Still sighing every morning when I wake up, I slowly open my eyes.
Ready to endure the pain, I lift my body.
But every morning I feel my throat isn’t sore and I realize…
I am now free.
Free from the demon.
I’m no longer dying slowly.
“Good morning, Acting Mayor. Would you like some warm tea?”
“No, it’s fine.”
I went to work again after only three hours of sleep yesterday. Yet, my body feels light as if I’m flying and brimming with energy.
It’s been a week since I quit the poison.
My body, which was almost just bones, is now coming back to life, and my complexion has improved significantly.
Every time I look in the mirror, I’m taken aback.
Was I really this beautiful?
“Acting Mayor. There’s another pile of documents…”
“Just leave it.”
I sit at my desk and start working.
With Lawrence gone, the position of mayor is mine to take.
I was used to handling tasks from Lawrence anyway, so it feels like my job.
As soon as Lawrence died, I managed the situation and performed the acting mayor role perfectly, so the Holy Kingdom government has recognized me as acting mayor until the next election.
I purged all the noisy distractions from the family.
Moderately competent ones were turned into life-long slaves, using their ties with Lawrence as leverage.
I hired new employees and normalized the mansion again.
Sometimes, I feel weird.
To inherit Lawrence’s position and manage tasks he used to do from the chair he sat on…?
It would be a lie to say I don’t feel any discomfort.
But since this is what he wanted, I can’t complain.
“Acting Mayor.”
“What is it now?”
“There are so many letters piled up.”
Sigh…
Letters spilling all over my desk.
Seeing them, a deep sigh escapes.
For the past week, the letters have been non-stop.
“This is from House Heinrich. This one is from Richter…”
I see names I’ve never heard before in my life popping up.
And the messages are all the same.
I heard about my husband. My condolences. Please accept my sincere sympathies.
It’s all like this.
Some even suggest marriage subtly along with their condolences.
“What do you mean ‘condolences’? I’m happy to death!”
I’m utterly perplexed.
There has been nothing more joyous in my life than Lawrence’s death.
Yet everyone treats me like the poor widow of the century.
“Hmm?”
Among the neat envelopes, I spot a single rough one.
There’s no sender or return address on the letter.
I can guess who it’s from, so I forgot about using a knife and opened it with my hands.
“-Happy birthday, Cornelia.”
Huh!
I can’t help but smile involuntarily.
Amidst a sea of tearful letters, this is the only one that understands me.
The only person who calls me by my name and speaks comfortably is one person.
It’s Yoo Jin.
Just seeing the stiff writing makes his face pop into my mind, and I can’t help but smile.
“-I don’t know if the letter will arrive on time. I feel embarrassed to call it a gift, but…”
Pfft. It’s a day early.
My 19th birthday is tomorrow.
Imagining Yoo Jin agonizing over when to send it makes me laugh.
I guess he really is a bit awkward.
There’s a simple note congratulating my birthday.
Along with it is a small mana stone he wrapped as a gift.
The note says, ‘It’s the first mana stone I obtained thanks to you.’…
I’m not quite sure what that means.
So far, the only help I’ve given him is a few checks.
“It doesn’t seem high-grade. Maybe mid-grade mana stone?”
A cheap mana stone.
The kind you can find anywhere, just an ordinary rock.
But when I lift it and shine it under the lamp, it reflects an unknown magical light and captures my heart.
Hehe. It’s my first gift.
I should keep this.
No, I should carry it with me at all times.
For some reason, holding it makes me feel at ease.
“Yoo Jin. I hope you’re okay…”
While smiling and hugging the mana stone for a moment, worry inevitably creeps into my mind.
I’ve never asked, and he’s never told me, but I can easily guess his profession.
A demon hunter.
Separate from the Inquisitor of the Holy See, he’s a hunter who specializes in capturing demons for bounties.
Finding demons is hard enough, and hunting them is twice as difficult, so many consider the profession of demon hunter just an urban legend.
But now, I can’t help but believe it.
I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
Yoo Jin said it himself.
His true purpose of coming here is separate, and I just happened to help him along the way.
That purpose is likely to rescue the demons he made deals with Lawrence.
He appeared here like a comet, slit Lawrence’s throat in a day, and left.
Probably to catch another demon.
Or to save someone like me.
He would say otherwise.
But all I can do is fully support him and cheer him on.
“Acting Mayor. A guest is here…”
“Show them to the reception. I’m busy now.”
“Well, it’s that….”
“Cornelia!”
Bam!
The door bursts open, and a familiar face appears.
It’s my father.
In just a few months, his beard has gone white…
“I’m sorry. I got news from the Northern Continent and it’s late.”
“Good to see you, Father. It’s been a while. But I’m a bit busy, can you please wait in the reception?”
“This is important, Cornelia.”
“I said I’m busy.”
“Cornelia. There’s no need for you to struggle anymore. Leave the Briam family to me. I will dismantle it properly without any troubles. You are free now.”
…
Grind.
My teeth cringe.
Now?
After doing nothing for so long, you want to take credit once everything is done?
“Father.”
“Yeah, Cornelia.”
“Don’t even think about taking a spoon to a completed meal.”
“W-What?”
“You had an idea of how I was being treated here, right? You didn’t do anything while watching Lawrence Briam’s face, and now that I’ve killed him and taken control of the family, you want to take advantage? Not a chance. This family is my prize won by my strength. It’s mine, and I will do as I please with it. As you said, I am now free.”
