Volume 2 Chapter 16 The Trigger Was Self-Destruction
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
What kind of woman is she (Adelina)?
That was Tiet’s first impression.
Even though she had chosen a different path from Anna and the others, she still considered Anna her friend. That bond, however strained, had not been severed. And because of that, she felt a responsibility. As Anna’s friend, she needed to meet the man Anna had once loved. If it could lead to closure between them, then this encounter would be her parting gift to Anna.
Tiet had left the party without saying a word. Not because of some reckless impulse—but because she knew. She might never be forgiven.
She ran after Klock, who had escaped from captivity. This time, her intention wasn’t to bring him to justice, but to speak with him. Deep down, there was another reason as well—one she could not easily admit. She wasn’t ready to part with him just yet. The days she had spent with that man had brought her unfamiliar feelings. Unsettling, but also warm.
Ever since the night they had shared a bed, Tiet had found herself wanting to see his face each day. It wasn’t mere curiosity. She had grown attached to him—obsessed, even. She had never felt such emotions toward any other man. And yet, that wasn’t the reason she was chasing him now. At least, not the main reason. Anna came first.
However—
What is this overwhelming presence… this absurd amount of magic?
Could it be her? The one whom Klock freed?
When Tiet finally caught up with him, she saw him standing beside a woman. But not just any woman—this one radiated magic on a scale that could rival even Hermine or Anna.
Until now, Tiet had wondered how Klock could have escaped such tight confinement. He had been imprisoned in a magic-bound house, created by none other than the Great Mage herself. Even Anna might have struggled to break free. The idea that a mere thief had escaped from such a prison had seemed unthinkable.
Tiet had assumed he had somehow broken the lock, but the truth was simpler—he had been released from the outside. This woman could likely open such barriers with ease. Tiet had never imagined she would encounter someone of this caliber in such a place. It defied all expectations.
”—!!”
As their eyes met, a shiver ran down Tiet’s spine. Her instincts screamed a silent warning.
It was the same sensation she had felt before their first battle against the Evil Dragon. This woman’s aura was only slightly weaker than the dragons that dwelled in the Noirev Highlands, but to Tiet—who had only been thirteen at the time and lacking in battle experience—it had felt like facing an unbeatable force. Back then, she wouldn’t have survived without Anna’s help.
And yet, despite that fearsome presence, the woman made no hostile move. She simply turned her eyes away and ran into Klock’s arms, embracing him with quiet familiarity.
She had an indescribable air about her—peaceful, almost to the point of suspicion. The mood around her was so gentle, it made Tiet’s guard rise even more.
Tiet had planned to speak with Klock immediately, to question him about Anna. But the timing slipped away the moment that woman appeared. In the end, she followed behind them in silence, observing the situation closely.
It seemed Klock had decided to travel with another woman, too—this one with the appearance of a night thief. Perhaps she was being used, maybe even enslaved. At the very least, she didn’t give off the same overwhelming pressure as the mysterious girl beside him.
Tiet kept watching the red-haired girl. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, and her long hair shimmered faintly with hues of rose gold. She wore something that resembled a priestess’s gown, the fabric loose and flowing, revealing her thin, underfed figure through the sleeves and collar.
Her presence was undeniable. Unmistakably extraordinary. And yet, her expression was absent-minded—more like a wandering village girl than anything else. Tiet narrowed her eyes, refusing to miss a single movement, constantly measuring the strange girl’s aura. Still, nothing she observed matched the overwhelming energy she felt.
”Who is that woman? Since when have you known her?” Tiet asked, unable to hold back her doubts any longer.
”Huh? Ah—Adelina. Met her not too long ago. Actually, I kind of found her after I left the capital. For some reason… she just decided to follow me,” Klock replied casually.
Adelina. That was her name.
”Found her?” Tiet repeated inwardly. “She just took a liking to him?”
Someone with power like that… simply wandering, waiting to be found? Could such a being really just fall into his lap?
Klock wasn’t a mage. He probably couldn’t even sense magical energy. Had he truly been unaware of her power? Or had he been misled? Maybe he didn’t find her at all—maybe she was placed in his path.
”…She doesn’t speak. Maybe she’s just shy,” Klock added.
”No, it seems… she can’t speak,” Tiet said, correcting herself.
Both Klock and the girl glanced at Adelina, who remained clinging to his side. She looked puzzled but showed no interest in the conversation or anything around her.
Can’t speak… or won’t speak?
If she couldn’t communicate, why bring her along? Was Klock really that kind-hearted? Or was there something more behind this arrangement?
”She’s usually like this,” Klock said with a shrug. “Seems emotionless most of the time.”
”…I see,” Tiet replied quietly.
That was all he had to say about her.
Klock didn’t appear to consider Adelina especially important, but he didn’t seem wary either. Perhaps that was because he couldn’t sense her power. And yet, Adelina herself hadn’t acted suspiciously either. She made no strange moves.
