Chapter 52

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: There is No Mercy 52

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Sierra turned her gaze from Rita, who was reeling in shock, and looked down at the bound man.

He glared solely at Rita's face, as if he wanted to kill her right then and there.

It was the face of someone who couldn't care less about his own life.

Rita flinched as she stared at him and hid behind Sierra's back.

Sierra glanced sideways at Rita cowering behind her before turning away.

In the meantime, the knight who had been chasing the last intruder returned with a defeated look on his face.

"We lost him. He was so nimble, climbing across the ceiling to escape. Impossible to follow."

"It's fine. Capturing one is enough. For now, let's clean up here and transport that man back to the mansion..."

"Watch out!"

As Sierra spoke, Kestian rushed over and wrapped his arms around her, rolling them both to the side.

Sierra hit the ground alongside him and furrowed her brow.

"What in the world..."

As she groaned and struggled to sit up, her eyes fell on Rita—with an arrow lodged in her heart.

Rita stared blankly at the arrow piercing her chest, her arms trembling.

"Th-this... why is this...?"

"Rita."

"My lady... this... why..."

Rita's torso was soaked in blood, tears streaming from her eyes.

Sierra tried to rush to her side, but more arrows flew overhead.

Rita, pelted by the volley, bled from wounds all over her body as she slowly collapsed.

"Arrows!!"

The knight's shout rang out again, just as the sky filled with arrows.

The knights spun to dodge in a panic, but Kestian and Sierra—unarmored and exposed—were defenseless.

One knight rushed to shield them from the arrows, but he was too far away.

"Forgive my impertinence."

Kestian pulled Sierra into his arms, eyes fixed on the incoming arrows.

In that split second—Eh?!—Sierra found herself embraced in his hold.

Kestian drew his sword from his waist and deflected the arrows with precise flicks, tracking them with his eyes.

'...Wasn't he a civil official?'

Sierra gazed up at him in a daze, watching his near-miraculous skill as he shielded her without a hint of disorder.

It was a hefty barrage, but he batted away every single one. Without even a moment to catch his breath, he twisted to face her.

"Are you all right, my lady?"

"...Thanks to you."

"Good."

Only after confirming her safety did Kestian flash a small smile.

Sierra's eyes drifted down to the tip of his sword.

Noticing her gaze, he shrugged his shoulders.

"You know how to wield a sword too?"

"Just a hobby. Picked up a little."

That's no 'little' hobby.

How many in the empire could display swordsmanship like that?

Kestian seemed uncomfortable under her stare and hurriedly sheathed his blade before turning away.

"Looks like the attack's over. It was brief, but they got what they came for."

He clicked his tongue, looking down at the man riddled with arrows and now dead.

They couldn't protect the man on the floor—if they'd covered his vitals, the knights would have been at risk.

Kestian grimaced and tutted briefly.

"Sorry I couldn't be more help, Miss Sierra."

"...No. It's fine. You helped plenty. Sorry for putting you in danger instead."

Sierra turned to face Rita's corpse sprawled on the ground and bit her lip.

'Bellieta, you haven't changed. Killing the moment they're no longer useful.'

Rita had messed up, but Sierra hadn't wished this gruesome end on her.

Unable to tear her eyes from Rita's face—eyes not even properly closed—darkness suddenly fell over Sierra's vision.

"No need to look. Someone's death is like the final curtain of a brief play. No reason to dwell on the falling curtain. Remember the story instead."

Sierra felt the warmth of Kestian's hand over her eyes and quietly closed them.

Only then did she realize her heart was pounding wildly without her noticing.

She gently lowered his hand, listening to his low, soft voice, then opened her eyes again and approached Rita to close her unclosed lids.

"She followed me faithfully for ten years. Least I can do is close her eyes."

Sierra's voice was calm, her expression devoid of pity or sympathy.

This was the result of everyone's choices.

She herself had lost everything because she'd trusted Rita and those around her.

Rita had simply paid the price with her life.

"You said no need to look... but no. The opposite. These are the things I need to see and remember. The outcomes of my own actions, for better or worse. So I have to remember."

"Miss Sierra."

"I won't forget today. I'll keep it in mind, mull it over again and again."

Who she was up against. Who to direct her rage toward.

