episode_0077

“Grandma. Have you seen my brother? Where on earth is he…”

“Oh my, we’re in big trouble! Your baby was taken away by a strange nobleman!”

“….What?!”

Yang Soo-in explained while breaking into a cold sweat.

It is said that a nobleman recently came down to the lower class and took away the prisoners. I knew that up to that point.

There was even talk of prisoners being used as slaves, so I remember clearly telling Calea not to open the door to strangers and to run away even if you encounter them.

Calea said she sat on a chair in front of her house today as well and watched people passing by. At that time, a nobleman approached Calea and suddenly fell.

It is said that the nobleman spoke to Calea while pointing to his scraped elbow. You hurt yourself, so ask for compensation.

What the nobleman demanded in return was 10 gold coins. That sounds crazy. You’re asking for 10 gold coins for just one scrap?

Calea froze on the spot. It is said that before Calea could protest, the noble handed Callea a piece of paper.

Sign this paper. Then I’ll give you 10 gold as if you didn’t have it.

Calea tried to refuse, but it is said that she had no choice but to sign because she thought the knight standing behind the nobleman would pull out his sword at any moment.

After that, the knights entered Kali’s house, brought out all sorts of things, and took Kalea with them to the upper level.

“….What is that noble’s name?”

“As far as I know… it was Ronan Ale…”

As soon as Yang Suyin finished speaking, Kali bit her teeth as if they would break and ran with all her might to the upper floor.

The body of a beastman superior to that of an ordinary human. Among them, Kali’s body, which was stronger, covered a long distance in an instant.

Go uphill and cross the entrance that separates the upper and lower levels. The muscles in my entire body feel as if they are about to explode, but I don’t care and run with my magic power.

-What is that prisoner…?

-Run away!

-Ugh, she’s crazy!!

The looks of hatred and fear that are poured towards you are not important. What was important now was that some bastard had kidnapped my younger brother, who was more precious than life.

I run through the disgustingly clean streets of the upper levels. At the same time, I read the signs placed in front of the main gates of the houses, which are built so large that you have to look up to see the roofs.

It is common for upper-class noblemen to write their family name in front of the front door, perhaps because they wanted to make their name known.

Cashier? no. Goldie? Neither is that. Furry? What is that again?

Running at a crazy speed, I started looking for the ‘Ale family’. In the end, after exploring the entire upper level in less than a few minutes, Kali arrived in front of the Ale family’s fortress and took a deep breath.

“You fucking bastard… I like a house.”

When Kali arrived in front of the majestic mansion, which was larger than any other house in the upper floors, she walked toward the tightly closed front door without stopping.

“Stop. Please identify yourself.”

“Get out. If you don’t want to be left behind.”

“…What? I told you to stop-”

“Fuck off!”

With overflowing anger, he sends the guard reaching for him flying far away. The other guards who saw this lowered their posture and started aiming sharp spears.

“It’s an intruder! Block them all!!”

“Fuck, come on everyone!!”

Kwajik- Kwajik, Ujikwik.

Kali started taking down the attacking guards one by one. Avoid the flying spear, kick the spear up with your knee to break it, and then hit the guard’s solar plexus.

He kicks the leg of the guard running from behind and breaks it, then kicks his face and sends him flying into the distance.

Although he showed such overwhelming force that it could not be considered a one-to-many battle, even Kali had her limits.

“Gasp…Hehe… Come on…!”

It stuns another guard and howls fiercely. However, the guards began to come in endless numbers.

Kali wiped away the sweat and lowered her posture, clutching her throbbing body.

Come on. No matter how hard it is, I will somehow get my younger brother back.

“You’d better stop.”

At that time, a disgustingly unpleasant voice came from beyond the tightly closed front door.

“….Unless you want to see your precious little brother die.”

“Kalea-!!”

When I turned my head, a noble-looking bastard was pointing a knife at Calea’s neck. Calea was so scared that she was in tears and could not do anything.

