Ch.10Moth (4)

# The Baron Raden’s Estate

In a spacious room of Baron Raden’s mansion.

Several men huddled together, exchanging words with serious expressions. In the midst of a conversation that seemed unlikely to reach a conclusion, one of them let out a deep sigh.

“Are we really going through with this, boss? Everything was going well until now.”

The man they called boss was a handsome figure with attractive swept-back brown hair—Rude. Blood vessels stood prominently above his eyes, which were drawn into a distorted arc.

“Fuck, I didn’t want to rush things either. But because of that mysterious bitch, our carefully built tower is about to collapse.”

“How bad is it? Too serious for even you to control?”

“Others might not notice, but I can tell. Suspicion is gradually rising from the depths of her consciousness. If she fully comes to her senses, years of planning will turn to bubbles.”

Rude gritted his teeth. He had been observing the baroness from close proximity for years. By now, he could read her thought process just by watching the baron’s gestures and gazes.

“That vulgar, gullible bitch.”

Ironically, vulgar words spilled from Rude’s mouth as he denounced her. His anger was boiling over at the current situation that threatened their nearly completed plan.

“If we just had a little more time, we could have secured our position in noble society… tsk.”

He clicked his tongue in bitter frustration.

Rude had originally been the leader of an ordinary mercenary group. A playboy who wandered through conflict zones earning money, seducing women with his striking appearance for one-night stands. When he first contracted with Baron Raden, he had no ulterior motives. He simply had a business mindset—work as much as he was paid for.

The plan flashed in his mind after about half a year of casual service at the baron’s estate.

Having discarded countless women with his handsome appearance, he keenly noticed. This seemingly dignified woman, this baroness wealthier than most high nobles, was actually someone with remarkably low self-esteem.

Moreover, though she tried to hide it, he could clearly read her occasional glances that revealed romantic interest in him.

He was convinced this was the ultimate opportunity.

A woman who had amassed tremendous wealth yet brought not a single luxury item into her home.

A woman whose identity as a merchant was stronger than her identity as a noble.

A woman who viewed commoners without titles as equals.

Therefore, despite being merely a mercenary, her position beside her was not something he couldn’t dare covet.

The plan formed instantly.

He invested years managing his reputation and building trust. Whenever he “accidentally” encountered the baroness, he repeated subtle seductions that almost—but not quite—connected. Finally, he even drew out her lament that at her age, being unmarried was causing gossip in social circles.

She complained that most who approached her were opportunists after the Raden family’s money.

That occasionally decent men were reluctant to become adopted sons-in-law.

That there were even fools who found her capabilities intimidating.

That she had never properly dated anyone, let alone married.

At that point, he wanted to swallow her whole in one gulp, but it was premature. He had to repeatedly tease her and be patient until she came begging. Since he was a commoner mercenary and she was a noble, this was the only way to reverse the power dynamic between them.

Gradually, he infiltrated her daily life discreetly. He made himself so indispensable that she couldn’t imagine life without him. He left his footprints on the self-esteem of this woman who had few strengths outside of money-making—footprints that would be difficult to erase.

After repeating this pattern, the baroness eventually entrusted him with household affairs—duties that should have been handled by the lady of the Raden house.

Though the baroness tried to hide it, her intentions were transparent. This was the final test she used when considering a marriage proposal—the final piece of his carefully constructed tower.

So he ordered his subordinates.

Control the mansion so the baroness’s affection wouldn’t leak out prematurely and become a laughingstock.

Turn away visitors unless they were important business contacts.

And yet, this was the result.

“Ugh, fuck… my ankle is completely shattered. I can’t even walk. Those bastards must have done something, boss.”

“Shut up before I kill you.”

“Urk…”

This idiot doesn’t even know how he got beaten and just makes excuses. What a moron. Too embarrassed to admit he got his ass kicked.

To think he’d been keeping such a fool who couldn’t even handle doorman duties. He wanted to stick a knife in his throat right then and there.

“Hah…”

He exhaled a sigh heavy with exhaustion. The members gathered in the room trembled with fear.

Though he played the gentleman in front of the baroness, if one had to vote for the most cruel person among his subordinates, Rude would receive unanimous support.

In the suffocating silence, one member gathered courage and spoke.

“Boss, can you handle this? If the baroness goes crazy…”

“No, that will never happen. I know that woman better than anyone.”

A person who pretends to be dignified but is actually extremely sensitive to others’ gazes. A woman with such low self-esteem that she finds it difficult to share even trivial concerns for fear of being looked down upon.

Yes, even if forcibly violated, she wouldn’t dare spread it outside. Like other sheltered virgins, she would consider being forcibly defiled a shame and would be busy keeping it tightly hidden. Especially as a titled lady, how much more so?

The social world is like a mud pit, with a wildness that further tears at victims.

They would say she got what she deserved for having money. That despite acting dignified, a woman is still a woman. Even fellow women would poke at the baroness with their tongues and rub salt in her wounds.

