Chapter 94: Fall
F02oeThe source that allowed her to act like the owner of that house disappeared.YTMbBR
3VuBsCf— What’s happening?ODz
JfeF— Don’t you feel like something is strange?P7C2A6T
9miFThe voices of the men outside echoed in her ears.WDtQ2Kd
0C3Instead of chasing the intruder, they began talking about it as if it were even more important.0K4D
gOutK— I feel like my head suddenly cleared up.
— It’s true. I suddenly felt like something was wrong.geAYR
r9N— What the hell? What have they been doing to us?JYU
t3seThen one of them asked,EqWG6
9UhJC— Now that I think about it, didn’t that thief call Tilda a witch?MsAu
dR3ydrQ— Could it be that witch was really using some kind of spell?GC4n3A
fmx8— It’s possible.sO9DvDP
ukuAt the same time, she heard footsteps approaching.Oo6
Awgi‘No!’J1wEeE
6e4Tilda instinctively ran toward the door and locked it.8Yr
wkJClack clack!ZP9YyP
dtd0“Lady Tilda, open the door!”h2QFO
ZRYb“Are you all right?! Please answer us!”f5F
PwUBang bang!371AvD
h6CcThey pounded on the door, but Tilda did not respond.ihpc
AtmZr7VThe confusion soon turned into fury.TZlY6wq
Nhk— Just like that thief said, she was a witch!7YnEJ42
0N8H— That witch definitely bewitched us!yT4iX
utjF— Break down the door!LFqebE
SImEveryone who had once been loyal to her began furiously shouting after the spell was broken.tRQC
tiT8IMShe was like a cornered rat.5Ys8R
B5DoP3q‘I have to escape.’BLY5
y89THowever, Tilda had already prepared even for the worst possible scenario.ax2NV
wiUIShe ran into the bathroom and threw out a rope she had previously prepared for descending through the window.gOmKjlt
onHAfter quickly pulling the rope back up so as not to leave traces behind, she left the mansion and began running.7BVK
NXpZThe last thing she heard from the chaotic mansion was this.HOYSW
Ryir— The lord has died!K7qO6
WneRsKr— That damned witch even killed the lord!w5ccZm
YFJThe death of Rico Dandolo.1Oe62D
JFQzOETilda did not understand what had happened, but it no longer mattered.Qij
9B8B73She was the witch who had bewitched that mansion.ve0
hE67An existence impossible to forgive.3F3
gpCh2EShe had saved her life, but only temporarily.Mz61FEX
C8Fi8IHer life was now like a candle before the wind.mGuS
Cpc‘Where should I go?’mGYoQ66
2YHnFZHow could she survive in such a desperate situation?vvhn
rTTiShe thought and thought again, but there was no future.75Dua4n
QNx17MJust as Yor had said, she was useless.ngshUFW
osjShe wanted to possess everything, but she had never had the right to do so.HgH
PJ08CKEven after obtaining power, she was incapable of keeping it.uZJ
U0z‘I’m going to survive.’h1T5WJy
bCnKEven so, she continued struggling miserably.wBIOiY
uGcW7MShe ran and ran through the dark forest.B5GtU2E
aBUyE9w‘I’m going to survive!’IZoNHVm
cULPyBut even that thought soon scattered like a summer dream.Ty2
884“Ah….”ccW07
rJbNEShadows hidden within the darkness began twisting and revealing their forms.bR0qL
JXXm1sMen covered in black masks approached her.eVLQ4
YPfxqYTilda Pascal tried to resist, but eventually lost consciousness.DPk
hPNKXgO***CdsGcmN
tpI0On a road not far from the Dandolo Mansion.LLyWgLI
9sbThree wagons disguised as merchant caravans waited there.QjaN
uMIAThe man with the brown ponytail climbed into one of them while letting out a deep sigh.W14v
EjVyZ“Fuuu… that wasn’t as easy as I expected.”SvgH
tAjiXZ“Did you really have to do something so troublesome?”UNPBPcZ
slGZed smiled broadly as he answered.F61H5
