Volume 4 Chapter 21 The Vanished Girl
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
While people suffered terribly, he had been enjoying himself quite a bit, hadn’t he?
It hadn’t taken Suzette long to calm down. Years as a spy had tempered her mental resilience to an exceptional degree. Though she had shed tears earlier, she quickly apologized and stood up. But when she returned to their inn room and saw the mess, her scowl deepened.
”While I was being killed, you brought some strange woman here to play. How dignified! Looks like you’ve reclaimed your place as a noble on the brink of ruin, huh? You’d do well to live modestly, you beggar—that suits you best. You look like a duck waiting to be plucked.”
He offered a sincere apology and explained what had happened, but her response was laced with curses and insults. Still, given all she’d endured, her sharp words felt almost cheerful, energetic even. A little verbal abuse was a small price to pay.
”Unbelievable! Ms. Federina, was it? While I was going through hell, you were indulging in an affair. And now you want a third woman? You must think any woman will do as long as she’s convenient. I bet you’d be happy if some random whore sucked your stinky dick. It doesn’t have to be me or Ms. Adelina, right?”
He said nothing, silently denying the accusation. He did have standards. Adelina and Federina were dear to him—true allies who had stood by his side through thick and thin. He brought them along because he trusted them as partners. The others were just temporary physical distractions.
Strangely, Suzette seemed somewhat cheered, though her words and actions didn’t quite match.
He sighed as a faint scent of femininity tickled his nostrils. Gently, he stroked Suzette’s head, which rested in his lap. She shot him a cold glare, cheeks flushed faintly, while gripping his arms tightly.
”What are you doing? Trying to improve your mood while I’m angry? Or just riled up and looking to take advantage? You insufferable monkey. Could you please read the room?”
”What the hell are you talking about?”
Despite the verbal scolding, Suzette stayed pressed close. She playfully berated him while showing affection—a devilish maid with skill. She stretched an arm around him, still holding tight. He felt a thrilling sensation stir within him, as if she were encouraging blood flow.
She wasn’t truly angry—just saying what was on her mind. She’d been through hell and bottled it up inside. Her clothes were soaked in blood, after all.
Suzette had faced death itself during the recent ambush. She believed she had died—split in two and overwhelmed by an unstoppable force. Recalling that terror still made her tremble and collapse, as if the very root of her being had been steeped in fear. This situation was as much about psychological care as anything else. Making her interact with others wasn’t mere pampering; it was to help her feel alive again and cleanse her mind.
While absentmindedly stroking her head, his gaze shifted to the pressing matter at hand.
The ones responsible for Suzette’s ordeal were reportedly Oriana, the holy knight of the hero party, and Hermine, the magic user. They were indeed here. Suzette’s caution had been justified.
The brave warriors had anticipated escape routes and made it this far. If only they had been more careful and stuck together—leaving Adelina at the inn and taking Suzette along—maybe, with some luck, they might have escaped.
”No, that would’ve been difficult. They both probably would’ve been killed. Splitting up was the right call.”
But Suzette didn’t agree.
In any case, their strength was in a different league. Once discovered, surrender or death were the only options. It was already a mistake to have them as enemies.
There was no choice now. Talking was pointless.
They had to run.
Their goal, the Beast Continent, lay just within reach. They’d come so far, and he was determined to get them out of here—no matter what. But if there was another ambush, sailing away would be impossible.
”Do you have any idea why you were the only one who survived?” he asked.
”No, I don’t. I certainly died—or rather, suffered fatal injuries and lost consciousness. When I came to, I was lying on the street. The most natural explanation is something went wrong on their side.”
Suzette gripped his arm tighter, silently pleading for reassurance. He kept a calm expression, deciding not to point out the inconsistencies for now.
”As a Demonkin, if I hadn’t died, I’d be suspected of espionage. I would’ve been captured and probably escorted somewhere when whatever interruption happened. That might explain why I’m here.”
The explanation made sense, but the reason remained unclear.
