stance.

"Who are you?"

He growled, his voice low and threatening.

He held a short blade in one hand, pointing it directly at me, his eyes sharp with suspicion.

"I'm looking for Tia," I said, pausing to watch his expression.

"No one by that name is here! Get out before I kill you!" he snapped.

I let a small smile creep onto my lips.

"Or should I say… I'm looking for Eledva, the spy and assassin of the Crawling Lion."

I spoke in a low voice, but the moment he heard that name, his expression tightened. His gaze turned deadly once more as he gripped his blade and leapt out from behind the counter.

"…How do you know that?! DIE!"

I quickly summoned my sharp blade and swung it upward, slicing off his hand just as he closed in on me.

Blood poured out as he screamed in pain, clutching the stump in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding.

"…Who are you?!" he gasped, his voice trembling with pain and fear.

"I'm just a nobody," I replied coldly. "I'm here for Eledva."

Eledva was his real name—Tia was only an alias he used when working in the Lion Crawl. He was a skilled assassin, comparable to the elite killers of the Twilight's shadow, but there was something different about him.

I remembered the fight clearly—back before I regressed. That was when I discovered the stolen seal... and when I faced him. He had a slender build, not muscular at all, and wore a cloak of black cloth that concealed his true appearance. I couldn't even tell who, or what—he really was.

But after I wounded him badly, just as I was about to deliver the final blow… he took his own life and later on his body was picked up by the knight.

"…Please! I'm sorry, don't kill me…"

The old man trembled, blood still dripping from his severed arm.

"I'll take you to Eledva… but—"

His voice weakened. He had lost too much blood.

Without hesitation, I cast a healing spell and reattached his severed hand. Light wrapped around the wound, stitching flesh and bone back together.

"W-Wow… are you a saint?"

His deadly gaze had completely vanished, replaced by awe and enthusiasm as he stared at my power.

"Shut up."

"Oh—sorry!"

I remembered this place, but not this man. Before I regressed, there had been a group of men guarding this house—but this old man hadn't been one of them.

The old man's expression shifted from hostile to oddly familiar—but I remained cautious.

If he tried anything funny again, I'd cut his neck clean off without hesitation.

I glanced around the room before asking him,

"Where are the others?"

"Others? What do you mean?" he replied with a confused look, still inspecting his freshly healed arm.

"It's just me, Eledva, and the slave here," he added casually.

"…What?"

His statement caught me off guard.

Back then—three years from now—I came to this very place and fought Eledva. It was one of the known hideouts of the Crawling Lion, and there were more people stationed here.

So why… was it so empty now?

And slaves? What did he mean by that?

And who exactly was this old man?

"Follow me," he said, gesturing for me to come along.

I returned my blade into the air—vanishing it—and quietly followed behind him.

"I can't believe Eledva actually knows someone… someone who isn't one of those scum from the Crawling Lion," he muttered as we walked.

"Why would you trust me?" I asked while walking behind him.

He didn't even turn around. A reckless move—leaving his back exposed to someone he barely knew, someone who had just injured him.

"Even if I don't know who you are," he said casually, "someone who hurts a man and then heals him right after… doesn't seem like a bad person to me."

He blurted it out without even glancing back.

Then he led me through an underground passage—

and to my surprise, I hadn't even known such a passage existed.

When we reached the lower level, there was another door at the end of the corridor.

The old man slowly twisted the doorknob and opened it.

To my astonishment, the room beyond was large, with several divided sections. But what truly caught me off guard was what lay inside—

A room filled with children from various races. Boys and girls alike stared at us in awe as we entered.

"Mr. Noah, who's that?"

"Why's he wearing a mask?"

"Wow, he's so tall!"

"He looks strong!"

The kids blurted out in excitement, their voices overlapping. Most of them appeared to be around the same age as the girls back at the church.

"Ah… this man is looking for Eledva!"

The old man—apparently named Noah—said with a smile as he addressed the children.

However, I couldn't shake the strange feeling creeping over me.

The sight in front of me was far different from what I had anticipated.

"Me?"

A soft voice called out from the back of the room.

"Sister Eledva is busy cooking right now!"

"Yes, Mr. Noah, come join us!"

The voices were familiar… but Sister Eledva? Did I hear that right?

Old man Noah and I were led by the excited children through the room and toward the back, where the kitchen was.

There were around twenty kids living here, ranging from humans to beastkin.

When we arrived, I froze in surprise.

A beautiful girl stood by the stove, her slender figure moving gracefully as she cooked. Her skin was dark, smooth, and radiant. She had a delicate, striking face…

But what truly stunned me were her ears—long and pointed.

She was a Dark Elf.

"Ah… Eledva, this man is looking for you!"

Noah said, pointing at me with a casual grin.

Eledva.

All this time, I had believed Eledva was a man.

But standing before me—was unmistakably a woman.