Could she truly be an ordinary person with an extraordinary gift? Was it just blind luck that they crossed paths? Could such coincidences even exist?
If Tiet looked at it with the most generous interpretation, maybe Adelina really was a stray with no deeper meaning. But still—was it truly plausible that someone of her caliber ended up with the man once loved by a hero?
No… surely she wasn’t an assassin sent to approach Klock for Anna’s sake. If she were, freedom wouldn’t have been her priority. If that possibility even existed, she would need to alert Hermine immediately—and summon the Brave Night to eliminate her.
There was only one option.
She would have to test Adelina herself.
For now, Tiet continued to observe from the shadows.
Klock had also taken along a rough-looking woman—one who seemed like a bandit or vagabond. Perhaps he intended to use her, or maybe she had been forced into servitude. Either way, she posed no obvious threat.
Tiet’s eyes stayed fixed on Adelina.
Pale skin, long hair with a faint reddish sheen. That priest-like robe gave her a sacred, distant air—but her slender frame and quiet demeanor made her seem fragile. Starved, even. What was her relationship to Klock?
Despite Tiet’s constant watching, Adelina gave no hint of scheming. Her presence remained distant, aimless. Just a girl, floating through the world without direction.
Eventually, Tiet made a decision. She would coax her out slowly—wait for the perfect moment.
That night, as Klock and the thief girl grew close, Tiet pretended to sleep. She lay still beneath her blanket, waiting for an opportunity.
But Adelina did nothing.
She didn’t react at all to the muffled sounds of the others. No interest, no jealousy. Wrapped in her blanket, she turned away and quietly fell asleep. Her indifference irritated Tiet more than any overt suspicion.
Before she knew it, the night had passed. The three of them—Klock, Adelina, and her—left together, abandoning the lively Ada without a second thought. It felt strangely anticlimactic.
But this wasn’t the time to lower her guard.
When they encountered Viscount Fennec on the road, Tiet decided it might be wise to keep some distance. She continued observing from the carriage, letting the rhythm of the wheels rock her thoughts into place.
Still… Adelina showed no signs of change. No sudden shifts in mood. No strange expressions. Her behavior was unnervingly normal—but that alone made Tiet uneasy.
Something had to be going on. And if that was the case, Tiet wished she would just say what it was.
But Adelina couldn’t speak.
Or wouldn’t.
Either way, the silence was unbearable.
…Was there really nothing behind those empty eyes?
Tiet didn’t know. But whatever the truth was, it gnawed at her.
And that alone was reason enough not to trust her.
She looked perfectly normal. There was nothing suspicious about her behavior—no signs that she was manipulating Klock. And yet, that only made Tiet’s irritation grow. The way Adelina clung to Klock’s arm stirred something unpleasant inside her chest.
Why do I feel so restless?
Maybe that was just how Adelina had been since birth. If she wasn’t doing anything wrong, there shouldn’t be a reason to be wary of her.
But her emotions didn’t agree. Knowing Adelina was close to Klock made her uneasy. They were traveling together, and yet, every time Klock glanced her way, Tiet’s nerves tensed.
Was it instinct? Did some part of her see Adelina as a threat?
Was it a sign that Adelina truly was too dangerous to ignore?
Tiet knew she should let it go. She kept telling herself that. But even then, her gaze was drawn to Adelina, her thoughts shadowed by concern. It wasn’t baseless anxiety—it was a warning, sharpened by the instincts of a seasoned warrior. Her gut told her plainly: This woman can’t be left unchecked.
After some time lost in hesitation, Tiet came to a decision.
She would eliminate her.
Adelina’s presence was setting off too many alarms. Tiet decided to trust that feeling and act before it was too late. Even so, she didn’t want to cause a confrontation. If Adelina was just a woman with an abundance of magic, killing her would be unforgivable. But if she truly matched her magical pressure with skill, then it would become a deadly fight—one-on-one, no holding back.
Tiet couldn’t read Adelina’s true intentions, but separating her from Klock would at least remove one risk. Quietly, carefully, she began laying the groundwork to push Adelina away.
Her plan was simple: resolve the monster issue, fulfill the Viscount’s request, and prove to Klock that she could manage the mission. Once Tiet took the lead, Adelina’s role would become unnecessary. Then, perhaps, she would decide to leave on her own.
So far, things were going better than expected. Adelina didn’t initiate battles. She stayed passive, always in the background.
In combat, Tiet proved her worth without question. And in other areas… perhaps even as a woman.
Tiet didn’t possess the traditional traits that made a woman “feminine.” It was more accurate to say she lacked them entirely. Her chest was modest—barely swollen. Perhaps they would grow with time. There was nothing she could do about it now. But since Adelina also wasn’t particularly endowed, it wasn’t much of a problem. She made a mental note to ask Oriana—who was shorter than her but noticeably larger—how she managed to develop hers.
