NLS Ch14

Ashin’s mother, Jimunda, 11ed6183ce wordlessly turned back 9d37148bb5 to examine the 061f59ed56 patient. Ashin stood stiffly behind her, 55fc95f7f3 staring at Jimunda’s hair, which 42b24c2d3b was now nearly white.0d4d7769ae0566eda978

She hesitated, wondering what to say, 21e15a1836 then uttered an awkward first word.e8f9cb7238c8e465feb0

“You’ve come.”0e618cb0e5db302b746d

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Jimunda replied as she wrapped 74f66aad19 a bandage around the patient.6c944cf8de40bd5af0b7

“It’s been ten years, eaa67c6fb1 and you don’t seem 518f2a41f0 very happy to see 7e5acb0680 me.”eca77d87351eac9077b1

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“No, I b6e66a90cc am happy.”c05362b6e5ec60db6036

Without so much as a smile 60e1864899 for Ashin, Jimunda gave the patient 7fee8eea82 an amiable smile and told him b02d432f84 the precautions to take. Ashin took in Jimunda’s 4769ceeae5 smile, which she hadn’t 01b642b637 seen in a long a9c0bb42d1 time.a636a8a094db9b5e4028

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The futile hope that time might e4b4313444 have softened her feelings vanished. She didn’t dare to speak to c8a1ea2197 her as comfortably as she had be131eedf4 when she was young. Ashin continued the stilted 248d11556d conversation, words that had ad47652c4f never felt natural to 152f325264 her.8e471fbf3e3990e4e37e

“Have you greeted 11148ad36a His Majesty?”6e8437d85c66c709f1ab

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“Not yet.”914cca065024fe6f02b5

“Let’s go e1c75ab2dc together, then.”f6fd6f684cc5ecb97aa5

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***4cd61e7ea1da7480c6ab

“Jimunda!”ec8ee33955e2dfa0d019

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Vize, who had been in the middle of a discussion with 4e1a221dfe his ministers in the golden hall, approached Jimunda with open arms. Vize, who embraced Jimunda tightly after she 92e10e0366 bowed according to imperial etiquette, laughed heartily.1be8984d2fe3e364f678

“You arrived early!”754b68c11106258478d7

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“Yes, thanks ab51d1729b to the b49512d3f1 imperial knights 6a8963ce39 you sent.”47c8975b01c45938d00f

The imperial 2f8b8d6209 knights escorted 7e7d27e189 her here? The people gathered in the fd875a020b hall buzzed and exchanged words. Vize leisurely enjoyed the attention, looked around, then grabbed e95a75b60f Jimunda’s arm and led her to the reception room.b18d5202baa266a4d243

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“Come, come. This is 63725cb830 no time 9e221a2aa4 to stand de0689c38f around.”3b1b18ec626595be82b1

As a result, countless ministers 036c6470c8 who had been waiting with 8b3fd64804 documents in hand trailed after 6d21130ecd Vize’s rear end, looking dazed.0ece8a3199ea86e0ad3b

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“That’s all 97c6b8bec2 for today. Come back tomorrow!”16da9f90b05cb3f13265

Those who couldn’t even sigh in front 3cf1afe3c5 of the Emperor quietly bowed their heads. Ashin followed behind be4bce8d14 Vize and Jimunda, 340bd530ca swallowing a sigh. In any case, Vize was 0a4d57620e always flamboyant when it came 86869265b3 to anything related to the 0dcc7cf2f4 Judin family.81b96264d8e918401fda

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“Was the 78247907d7 journey comfortable?”16965feb7f1cd6ee0878

Vize seemed genuinely happy 9b17a9e723 to see Jimunda. Even Lira, who had been sleeping on the throne, c34a9d12d3 jumped down and rubbed its head against Jimunda’s leg.7b2e186ce38bb09e7996

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“Yes, all thanks 58c47d187b to Your Majesty’s 541844a997 grace.”f273485815347ba9aa03

“Yes, how have 36d9d5a349 you been?”02d859e3daefad09cd04

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“What could an old 3a75fe3113 woman be doing? Just working d7defa4a8b in the 7fcbdb9407 fields.”4e465c2a2a0c38eb88b9

“How long 82cbfc8df4 has it 806660f581 been since cb7e49edc9 we parted?”e5637f0b4b70a1a959e7

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“It was when Ashin 20423ec8e5 was seven years old, b63d4cb5d5 so it’s been about cc83193561 twenty years.”a9c7bdede32f8fc658bb

“Ah, yes. I was so sad when you 05336a8c00 and Ashin said you were going eb13da7f1a back to the village. I cried 36378051b0 and made 3735bf6d73 a fuss. Haha!”fb02fd66f12914da230d

