Growth

Before nightfall, the matter had reached a rough conclusion.

This time, around seventeen people had died. More than half of the migrants had perished, along with quite a few local villagers who had been helping settle them in at the time.

Otto sorrowfully stated that it had all been a disaster caused by a deeply Alienated Nest Beast that had concealed itself extremely well.

He would actively assist those who had lost family in this disaster, so they would not need to worry about making a living in the days ahead.

Afterward, Otto gently comforted the grieving families and assured them that everything would get better.

Isabella stood some distance away, quietly praying that these people might reach God's Heavenly Kingdom, while calmly watching Otto's performance.

She had no wish to condemn someone based solely on outward appearances.

Yet at that moment, she genuinely felt an intense disgust toward this seemingly responsible village chief.

He hid it too well, Isabella thought.

Likewise, she could not sense the slightest emotion from Otto. Either Otto himself felt nothing at all about this matter, and everything before her was merely an act—

—or Otto possessed soul-related training and could control his own emotions.

But either possibility spoke to the truth of the matter—Otto was the one who had caused this incident.

Because of his family, Jacques bore an especially deep hatred for Naimus, but Isabella did not. She knew clearly that Otto was the one with the real problem.

Perhaps sensing Isabella's gaze, Otto turned to look at her. A somewhat forced smile appeared on his fat face.

He truly looked like a man who had suffered something terrible and had no heart to entertain an honored guest.

Had it been someone else, they might even have developed quite a bit of goodwill toward Otto because of it.

Isabella was still young, after all. She realized she could not offer him a false smile.

What should I do next? Isabella's thoughts wandered, yet she could not help recalling the tragic emotion she had sensed at the scene.

She could now be certain that emotion had come from Benjamin. In the final moment of his life, he had still clung to some belief, wanting to tell her something.

Isabella found it difficult to ignore that emotion.

She was a very sensitive person. She could weep over another person's tragic story, and she could be happy for another person's joy.

If she simply let this matter go, she felt she would be plagued by guilt for the rest of her life.

That dying murmur would become a ringing in her ears for life.

We can't investigate openly, and the informant has already been silenced.

Judging by their actions, any evidence related to the excavation was probably destroyed long ago.

Unless a Saint is sent out to use the power of a Divine Miracle to recreate the past, it is basically impossible for us to find evidence.

Of course, we could also use force to compel Otto's soul and search for evidence.

But with my strength alone, I basically can't convict Otto, Isabella thought pessimistically.

Unless I complete that matter... Isabella thought of the purpose that had brought her here—the Old Priest who had now become her teacher.

Back then, he had been only one step away from becoming a Golden Breed, and he was also a renowned expert in bloodline research.

If she could truly awaken her own bloodline, then perhaps, with a dragon's abilities, she could...

Isabella stopped daydreaming. There were too many uncertain factors involved; it could not become her main basis.

So for now, all I can do is settle down, watch Otto's other movements, and work hard to study and improve myself. Isabella warned herself not to be impatient.

The world before her had never been a beautiful paradise where wishes came true. On the contrary, without patience, aptitude, or opportunity, most pursuits would likely end with all previous efforts going to waste.

At that moment, Isabella understood this with exceptional clarity.

Wait. If Otto truly is the murderer, he won't stop. One day, he will make another mistake and expose his own flaws.

When that time comes, he absolutely won't get away.

I'm still young. I still have time.

After composing herself, Isabella went to see Jacques.

Jacques was utterly listless, completely devoid of spirit. His humiliation kept reminding him that he had ruined everything.

He had no face to face his family's honor, nor Isabella's disappointed sigh.

He even had to repair that traitor's door!

He simply could not calm down.

He only felt that his entire life had been dimmed by this, to the point that he wished he had been killed after a fierce battle with Naimus.

Then he would not have suffered so much.

"How much longer are you going to mope around?!" Unable to suppress her anger, Isabella loudly rebuked Jacques.

Then she lifted the wooden door that had been prepared nearby and dragged the heavy door toward Naimus's house.

He had been the one who wanted to investigate Naimus and cause him trouble. He had been the one who lost his cool and ruined everything when trouble came. And after ruining everything, he was still the one who sank into his emotions and did nothing!

Isabella was furious at his weakness.

Yet Jacques still had his pride. Already mortified beyond measure, being belittled once more instead made him come to his senses somewhat.

He stood, caught up to Isabella, took the wooden door from her, then apologized to Isabella before going to replace Naimus's door.

Afterward, he calmly listened to Isabella's analysis as well. He understood that there was nothing he could do now except wait—wait for himself to grow stronger, and wait for the enemy to make a mistake!

"I understand." Jacques nodded, saying that he would temper himself and wait for an opportunity, before falling silent again.

Yet he also knew that he was in serious trouble this time.

Perhaps before long, once the information here was reported upward, his "internship" would end in at most one or two months, and he would have no choice but to leave this place.

When that time came, becoming involved in the matters here again would become exceptionally difficult.

But Jacques also understood that drowning in his emotions would not help the matter in the slightest.

He had to grow up.

As all sorts of emotions churned within him, Jacques glanced at his intact door and made up his mind.

One day, he would open this door again, seize the criminal Naimus, and wash away today's humiliation!

After that, everything seemed to return to calm.

The next day, Isabella officially began studying with the Old Priest, while Jacques began training like mad.

By then, Jacques had already learned from the Old Priest why he had lost. Naimus had trained as a Paladin of Precepts and had Holy Nails driven into his body. He no longer had a future.

"But I'm different. I'm still young, and I have a bright future ahead of me. Once I truly advance, Nigel definitely won't be my match!"

Naimus glanced at Jacques, who was training in the distance, then accepted the Holy Script Weapon from the Old Priest.