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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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“Someone is after my life?”
A voice, tinged with amusement, drifted from behind the carriage curtains.
“Who would want to kill me? Are you saying someone is trying to assassinate me?”
“That’s correct.”
Even the stern-faced knight guarding beside the carriage burst into laughter at the mention of assassination.
“Did you hear that? Someone is trying to assassinate me. Hahaha.”
One might expect a serious reaction to such news, but even the knight chuckled and shook his head.
‘Well, she is a comrade of the Hero from her previous life, so she must be confident in her abilities. And that killing intent earlier was intense.’
Kerry activated his Eyes of the Goddess.
Impressive stats indeed. Her talent was the highest he’d seen among those he’d encountered, excluding Lina and Natasha.
“Thank you for your concern. But there’s no need to worry about me.”
He understood perfectly well that her talent and current stats were exceptional. But their opponents were formidable as well.
How could he make her believe him? There was no point in warning her about the assassination threat if she ended up being killed anyway.
Just then, Lina approached.
“Greetings, Victoria. My name is Lina Knightly.”
A noble grace emanated from her with a single greeting. Victoria wiped the amused smile from her face.
‘This one also has an extraordinary aura. No, not just that, she’s quite powerful, isn’t she?’
Even without crossing swords, Lina’s gait and every small movement were exceptional. Whether consciously or not, she had stopped just short of the knight’s range before speaking.
“Did you also come to tell me about this assassination attempt? Like this man?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“…”
The words of a strong individual carried a different weight. Kerry noticed that Victoria had become somewhat more serious.
“Lina, show her the note.”
The note containing the assassination order for Victoria.
A note was just a note, but this one, slightly stained with blood, carried an air of authenticity.
“We obtained this order while pursuing a certain organization. As you can see, your name is written on it.”
“…It’s hard to believe based on this alone. Besides, it could be someone with the same name. Even setting aside whether this note is real or fake.”
“The organization we’re pursuing aims to sacrifice strong individuals for their rituals. I haven’t heard of any other strong individuals in the area with the same name as yours. So, it’s likely you.”
“…”
Victoria’s demeanor grew more serious. Lina truly possessed an inexplicable persuasive power. It was something only felt around genuinely good people.
‘Good job, Lina!’
“Having been by her side, I know that Lina is a person of utmost sincerity.”
Lina nodded at Kerry.
Her delicate hand holding the note with her name on it was visible through the carriage window. Silence hung in the air. Then, as if having reached a decision, Victoria spoke softly.
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to hear you out. I’m rather bored anyway. I formally invite you to the castle. We shall continue this conversation there.”
‘Yes!’
Lina looked visibly pleased. Kerry gave her a thumbs-up, which she returned with a small smile.
As they entered the castle grounds alongside the carriage, they heard the voices of the guards from behind.
“M-My lady! Please have mercy!”
“Forgive us! My lady!”
Restrained by other guards, they pleaded for their lives and apologized profusely. They should have known better than to mess with them.
Kerry extended his middle finger behind his back.
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This was Kerry’s first time inside a castle where nobles resided. Natasha and the old woman also seemed to be experiencing it for the first time, looking around with gasps of awe.
They reacted like country bumpkins visiting a big city for the first time.
Kerry tried to appear indifferent, but inwardly, he was also deeply impressed.
‘Wow. This is magnificent. Life in this world must be pretty good if you’re a noble.’
It felt different from the castles he had seen in pictures back in his world. Those were old and unoccupied, while the one before him was clean and vibrant with life.
The difference was palpable.
True to her word about being invited as guests, the butler and maids treated them with utmost hospitality. The meal, in particular, was exquisite, the most delicious he’d had since arriving in this other world.
“Wow, the juices are bursting with flavor. The soup is so savory.”
“Indeed. It’s delicious.”
Even the Hero was impressed. Coming from Lina, that was high praise.
Natasha and the old woman seemed to enjoy the meal as well, eating heartily.
