episode_0074

“… Finally.”

Inadvertently, Bella’s mouth opened.

“Finally… … .”

However, she just kept repeating the same words and could hardly form a proper sentence.

It was all because of her great agitation.

Although it was something that rarely happened, it was also natural.

Because it was a moment I could never help but be shaken by.

It was the moment when I finally achieved a goal I had been pursuing for 10 years.

“… … .”

Ten years passed through her mind.

When my father passed away.

When you lose everything.

When I first became an assassin.

When executing the first request.

All those memories passed through her mind and heart in an instant.

“… … .”

At some point, the calculations began.

If I just keep going like this, I will be able to achieve my goal.

However, something unplanned happened along the way, so it was a close call.

However, perhaps thanks to constant movement, we were able to achieve our target amount just in the nick of time.

‘thank god.’

The biggest emotion she felt was relief rather than overwhelming joy.

Because I was able to achieve my goal.

I was able to regain the organization my father left behind.

Because we can save people who are suffering.

And, I don’t have to force myself to blame him.

Is it because of the sense of accomplishment and liberation that I finally achieved my goal?

She was frozen in her seat for a while and couldn’t move.

It was because my mind was difficult to organize due to all the emotions surging.

‘… It shouldn’t be like this.’

Shaking her head vigorously, Bella came to her senses.

It’s good to feel joy right away, but it’s okay to postpone it until later.

First of all, finishing work comes first.

After clearing her mind, Bella took a step forward.

That step was the lightest step she had seen in a while.

Perhaps because of her mood, the headache that had been bothering her for so long seemed to have disappeared.

The place where her steps were heading.

Crash─

“You’re here.”

It was home.

“Have you eaten?”

Looking at the face of the man who asked the question in a now familiar manner, Bella felt an unknown emotion.

Something warm and fuzzy rising from a corner of my heart.

“… No, not yet.”

That feeling is a little unfamiliar.

And because it was awkward.

She gave a slightly late answer.

“Really? Then, we will prepare right away, together─”

“No. It’s okay.”

“… Are you going out again?”

It seemed like she was trying to hide it, but seeing her face slightly darken, Bella opened her mouth.

“… I guess it has to be that way.”

The only reason I stopped by the house was to take care of some things.

“I see.”

Wade nodded silently.

“But soon… … .”

In response to his sullen expression, Bella tried to add that she would come back after finishing her work, but stopped midway.

No matter how much you think about it, it is difficult to come back quickly.

Even if you finish the business quickly, it will take a lot of time to take care of various things.

The time zone is already heading towards night, so even if we return as soon as possible, it will probably be past day.

Bella’s thoughts reached that point and she had no choice but to swallow her words.

Bella packed the things she wanted to pack and came out to the front door again.

“… Just a little bit.”

“… … ?”

“Just a little… Please wait. I’ll finish everything and come back. When that time comes… No, I’ll talk about the rest after I get back.”

He looked straight at Wade and said that.

Then, without waiting for a response, he left the house straight away.

After work is done.

When everything is finished.

She was thinking of retiring from work altogether.

Although it would be necessary to return the recovered Dark Night to its original form and manage it, I did not intend to operate as an assassin any longer.

Ordinary life.

It’s about getting your daily life back.

Sleep normally, wake up normally, eat normally, and work normally.

She was dreaming of living such a normal life.

And if there was someone to be with him living that ordinary life, he hoped it would be Wade.

She didn’t know exactly when she started thinking that way.

Just spending time with him, as the time with him grows longer.

As I get to know more about that person.

At some point, you probably thought that way.

Of course, he wouldn’t know what she was thinking yet.

Of course. Because I never said it.

Bella doesn’t know exactly what he thinks of her.

However, I thought there was a possibility.

He is being chased by the empire.

They say they are hiding themselves now, but they are in a position where they may have to live in hiding for the rest of their lives.

If that’s the case.

If you’re in a situation where you have to hide anyway.

Bella thought, wouldn’t it be nice if that place were next to her?

He would feel more at ease if he settled down and lived in one place rather than traveling all over the continent.

If he keeps quiet, the Empire will stop actively pursuing him, and the world will forget about him.

If that happens, it will be possible to live a normal life under the standard of not being too noticeable.

If you get better magic tools and change your appearance, you will be able to live outside.

It doesn’t matter if you can’t work because you don’t want to be noticed.

Because you can earn money yourself.

Although she hadn’t said anything yet, Bella already had a pretty detailed plan in mind.

If everything is over and he can return to his normal life.

Maybe, Bella thought, she might be able to feel that forgotten feeling of happiness again.

therefore.

‘… When I get back, let’s talk.’

After everything is finalized, let him know what you think.

I’m not sure if he’ll accept it, but… It might be a problem you can think about at that time.

After making up her mind, Bella started walking towards the entertainment area and soon entered the commercial area.

Normally, she would have left the commercial district immediately without stopping, but for some reason, her steps stopped once within the commercial district.

One of the buildings that boasts an unusually large size in the commercial district at the center of Aguillem, the continent’s largest trading city, where there are still quite a few people even as night approaches.

