Unholy Player-Chapter 65: Vesha’s Secret

"So you were attacked by wild wolves, lost your mount, and then Lady Vesha found you on the road and brought you all the way here, huh?" The bartender said, sitting across from Adyr as he scratched his bald, leathery scalp. The entire inn had gone quiet, everyone listening in.

"Yes," Adyr said with a sigh. "I can’t thank her enough. She really saved my life." He delivered the lie with convincing sincerity—even convincing himself for a moment.

"That’s Lady Vesha for you. So kind. That’s just the sort of thing she’d do," someone in the crowd said, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes, the alcohol clearly loosening his tongue and emotions.

It didn’t take long for the rest to join in. Almost as if on cue, they all began praising Vesha at once.

Adyr chuckled inwardly, but on the outside, he wore a curious and grateful expression. "Can you tell me more about Lady Vesha? I noticed how much everyone here seems to love her. She must be an amazing person."

The bartender let out a small laugh. "You’re right. She must be the kindest soul in the kingdom, second only to the esteemed practitioners."

He paused, then sighed deeply and added, "But also the most unfortunate girl. Poor thing... if only her fate were as beautiful as her heart and face."

At those words, the mood shifted. A quiet sadness settled over the room, the joy from before replaced by something heavier. Adyr noticed the sudden shift in mood and leaned in slightly. "If it’s not too personal, would you mind telling me why you said that?"

The bartender shook his head. "No, it’s not," he replied, then took a deep breath before continuing. "I remember her childhood well. I used to see her with her family all the time. Everyone around loved her—she was such a warm-hearted girl. Even as a child, she was always helping people, always trying to make them smile."

He paused for a moment, his gaze distant. "But since her mother was killed by robbers outside the city five years ago, she lost most of that smile. And then, just two years after losing her mother, her only brother died in the war against the neighboring kingdom. Not long after that, a Rank 4 Spark began attacking the city walls... and ever since, it’s like she’s been trying to carry all the weight of those losses herself. Throwing herself into danger, visiting nearby villages, trying to help anyone in need—as if making up for something that was never her fault."

He tipped back his mug and emptied it in one motion. His words had been simple, but the heaviness in them said more than anything else could.

"She wasn’t like this before. At least, not to the point of risking her life just to help," someone else added through a choked sob.

But as the words left his mouth, the room went quiet again, and several people turned to give him a sharp look. Realizing he had said something that shouldn’t have been voiced, he fell silent, lowering his head.

But Adyr didn’t let them brush it aside. "Why? What happened?" he asked calmly.

The crowd fell silent again, the air heavy with something unspoken. It lingered until the bartender finally spoke.

"Well... because she accepted something she shouldn’t have. To save us."

Adyr’s eyes narrowed. He could see the shift in mood, the weight pressing down on everyone, but he could only guess at the cause. After a moment, he asked the question already forming in his mind.

"Is it a marriage?" Adyr was only guessing.

Vesha had spoken to him about many things, but never this. He had sensed a weight behind her smile, something unspoken she carried alone, though he couldn’t tell what it was. So he was simply taking a wild guess, thinking that if this were a drama novel, this would be the plot.

And to his surprise, it turned out to be true.

The bartender’s head snapped up in surprise. He sighed deeply and replied, "So you’ve heard too. Gossip spreads fast around here."

He tossed his mug to the floor and clenched his jaw. "That damned Nether Path practitioner from the neighboring village. Just because he’s Rank 4 and claimed he’d help us, he demanded our pride and joy—our light—as payment."

That’s a problem, Adyr thought as he leaned back in his chair.

Vesha wasn’t important to him because of their shared journey. She was because she had already proven her value—her intelligence, resilience, and loyalty. On top of that, she was deeply loved by the people, respected, even revered.

All these traits made her someone Adyr could actually rely on in this world, especially when he wasn’t around. And now, losing someone like her would only complicate things.

After a bit more conversation, Adyr went up to his room and lay down on the bed to log out. He was already an hour late for dinner.

—

When he got home, Niva was sitting alone at the table in a dimly lit room, the soft glow of candles casting long shadows on the walls. The table had been set for two, but none of the food had been touched.

"Sorry," Adyr said as he took off his shoes.

"It’s okay. You have a job now—it makes sense you’d be late sometimes," Niva replied as she stood to reheat the food. Then, almost in a whisper, she added, "Just like Mom used to do."

Her mood was clearly down, though she tried not to show it. Being alone in a large house, worrying about her brother and mother, was starting to take its toll.

At least the exams are not far off, Adyr thought as he looked at her. Once university started, she wouldn’t be stuck at home so much. Education in the city happened mostly online, but until then, the only time Niva left the house was to shop for groceries. Her world was small, and she was bearing it quietly.

After changing his clothes, Adyr came back down. The food had been reheated, steam rising again from the dishes. Niva was already seated, waiting for him with a quiet smile.

Just as they were about to begin their dinner, the phone rang.

Niva looked at him, concern in her eyes. With the city under nightly blackouts, only emergency lines stayed active. That meant this wasn’t just a casual call.

"Don’t worry," Adyr said, trying to ease her nerves. "It’s probably just Victor calling to say something ridiculous again."

But even his expression had changed.

When he picked up the phone, the voice on the other end wasn’t Victor’s.

"Adyr, I’m sorry to call at this hour," came Selina White’s uneasy voice. "But there’s been an update on your mother’s team."

"According to the report, the expedition convoy was attacked in the village where they were staying."