Victoria, apparently busy with other matters, excused herself, saying she would speak with them later. It wasn’t bad at all, getting to explore the castle and enjoy a delicious meal.
“I’m glad you all seem to enjoy the meal.”
‘Speak of the devil.’
Victoria appeared, accompanied by a line of maids. The carriage curtains had obscured her face earlier, but as expected, she was quite beautiful. Perhaps not as stunning as Lina, but comparable to Natasha.
What struck him was that, with her golden hair similar to Lina’s, they resembled each other, almost like sisters.
Sure enough, there was a hint of fondness in Lina’s gaze as she looked at Victoria, subtle but noticeable.
“Shall we begin our conversation then? It’s quite amusing that I’m supposedly the target of an assassination.”
What’s so amusing about that?!
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They each took turns giving Victoria a brief introduction. She was amused by the unique composition of their party.
Once the introductions were finished, Lina began speaking in a serious tone.
“Though not widely known, there exists an organization that practices human sacrifice and wicked sorcery.”
“Human sacrifice… A most unpleasant topic.”
“Natasha, standing beside me, was also a victim of this organization. We couldn’t stand idly by while they committed such atrocities, so we decided to pursue them.”
“Hmm.”
For some reason, Victoria kept glancing at Kerry whenever Lina spoke of righteousness. Did he not look righteous? Honestly, he wasn’t particularly righteous, but…
“And after a long pursuit and fierce battle, we managed to inflict a critical injury on one of them. That’s how we obtained this note.”
“You did well.”
“Their methods are vile and wicked. They even sacrifice children and employ horrific curses. Before coming here, we witnessed the dead rising and walking. It was truly horrifying. These people are targeting you, Victoria.”
Victoria gazed intently at Lina, whose golden hair resembled her own.
‘She doesn’t seem like someone who would lie…’
Such a noble air was rare even among nobles. Even in her dirt-stained armor, Lina possessed an undeniable grace.
‘More than anything, I can’t gauge her strength.’
She had thought she could assess Lina’s abilities by observing her, but she still couldn’t get a read on her. This meant Lina was a far more skilled warrior than she had initially thought.
And it wasn’t just Lina. That woman named Natasha was also quite skilled, though perhaps a step below Lina. If she could recruit Natasha into her family, she would gladly offer a fortune to do so.
Even the old woman quietly devouring food in the corner seemed unusual.
‘And individuals as skilled as these were still unable to capture them, only managing to find a clue and come here?’
Assuming everything she had heard was true, some truly dangerous individuals might be targeting her.
However, it would be naive to blindly believe everything she heard from strangers she had just met. Sometimes, desperate and deranged individuals resorted to schemes to exploit nobles.
More than anything, something felt odd.
At first glance, it appeared as if Lina was the leader of the group. But the reality was different.
Kerry. That seemingly ordinary man, unlike the women, was the true leader.
Natasha was openly clinging to him and acting affectionately, towards a man far weaker than herself. And Lina seemed to be deliberately yielding leadership to him.
‘Is there something about that man… Kerry… that I’m not aware of?’
It was natural for her to be curious. Even in her eyes, he commanded a group of remarkably strong individuals.
But there was another important matter at hand.
“Increasing security isn’t as simple as it sounds. Our family bears the cost of the additional guards. And we don’t even know how long we need to maintain heightened security.”
“…”
“I appreciate your concern, but we need concrete evidence before we can act.”
Then, Kerry spoke. Continuing to discuss the matter like this wouldn’t lead anywhere. They were relying on the Hero’s past life experiences, so they couldn’t offer any concrete proof.
So, Kerry decided to gamble.
“You don’t have to believe us if you don’t want to.”
Lina flinched at Kerry’s words, but as if trusting him, she remained silent.
Victoria studied Kerry closely. He seemed like an unremarkable man, though his face was unusually handsome for a commoner.
‘Arrogant for someone so weak. But I like that.’
Perhaps there was something about Kerry that she didn’t know.
