episode_0046
by fnovelpia“Welcome, Young Lady of Brian! We sincerely welcome you to Noktar!”
The reception room of Yeongju Castle.
Baron Bardelli, the lord of Noktar, welcomed Narsha with open arms. Narsha responded with a graceful, not overly formal smile.
“What on earth brought the young lady to this faraway Noktar alone?”
Although Baron Bardelli pretended not to know, he knew the intention of Narsha’s visit.
The story goes back to a month ago, when the entire upper section of the Desert Rose was destroyed by a meteor.
The owner of the upper house, Loperman, has turned to dust along with his cherished collection, and the top-quality items hidden deep underground have been stolen by someone.
Baron Bardelli was the one who took money in exchange for turning a blind eye to Loperman’s crimes and providing him with convenience.
The city was thrown into unprecedented chaos when the merchant in charge of the Noktar market suddenly disappeared overnight.
The top brass come to occupy the empty seats and fight every day. The already poor public security is getting worse and prices are skyrocketing.
In that situation, Narsha came to see me.
Count Brian.
The Master of the Dawn Journey, based in the capital city of Kalia and considered one of the highest echelons of the kingdom.
Narsha Brian before your eyes is the only daughter of a count’s family and is considered the next successor to the upper class.
It was obvious why Narsha, of all people, came to Noktar at this particular time. She must have intended to exert influence on Noktar.
‘The Count’s family is nearly impossible to control. I won’t be able to get money from them like before…’
But it doesn’t only have disadvantages.
As you help the Dawn Journey to expand its influence, you will naturally develop a connection with the Count Brian’s family.
You can build connections not only with the Silk Counts but also with various nobles in the central region. This is an opportunity to build a pillar from which you can extend your branches.
‘But you shouldn’t be swayed too much…’
You shouldn’t let your guard down just because you’re young. The most important thing is the first move. Baron Bardelli was racking his brain. Narsha asked a question out of the blue.
“My lord, is there a slave messenger in the city?”
Are you thinking of lightening the mood before getting into the main topic? Well, not bad.
“Slave messenger… I think I’ve heard of it. I’m sure someone who enslaved elves had that nickname.”
“Elf?”
For a moment, a cold expression appeared on Narsha’s face. However, Narsha had become accustomed to the manners of a high-ranking official, so she kept a poker face on the outside.
It was said to be a basic quality for a businessman.
“Why is that guy looking for me? Ah…!”
An article he had read in a newspaper one day came to the Baron’s mind.
A young lady from a noble family who was enslaved after being attacked by a bandit group. She was sold to a slave messenger and was on the verge of death, but after paying the price and going through many twists and turns, she returned to her family.
The main character of that story was Narsha in front of me.
“But I heard that the slave messenger stole it soon after?”
“It would have been nice if that had been the case… .”
“Huh? What did you just say… .”
“That’s a misunderstanding. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have been able to appear before you, Baron.”
“Hmm, I see. So you were chasing that messenger?”
“Yes.”
He had not come to the top, but to seek personal revenge. The Baron licked his lips in regret.
“Is he here by any chance?”
‘That person…?’
Something about the title seems strange.
Baron Bardelli didn’t bother to demand a correction. It must have been a bad habit from being treated harshly by the slave messenger.
Poor girl, the Baron clicked his tongue inwardly.
“The day the meteor struck Noktar, that man also disappeared. At first, I thought he was dead, but seeing that the elf who had been guarding him was alive, I guess he must have run away secretly.”
“Anyway, that means he’s not there.”
“That’s it for now.”
“… Okay.”
Narsha biting her lower lip.
He seemed to think for a moment, then got up from his seat.
“Are you going already?”
“I’m thinking of taking a walk around the city for a while.”
“It may be strange for me, the lord, to say this, but this city is not very safe. I will give you an escort.”
Narsha shook her head and showed off the rapier hanging from her waist.
“I will accept your heart. It is enough to build my own body.”
“Then I have nothing more to say, but be careful of the bar called the Night Gathering.”
“Why?”
“Elves come and go. There are also elves that the god of death brought with him. They are a race that treats humans like insects, so if you get involved with them, you’ll be in trouble.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
***
Narsha, who came out of Yeongju Castle, walked aimlessly. Her steps were completely without strength.
‘also….’
It’s late again.
I’m chasing Karami’s great steps, but I’m always one step behind. When I’m lucky enough to find them, I find them to be nothing but scumbags who call themselves slave messengers.
