Special Side Story 8

With a menacing air suggesting he might strike if Alice wasn’t brought to him immediately, Danggeum inadvertently glanced at Alice.

“So you’re Lien.”

A look of dismay crossed Danggeum’s face while a smile settled on the martial guard’s.

“Mercenary Lien, the magistrate is waiting, so come with me quickly…”

“I don’t want to.”

“What?”

The guard’s imposing demeanor faltered at the resolute refusal that came before he could even finish speaking.

He hadn’t expected to be refused at all.

A mercenary with holy power that the village chief’s son had luckily discovered.

A low-ranked one with no other special abilities, he’d been told.

So he had thought he could easily bring her along without spending money or effort.

Yet this mercenary named Lien, without showing the slightest fear, calmly said:

“As you just mentioned, I’m a mercenary. I’m someone who accepts requests, not someone who takes orders.”

“How impertinent…”

The guard’s face crumpled before he snorted derisively.

Since he mentioned the Donghwa County magistrate, she must be trying to raise her price.

The guard relaxed his expression and changed his approach.

“Don’t worry about the fee. The magistrate will provide quite generously.”

After all, the fee would be paid after the job.

The fee would come later, after everything was done…

That’s when Alice spoke:

“Ah, I’m sorry, but I’m not taking any more jobs. I’m afraid I can’t accept your magistrate’s request. So, goodbye.”

A perfunctory nod.

She had never intended to accept the request from the beginning.

She had been toying with him.

The guard’s face flushed red.

“How dare you disrespect the magistrate! The magistrate of Donghwa County! Do you think you’ll be safe after this?!”

The guard ranted like a scene from a historical drama, but Alice was unfazed.

She truly didn’t feel sorry at all.

Not for toying with him.

Nor for turning away from the ailing magistrate.

After all, it was the guard who had been rude, acting as if treatment was a given, and thanks to Alice’s swift actions, the Eastern Kingdom already had plenty of herbs to neutralize dark mana poisoning.

This was just a wealthy magistrate who had heard rumors about her and wanted quick treatment.

Unlike a cleric, a low-ranked mercenary would be easier to handle.

The problem was that she wasn’t simply a low-ranked mercenary.

Anyway, even a polite request would have been troublesome, let alone intimidation.

And from Danggeum’s murmuring, it seemed the magistrate’s character wasn’t very good either.

Why should I go out of my way to treat such a person?

Let him suffer a bit before getting better.

Though she was concerned about how far her reputation had spread and how the magistrate had heard about her…

They would be leaving the village tomorrow anyway.

Alice nonchalantly addressed the guard, whose face looked ready to breathe fire:

“Yes, I think I’ll be safe. I’m not one of the magistrate’s people, nor am I a citizen of the Eastern Kingdom. I have no connection whatsoever to your magistrate. I’m a citizen of the Pentaum Empire. So the magistrate can’t treat me arbitrarily.”

“How dare such a small thing!”

Alice pointedly showed her Pentaum Empire mercenary badge.

Enraged by her composure, the guard lunged at Alice like a bear.

Or rather, tried to lunge.

Tap—if Kylus hadn’t caught the guard’s shoulder.

“Ugh…”

The guard’s face contorted from the powerful grip on his shoulder.

Instinctively, the guard tried to knock away Kylus’s hand, but his resistance was easily thwarted.

In that moment, the guard sensed it.

That Kylus was stronger than him.

He hadn’t been told that such a powerful individual was alongside the low-ranked mercenary.

As the guard’s gaze wavered, Kylus spoke in a low voice:

“Unless a foreign national commits a crime in your country, they should not be arbitrarily restrained or attacked.”

“…”

“Would a mere escort guard dare to violate a provision specified in the continental law applicable to all countries? And against the Pentaum Empire, no less?”

“!”

The power difference between the Pentaum Empire and the Eastern Kingdom was clear.

It could potentially be seen as a provocation against the Pentaum Empire.

The escort guard’s eyes trembled as he understood Kylus’s warning. Kylus didn’t miss that fear and pressed further:

“If that’s not the case, then quietly withdraw. If you cross the line any further, I’ll shatter this shoulder.”

When Kylus pushed away the guard’s shoulder, the guard’s body staggered greatly.

Had his subordinates not supported him, he would have fallen ungracefully.

