Chapter 44
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 044
Chapter Title: Cindy
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"By the way... if you're here, that means Raymond's back too, right?"
As the real conversation was about to begin, Bow suddenly remembered something he'd overlooked and posed the question. Woojin nodded in response.
"Yes. He's probably reporting to Sir Rolland."
"I see. In that case, I should head over there. You two have a good talk."
Bow rose from his seat without a second thought.
He clearly saw no need for further involvement. He'd set up the meeting; the rest was for the two of them to sort out.
Bow walked out. Thanks to him, Woojin now sat face-to-face with Cindy alone.
"With things as they are, let's speak freely today."
"...Alright."
With that agreement, Cindy wasted no time diving into what had just happened.
"Looking back... it seems you knew who I was from the very start, Mr. Jin. Even back when you accepted my invitation to dinner."
"Yeah. That's right."
"How did you figure it out? I thought I'd hidden it pretty thoroughly."
Woojin answered honestly.
"I heard it from Derek and Cedric. Somehow, we ended up connected."
"...My brothers told you? Why?"
"I don't know."
It wasn't a lie.
After consuming their dan cores, fragments of Derek and Cedric's memories had transferred to Woojin. He had no idea why such a thing was possible.
"When? Where did you hear about me?"
Cindy pressed relentlessly. With her dead family involved, she couldn't just let it slide.
But Woojin had his own stance.
"Sorry, but I can't discuss that part. It's too awkward to bring up... Instead, I can tell you something else."
"What?"
"Information on the killer who murdered your family."
As he said it, Cindy's green eyes took on an even chillier glint.
"Tell me."
"Alright. But there's a condition."
"It's about my family... Can't you just tell me?"
Woojin shook his head firmly.
"No."
He had zero intention of budging on this. Cindy seemed to sense it and backed down.
"Fine. What's the condition?"
"That witch is my prey. I can accept your cooperation, but you can't go off and do it alone. Swear you won't break it."
Cindy looked distinctly reluctant.
"...Do I really have to swear?"
"Absolutely."
"Give me a moment to think it over."
Cindy fell deep into thought.
Truth be told, Woojin's approach was overly forceful—practically a one-sided ultimatum. But it was a necessary step.
Derek and Cedric knew their little sister all too well. She was clever and gifted with business savvy, but sorely lacking in experience and far too emotional.
'This foolish girl... she'll use her own life as bait to draw out the witch.'
The moment Cindy deemed she had enough intel on her enemy, she'd spread the rumor that Golden Beetle's youngest daughter was operating in the Demonic Realm.
What followed would be a deadly gamble: her death, or slaying the witch.
'But those odds are far too low.'
Cindy was only fifteen.
In the context of Woojin's life, she hadn't even finished middle school yet. For this child to survive against a witch was no easy feat.
A short while later.
"...Can I come back later?"
Cindy asked cautiously.
It wasn't the response he'd hoped for, but it wasn't bad either. It meant she was seriously considering his demand.
"Come by when you have time."
"Thank you for being so understanding."
With the conversation wrapped up, there was no reason to linger in this dreary training hall.
The two stood without delay. Sitting on the bare stone floor without even a cushion had been subtly grueling.
'Not a great spot for hosting guests.'
Next time, he'd have to borrow a reception room from the Church Alliance. With that in mind, Woojin headed for the exit.
Right away, the wolves waiting at the entrance peered over with curious eyes. Their gazes were mostly fixed on Cindy—they'd taken an interest in the stranger.
Woojin instinctively stepped in front of her. He gestured for the wolves to back off.
"Go on, stay back. Farther, farther—"
The wolves retreated, sniffing the air wistfully. They seemed disappointed that Woojin had ruined their chance to memorize Cindy's scent.
After shooing them farther away...
He turned to check behind him. Cindy had collapsed to the floor in terror, staring up at him with wide, shocked eyes.
"...Oppa."
Who was she talking to?
Woojin tilted his head. Cindy flushed visibly, scrambling to her feet in a panic.
"I-I'll come by tomorrow..."
With that, she fled from sight.
Childhood memories tend to evaporate easily, but among them, there's always one trauma that never fades—like a burn scar.
Cindy had been born bearing such a mark. Her mother had died bringing her into the world. Birth and death had crossed paths on the same day, in the same house.
'Cursed child.'
A mother dying in childbirth was an ill omen. The way people looked at her was never kind—even her own family.
Could one person ever truly fill the void left by another?
It seemed not. Her brothers needed a mother, not a little sister. Her father wanted a wife, not a daughter.