Those scum who kill slaves not for the noble purpose of liberation, but for the low pleasure they get. Narsha will poke holes in the necks of all those guys.
Where will you go next?
Even if you get the information, you’re always late when you arrive. It’s good to save the poor, but if you’d just wait a little longer…
Narsha sighed.
‘First, I should go to a place called the Night Gathering.’
Baron Bardelli warned her to be careful, but Narsha had to go there. The elf slaves that Karami had brought in were coming and going.
To check what kind of person he is and also to establish discipline as a senior.
Narsha walked around the city looking for the peacock of the night party.
“Evil!”
At that moment, a loud groan rang out. The direction the sound came from was a dark back alley in a slum where no light could reach. The sound of grumbling continued.
It’s a neighborhood that’s too unsafe for a woman to wander around alone. Narsha, the daughter of a noble family, is particularly at risk during the day.
It would be best to go back here.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Narsha turned her head. She walked slowly toward the alley.
***
In a dark slum, a hollow resembling an anthill, long shadows were tangled together like a nightmare blooming in the darkness.
The echoing heavy breathing and the sound of beatings. A boy was crawling under a man’s shoe, and the slum dwellers laughed, showing their rotten teeth.
“That’s why I told you not to do shit!”
Phew!
“Oh my!”
The boy who was kicked in the stomach floated up and then fell to the floor.
“Matthew!”
Lala, who was being held captive by the slum dwellers, called out the boy’s name, but he did not get up. He curled up like a shrimp, wrapped his body around his stomach, and trembled.
The face was already bruised and bleeding. The clothes were dirty and torn. There was not a single healthy spot to be found.
“You little brat, didn’t I warn you clearly? Don’t come and take the kids away. You little brat with no morals.”
Even though he was in a state of confusion, Matthew managed to force his voice out.
“You, you’re the bad guys… . You’re preventing the kids who could eat well and live well if they become slaves from going because of your greed… .”
“How many times do I have to tell you to understand? If you become a slave, you will all die miserably, you little punk. Think about it with your own head. Is it normal for a guy to take only girls and make them slaves?”
“Brother… said no… !”
The man shook his head and sighed. He seemed to have been brainwashed, as if he couldn’t communicate.
“This isn’t fanaticism. This won’t do. I need to show them an example of what happens when they become slaves.”
Just as the man was about to approach Matthew to kick him again,
“Huh?”
Narsha appeared from around the corner and stood in front of Matthew.
In the gloomy slums, a calm yet strange light shines through.
Her fair skin did not match the darkness of the slums.
Are you a noble?
The slum dwellers flinched for a moment, but when they realized that they had no companions, they burst into frivolous laughter.
“Looking at her behavior, she seems like a precious daughter of a family. Didn’t her mom and dad teach her not to go to dark places?”
A woman of that caliber rolled in on her own two feet. I didn’t know I would get this kind of windfall in broad daylight. Is it really broad daylight? I can’t tell because there’s no light.
“… … .”
Narsha looked back and forth between the children and the slum dwellers.
A child struggling in pain and fear. That was all. I didn’t feel anything beyond the given situation.
It is an inefficient waste of emotion, and helping others requires time and money. When emotions are involved, losses occur.
Which choice yields the highest profits. Whose life is worth how much.
What mattered to her was not the value of a single tear, but the value of the gold she would get by selling those tears.
‘but….’
He was different.
No one is left out.
Look down.
Stay with those who are hurting.
Hands embrace souls struggling in despair.
A primary yet great goal, not for one’s own glory, but to lead only those who suffer to salvation.
A duty that must be performed by those who receive His grace and follow in His footsteps.
Fit-
Narsha draws her rapier and draws a line between herself and the villagers.
“The moment you cross this line, you die.”
“Khehehe. Die? Who? You? Can you swing a sword with those thin arms? I don’t know who taught you, but a sword isn’t something a woman should be holding… .”
The man’s words became more and more drawn out.
Because Narsha took a step forward and crossed the line with her own feet.
“What──”
Narsha’s movements were faster than the man could finish his sentence.
High speeds that far surpass our understanding.
Narsha’s new form flashes.
Sigh.
The rapier draws a beam of light in the darkness and pierces the man’s neck in one stroke.
“Break.”
A man who let out a short groan.
As Narsha pulls out her rapier, the man falls to the floor with blood spraying from his neck.
“I told you clearly. If you cross the line, you die.”
A second of mercy given by Narsha.
They should have run away immediately.
“You guys.”
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