The guard clutched his shoulder, which would surely be bruised, with a resentful expression, but Kylus spoke coldly:

“The request has been clearly declined. Please return now. It’s getting late.”

“Krrgh…”

The guard gritted his teeth, but the matter was already settled.

He couldn’t defeat Kylus, nor could he force the mercenary to come along.

Contrary to the guard’s expectations, they were not easy opponents.

If he returned like this, his master would be furious, but… there was no choice.

For now…

“We’re leaving.”

After glaring at Alice, the guard huffed and left the clinic with his subordinates.

Only then did Danggeum exhale and smooth her chest.

“Oh my, what a situation…”

“Are you all right?”

Alice asked, supporting Danggeum whose legs had given way.

“I’m fine. But I’m more worried about you, mercenary. Are you okay? To think that subordinates of the notorious Donghwa County magistrate would suddenly appear… You must have been quite startled?”

Danggeum looked at Alice with concerned eyes.

“I’m fine. I’ve dealt with madmen far worse than those tattered rags.”

Like Lady Quillian, Hasis, the Empress…

“Pardon?”

Momentarily confused, Danggeum tilted her head.

“Nothing. More importantly, I think we need to leave this village now.”

Though it’s regrettable.

“We don’t have separate luggage to gather, so we can leave right away.”

Hearing Kylus’s following words, Danggeum’s eyes widened.

“What? Right now? But you said you’d stay until this evening…”

“That was the plan, but with unexpected visitors… there might be more unexpected guests, so it’s best to leave as soon as possible. I’m in a situation where I can’t accept more requests.”

That was true.

Though it was sad to suddenly leave after growing attached in such a short time, there was no benefit in delaying.

If rumors about her holy power had begun to spread, others might come seeking her services, and there was no guarantee the bear-like guard wouldn’t seek revenge.

Leaving the village before worse things happened was safer for both Alice and the village.

Danggeum seemed to understand, letting out a small “ah,” but her eye corners drooped.

“But to leave so suddenly… won’t you even say goodbye to the village chief?”

“I’ve already received the request fee upfront… and if we start saying goodbyes, the night will deepen even more. Regrettably, please convey our farewells on our behalf, Danggeum.”

Seeing Alice’s unwavering gaze, as if she had already made her decision, Danggeum finally relented.

It was time to part ways.

Danggeum tightly clasped Alice’s hands and bid farewell:

“Oh my… it’s regrettable, but it can’t be helped. I’ll convey this well to the village chief. Stay healthy wherever you are… and if the opportunity arises, please visit our village again. Lady Lien, you are our benefactor.”

We’ll treat you magnificently.

Her voice, as she added those words, was slightly choked with emotion.

Though it had been a short time, having been with Alice throughout, Danggeum had grown quite attached.

Alice hugged Danggeum tightly.

“Yes. I’ll definitely come visit again. Take care always, Danggeum.”

It was a farewell to Ilgwang Village that came sooner than expected, and thus was filled with regret.

Having left the village, Alice and Kylus entered the capital of the Eastern Kingdom.

And as if to console her regret, a night market was in full swing in the capital’s square.

Brilliant lanterns and delicious street foods.

Alice held Kylus’s hand tightly as they explored the night market.

Eating chicken skewers and tanghulu.

Even trying archery with prizes at stake.

And the winner was, naturally.

Swoosh—

“Three consecutive bullseyes!! That’s amazing. Are you an archer?”

“No. Just an ordinary mercenary.”

It was Kylus.

“You don’t seem ordinary at all… haha! A handsome man who’s also good at archery—your wife must be happy.”

The vendor winked at Alice. Kylus handed the silk prize he had received to Alice, as if no one else existed.

“Wife, here’s a gift for you.”

“My goodness, such expensive silk for his wife…”

“Perfect face, perfect body… and now so attentive too…”

The women’s gazes changed from envy to increasingly keen interest.

But this magnificent man is mine.

As if to hide him from the women’s intense gazes, Alice put the robe hood over Kylus’s head.

“Now that we’ve won a prize and had fun, let’s go back to the inn.”

Beneath the robe hood, Kylus smiled deeply.

Her jealousy was adorable.

He wanted to embrace her tightly right then, but he had to hold back.

Yes, the night is still young, after all.

“Yes, wife.”

Kylus docilely followed her lead toward the inn.

Still not giving even a glance to anyone else.