Endless anger begins to boil over. I want to rip that bastard’s wrists to pieces and step on every bone in his body until they crumble alive.

“Wow. calm down. Then your precious little sister…”

Jiik-

“Hiss… Sister…”

“You fucking bastard!!!”

“You could get hurt.”

When the nobleman leaves a small wound on Calea’s neck with his knife, red blood begins to flow down her delicate skin.

I felt like I was going crazy. The anger made it difficult to make rational decisions, and a power I had never felt before began to overflow.

“Kneel.”

“…….”

“If not…”

“Black…Ugh..”

“Fuck… Fuck….!”

As the nobleman once again pointed the knife at Calea’s neck with a wicked smile, Kalea had no choice but to kneel down, biting her lip until it bled.

Otherwise, it really seemed like that bastard would kill Calea.

The guards begin to bind Kali’s hands as she kneels. Nevertheless, the fighting spirit shining in Kali’s eyes shows no signs of fading.

“Give me back my little brother…!”

“Hoo…? Are you still struggling?”

“You fucking bastard…! Why on earth did you take Calea away!!”

“Hmm… If you ask me why, what should I answer.”

I wanted to tear off the face of the distressed nobleman with a disgusting smile and rip out his heart alive, but I couldn’t.

Sigh-

The nobleman spoke with a wicked smile that could easily be called a devil.

“Well… because it’s fun?”

“You fucking bastard!! Give me my little brother back!!”

“Tsk tsk… It’s so funny to see them struggling. okay. Then should I give it a chance?”

The front door opens, and the nobleman slowly begins to approach Kali, who is kneeling. Then, he lowers his posture right in front of Kali and makes eye contact.

“50 Gold. If you bring me 50 gold, I will free your brother.”

“이 개새끼야-! That makes sense-”

“If you don’t like it, you will never be able to see your younger brother. It depends on your choice.”

“Aaaah-!!!”

Kali, unable to do anything, just cried as she watched her younger brother being dragged away by the nobleman, shedding sad tears.

The guards threw the bound Kali into the lower level. As soon as she was released, Carly went to the Ale mansion again, but there was no way to enter the mansion by any means.

Guards standing guard in all directions, tall fences. This was because there was even a barrier created by magic.

From that day on, Carly searched for every possible way to rescue her brother.

First, I tried contacting the imperial family. No matter how noble a person was, kidnapping and confinement without reason was a serious illegal act in the current empire.

“Sorry, we can’t do that.”

“…What?”

However, it failed. The only post office in the upper echelon rejected Carly’s letter.

No matter how many times I asked why, the only answer was, ‘That can’t be done.’

The answer to that question came from the grandmother next door, a foster mother. After the ‘Esphilia disaster’ incident, there was an ‘aristocratic faction’ at the center that corrected the chaos in Espilia, and its influence grew stronger day by day, eventually reaching the point where it ruled all of Espilia.

The aristocratic faction, which only gave things for free at first, gained positive response from citizens, began to receive various investments, and began to increase its power, and then suddenly changed its behavior.

He requested severe punishment for anyone who opposed the aristocratic faction, and prohibited any actions that were harmful to the aristocratic faction. That’s why Carly was refused mail at the post office.

Of course, there were those who tried to oppose the oppressive actions of the aristocratic faction. However, they took my family and precious people hostage and threatened me, so I had no choice but to give in.

Even leaving Espilia was restricted, so he was literally in a situation where he could not do anything in the face of absolute power.

And Ronan Ale. He is the central figure leading the aristocratic faction. He was also someone who had so much power that Kali, who was just a low-class resident, could not stand against him.

I couldn’t think of any way to save my sister, whether by force, power, or any other method.

Espilia was already in the clutches of the noble faction, and there was no way to escape their clutches.

In the end, Kali began working tirelessly to earn the 50 gold that Ronan Ale had suggested.