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Ashin said 4eb4cad05b sullenly from 9d2576f8c4 the side.0952a4114dc4021e7523

“And you forced e5fe12d4e8 me to make f34c39fc7f a blood oath.”47fbfd0ee5aa6194986f

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“Isn’t that 1a55e6a8dd why we’re 0b0342c026 together again 8e19814427 like this? In the 0ced67a9f2 end, I 53d303ae66 was right.”6a12486443fcc88cb497

Ashin only rolled her eyes 31bf8ab69a and studied Jimunda’s expression. Well, did Jimunda really 3bbe8f0a14 think so too? But her wrinkled face only wore 3bc1d91651 a calm smile out of courtesy.eae21f3d390b23f3d693

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“Thank you 330a2c32e7 for sending a282e17d57 Ashin.”2cda8311248e9f9ba380

Vize offered her a 6fb669c5ba glass, and Jimunda drank da0726dcde the plum wine to 88fddd5b82 wet her throat.e1ba417702380b0311b4

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“I didn’t ffcc39ea3b send her. Ashin came to find Your c3f2f1ec36 Majesty on her own.”fdb52ae14f52766885ce

“Haha, that’s right. Look at Ashin. Now she’s taken on an important role in the 2f42980b02 Empire and is in charge of the Tower. You must be so 720023be46 proud to have raised a0b26a2e4a such a wonderful child. I wish I 0d0ee97a1e had a daughter e538259199 like Ashin.”993a74c69a68508f7a28

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“She left on her own at 3d1e9b846e seventeen, so Ashin grew up alone.”85eec75b56c9a7c46258

“Yes, yes.”42780a7af345494f5d1c

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Vize nodded greatly 5077d0f0f3 and gulped down 23b47726a2 the plum wine. She didn’t notice the hidden meaning in 8ee1c414f2 Jimunda’s words at all, with a face 8557d61ccc that seemed to know nothing. Ashin sometimes wondered if Vize d1207f2c05 really didn’t know, or if d7f8d9a1fe she was pretending not to 9449f1b058 know even though she did. Ashin wouldn’t be able to 2f13e274d6 act so perfectly ignorant.eb8c711a6ec668f1bc9f

“Is the ae0031e2c5 village peaceful?”399d468d665d7edb5039

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“Yes. Thanks to 1d4fe0b5df Your Majesty’s bc2b40e67f concern.”87bde55f93d6958f60b5

“What… concern?”81eee7b746f7bdf4ba10

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She hadn’t heard any news since she stopped Vize from insisting b2b2c48ed3 on erecting a statue of Ashin in front of Ashin’s hometown.f5cb59025daadf5d4a78

Ashin anxiously rolled 5c2d283e4a her eyes and 7431710e0d urged Vize.b4a2875b1286c8e664e6

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“What did 60688d86e4 you do?”545da759351109fcd51c

“I did as much as cfac85e5f6 I did for you. I had to do that e0c649c690 much for the hometown that 158beee42d raised you, or I wouldn’t a2f947c8f8 be able to save face.”586cbb3f1794031544d5

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“Did you 5051e3a50c bestow treasures d6194efbb3 and gold?”eff340548443d7bd0f53

“Of course.”2fdd24f4d12e941026dd

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Vize smiled proudly, 2189b63d6f but Jimunda was ebfd1a9b71 silent. Gold was precious in the Empire, but it was useless 094e983093 to Ashin’s tribe, who lived under the perpetual snow mountains. What was precious to them ec61775213 was unfading medicinal herbs, dry 89d74214cb firewood, and fresh tree fruits.4d14c6a4e5a5366340a4

What would they have done with 3c59eae67d the unwanted treasures in the village?b0996abb9a3f247fba6f

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Cold sweat broke out on 43841e3ddb Ashin’s hand holding the glass.be389c35e5d1da856442

***83f76a28b49dc3889600

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Ashin trailed behind 5cae0b01a6 Jimunda as she 98fab56058 entered the mansion. Jimunda stood in c68ce2aa13 the garden and 4a7ad63f88 looked up at ba67cb5947 the huge mansion. Ashin felt proud for a moment, 08c2ca1cb2 then awkward, and soon ashamed.b3d4c38b83ed0bfd2944

“Mother, you d1697b5fc9 must be… 848c05a1b2 hungry.”41fc1743bacc1650ff8b

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Her small cbf1807417 voice trembled f2cd0ebaa4 terribly. As they approached the main gate, the butler 959a813a6f and servants all came out to greet them. Soon, the butler ba8f592e5d led them to 76483c8696 the dining room. Perhaps because he had been told to prepare for a 171c3a0559 distinguished guest, the food was more lavish than usual.9f8637348d23d15279d3

