Chapter 104

(Lurelia’s Belated Bonus – Update 2/14 🎉)

 

“Ohhh, divine beast…”

The people’s worship became even more fervent.

“Saint! I’ll take care of this place as your eternal devotee! First, escape with the help of the divine beast!”

Haley, who had decided to fully exploit the situation, shouted loudly.

“Clear a path for the Saint to escape!”

“Help the Saint! Block the guards!”

That became the catalyst as people rushed toward the guards.

“Are you siding with criminals!”

“You who call the Saint a criminal, what are your true identities?”

“Do you intend to incur the Sun God’s wrath? Let go!”

“It’s you who will incur the Sun God’s wrath!”

It became chaos of a different kind.

“Now’s our chance, hurry.”

Haley, who watched this with satisfaction, spoke while helping Angelina onto Pudding.

“Once you get away from the black market, I’ll find you.”

“Will you be alright? The magic here is…”

“Don’t worry. I’m the Magic Tower Master’s top disciple, remember?”

Haley left those reassuring words before turning around and spreading a massive magic circle.

“I’ve been feeling stifled lately anyway, so this is perfect.”

As she muttered quietly, unprecedented magic burst forth from the magic circle.

With a final glimpse of everything flashing in vibrant colors, Angelina quickly moved away from there.

Pudding, carrying her, was so fast that it felt like becoming the wind itself.

Seeing the chaos of the black market passing beneath her feet gave her a strange feeling, and she hugged Pudding tighter.

“What nonsense about being expelled from the Magic Tower.”

She whispered in a mischievous voice.

So it was revealed that Haley had never been expelled.

She had said it spontaneously to reassure Angelina, apparently overlooking the meaning behind her words.

She wasn’t upset since she had noticed it long ago, but she felt a bit playful.

‘She’s been close with Aesi lately, so it’s understandable she might slip up.’

It was uncomfortable in many ways when everyone pretended not to know what everyone actually knew.

‘But it’s probably better to pretend not to know until brother reveals it.’

There must be reasons for it.

Just as she was thinking about her brother, Pudding slowed down.

Looking around, they had already come quite far from the black market.

Pudding only let Angelina down after reaching an alley in the outer city.

“You’re so fast.”

As soon as Angelina’s feet touched the ground, Pudding’s body went “poof!” and shrank. Back to hamster size, Pudding dropped onto Angelina’s hand.

“Kyuu…”

Drooping like flour dough, Pudding had also returned to his original color.

Seeing him sprawled out while exhaling deeply like a sigh, he seemed to have used up all his energy.

“You’re quite mischievous, too. Why didn’t you show such amazing abilities until now?”

“Kyuu…”

“Well, there was no reason to show them, I suppose.”

After scolding him, she understood Pudding’s position.

“I’m glad. That you have such abilities to protect my brother, since I left you with him.”

He was already a lovely companion, but it was perfect that he could also protect his safety.

“Kyuu…”

“You must have used a lot of energy. You’re like a soaked towel.”

“Kyu, kku…”

“Good job.”

Angelina kissed Pudding’s forehead. The small, round horn that touched her lips felt ticklish and pleasant.

“By the way, where should I wait for Haley?”

Angelina, with the flattened Pudding on her shoulder, looked around.

Behind was the forest path leading to the black market; ahead was a shabby shantytown. There was no suitable place.

“Hmm… I should probably go inside rather than standing around. It would be troublesome if guards chased me here.”

Angelina stepped forward.

It was a bit dark since most streetlamps were broken, but the bright moonlight provided enough visibility.

‘If I can reach the city wall, I should be able to find my way to the mansion.’

Angelina stretched her neck to look at the distant city wall. The wall was high, making it a good landmark to head toward.

‘It’s been a while since I found my way alone.’

How long had it been since she wandered around without Laura or guards?

‘Is this the first time since my brother became a Marquis?’

Just as she was lost in old memories, lightly stepping forward:

A shadow swiftly passed over the top of a building.

Angelina naturally raised her head to check the roof.

There was nothing there.

“…?”

Did she see wrong?

