Chapter 20 — “The Strawberry and the Machete”
“Why the slow answer?”
The tip of the machete lifted slightly, the curved blade glinting.
“Tell me—should I really keep a tongue that doesn’t do its job?”
The blade was pointed directly at the man’s mouth.
“S-sorry, Boss!”
The instant he bent at a perfect ninety degrees, the machete stabbed straight into the desk.
Thud!
The man mourned for the poor desk in silence. It already had countless scratches thanks to his boss’s violent temper—now it had one more.
Most people realize by the age of five that a desk isn’t a sword sheath.
If it weren’t for the cursed money, he’d have quit this place long ago. As the man swallowed back his frustration, the woman’s next question came, sharp and cold.
“So… what’s that in your hand?”
Her golden eyes flicked toward the basket of strawberries he was holding.
“Oh, this? When I stopped by the Blue Dragon Mercenary Guild today, they were handing them out!”
Her expression froze. The silence that followed was suffocating.
The boss was definitely angry—but he had no idea why.
“Tell me, Tom. What’s your level of education again?”
“I-I graduated from an after-school study center!” he answered proudly.
He’d dropped out at six to be a street gang leader with the neighborhood kids, but at least he could read and do basic math.
“I see. Then maybe you really didn’t know that the Blue Dragon Guild is our rival company.”
Her tone was calm, too calm—and then she pulled the machete free again.
“Right, Xuanwu?” she said, talking to her blade. “This is something generous old me should overlook, isn’t it?”
She was staring at the weapon as if it could answer. Her unfocused eyes sent chills down his spine.
“Black-Haired Lunatic Elise.”
That was her nickname—born from her jet-black hair and her reputation for insanity.
Two years ago, she had jumped into the underworld with nothing but her bare hands and a machete, and somehow built up a respectable private intelligence agency.
People said she’d once been a low-ranking civil servant, though nobody could believe it. With that same machete, she had conquered the city’s underground.
She was born for this kind of life—
ferocity, charisma, the knack for intimidation, and a hint of madness.
If her life story had a title, it might be:
“When a Low-Level Bureaucrat Stops Holding Back.”
Still, despite being queen of the shadows now, Elise held a strange rivalry with the Blue Dragon Guild—an above-board mercenary group.
Even though they technically served different markets, she couldn’t stand them.
But now wasn’t the time to analyze her psychology. The man’s top priority was survival—getting that machete pointed away from him.
“Haha, come on, Boss. We’re in the information business. They do manual labor. Big difference, right?”
“Hm?”
Her red lips twisted into an amused smirk.
That meant, Keep talking—I might let you live.
“Uh, well, my mom runs a chicken farm,” he blurted, desperate. “And when a weasel showed up, she asked me to take care of it.”
“Pest control is important. Go on.”
Good—her tone had softened slightly.
“I mean, we do refined, high-level work! It’d look bad if I personally handled some weasel, right? So I hired those muscle-brained mercenaries instead!”
Tom was clearly flattering her—praising their own “elite” agency while belittling the Blue Dragon Guild.
Of course, the Blue Dragon Guild didn’t just hunt beasts; they also handled escort jobs and even sold information. But facts didn’t matter—only Elise’s mood did.
“Hm. That makes sense.”
Finally, her lips pressed together in a neutral line. Her anger seemed to fade.
“Anyway, those strawberries look good. Hand them over.”
Tom handed them to her obediently. He hadn’t even tasted one himself yet, but living another day took priority over eating.
She plucked one from the basket and popped it into her mouth. Her eyes widened instantly.
“Mmm… these are delicious! Where’d they get them?”
“Oh, uh, the mercenaries said they’re from Lioum.”
“…Wait. Did you just say Lioum?”
Her golden eyes flashed dangerously.
Lioum.
That was the estate of her dear savior—Heidi.
Heidi, the woman who had rescued her from that monstrous department chief, Fisherman.
“Ugh, just hearing that name makes me proud I stripped that bastard of his title,”
Elise muttered once, thinking back to the day she quit her government job for good.
Watching Heidi walk away from that wretched office, free and smiling, had given Elise the courage to find her own calling too.
Heidi had been her light—someone who’d given her hope during her darkest days.
But even the most perfect person had flaws.
Heidi’s flaw… was carelessness.
“Once my farm succeeds, I’ll invite you for a visit.
Give me your address—I’ll write to you sometimes.”
That was what Heidi had said before leaving.
But she never sent a single letter. Not once in two whole years.
Elise had waited. And waited.
“But you know, sis…”
The black-haired lunatic murmured to the empty room, voice low and chilling.
“You did say you’d write once things went well. And if you’re selling strawberries now, I’d say that counts as success… don’t you think?”
She stroked her machete lovingly. The blade’s cold gleam reminded her of Heidi’s unfeeling silence—and it infuriated her.
“Xuanwu… I’m out of patience. I think I’ve waited long enough. No one could blame me for going to see her now, right?”
The machete said nothing. It only shone faintly in agreement.
***
The Same Morning — The Day of the Expedition
“Coo-caw, coo-coo!”
Heidi woke instantly at the ostrich’s call.
Unlike her usual slow mornings, today she jumped out of bed right away—something felt off.
Why do I feel like I’ve stepped into a swamp?
She couldn’t quite explain it. Maybe it was just nerves about heading into Mount Aurum for the first time.
After washing up, she dressed carefully: tall boots, a loose tunic shirt, and durable pants. A practical outfit for hiking and gathering herbs.
She tied her golden hair up high, then went downstairs, where a sweet aroma filled the air.
“Mmm~ what’s that smell? What’s for breakfast today?”
Ber, wearing an apron, was at the stove. He turned slightly and answered calmly.
“French toast with syrup, strawberry compote, and lettuce salad.”
“Wow…”
Heidi craned her neck to peek into the pan. The toast was perfectly golden, topped with a dusting of sugar like fresh snow. In the pot beside it, strawberries simmered into a glossy, ruby-red compote.
Just the sight made her mouth water.
“Burning! Burning smell!”
Theo, the little fox-like creature, puffed its fur and barked beside Ber.
“Kyah! No meat for breakfast!”
“Sometimes, a meal without meat is healthy,” Ber replied.
“No! Theo is growing, needs meat every day!”
Well, he was a carnivore. The small creature had never tolerated meatless mornings.
“My apologies,” said Ber calmly. “We’ve run out of meat.”
“Really?” Heidi asked, surprised.
Since Ber had taken over kitchen duties, she hadn’t checked the pantry much lately.
“My bad, Theo. Ber, could you go to the village tomorrow to shop for groceries—and get some meat for Theo? Oh, and while you’re there, buy that gift for your sister!”
“Of course.”
Ber nodded immediately.
“Me too! I wanna go too!” Theo chirped, his golden eyes shining.
“Sure, you can come,” Heidi said, patting his head. “But you have to behave this time, okay?”
She had taken Theo to the nearby village before.
Since he looked like an ordinary fox—aside from the slightly thicker tail—it wasn’t too hard to pass him off as a pet.
“Yip!”
As she ruffled Theo’s round little head, a wave of calm washed over her.
Knock, knock.
The peaceful morning was interrupted by an unexpected knock at the door.
“Huh? Who could that be?”
Heidi murmured, puzzled.
“It’s meee~! Tasu here! My ostrich was in a great mood, so we arrived earlier than expected! Mind if I come in~?”
The cheerful voice of the coachman—as loud and flamboyant as ever—rang from outside.