4LgMzvq“I had to. Otherwise, everything never would’ve ended in a single day.”czd
i2md1u“Didn’t you leave too many traces behind?”6zPYEc0
zUALGarnet asked with an incredulous expression.8hMD
6jKmo“Bunny Swallows?”aEbJdt
f4u“It’s a fun name.”BTB
dqz0isvGarnet glared at him, but Zed answered with a smile.KndT
76gShe sighed as though she had given up.oCB
zdiR“I knew you were unnecessarily good at talking, but I never imagined you had that kind of talent.”Ui6RUF1
3eNkXq“It’s the secret art of our clan. We disguise ourselves as a circus troupe to identify idiots we can scam.”JlB
thE“Don’t troupe leaders usually do that?”Rco6NO
oTRYv3i“When your father is the leader, you can’t avoid it.”aWrd
nYb“I see.”gJRC
WtPGarnet slowly nodded.vpMpsQK
sZI1AxJZed sensed movement outside and discreetly looked over.iPp2cn
5XCk3YMen in black masks were loading a massive sack.72d
DL2ox“And what’s going to happen to that lady?”zNQFwWv
hHun“We’ll send her to the castle. We have to fulfill the contract.”dadQP
5uMy“Hmm, then we’ll be traveling the same route. Won’t there be any problems?”XAz
heIFHNU“…Not exactly none.”ZlTTDZ
kjxh“What’s wrong?”i7aDcL
BFiZx“Uuuhng, Zeze?”baLXQVM
rHeThe moment he heard that nasal voice, he understood.Lj28
R2Z7CNQThe pink-haired woman dressed as a bunny girl sitting across from Garnet smiled foolishly.ShlETW
1qSShe looked completely drunk.NOF
GqClSP“What’s wrong, Pepe?”D5LIC
iihe“Uhehe, Zeze. Did you see how awesome I was? For only practicing one day, I did amazing, right? Huh? Huh?”6gV
06quhOe“…?”9TbR
LDmby“Where are you going to find a phantom thief like me? Even I think I looked damn sexy. Look at this. Sexy~.”4jPWoHu
VrW8M“…Did this idiot hit her head?”lXUhR
RGvYvYGarnet simply nodded calmly.7d2ggf
2yRDEURZed discreetly looked at the back of her head and found an arrowhead embedded there.q8x
EOgZfSo that was why she ended up like this.IbOj3f
SMz“Ahahaha! The arrows came flying shuuu and I couldn’t dodge all of them~. Ahh~ how was I supposed to know one would hit me in the head?”uj8Co
3P2h9I2“Hey, hey, don’t move your head.”LRg
qDvlShe clung to Zed’s arm while laughing foolishly.WQdVA
ke8WMGarnet sighed and said,xhVY
51UznE0“From what we checked, it’s probably temporary shock, so there’s no need to worry. We’ll meet a healer halfway there, and they’ll remove the tip.”YcnH9S
Cp8“What’s wrong, lady? Besides being sexy, you also say smart things? Want to burn together with me tonight? I know how to treat a girl properly.”8fw4b
8fCaAPenelope growled like a dirty old pervert.1fg
18oNGarnet answered completely seriously.oFPxKN
hXgoXa4“She hit her head so hard even her sexual tastes got distorted. It’ll be dangerous if we don’t treat her soon.”ku9ac
L7kjEven though she had actually always been like that.1ED
FN8XBut neither of them had the courage to say it.oAo6q3
xFXMr***aTfZYyL
BlYfe7aTilda opened her eyes in the darkness.IDw
yMyGShe did not know where she was.OyDoThz
8cmsBut one thing was certain.nlG2uOL
hVXMdd2She would not escape the consequences of her actions.1fWoV
4j4sWiWho was behind this?R0JJtZ
1VVIMerchit?mnk
5MaMiStephan?y8iTO8
67F1P7Herman?Y2T
eCyL4IGOr perhaps Rico?qETGWB
gb9Gv7All kinds of thoughts crossed her mind while her breathing became ragged.McF
b3vwIXnNo matter who it was, surviving would be difficult.PtWNMF
hJp43icCreeeak—lSXLM
xm32CzShortly afterward, a door opened within that darkness.SivW
6pspOj5Someone entered.Y86
ytqTap, tap.yMGElOB