Noble integrity? What a joke. The highest places in the empire are closest to the vulgar bottom.

So we at the bottom should stand alongside them.

“It’s too far gone to proceed like gentlemen. Tonight I’ll take the baroness and get a marriage contract. Call everyone who’s scattered and lock down the mansion now.”

“What about the baroness’s guests…?”

“Why ask? It would be troublesome if unnecessary rumors leaked out.”

Rude’s order fell.

“Kill them without anyone knowing.”

So we can make excuses that they left early the next morning.

“…”

The subordinates looked at Rude’s expression and sent out messenger birds. It was to gather their scattered forces. Then they moved to their positions, brandishing ominous blades to carry out the orders.

Thump. Thump.

The late-night corridor was chilly. It was a night unlike summer, which typically torments with tropical heat. Even their deliberately muffled footsteps echoed as if walking through a hollow space. He felt an odd aversion to the sound of his own footsteps.

The western end of the mansion. The guest room assigned by the baroness was right before them. They checked their sharp blades and secretly shifted their center of gravity toward the door.

With hearing stretched to its limit, they detected nothing. They worried the occupant might be awake, but it seemed unfounded.

Killing intent swelled like a balloon stretched to its limit in a precarious balance.

Like assassins, they suppressed their presence and opened the door.

The well-oiled hinges remained mercifully silent. In such a cooperative space, multiple blades reflected the moonlight ominously like wolf fangs.

‘Why is this guy wearing a mask even while sleeping?’

It was quite comical despite the serious situation.

Actually, this was better. No need to see the target’s face. He could stab without the slightest hesitation. That was the inner thought of the man tasked with leading the execution.

His patience soon came to an end.

‘Die…!’

He brought down the blade toward the chest where the heart would be.

Success. Even if the target woke up, they would only cough blood and perish.

The thrill of a clean mission success tingled at the top of his head.

Just as he was about to exhale in liberation.

Thump.

The blade that had almost pierced through the clothing was caught and stopped by just two fingers.

The figure who had seemed ridiculous until just now spoke.

“That was your last chance.”

◇

“That was your last chance to return to normal life.”

As I quietly announced their fate, the man who had tried to stab me retreated hesitantly. His face was filled with shock at encountering a situation beyond his comprehension.

“I had hoped you would give up.”

Shamefully, at first I mistook them for Serin. Since she had shown excessive curiosity about my bare face, I believed she would surely intrude in the middle of the night.

So I wore a mask to sleep despite being in my private room. But when they actually approached, I felt guilty imagining her disappointment at my thorough preparation.

Perhaps it’s fortunate.

That the current situation didn’t become one where I was teasing her.

“Why go to such lengths?”

I smoothly slipped out of bed and stood on the floor.

There was no resistance from them, perhaps because the unexpected situation had frozen their thoughts. But the fuse was quietly burning. The bomb condensed with intense tension and anger exploded all at once.

“Fuck, kill him!!!”

The man at the front lunged at me, swinging his sharp blade. One in front. Four combined from the left and right. Their killing intent was impressive but evoked no emotion in me.

Before the frontal attacker’s knife could slice my shoulder, I closed in and shattered his collarbone with my elbow.

Crack!

“Kuhurk…!”

I pushed him against the wall with my elbow. Meanwhile, the assassins’ blades struck the innocent floor.

While they couldn’t hide their dismay, a small hope gleamed in the eyes of the man struggling to breathe. He seemed to be placing hope in my action of not killing him instantly.

The assassins behind were the same. Like comrades trying to negotiate a hostage situation, they stood at a distance with drawn swords. In fact, the man with the broken collarbone and his comrades behind were desperately exchanging silent communication.

For a moment, I considered meeting that expectation, but quickly dismissed the thought. I grabbed around his chest and applied force with my grip.

Crack, crunch!

The cruel screams of tearing chest muscles and breaking ribs dominated the space. I shook off the blood vessels tangled around my fingers. Next, dropping blood with a metallic smell onto the floor, I cast my gaze at his comrades.

“Fuck… fucking hell…”

Their footsteps unconsciously retreated. When I took one step forward, they moved half a step back. The inevitable game of tag thus began.

I wonder why.

I’m curious why people who try to kill others actually fear death themselves. Did they not predict this situation at all? Then do these men before me share the same mindset as my parents?

I don’t know.

It feels like there’s a hazy fog in my head.

Can’t be helped. I’ll just have to kill them all.

Swoosh.

Pou rises. It hides its presence in the midnight darkness, wearing the mask of shadows. While they’re just watching cautiously, Pou wraps around their throats like a noose, waiting for the execution order.

Just as I was slowly tightening my grip.

Crash, shatter!

The window behind the assassins. The well-maintained transparent glass was completely shattered by someone’s intrusion.

Immediately after, a large silhouette floating in the air colored the monochrome world.

“Riaaaaan!!!”

The identity of this artist was a new intruder flying toward me as if about to throw herself into my arms.

It was Serin.