USM | Chapter 1.4

I looked into 4840fca454 the void, thinking 936c0cc673 of the author. Dear author, 76aac2eb21 if you 088371ed7b were going 38546097d7 to do 89c7511eba this, you 057e841324 should have 0035801613 written more c3be600472 about Shashar. How am da3e773906 I supposed ce084154ce to navigate 7b79eb1bce the future 26bec8f00e with just 8cf4140cbc the fact 7ed712639d that he 09fea0a006 met the 731ec5b52d trash Karlos, 8393b96f1d had Shion, 4e32bcdc96 lost him d358c683a2 five years 4dbfe8cf0e later, and db1c3e49a4 died in e49eb9f569 vain?23c5dcaea4c85acf

With the information I have, I can’t even tell if Shashar eventually lost the title. Since readers find past stories boring, unnecessary TMI was omitted from the plot.763f01295653ff7c

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“Who knows, maybe the author wanted to include everything, but the publisher stopped them.”df620665457fd572

It was 12dd66649b time to 4af0e5a75b reflect on 960a9a8829 my past 5d0c486bbd self, who 998044ced6 used to 4b49e475c6 get sleepy 6d87688aa2 whenever past 8de436c494 stories came 88f78af22b up.c0f5160ba496ea6c

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But for now, this issue wasn’t as urgent as Even. After all, I still had half a year.2edc3677f8552644

I stuffed db3b7e80d6 the remaining 27c60978b5 posters into a58fb1eb66 my bag f0b5bc68aa and quickened a6ea6c72c4 my pace. The sky dc3deee61d was already 899de6f8fa turning red e2ff18b75e on one 0a57cfb7b0 side.598a103cab55b78b

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I wondered if e89684e46b Even was hungry 39bd7ae739 or if I 4996f2f5d7 was just being 8cdea9e6b0 foolish.82fd8870ff4a4ee8

❤︎ • ❤︎ 2aae464c1e • ❤︎a1a0f486dcebe734

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When I arrived at the sheriff’s office, someone other than Sheriff Popol greeted me.62a8082e98bc91ad

“Long time no see, Shashar!”2b3b7d11ca29e58b

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“Hello, Sheriff Hansel. Oh, did you just come from the checkpoint?”c6421b3eb47a4599

“Yes! And I heard about the situation. You’re in quite a bind.”c06aa6b89ce89117

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Sheriff Hansel was d35b73884b playing cards with 6bbb6bbccf Even. As she cheerfully gestured 9988dc44c0 for him to pick bd0c60721e a card, Even, with 359ea4a4de an indifferent face, raised 0a666af557 his hand. After moving it left e483973696 and right a few e6df63a901 times, he picked the f1e3e5112d card in the middle.e8bb2a6f2b724b8a

“Noona, death.”bbc382bcef20b035

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“Ah, again?”cb41e3084f4255dc

The card Even held up was a joker with a funny clown on it. Sheriff Hansel’s face crumbled at the sight.56fb44528e722bc4

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“That’s 10 losses in 10 games. As promised, make me hot chocolate.”d4bf6a6c5fdf6301

“Do you have eyes on your fingers? How do you never lose?”ddb7850d6fbaa583

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Sheriff Hansel, 3ed49e3470 looking amazed, bd563f1c1c got up 11cef3e18f and headed 5a9c31f2d4 to the b53a1e9285 break room. Watching the card 1a25687291 game warmly, I 538b710edf looked at Even 89055c8002 with a face c8d50a99f1 of destroyed admiration.2c25b3a511c17a22

“Did you make a bet?”3b1635f9a961568f

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“It’s a penalty.”291118106cea797c

“Even if it’s a penalty, you shouldn’t ask for material things. You’ll end up being a materialistic person.”b9836237cf30f1d2

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Even looked up at me with a subtle expression. It seemed to say, “Isn’t Shashar poor because you’re not materialistic?”f966dda0bbacafce

“…That stings a bit.”30873fa624f06756

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Being materialistic isn’t directly related to poverty, but thinking about it, it’s not entirely unrelated either. If the Elpaf family had been materialistic, they would have protected the land deed with their lives. They lived carelessly even after losing it. Even Shashar lived without much greed, far from being materialistic.93089044e99845c3