What to say to someone who used people so easily and discarded them just as easily.

Sierra smiled quietly as those thoughts crystallized.

"That way, I can tell her."

Sierra stood and approached Kestian.

"How many people that child killed. How she killed them. Why."

"..."

"That way, I can pay it back in full. I won't forget a single one. I'll make her suffer everywhere it hurts, and I won't let it end quickly. She'll learn then."

Sierra met Kestian's eyes with steely resolve.

"That a wretched death suits her."

Her hollow voice echoed softly through the empty clearing.

All that remained there was the corpse of a young girl, dead the moment she realized her sins.

Aden strode swiftly down the corridor and approached the room guarded by sentries.

The guards snapped crisp salutes, but he ignored them, pushing the door open and entering.

He nodded curtly at the knight standing watch over the resting Altas inside.

"Wake him. Now."

Altas, freshly released from the underground dungeon and catching some sleep in a decent room and bed, squirmed to avoid the hand shaking him awake so soon after drifting off.

Aden scowled at the sight, then drew the sword from the knight's belt and pressed it to Altas's chin.

The sharp rasp of the blade leaving its sheath and the familiar chill against his skin snapped Altas awake from his half-dreaming haze.

"Wh-who?!"

"Awake now?"

Altas tried to bolt upright but froze like a corpse upon spotting the sword at his chin.

He glanced down at it, then slowly raised his eyes to meet Aden's icy stare.

Feeling his blood run cold, Altas swallowed hard.

"Wh-what's this all of a sudden..."

"Out."

The knight, sensing Aden's dangerous mood, hurried from the room.

Left alone with him, Altas felt his life hanging by a thread and nearly burst into tears.

Terror made his lower lip quiver, saliva pooling at the corners of his mouth.

A sword that could slit his throat effortlessly. An archduke with no qualms about swinging it.

To Altas, Aden was the Grim Reaper incarnate.

"Sp-spare... please spare me..."

"Sierra was attacked. While trying to protect a maid who'd sold her information, she herself came under assault. They unleashed hundreds of arrows, threatening her life. She could have died."

Altas stared at Aden with trembling eyes as he burst in and immediately brought up Sierra.

What does that have to do with me?

Locked away here with no knowledge of the outside, Altas could only listen quietly, too afraid to protest.

"Sierra moved discreetly to handle the sudden incident and barely saved her maid. But arrows raining down right on cue means they knew she was coming."

"Wh-what does that have to do with me..."

"Who's the insider?"

"P-pardon?"

"I asked who the insider is that Sierra hasn't rooted out yet, Altas."

Aden raised the sword, its cold gleam flashing again.

To avoid being sliced, Altas desperately tilted his chin up.

In this precarious spot where one twitch could cost him his jaw, he squeezed his eyes shut and spoke.

"Insider...? I don't know anything about that! I truly don't! Like I told you, I was just doing what I wanted!"

"Nonsense. We already knew you'd planted someone near Sierra to catch Bellieta's eye. And now you claim ignorance?"

"It's true! Didn't I write down the whole list before?!"

Aden's eyes narrowed as he watched Altas scream almost hysterically in desperation to survive.

As Aden lifted the sword again, Altas yelped and craned his chin higher.

"Everyone on the list you gave us was purged yesterday. But if an insider remains, that means someone you didn't list is still out there. The ones tied up with you said you'd know."

"Eek!"

"Who. Speak."

"I-I really don't know! Why else would I hold out here without spilling more? Those bastards sold me out...!"

"Speak."

"I really don't know!!"

As Altas wailed on the verge of tears, Aden's eyes flashed, and he pressed harder on the sword.

The moment he felt it waver, Altas scrambled backward.

"I think that's enough."

At that point, the door opened, and Baran entered with a composed expression.

Aden glanced at him, then sheathed the sword, lowering it to his side at a slant.

Baran looked sympathetically at the fleeing Altas and shook his head.

Aden, who moments ago had been twisted in rage like a vengeful spirit, now relaxed his face as if nothing had happened and handed the sword to Baran.

"Your guess was off."

"As expected, these ones are useless. Better to silence them and send them back."

Aden nodded curtly and ran a hand through his hair.

His disheveled ash-gray locks fell, softly veiling his eyes.