The Night Fairy's Lure
“Uh……”
The content was so shocking that I’d wandered inside without thinking, but now that all eyes were on me, my mouth wouldn’t open properly.
“What’re you standing there like an idiot for? You’re distracting everyone—come sit over here.”
“……Yes, ma’am.”
I’d figured she wasn’t in the kitchen, maybe off at the bathroom or something, but here she was. I quickly stepped out from the counter and sat down next to Amelia-noonim, who was sitting off by herself.
“But, Noonim……”
“What, you little shit.”
“Kinda awkward to ask after barging in, but… is it okay for me to be here?”
“Eh, it’s fine. She left the door open knowing you were eavesdropping.”
Oof. I thought she’d caught me seriously spying, but it seemed Ardella-nim just let it slide because it was me.
Makes sense—if it was a problem, the knight ladies staring at me would’ve stopped me right away. Even when I opened the door and came in, they just glanced at my face briefly and went back to guarding their spots without any fuss.
Thanks to Ardella-nim’s mercy, I seemed safe from punishment, so I quietly stuck by Amelia-noonim’s side, staring blankly at the ragged-looking honey-knuckle girl across from us while Ardella-nim quietly conversed with Bellanis, the knight who’d smashed my door to splinters.
The reason I could sit here so calmly, like I was entranced, was because there were no changes to Siron’s score on my dispatch records. Physically and mentally, she was still fine—no major issues yet.
“Hm, if the emblem on that robe she was wearing matches this, then she’s definitely a Petmira Church apostle. Bellanis, call in the外出 knights and the holy knight alliance. Looks like we walked right into the bait they tossed out.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Bellanis, in her silver helmet, grabbed Kernax beside her and headed out.
“Coral, head to the west gate now and inform the temples of this. See if they have any priests who can support us. If there are volunteers, tell them to gather at the west gate by noon tomorrow.”
One of the knights who’d been on watch dashed outside.
“Billena, take the rest of the knights and secure lodging. The others outside should arrive around dawn, so Bambino Garden should work. Once you’ve got rooms, notify the east gate guards ahead of time so the rest can find us easily.”
The knight whose name was called took a pouch from Ardella-nim’s bosom and led the remaining knight ladies out of the guild in a hurry.
With the knights gone and Kernax away, only Ardella-nim, Amelia-noonim, the honey-knuckle girl, and I remained.
“Amelia, put out a request.”
“Do what you want.”
I was shocked inside at Noonim casually shrugging at the heir to the count’s title. Sure, she’s a hardcore alcoholic drowning in booze, but I didn’t expect her to be this reckless.
“The request is simple: recruiting for a subjugation of a group bewitched by heretics. Pay is 10 silver per heretic head. Anyone with the guts to cut down heretics is welcome.”
“Yeah, whatever. But just so you know, our guild doesn’t have many women with the balls to throw down with heretics—especially not against those vicious Petmira bitches.”
“I’m not expecting much. But you’ve gotta seize opportunities when they come.”
“That’s only if you’re still breathing. Anyway, we done here?”
“Yeah… we’re done.”
Ardella-nim stood up.
“What’s your name again?”
“Marcolin Vincent… ma’am. Ninth branch leader of the Golden Reed Caravan.”
“Ninth—bottom rung, huh. Anyway, Marcolin, you’ll guide us tomorrow. You know you can’t refuse.”
“……Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Amelia, she’s your responsibility until tomorrow.”
“Got it.”
Listening to their exchange, it didn’t seem like Amelia-noonim was just being reckless after all.
“Smith.”
“Ah, yes!”
I jumped at Ardella-nim calling me and answered in a fluster.
“Something you want to say to me?”
“Uh……”
“If you do, say it now.”
Ardella-nim crossed her arms, gesturing for me to speak.
I hesitated. Could I really ask here if it was okay to tag along tomorrow? Screw that, no way. Why would they bring a useless guy like me, who’s only got a tough body going for him? From what I’d overheard, dozens of people could die easily—me going would just be dead weight, no joke.
I was worried about Siron, but that’s exactly why staying here was better. If I followed and ran into her, she might knuckle-rap me for trailing after. Ardella-nim probably wouldn’t take me anyway.
Decision made, I shook my head.
“No, nothing.”
“Alright, got it.”
Ardella-nim gave a look to Amelia-noonim next to me.
“Smith, take this bitch to the well in the guild yard and grab some spare clothes from my room.”
“Me?”
“Who else, you little shit? You think I should do it?”
“No, I’ll do it. Right away.”
Seeing the veins bulging on her right hand, I shot up from my seat.
“You heard her? Follow me.”
“Uh……”
The honey-knuckle girl glanced at Ardella-nim for a second.
“Go on.”
“Ah, then… see you tomorrow.”
And just like that, I led the honey-knuckle girl toward the well in the guild yard.
Once Smith and Marcolin Vincent left, Amelia, who’d been sitting a ways off, stood and took the seat across from Ardella.
“Surprising. I heard they pamper Smith over there.”