Wc9CK7The only thing visible beneath the dim candlelight was a pair of elegant black shoes.yIG
zbQ“It has been a while, Tilda Pascal.”DtEpj
npLV4HHA young voice, but carrying the weight of someone middle-aged.reMv
m0DTilda knew that voice very well.TFBr
udxIt was the voice of the man who had humiliated her.6icey
6jhgp“L-Lord Regent Perda…?”1xBmntC
UYQRHe leaned his body against the backrest and then bent forward.9C0ON
PBcSh09Gray hair and blue eyes reflected in her own eyes.KIs
p0G“Tilda Pascal.”X4H
WqmLPerda pronounced her name once again.SFm
KEA“From the first time I saw you, I disliked you, but you are far worse than I imagined.”NxqO
m9dThere was no emotion in that voice.ZmrQzIb
Pq8rJ7Precisely because of that, it was infinitely cold, like a frozen blade.JST
fbL5“Did you truly believe you could survive after daring to harm the merchants supporting the territory of the Grand Duchess?”5Hl1
lghWiTilda opened her mouth.0P4W9
r1pbzu“It wasn’t me. Everything was my fiancé’s—”94Jw
89FMTap!QDgFg3
AnmWPerda grabbed some documents and threw them onto the floor.ncbB2
bciEvery act committed by Tilda Pascal had been recorded there.vcyF
vvpy2The information had been provided by Black Bandana.1QBXBTS
VaW68v“Keep talking.”Jqbp
6ESUfTilda had no choice but to shut her mouth like a mute.4NVcc0
61D6T5But only for a moment.iiGFnue
3RIEH“…I had to do it.”Tow
m3QHer lips trembled as the words escaped.d0w
hQh“That man they called father only ever thought about giving everything to that damned Stephan from the very beginning!”6ZP3F
gfHAThe emotions she had kept bottled up for so long exploded.XmLT
STfhFe“It makes no sense! Why can’t I have it?! I’m also blood of the family! I’m family too…! I also contributed to the Pascal Guild, so why only me…!”FDkDP
XbwThat emotion she felt.pSAPul4
HDYE4BAPerda could understand it.SeFG80
IPvqRThe child Perda, who wanted to live as someone worthy of a family of knights, but who was always considered lacking.1VB87
PknJHe never received any familial affection whatsoever.XrcnSe
KTmPerda had hated that father.vDe
AmL9“Even so, it does not change the fact that you harmed the territory of the Grand Duchess.”QZaU35
OJ6k“I deeply regret that sin! Truly! I’ll compensate you!”6smKw
i3YKOq6Bound to the chair, Tilda struggled and ended up falling forward.0ve
g4CVB6She struck her head against the floor while pleading.7iPbl
Di7D“From today onward, I will live according to my position. Have pity on this poor woman and show me mercy.”CIfd
zODTilda cried between sobs.q9i
GPadPerda merely watched her silently.YdpBa
beVt“There is something I am curious about.”ZppBb4
QMk6Perda said.Q1S
blm“If you answer correctly, I will consider letting you go.”baV4JG
plTR“W-what do you want to know? I’ll answer anything.”UPq
JYEQoO“Zed told me something.”90UDp
JJr“Zed…?”drSXcAq
VzSK“The man who entered your house. And the one who destroyed the catalyst of the Garden Contract.”RKbiWmy
9UpShe clenched her fists in rage the moment she heard that name.vxN
qMvgzBPerda continued.Qt2u
5gP“Anyway. He told me the catalyst you chose was a family photo.”maDRa
rDaWhat Zed saw was a family portrait where everyone appeared smiling happily during their childhood.T3wNVp
JmjM“Why did you choose a family photo as the catalyst?”tnVCj
6Pk3Perda genuinely wanted to know.Lk5a
BdoqurfWhy a woman who seemed desperate to devour her own family had chosen precisely that.Shdv
MEPIUpoHe needed an answer to that contradiction.f0fm
QXT0ruQ“Well…”PWIeMa
