Chapter 19: The Tomb Is a Bit Too Luxurious

The tomb is rather extravagant, isn’t it?

“You’re here! Did Murray succeed?”

On the outskirts of Yaltesang’s domain, the guildmaster of the painters’ guild, spotting the approaching carriage from a distance, couldn’t suppress his excitement.

“Truly, even a decrepit wizard like him still has power! He’s an old fool, but his abilities were unmistakable!”

The guildmaster chuckled darkly, a sinister grin creeping onto his face.

It had been a tough couple of months, but now it was all over.

Chloe… you’re mine now.

The guildmaster spread his arms wide, a malicious smile playing across his lips.

“You’re free to disembark now.”

“Yes! Thank you for your hard work, driver!”

Chloe cheerfully stepped down from the carriage, and the guildmaster’s gaze lingered on her as she did.

“…?”

Why is she walking out on her own?

An unsettling, bizarre situation unfolded before his eyes—like something out of a kidnapper’s worst nightmare.

It was as though the child they had abducted had willingly stepped out of the vehicle.

The guildmaster furrowed his brow, unable to hide his confusion.

Did he… coax her into coming with him?

It made sense.

The standard abduction procedure—a forced invitation masked with a promise of something fun—was familiar enough.

He could almost picture the scenario: “Would you like to go somewhere fun with me, little girl?”

But something didn’t sit right.

What the hell is going on?

Murray was supposed to be with her, right?

Did that old man have the patience to charm her into coming willingly?

The guildmaster narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but the mercenary, Balt, only smiled in response, his grin wide and knowing.

“We brought her safely. Payment for the ‘escort’ should be deposited to the account as agreed.”

“Got it. But where did Murray go?”

“Who knows? We can’t exactly pry into the whereabouts of someone like him. It’s not even my business to begin with.”

Tch.

That mercenary sure is cocky.

But he had a point.

Wizards were all eccentric, after all.

It didn’t matter where the old man had gone.

The important thing was that Chloe had been brought here.

No complaints.

The guildmaster waved off Balt—who appeared to be in an awful hurry—and grinned broadly.

His smile was almost too pleasant.

“Hello, Chloe. Or should I call you Cynthia?”

“Call me whatever you like, Guildmaster!”

Oh?

The little brat still hasn’t figured it out, has she?

The guildmaster, exhausted from the stress of the past months, reveled in the sadistic joy of the moment.

“Hehehe… I suppose Balt didn’t tell you where you’re going, did he?”

“No!”

“Well, the place we’re heading to is my secret villa. It’s also going to be the place where your life comes to an end.”

“…?”

What was this all of a sudden?

Her life’s end? Was this a proposal or something?

Chloe froze, her mouth hanging open in confusion.

If the person in question had been a woman half her age, or a particularly charming madam, or even if Chloe were truly a woman herself… then maybe, just maybe, she could have understood what was happening.

But in this situation?

If that were the case, Chloe might have at least pretended to consider it.

But no—what was this?

A middle-aged man with a scruffy beard confessing to an 8-year-old transgender boy?

This wasn’t just bizarre; it was completely insane.

No, even without memories of my past life, this is a no-go.

If you took away the magic potion from a young girl, what do you get?

Answer: Just a little girl.

Ugh! This guy’s a mad expansionist!

Sorry, Mom! I promised I’d accept any confession from now on, but this?

This is too much!

Chloe instinctively flinched, her body shifting into the anti-proposal kick position she’d honed back home.

“You’ll be painting for me at the villa.”

“Eh?”

Unfortunately for the guildmaster, Chloe’s killer windmill kick did not land on his most vulnerable spot.

Even if it had connected, it probably wouldn’t have mattered.

Compared to others her age, Chloe wasn’t exactly strong.

“Painting?”

“It’s not a bad offer. If you work hard, I’ll make sure you get a little spending money. And occasionally, you’ll even be allowed out.”

Of course, the “outings” wouldn’t be particularly enjoyable.

The guildmaster, his gaze once again fixated on Chloe, gleamed hungrily.

“Look forward to it.

As my apprentice, you’ll gain the favor of the lords of Runtraval and the wealthiest elites.”

Lords.

Wealthy elites.

The most powerful figures representing Runtraval.

It was clear what this meant.

It meant Chloe wouldn’t be able to run away, no matter where she went.

And with this, the Painter’s Guild will rise even further!

The international stage—grasping the world itself.

He wouldn’t have to bow to the old wizards anymore.

He chuckled darkly.

“Heh heh heh…!!”

After a round of triumphant laughter, the guildmaster quickly composed himself.

His face morphed into the caring expression of an adult.

“If you ever want to escape, that’s fine. But you’ll be begging to come back eventually.”

Whoosh!

The guildmaster finished speaking and climbed into the driver’s seat.

He was planning to head to the secluded villa where he’d be hiding out for a while, confident that Chloe wouldn’t escape.

And he was right.

After carefully processing the guildmaster’s words, Chloe nodded, seeming reassured.

Ah, I see! He’s trying to convince me not to quit painting!

[❓🤨]

Huh?

Did the click just say something?

No, forget it.

The click doesn’t matter.

Leaning against the carriage, Chloe exhaled deeply, brushing her chest as if to calm herself.

Good grief, though.

The way he talks… I almost misunderstood and got the wrong idea.

It seems like Yaltarion must have heard about my retirement plans.

So, that’s why he rushed over with a recruitment offer.

Probably hoping to get me to come for a meal at his villa.

What should I do?

Chloe found herself deep in thought.

How could she politely reject the idea of retirement while still being respectful?

But then—

“…Huh?”

The guildmaster’s offer, which she had initially intended to turn down, kept swirling in her mind.

