FBPRN 15

Chapter 15 — “Hold Me a Little Longer”

Su Cheng touched the side of her neck.

She always felt like there was an invisible chain wrapped there—tight, unseen, binding her. And now, with the apostate being offered up as sacrifice, that chain seemed to be shattering into dust.

A weight she hadn’t realized she was carrying—so heavy it could crush bones—suddenly vanished.

For a moment, she felt impossibly light.

She listened to the wind element laughing in the air.

Her fingers moved slightly.

A faint current of wind surged in response, curling around her fingertips, spiraling lazily between them. Occasionally, a flicker of blue-green light flashed through the flow like drifting fireflies.

They clung to her.

Affectionate.

Willing.

Almost… devoted.

…That’s actually kind of worth it.

Su Cheng thought that.

No.

That was a dangerous thought.

She knew exactly what she was doing.

She knew the story. She knew the “count’s daughter,” her personality, her rare talent. That was why she could exploit the situation at all.

Otherwise, she would never have found a suitable sacrifice before sunset.

But—

She stared at the wind dancing between her fingers.

Felt the presence of those elemental spirits.

And hesitated.

Every elemental mage probably felt this way.

This sense of being chosen. Of being answered. Of the world itself leaning toward you.

If the god of contracts could grant her more power… and the price was merely offering up an oath-breaker…

Then maybe it was worth it.

People like that young count—dishonest, treacherous, people who broke promises without hesitation—there were plenty of them. More than plenty.

Finding one wouldn’t be difficult.

As long as they didn’t know she was a divine favored, she could easily lead them into a trap.

No.

She immediately rejected the thought again.

Because reality had already proven something far more dangerous.

The God of Contracts made deals like a tyrant.

He would give benefits first.

And only afterward reveal the terms.

At that point, the agreement was already considered made.

And the conditions?

Only then would they appear.

If she didn’t know the price in advance, she was completely at a disadvantage.

What if it wasn’t just a sacrifice of oath-breakers?

What if there were even harsher conditions added later?

This time she got lucky.

What about next time?

One mistake—and it would be her life.

Su Cheng leaned against a pillar in the guild corridor, thinking it through over and over.

Finally, she made a decision.

If the God of Contracts spoke to her again, she would refuse him—no matter what he offered.

Even though her mind had been hazy at the time… almost unconscious, really… she had still nodded somehow.

Just remembering it made her stomach ache.

What was she supposed to do?

If he clouded her mind first, and then tricked her into agreeing again—how was she supposed to refuse that?

“…I hope you’ve resolved your issue, party member.”

A deep voice came from above her.

Su Cheng looked up.

A black-haired man stood beside the pillar.

His sharp golden eyes gleamed faintly. Shadows from the corridor roof slid across his chest, tracing the defined lines of muscle beneath, before flowing down over his abdomen.

A thick fur-lined cloak hung from his shoulders, covering one arm while the other rested casually across his chest. His expression was unreadable in the backlight.

“…Yeah,” Su Cheng said, rubbing her forehead. “I did. But I’ve realized there are even more problems now, and I have no idea how to deal with them.”

“Hm,” Kay replied without pressing further. “That’s life.”

Su Cheng blinked.

For a moment, she thought of how she once believed killing Lin Yun would solve everything.

But it had only been the beginning.

Still…

If she could go back, she would do it again.

So maybe—

She should be more optimistic.

This world was simply a mess.

No one ever truly lived safely or comfortably in it.

Especially not her, now that she had become the “protagonist.”

“You’re right!” she suddenly said, standing up. “Then let’s go adventuring together!”

Kay glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “No problem. But there are still some things to take care of first.”

So they returned to the mercenary guild together.

After completing the registration, Su Cheng officially joined the Black Flame Mercenary Group.

She flipped through her mercenary journal.

On the cover, a black flame emblem had appeared—marking her affiliation.

Only then did she realize the Black Flame Mercenary Group had over twenty members scattered across the continent.

And it was a B-rank mercenary group.

Not as legendary as the S-rank Silver Wings, but still far from weak. A B-rank group could freely hang its banner outside any guild.

If they publicly recruited, countless people would rush to join.

After all, mercenary rank was based on accumulated missions, success rate, and completed task levels—not just one or two strong individuals.