“Not like you can talk.”
“Fair.”
Ardella smiled faintly, nodding as she asked Amelia, “But is it really okay leaving Smith alone with her?”
Amelia recalled Marcolin, who’d left with Smith. Marcolin Vincent, leader of the Golden Reed Caravan, who’d escaped a heretic ambush thanks to adventurer Siron’s sacrifice. But neither Amelia nor Ardella had seen the woman sitting there moments ago as the real Marcolin Vincent.
Petmira Church—the most radical of the heretic cults. They preached that love between women, not reason, was true love, kidnapping and brainwashing women without mercy to swell their ranks. That was Petmira.
For someone from that pack of lunatics—especially an apostle in emblazoned robes—to let a woman like Marcolin slip away unscathed? If a holy knight were here, they’d have chopped off a few of her fingers on the spot and started interrogating.
Even if she was the real deal, the odds of brainwashing by a heretic priest were sky-high. Whatever her goal sneaking in here, if it was Petmira, the target wasn’t Smith—it was the countess-heir sitting right there. Especially with that psycho bitch in the city who was head over heels for her.
“Even if shit hits the fan, that horny bitch is here—she won’t escape the city. Should be fine.”
“You still don’t get along with Agatha, huh.”
Ardella shook her head at Amelia cursing the high priestess of Rapitera as a horny bitch.
“This is good, relatively. Want me to show you what happens when we really don’t?”
“Spare me if it’s in our territory. Your master gets involved, and even the kingdom laughs it off. Not that she’ll emerge from the Demon Realm for another 10 years anyway.”
“Ten years……”
Amelia gave a meaningful smile at Ardella’s words.
Ardella stared at her and asked, “What’s with that smile?”
“Who knows. Anyway, we done here?”
“Amelia, you think I’m just sitting here chatting idly? Sit. We’re not finished.”
“Fuckin’ hell. At least bring booze if you’re keeping me. You nobles got no damn sincerity.”
“Cut the crap.”
Ardella shot her a look, and Amelia sighed, glancing toward the stairs to the second floor.
“What’re you bitches eavesdropping for?! Sit your asses down and drink in peace!!”
Crash-clang-bang—!!
A racket erupted from the top of the stairs at Amelia’s bellow.
“Always with the no manners… So, what else?”
“I’ll take Smith tomorrow.”
“……”
Amelia’s eyes flashed fiercely—way more menacing than her usual annoyed glare at Smith, locking onto Ardella like she’d kill her.
“Whoa, joke’s on you—kill aura off, please.”
Ardella raised both hands. But Amelia kept glaring murderously, not backing down.
“……Sheesh. Can’t even joke around, scary.”
With her momentum unyielding, Ardella clicked her tongue and lowered her hands.
Ignoring the heavy pressure, Ardella continued. “I’ll add to the request reward. Those weird gadgets Smith makes.”
“……That?”
As Amelia’s intensity eased, Ardella nodded.
“Kernax told me the adventurers here are fired up to grind achievements for those things.”
“You……”
“Amelia, I don’t love using them like this either. But nameless adventurer trash means less to me than my own knights.”
Amelia scowled for a different reason now. She was an adventurer herself but didn’t particularly like them. Ardella’s method was something even she couldn’t call nice.
“With holy knights and priests joining, we won’t lose… but since they invited us, we need bait to lure them just in case.”
“Guess you’re just petty nobility after all.”
“Blame following Mom around.”
Amelia eyed Ardella with disgust for openly planning to use adventurers as disposable pawns, but she just shrugged like it was routine.
“Petmira Church. Worst case, they die—but otherwise, capture means they live.”
“Worse than death: shame and agony await.”
“Can’t be helped. Anyway, pass it on to the ones upstairs.”
“……Fine.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
Amelia sighed. It wasn’t about understanding—this was a request, and whether brain-dead, sex-crazed adventurers took it was their call. She had no duty to save idiots who couldn’t see their own graves.
But that didn’t stop her from being pissed, so she scratched her head roughly and stood abruptly.
“That little shit Smith better just toss some clothes and come back—what’s taking so long? Hey!! Smith, you fuckin’ shit—!!”
Amelia bellowed loud enough to shake the table, voice carrying to Smith outside.
But after dozens of seconds, no Smith—not even a reply.
“……”
“……”
Not just Amelia—Ardella, still seated, stood with a hardened face too.
That moment, Amelia realized she’d overlooked something.
“……Dammit!!”
Amelia kicked the reception counter to pieces and bolted to the guild yard, smashing through the locked back door. Staring at the empty yard, she bit her lip hard.
“Fuck!! Stupid bitch—!!”
Why didn’t I think of that?
Their initial target was clearly Ardella, that noble bitch. But midway, they switched.
“Amelia, what happened?”
“……One of the captured adventurers is that kid’s lover. And she’s wearing it.”
That thing Smith made. The heretic apostle must’ve taken a real liking to it.
Ardella instantly got it and sighed grimly.
“Looks like we can’t wait till noon tomorrow.”