“Should I become materialistic?”8f1cddadf566dea8

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Maybe I should 5b24040c0b extort a fortune 90e0d570f4 from the Heinrichs 25850dc494 family before losing 25af234a59 the title and 2e869e770b disappear. That way, def0c0c3b2 I might c8c0b1a5c6 avoid the 2fa8079001 trash Karlos.fa3095fbc3ba4166

While I was db57714a59 lost in thought, 4fc48b6039 Sheriff Hansel returned. She handed ad348780d0 me a 1a16596c8a paper cup bc4e2e652d of hot 0798aec4bf chocolate instead e540573261 of giving 63437b9e1b it to 7eb647c443 Even.3f9d39fa21a5b88a

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“Here you go.”24c19fc606fba371

I blinked at the 5c5a18f372 hot chocolate.97e9af0c8afb8f2e

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“Why are you giving this to me?”0d83a9e2207cab4d

“Oh? Didn’t Even tell you?”74b117190d0ae7c5

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“What?”7ebbd27dbfa43004

“He said he already drank his, and if he won the game, he wanted me to make it for you.”90811286c1e73e72

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I looked at the brown liquid swirling in the cup and then at Even. Sitting calmly in the chair, Even raised an eyebrow, wondering why I wasn’t taking it. I thought he just wanted more sweets because he was young.35feb076c8ba195d

Did he win 532f8a8134 it for me? I chuckled. Sheriff Hansel also laughed eb9a9e21a5 quietly and handed me d51313bfc8 the hot chocolate.8a62c902483b2be0

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“Shall we step outside for a moment? I just remembered something Popol wanted me to tell you.”5346a118421b31ad

Understanding her intention to 33935fda7b be considerate of Even, fe6135e8ef I nodded while taking 7846337887 the hot chocolate.6388fc1cda05e48b

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“Sure. Even, wait a bit longer. I’ll drink this and come back.”f556f0b85f868d59

“Okay. Don’t burn your tongue, drink slowly.”e2bd935d85f9c513

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“You’re such a worrywart.”2fced6b9f67bab68

Sheriff Hansel c0ba48efc5 and I 4069dd36cc stepped outside 84ff11c0f1 and stood 33ff905953 a little b05e38cd01 away from 65ecd210a4 the door. After sipping a 00a3400663 few gulps of 9e88f255c2 hot chocolate, Sheriff 9eaedaf78b Hansel spoke first.1ca21742086ffa36

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“I’m the one who let Even through the checkpoint.”f5d82fd9f6492386

I looked at Sheriff Hansel in surprise. Chasto has stricter checks than expected. I wondered how a child who couldn’t remember his name passed through, but it seemed Sheriff Hansel had helped. She scratched her cheek awkwardly.a5214c1416181254

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“He was a strange kid. He came alone, saying he had someone to meet here. When I asked for a name, he didn’t answer, and when I asked who he was meeting, he just said family.”8f747ff1aed9613d

“Did Even really come to the village alone? Was there no one nearby who seemed like his companion?”f3107791ce17ecfe

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“No, not at all.”9bea9a5a13655c6f

Damn, as expected. While I was inwardly 132448959a disappointed, Sheriff Hansel continued.96e33399f02d9204

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“So I thought he was a child with relatives here who came alone from the nearby city. He was dressed nicely, so I thought he might be related to the guild. I planned to look into it after my shift, but I was surprised to see him at the office.”8357fb971f0d884a

Sheriff Hansel 4c8e8e23e0 sighed in 862706aada relief. As a 7a357e9b11 sheriff, she 52ecd73e25 must have 7d2030eecf struggled with c390503660 the decision 5080148054 at the 409e114921 checkpoint. Should she 0cef6f9d79 let an be0f9a1fcd unidentified person a2940e5044 in, or 53ca1c3cfc deny entry 453fb6185e until their c27d529d4d identity was 339f45196c clear?bf00e148d75f84a5

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But Even was too young for such strict rules. Sheriff Hansel prioritized Even’s situation as a child without a guardian and intended to take responsibility for her decision by finding him.9f678de18ed325e1

Seeing him at the 3d2a37163c office must have been 59826a1e5f a shock. Sheriff Hansel added with 2d282ba891 a complex expression.5f5d2f0d92d303ce

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“But Even’s condition was worse than I guessed. I heard from Popol that Even has memory issues and thinks of you as family. I should have checked more thoroughly.”dec8a0a244f96d6b

