Episode 10
By the time we reached the castle, dusk had fallen.
The moment I passed the gate, I let out a sigh.
‘It’s over…’
The girls were safely inside the walls—meaning the exam was truly finished.
Greeting us were members of the deputy leader’s unit.
The reddish-brown-haired man I’d seen whenever submitting assignments to the deputy leader led them.
“Well done.”
He bowed, and his unit followed suit.
The man asked, “Where is Lady Marina?”
“Haven’t seen her since the dry stream. She probably fled after the prohibition array was broken.”
She’d assume the girls would expose her and the viscount.
“I see. From now on, the ladies’ safety is our responsibility.”
The girls flinched.
The youngest, who’d chatted a bit on the way, clutched my skirt, tense.
Nicola’s face was pale.
I turned to them and spoke to the man.
“These ladies didn’t act out of greed for money.”
“We saw through the magic mirror. Rest assured.”
“Then…”
“We’ll lift the prohibitions and secure testimony. They’ll bear some responsibility for collusion, but humanely.”
Only then did the girls’ faces brighten.
I nodded, relieved.
The deputy leader’s unit surrounded the girls.
Walking with them, Nicola paused, looked back.
And…
“Thanks to you, I could speak. Thank you.”
She bowed deeply.
The other girls hesitated, then looked at me.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you for saving us.”
“I won’t forget. The little hero who resembles Lady Dia.”
The youngest had fierce eyes.
The girls bowed to me for a long time.
Even after they left, I stood there, staring blankly.
My search team—no, now just unit members—looked puzzled.
“What’s wrong?”
“They said thank you?”
“Huh?”
“They thanked me. Peers did.”
I grinned.
“Only Chari ever said it before. Good things happen here.”
In Andres, unimaginable.
My father was strict.
Judge coldly. Hide your heart. Doubt kindness. Everyone is your rival.
Drilled into me.
I obeyed father like divine revelation.
No one liked the me who lived only as he wanted.
No friends, no thanks.
Kindness earned: ‘As if the great Andres lady needs to bother.’
‘But here, peers thank me often.’
But the members’ mood was odd.
Worried I’d erred, I blinked.
One said, “That why you took the exam?”
“Yes?”
“Because Chari thanked you. Happy, so entered a doomed exam?”
“There was that, but more to prove ability with cunning—”
“No need to lie. We know. Little Teacher’s a fool. A kind fool…”
“?”
Unlike my confusion, members looked gloomy.
“I’ll say thank you a lot.”
“Thanks. For teaching letters, giving reason to oust the bastard.”
“And ribs.”
They ruffled my hair.
Suddenly surrounded by giants, I groaned.
‘No, I was cunning.’
Unfair.
* * *
Hours later, underground prison.
“…That’s why she entered the exam.”
Antonio’s unit, teary, relayed the ‘noble Eustea who risked life for one thank you.’
Reached two men.
Antonio and deputy leader.
Leaning on wall, Antonio sighed.
“Foolish. Risk life for one word?”
Mist Fangs the viscount used were vicious.
Only her wits saved her; otherwise, dead.
Pinching nose, shoulders shaking, Antonio glanced sideways.
“Who pushed a pitiful kid to the brink should be called a beast, not man?”
Changing blood-soaked gloves, deputy leader replied, “Beast is still a human word.”
“Context. Context.”
“You know ‘context’?”
“Little Teacher taught me last week.”
Antonio puffed proudly.
“Bring gloves.”
“We’ll run out. Just admit it.”
Antonio slouched, eyeing the bloody man.
Bound to the ‘witch’s chair’ torture device.
Now more meat than man.
Antonio knelt to eye level.
“Can’t live normally even if you leave. Stop resisting?”
“Ugh…”
“Left one eye, one ear, tongue. Not deputy’s mercy, right?”
Antonio grinned, tapped exposed nerve under chin.
Pain amplified 30x, viscount screamed, writhing.
“Keep seeing, hearing, feeling.”
“…”
“Unbearable terror forever.”
“Ah… Aaaah! Ugh…!”
Viscount drooled blood, sobbing.
Deputy leader extended hand.
Aide placed heated iron poker.
“Start again.”
Night of terror just beginning.
* * *
Night.
Chari hugged me tight three times.
Strong—groans escaped.
“Thank you, Little Teacher. I’ll repay this.”
Third time tonight.
No, thanks all night.
Other members behind pillar…
“So grateful…”
“Not your peer, but thankful…”
…gazing wistfully, thanking.
