The Retired Supporting Character Wants to Live Quietly-Chapter 194

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 194 – Kirrin’s Black Forest (17)

Zakrion desperately wracked his brain, but only came up with torture, threats, and other such unsavory methods.

A true dark elf—

All he could think of were solutions that deviated from common sense, like assassination or kidnapping.

This is bad.

Kirrin was a half-blood dark elf, with Maman’s human blood mixed in.

Applying the life rules of a pure dark elf to her didn’t quite work.

Maman… please, tell me. What am I supposed to say at a time like this?

"Still… thank you."

Just as Zakrion raised his hand to tear at his hair, Kirrin spoke.

"What?"

"Thank you. For always thinking of me and worrying about me."

Kirrin, clutching the wilted flower she had picked without realizing, continued.

"Drebren, Sharian, you too… all of you. If it weren’t for you guys, I would’ve had such a hard time. The only ones I can lean on now are you, my brother and sister."

Zakrion didn’t say a word.

He was struggling to suppress the surge of emotions welling up from deep inside his chest.

My little sister… just said thank you to me!!!!

"I’m sorry for getting mad earlier. I know you all did what you did for my sake—trying to kidnap Dian and everything. But it was too dangerous and reckless. You didn’t even tell me, and you touched someone you shouldn’t have."

Kirrin added.

"Dian is far more dangerous than he looks. Dangerous enough that none of you could do anything against him."

Zakrion agreed wholeheartedly.

Even now, the places where Dian had hit him still ached, and when he took a deep breath, sharp pains stabbed through his ribs.

"I’ve already heard from Father. That he was a human who used to move alongside Sir Linus."

"Huh?"

Kirrin blinked, looking at Zakrion as if hearing this for the first time.

"Sir Linus?"

"You didn’t know? He was part of the Demon King Execution Task Force with Sir Linus.

They killed the Demon King together, then he suddenly disappeared for ten years—only to reappear at the Academy."

"I… I see…"

Kirrin had vaguely sensed that Dian was a veteran of some past battles and had connections to powerful people.

She also knew he had saved Vice Principal Ismera and student Merilda during the war.

But she had never clearly known his full past.

To think he was part of the Demon King Execution Task Force… He was far more incredible than she had ever imagined.

Someone like me could never reach someone like that.

Kirrin’s mood plummeted.

The reason she had come to the Black Forest in the first place— Was because of everything that happened at the Duke’s villa.

Seeing Dian, loved by all, and herself, left out and isolated, had driven her away.

She had always lived under her father’s shadow, doing only as ordered.

After the war, forced into a human city full of prejudice and hostility toward dark elves, forced into a public academy—Then, against her will, forced to become the principal of the Special Mission Academy despite the Second Princess’s hostility.

None of these were things Kirrin had wanted.

They were all her father’s ambitions, to create a foothold for their people to enter human civilization.

All Kirrin had ever wanted was to live happily with her mother and siblings in the Black Forest.

Then she met Dian. She thought she had been saved by him.

Amidst the political struggles between the Emperor and the Princess, Dian had helped her breathe again.

Thanks to him, the Academy had flourished, and for the first time, the Second Princess had even praised her.

Her feelings for Dian had deepened into love, and eventually, she had even dreamed of a future with him.

But at the Duke’s villa, reality had struck.

Someone like her could never belong by Dian’s side.

And now, knowing he had been part of the Demon King Execution Task Force, Dian felt even more unreachable—Someone from a completely different world.

A half-blood dark elf who couldn’t do anything right.

Someone who was barely acknowledged even by her own kin, if not for her siblings.

"Hic!"

When Kirrin suddenly burst into tears, Zakrion panicked.

Did I say something wrong!?

But what!? What was it!?

"Maybe…"

As Zakrion fidgeted like a dog needing to pee, Kirrin opened her mouth.

"I think… I need to tell Dian to go back to the Academy."

"T-then what about you?"

"I’ll stay here a few more days since it’s still the break."

She had come back because her heart was wounded.

She hadn’t expected Dian to follow her all the way here.

Dian needed to be sent back.

But she couldn’t quit being the principal either—So she would spend a few more days here, settle her heart, and return.