What mattered now was how to proceed. Speculating about Suzette’s narrow escape was tempting but choosing the right path with so little information was nearly impossible.
But doing nothing was not an option.
He had to take a desperate gamble—or abandon the town.
This town was where those heroes’ companions were based.
Their only options were to stay on board or retreat to town. Both seemed impossible. But if Suzette had somehow been spared…
”Suzette, you’ll leave in the morning or at noon. Meanwhile, I’ll go find Adelina.”
There was no use overthinking it. He decided to act on his judgment.
Time was running out. If they were going to be discovered eventually, they needed a plan before that happened.
They’d wasted a day in the kingdom before, leading to their encounter with Tiet. They couldn’t afford that mistake again.
”Understood. They’ve likely found her already, but you still want to go?”
Suzette met his gaze directly.
Of course he knew that. But unlike Klock and Suzette, Adelina had no reason to be attacked. Maybe she was just lost. If captured, she might be hiding quietly. They needed to confirm her status.
Besides, he wasn’t ready to give up without trying.
Usually, he might not be so inclined, but with Suzette here, an unusual resolve stirred within him.
After a short pause, Suzette smiled faintly, quietly closing her eyes as if comforted by his words. She suggested they set off once the landlady brought her a change of clothes.
”No, you’re still recovering. Stay here—”
”If you go alone, I veto it. If you insist, give me a suicide weapon to take with me.”
He was taken aback. “Are you serious?” he almost blurted. He hadn’t expected her to mention death as a deterrent. He hoped she was joking, but with her current state, he couldn’t be sure.
He glanced outside—the sun had shifted slightly. There was still some time before noon. They should have boarded the ship already. Without waiting for Suzette, they could have bought tickets earlier and stayed at an inn.
He felt frustrated by the delay, but regretting it was useless. All they could do now was pray for Adelina’s safety.
”All right. I’ll get some spare clothes quickly. Please move aside.”
He tried to calm his restless heart and urged her gently.
Suzette looked at him but said nothing, turning away with a pout.
”Suzette? Are you listening?”
”Yes… Give me five more minutes… no, ten.”
Her response was like someone waking from sleep. What should he do, bang a pot? He understood her mental state, but her stubbornness was troubling at this critical moment.
”Suzette, I understand how you feel. I’m sorry for what you’ve been through. But please bear with me now. You can complain all you want later.”
”I understand what you mean, but can’t you spare even five minutes?”
She responded with a tone almost as if trying to persuade him. Asking for five minutes. The wording was strange enough to leave him speechless. He thought this was urgent, yet maybe those five minutes were her way of steeling herself.
”All right, all right. Just five minutes.”
He wasn’t going to refuse such a small request. He gently stroked her head and urged her to rest. Their eyes met again, and she slowly flushed deeper, seeming hesitant to speak.
”Um… before we go, shall we… have sex?”
”Not now!!” he snapped.
She was saying that because they might die—one last thing. He dismissed her proposal and stood up abruptly before the five minutes were up.
He knew people sometimes changed after near-death experiences, but Suzette had twisted in a remarkable way. It would take time for her to recover.
He silently hoped Adelina was safe. Remembering the face of the woman who had come to their rescue when they were captured by Tiet, he and Suzette set off into town a short while later.
But as the sun rose and then began to set, darkening the sky, the realization struck: Adelina was nowhere to be found.
That truth settled over them on the second night.
Notes:
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Federina – Hermine’s chosen disguise, a magical detective and close friend whom Hermine hopes will deter Klock’s suspicions. Federina’s presence of mind helps her improvise when confronted.
• Adelina – The slave girl.
• Hermine – Daughter of the Emperor of the Second Empire of Dusselhelm. A companion and friend of Anna. The mage. She is pragmatic and encourages Anna to focus on her duties as a hero rather than her personal revenge.
• Oriana – A Princess. A companion who assists in explaining the situation to the kingdom. She is supportive and helps Anna navigate her responsibilities. Her appearance is slender, with dark hair and sharp features.
• 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.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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