A place where countless people come and go every day, the Aguillem branch of the bank run by the ‘Golden Hand’, the largest merchant on the continent.

In front of that place, Bella’s steps stopped.

After passing through the still crowded entrance, she entered the window.

“What brought you here?”

Bella opened her mouth to the employee who asked in a polite tone.

There was only one reason I stopped by here.

To find money.

She saved most of the money she received from handling numerous requests over the past 10 years.

All amounts excluding the minimum necessary expenses and living expenses.

“… Please wait a moment.”

After checking Bella’s business and her account, the employee left the room with a stiff expression on his face for a moment.

It was worth it.

Even if you have golden hands, it is an amount that you rarely handle at once unless it is a large transaction.

Individuals even try to withdraw such amounts.

There was a high probability that it would be a difficult situation for a single employee to handle.

However, it must be said that it was a golden hand, and the time the employee was away was not very long.

The employee who soon returned to his seat took Bella back to a private room, where he presented her with a metal plaque.

Bella reached out and grabbed the paddle.

The fruit of 10 years of diligent savings was placed in her hands.

In the form of a check issued by a bank.

A check issued by the Golden Hand only when the amount exceeds a certain amount, with various magical procedures that make it impossible to duplicate.

This small plaque contained her 10 years.

Bella looked at the check with a mixture of all sorts of complex emotions, and eventually she treasured it in her arms.

After leaving the bank while being greeted by an employee, Bella headed to the entertainment area next.

This is the largest building in the entertainment district that I visited last time.

but.

Her steps stopped before she reached the top floor.

Because an employee blocked her.

“He is currently away.”

Bella frowned slightly when she heard those words.

How dare you leave at a moment like this.

“Where did you go?”

“He said he was heading to the ‘dark night’.”

Bella’s expression reflexively became even more distorted at the employee’s answer, but soon returned to its original state.

In the first place, she was planning to head there after finishing this matter, so she thought it would have worked out better.

“I understand.”

After nodding lightly, Bella immediately turned around.

I left the casino that way and entered another building in the entertainment district.

The appearance and atmosphere were no different from other buildings in the entertainment district.

The atmosphere changed in an instant the moment I climbed the hidden stairs inside the second floor, a space where no ordinary customers could see, to the third floor.

The air, which had been tinged with vitality and heat, became heavy, and the gorgeous interior decoration changed to a black tone.

This was the headquarters of ‘Black Night’, one of the assassination groups representing the Aguillem underworld.

At the entrance to the main base, there was a person who looked like a gatekeeper or security guard at a glance.

Although his lower body was covered with a mask, he was a middle-aged man with a scary look that would make a child wet himself and run away.

The man’s expressionless expression looked as if not a drop of blood would come out even if he stabbed him.

As soon as I found Bella, I immediately broke down.

“Lady… !”

With his eyes wide and uncharacteristically wide, the man rushed out.

“It’s been a while, Uncle Henson.”

Looking at the man, Bella smiled softly.

“Yes… ! It’s been so long since I last saw you!”

A color bloomed on the man’s previously ferocious face.

“What is going on here─”

“Huh? It’s Bella’s sister!”

Before the guard could speak with a happy face.

Inside, other people appeared one by one.

“The lady came!”

“What? Bella?”

People of all kinds of clothes, genders, and ages approached her with their eyes wide open.

Although they each wore their own attire, the prayers they radiated were similar.

A sharply honed force unique to an assassin.

It was natural. Because being here in the first place means that they are assassins belonging to the ‘Dark Night’.

“It’s been a while, sister!”

“How have you been?”

“Why is it so hard to see your face?”

Among the people who are all talking to me.

Bella also smiled like them, but her eyes looked at them with a slightly bitter expression.

They have a relationship that has lasted since she was young, when ‘Heukya’ was first created.

Those who were rescued from the swamp by her father and given a new life.

To Bella, these people can safely be described as family who are not related by blood.

And, those who were forced to become assassins because of the newly appeared man.

For Bella, it was a face she was happy to see and always missed, but at the same time, they were also the reason why she did not visit the dark night’s home often.

Because my heart aches every time I see them.

Every time she saw people who were forced to live lives they never wanted by the will of others, her heart ached as if it were being cut with a knife.

Originally there were more people than what appears now.

However, there were people who lost their lives during training, during missions, or by their own choices.

As a result, only this number is left.

It was so painful to remember that fact that she stopped looking for the dark night’s stronghold.

But that too is over now.

“Where is ‘him’? I heard it was here.”

“Ah… … .”

The complexions of everyone who heard her words darkened.

Although he didn’t mention his name, everyone in the room knew who ‘he’ meant.

It was no wonder that their complexions darkened.

Because it was he who completely ruined their lives.

“Him… I heard you were having a meeting with executives higher up.”

After hearing the heavy words that followed, Bella nodded quietly.

Their suffering is now over.

You will finish it all with your own hands.

Thinking so.

“Thank you. Then I’ll go up for a while and come back.”

Bella went upstairs.

And opened the door to the conference room.

Then there.

“You finally appeared. I thought my neck was falling out.”

The abominable man was waiting for her with a smile on his face.