RqKpOOThen she answered while crying.jXvKlC
TzKv“Because they are my beloved family.”O5JrI
elMGYPerda followed those tears falling from her face with his eyes.89Qsz
pUQay“So that was it.”z4X9
nJaoMiPerda murmured.HQB2Xg
d7uq2V“I-is that enough of an answer? Will you let me live?”GpQ0m2T
ob9Nc“I never intended to kill you in the first place. You will live.”tkSDloJ
Q8U12PIt was the word “live” that sounded strange to her.CD8IV4p
uVt2It sounded as though he was going to take everything except her life away.BgV1
LXpz“Didn’t I already answer you? Then why…?”aLJPZye
7AbGdPerda looked down at her.e83bgh
kXWFb“In the western part of the continent, in Mist Valley, there exists a monster called Plurryman. Do you know what it is?”TtAS
e6FsgbvShe did not know.fte
2xGThere was no way she could know.Y8ncZ
qcG1PP“They say it devours beasts and remembers the last words they speak. And when it is about to be devoured by another creature, it imitates the voice of that beast. Do you know why?”4Nj
ETsPerda answered coldly.QAV
ZiF“Because it knows that if it speaks like that, it will be spared. It does not understand the meaning, but it knows they will forgive it.”Q7B
MQJPerda understood perfectly why she had chosen the family photo as the catalyst.XzfuF
4jCHoNIBecause she wanted to appeal to affection in order to survive until the very end and crawl pathetically.gjb
TLvX“You are no different from that.”e41yjan
SI5AywYIt was a lie that she had contributed.Mez09HL
roBOvIt was also a lie that she regretted her actions.QgPit
SrA0qEverything was nothing more than lies desperately thrown out in order to survive.DZ8
rmS“Thank you.”hqR
NRVAlnPerda spoke to her sincerely.bHf20
3eO8bm“For turning yourself into trash that does not even deserve to be remembered.”cHn
IoE6Perda rose from his seat.Uco
ZyewHe stepped away from the light and disappeared into the darkness.85lCf
kPR9Creaak—.E92qP6
XYrnOJMBang!2rdVbOH
M68StOKThe door closed.AGk9un
5E7dz5The room fell silent once again.A1TDMJ
IxoeThe question of whether she would survive or not lasted only a moment.Zj5RA3
O2v0MBecause she was not alone in that room.yuLo
w1bGGlSomeone had already been there before Perda entered.ZZ8
UHshQ0They had simply remained hidden within the darkness.3vc
QBPMx3That thing walked forward and revealed its figure.uC0w
FCfBTilda doubted her own eyes.rZXZ
ZItHWhat she saw were silver scales and a pair of horns that seemed capable of piercing the heavens.400
DbTHjThat form alone inspired majesty, awe, and reverence.11E4gE
QmbwNIt was a dragon.FbUgt
18PP‘That…’ZDqq0
ioeHer eyes trembled.5l4
8p8g‘It’s fake.’JkXebV1
rZg4JNRThere could not possibly be a dragon like that inside such a small space.NEo
tHelnLogically, it was impossible.MVLYg3z
UoyRav2She tried to convince herself of it again and again, but it was useless.VktNW5
WNHsBecause even logic and reason were crushed before the immortal mystery.RYAj
cQpSKEvery time it exhaled, the scorching wind and the growl that lightly shook her eardrums became clearer.DoyUH9
wtMWDragon Fear.8jG
y5QEven as she tried to convince herself it was fake, that unknown origin became reality.qWM
zP0And that reality was a terror no mere human could endure.wii2c
7kMa“Aaaaaaaaah!”uWwt
DWrA long scream echoed desperately.3mr
AVWxBut there was no one who could hear it.l9S2Qc
KG9GCIG***onWWW
QqwGarnet and the Black Bandana agents dressed in black robes waited outside the castle gates.hfw
