Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: God's First and Last Mercy
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The guards rushed up to the family head's bedroom in a panic, only to find the ones stationed at the door collapsed on the ground. They rescued the family head and put out the fire. The blaze had started in the bed, leaving him with severe burns as well.
"Slaves! Where are the slaves?!"
Someone shouted that, and one of the guards who'd come from outside spoke up.
"There were blankets laid out on the terrace! Long ropes hanging from the railing too—it looks like they escaped outside!"
"Catch those escaped slaves! Hurry!"
The mansion descended into chaos. The fire was quickly extinguished, but the family head had lost one eye and suffered burns across nearly half his body, so he was rushed into emergency treatment. The servants combed the entire garden while the guards scoured the grounds outside, hunting for the fugitives.
Ella and Ellen confirmed the bedroom was empty, then carefully crawled out from under the bed.
The ceiling above where the flames had briefly roared was charred black, and the acrid smoke hadn't fully cleared.
The servants, convinced the slaves had fled through the terrace, paid little attention to the mansion's interior—especially the bedroom, ground zero of the fire.
Ella and Ellen slipped out from under the bed and quietly hid in the adjoining study.
And by sheer coincidence, that's where they discovered a secret passage.
It was God's first—and last—act of mercy.
The twins spent the night in an underground pantry, then slipped out of the mansion at dawn when the searches grew lax. They headed to the markets, pretending to be naive young masters sneaking out for a lark. This was possible only because their slave brands were on their backs, not their hands.
They sold the jewels adorning their clothes, bought cheap everyday outfits, and carried themselves like sheltered nobles with an escort knight trailing nearby. They even overpaid slightly for necessities, acting clueless about commoner prices.
Leaving the empire was their top priority, so they kept switching carriages and headed southeast. They narrowly escaped slave hunters more times than they could count.
Even after crossing into another country, troubles abounded. Most kingdoms bordering the empire spoke its tongue primarily, but the Harpen Kingdom used a completely unique writing system.
The twins struggled just to pick up the language. Fortunately, they were sharp—and desperate enough—that basic comprehension came quickly. They lived like mutes for a long stretch, but being together kept the loneliness at bay.
Then fresh trials struck. They poured the proceeds from their last cherished jewel into a scam. What the kids had scrimped and saved for was a mana stone.
They'd heard somewhere that carrying one could scramble the slave brand's tracking function. Theirs seemed genuine but was tiny, its mana mostly depleted—utter trash, worthless now.
They couldn't bear to toss the expensive rock they'd scraped together for, nor resell it as vagrants. So they had no choice but to tag along with a band of orphans, scraping by.
"Thinking back, meeting Evan's group really was lucky."
Some of the kids in Evan's band eyed their constant wariness with discomfort but never chased them off. If they'd joined any other group, they might've been beaten and booted. Things could've been far more miserable.
If—just if—they survived this agony, if the slave brand vanished for good, if they never had to fear pursuit again...
Such thoughts were cut short by a wrenching pain, like their heart being ripped clean out. A guttural gasp escaped unbidden.
Was this death? Would they meet that angel from their dreams again?
Trembling violently in agony, the twins clutched each other's hands and prayed desperately. They thought of the little angel who'd warmed them amid dream-chills before vanishing.
Angel...
I'll bear pain forever if I must.
Take me away if you want.
Please...
Let me settle down safely with Ellen, live happily...
Free Ella from this endless dread of capture and death...
Their vision blurred.
This really was the end. With that realization, they lifted their head for one last look at their sibling's face. Clear, sky-blue eyes reflected back in perfect mirror image—perhaps even purer than their own.
At least leave with a smile. They strained to curl their lips, when a low voice came from behind.
"You did well."
The quiet voice snapped them awake. The metallic tang pricking their nose sharpened, as did the sticky dampness soaking their back.
Not dead...? Still alive?
"It's... done?"
Their voice cracked like dry earth.
"Yeah."
At the blunt reply, the twins blankly pushed themselves up and stared at each other. Their bodies were drenched in cold sweat from enduring the pain.
Unable to believe it, they checked each other's backs. The repulsive silver slave brand that had glittered so mockingly was truly gone.
