WSRN 29

Chapter 29

Havel replied without changing his expression.

“I’m a very promising talent. It’d be a waste for me to die here.”

“Exactly!”

Then why are you so casually ready to die?

Seeing how frustrated I looked, he continued.

“But you’re only eleven. You’d be more of a loss than me. That’s just the way the world works—and I’ve accepted that.”

“……!”

I never expected words like that to come out of Havel’s mouth. Startled, I dropped several knives.

“And if you turn into a ghost later and curse me, what then? I absolutely hate having bad dreams.”

“Wow, I hate ghosts too.”

We exchanged a strange look of sympathy.

Havel lowered his gaze and picked up the knife I’d dropped.

“What’s this scary thing?”

“……I was going to give it to you anyway. It’s a weapon. I borrowed it from Marian.”

Havel shot a weary glance at Marian.

“Honestly, what’s wrong with the people in this house…”

As I gathered the rest into my arms, I swallowed down the lump rising in my throat.

I felt bad for having doubted him even a little earlier.
I didn’t want him to get hurt—especially not because of me, under the excuse of protecting a child.

Locking eyes with Havel, I spoke, trying not to let my voice tremble.

“I’ll do something after all. Just like you judged earlier, I don’t like it when someone risks themselves because of me.”

“This is why I don’t like disciples who never lose an argument.”

“Feeling’s mutual, you know?”

Havel pressed his temples as if he had a headache. I took out a candy I’d gotten earlier and held it out to him.

“Eat this if your sugar’s low.”

“What is it?”

“Candy. I borrowed it from Marian too.”

He snatched the candy from my hand after eyeing it suspiciously from a distance.

‘Guess he really was low on sugar.’

Havel stared at the candy for a moment, then slipped it into his pocket.

‘What, why isn’t he eating it?’

“……Is that girl really a maid?”

“Yeah. My personal maid. I just found out today she’s good at fighting.”

‘Well, she’s from Hilberg, so maybe she’s got her own circumstances.’

I decided not to overthink it. It wasn’t that surprising anyway.

“Anyway, decide how long we’re going to hold out. You said until the person we’re waiting for joins us, right?”

“The one who kidnapped us seems talkative, so for now, let’s stay put and see what happens.”

But the moment Havel finished speaking, a chilling voice came from above.

“No need to wait. I’m here.”

It was the voice of someone who absolutely should not be answering right now.

“……!”

Before we could even look up, there was a loud thud—and my body was hoisted high into the air.

“Kuh—!”

A thick arm was wrapped tightly around my neck, cutting off my air.

I quickly scanned the area through my narrowing vision.
The ceiling was cracked open, with debris scattered about.

‘…He was listening from up there!’

I didn’t know how long he’d been there, but clearly, he’d been waiting for the right moment.

“I’ll just kill you both and take the young lady with me. Thanks for letting me know there might be pursuers.”

“……”

‘I can’t breathe…’

My vision flickered white. Desperate to live, I pounded on Gilbert’s arm with my fists.

The grip loosened—slightly.

“Whoa, close one. Almost killed you too early.”

While Gilbert was distracted for that brief second, Havel moved.

He kicked at Gilbert’s legs, probably trying to knock him down, but the man didn’t budge.

Still, his body wavered slightly. I didn’t miss the opening—I bit down as hard as I could on the inside of his arm.

“Ugh!”

It must’ve hurt—Gilbert grimaced, then hurled me aside.

“Ugh…”

Pain shot through my body as I hit the floor.

“What a pair of pests. Guess I’ll start with you.”

‘……!’

His tone sounded oddly familiar, but I didn’t have time to think about that.

Propping myself up with trembling arms, I saw Gilbert rushing toward Havel, sword drawn.

‘No…!’

I tried to reach for one of my knives, but Gilbert was faster.

“Havel!”

The sword plunged halfway into Havel’s shoulder. Just seeing it made me gasp.

Gilbert frowned as he gripped the weapon with both hands.

“Oops. My mistake. Don’t worry—I’ll make it quick.”

Havel twisted his lips in a mocking smile.

“Idiot. That wasn’t your mistake… it was my intention.”

“What?”

Havel moved his hand, aiming for Gilbert’s face. But Gilbert dodged back just in time, leaving only a shallow slash across his cheek.

‘That knife—he took it from me earlier!’

While Havel clicked his tongue, Gilbert touched his cheek. His expression quickly turned cold.

“You little…”

Losing his temper, Gilbert lunged again.

‘Anything—something!’

In that instant, everything seemed to move in slow motion.
Before I could even think, I drew my knife—

—and threw it at Gilbert.

The muffled world around me exploded back into noise, my breathing ragged.

“……?”

Gilbert looked down at his chest. His stance faltered.

‘Did I…?’

The knife had hit exactly where his heart was.

At the sound of commotion, masked men rushed in.
My mind, strangely calm, assessed the situation.

‘Five of them. Their stance is sloppy. I can handle this.’

The thought alone set my body in motion—fast, precise, almost as if someone else were controlling me.

‘…Whatever. As long as I can get us out of this!’

[Wise choice. Then I grant you permission.]

A whisper brushed past my ears.

I dashed forward with inhuman speed, closing the distance and throwing the remaining knives all at once.

Every single one struck true—piercing near the heart.
Three dropped instantly. The last two lunged for me.

I leapt, kicked off the wall, and landed lightly on one man’s head.

With a sharp strike of my hand to the back of his neck, he collapsed.
Tilting his falling body just right, I tripped the other man—then twisted his neck, knocking him out.

There was no way I could’ve done that with my usual strength.

With a heavy thud, the two bodies hit the ground. Silence followed.

“……”

When I turned my head, I saw Havel staring at me in a daze.

‘He’s bleeding.’

My feet moved on their own, taking me toward him.

“……Elena?”

[Ah, that part’s off-limits, isn’t it?]

Suddenly, it felt like I’d just surfaced from underwater.
My legs gave out, and I collapsed on the spot.

I lay there, gasping for breath.

‘What was that just now?’

I was conscious, I remembered everything—it was my body, but it hadn’t been me.

A chill ran down my spine.

‘Could it be…’

I looked at my wrist. The bracelet was faintly glowing.

‘Am I imagining things?’

The warehouse wasn’t bright enough to tell for sure, but the jewel seemed different somehow.

‘Almost like… my eye color.’

“……Disciple. Are you all right?”

Startled, I lifted my head. Havel was looking at me with concern.

Even that expression from him was surprising.
But right now, he was the one I should be worrying about.

“……! Havel, your shoulder—”

“Ah, I made sure it only grazed the vital area. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to stop him.”

I staggered to my feet and went to his side.
Every part of me ached as if I’d been beaten all over.

Up close, Havel looked terrible—paler than even Marian had been.

“Why would you do something so reckless! You could’ve dodged!”

“This much won’t kill me.”

“Ugh, always with the bravado.”

“I’ve been thinking… Even in a crisis, you forget to treat me like your teacher, don’t you?”

“Is that really what matters right now? Hah…”

I rolled my eyes—but then all my strength drained away, and I collapsed next to him.

“If I die like this, that’d be such a pathetic way to go…”

“……”

Havel didn’t even have the energy to reply.

“Master… if you die alone, I swear, I’ll… kill you…”

My head swam. My eyes fluttered open and closed.
With the last bit of strength I had left, I called out—

“Anyone… please—”

‘Ah, I can’t… anymore.’

As my vision blurred, I thought I saw the tip of a black shoe appear before me.