Chapter 35
His favorability rating skyrocketed. Nonetheless, I walked towards the door without hesitation.
“I’ll take my leave then.”
After returning the things, I also finished repaying the favor I owed him before.
‘I should go home right away to cross out some notations on the paper.’
Just the moment I was about to open the door
Ka.
The door was pushed back and closed in a flash.
…… Hmm?’
Panicked, I found a hand reaching over my head against the door.
Wynter, who was approaching very quickly from behind me, kept the door closed with his hand against it.
I turned around in a panic only to see the rabbit mask right in front of me.
I was now between him and the door.
“…… Miss.”
A low, magnetic voice echoed through the room.
The suddenness of the situation made it obvious that I was panicking.
“Wh, what? Do you have anything else to say?”
After a short silence Winter responded.
“…… I want to repay you for babysitting my kids.”
“That’s okay. I’m the one who shouldn’t have gone inside without permission in the first place ……”
“I’m one of those people who can’t go on living in peace until I’ve repaid a favor I owe someone.”
He bent his head towards me and whispered.
This brought the two masks closer together again.
‘Is he threatening me to watch my mouth at all times?’
I felt my throat tighten. He didn’t need to do that, and I’d be very careful; because I didn’t want to get any deeper involved with him either.
I smoothly leaned back against the door panel to distance myself from each other while pretending I was calm and relaxed with a shrug of my shoulders.
“I don’t need anything in particular.”
There’s no doubt that when I manage to leave this place, your name will be scratched off the paper.
Winter is silent for a moment before speaking again.
“I am a wizard.”
“. …….”
“I can do a lot of things that ordinary people can’t.”
I struggled to understand his intention in suddenly mentioning this.
‘So he’s saying that even though an onlooker can’t kill me, he can easily do it?’
I pondered how to respond to this novel threat of his.
“When you need help, please feel free to come to me.”
At the same time, a white box appeared above Winter’s head.
Quest completed!
Gained “Wizard’s Help 1 time]
[Yes]/[No].
“Ha!”
This terrible reward made me accidentally snort out a laugh.
Because of this sudden hidden quest, I inevitably felt fear, the need to decide ruthlessly, and other apprehensions.
“…… real is too much.”
“What did you say?”
Winter asked as I muttered to myself.
I gently pushed him away.
I didn’t exert much force, and he immediately backed away of his own accord.
It wasn’t until he had backed away from the system interface that I pretended to retract my hand that had pushed him away and secretly tapped
[Yes].
“I’ll be back if I need to.”
Even though I was rewarded with something doubly ironic, I had no room to refuse.
At some point or another in the future, I might need to use it when I’m in danger.
“That won’t happen though.”
It better not have to, either.
To use it, call out for [Help]
Finally leaving Winter’s store, the sky on the alleyway was already tinted with the color of ink night.
“Ah …… it’s bad.”
I walked down the steps in front of the store in despair.
“What was I thinking …… I can’t believe I forgot to ask for a carriage to take me back. What a fool I am.”
Staying inside the store I was in a very confused state, causing me to completely forget that there was no way to use instantaneous movement just by myself.
‘Do I have to go again to ask for help?’
I thought as I stared back at the door I stepped out of.
But that thought didn’t last long.
Because I had just confidently stated that I would never need help. He must think I’m ridiculous if I walk back in and ask for a carriage.
I’m already brazen enough today that I can’t take any more shame.
”Alas …… it’s too far to go back from here. I hope the Duke is still at work when I get back.”
I looked towards the other side of the alleyway.
The street outside the alleyway was still lit up at night as it was still during the festival.
Even at a distance apart, the clamor of the crowd was still coming in bursts.
”It’s good to go to the main street for now. I should be able to find a place to rent a carriage there.
Luckily, this alley wasn’t the labyrinthine alley I went through when I went to rescue Ikris, and I easily quickened my pace.
As soon as I stepped out of the alley I was greeted by the main street.
Everything in front of me looked similar, much like the last street I visited with the Duke’s brothers.
As far as the eye could see, it was bustling with people, and even though I needed to rent a carriage, I couldn’t find one due to the crowds.
I frowned and kept looking around.
Suddenly, a familiar symbol on my armor caught my eye.
“Please show me your identification.”
Not far away, two knights in silver armor were checking the identity of a fierce-looking man.
“Why are you looking at my identification for ……?”
“We have received orders that wanted criminals must be closely tracked down even during the celebration. So please show it quickly.”
“This, this ….”
An argument broke out between the two knights and the man.
‘I’ve seen that armor before.’
I tried to recall and then Kurenji widened his eyes.
‘Oops! That’s the symbol of the Eckhardt family! .
I scanned my surroundings once again and found knights of the Eckhardt family scattered at every distance.
”Could it be that they’ve already realized I’m missing and have come looking for me?”
My pupils began to shake violently.
The situation was very urgent right now, because the person currently in control of the Eckhardt family’s knights was none other than Derrick.
It also meant that he was probably here somewhere right now.
”I’ll be dead if I’m caught sneaking out.”
Although I was the one who suggested that I would be grounded for introspection, my grounding hasn’t been officially withdrawn yet.
Nervously, I looked around again. I must avoid the situation where Derrick catches me and return to the mansion quickly.
But just then a
“What happened?”
A familiar voice came from the direction of the two knights and the man just now.
“Captain, you’re here!”
The knights bowed and saluted respectfully towards someone.
I looked towards that source of the sound while praying that my thoughts weren’t accurate.
A head of hair as black as the night sky, wearing a flashy shawl and silver armor with the Eckhardt family crest.
Yes, it was Derrick.
He arrived on the scene quickly. My heart raced, gutted at the possibility of being caught.
But luckily, I at least had a cloak and a mask to hide my face.
‘There’s no way he could have managed to recognize me, right?’
Because it had been a week.
There’s no way someone who hates me as much as Derrick would be attentive enough to remember the mask I bought back then.
He wouldn’t have recognized me, the streets were filling up with crowds at the same time, and he hadn’t spotted me yet.
I lowered my head as low as I could, considering ways to use the crowd as cover and move carefully.
‘Great! That’s them!
It was such a coincidence! A group wearing masks was coming in my direction.
While waiting for a good moment to blend in, I looked at Derrick from time to time.
He, who was listening to the knights’ reports, suddenly raised his head.
The direction he raised his head was exactly where I was standing.
I was so scared that I subconsciously stepped back.
At this moment, our eyes met.
He, who had been very solemn the previous second, gradually tangled his eyebrows.
“You ……”
Before he could fully recognize me, I hurriedly turned my back and retreated back into the alley I had only just stepped out of.
However, the bottom of the alley was surrounded by several buildings that resembled Winter’s store.
If Derrick had followed me into this alley, there was no doubt that I would have been caught.
I had no choice but to run and step onto the steps again. And then-
BANG!
“HELP ONE!”