And afterward, live as if nothing had happened.

"Is that really okay? He came all this way… Father’s stance too…"

The attempt to kidnap Dian had been on Nemara’s orders.

It all began with the letter Kirrin had sent by crow after returning alone to the Academy from the Duke’s villa.

Saying she would spend the break in the Black Forest.

And upon hearing that—The Drebren siblings had caused an uproar.

Kirrin had never once returned during a school break before.

When Kirrin finally arrived, they interrogated her thoroughly, uncovered the truth—And, led by Drebren, petitioned Nemara.

"Please grant us permission to kidnap Dian for Kirrin’s sake."

"Do as you wish."

For Nemara, who considered every clan member an asset and never moved without a commission fee—It had been a very rare decision.

Thus, Zakrion feared that sending Dian back now might provoke their father’s wrath.

"Maybe… maybe you should talk to Father first before sending him back…"

"You were the ones who told me not to care about Father."

At Kirrin’s words, Zakrion fell silent.

Back then, during the competition—

They had passed Dian a note for Kirrin.

Its contents had been simple:

"Don’t worry about Father. Just live happily, doing what you want."

It was a message from the siblings to their little sister—And also the dying wish left by Maman.

Before she died, Maman had begged Nemara and her children to let Kirrin live freely.

To Maman, Kirrin had been her most fragile, precious child—even after death. freёnovelkiss.com

All the children, except Nemara, had promised to uphold that wish.

And now, they had tried to honor it.

"I have to go see Dian."

When Kirrin rose unsteadily to her feet, Zakrion hurried to stand too.

"Will you be okay, Kirrin?"

"I’ll be fine. It’s something that has to be done."

"Uh…"

Scratching his head, Zakrion said awkwardly—

"Maybe you should at least say something to him first…?"

"It’s better if I don’t."

Kirrin shook her head.

"I don’t want to burden Dian."

"I see…"

Zakrion had nothing more he could say.

This was already his best effort.

And so Zakrion, with no choice left, followed Kirrin as she made her way back toward the Black Forest.

# # # # #

Meanwhile, in a forest not far from Nemara’s Black Forest—

A crow, with a letter tied to its ankle, circled in the sky, cawing loudly as it searched for something.

After a moment, it spotted its target and dove sharply downward.

The crow landed on the wrist of a dark elf man.

A man whose face was crisscrossed with scars.

His name was Morkan.

Nemara’s full-blooded older brother, who had once fought him for leadership of the clan in a life-or-death Karsal duel—and lost.

By the clan’s strict law, one of them should have died that day.

But Morkan had lived.

He had survived by violating their sacred traditions and fleeing like a coward.

Ever since, he had lived in hiding, scraping by on illegal contracts, waiting for his chance.

His chance to reclaim the clan’s throne.

Under normal circumstances, it would have been impossible.

But Morkan’s case was different.

Because he had allies within the clan itself.

Nishira—Nemara’s second wife.

Officially, Nishira was Nemara’s, but secretly, she and Morkan had been lovers.

Their union had produced Nishira’s eldest son, Baltar.

Nishira had bet everything on Morkan becoming the new chief, but Nemara had won the Karsal.

Even so, Nishira had never given up on Morkan, and had continued their secret correspondence.

Preparing for Morkan’s return, Nishira had assassinated Drebren’s mother—Nemara’s first wife.

She had poisoned the human woman Nemara had grown fond of.

One by one, she had eliminated obstacles, recruited supportive wives, and fortified her power.

And now, Nishira had sent Morkan a letter:

Nemara had begun seeing illusions of the dead human woman, showing signs of mental decline.

Nishira’s influence within the clan was firm, with most wives and children on her side.

If they could eliminate Nemara and the Drebren siblings, the clan would fall into their hands.

Tonight was the perfect time.

After reading the letter, Morkan slowly rose to his feet.

Behind him stood Baltar, the son born of his union with Nishira, and other dark elves returning from their assignments who had joined him.

"Let’s go."

At Morkan’s curt command, the dark elves melted into the darkness.

# # # # #

Meanwhile—

Perched on a tree branch, Dian opened his eyes.

He had heard a strange sound.

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]