As the thoughts settled, Chloe suddenly opened her mouth.

Wait, so… the working conditions I just heard about…?

Free room and board.

A salary, surprisingly, for someone in Runtraval.

Guaranteed vacation days.

Opportunities to network with high society VIPs.

And, most shockingly, the freedom to leave at any time.

So, I can quit whenever I want?

Was this the employment offer from the Martial Arts Guild?

As the direct painter to the guildmaster, was this what she’d get?

“…Wow.”

That’s… tempting.

Without a doubt, this was the biggest dilemma Chloe had faced since being reborn in Runtraval.

The world’s wealthiest family, outside the Medallion family bank.

“Ugh, I thought I was going to die…”

Balt, having abandoned the carriage and fled, sighed as if the weight of the world had just been lifted.

A monster of unknown origin.

The relief of escaping the wizard disguised as a young girl still left him shaken.

“Balt. What are you going to do now?”

“What do you think? If I want to keep breathing, I have to keep fighting.”

Balt glanced at the Medallion bank’s sign.

The bank.

A financial intermediary business that started in Yaltesang.

In Runtraval, it was all the rage.

Now, even mercenaries who had retired weren’t immune to it.

Their sighs came as a result.

“Damn, it’s easy to talk. But if an assassin shows up tomorrow, it wouldn’t surprise me.”

“Here, even the staff know my mom’s address.”

Knowing someone’s account means you know their every move.

A private detective? In Runtraval, that was just another day at the office.

This was Runtraval.

In a hardboiled noir world, a bank couldn’t survive without the ability to bury a debtor deep if need be.

For a mercenary on the run, there was no paradise waiting.

“Who knows? That monster seemed like it wasn’t too interested in us.”

“Is that so?”

“Is that so? Well, even if the guildmaster turns to ash, that guy will still have the oily lords of the region furious.”

If VIP clients requested personal information, there was no reason the bank wouldn’t comply.

They’d likely find out everything about Balt and his friends, including their nighttime preferences, and sell it.

Probably for about one Yurk coin per person.

Wow! The ransom for a life is cheaper than kidnapping fees!

Balt couldn’t help but feel tears welling up.

“So, surrendering and finding redemption is…”

“If you’re caught by the guards, you’ll end up as a mine slave at best,” his companion replied.

A mine slave.

Just hearing the term sent a chill down his spine.

Why else would forced labor be a punishment?

The dust from mining filled your lungs, guaranteeing a chronic cough or worse.

The frequent collapses in the mines often meant death.

But these are the only two options left.

Should he believe in hope and try to escape?

Or should he give up everything and resign himself to a life of labor, where there’s no way out?

Balt chuckled bitterly.

“Well, this isn’t even a real choice.”

“Seems like we’re all coming to the same conclusion,” another muttered.

“Heh. Guess we’ll all die on the same day.”

And so, Balt and the mercenaries reached an unspoken agreement.

“Hey, guard. We’re the ones who kidnapped the girl a little while ago.”

“…Pardon?”

“We’ve come to surrender. Please arrest us.”

“………………Pardon?”

The mercenary group, specializing in the dirty work, was arrested on charges of child abduction.

What?

Mining slaves die in rock falls?

Ah, so we won’t die from torture after all!

Clink!

Balt and his comrades, now in shackles, were oddly elated, like children.

“You’re officially state-sponsored criminal slaves from now on!”

Ah, so we’re under the protection of the state now!

“If any mining officials come by, you’ll be dragged off to remote mines! Understand?”

Ah, so we’re being relocated somewhere where monsters won’t target us!

“What’s the mine like?”

“I hope the guards are pretty, though, with a whip.”

Through the bars, the mercenaries conversed quietly.

Despite their fall from grace, there was a deep camaraderie among them.

But the heavens were indifferent.

Their peace wouldn’t last long.

“S-Sir! This is unacceptable!”

“The only thing unacceptable here is your idiotic attempts to ruin the street! Get out of my way!”

BANG!

Outside the cell, the stench of waste lingered, and an old man, exuding a dangerous aura, appeared—causing even the captain of the Yaltesang guards to freeze in fear.

“Wh-what’s going on here?!”

“Who are you to cause such a ruckus in the judicial department?!”

“My name is of no concern to you.”

Ah, so he’s someone we don’t need to know.

Balt found himself oddly cheerful.

“I’ve heard the story. Though you’re criminals, you showed conscience and surrendered, so I won’t harm you easily. However…”

“However?”

“If you don’t answer my questions from now on, I’ll make sure not only your lives but your very souls are destroyed. Understand?”

Balt eagerly nodded, nearly cracking his neck in the process.

“Good. Then answer me,” the old man said.

The old man, wearing a baker’s hat, was none other than Yaltarion. He poured magic into the air with an overwhelming force.

“Where did you take Chloe?!”

“Excuse me?”

Take her?

We?

Balt genuinely wanted to ask this man: Do you think we’re some swordmasters or something?

Despite his confusion, the overwhelming aura of the old man made it clear that there was no room for misunderstanding.

The situation was dead serious, and they needed to tread carefully.

“Uh, you must be mistaken,” Balt started, trying to keep his voice steady.

“We haven’t taken anyone anywhere.”

Yaltarion’s eyes narrowed dangerously, his gaze sharp as a blade.

His magical energy seemed to press against the very air around them, intensifying the silence between the two.

“Don’t try to lie to me. I can sense the truth,” Yaltarion’s voice was cold, more threatening than any weapon.

“Now, where is she?”

Balt swallowed hard.

Even if he didn’t know where Chloe was or who was behind this, it was becoming clear that the situation was escalating rapidly.

He’s not going to stop until we tell him something…