n6LB2As everything was reaching its conclusion, the tension only grew heavier.hKHmh
EhAgShortly afterward, a man emerged from the castle.a8BVI
eVo2SGarnet stepped forward and bowed respectfully.W7DPnIS
jVUIIP“Greetings, Regent of Valdrova.”ndreW
PQOC“I left her exactly as you requested.”dKEw
BujBThen Tilda Pascal appeared.0E5vYmh
dGVDqbfIt was impossible to believe that this ruined woman had once been a beauty courted by countless men.Sdr
XKEhHer hair was disheveled, her face gaunt, and her eyes unfocused.K1mw
AcHDrool dripped from her open mouth.R8E
MeyShe did not even resist as Ruri guided her stumbling down the stairs.k266
lUSuMnQA living corpse.rbu
oPi3HpFaced with absolute terror, her mind had shattered, leaving behind only the body.bbNF2
wHTGarnet respectfully lowered her head.d8R
PXGZQw“Thank you for honoring the agreement.”Ae5waw
2lnQ“It is still too early to thank me.”730aca
vj3DS6S“Is there a problem?”OyR6iD
w2dCtQ9“Yes.”2g2R
KONcTQPerda placed a dagger against Tilda Pascal’s neck.9l4M7A
KxsAt that sudden hostage-taking, Garnet flinched.Kwgcio3
WOa“What does this mean, Regent?”uOimv
q8a“Isabella explained something to me. How business acquisitions truly work.”CUnmH3
walnUPerda said,yLmRm
rwPh“I reviewed every imperial law and existing case, but no matter how much I searched, I could not find any legal way to seize the company. Even with Black Bandana involved.”odbh
N9AebZO“Are you saying we lied?”3tXIx7
BIgECp“That is exactly what I am wondering. One of you lied to me, but I do not know who.”Ln3QpMy
duDyePerda tilted his head slightly.aHE
my9“So explain it to me.”2WGwn
qTgVq“…I did not lie.”fQN8B8
yXGfbNl“Then Isabella was the one who lied.”SmTD2
uLTZ2laGarnet bit her lip before responding.qPU
a94E“She did not lie either.”FanNKu
DDV“There will not be a second chance. You will have to convince me.”g41VXq
cv5yiDh“That is…”6Lm5
KQjbGarnet could not answer easily.GEM1z6
gDwuzzShe had an obligation to keep the secret.Clz4M1
nzff1And at the same time, she had to complete the mission.ddF6TkA
BSkTzzEspecially now that they were so close to the end, she could not allow everything to be lost.CNnpv
EiEf0hHGarnet knew it.zEv
NMq5yWSAnd so did Perda.kpP
ItvThe situation was practically impossible, but Perda needed answers.oYD
a7RJRSEWho the client truly was and why they wished to drive that woman insane.daRF9
m2MM“It is perfectly possible.”95h23
QnBInstead of an excuse or explanation from Garnet, the voice of a middle-aged man was heard.Pl3GV
4cTfm7DThe voice continued.1z1I8H
HnDvh6m“If it is determined that the highest executive is incapable of managing the company, a new administrator may be appointed through an internal decision. That is one of the rules of the Dandolo Guild.”fgo4gT
cNqwJIt was a mature voice.2TzMElp
W41KBPIt came from among the men wearing black hoods.AbG
USLAThe figure stepped out from among them while removing his hood.sA4c
pHT“You…”lFi
9eDBut that supposed client was someone Perda never would have imagined.AymM
y4Tou68The man approached and greeted Perda.ohO7CPk
BLCx“Henri Dandolo, heir of the Dandolo family, greets the consort of the great immortal.”t8nW7z
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationI suspected this would happen so it’s not a surprise.
Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationIs she being serious right now.
Fernando
Qi RefinementI was expecting this, so I’m not surprised, but why did he do it? More specifically, why did he pretend to be interested in her?