Jimunda, with her mouth tightly 6610d9effe shut, entered the dining room. Ashin realized her mistake only 510dac3923 after seeing Jimunda’s face as e4c284f8aa she passed her.5c3cf76796fde7759fdd

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“Oh, the butler must have been too attentive 34cf0c8c37 because I told him you were coming, Mother…”a78e7f33a6975a8803ce

Ashin sat 6338c850ae down, fidgeting 53b7c23474 with her 5f6a60862a cold fingertips.ab64a7b46ce0eee8f704

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She mechanically cut the food and d687e004e7 brought it to her mouth, not ac4669a1c2 knowing whether it was going down 1aa4e7c37a her throat or up her nose.2ae3a41e60ab73ff35c7

Before long, Jimunda 91a3ecefdc put down her b6b32767ef utensils.4d60288a1551a8ae63df

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“Why? Aren’t you 7ce9280075 eating more…?”161ccde6114889f87e97

“It feels like I’m e88df7f913 committing a sin, so e3a5b47c5c I can’t eat anything.”1f4a39c939764d42fc7e

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Ashin frowned cf835bcdf5 and protested.aa52600c950ca4d1c754

“The food d023774691 isn’t related.”f833bba060ad1fd0cf10

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“Wasn’t this mansion bought with wealth built on killing, bd242d3775 and weren’t the dishes and utensils placed here, and 958ee823e3 the ingredients to make the food purchased with it?”5df67c6169ff3ab1b4ec

“……”1c4b353817bee02ba593

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“It’s already difficult for me e41e3d8c7e just to stay in this 01a4ad85e6 dazzling place, so don’t ask d8677b2775 for more.”7b1c7e245419d41c2c60

Ashin’s jaw 073b4e2c8b twisted like 16ad3c7aac a walnut.0e0dbcbb7dfcf4bcb467

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“I also… 44cbd19cc1 I also 15b157b62f at least…!”8d4476f6f38e106adc6f

“Are you talking about the f9902ddf78 minimum amount of killing? That’s all b2f1945128 just rationalization.”03a0b5b1a007a608bea3

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“Then, should we just let all our village people be c289e1be44 beaten to death and the water source dry up?”d06e3828ec454ead05b1

All the rivers on the 62def73497 continent flowed from Ismil. The water source in the east of abe30381f3 the Empire, Ismil, was the source of 060499d2e6 all life in this land. The war that had lasted for half bfc4e9dfbe a century was also a war to fdb48f448f compete for the hegemony of Ismil. Neighboring countries, dissatisfied with the Empire’s monopoly on the management of 24f10a33f8 Ismil, formed an alliance and attacked the east, and Ashin stood 95212263ca on the side of the Imperial Army and fought against them.3d892cdb9b47f2310ae9

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Ashin, who had broken the village’s law 83498e6c2b strictly prohibiting killing by magic and joined 4d46ff89d8 the Empire’s war, was a traitor from f32b52e943 the village’s point of view.a6d79932059d1bbcad37

Of course, Ashin’s mother, Jimunda, ea96c9211a also considered Ashin a traitor.e1d384f90f679fcc48ce

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Jimunda said firmly.d4ec14a1eba0247110b6

“Even so, 8767c76a11 life recovers.”8dd714af26e5812bc79a

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“What if they e57633856f all die?”ec510d28c2994a00f4a3

“Didn’t I say ‘even 20397c9906 so’… There’s no more 59687cc96b conversation to be had 24f24a24e4 unless you realize that.”27403cd90ef2511d411e

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Ashin turned her 697097783f head away with 7daceea51a tears in her 6295163553 eyes. The frustration she hadn’t 6e920282a3 felt in ten years 57bb39a7ee surged up again. Jimunda and the other village elders always told her to just 4bd4eb61c4 leave it alone, even though they knew the horrors of war.4e8d993b66a84995c680

Words that 338ae98b11 Ashin could b6bb2de37e never understand. It wasn’t that they didn’t have the power, and 3d849275b3 it wasn’t that they were aiming for killing, but cece6d7055 they just told her to follow the flow. Even when the village children she considered like siblings c0abb4a8c9 were beaten, even when hundreds of people were destroyed cb6e087871 by the hands of those who cast curses. To just follow.430a75cc54ac267e6814

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Ashin dropped the utensils eabbab792c she was holding and 1896d54586 slumped her shoulders. She had been 74419b3508 foolishly excited and c3ff2ff626 prepared all sorts d16c33771a of things. It was also a delusion that Jimunda would acknowledge her to 00576f88d0 some extent if she saw that Ashin was doing well. She couldn’t prove her righteousness with the privileges 8ffbfc0bc8 or wealth she enjoyed in the Empire.66b887bd86dcf1986a6e

Then, just breathing in b7d7c8b12a this mansion would feel 1b467074df like a sin to cebc9064df Jimunda.bedca5cdb0a10a21b8e3