On her eighth birthday, Cindy was suddenly gripped by a dark thought.
'I'm the reason everyone's unhappy.'
Family and relatives bowed their heads at her mother's grave to mark the anniversary of her death. Cindy stood there like a criminal, gauging their moods.
Did she even belong here?
...No.
'I should leave.'
Cindy ran away.
She left a few notes behind, then approached the stone wall encircling the estate. At its base was a dog hole she'd scouted earlier.
A passage the cats often used. Cindy forced her way through the gap.
'Tighter than I thought.'
It wasn't smooth going, but after some struggle, she emerged. Slinging her small bag over her shoulder, Cindy took her first steps into the world.
But luck wasn't on her side from the start.
As she followed the wall, she rounded a corner... and a massive dog leaped out in front of her. The sudden encounter startled them both. She froze in shock, and so did the dog.
Her mind blanked; she couldn't process the situation. Cindy stood there blinking, while the stray dog hesitated, eyeing her.
The standoff dragged on...
...until Cindy whipped around and bolted.
Thud, thud, thud, thud—
Each footfall hammered in her ears. Her mind went white. Rising anxiety made her want to vomit.
It couldn't be chasing her, right?
Thud, thud-thud—
...The footsteps seemed to overlap.
'No, it's just my imagination.'
There was only one way to prove it. Cindy glanced back over her shoulder.
The stray dog was chasing her. Its eyes rolled wildly, tongue lolling out like a flapping flag.
"...Kyaaak!!"
A belated scream erupted. Terrified, Cindy kept running along the wall. She and the dog circled the same spot endlessly.
She ran and ran...
...until
Thump!
Exhausted, Cindy sprawled face-first into the dirt. The stray charged at the fallen girl.
But at that moment, a third party intervened.
"Yaaah!!"
Someone bellowed and wedged himself between them—her eldest brother, Derek. The startled stray hesitated. Then, a stone came flying from somewhere, slamming hard against the wall.
Cedric followed up with a barrage of rocks. Spooked by the assault, the stray fled in a panic.
The two brothers rushed to their sister.
"Hic, sob..."
Cindy burst into tears. Covered in dirt, she wailed. Whether from misery or relief, even she didn't know.
Derek and Cedric watched with worried eyes, then tentatively extended their hands.
"Cindy. Let's go home."
"...Okay."
Their little sister took hold of her brothers' hands.
"...It's just a memory now."
Cindy murmured to herself. Rocking gently in her chair, she flipped through the diary she'd kept since childhood, page by page.
Truth be told, it didn't feel that ancient. Just seven years ago. Her eldest brother Derek had already been an adult back then.
That day had been lucky in many ways.
For an eight-year-old Cindy, the real danger wasn't some stray dog—it was the world itself. If she'd ventured farther, she might have vanished without a trace.
'That stray was actually a good boy.'
She'd learned later...
It turned out the dog was all bark, no bite—a gentle soul who loved playing with people.
The stray had chased her in excitement, thinking it was a game of tag like always. That's why it was so thrilled.
Dogs run faster than grown adults. The only reason Cindy had kept ahead was that the stray had slowed down to match her childish steps.
Some kindnesses you only appreciate in hindsight. Child Cindy hadn't noticed... but the baby of the family had always been cherished.
'That's why I have to get revenge.'
Cindy rose from the rocking chair.
She walked slowly. Her steps seemed unsteady, as if the chair's sway still lingered.
The iron door to the locked basement stood before her. Cindy unlocked it with a brass key and stepped inside.
Fwoosh—
She lit the candelabra with a match, then surveyed the shadowy basement. Wooden shelves lined with various wines. Passing them, she ventured deeper...
...to a large glass display case. Inside gleamed jewels and precious metals—rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and more.
These were no ordinary trinkets.
'Artifacts.'
Cindy had been collecting them whenever the opportunity arose.
Common artifacts weren't suited for combat. Imbued with low-level spells, they recharged mana after a cooldown for reuse.
Thus, they typically held spells useful for daily life.
But Cindy's collection was different. Powerful one-shots that shattered their gems after use. And a few rare items with special powers.
'I gathered them to avenge with my own hands.'
She had no intention of relying on others. If she died, she'd die alone.
...Or so she'd thought.
'What exactly is that man?'
She'd met him once before, but this was their first truly open conversation.
The more she talked with Jin, the stranger it felt. His demeanor, speech, attitude... everything felt familiar. Nostalgic.
'...It was like my brothers had come back.'
The emotion left her utterly confused.