"It's really... gone."
"How... did you do it?"
"Not over yet. Get dressed and head outside."
The twins awkwardly wiped Nihil's blood from each other's backs, then hurriedly dressed. They felt grimy from the sweat, but a breeze would dry them soon enough.
The little hooded child before them was an enigma, thoughts unreadable, but the erasure of the slave brand was undeniable fact.
As they reached for the warehouse door, Evan burst in first.
"You mad little shit!"
The puppy howled.
"Nil, you okay?"
The kitten scampered to Nihil's side. Bella blocked the other kids from entering, just in case.
Evan scolded him for the blood reek wafting outside—what the hell had he done?—but quickly unpacked hemostatics, ointments, and more to tend Nihil's palms.
That's when he spotted the silver patterns etched on the backs of Nihil's hands and frowned in confusion.
"What's this?"
"..."
Nihil clamped his mouth shut. The peeking twins recognized it and rushed over in horror.
"Wh-why's it here? Don't tell me you were... a slave too?"
"A slave? What're you talking about, Nil?"
Lianus blanched at the word "slave" tied to Nihil.
Nihil shook his head slightly and continued.
"Ner, don't worry. This can be erased. And... it's theirs. I transferred it to me."
"Transferred?"
"Yeah. Heart brands are tough to remove, so I moved 'em to my hands."
"..."
Speechless at the revelation, the twins just exchanged glances. They'd wanted the brands gone, but transferring them to someone else had never crossed their minds.
Nihil shrugged it off casually.
"Erasing this is easy, so no need to act weird about it."
"Really...?"
"Yeah. Puppy, give me a hand."
Nihil brushed off the twins and called to Evan, who petulantly refused on the spot.
"No."
"Fine, Kitten then."
"What can I help with, pretty young master?"
Bella hopped to at Nihil's summons, leaving Evan utterly deflated.
"...Shouldn't you ask at least twice?"
Evan grumbled about the kid's heartlessness and lunged to grab Nihil's nape. Or tried to—Nihil slipped right out of reach.
"...?"
Evan stared blankly at his empty hand. He'd snatched the boy's collar countless times before, never once dodged. The situation felt profoundly off.
"Why... dodge?"
"...Just did."
"Don't tell me you're sulking 'cause I said no?"
"..."
Evan bristled.
*Seriously? So nice to the kids, but me?!*
Ousted by spite, he reached again.
Nihil dodged a few half-hearted swipes, then flopped flat on his back with a thud.
"..."
"..."
Evan had no intent to trip or manhandle him, so his hand froze midair. Nihil lay there a beat, embarrassed, then squirmed upright.
"...I don't need help. Just clear out for a bit."
"No."
"Then I'll go."
Nihil started packing his scattered vials. Watching, Lianus sensed something wrong and tugged his robe hem. It felt damp.
"Ner, what's wrong? Gotta pack this—let go a sec."
The light grip barely hindered him, but Nihil gently coaxed Lianus's hand free.
Something *was* off. Without hesitation, Lianus threw his full weight into a hug.
Nihil toppled backward with him, sprawling flat again. Normally, he'd have scooped him up securely.
"Nil, you're soaked all over."
Lianus patted the damp robe—like after a drizzle—then carefully lifted the hood.
Beautiful eyes, focus wavering faintly, gazed up at him before flicking to the wide-eyed twins.
Nihil's hair clung messily to his sweat-drenched face, his whole body quivering minutely.
Lianus felt every tremor through contact, gently swept the hair aside, and pressed on.
"Nil, rest a little. I don't get exactly what you did... but I know you pushed too hard. Just rest, we can finish later. Big bro'll help too."
"..."
"Yeah? Nil, please..."
"...Yeah."
Unable to resist Lianus's soft, earnest plea, Nihil let his tension melt away. His pale lids drooped, veiling those pretty cosmic eyes.
Limp as a marionette with cut strings. Lianus's face twisted in distress as he turned to Evan.
"Help..."
Evan squeezed his eyes shut. It dragged him back a year—to the tiny prince clutching a dead puppy, sobbing and begging for help.