The Retired Supporting Character Wants to Live Quietly-Chapter 193

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 193 – Kirrin’s Black Forest (16)

Satisfied, Nishira raised her hand.

A small crow flew in from somewhere and perched on Nishira’s hand.

"Come here, child."

"Yes, ma'am."

At Nishira’s call, one of the younger wives bowed her head deeply.

"Would you fetch me pen and paper? I have a letter to write. It’s for Morkan."

At the name Morkan, the wives exchanged startled glances.

"M-ma’am… did you say Morkan? Not Baltar?"

"Yes. Surely you know who he is? Nemara’s elder brother."

"Of course we know. But why call him all of a sudden…?"

"Just fetch it."

With a light wave of her hand, Nishira silenced them, and another wife hurriedly brought pen and paper.

Nishira picked up the pen and began writing the letter.

The other wives were curious about its contents, but none dared to peek or question her.

Such was Nishira’s authority within the clan.

It was only because none of her children surpassed Drebren that she still paid heed to Nemara at all.

Otherwise, she would not have bothered even to feign respect.

"Now then, fly swiftly and find Lord Morkan."

After tying the letter to the crow’s leg, Nishira sent it off.

The wives exchanged uneasy glances.

Baltar wasn't enough—now Morkan too?

Was he even still alive?

It seemed things were escalating far beyond what they had imagined.

But contrary to their worries, Nishira simply chuckled softly under her breath.

# # # # #

Late at night.

Kirrin, who had fled from Drebren’s quarters, finally came to a halt after running for a long time.

The place she had wandered to, as if drawn there, was a small flower field at the edge of the Black Forest.

The very same field she had often visited with her mother as a child.

Though it was night and no sunlight reached it, to Kirrin’s dark elf eyes, the flowers blooming even in the darkness were clear as day.

Hesitating, Kirrin stepped into the middle of the field.

Strange. It hadn’t felt this small ten years ago.

No... it wasn’t the field that had shrunk—

She had grown.

Slowly sinking to her knees, Kirrin stared vacantly at the carpet of flowers beneath her.

Without even realizing it, she reached out and began weaving them together.

It was the flower crown her mother always made when they came here.

"You’re a special child."

Placing the flower crown atop her head, her mother would always say that.

"I’m not special."

Kirrin would reply.

"Father says I’m a useless, worthless daughter. That I can’t even throw a dagger properly, that my stealth is pathetic. He said I couldn’t even kill an ant properly, so what could I possibly do? He called me a useless freeloader who’s of no help to the clan."

At those words, her mother would laugh brightly and tug gently at Kirrin’s cheeks.

"That’s not true, Kirrin. Assassination isn’t the only measure of a person’s worth. If it were, even the Emperor of the Empire or a mighty dragon would be called worthless, wouldn’t they? After all, they’re no better at assassination than your father."

"Hmm… maybe so… but I’m really not good at anything."

"What do you mean, you’re not good at anything? Who else in the Black Forest can do mental calculations faster than you?"

"I guess that’s true…"

From a young age, Kirrin had been quite smart.

But her timid nature, coupled with the constant oppression from her cold-hearted father, had kept her from fully realizing her abilities.

After all, in the Black Forest, being quick at mental math, thinking logically, and reading fluently were considered useless talents.

The highest virtues were the ability to slit a throat swiftly, vanish into the shadows, and abduct someone without leaving a trace.

So to Nemara, the clan’s leader, Kirrin—with her human blood, frailty, and sluggishness—could never be satisfactory, no matter what she did.

"There’s no need to force yourself to pursue what you’re not born with."

Her mother had said.

"Instead, it’s much better to hone the strengths you already have. And you know what, Kirrin?"

She had pulled Kirrin into a tight hug.

"I just want you to live happily, doing what you love."

"If it’s what I want to do…"

Murmuring from within her mother’s arms, Kirrin answered—

"Then… living with you forever until I die?"

At that, her mother had laughed brightly.

Her laughter had always been so warm that it made Kirrin smile along with her, without even meaning to.

