Chapter Index

    She continued to run through the pitch-black darkness.

    Thorns entangled at her feet, tearing her skin, and a fierce wind and rain beat down on her body.

    “Huk, huk, huk…”

    When she came to, Eve was running through this rough forest.

    She didn’t know why.

    It was as if she were chasing someone, and as if she were being chased by something.

    Her body was already exhausted, her leg muscles felt like they would tear, but for some reason, she didn’t stop. As if continuing to run along this rough forest path was her mission.

    Until she fell, was wounded, and collapsed from exhaustion. As if this hardship and suffering would never end.

    ‘Father… Mother…’

    Suddenly, she remembered her parents who had left long ago. The image of the small house in her hometown where she had lived happily with them appeared in her mind.

    She momentarily weakened at the sight of that peaceful scene.

    ‘I want to go back… I want to rest now…!’

    As she cried out so earnestly, light flickered in the dark rain-swept forest.

    Paaaat—!

    Eve reached out towards the bright white light that enveloped her, so intense she couldn’t help but tightly shut her eyes.

    “Hwit…”

    How much time had passed?

    The warm sunlight dried her rain-soaked clothes. A refreshing breeze blew from somewhere, tickling her nose, and she heard the chirping of birds – jjeek- jjaejjak-.

    The pain in her muscles, which had felt like they would tear, vanished completely, and she felt as comfortable as if she were lying on a cloud.

    She couldn’t help but open her eyes. Very cautiously, strongly but slowly. Like opening the door of an old warehouse that had been tightly shut for a long time.

    She slowly opened her creaking eyelids.

    * * *

    “Today’s class is over—”

    The ceiling of the academy classroom came into view.

    There was no trace of the previous night’s fatigue; she felt refreshed and invigorated.

    ‘What… what happened…?’

    Eve couldn’t understand the situation at all.

    Despite being clearly in a classroom, her body felt light. A soft sensation against her head and back.

    She immediately sat up and looked around.

    “Th-this… what is this…”

    A thin barrier of mana blocked her path. She was inside something like a floating air bubble.

    When she reached out to touch it, it felt soft yet tough, like leather. No matter how much she stirred it, it showed no sign of dispersing.

    The barrier was thin enough that she could clearly see through it.

    The instructor leaving the classroom after finishing the lesson. The cadets tidying their desks and leaving for home.

    And, visible beyond the window, a sunny afternoon with the sun high in the sky.

    ‘How long did I sleep?’

    Eve immediately restored her energy to her relaxed body. She adjusted her disheveled clothes from her unintentional nap, and tried to get out of this mana barrier.

    “Excuse me…!!”

    But even when she called out to the cadets, there was no answer.

    They didn’t even look her way. As if nothing was there.

    ‘Perception-blocking magic…!’

    Who would do such a thing?

    To find out what was going on, Eve quickly surveyed her surroundings, and fortunately or unfortunately, the caster of the magic was not far away.

    “Did you sleep well? Huuaa—”

    Yawning languidly, a cadet approached her with a dazed expression. A woman who felt like the most suspicious and dangerous person in this classroom.

    “Narias Philbrogue…!” “Judging by your anger, you slept well.” “What do you intend to do to me?!”

    Paang-

    Eve slammed the barrier towards her.

    She couldn’t read her thoughts at all.

    Why she had confined her to this place, how she used such powerful barrier magic, how she used the perception-blocking magic that only remained in ancient documents.

    She had a mountain of questions. She was angry because she didn’t know anything.

    She was anxious, trembling, afraid.

    Narias opened her mouth, but the frigid atmosphere did not subside.

    “Want to know…? Why I’m doing this.” “…!!” “Yes, I can tell you. I will gladly tell you.”

    Eve was slightly surprised that she was so readily willing to reveal her purpose.

    And she swallowed.

    Kol-kak-

    “I have a request for you, Unique-ranked adventurer.”

    ……!!

    “H-how, h-how—” “How did I know you’re an adventurer? You weren’t even trying to hide it, apparently.”

    Kakdeuk. Eve gritted her teeth.

    “Your roommate came looking for you. She said you were nowhere to be seen even though it was late at night. If you wanted to sneak off, you should have been more discreet.” “No, I definitely left a letter…” “It wasn’t properly delivered, was it? A mere letter could be lost, damaged, or even stolen.”

    Damn it, she made a mistake.

    The letter hadn’t been properly delivered. Her roommate was a nosy person. And the person she asked for help was this woman.

