OTRNHB 94

OTRNHB | Chapter 94

Chapter 94

It had been nearly a week since I’d returned to the Haines Merchant Guild headquarters.

For three days I was busy giving interviews, but a few days later, when the accusations about Linus’s crimes began to erupt, all interest in me vanished as if it had never existed.

I had been bracing myself, never knowing when Linus might appear. The situation itself felt unreal. Enoch remarked smugly,

“You should have come to me the moment you got back.”

“…Yeah. That would have been better.”

It had only been a little over three months since I’d reclaimed my body.

Back then, I couldn’t even manage a proper escape.

Sometimes I thought it would have been better if I had pretended to be Jang Hyunji to buy time. But breathing among people who called her by my name, who loved her as if she were me—that was unbearable. So I ran, though I had no idea where to go or what to do when I got there.

I had nothing, knew nothing, and not a single person who would take my side.

Meanwhile, my family and Linus had everything. How could I possibly win? The world believed my father and Grace. The world said Linus was right.

I had been terrified. Crushed.

No matter what I did, their fortress seemed unshakable. They were too great; I was too powerless.

But three months later, I had learned: they weren’t invincible.
I had only been too weak.

“You two are incredible.”

“It was that man more than me. Must’ve learned plenty under your father.”

Laila said, glancing at Enoch. He twisted his lips in a cold smirk.

“Not much worth learning there.”

“Then you were born with it?”

“What good is being born with something like this?”

“I don’t know much about noble society, but your connections are impressive.”

“Just the price of living decently.”

“Decently?”

Enoch shrugged.

“Anyone who pays you tends to be called decent.”

But money alone could never solve everything. More than anyone, I knew truth by itself didn’t guarantee trust. People only listened if the mood and timing were right.

Laila whistled.

“You don’t seem like the merchant type. Don’t nobles dislike stiff types like you? The merchants I’ve seen always grin like this and spout sweet words.”

“Then you must’ve only met amateurs.”

“Well, I haven’t done much shopping myself…”

“Inflating things clumsily is for idiots.”

“You seem like you could’ve made plenty as a mercenary instead. Wouldn’t that suit you better?”

“You can’t make that kind of money alone.”

“And what did you need so much money for?”

“To meet the Pope.”

Laila let out a little ah! of realization. I understood instantly. Enoch had hoped the Pope might recognize or drive out Jang Hyunji who had possessed me.

Laila clicked her tongue in exasperation.

“You’re hopeless.”

“Hmph.”

I had thought asking Enoch for help had ruined his life—but it seemed he’d ruined it long before then. He scowled at me.

“It’s my life. Don’t meddle.”

“Even when I worry for you, you get annoyed.”

“As if you’re in any position to worry about me.”

“You’ve really got a rotten tongue, Enoch Haines.”

He gave a sharp laugh.

“Says you. Now eat more, Florence.”

“…I really can’t.”

“Eat. Linus won’t last past today. He’s gathering his remaining followers even as we speak.”

I had expected Linus would strike soon, but Enoch’s certainty was unnerving. Since childhood he had controlled the spirits of wind with ease—was he somehow watching everyone in Redamas? My questioning look earned me a dry reply.

“The only reason he held back was Lindquist threatening to harm you.”

“Well, that’s… thoughtful of him.”

“Now that he’s cut ties with the Lindquists, he has no reason to wait. If he cares about appearances, he’ll strike tonight. Or this afternoon.”

“But we haven’t finished evacuating everyone yet.”

“Keith already evacuated the civilians. The only ones left are the mercenaries we hired.”

My appetite shrank even more. I bit my lip anxiously. Laila tugged at it with her finger like I was a child and made a tsk sound.

“If you want to bite something, bite human flesh.”

“Human flesh? Laila, that makes it even harder to eat.”

“Why not? If someone’s dead, the least you can do is not waste it. Otherwise their death is for nothing.”

I stared down at the lamb on my plate. She was right. I couldn’t let it be in vain. I wanted to apologize to Marie. Now was the time to steel myself.

I shoved a mouthful of lamb in and chewed.

Night fell.

The still air suddenly churned violently.

Eyes closed, Laila looked toward the window. I raised my head at the same moment. More chilling than the dozen presences surrounding the building was the presence of a single man. Gooseflesh prickled up my arms.

“At least he cares about appearances—coming at night.”

“….”

“Don’t be afraid, Florence. Just do as we agreed.”

“Okay.”

This time was different from the night I could only watch flames from afar.

I wasn’t alone. I wasn’t powerless anymore.

I clenched the pendant. I remembered Marie’s hot, bloody spray on my face, the clumsy wooden prosthetic, the crackle of the bonfire.

We’ll pay them back, Marie—at least for what we suffered.

I summoned Siquele and Jin, ordering them to block anyone from approaching the guild headquarters. From inside my coat, Bee beeped insistently, begging to be given a task, but there was nothing suitable for him.

I flung open the door and ran down the hall. The clash of steel, screams, and shouts grew louder.

“Bring me my Florence.”

“Who gave you the right to claim her? She hates you, you lunatic!”

“Ah, the little mage. I regret not taking your arm myself back then.”

“Commander!”

Laila grinned like a child racing to play with a friend and leapt down to the first floor.

“Laila Green!”

Linus’s furious shout froze me where I stood. Just hearing his voice locked my body.

Laila met his sword with hers, and the sound was unreal—not metal striking metal, but like stone breaking.

“It’s been a while! Care for a spar?”

“I intended to kill you anyway. Come.”

“I already came at you!”

I stopped in my tracks, but Laila’s shout drew all eyes to the staircase.

A knight in heavy armor raised his greatsword to finish off a fallen mercenary, but stopped when he saw me. The mercenary, flat on his back, kicked the knight away in that instant.

Keith and Enoch, weaker in close combat, had assigned two mercenaries per knight and supported from behind. They gestured to me, and I rushed toward them.