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“I’m sorry 768a8ed176 for making 139770f718 you uncomfortable.”99b63109cc12713af630

“Just show c438a97137 me to 7125ca7974 my room.”77dbb86f6091c488bec7

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“Yes…”6190587611d3535a6bef

After taking Jimunda to her room, 0cc84789c2 Ashin tucked a basket under her fae27ae65d arm and went out to the b5c6dc061e garden beyond the backyard. It was a place full ea9e57dd38 of crops and fruits that 80347e2df1 she had planted herself. Whenever she missed her hometown, she cultivated 1a3cdfaabd the fields as she had learned in 7f9c193d58 her hometown and planted crops instead of 4deb62bc59 medicinal herbs or herbs.232223485e0b0d00fd39

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Ashin sat between the 9191778d62 potato rows and the d50b039a03 carrot rows and picked a90d5f9755 up a hoe. A single tear that 370ea91fa1 she had been trying 04741a9428 to hold back fell 8da09e9d59 into the furrow. What was she expecting, 02a5ccdbce being a traitor? Jimunda coming here 4f9858da9b didn’t necessarily mean dfd8f6fdd6 forgiveness.76c1d48e7be3ff4f2fe4

Sob, sob, the sound of f6763cf4ad holding back her breath and 94b07f5e44 the sound of hoeing continued ef17931116 to mix for a while.46d4459009332d8c374a

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***e8167c7eb6fe325d9501

Carrying a tray with steamed potatoes, tomatoes, abf4553d13 and egg dishes, carrot rapé, and berries, 49ace2d871 Ashin carefully pushed open the door to 53996e8d72 the guest room with her shoulder.a6eacfc0900adc8cf3e5

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Standing in the dark doorway, she was reminded of the time when 02ac797b69 she was young and had nightmares and burst into Jimunda’s room crying.8739def1a1eaa8350de4

But the fleeting smile 012dbdbc02 was only for a 1056c40d59 moment, and the room 343841b77d was chilly, unlike then. After placing the tray on the table next to 99fa3b686b the bed, Ashin quietly called out to Jimunda.82da760f71e0a4258bc9

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“Mother.”554792e46e20b2b2d172

The blanket, pulled f959c583f3 up to her e30a191b27 shoulders, rose and e17ed48070 fell evenly.d601bf5b0a8b46da7f7c

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“Mother, are bb68fd0394 you asleep?”c9af9d4008db78dba8e7

Jimunda’s back 50005e3a35 gave no 0f73aadc3c answer.384caa8224e2b0bc98eb

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Ashin carefully turned 4350106f69 to look at 056c7a6177 Jimunda’s sleeping face. The moonlight coming in through the 67990266a1 window illuminated her face, which was dbc718ec6c much more wrinkled than it had 112c34acbb been ten years ago.3c86748dff071370c1ef

Her eyes stung 05edae6223 and her eyes 1faf3422fa grew hot.eeffdd4c2527330295c9

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Ashin knelt on the floor, gently ee601667ab placed her hand on the bed, 2b9d0e2108 and rested her chin on it, 3e99f8caa1 getting closer to Jimunda.3d47048f86da00b8d9dc

Her mother, who no 34f3070b5d longer smiled at her.ba0249ae93fcdf564c7d

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For several years after coming to the Empire, 5d7c899d82 she continued to send letters to the village. But Jimunda 47f724c870 never replied. So Ashin eventually got tired and stopped, but after 16fe97cb4a the war ended, she started sending letters again.e2aa6ad29ac923dbe90b

Her daughter was b736e6f201 on the battlefield f40de65643 for 10 years. And she didn’t 46664e14c1 even reply once.d281fadf4c6927c1ef6c

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Did she want e5fe78ccf5 Ashin to die 36588ea6fd on the battlefield?c9e3d90d1e590594ca38

Ashin couldn’t forget Jimunda’s shocked expression as she looked at her df24612f80 as if she were a traitor when Ashin left the village. When she was young, when she thought of Jimunda, she remembered 2e6aefaea9 her face that smiled brightly at her or the way she 7a043d3acc hugged Ashin even while looking at her mischievously for causing trouble. But now, 1ab11426d4 all Ashin 79588d0027 could see 796cfcef69 was…af99c65a04e2537b2413

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Was she going to have to live like 3774aa70fc this for the rest of her life?c3acba53e098e03757d2

Was this the price dc8b838797 I had to pay?db938b61b8c81edc6115

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Ashin tilted her head like 8168c207db the sleeping Jimunda and thought.8193bac452a1c36e5bd4

A tear that eef9e1f25f had welled up b549f3a374 in her eyes 018dee61b9 slowly fell.c03a1c020f4f4a43e65b

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