Chapter 45
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: 8. Unexpected Visitor
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Saella led Sophia straight into a shadowy alley.
'What the heck? Why here of all places... No way, out in the open...?'
Sophia smirked inwardly, assuming Saella was harboring the same lecherous thoughts as she was.
It was common knowledge that Saella was obsessed with beauty.
Everyone said he couldn't get enough of pretty girls.
So naturally, she figured he was dragging her to this secluded spot to have his way with her.
'I know I'm pretty and all, but come on, jumping straight to it like this is a bit much.'
Sophia felt a thrill of excitement mixed with a playful pretense of reluctance.
But she couldn't hide the smile on her face.
Even if Saella ditched her afterward, it wouldn't matter.
He was the one bringing her here, so she could play the innocent victim.
Public sympathy would come her way, or maybe Saella would take her back—either way, it worked for her.
That was what she was thinking when...
Drip—
Saella suddenly stopped.
A dim alley.
No sign of another soul, no light but the moonlight.
"S-Saella, sir?"
Sophia called his name in an eager, breathless voice.
The moment she did...
Hiss—
"...?!"
Sophia felt like a massive serpent was coiling around her body.
By the time she snapped out of it...
"Quiet. Make a sound, and I'll rip out your vocal cords."
Saella had pinned her arms to restrain her, slammed her against the wall, and clamped his other hand over her mouth.
"...??"
And on top of that, a terrifying threat to slice her throat if she made noise.
For mere role-play, his eyes were far too serious.
Those sharp, piercing eyes.
Eyes ready to kill her at any moment.
Sophia was an A-Rank adventurer in her own right.
She had the talent, skill, and experience to match.
So she could easily sense when her life was in real danger.
She didn't want to die. Confused as she was, her instincts made her nod frantically.
Slide—
Confirming her nod, Saella released his hand from her mouth and drew a sharp dagger from his bosom.
The moment she screamed, that blade would sever her throat and shred her vocal cords.
The moment she tried to channel mana, her hand would be severed.
That's the pressure she felt.
'What? What the hell is this?'
Sophia was utterly bewildered by the situation.
Just moments ago, she thought the mood was perfect.
She was sure he wanted to take her.
So why?
Why was he suddenly pinning her down and threatening to kill her?
The answer came quickly.
Saella explained it plainly enough.
"I've already investigated all of you. Claude, Mary Blaze, Sophia. The trash who treated Lord Edin like dirt and used him as a pack mule."
"......"
Why's Saella calling Edin 'Lord'?
Why's he protecting that bastard?
Is some random guy more important than me?
We didn't treat him like a pack mule—I was nice to Edin!
A flurry of questions and excuses raced through her mind.
But she didn't want her vocal cords torn out, so she kept her mouth shut.
"And yet you try to approach Lord Edin again. That Claude guy too—you're all pathetic, foolish trash."
Claude must've tried the same and gotten chased off with an approach ban.
Did Saella do that too?
But seriously, why?
Sophia's head was still a whirlwind of confusion.
From Saella's perspective, these so-called former comrades who claimed to have bullied and tormented Edin kept showing up, bothering him and stressing him out.
He wanted to rip their throats out right then and there.
Of course, it wouldn't shake or break Edin's godlike skills even if he was stressed.
But anything negatively affecting Edin was unacceptable to Saella.
Edin was the incarnation of beauty, an idol to be worshipped.
"That hero got a pass because Lord Edin showed mercy as an old hometown friend."
Saella dipped his head slightly as he said it.
The moment he lifted it again...
"Someone like you could vanish suddenly, and he probably wouldn't even notice."
A chilling blue glow emanated from his eyes.
He was beginning to channel mana.
"H-Hiiik..."
The instant their sharp, glowing eyes met, Sophia felt death staring her in the face.
She yelped in terror without meaning to.
Realizing she'd made a sound, she clamped her mouth shut in panic.
"You made a noise."
"...!!"
She shook her head desperately.
No, it was an uncontrollable reflex.
But did it even matter?
In front of someone who'd already decided to make her disappear without a trace?
'Why, why me!? I was nice to Edin! Ask him yourself!'
She wanted to scream her innocence, but that would probably get her head lopped off for real.
All she could do was shake her head, tears streaming down her face in terror.