In the dark, cold Black Forest, her mother’s laughter had been like a beam of spring sunlight.

The other dark elves had abhorred it, but Kirrin had loved her mother’s laughter.

"Maman. What makes you so happy?"

Just then, Zakrion appeared at the edge of the field.

"Your laughter was so loud, the whole Black Forest must know how happy you are."

"Was it? I should be more careful, then."

"No. I like it when you laugh, Maman. Just… maybe be cautious around Lady Nishira."

At the mention of Nishira, a shadow passed across Kirrin’s face.

Nishira—the aunt she feared most.

Though all dark elves were cold and unreadable, Nishira was particularly so.

"But what was it that made you laugh so much?"

"Kirrin told me a funny story," her mother answered.

At her words, Zakrion gave a faint smile, barely visible.

"I hope Kirrin stays that way."

Kneeling on one knee, Zakrion gently patted Kirrin’s head.

"Kirrin’s lucky," her mother said, turning her gaze aside.

At the edge of her vision, Drebren and Sharian appeared, looking awkward and sheepish.

"Amazing. You’re even starting to notice stealth now."

"You’re always nearby when there’s no assignment, aren’t you?"

Everyone knew that a few of the wives, led by Nishira, despised Marian.

So whenever they were in the Black Forest, Drebren and his siblings would secretly guard Maman to prevent any mishap.

"Come here, my children."

When she spread her arms, Drebren and Sharian hesitated a little, then approached.

Maman pulled all four dark elves into a single embrace.

"I’m truly happy," she said, holding them close.

"To have four such kind children."

She always expressed her affection so openly, but the dark elves still didn’t quite know how to respond.

Or rather—they knew, but found it incredibly hard to act on it.

Even so, they understood one thing very well.

That this human woman, unrelated to them by blood, pitied them and cherished them after their real mother’s death.

And that they, too, liked and followed this human woman.

They had never said it aloud, and never would—

But they loved Maman.

"Maman…"

"Kirrin."

"Ah!"

At the sudden voice, Kirrin jerked her head around in surprise.

She was sure—sure she had heard her mother call her.

But there was no sign of her.

Only Zakrion standing among the trees, looking at her.

"Kirrin," Zakrion called softly.

She had mistaken his voice.

"Can we talk for a moment?" freewebnσvel.cѳm

Kirrin nodded, and Zakrion came over and sat beside her.

"First of all…"

Zakrion began slowly.

"I’m sorry. We went ahead and made decisions without asking you."

"Mm…"

"And even so…"

He paused, falling into silence before finally speaking again.

"Um… that is, we…"

But he couldn’t finish the sentence and clamped his mouth shut.

Dark elves were terrible at this kind of conversation.

Even after spending so much time with Maman, they still couldn’t talk like she did.

If only Maman were here.

No—if Maman were here, none of this would have happened to begin with.

Either way, it was his responsibility to say something now…

But what could he even say?

If only Kirrin would say something longer, it would be easier to continue…

Kirrin only sat there, head bowed low, idly plucking at the flowers.

For Zakrion, having to lead a conversation like this was… not pleasant.

After a long hesitation, he finally decided to stick to what he knew best.

"At the Academy… there were lots of women around Professor Dian, right?"

"Mm…"

"And you suddenly came back here because you… saw something between them, right?"

"Mm…"

Kirrin, utterly dejected and depressed, kept answering only with "Mm," making Zakrion even more flustered.

"Maybe… maybe I should just kidnap some better guy for you? Someone without a womanizing problem—"

But catching Kirrin’s silent gaze, Zakrion hurriedly corrected himself.

"No, wait—that’s not right. Then… then I’ll do this."

"Do what…?"

"You said those women are getting in your way, right? I’ll assassinate them for you."

Kirrin stared at him without saying a word.

"Why…?"

"W-what? Well, obviously because…"

Because obviously…

Seeing Kirrin’s expression, Zakrion scratched his head awkwardly.

Ssshhk… Maybe this wasn’t the right approach after all...

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]