Errands, cleaning, fixer-upper. I started doing everything regardless. Nevertheless, the money you can earn per day is only 20 to 30 coins.

Kali moved forward silently, bracing her increasingly weakened body and mind. Because only then can I save my sister again.

There were also people who challenged Kali. Every time that happened, Kali couldn’t stand it and thoroughly trampled it, making it impossible for it to climb up again.

-Isn’t that… a crazy dog?

-Yeah… Wait, aren’t you looking this way?

-Run away!!

I was given some kind of dog-like nickname. But there was no time to worry about that.

“K…Keuuch… I lost…”

“Hey. Okay? I won.”

“Ugh… Damn it. I understand, I understand.”

“Good! Don’t fool me again, you idiot!”

Today, I worked as a ‘fighting agent’ and fought on behalf of him. I immediately trampled the ‘fighting agent’ from the other side and received 1 silver coin.

“…Next is errands…”

“There you are. Looks like you’re in urgent need of money~?”

There was someone who caught Kali as she was about to leave the quiet alley and go do something else.

The person wearing a suspicious mask and a robe that covered his entire body approached Kali and asked.

“Just go away. If you don’t want to be left behind.”

Callie tried to leave, swearing at the guy who looked like he was crazy at first glance.

Because I was too tired and didn’t have time to waste time on something like that. I need to make more money right now.

“No no. Why are you so impatient? There is a way to make a lot of money.”

“…….”

“How do you feel? Are you a little interested? Then, would you like to listen to it?”

All Carly needed right now was money. Other than that, nothing else mattered.

As Kali stopped in her tracks, the masked person began chattering excitedly.

“It’s a simple thing! All you have to do is stick to one person and act as a bodyguard. Is it easy?”

“…..Salary is.”

“Hmm~ 10 gold a week, how about it?”

“….What?! Are you… serious?”

“Then~ I don’t lie!”

10 gold a week. The pay is so ridiculously high. Even if I worked all day, I could barely get a few silver coins.

At that salary, if I only work for 5 weeks, wouldn’t I be able to save money to save my younger brother?

But there was one problem. Can we really trust the crazy person in front of us?

“How should I… trust you? What if you run away without paying your salary?”

“Hmm… then how about doing it like this? Let’s write a contract! By the way, I call myself a sponsor!”

The person who introduced himself as a sponsor took out a contract from his pocket and handed it to Carly, as if he was already prepared. Carly quietly read the contract she was handed.

The clause was simple. Kali guards the object mentioned by the patron. Sponsors meet Carly in person once a week and give her money.

It was only a simple clause, but it was enough. The reason is because this contract was a ‘Mana contract’.

The Mana Contract was a contract in which both parties risked their mana, and it was an extremely accurate and fair contract that would cause the heart of the person who violated it to break if the terms were violated.

“…Why on earth are you giving me this opportunity?”

It was a contract that was incomprehensibly advantageous and beneficial to Kali. Carly asked her sponsor with a trembling voice.

The sponsor put his finger to his lips, thought for a moment, and then spoke.

“Um~ Just. Seeing you fighting, I thought you would protect my precious little revolutionary well?”

“……Ha.”

You really are a crazy bastard. But, it doesn’t matter. If only that were enough to save my brother.

Kali infused mana into the contract and handed it to the sponsor, who also infused mana into the contract.

The contract began to glow blue and then dispersed and disappeared like a blaze.

“Good! The contract is concluded! Then, just go to this address and provide security! I’ll give you 10 gold as an advance payment, see you next week!”

Kali looks at the sponsor leaving, puts down the bag of gold coins she received at home, and heads to the upper floor.

“…is this place?”

Enter the house through the open front door and head to the second floor. A sound is heard beyond the tightly closed door.

Knock-knock-knock-

***

That’s how Kali’s story ended. From the town that became Kali’s hell, to what happened in Espilia, and everything up until now.

