Chapter 140
‘How much time has passed?’
Sitting on the bed leaning against the wall, Ares could only sigh deeply.
He hadn’t expected the protective bracelet to be completely ineffective. They must have switched it while he was unconscious.
‘And there’s been no movement since then.’
Neither Vincent, who he’d expected to return, nor the woman who had been crying over his injured hand, had entered the room.
Though this gave him some peace of mind, he felt uneasy wondering what they were plotting.
‘Not that I can do anything about it.’
The room only appeared old and shabby on the surface—the magic prevented even the smallest scratch from being made. Being confined in this dark room made him increasingly anxious and frustrated.
Just as he was thinking how nice it would be to walk in the corridor for even five minutes—no, even one minute—
“Are you there?”
A soft whispered voice came through the wall, accompanied by a knock.
“You’re alive, aren’t you?”
“Yes, very much alive.”
It was the voice of the woman who had been kidnapped and imprisoned like him.
“How long do we have to stay locked up like this…”
The woman, who had been imprisoned longer than him, seemed to be at her limit, her voice clearly showing her exhaustion and distress. Hearing her trembling voice, Ares let out a shallow sigh.
“Just hold on a little longer.”
“It’s too hard…”
“I know. But you must endure.”
All they could do now was try to stay mentally strong.
But even Ares found it difficult to endure being locked alone in this pitch-dark room.
“It’s almost my turn…”
“What do you mean?”
Though Ares asked for clarification, not understanding her words, the woman behind the wall only sobbed without answering.
“What do you mean by ‘your turn’?”
“Exactly what I said… It’s almost my turn to die.”
“…?”
Just as Ares was about to ask for more explanation—
Suddenly, there was a creaking sound of a door opening outside. For a moment, thinking it was his door, Ares turned his head toward it, only to let out an involuntary “ah” of realization.
It wasn’t his door, but the door to the adjacent room.
“P-please. Please don’t do this. Please spare my—”
The woman’s scream was cut off before she could finish. He couldn’t tell if they had really killed her as she’d said, or merely knocked her unconscious.
‘Damn it.’
Looking around frantically for anything he could use as a weapon, Ares quickly tried the doorknob. As expected, it wouldn’t open.
“Open up! Open this door!”
He was tired of waiting quietly. He tried everything to open the door—turning the handle, kicking it, ramming it with his shoulder—but nothing worked.
‘Damn, damn, damn!’
Finally unable to contain his anger, he kicked the wardrobe, which broke with a loud crack. As the sharp fragments fell to the floor, Ares froze. His gaze simultaneously moved to his injured hand.
***
‘No, it can’t be.’
Her lips trembled involuntarily. But only one person came to mind.
‘If Vincent is in the empire now…’
There was only one place he could be.
“Guild master.”
“Yes?”
“Continue searching for the woman’s possible hideout as planned.”
“What about you?”
The guild master tilted his head in confusion, having expected them to search together. Meeting his gaze, Kirine responded expressionlessly.
“I have something else to do.”
With those words, Kirine headed straight for the restaurant where she often dined with Vincent.
As she walked, her fingertips trembled and she could hear her heart pounding loudly in her ears.
‘No, it can’t be.’
Vincent couldn’t be involved in this. But her mind screamed that it was possible, leaving her confused.
‘If Vincent is involved, then why?’
There was no motive or reason. Though they’d grown distant after her marriage, they had once been close and precious friends.
And yet.
‘If Vincent really is involved…’
She already felt overwhelmed thinking about what she would do then. But as always, she came to one conclusion.
‘I need to meet Vincent first.’
He should have been in the Holy City by now. There was no reason for him to be in the empire.
‘But if he is here in the empire…’
She couldn’t deny the possibility of his involvement.
Her breathing became labored and her steps gradually slowed. But her gaze remained fixed on the restaurant where she often dined with Vincent.
‘Please.’
Hoping desperately that he wouldn’t be there, Kirine stepped into the restaurant and looked around, letting out a long sigh.
‘He’s not here.’
She felt her legs weaken with relief. Just as she was feeling thankful for Vincent’s absence—
“Kirine.”
She froze at the familiar voice.
Turning around, she saw Vincent standing there with his usual gentle smile.
“What brings you here?”
“…”
Despite his clearly delighted expression, Kirine couldn’t say a word.
“That’s what I should be asking.”
She couldn’t understand why he was here in the empire, specifically at this restaurant, when he should have been in the Holy City.
“I just came to reminisce about old times.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Since we’re here, shall we have a meal together?”
As he acted like an old friend she hadn’t seen in ages, Kirine bit her lip slightly before nodding.
As soon as they sat down, she began watching Vincent carefully.
But Vincent treated her with the same smile and attitude as always.
“I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Me neither. I thought you’d be in the Holy City.”
“I came quietly on some business.”
“What business?”
“…”
Hearing something like urgency in her tone, Vincent laughed softly.
“You’re quite interested in me.”
“We’re friends.”
“Ah, because we’re friends?”
“Yes. So what business?”
Part of her desperately hoped she was wrong, while another part almost wished she was right so she could find Ares immediately.
Whether aware of her feelings or not, Vincent gave an enigmatic smile before letting out a long sigh.
“Just pilgrimage matters.”
“Is that really all?”
“What else should there be?”
“…”
“…”
There was no point in speaking indirectly anymore. Just as the game of subtle implications became tiresome, Vincent made an unexpected statement.
“Say what you want to say directly, Kirine.”
As if promising to listen if she spoke honestly.
At that moment, Kirine debated whether to continue speaking indirectly or ask straightforwardly.
But her hesitation didn’t last long.
“Do you have Ares?”
