Chapter 119
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: A Proper Conversation
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Just as I was about to snap the ropes with sheer force, Elliot, with a pipe between his lips, suddenly nodded as if he’d had an epiphany.
“Right. What could she have possibly done on her own? Without the Sinclair halo, there’s no one left to coddle her.”
“...?”
He asked and answered his own question.
I was in the middle of leaning forward in my chair to break the ropes, so his conclusion was utterly baffling.
My leaning had lifted the back legs of the chair off the floor. It was a rather strange and conspicuous posture.
Elliot looked at me, in a position that screamed ‘caught in the act,’ and asked.
“What are you doing?”
“Just looking at my shoelaces.”
“…”
“Look, a butterfly knot. Isn’t it pretty?”
I said, gesturing toward the knot on my combat boot with a nod. Elliot’s gaze followed mine to the knot.
“Where’s the butterfly?”
“If that’s not a butterfly, what is? Something’s wrong with your eyes.”
“It’s Your Highness’s knot that’s strange.”
“No, look closely. It’s pretty. Want me to tie yours like this too?”
“Stop scheming and sit properly.”
“Okay.”
Elliot let out a disbelieving chuckle at my antics. Judging by his expression, he didn’t seem to feel any particular suspicion or sense of danger.
Seeing his smiling face, I decided to cautiously broach a subject.
“I have something to ask you.”
“And I have no intention of telling you anything.”
Elliot said with a bright, infuriating smile.
“I heard you sent men to Brunel. Why there? The place was swarming with monsters when I left.”
I pressed on, probing for information. But Elliot ignored me completely and changed the subject.
“Tell me, what was the flaw in our security? Answer well, and I’ll make your death painless.”
Elliot’s tone was calmer, but his words were even more psychotic.
I recalled the chilling smile on Elliot’s face as he plunged a sword into the thigh of Baron Wipend’s son. A guy like that was more than capable of actually trying to kill me.
*Damn it. He should have just answered my question when I asked nicely.*
It was clear this sly fox had no intention of willingly giving me the information I wanted.
I racked my brain and answered his question.
“This is a Sinclair Hotel. It’s only natural you’d know less about its structure than I do.”
“So? Where did you get in?”
Elliot paid no mind to my answer and asked again. Damn him.
I recalled a common feature of all Sinclair Hotels. There was something I could use as a plausible excuse.
“When Sinclair Hotels are built, every guest room is required to have an emergency ladder.”
“An emergency ladder? Listen, Sinclair. There’s nothing like that here. I checked everywhere.”
Elliot spoke as if he were lecturing me. He was relaxed, composed, not even batting an eye.
When building the Sinclair Hotels, my father put immense effort into creating emergency escape routes.
At the time, the Kingdom of Graydon was in the midst of a high-rise construction boom, but inadequate fire escape plans often led to casualties.
Because of this, Sinclair Hotels were equipped with various emergency measures, not just ladders.
“They’re installed on the railing of every balcony. If you don’t believe me, check for yourself. I see you have a balcony right here.”
Elliot gestured to the man waiting by the door. One of the two men standing guard with rifles slowly approached the balcony.
The man knelt before the balcony railing and fiddled with it for a moment before tapping something on the underside.
*Drrrk—*
*Thud—*
I heard the sound of something dropping below.
“Huh? Sir El. The woman was right. There’s a ladder…”
*Kwwaaak—!*
It seemed the monsters gathered below had heard the noise and started clinging to the ladder. The ladder began to shake and rattle.
The man, struggling to hold onto the swaying ladder, cursed.
“Shit, damn it! Hey, Philip. Help me!”
He called out to the man named Philip, who was standing by the door. Eventually, the two men joined forces, grunting as they tried to pull the ladder up from the balcony railing.
“Tsk.”
Elliot clicked his tongue as he watched the scene unfold.
The man named Philip, after wrestling with the ladder for a while, raised his rifle and began firing below the railing. I guessed a monster must have latched onto it.
*Bang—! Bang—!*
*…Are they idiots?*
With monsters gathered outside, what did they think would happen if they made a racket and dropped a ladder all the way down? Was that something I really needed to explain?
Besides, the men who were supposed to be guarding me with their rifles were now completely preoccupied with the balcony railing, leaving their posts wide open. I’d only mentioned the ladder as a diversion, but things had become far too easy.
I glanced at the firmly shut door. No one came to investigate despite the commotion. It seemed we were on the top floor, and Elliot was the only one using it.
*Does this mean I can really do whatever I want?*
If anyone else burst in, I figured I could just use Elliot as a shield.
This camp was created by a man who wanted to play king. That meant capturing the absolute ruler—the king—would be checkmate.
Elliot was casually smoking his pipe, his eyes fixed on the balcony.
*Can’t let my guard down.*
This time, I truly tensed my muscles and snapped the tightly bound ropes.
*Snap—*
As Elliot turned his head toward the sound, I swiftly snatched the axe from the floor and held it to his throat.