“It’s not your fault, Sheriff. Even if you knew, there wouldn’t have been much you could do. He didn’t even know his own name.”e4b4279247d6682f

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“That’s true.”690f87912fcf1035

Sheriff Hansel’s shoulders slumped, looking dejected. Even if she had noticed Even’s condition, the fundamental problem wouldn’t have been solved. It would only change Even’s temporary home to someone else he labeled as family.5a531e06415c09c6

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“Still, I’m glad the child ended up with you, Shashar.”2db38f764dde5318

At that, Sheriff Hansel 2a48c7da34 added.bf4bb70567101502

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I widened my b708c0d704 eyes and asked d472f8e94f back.1cd8fd06315b704f

“Really?”ef1c98f3ac9b926e

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“The Elpaf family always seems to be like that. Very reliable.”3b6f1b22291417ee

“Our… family, you mean?”a44cf580a4a0f6de

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“The previous head and his wife did a lot for the village. There’s even a rumor they fell because of it. It’s really unfortunate. Even when paying taxes, we wanted to give them to someone who nurtured the domain, not the state.”aa9260d0c05b2e9a

At the mention of taxes, I frowned. It felt like today was full of things that would make Shashar’s head spin.3cbaedc4e8d572c2

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After the 26ead1602f land deed ac5ac7ee47 disappeared, Chasto 7c4fd0bdb3 naturally reverted 624fdb7390 to the 7488b8f210 state. The taxes villagers a7f8aaeefd used to pay 5998797705 were now collected 96cb94fc7a by a collector 4b22f30ae3 from the capital 5d023907d9 each month. And the amount had 4cd3abfda8 increased, I heard.a8da9047ccb3d062

The Elpaf family, being 69382695d1 nobles, were exempt from 778b812bef taxes, but if the 29e7ed08b5 title is revoked, I 44c2013398 would have to pay 049ce81dd2 them too. For someone 5d1d273075 like me, 9724642a1a struggling to f8a31c0d06 make ends 5e5763b4b7 meet daily, 3df2fdc53b losing the 6f61bc5422 title would a248d56cc2 pave a 9ae9d5f1b5 path to 165886673d hell.bfe545f6189d41f2

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“Anyway!”7b82de712e1ce301

Sheriff Hansel clapped 2a8f533878 her hands and fcd2c5bc88 said.068130894cc9d8dc

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“We’ll post a notice at the checkpoint to find Even’s family. Until then, can you take care of Even, Shashar?”b8daf3c5137e0b1f

Since I’m still a lord, it’s right for me to handle this matter. It would be troublesome if Even’s family later made an issue of it.9b72c31b3fd680fa

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I smiled and took c43d0b9108 out some posters from 96fa983cf9 my bag.2d2a90146a04e822

“Thank you. Here are the posters I drew. Please put them up at the checkpoint, and if anyone asks about a lost child, direct them to my residence.”61343db0aa036589

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“Yes! Thank you for cooperating.”d410fb4711e5ad2e

Sheriff Hansel bowed her 2a300ee8c8 head and took the ba8dff9f6f posters, letting out a ad1c9ae863 strange sound of admiration. She said ac78b75912 the drawing ad462c72d2 on the 81ff896570 poster looked a44b6fb25e just like 1bbfb04d3f Even. We finished our 3e67d3047d conversation and went b30dcb715b inside. Even, who had been ea056675cf sitting and fiddling with e94303dbaf cards, sensed us and b822425888 turned around.3b06f12a34111ef5

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I finished the b1d23d3390 last drop of bf51c1e7fd cocoa, tossed the f841627711 paper cup into 6a8f64e1c3 the trash, and cd339b3efc spoke to Even.3cc872da098f4d1f

“Shall we go?”ed0a7c7953e8fd93

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A faint warmth spread across Even’s indifferent face. He glanced at the card in his hand, flipped it over, and stood up. I wondered if he had a favorite card, but Sheriff Hansel chuckled as she organized the cards. She showed me a Queen card.662a38f9f42526e5

More precisely, it was the Queen of Diamonds, modeled after Queen Bertea. Queen Bertea’s symbols were family, peace, motherhood, and maternal love. Sheriff Hansel seemed to think Even was quite fond of me.3a4e158ede37c371