There was also compatibility. That was something Tiet was confident in. After all, she’d made quite a bit of noise… there was no way it had been unpleasant for him.
”…I can tell another woman’s scent is on you. Why is that?”
Of course, no plan went without complications. Something had slipped through the cracks.
Klock had gotten involved with a maid they’d only just met. If he wanted something, he should’ve simply said it. But instead, he had gone behind her back—with a woman even Adelina didn’t know. He hadn’t included Tiet, and that stung more than she expected.
It made her chest tighten.
She felt the same back then—with that woman, Ada. Watching Klock touch others, be with others… it stirred something raw and uncontrollable in her. Was this what people called frustration?
”Let’s go to the bath,” she said softly. “I want you to wash my back. If you don’t do it properly… I might take that as betrayal. And then… who knows what I’ll do?”
The two-day rest was meant to keep Klock hidden and buy time to speak with Hermine. In that sense, the pause in their journey worked in Tiet’s favor. She had a chance to deepen her bond with Klock. If she stayed close, kept Adelina out of sight, it might ease the storm in her heart.
And maybe—just maybe—it would settle the frustration growing inside her.
The mixed bath idea had come naturally. A good one, in hindsight.
She didn’t know what kind of relationship Adelina had with Klock, but given how tightly she clung to him, something had clearly happened. It wouldn’t be strange. After all, physical closeness often led to deeper things. If it was just for one night, maybe it wouldn’t matter.
But Adelina was always there. Always watching. Always touching him.
She was a presence Tiet couldn’t ignore—an obstacle. A threat.
”It seems… our compatibility is the best, after all.”
Before entering the bath, they had shared a moment. The raw passion of it remained etched in her memory. Klock’s movements were strong—deliberate. The way he clung to her body, his intent seeping through every motion… it left no room for doubt.
It felt as though he was trying to claim her.
And if that really did happen… if she were to carry his child, Tiet had already decided—she would take full responsibility. She would protect it, raise it, and never let him go.
That intensity… it might simply be how men expressed their determination. If so, she welcomed it.
”Klock,” she whispered, her voice calm but resolute, “just accept it already. You belong to me. Either become mine… or disappear. You don’t have another choice, do you?”
She extended a hand to him—not out of dominance, but support. No matter how strong or weak a man was, he had pride. She understood that. And that was why she framed her words the way she did. She was building a bridge—giving him a reason to choose her. Compared to Hermine, who still clung to a veneer of nobility, pretending to be pure, Tiet believed she understood men far better.
”…Fine. I get it.”
His reply came, low and certain.
Tiet exhaled softly, a subtle sigh escaping her lips. Some tension inside her had melted away. Perhaps it was still the afterglow lingering in her body. Today had been good—better than most. Though strangely enough, being on top didn’t feel quite as thrilling as being beneath him.
But… maybe that was just how it was.
Klock was hers now.
With that, there was no longer any reason to keep Adelina with them. Tiet still didn’t know what Adelina truly was, but if safety was the priority, it would be best for her to live quietly in the city. Traveling with someone like Klock only increased the risks. He would understand. He would help make the break clean.
The rest would be up to her.
”If she makes it to the capital,” Tiet said quietly, “leave her. From now on, the two of us will travel together.”
—
Klock looked at her. Then, after a pause, he shook his head.
”No… I really can’t do that.”
Notes:
• Adelina – The slave girl.
• Tiet – A companion and friend of Anna. A holy knight from the royal capital. She wears light armor and carries a shield adorned with a dragon holding a sword, indicating her affiliation with the National Military Police. She is concerned about Anna’s well-being and tries to support her emotionally.
• Anna – The legendary Hero, chosen to defeat the Demon Lord. Her past life is Sylvia Croce. She is described as a heavenly being with overwhelming skill and a merciless attitude.
• Hermine – A companion and friend of Anna. She is pragmatic and encourages Anna to focus on her duties as a hero rather than her personal revenge.
• Noirev Highlands – A dangerous mountainous region northeast of the Fossil Wasteland. Known as the ‘Wicked Noirev,’ it is home to exceptionally strong monsters and is best avoided unless with a high-ranking adventurer party.
• Ada – Female. Ada the Wild Wind. An A-rank adventurer. Her appearance is striking, with black hair mixed with fiery red, multiple earrings, and an axe spear as tall as she is. She is incredibly strong and fast, with a Unique Skill called the ‘Blessing of the Wind’ that enhances her speed and agility. Ada is ruthless in combat but shows a surprising willingness to negotiate. She is highly respected in adventurer circles and feared by criminals. Her relationship with Klock is adversarial, as he stole from her and escaped using trickery.
• Oriana – A companion who assists in explaining the situation to the kingdom. She is supportive and helps Anna navigate her responsibilities.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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