The pipe fell from Elliot’s mouth and rolled across the floor. He stared at me, his mouth agape.
“What… How did you…”
I gave him a sweet smile.
“Shall we have a proper conversation now?”
Just then, the two men, having finally hauled the ladder up, turned back toward us. Our eyes met. They froze, seeing me holding an axe to Elliot’s throat.
“You there. Come here and tie him up.”
I gestured with my head toward the man who had been called Philip.
The two men, holding their rifles awkwardly, didn’t know what to do and just looked at Elliot. Elliot’s sharp voice reprimanded Philip.
“Philip. You and I will have a talk later. Who tied Sinclair up so carelessly?”
Even after seeing it with his own two eyes, Elliot was still underestimating my strength.
Then again, it was unbelievable. Not even a grown man could have broken free from ropes that thick.
“Has our noble Princess Sinclair ever even killed a single monster with an axe? A lady shouldn’t be holding something so dangerous.”
Elliot said, his tone like he was reasoning with a child. When the men by the balcony continued to hesitate, he smiled and told them.
“Do as she says. This is amusing.”
At Elliot’s relaxed demeanor, the men finally seemed to relax, smiling as they spoke.
“The young lady’s got some nerve.”
“So feisty for someone so small.”
They chuckled, talking amongst themselves about me.
I kept the axe aimed at the seated Elliot, and when one of the two men came within range, I kicked him.
*Thwack—!*
“Keuk!”
The man I kicked went flying, crashed into the balcony railing, and collapsed. He didn’t move; he was likely unconscious.
Philip and Elliot were so stunned they couldn’t even move, just staring blankly in that direction.
“Like you said, I’m just a small girl. How do you think I made it through a monster den all the way here on my own?”
The two men finally looked back at me. I gestured toward Philip again with my head.
“Tie him up. Unless you want to end up like him.”
But Philip didn’t budge. Ugh. Why won’t anyone listen to me?
I pressed the axe blade against Elliot’s neck and whispered to him.
“It seems your minion doesn’t understand. Or maybe he thinks he can take your place as king once you’re dead?”
Elliot’s face contorted. As Philip flustered in a panic, Elliot roared at him.
“What are you doing?! Kill her!”
The moment Elliot’s shout ended, Philip raised his rifle. At the same instant, I grabbed the back of Elliot’s neck and pulled him in front of me.
*Bang!*
“Gah!”
Elliot, who had been struggling in my grasp, now had a gunshot wound in his side. To be precise, the bullet had grazed his side.
It wasn’t a fatal injury. But if I hadn’t pulled Elliot in front of me, I would have been the one shot.
*If I let these guys go, they’ll just do the same thing again. They’re the type to kill without a second thought. Should I just finish them all off here?*
I had no intention of hurting anyone, but why did everyone have to be so cruel? My head felt like it was on fire. My grip on the back of Elliot’s neck tightened.
But in that moment,
“It’s best not to listen to what trash says, Miss Cherry. It will only taint your soul.”
Suddenly, Ethan’s words echoed in my ears. The boiling heat in my mind instantly cooled.
Whenever I felt the urge to recklessly wield my overwhelming power, Ethan’s words came to mind. Surprisingly, they were effective at calming me down.
Once I had composed myself a little, Philip’s shocked face came into view. He glanced back and forth between his smoking rifle and Elliot, who was coughing up blood, and cried out in a panic.
“Damn it! S-Sir El! Are you all right?”
Elliot coughed, spitting blood-tinged saliva onto the floor. Then he uttered a low curse at Philip, the man who shot him.
“Philip, you son of a bitch… If I die… I won’t let you rest in peace…”
As I said, the wound wasn’t fatal, yet here he was, spouting his last words. Ugh, he was really something else. A bit of a drama queen, I see.
I loosened my grip on his neck, and he slumped weakly to the floor, groaning and unable to get up.
“How… how do you have this kind of strength…”
I glanced away from Elliot, who was muttering as if he’d seen a ghost, and looked up to find Philip pointing a rifle in my face.
I grabbed the long barrel aimed at my face. The barrel was trembling. Not because of me, but because Philip’s hands were shaking.
“A-are you… infected…?”
Apparently, he believed I was infected and exhibiting monstrous strength right before turning. A smirk spread across my face as I said,
“If I were infected, would I still be this lucid? Idiot. If you wanted to shoot me, you shouldn’t have gotten within my reach.”
I bent the barrel I was holding in half, pointing it upward. Philip’s eyes widened. He stared at me and the bent rifle barrel in disbelief.
“F-Fuck!! What the hell are you!”
“I’ve been asked that question so many times, I’m starting to think I should prepare a Team Rocket-style speech.”
*If you’re asking who I am, it’s only right that I answer!*
“What are you talking about?!”
“It’s a thing.”
I mercilessly chopped the back of Philip’s neck, knocking him out.