A Background Character’s Path to Power Chapter 365: The Blooming of Black Lotus

"I want... peace."

I observed the woman as she stared at , her trembling slowly subsiding into a bewildered stillness. My simple answer seed to have disard her more than any threat or grand promise could have.

"Peace...?" she repeated, the word fragile on her lips.

I gave a single nod. "The kind of peace where won and children don’t have to huddle in fear. Where n like your husband don’t have to turn to banditry to feed their families." I kept my voice low and even, a calm contrast to the chaos she had just endured. "The kind where you can sleep through the night without listening for footsteps outside your tent."

I watched as the rigid line of her shoulders relaxed a fraction. The wild, panicked fear in her eyes was receding, replaced by a weary, cautious understanding. It was working.

"Don’t worry," I continued in the sa cold but assuring tone. "I’ve already done my part here. The imdiate threat is gone. The rest..." I paused, letting the weight of responsibility shift. "The rest depends on yourselves. Whether you choose to remain victims of this place, or whether you seize the chance to build that peace for your children."

But her expression still remained wary and confused. Her eyes darted between and the blanket-covered corpse, then back again. She clutched the blanket tighter, her jaw working as if trying to form words that wouldn’t co.

The fear hadn’t entirely left her. How could it? A masked stranger appears, kills a man in front of her, speaks in cryptic phrases about peace — it was hardly comforting, no matter my intentions.

I let out a small sigh, the sound carrying a note of sothing like disappointnt. Not in her, but in the situation. In the fact that even saving soone left them terrified of their savior.

’This is why the whole vigilante thing is complicated,’ I thought ruefully.

my Phantom Twin chid in unhelpfully.

I ignored him and stood, my dark robes falling around like liquid shadow.

"W-wait!"

The shout ca from behind , sharp with panic. I paused mid-step, turning my head slightly to look back at her over my shoulder.

She’d half-risen from where she sat, one hand outstretched toward , the other still clutching the blanket. Her eyes were wide again, but this ti with a different kind of fear... not of , but... of being left alone.

"Please," she said, her voice breaking. "Don’t... don’t go yet. I—" She swallowed hard, struggling to find the words. "W-What happens now? What am I supposed to do? I don’t... I don’t understand what’s happening. You k-killed him, you talk about peace but—"

Her voice cracked entirely, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "I’m so scared. My husband is captured, I was brought here, that man was going to... and now you’re here, and I-I... I don’t know if I should thank you or fear you or—"

She broke off, her breathing ragged, teetering on the edge of hyperventilating.

I turned fully to face her again, my posture deliberately relaxing to seem less threatening.

"Breathe," I said, my altered voice softening slightly. "Slowly. In and out."

Her eyes widened but still tried, her chest heaving with the effort, and gradually her breathing steadied.

"Better," I acknowledged. Then, in that sa calm tone: "You asked what happens now. The answer is simple: you survive."

"Ah? Survive?" she echoed weakly.

"The n who ran this place are bound and unconscious in the other tents. About sixty of them. They’ll stay that way until morning." I kept my explanation clear and practical. "By dawn, help will arrive from the barony. They’ll take you and the other refugees sowhere safe. Sowhere with food, shelter, proper protection."

"You’ll... you’ll make sure?" Her voice was tentative, hope warring with disbelief.

"I will," I confird. "That’s a promise."

"B-But why?" The question burst from her, desperate and confused. "Why would you do all this? Risk yourself, kill for us, make promises to strangers?"

I was quiet for a mont, considering how to answer in a way she’d understand.

"Because it needed to be done," I said simply. "And I could do it. That’s enough."

She stared at , tears still streaming down her face, but sothing in her expression shifted. The raw terror was fading, replaced by exhausted gratitude and lingering confusion.

Before she could speak again, I reached into my inventory, pulling out a set of clothes - simple but sturdy, along with a thick winter robe lined with fur. I’d taken these from the bandits’ supplies earlier, anticipating the current situation.

I set them down on a relatively clean section of the tent floor, midway between us.

"Your clothes are torn," I said matter-of-factly, not looking directly at her to preserve what dignity I could. "These should fit well enough. The robe will keep you warm."

Her eyes widened, darting between the clothes and . "I... thank you. I don’t know what to—"

"You don’t need to say anything," I interrupted gently. "Just take care of yourself. Go to the others when you’re ready. Stay with them until help arrives."

She nodded shakily while reaching for the clothes with trembling hands.

"Will I..." she hesitated. "Will I ever see you again?"

"Probably not," I said honestly. "By the ti you’re settled sowhere safe, I’ll be long gone."

She held the clothes to her chest, fresh tears welling in her eyes, but sohow they felt different — less of terror, more of overwhelming emotion. "T-Thank you," she whispered. "F-For everything. Even if I don’t understand it yet."

"You don’t need to understand," I replied, my voice carrying a note of finality. "You just need to survive. And you will."

With that, I stepped backward into the deeper shadows of the tent, where the torchlight didn’t quite reach.

"Wait, I—" she started, but I was already moving.

I let the darkness swallow , then I used Silent Veil in the dim lighting, and with my knowledge of the tent’s layout, slipped through a gap in the canvas at the back. To her eyes, watching from the front, it would look like I’d simply... vanished. Dissolved into the shadows like smoke.

Seren supported my actions.

my Phantom Twin admitted grudgingly.

I muttered, circling the outside of the tent to head back toward the main cavern area.

I shook my head, allowing myself a small smile beneath the mask as I rejoined my Phantom Twin near the bound bandits.

he said, looking over.

I said, surveying the cavern with fresh tactical focus,

Seren agreed.

I cracked my knuckles, the sound sharp in the quiet cavern.