Chapter 60

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: No Mercy 60

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Bellieta slowly erased the faint smile she'd been wearing as the conversation veered off in a direction she hadn't anticipated.

She gave a small nod, and her lips twisted ever so slightly.

No matter how hard you rack your brains to sway me, that's not going to cut it.

You need to get craftier. Smarter.

The current Bellieta was right in the palm of my hand.

"......So. That's quite different from what I thought."

Bellieta muttered slowly, letting out a long sigh.

At that moment, a rustling sound came from behind, and an arrow was nocked and drawn taut on the bowstring.

The instant I turned around, Bellieta's voice rang out.

"Sierra."

As my head snapped back forward, Bellieta's lips parted slowly.

"Where has the Sierra I knew gone? Where on earth did my precious friend, the one I loved and cherished, disappear to?"

"......"

"What's wrong? What changed you like this? All I want is for things to go back to how they were. To those kind, warm old days. I set aside my pride and practically begged you, clinging to you desperately. I even went out of my way to help you. But why won't you change? Really, where has the Sierra I knew vanished to?"

Bellieta's face hardened slowly as she took a step closer.

She nocked an arrow onto the bow in her hand.

Her eyes dropped to the arrow on the bowstring before lifting again.

Bellieta wore an expression of profound regret, her face etched with sorrow.

"Sierra. I'll say it one last time. Come back. Be the kind, considerate friend I knew."

What nonsense.

There was no way in hell that was happening.

Not when I'd returned before, and not now.

The only thing I could give you was death.

How could I ever forgive someone who'd toyed with me, ruined my family, and even desecrated the ashes of my parents you'd killed?

There was no need to hide my feelings anymore.

So I could say whatever I wanted.

"Wake up, Bellieta."

"What......?"

"I have something to say one last time too. Get on your knees and beg right now. Atone for all the shit you've done and plead for my forgiveness."

"Sierra."

"Then, who knows?"

Maybe I'll kill you without making it hurt.

I slowly lifted the corner of my mouth into a cold smile.

I didn't voice the rest, but Bellieta seemed to know exactly what I meant.

Her face twisted in shock before she shook her head with a small exhale and raised her bow.

It wasn't aimed at me, but her body was facing my direction.

A simple turn of her arm, and the arrow would pierce me clean through.

Bellieta's eyes trembled faintly.

"How did it come to this, between us?"

Bellieta forced a sad smile as she drew back the bowstring.

At the same moment, Piolett Baylor did the same, pulling her own string taut.

Now, all it would take was releasing their grip, and two arrows would embed in my body—no big deal.

I tilted my chin up slightly, and my earrings chimed softly.

It was a gift from Kestian, something I'd worn just in case.

Bellieta gave a final nod, as if that was it, and I shook my head.

A long sigh escaped Bellieta's lips as they parted slowly.

"What a shame, Sierra."

The moment Bellieta released the string with her final words, a rustling erupted, followed by a familiar voice.

"Oh my, here......"

Startled by the sudden noise, Bellieta jerked the bow aside in a panic. Her grip slipped, and the arrow flew wild.

At that instant, it thudded right in front of Cherni Count Lady, who had just pushed through the underbrush.

"......"

Cherni Count Lady froze on the spot, too shocked by the arrow embedded at her feet to even scream.

Bellieta and Cherni Count Lady weren't the only ones startled—Piolett Baylor was too.

She hadn't released her string, but noisy footsteps echoed from behind.

"What happened?"

"Did you find them? Oh?! There they are!"

"Over here! Come this way!"

Small voices rang out from behind the rigid Cherni Count Lady, and more ladies emerged.

They were dressed comfortably, their hair full of leaves and twigs.

Bellieta's face twisted at the sight of the ladies.

A silent forest, devoid of people.

A dark, ominous forest.

A forest said to harbor beasts.

A forest where anything could happen, and no one would bat an eye.

Yet in that forest, Bellieta hadn't accomplished a single thing she'd set out to do.

She bit her lip hard, glaring at the ladies before flicking her gaze toward me.

I met her eyes with a quiet smile, and Bellieta's lips parted slowly.