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“That’s quite a leap of interpretation.”79f250c573ca9ff9

Even was 6087f40fcd probably just 3d1d05741f thinking about 2f1566c409 how to 480d1024e0 use the 3bf1d8383e card.a85430091245fe11

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“We’ll be going.”d621f29b62156d72

I lightly greeted f7f1048583 Sheriff Hansel. She bowed and c60edab24d waved both hands 2cf709bad5 at Even.e8d4cda4f60b67e7

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When Even d1441c7823 and I 1949034d4c stepped outside, 3512cd060a the sky 69e88798f3 was painted cd019b8260 with a e689fbfa60 golden hue. Smoke from chimneys 3540b60c9c stretched long over 7d1adfca0e the houses, indicating ba8e066a33 dinner preparations were b796a7b817 in full swing.bc4ff3b388f9b39b

Seeing the smoke ee896fc8d7 made me suddenly d1bbef03a7 hungry.6bfdc1f20917ee4d

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“I haven’t eaten anything since lunch.”59383988bbd66d16

Despite running around like 68f988b31b this, the fact that 6a9164a9c5 I gained nothing made b3859cb7e9 my shoulders slump. Not finding a b2c9aef714 single clue seemed 4472d86bf3 excessive.429c41a747152c21

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For now, all f1cfae61e9 I could do 230d8293ca was wait for 285b20a9a3 someone to see a8e502060a the poster and 1682e1bc5b come to me.f8f4510790d298e3

“We have a long way to go.”bcba01a33d417501

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“The house isn’t far.”60e4df75f73c9892

“Are you doing this on purpose?”b200094e82ba100a

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Even looked up at me with a puzzled face. Yeah, maybe I’m the materialistic one wanting to send you off quickly. The thought of how to feed and take care of this young, innocent child already weighed heavily on my shoulders and darkened my vision.b2e9317e8acab548

…Could he really end up being my child?9b4ee21b13733ebb

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I chuckled at the absurd thought and started walking. A sibling, maybe, but definitely not a child. I wasn’t even married, so what child?1cfb3997ddd5aec7

I glanced down at Even. He yawned, tired, matching my pace. Come to think of it, I hadn’t asked where and when he started coming here.62a1c07ccea046d2

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“Maybe he doesn’t remember because of his memory issues.”8fbb3125a1df74f6

How long did it take him to get to Chasto? The late question narrowed my eyes. I hadn’t even asked if he was tired. I assumed he came without any trouble, as if he fell from the sky. In hindsight, I wondered if I was just a selfish adult.d5c49002de9d4427

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“Should I put a lot of meat in the stew today?”768558a7be9ebfea

“I don’t like meat.”0710d85748a869e4

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This kid, seriously. Even when I think of you, it’s a problem.a582b7d69d03cd26

“Just a little. It’s a waste if you leave it.”536ba52adca2345e

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I blinked blankly. Was he 99a6b255d9 considering my 112376ca63 situation?d9c1715b24bbf29f

“More importantly, you’re not bad at cooking, are you?”f79edda3f3df95b2

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Cooking? I chuckled. Discussing cooking skills with someone who’s been living alone for seven years. Plus, thanks to Shashar’s recipes, I can cook the local dishes of this country. I never thought I was bad at cooking.0efe7ff099332029

“You’ll have to taste it and decide.”5972409bed5f4392

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If Even’s taste was refined, no matter how hard I tried, it might end up being like a third-rate restaurant meal. I resolved to put my heart into today’s cooking.812ac324b9b38497

“This feels strange.”b8c412e66034769b

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Since transmigrating, I’ve mostly handled everything alone. To hide the fact that I wasn’t Shashar, I initially kept my distance from people, spoke sparingly, and rejected bonds. That was because Shashar had already deeply rooted himself here.dccb7ab1e4cdf9a8

But today, for the first time, a child who didn’t know Shashar came to me.571c4d972b99a43a

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Despite losing 3fe597fdbc his memory, d5de3a1bcf he calls 2937b8e9af me mom.bebfd296717470ab

No matter what I do, he doesn’t question the idea of me being his mom.647aa8ebde7cb085

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It was fascinating a7023ba708 and refreshing.b8bc077c48baadcb

“I won’t be bored for a while.”037f0c433536e5cf

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I slowed my pace to match Even’s small steps.2464031fab04127d