“You’ve met many people since I registered the group,” Kay said casually. “I invited a few of them.”

“I don’t have strict requirements. Most of them were just people I happened to meet. Some I only spent a little time with, but I felt they were trustworthy… and it’s always been like that.”

Su Cheng was a little surprised.

Lin Yun’s entry into this group had felt more like stubborn persistence driven by protagonist luck.

She suddenly felt… she might have done something similar.

But thinking about it carefully, she hadn’t really pushed her way in.

She was just accepted.

So if she called him “Captain,” and he didn’t object… did that mean he had already agreed back then?

“So you think I can be trusted too?” Su Cheng said happily. “Not just because I look like I’m about to die and you’re being polite?”

“No,” the captain replied, golden eyes flickering with faint helplessness. “First, I never thought you were about to die. Second—”

“New member!”

Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her neck.

Cold, firm, heavy.

A pale hand locked onto her shoulder as she was pulled into an embrace.

“So we’re family now, right?”

The silver-haired, red-eyed young man smiled brightly. “Should we have a welcome party or something?”

A chill ran through Su Cheng.

She tried to struggle. “Is that a rule of the guild?”

The man—Sasha—smiled at her without loosening his grip. “No rule. Just feels appropriate.”

“You’re too cold!”

“Is that so?” he said lazily. “Then we should stay like this a bit longer. It’ll warm up.”

“…Sasha, please.”

Kay finally stepped in and pulled him off.

“Some members prefer solo missions,” Kay continued, as if nothing had happened. “Others are scholars or researchers. Adventuring is secondary.”

He paused.

“Most of the time, I’m alone as well. This time was special, so I gathered the three of them.”

Besides Sasha and Camille, there was another member currently visiting relatives in the Shadow Mist Forest.

They had originally planned to regroup in ten days, but after recruiting a wind-element mage, Kay had already sent a letter asking him to return early.

“Though,” Kay glanced at her, “I think a celebration banquet for your arrival is a good idea.”

Su Cheng: “……”

Don’t think I don’t know you like drinking too.

She sighed. “Even so, I still need to attend an entrance exam.”

She didn’t dislike the academy. In fact, it could teach her a great deal.

But unlike Lin Yun, she didn’t want to rush in blindly.

She needed to suppress the curse first—or at least stabilize it.

Otherwise, fainting or losing control during class would be a disaster.

So she wasn’t in a hurry.

She originally planned to wait until Camille finished his work.

But since things had already started, she would just finish them.

Kay wasn’t surprised. He had already guessed it when he saw her at the magic guild.

Sasha, however, immediately became interested again and leaned toward her shoulder.

Before he could finish speaking—

A hand inserted itself between them.

Firmly separating them.

“Do not maintain prolonged physical contact with her,” Camille said coldly. “At least not these few days.”

“Why? You think I—”

Sasha rolled his eyes.

Su Cheng took the opportunity to slip away.

She went home, slept well, then headed to the Magic Guild the next day and entered the waiting room of Star Cross Academy.

“I’m ready,” she said.

The receptionist mage smiled. “Perfect timing. Lord Han Sheng and Lord Xiao Yun have just returned. They can oversee your assessment.”

Su Cheng tried to recall the original story.

Two examiners.

One man, one woman.

The man barely remembered. The woman was described in detail—beautiful, scholarly, sharp-tongued, and constantly nitpicking the male lead.

She only remembered that much.

Footsteps echoed.

Two high-ranking mages walked out from the corridor.

Their robes were exquisite, embroidered with magical sigils. Their presence alone carried overwhelming mana.

Su Cheng felt it instantly.

Dense elemental spirits surrounded them like iron filings drawn to a magnet.

Then—

Just as quickly, it vanished.

In her perception, they became ordinary again.

Her heart tightened.

These were true powerhouses.

She instinctively felt respect… and desire.

The woman with brown hair and blue eyes smiled gently. “Good luck with your exam, child.”

Then she left.

The man yawned lazily, stepping forward.

Orange-red curls like flowing magma. A half-unbuttoned robe revealing a broad, powerful chest.

He glanced at her.

“This is the wind-fire-thunder triple affinity special talent?”

Su Cheng: “……”

Yeah.

That chest was definitely… impressive.