The Quack Lady - Chapter 21
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 21
“I heard the news that Mia had disappeared and immediately chased after the carriage, then found thieves attacking so I dealt with them.”
Eruten continued speaking matter-of-factly as if it was nothing.
Along with saying he hadn’t expected all the Count’s Manor knights to be completely wiped out.
“If all the Count’s Manor knights were defeated, it means they came with serious intent… Do you have any suspicions?”
Eruten asked the gentlemen quite like a proper mercenary.
Wait.
“Eruten! I told you not to kill…!”
“I didn’t kill them. I avoided all their vital points.”
Behind him as he shrugged his shoulders, small groans could be heard.
“Ah, then let’s treat them first…”
“Hey! You idiot! If we treat them, they’ll attack us again! How can you say such a thing right now… Ugh!”
Perhaps due to the smell of blood mixed in the air, Mr. Hanel was busy dry heaving and couldn’t focus.
“Are you really confident about providing escort?”
At that moment, Mr. Pairon, recognizing the chaotic situation, reluctantly asked.
Eruten drew a confident smile.
And so our group went from three to four people.
* * *
Inside the carriage was quieter than expected.
No, more precisely, a cold silence had descended.
I quietly approached Eruten and whispered in his ear.
“But how did you get here?”
Then Eruten whispered back near my ear.
“By jumping over rooftops and trees.”
“No, not that – I mean why did you come?”
“Is that important?”
He left a brief answer and tilted his head.
When I let out a frustrated breath at his somewhat twisted response, Mr. Hanel sitting across from us immediately pointed at both of us.
“You kids over there! What are you talking about that only you two are discussing?”
“You can ask if you’re curious.”
“Cu-curious? It’s just that you two are talking so much and that bloody smell is still lingering!”
I looked at him with narrowed eyes. Eruten beside me immediately leaned close to my ear and whispered quietly.
“Why is that man acting like that?”
“Because he’s not being honest. But he’s still a kind man.”
Satisfied with my answer, Eruten nodded. Then just as Mr. Hanel was about to point at us both again.
“By the way, you look quite young to have joined the Ergerus Mercenary Group. You must be quite skilled.”
As Mr. Pairon said, the Ergerus Mercenary Group was quite famous in the Eastern Region.
Their exceptional skills were one thing, but they were also known for being particularly ruthless.
Once they set a target, their ability to definitely eliminate it was unparalleled.
Thanks to this, as soon as the maids learned Eruten was from the Ergerus Mercenary Group, their bullying stopped completely.
“I was lucky.”
“You can’t join the Ergerus Mercenary Group through luck alone. The former Imperial Guard Captain isn’t such an easy opponent either.”
At the cool voice, Eruten smiled faintly.
Then he quietly placed his hand on his sword hilt and asked.
“Shall I show you then?”
Show him?
Surprised by his sudden statement, I immediately grabbed Eruten’s arm.
“Eruten! What are you saying!”
“It would be more certain to show him, wouldn’t it?”
That may be true, but.
Eruten was serious. His ruby-like sparkling eyes flashed with an unusual light.
I immediately blocked his path and said.
“Please don’t misunderstand. He’s a good kid.”
“Being good twice over won’t leave him with his life intact. Ugh.”
Mr. Hanel kept making sarcastic remarks even while retching.
Though I didn’t really want to help him.
“Here.”
I held out a small sachet toward him.
“It’s a sachet I made to eliminate herbal smells. It should help.”
I had been carrying it around because I hated being teased for smelling like herbs all over my body.
The man looked at me with slightly surprised eyes, then immediately snatched the sachet.
Then he began burying his nose in the sachet like someone wearing a respirator.
Of course, his complaint about why I hadn’t given it to him earlier came as a bonus.
While the man was absorbed in the sachet, Mr. Pairon spoke to Eruten.
“If my words earlier offended you, I apologize. However, I hope you can understand my position of having no choice but to let you, whose identity isn’t certain, into the carriage.”
Mr. Pairon spoke to Eruten like a mature adult.
Eruten’s head nodded low as if he understood.
“Anyway, thank you for what happened earlier. Thanks to you, we can head to the Count’s Manor.”
“I only did what needed to be done.”
Eruten spoke dignifiedly while folding one arm.
“Is there anything you want? I’ll provide a reward within reasonable limits.”
At those words, Eruten answered as if he had been waiting.
“For Mia to safely return to the infirmary.”
As soon as I heard those words, my heart sank.
The reason he had no choice but to say such things…
I thought I understood.
“I’ll help you. Let’s leave this place.”
Back then when I was even younger, I couldn’t respond to Eruten’s courage.
“No. You said happiness was here.”
Being unhappy, I wanted to become happy. So I had rejected Eruten’s repeated proposals.
Because he knew my feelings better than anyone.
Eruten had come all this way to help me.
The me from the past, that is.
“Eruten. I’m sorry, but I’m not going back to the infirmary.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It’s just… I don’t think my happiness is there anymore.”
I fidgeted with our clasped hands.
I couldn’t explain the entire situation. But I also didn’t have the courage to go back.
Most of all, I was worried that I might look pathetic for going back on my words.
“So I…”
“That’s good.”
“Huh?”
“I said that’s good. I didn’t like that infirmary anyway.”
At his refreshing words, I quickly raised my head to look at him.
Eruten was smiling refreshingly as always.
“Now all that’s left is to fly freely, right Mia?”
It was a relieved smile as if he had been waiting for this moment.
That smile strangely gave me a sense of relief.
I smiled brightly at him.
“Oh my? These little ones have no shortage of things to say. Hurry up and get ready to get off.”
Mr. Hanel snorted and pointed out the window.
Before we knew it, a beautiful garden was spread out beyond the window against the backdrop of massive castle walls.
It was the Bernov Estate.
* * *
The Bernov Count Family.
Though located at the edge of the eastern region, it was a count family so prestigious that everyone in the Empire knew of its dignity.
Having wielded swords for generations, even the newly enthroned king appointed the captain of the royal guard from the Bernov family.
‘To put it nicely, they’re upright and honest; to put it badly, they’re stubborn and inflexible.’
“Whoa! Whoa!”
Starting with the coachman’s call, the powerful snorting sounds of horses could be heard.
After that, the carriage gradually slowed down and we were finally able to arrive at the count’s manor.
“Wow…”
The count’s manor was tremendously magnificent, beyond what I had imagined.
Massive castle walls that soared endlessly toward the sky and an incredibly large garden within them.
Above all, countless rooms whose end couldn’t be seen and servants filling every space.
They were all working for the count couple and their son.
‘It really is tremendous…’
After getting off the carriage, as I was looking around with my mouth agape, an elegant-looking maid came out and greeted us.
“I am Rudel Caronia, head maid of the Bernov Estate.”
“I am Pairon Aphenus, guild master of the Aphenus Guild.”
“I am Hanel Brighton, vice guild master.”
As soon as Mr. Hanel finished his introduction, he lightly tapped my arm.
‘Usually maids aren’t introduced.’
Feeling awkward in my ambiguous position, I hesitantly added:
“…Who serves these two gentlemen…”
“Assistant.”
“Yes, I am Rtemeia, their assistant.”
Unlike her elegant greeting, I simply bowed my head roughly.
“I am Eruten Elias, the guard protecting the assistant.”
When Eruten also smoothly gave his greeting, she nodded her head slightly.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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