“…That’s how it happened. But… I still think of my younger brother who cries every day…”

“…….”

How painful and difficult life must have been.

How much determination must she have had to lose everything she loved at a young age and sacrifice herself for her younger brother.

Her shoulders, which were always straight, looked so small, and her expression was overflowing with sadness and depression.

The true Kali, with her unconscious revealed, looks so fragile and pitiful.

No matter how hard it was and how much she wanted to cry, there was no one to support her, and because she had a younger brother, Kali had to hide her emotions.

How painful and difficult was it?

Kkook-

“It must have been very difficult.”

“….Black…Ugh…”

He walked up to Carly, gave her a hug and patted her. My shoulders become damp as Carly’s face rests.

It may only provide a small amount of warmth, but if the weight that Kali has been carrying all this time can be alleviated even just a little. I am willing to lend my shoulder.

[Can absorb the target’s emotions and memories. Would you like to absorb it?]

[Absorb: Absorb the emotions and memories of the target ‘Kali’.]

[Does not absorb: Nothing happens. Hypnosis is lifted.]

‘wait for a while.’

“Black…ugh…”

I quietly patted Carly on the back as she began to pour out all the crying and pain she had been holding in for so long.

As time passed, the hypnosis naturally dissipated.

***

“Fuck… What on earth have I done…!”

“It’s okay. I understand everything-”

“이…. 이 개새끼야-! What on earth have you done…!”

“That’s just hypnosis.”

Carly’s face turned as red as blush. It was never something to be ashamed of, but she seemed to feel even this was shameful.

“…and people can cry-”

“Ugh!! Argh!!”

Carly covered her ears and started running around the counseling center, swearing indiscriminately.

It was about 5 minutes later that Carly calmed down.

“Fuck… you… you! Never tell anyone…!”

“Yes. of course. I don’t tell anyone what happened in counseling.”

“Ha…. That’s really embarrassing… Damn..”

Carly sat on a chair, covered her face with both hands, and continued to dry her face. I got up from my seat and cleaned up the counseling center.

“Are you calm now? Then let’s go.”

“….Where are you going? Lower class store again today?”

“No. The mansion of a man named Ronan Ale.”

“….What?”

I spoke calmly to Carly. The atrocities committed by the bastard named Ronan Ale were still lingering in my mind, and I was barely holding back my anger.

“You said 50 gold, right? Let’s go quickly.”

“What…what are you doing! You now…!”

“What are you doing? Let’s go save your sister. Hurry and follow me.”

“Uh…huh?”

I walked out of the counseling center while holding onto Carly’s wrist. Carly, who thought he would reject her, is led away with a blank expression, seemingly vainly simple.

Her face was still bright red, as if the shame hadn’t gone away yet. I think I can feel a slight pulse beyond my wrist.

Ale family. There is no way that one does not know the location of the largest mansion on the upper floor. I let go of my anger and stride forward with a cold heart.

***

As Venice forcibly grabbed Carly’s wrist and began to stride forward, Carly had no choice but to give in.

‘Fuck…what the hell.’

Exciting- Exciting-

Why on earth is my heart starting to beat like this?

It’s a feeling I’ve never experienced before in my life. I feel like something is overwhelming me… or my body feels hot.

I wanted to shake off the hand and escape from that grasp, but for some reason, I couldn’t find the strength in my body.

I just… feel like I want to go with the flow.

Why? I’m so fucking embarrassed, but is it because I cried like a girl in that master’s arms?

I was embarrassed, but it also felt like the weight in my heart had been lifted a little.

I look at the face of the owner who is leading the way. A serious expression that is infinitely cold and angry.

He was a little… handsome. It wasn’t an ugly face to begin with. I think I look a little better today. Is it because of my mood?

Carly was dazed, completely oblivious to her gaze fixed on Venice and her red cheeks.

And, my heart started to beat like crazy, and even my desire to rely on him.