Thanks to Yoo Jin, I survived.
Thanks to Yoo Jin, I regained my life.
And thanks to Yoo Jin, I can dream again.
The grace I’ve received is almost overwhelming.
I’m afraid I’ll never be able to repay it all.
Then, at that moment…
When Yoo Jin asked me to lead the Briam family, I was overjoyed.
Yoo Jin needs my help.
I can repay him.
Thinking that he wants me just as much as I want him eased my worries and filled that place with satisfaction.
It’s the family of my enemy and the place of my enemy, but I don’t care.
If this can help Yoo Jin, then I won’t let that cowardly Hildegart have it.
I won’t let my father dismantle it.
This is both mine and Yoo Jin’s family.
Unless Yoo Jin orders it dismantled, this family will hold its ground.
“Leave, please. If you wait in the reception, I’ll finish up and come to you.”
“Cornelia, the conversation isn’t over yet….”
“Are you really going to be dragged out?”
…
Yoo Jin is undoubtedly strong and resilient. But even such a superhuman must eventually tire and want to rest.
“Stop being a nuisance.”
“Understood…”
I’m going to become a sanctuary for him.
I’ll make it a place where he can return to rest in peace.
Anyone who tries to interfere with this plan will not be forgiven.
*
[Yoo Jin: 1.3%]
[Few people know. His presence is subtle. Someone holds very strong emotions.]
My reputation has risen again.
Could it be that Cornelia has learned my real name?
I had to let it slip this time to gain her trust, but I won’t do that again next time.
The more people know my real name, the more danger it poses.
If Jill finds out, things would become incredibly troublesome for me.
“I hope she doesn’t issue another warrant…”
Trauma resurfaces.
Sweet yet bitter memories of being falsely accused and chased down by warrants spread through my mind.
Back then, there were inspection sites everywhere, and holy knights were stopping everyone to check their faces. I thought I was going crazy.
But so far, there haven’t been any movements.
No matter how powerful the Priestess is, she can’t accuse people who don’t exist.
Thanks to my thorough concealment, the person named ‘Yoo Jin’ has never existed from the start.
“For now, I can breathe easy.”
At least until a public warrant is issued, Jill won’t be able to find me at all.
Until then, I should be fine.
Throwing away unnecessary worries, I glance to the side.
“The problem is her…”
Mi Jeong, who’s been turning away from me, comes into view.
Every time I try to make eye contact, she turns away.
Since leaving Cologne, it’s been like this.
It’s not like she’s throwing a tantrum or rebelling, but she strangely avoids me.
It’s as if she’s staging a silent protest.
“Hey. If you have a problem with me, just say it straight out.”
“…I don’t have anything like that.”
Here we go again.
In the past, I might have just brushed it off as nothing.
But knowing that even she has feelings lingering, I see it clearly.
Her face muscles twitch, unable to hide the bursts of emotion.
Her body twitches, trembling.
Her eyes widen.
“This is your last chance. Tell me why you’re sulking.”
“…”
“Three. Two… one…”
“…My forehead.”
“What?”
“My forehead. Touch it for me.”
Mi Jeong looks up at me, slightly on her tiptoes.
What nonsense is this?
“I didn’t touch your forehead, I just ruffled your bangs.”
“Do it. Touch it.”
What a weird kid.
With a gaze full of expectations, Mi Jeong looks up at me.
I sigh and sweep her bangs aside, revealing her white and beautiful forehead.
Wow. Even with her forehead exposed, she looks cute.
“…Ugh. Weird.”
“Just walk around like that.”
Snap.
Using a hairpin I bought from the shop this morning, I pinned her bangs back.
Mi Jeong twitches as if malfunctioning and stutters.
“…Eek. Ugh. Strange sensation. My forehead feels cold.”
“You’ll get used to it. We have a long way to go. Let’s hurry.”
“…Ugh.”
As I take a step, Mi Jeong quickly follows me.
With her forehead fully exposed thanks to the red hairpin, she looks much more like a child.
Though it seems she still feels a bit awkward, as she keeps tapping at the hairpin.
But since she doesn’t completely remove it, she doesn’t seem to be entirely uncomfortable.
We soon arrive at our destination.
A dungeon near Basel.
Haven’t I already cleared out all the properly rewarding dungeons near Basel?
I’ve cleared the Black Star Dungeon and all the good reward dungeons.
What I need today is a dungeon that doesn’t need to give good rewards and has ambiguous difficulty.
“We’ve arrived. Aren’t you hungry?”
“…Not really.”
“Still, you should drink something.”
“…Okay.”
Though she says she’s not that hungry, I always make sure to fill up before diving into a dungeon.
As I roll up my sleeves, Mi Jeong clings to me and bites at my arms.
If she bites just one spot, it would be fine, but she randomly bites everywhere, leaving my arms covered in bite marks.
You say you’re not hungry…
“Wait.”
“…Munch.”
“Eat up.”
“…Okay.”
As soon as I give her permission, Mi Jeong shoves her mouth against the wounds.
The way she gulps it down makes it seem like she hasn’t eaten in three days.
“Eat well.”
“…Umm.”
“This dungeon is gonna be cleared by you alone.”
“…Huh?”
Slick.
Mi Jeong pulls her mouth away from the wound, confusion evident in her eyes.
“Good luck. I’m just going to watch from a distance today.”
“…Huh?”
Today, Mi Jeong’s fighting power test is scheduled.
