Chapter 20: Where’s Isabel..?

As dusk settled, the soldiers of Grace Field were in a flurry of activity.

Something urgent was afoot.

They rushed back and forth.

Layla observed the commotion, a sense of unease growing within her.

“What’s going on? Is someone attacking the village?”

…But the security seemed lax.

Whatever was happening, it was clearly a big deal.

Soldiers and suspicious-looking young men were huddled together, talking.

“Mercenaries?”

They didn’t look like villagers…

Their scars and rough appearance suggested they were mercenaries or guildless vagrants.

Amidst the chaos, Layla entered a tavern.

“Welcome! To the Quadres Tavern!”

A jovial, portly man greeted her.

Layla looked at him and said, “A drink, please. And I have a question…”
“Certainly! What can I get for you, miss?”
“Do you know someone called… Black Hound?”
“The… Black Hound? The noble’s dog?”

Layla nodded.

“Yes.”
“Why do you ask…?”
“I’m looking for him.”

‘Why would she look for such a dangerous man?’

‘Especially someone called the noble’s dog…’

The owner was puzzled, but he hid it well.

“Hmm. I don’t think he’s been to this village.”
“Oh… is that so?”

She’d heard he was here.

Was she mistaken?

Layla accepted the drink and took a sip.

“Why is everyone in this village looking for him?”
“Ugh,
! This is so annoying.”

A group of young men entered, grumbling.

Layla recognized them from earlier. They looked rough.

They barked at the owner, demanding drinks.

“Coming right up!” the owner replied, hurrying to serve them.

They sat down at a table not far from Layla.

“That apprentice butler or whatever. Why is he so important, ugh.”
“Hey, he’s the trainer who tamed that wicked countess. How did he do it? She’s a fiery
.”

‘Trainer…?’

The word struck a chord with Layla.

The Black Hound had said he would redeem many villainesses.

Layla had joked about him being a trainer.

“You idiot! Watch your mouth! What if someone reports you to the countess…”
“Alright, alright!”
“But seriously… it’s terrifying. If we don’t find that apprentice butler, what will happen to us? That fiery countess…”

One of the men chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.

“Idiot… don’t worry. Didn’t you hear what the guy who hired us, the captain of the guard or something, said? Apparently…”

He looked around, then whispered to his companion.

The other man’s eyes widened.

“What? Seriously?”
“Yeah,
! I heard it myself!”
“Damn, he’s amazing… how did he do it?”
“I know, right? But damn! Where’s our booze? Get the drinks!!”

He slammed his fist on the table.

The jovial owner rushed over with their drinks.

“Here you go! Sorry for the wait!”

As the owner served them, one of the men noticed Layla.

“Hey, isn’t she pretty?”
“Who, who?”

A graceful woman with black hair, like a doll, sat a short distance away.

“Ooh, she’s hot. Go talk to her.”

One of the men approached Layla.

“Heehee. Are you alone, miss?”
“…”

Layla ignored him, continuing to look straight ahead.

“Hey, you look lonely. Want to hang out with us?”

The owner cautiously approached them.

“Excuse me, gentlemen? Please keep it down…”
“Shut up, fatso!”
“Sir, please, if you continue behaving like this…”
“You want to die, fatty?”

The man grabbed the owner by the collar.

The atmosphere grew tense.

Layla sighed softly.

“…Sigh.”

She placed a gold coin on the table.

Then, she looked up at the man towering over her.

“Follow me.”

The man released the owner and looked at his companions.

“Oh? She’s inviting us.”
“Heehee… let’s go for round two! Round two!”

Layla walked out, and the men followed.

Under the full moon, Layla led the men into a dark alley.

They snickered amongst themselves.

“Hey, where are we going? If you’re that eager, we can do it right here. This alley is kind of dirty, don’t you think?”
“Heehee… come on, she’s a lady. Let’s be a little more polite.”

Amidst their vulgar chatter, Layla turned around with a faint smile.

Her black hair danced in the gentle breeze, shimmering mysteriously in the moonlight.

The men whistled, their lust ignited.

“Wow, she’shot. I call dibs!”
“No way! I wanted to go first. Fine… just tell me when you’re done. I’ll keep watch.”
“Sure, just watch.”

The man who had harassed her at the tavern approached her.

“Hey, beautiful. Been waiting long? I’ll show you a good time.”

Layla sighed.

“Isavel said not to kill, right?”
“Heehee, what are you talking about?”

As he reached for her, a breeze blew, and she vanished.

The man looked around, bewildered.

“W-Where’d she go?”
“What? What’s going on?”

His companions also noticed she was gone.

“Where did she go?”

She’d disappeared like a ghost.

They looked around, confused, when suddenly, Layla reappeared behind the man, grabbing him by the scruff of his neck.

