The Retired Supporting Character Wants to Live Quietly
Chapter 199

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 199 – Kirrin’s Black Forest (22)

“I intended to send you off painlessly, you know.”

Morkan gritted his teeth, drawing a new dagger.

“You really are a nuisance.”

“Morkan… I think I’m dying…”

Nishira, collapsed off to the side, groaned.

“Save me… quickly… you can kill him later…”

But Morkan didn’t spare her a single glance.

“Die, Nemara.”

Morkan’s dagger plunged toward Nemara’s throat.

# # # #

“Lord Nemara…”

Nemara slowly turned his head.

Marian, pale and gaunt, lay in bed looking at him.

Her breathing was uneven, dark shadows under her eyes — her condition clearly dire.

“Is there something you want to say.”

“Don’t force the life of an assassin onto Kirrin…”

Marian gave a weak smile.

“Just because her skin is dark and her ears are long… doesn’t mean she’s the same as everyone else…”

Nemara had thought it nonsense.

If born a dark elf, one must grow up as a dark elf.

He was about to argue — but instead, fell silent.

A strong sense told him not to interrupt Marian.

That if he did, he would never hear her voice again.

So Nemara listened quietly to her words.

“Kirrin is a half-blood… because of how she looks, it’s hard for her to live among humans… and her heart is like mine… she doesn’t fit in here in the Black Forest either… Kirrin has… her own life to live…”

Kirrin’s life…

“That’s right… so please… let her live the life she wants… happily…”

“Is that so.”

“I’ve already asked the other children as well… Please… take care of Kirrin…”

He wasn’t sure.

What kind of life is that of a half-blood dark elf?

What does Kirrin want? What does a happy life mean to her?

Curious, Nemara was about to ask Marian—

But he never received an answer.

Those words became Marian’s final ones.

The funeral was held quietly.

After cremation, her ashes were scattered in a flower field she often visited.

Whether it fit human custom didn’t matter — to Marian’s children, it felt right.

From now on, that flower field was their mother.

As Drebren scattered the ashes, Kirrin silently wept in the arms of Sharian and Zakrion.

Nemara stood behind, arms folded, but eventually walked away.

There was no time for unnecessary sentiment.

War had broken out, and the clan would soon be deployed as part of the Demon King’s elite force.

He had to prepare.

# # # #

Even during the war, Nemara never forgot Marian’s final wish—

To let Kirrin live a happy life.

According to gathered intelligence, the Human Alliance secretly operated special agents.

It wasn’t officially acknowledged for morale’s sake, but several Demon King army commanders had already been assassinated.

From this, Nemara concluded that the Demon King’s forces would soon face disadvantage.

If they lost, the dark elf clans would be annihilated — and he would not be able to keep Marian’s promise.

Nemara decided to betray the Demon King.

The most powerful warriors of each clan were summoned for an assassination attempt on the Emperor.

In the dead of night, as they crossed the imperial walls and infiltrated the castle, Nemara killed the other dark elves.

All for Kirrin’s happiness.

The Emperor survived, and the failure of the operation dealt a massive blow to the Demon King’s strategic command.

As Nemara had foreseen, the Demon King was later assassinated, and the war ended in the Human Alliance’s victory.

Most of the dark elf clans that had joined the Demon King were either killed or scattered in retreat,

but Nemara’s clan, having saved the Emperor’s life, was pardoned.

“Your Majesty. I have a request.”

In private audience with the Emperor, Nemara spoke.

“I have a half-blood daughter. She’s too slow and dull to be raised as an assassin. But she’s bright in her own way — I wonder if I might send her to the academy. Honestly, keeping her around only drives people mad.”

With the Emperor’s recommendation, Kirrin became the first dark elf in history to enter the academy.

All for Kirrin’s happiness.

When Nemara heard Kirrin had graduated top of her class, he was delighted — but didn’t show it.

Instead, he visited the Emperor again.

“Your Majesty. Might there be a place where my daughter could at least feed herself? She’s grown now and of no use to the clan. I’m not generous enough to keep her out of sentiment.”

And so Kirrin became headmaster of the Imperial Special Task Academy.

Nemara’s plan was to plant her firmly within the human city.

He had never once thought about the clan expanding into human territory.

This was enough for Kirrin.

She had social standing, a place to develop her talents, and a future.

If she happened to meet a decent man and marry, even better.

All for Kirrin’s happiness.

But Nemara didn’t know.

That everything he did in the name of Marian’s will — for Kirrin’s happiness — was in fact hurting her.

Throughout the entire process, Nemara had acted unilaterally and never once asked what Kirrin wanted.

Kirrin, unaware of his true intentions, believed he was simply using her as a tool for the clan’s advancement.

So even while suffering in her role as headmaster, she endured it, afraid to disappoint him.

It was the miscommunication and misunderstanding of a dark elf — natural for someone like Nemara.

And it led to the recent kidnapping of Dian.

When he heard from Sharian why Kirrin had suddenly returned to the Black Forest, Nemara immediately ordered Dian’s abduction.

If he brought Dian back and had him marry Kirrin, she would surely be happy.