‘Happy, but enough.’
Chari sparkled. “Dinner together?”
“Sorry. Need assignments from sentry barracks.”
“Checking today too?”
“Yes.”
Can’t slack from brief success.
Salary and job precious.
‘Might not become leader’s adopted daughter.’
Girls safe.
Threatened by viscount, couldn’t take exam—retest possible.
Can’t relax.
Chari said, “Fine. I’ll do mine. You’re diligent, so I will too.”
I grinned, nodded vigorously.
Parted with Chari, headed to sentry barracks.
Through large garden—must hurry.
Garden, more forest, chills every time.
Viscount values appearance, yet untouched.
‘Money-short region.’
Most decayed in Esgarot manor.
Vulnerable to drought, disaster—no farmland.
Far from city—no industry.
Thus abandoned in Esgarot.
Irregular chose it.
‘Still impressive. Infiltrate great noble, swallow territory.’
Replacing lord again—connections in Esgarot.
Leader didn’t act personally, sent hawks to break alchemy—fearsome power.
‘Must stick here.’
Clenched fists.
Hurrying—
“Having fun?”
Voice behind.
‘This voice…’
Turned—hooded figure.
Slowly removed hood.
Marina.
Pale.
Chapped lips.
Bloodshot eyes.
Dagger in hand…
Not sane.
“How…”
Muttered, Marina staggered closer.
“Went home. Beautiful rose garden manor.”
“…”
Stepped back.
Marina giggled.
“Our manor ruined by Irregular. Roses trampled, servants and parents dragged. I fled again.”
“Your crimes deserved it.”
“Why only me bad? Girls joined for money too.”
“Couldn’t resist threat. Just money, they wouldn’t.”
“…”
“Go to deputy leader yourself. You can still atone.”
“Shut up!”
Marina shoved hard.
Dagger cut cheek.
Fell, looked up.
‘Disarm weapon, subdue… Wait.’
Red paper peeking from hood pocket.
Like talisman—from game.
Detonator Tag.
Explodes on contact.
Power varies by maker; timer possible.
Lucky: limb loss.
Head: game over.
‘If excited Marina uses after disarm…’
Couldn’t move.
Marina removed hood.
“Answer. Everyone sins big and small. Why only me lose everything?”
“Why detonator tag?”
Expensive, rare.
Few mages make.
Why prepare?
Obvious.
“Never planned to return girls.”
Eliminate Mist Fangs and girls.
No evidence, witnesses.
Marina smiled.
“I’ll leave, start over. But can’t leave you.”
Crawled back with palms, legs.
‘Please…’
Worse than situation: no word after ‘please.’
Kids cry parents’ names when fall; I have none.
Mom to protect.
Father, brother who abandoned—won’t come.
Gritted teeth.
‘Don’t give up. Always felt alone.’
Marina’s laugh like guillotine overhead.
Wanted to run, fear froze legs.
‘Move!’
No one saves me.
Always myself.
But if she throws tag while fleeing…
‘No way? Some way…’
No solution.
Marina raised gleaming sword.
Twisted lips, chilling voice.
“Go to hell.”
Then—
“Kyaa!”
Not my scream.
Looked up.
Marina’s sword on ground.
She clutched hand, hit by something.
Behind her…
“Injured?”
“…”
Habit from never calling in need—mouth wouldn’t open.
Eyes hot, throat tight.
Forced open, called them.
“Deputy leader… Antonio…”
Deputy leader asked injury.
Antonio charged low.
Startled Marina reached for tag pocket.
Antonio pinned arm instantly.
“Kyaa…!”
“Quiet. Hard to hold back.”
Deputy leader strode…
To me.
“Should’ve called for help.”
“…”
“Or screamed.”
“Detonator tag… others… shouldn’t involve… sorry for trouble…”
“Stop apologizing…!”
Deputy leader shouted.
I flinched.
Antonio, taking tag, frowned at deputy.
“Why yell? Scaring the kid.”
“Shut up.”
“Anyway…”
Deputy leader knelt before me.
Tears flowed despite.
Stared blankly.
Black hair fluttered in wind.
Ash-gray eyes reflected stubborn fool Eustea.
Took handkerchief from pocket, gently pressed cut cheek.
“Next time, call us.”
Eyes widened in shock.
His tone changed.
But expressionless, quiet.
“We’ll always be with you.”
“Deputy leader…?”
He smiled.
Dazzlingly brilliant.
“Came to fetch you, my lady.”