She slammed his face into the ground.

“Ugh!”
“Hey, hey!?”

With surprising strength, she dragged him along the ground, his face scraping against the gravel.

“Gah!”
“Hey! Tyson!”

His friend rushed to help him.

Layla moved swiftly, disappearing again.

“Where’d she go!?”

‘This ghostly woman…’

‘I have to catch and kill her.’

He drew a dagger, sweating nervously.

“Where are you!!!”
“Right here.”

A voice from below.

As he looked down, he felt a sharp pain in his jaw.

He realized he was airborne.

Layla kicked him hard in the stomach.

He flew back like a soccer ball, crashing into a wooden crate.

“Ugh…”
“…So weak.”

Layla picked up the dropped dagger and looked at the man crawling on the ground.

“Where are you going? Weren’t you looking for some fun?”

She smiled cruelly and followed him slowly.

“… what is this… ugh…”

He tried to escape, but Layla stabbed him in the back of the leg with the dagger.

“Aaargh!”
“Shhh, shhh. Quiet. Someone will hear…”

She smiled sweetly.

“Where should I stab you next?”
“Gah!?”

She stabbed him again in the back.

“Aaaaagh!”
“Heeheehee, I told you to be quiet. If you keep making those nice sounds, I might actually kill you…”
“Ugh…”

‘I messed with the wrong woman.’

Tears welled up in his eyes.

“S-Spare me…”
“Hmm, spare you?”

Layla tilted her head, as if puzzled.

“Why would I kill you? Isabel taught me not to…”

Then she shook her head.

“No, wait. On second thought, trash like you needs a lesson. I’ll only half-kill you. Okay?”
“P-Please! I’m sorry! I was wrong!”
“Oh, really? Then let me ask you something. You were talking about the Black Hound, Isavel, right?”
“Th-That…!”
“No, wait. I’ll half-kill you anyway. You made me angry.”

The man pleaded desperately.

“No! I’ll talk! I’ll talk!!”
“Go on.”
“Th-The soldiers in the village… they’re looking for a man! I-I think it’s the Black Hound you mentioned!”
“…”

‘As expected. It’s Isavel.’

Layla pressed her foot on his back, urging him to continue.

“Th-They’re looking for him… apparently he went to another village!”
“Where?”
“I-I don’t know exactly! It’s just a rumor…”
“You don’t know?”

Layla raised her dagger to stab him again.

“No! I know! I know!”
“…”
“Sob… they said if I go to Elysia, I’ll find out… that’s all I know… sob…”
“Elysia?”
“Yes! Sob, sob! Please spare me!”

Elysia, the holy land of nobles, where the Nobles’ Conference was held.

Isabel had mentioned redeeming a noble villainess.

‘So… he’s there?’

Layla touched her cheeks, a dreamy expression on her face.

“Isabel… I’ll see you soon.”

She tossed the dagger aside, imagining Isabel’s face.

“I’m coming, Isabel…”

Layla left the alley.

Everything was ready.

Belladriel boarded the carriage without a word.

Knight-Captain Rebecca asked again, “Shine Order, are you sure you want to take him with you?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”

Her face was expressionless.

Sensing her displeasure, Rebecca bowed her head.

“N-No. I just thought I should accompany you as your escort. Forgive me.”

Rebecca approached me.

“Why is a scoundrel like you coming along…?”
“Haha, I’m wondering the same thing.”

Normally, an assistant priest would stay behind in the saint’s stead.

This exception made Rebecca suspicious.

I smiled and said, “But these are the Shine Order’s commands, aren’t they?”
“…”

Rebecca narrowed her eyes and sighed.

“I don’t understand the Shine Order’s intentions, but Grace Village is dangerous. I won’t be able to protect you. Keep that in mind. Understood?”

She crossed her arms and spoke firmly.

She was right. Grace Village was dangerous.

Its poor security and poverty bred crime.

“Of course, Rebecca! I can protect myself. You should protect yourself too! So you can protect the Shine Order!”
“Are you mocking me…?”

Rebecca reached for the sword at her hip.

I raised my hands in a placating gesture.

“No, no! Calm down! Save your sword for protecting the Shine Order. I’ll be quiet now!”
“Sigh… why does the Shine Order want to go to Grace Village…? There’s no scheduled event…”

Why Grace Village?

Because I won the wager.

And because that village was crucial for the next event.

“Hmm, everything seems ready. Let’s depart.”
“Sigh… listen, assistant priest. Don’t you dare lay a finger on the Shine Order. Any inappropriate behavior, and I’ll…”
“Yes, yes, of course. I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“I don’t trust you at all. I know you’re the Black Hound… I’ll be watching you.”
“Oh, you recognize me?”

Rebecca scoffed and walked away.

I sighed and murmured, “Our knight-captain is quite prickly.”