Thinking she had mistaken an insect flying and disturbing the moonlight, she was about to walk again. But this time, something black slipped behind a building.

Angelina stopped and examined the area.

But again, nothing was visible.

And this time, Pudding, who had been drooping on her shoulder, also raised his head and looked where Angelina had been looking.

“Pudding. Can you see something?”

Since the creature who had been limp from exhaustion was reacting, it seemed she hadn’t been mistaken.

“There don’t seem to be any residents…”

Several years ago, when the outer city of the capital expanded, many people moved inside the city walls, leaving most buildings here empty.

Occasionally, guards used them as outposts, but most were used as warehouses.

There shouldn’t be anyone here at this hour.

Feeling goosebumps rising, Angelina hugged her arms tightly and rubbed them.

‘It’s probably something like a weasel…’

Just as she was starting to feel chilly, thinking it was her imagination:

“Mmph?!”

Two arms suddenly emerged from beside her, covering her mouth and yanking her into the shadows.

Startled, Angelina grabbed the hand covering her mouth tightly and twisted her body to free herself from the arm around her waist.

But then a familiar voice reached her ear.

“Shh, it’s me.”

‘Your Grace…?’

At Blake’s low voice, Angelina stopped struggling.

“I’m sorry for startling you. But we can’t make any noise…”

He whispered while watching the street outside. Angelina could see a man appearing at the end of the street where she had been hiding.

With a large axe strapped to his back, Angelina flinched and pressed closer to Blake.

As if to reassure her, Blake willingly held her tighter and removed his hand from her mouth. Then he turned his head toward the roof and made a gesture.

A shadow swiftly leaped across the building rooftops and could be seen following the man with the axe.

Only then did Angelina realize that the figure on the roof was Mason.

“This way first.”

Blake released Angelina and took her wrist, leading her deeper into the alley.

He led her to the second floor of a building. As if someone had been camping there for a few days, sleeping bags and daily necessities were scattered about.

“You can speak freely here.”

After briefly checking outside the window, he spoke while pushing a cushion toward Angelina.

“What brings you to a place like this? At this late hour, and where did you leave your maid and guards…”

He scanned outside the window again. Indeed, Haley and Laura were nowhere to be seen.

“I went to the black market and something happened.”

“You went to this black market?”

Blake asked in surprise.

“Why would you go to such a dangerous place?”

He was so surprised that he unintentionally spoke in a scolding tone.

“I thought that while the items traded might be somewhat suspicious, the market itself wouldn’t be dangerous…”

As Angelina fumbled through her explanation, Blake bit his lower lip with a look of regret, realizing he had overstepped.

“What I meant was… not that the black market itself is dangerous, but that you could have been in danger because of what was planned at the black market this time.”

“What was planned this time?”

After asking, Angelina remembered the “big deal” Jake had mentioned.

“Did you know what it was, Your Grace?”

“I came to catch that person. But…”

Hum. Humm-

In the middle of their conversation, a crystal ball placed in a corner of the room hummed gently.

Blake apologized briefly and connected to the crystal ball first.

-Your Grace, it’s Sean.

“Speak. What’s the situation?”

-Well… it seems the deal has been disrupted.

“Why?”

-The black market has been turned upside down.

Blake’s brow furrowed.

“Were there others besides us pursuing them?”

He naturally assumed that hyenas who had gathered for the deal had recklessly raided the scene, causing chaos.

However, the answer from Sean was different.

-That’s not it… I’m not sure how to explain this, but… um… the black market has been “dissolved.”

“…?”

As he frowned, unable to understand what this meant…

“Ahem, ahem.”

Beside him, Angelina suddenly fake-coughed. She turned her head exaggeratedly from side to side, looking awkward.

And Sean added:

-The Saint… appeared, you could say?

“What?”

-I’m not certain, but judging by the assassin skills that wiped out the guards and the magical abilities that devastated the market area… they seem to be Miss Flaubert’s maids… Of course, this is just my speculation. I didn’t see them directly, and above all, they would have no reason to come here. But there are also rumors that someone saw a divine beast…

While Sean continued his explanation, Blake turned his gaze to Angelina.