He had been going on and on about the assassination threat, and now he suddenly said she didn’t have to believe him. His audacity piqued her interest. An awkward silence followed.
‘…I feel uneasy about just sending them away.’
There might be something to their story. No, she had a strong feeling that there was something to it. But as a noble, she couldn’t simply yield to commoners. Just then, a knock echoed through the room. Victoria bade them enter, and a man with a scar on his cheek walked in.
“Captain of the Guard.”
“Yes, my lady. You summoned me.”
A brilliant idea suddenly struck Victoria. It was awkward to keep pressing them about the assassination attempt now, but this was a perfect way to save face and gain something at the same time.
“Captain of the Guard, you’ve heard the story, haven’t you? About the transgressions committed by the guards under your command…”
“Yes, I’m aware. However, I was unaware of the incident. I’ll make sure to reprimand the others.”
“Whether you knew or not, the responsibility for failing to properly manage your subordinates is significant. Captain, please wait here for a moment.”
After reprimanding the Captain of the Guard with a stern tone, Victoria suddenly turned to them with a playful expression.
“Let’s continue our previous conversation. Honestly, even if we discuss the veracity of this assassination threat, without evidence, we won’t get anywhere. And due to practical constraints, we can’t simply believe everything you say.”
“That’s true.”
“So, I have a proposition… or rather, a wager would be more entertaining. What do you think? Do you like wagers?”
“…”
“I’m quite fond of them.”
“What kind of wager are you suggesting…?”
“It’s simple. If you defeat the Captain of the Guard in a duel, I’ll believe everything you say and actively incorporate your suggestions regarding security. In fact, I’ll even hire you for security duties if you wish. What do you say?”
Lina smiled confidently, pleased with how things were turning out. She stood up with a bright expression.
“Very well. I’ll represent our side. Right now…”
“No.”
That’s when the atmosphere shifted.
“I know you’re strong. I’m not completely blind. Honestly, the reason I invited you inside was largely due to my curiosity about you, Lina.”
“Then, how about Natasha…?”
“I also know that Natasha is strong. Far stronger than our Captain of the Guard.”
The Captain of the Guard, responsible for the outer castle where the commoners resided, had a fierce appearance, but he couldn’t wield mana. If he could, he would be skilled enough to earn a knighthood and wouldn’t be a mere Captain of the Guard.
‘If neither Lina nor Natasha… then who…?’
Just then, all eyes turned to Kerry. Everyone at the table was staring at him.
“Your name is Kerry, is it not? If you defeat the Captain of the Guard in a duel, I’ll accept all of your practical advice. What do you say? An interesting wager, isn’t it?”
Victoria, who had been so resistant to their warnings, was finally willing to listen.
Lina clenched her fists. She truly wanted to save Victoria.
“…”
But she couldn’t bring herself to volunteer Kerry for the duel. Even if it was just a duel, there was a risk of injury. And there was also the possibility of creating bad blood with the Captain of the Guard.
While Lina was conflicted, Kerry screamed internally.
‘Why me?! Why me?!’
He wanted to flick Victoria on the forehead for her playful attitude, but she was pretty, so he’d let it slide.
“Why the hesitation? Do you dislike wagers? I don’t mind if you decline.”
It may have been a half-joking offer, but Victoria had clearly stated that she would cooperate if he won.
Lina, desperate to save Victoria, clenched her fists, caught in a dilemma.
‘Sigh… Lina, I will be brave. But you have to repay me later, okay? I believe in you, our Hero!’
Kerry spoke with a resolute voice.
“I accept your wager.”
Lina’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected Kerry to volunteer himself. Honestly, if he hadn’t known she was the Hero, it would have been an act of unseen kindness.
Perhaps because of that, Lina looked genuinely touched. She nodded at him, as if expressing her trust.
‘Don’t underestimate my two years of experience as an adventurer!’
Lina’s gaze was filled with trust. Seeing that look, Victoria became even more confused.
Why would someone so skilled place so much trust in a seemingly weak man?
Her curiosity about Kerry deepened.
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