"......As I thought, you're not the Sierra I knew."

"Of course I am. The one you knew."

And you're the Bellieta I knew—the one who wouldn't hesitate to drive me to my death.

Bellieta gestured for Piolett Baylor to lower her bow, then turned away.

"Sierra. I'm not giving up yet. I'll keep trying until you come back. We drifted apart like this once before, but we always met again. So we'll meet again this time too. Look forward to it, Sierra."

With those parting words, Bellieta approached the ladies with a bright smile, as if she'd never worn that scowl.

I smirked inwardly at the sight of her apologizing to the still-frozen Cherni Count Lady and greeting the others warmly, like they were long-lost friends.

Look forward to it? Oh, I am.

Can't wait to see what you pull next.

I withdrew my gaze from Bellieta, who was chattering away as if reuniting with dear companions, and turned back.

"Was that your doing?"

Piolett Baylor's wooden lips parted quietly, her voice low.

I paused mid-step on my way back and looked at her steadily.

Her eyes were steady and dry.

They were uncomfortably reminiscent of someone.

The pursed lips, the unchanging expression.

Unpleasant. Unsettling.

I swallowed softly and resumed my calm stride.

"So you can talk. I thought you'd gone mute from shock or something, since you never said a word to me."

"......"

"I'm fine, so don't worry. I wasn't expecting anything from you anyway."

What was there to expect?

If you're Bellieta's lackey, pointing a bow at the person who saved your life is probably nothing.

As I brushed past Piolett Baylor, her gaze remained fixed on the spot where I'd stood.

I glanced at her impassive face.

Those eyes. That face.

A surge of disgust slipped past my control, and my mouth opened.

"Does living so tamed feel fun?"

Not to me, it doesn't.

I withdrew my gaze from Piolett Baylor, whose shoulders twitched faintly, and retreated quietly.

"Feels sticky."

The thrill I'd felt seeing Bellieta's face crumple was nowhere to be found now; my lips pressed into a tight line against the foul mood.

I'd probably need a drink once I got back.

As soon as I emerged from the forest, Riphert came into view first, wandering near the entrance.

He spotted me and rushed over, checking me for injuries.

While doing so, he eyed the forest depths warily and ordered the other knights to secure the perimeter.

"Are you alright? Any injuries?"

"None. Thanks to you stepping up, I made it back safe."

"I'm relieved. I was worried a beast might appear."

"What beast shows up right at the entrance?"

I just ran into something more beastly—a human.

Before entering the forest, I'd asked Riphert to ensure the ladies could follow behind us.

I knew exactly what Bellieta was plotting—it was obvious.

Bellieta wasn't one to risk her own life.

Taking no knights meant the area was safe, which in turn meant she was the biggest danger.

I figured that if the ladies arrived before she could make her move, she wouldn't dare touch me—and I was right.

She'd have to kill them all to silence them, but there were too many, and even then, secrets have a way of leaking.

Thanks to that, I'd gotten through this unscathed.

"More importantly, did you handle everything I asked?"

"Just as you instructed, we've approached the relevant parties using the info from Gertia and passed the word. They all seem to understand your intent."

"Good. Keep at it until the hunt ends. Sunset's not far off, so make sure those we've assigned stick close to the parties involved."

"Understood."

As I heard Riphert's curt reply, rustling sounded from behind.

I glanced over my shoulder to see the ladies emerging from the forest with Bellieta.

Bozbon knights and the ladies hurried to check on them, and my eyes met Bellieta's.

I gave her blank stare a faint smile, unfastened the sword I'd borrowed, and handed it to Riphert.

"I should get back to training once we're home. I need to be able to protect myself at least."

I turned my gaze away from Bellieta once more and returned to my seat.

Scanning the surroundings from my chair, I noted the growing commotion—the hunt was nearing its end.

Everyone was buzzing about who would return first or who had claimed the biggest beast.

But I had no interest in that; I just wanted it over with.

Wasting time stuck here—what a drag. How much longer?

As I reached for my abandoned drink, I spotted Bellieta approaching from the opposite side.

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