"Don't hang around here. Get lost—go as far away as possible right now. If I see you again... I'll kill you for real."
"...!!"
That meant he'd let her off this time.
Innocent or not, desperate to live, she nodded frantically.
Saella released her arms and stepped back.
'I-I lived.'
As Sophia sighed in relief...
"Oh, right. Since you're here, I should leave you with a little memento."
"...Huh?"
Saella swung the dagger at blinding speed.
Slash—!
The blade grazed the back of her hand at incredible velocity.
A clean, straight gash appeared on the back of her hand.
Gush! Trickle—
Not too deep.
But not shallow either.
Blood poured from the wound on the back of her left hand.
"...?!"
Only after the blood flowed did Sophia realize she'd been cut.
As the searing pain hit and she opened her mouth to scream...
"Don't scream. It's annoying."
Saella said coldly.
"Ugh, ughhh...!!"
Thinking that screaming would mean more than just blood from her hand, she desperately stifled her cry.
"This dagger has an enchantment that interferes with healing. Even if you heal it, you'll probably scar."
Saella approached the trembling Sophia, clutching her bleeding left hand, and whispered.
"So every time you see that scar, remember me. And remember what I said."
Go far away and never show your face again.
To ingrain that warning as trauma.
"Try whining to anyone you want. Doesn't matter—I'm not affiliated with anyone anymore, so no one's gonna care if I cause a scene."
With those final words, he sauntered out of the alley.
"Ugh... ughh..."
Left alone, Sophia ground her teeth as the terror faded and the agony in her left hand surged.
She hurriedly cast a healing spell, but as Saella said, it felt sluggish.
Still, as an A-Rank healer, the wound closed soon enough.
But the delayed healing left a scar.
A long, ugly straight line marred the back of her delicate hand.
"Fucking bastard..."
Rage made curses spill out, but she flinched and glanced around, terrified someone might hear.
"Ughhh..."
Even that felt humiliating, bringing fresh tears.
It was so unfair.
She'd been nice to him!
And this was her reward?
Of course, Edin had subtly egged on the bullying from behind because he disliked her.
But that was self-defense—he'd pissed off nice her.
And she hadn't done it herself; she'd only sicced Mary and Claude on him. She was innocent.
She had told Claude to ditch Edin.
But that was consideration—A-Rank quests could get him killed.
Even after all that, she still saw herself as someone who'd been kind to Edin.
Despite the threats from Saella.
But fair or not, what could she do?
She didn't want to die.
'Fuck... fuck...'
She wanted to vent this rage somewhere.
Revenge on that filthy elf and Edin.
With that thought, she quietly stood, shuffled out of the alley, and headed back to the church with a venomous scowl.
Ugh... my head.
When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in the underground workshop—I was in my room above the general store.
A spartan space with just a bed, desk, and wardrobe.
It's wide open, but so empty it feels barren.
Not that it matters right now.
What time is it?
I'd been testing recipes yesterday, researching mass production methods too.
Time flew by—dawn passed in a blink, and I kept crafting almost till morning.
Figured I'd rest my eyes for a bit, so I came up here... and the sun's high in the sky?
Checked the clock.
10:30 a.m.
"Ah, shit..."
Supposed to open at 9. Total oversleep.
I'm gonna get chewed out...
I washed up quick and hurried downstairs.
"Oh, Edin."
Downstairs, Suiven had already opened the shop and was dealing with students.
"Ah... sorry. I overslept."
I apologized to Suiven.
But she just smiled warmly. "It's fine."
"Saw the underground workshop. You were up all night making stuff, right? Saw some new ones, so I picked a few for the shelves."
"Ah, thank you."
Phew... Suiven saved the day.
If we'd stayed closed past 9, we'd have student complaints and a scolding from the chairman.
"Finally up, huh."
"...Lady Lunarin?"
Why's Lunarin here too?
No class today?
"Ah, I was showing a friend around the academy today. Say hi. This is Jeira. Jeira Blaze."
"Nice to meet you, Edin, right? I've heard a lot about you."
Lunarin's friend, huh.
Blaze...?
And that fiery red hair sparking a memory.
No way...
"Yeah, Mary's older sister. Mary Blaze."
"...!"
Mary.
Mary's sister...
Suddenly, Mary's arrogant attitude and speech flashed in my mind.
"......"
"......"
Our eyes met.