But everything fell apart.

Of all times, Nishira and Morkan made their move while Kirrin was in the Black Forest.

Nemara had managed to shield her with a trap for the moment, but what came after was uncertain.

Drebren needed to arrive quickly—where the hell was that boy?

Could he have been cornered like this as well?

Damn it, Marian…

I won’t be able to keep our promise.

Everything I did to make Kirrin happy may have been a mistake.

I tried my best, but it wasn’t what Kirrin needed.

If only… if only I had asked her once.

What she really wanted. What she wanted to do. How I could help her.

If I had just taken a little time to ask — would it have been different?

I don’t know. I can’t talk to her anymore.

I’m going to die here.

They say that when humans die, they go to another world where they can meet those who passed before them.

If that’s true… then death isn’t so bad.

Splat—!

A hot liquid splashed across Nemara’s face.

Morkan’s dagger had embedded in the ground right in front of him.

Still gripping the hilt was a severed hand.

Looking up, Nemara saw Morkan’s wrist had been cut off, blood spurting everywhere.

What had just happened?

Even Morkan looked confused, staring at his wrist in disbelief.

Then, moments later—

“AAAAAAGH!!”

Morkan grabbed his bleeding stump and screamed.

“My hand! My haaaaand!! AAAAAGH!!”

At the same time, a chorus of curses and cries erupted.

Drebren, Zakrion, and Sharian had stormed in and started battling the dark elves.

As Nemara watched this unfold, someone suddenly brought their fingers under his nose.

“Thankfully, he’s still breathing.”

It was Dian.

“Professor Dian…?”

“Just lie down. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Be careful… that man, he uses poison darts…”

Nemara trailed off as he noticed several darts already embedded in the back of Dian’s neck.

There was no point saying more.

This man was a companion of Sir Linus, the hero of the continent and a member of the Demon King Assassination Task Force.

He had toyed with Drebren, Zakrion, and Sharian — and reached the Black Forest on his own.

Fortunately, he was still here.

“Professor Dian… I have something to ask of you…”

Nemara said, barely rising.

“What is it?”

“Kirrin… Kirrin…”

His tongue could move no more.

Too many poison darts.

They weren’t lethal, but paralytic. And if enough accumulated — the heart would stop.

Looks like… this is really it.

So be it. I’ll die now.

With Professor Dian here, Kirrin will be safe. With Drebren alive, the clan won’t fall.

My role… is over.

I’m coming, Marian.

I want to be honest with my feelings, no longer hiding from others' stares. I want to be with you, just you.

Marian appeared before Nemara.

“Lord Nemara.”

She smiled and gently called his name.

“Marian…”

Trembling, Nemara spoke, seeing her smile.

“Kirrin’s safe… but I couldn’t keep my promise…”

“It’s all right, Lord Nemara. You did your best.”

“But because of me, Kirrin suffered… I failed.”

“That’s not true. Just be honest with her.”

Marian softly stroked Nemara’s cheek.

“I told you before, didn’t I? Just open your heart and speak. That’s what dark elves are bad at.”

Her playful smile almost made Nemara cry.

“Be brave, Lord Nemara. Talking sincerely—it’s nothing once you do it.”

“It’s too late, Marian… I’m dead. I’ll never speak to Kirrin again.”

“What are you talking about? Dead? Can’t you hear anything?”

“Hear…?”

Focusing his ears in confusion, Nemara began to hear voices.

Dad, please don’t die…

He hasn’t woken in four days… this is bad…

He took too much paralytic poison. The antidote’s barely working…

Should we try dunking him in cold water? Or branding him with a hot iron? That’d wake him!

Professor, stop with the nonsense!!

Kirrin’s voice. Drebren, Zakrion, and Sharian.

The voices of Marian and Nemara’s children.

Ignore the strange voice mixed in.

“Let’s go back now, Lord Nemara. The children are worried.”

Marian gave him a gentle push.

“Marian…”

For some reason, Nemara had the feeling that if they parted now, he’d never see her again.

So instead of stepping back, he stepped forward, toward her.

“Going back now is meaningless. I’ll stay here.”

“If you stay, Kirrin will be very sad, you know.”

At that, Nemara flinched, and Marian smiled.

“So just go back for now. And come back when it’s time. Come on. When have I ever led you wrong?”

“Then!”

Nemara asked desperately.

“Then… will you wait for me?”

“Of course. I’ll wait until you return. So go live your life fully without regret.”

“Is that so…”

“Goodbye, Lord Nemara. Be well, and live long and happily. I’ll be watching.”

Nemara hesitated, then turned.

After a few steps, he turned back and asked again.

“Truly… you’ll be waiting here, right? When I return, we’ll meet again like this?”

“Of course. Don’t tell me you don’t trust me?”

“No… I trust you.”

Nemara gave a faint smile and turned away once more.

“Be brave, Lord Nemara! Be happy! Let’s meet again, with no regrets!”

Marian’s voice called out from behind.

All right. I will. I’ll be brave.

Thank you… so much, Marian.

Let’s meet again, someday.

Nemara opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was Kirrin, weeping.

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]