    She hadn’t necessarily intended to hide the fact that she was an adventurer, but Narias was the first to notice. It was too twisted.

    But what could she do?

    Eve gritted her teeth, able only to glare at her from within the mana barrier.

    She could tear this flimsy barrier apart if she unleashed all her strength, but if she did, she couldn’t guarantee the academy building or even her own body. She’d never done, nor could she do, the delicate mana manipulation to focus her strength within this narrow area.

    She felt so powerless. Even her strength, cultivated through years of arduous effort, felt utterly futile.

    Eve clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh, glaring at the enemy before her.

    And Narias laughed slyly.

    “Then, let’s eat first.”

    . . .

    Powerless. Unable to resist, unable to speak.

    She was instantly dragged to a restaurant in the capital. Dishes began to be laid out on the table at will.

    “What in the—” “Just wait. This is part of the request too.” “Hey, I haven’t even said I’ll do it—”

    Jjal-geurak-

    Narias placed a small pouch containing something on the table. She nodded as if to say she should open it.

    When she untied the knot, it was full of gold coins.

    “…I don’t know what you intend, but I can’t accept such a large sum.” “Huh? What do you mean? This is an advance payment.” “……!!”

    Eve immediately searched inside the pouch.

    Jjal-lak- jjal-lak-

    They were all real gold coins. More than 100 Naifrantz gold coins.

    The Philbrogue Baron family weren’t destitute, but they didn’t have this much to throw around so easily. It became even more suspicious.

    “…The request is.” “Let’s just work together on something. Let’s stick together for a while.” “It wasn’t supposed to be a one-time job…”

    She began to understand. The reason for suddenly offering such a large sum. The price for her not taking on other jobs while accompanying her.

    Honestly, there was no reason to refuse.

    It would be easier to repay her debts by receiving a large sum once than by gradually accumulating money from various new requests every day. And assisting with one job was also safer than the extermination requests she always did alone.

    The problem was that Narias was too suspicious. But that could be viewed as a chance to get close to her and discover her true intentions.

    Both of them were ostensibly freshmen at the academy. Even if the method was bold, this careful approach suggested that they wouldn’t be causing any major trouble.

    She wanted to believe that.

    Eve quietly nodded.

    “So, is it a deal?” “…Yes. I don’t go back on my word.” “Okay, then you can have that.”

    Narias nodded towards the pouch of gold coins Eve had received. Then she smacked her lips.

    “Alright, let’s eat quickly before it gets cold. I’m hungry.” “Eat slowly, sister. Eve, too.” “…Okay.”

    Honestly, the Philbrogue sisters were suspicious.

    Their background, their abilities, their personalities, their purpose, even their spending habits – everything was suspicious.

    But watching them made her feel somewhat at ease.

    Sweetly bickering, fighting playfully. Though they were sisters, the affection they shared wasn’t ordinary. They trusted each other, seemingly understanding each other’s souls as well as their appearances. Something more sticky, honey-like.

    “Sister, try this. Ah—” “Ah— Haup- um, um. Delicious! Is the meat fresh?”

    They fed each other food while people were around, exactly like young lovers would.

    Not caring about others’ glances, able to focus only on the loved one in front of them – such a relationship.

    That kind of relationship…

    ‘I’m envious— No, no!!’

    Eve found herself envying them.

    She should be more suspicious, more observant, yet she’s having these kinds of thoughts. She was disappointed in herself. And she was further disappointed in her inability to be honest with herself.

    “What are you doing? You try some too.” “Uh- uh-huh…”

    Even the bread, the soup, and the meltingly tender meat felt ordinary.

    No, in fact, she couldn’t taste anything. How long had it been since she had lost her enjoyment of food? Lately, she’d relied on potions and herbs that only provided nutrition, so a luxurious meal was not appealing to her.

    She cleared all the food from the table, not even knowing if it went down her throat or her nose, and after paying the bill, Narias stood up first.

    “Then, let’s go.” “…Where?” “Ah— You must not know since you skipped class today.”

    Yurias also packed up and got ready to leave somewhere.

    Eve looked up at them, still sitting in her chair.

    “Tomorrow’s magic class is a sparring session. Your opponent is me.” “…What? Why are you telling me this so—” “So let’s go. I’ll give you a quick summary of today’s lesson. As a kind of pre-practice for the real thing.”

    Narias smiled slyly.

    Eve felt nothing but a bad premonition.

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