Chapter 75

The place where ‘Ramsa’ lay dormant was deep inside a goblin nest. Enoch’s spirit had found it.

“It’s at the very end.”

The goblin horde had already been slaughtered by Laila. Small monsters, barely reaching an adult’s waist, lay dead with every step, filling the air with the stench of blood and rotting flesh.

As soon as we entered the cave, Enoch summoned a lower wind spirit, Sylph, to clear out the foul air. He didn’t even need to go through the summoning process—he always had wind spirits at his beck and call. The little spirit faded into the air, making it easier to breathe. Enoch caught my eyes.

“Dust and bad smells aren’t good for asthma.”

“I don’t have asthma anymore.”

“Still, it doesn’t hurt to be careful.”

Before Jang Hyunji had stolen my body, I had carried all sorts of ailments. Nothing life-threatening, but asthma, rhinitis, constant skin rashes… and food allergies.

But after regaining my body, all of that was gone.

“Ted said your soul and body were like gears missing a tooth. Misaligned and fragile. If that woman hadn’t entered your body, you would have died before turning twenty.”

“I can’t even be thankful…”

I muttered bitterly. Laila gave a dry laugh.

“Whether that woman becomes poison or medicine is up to you now. Go ahead.”

“Alone?”

“You have to kill the final boss yourself. We’re only here to help you, not do it for you.”

She was right. I looked ahead.

The ancient relic that had slept in the plains had sunk deep into the ground over time. Without someone to use it, even an ancient relic was just a rock. To avoid goblins, bats, and insects, ‘Ramsa’ had hidden itself in the deepest part of the cave. In that time, stagnant water had pooled there.

The filthy pool stank so badly even Sylph couldn’t erase the smell. The water was dark and murky, with unidentifiable things floating in it. Magic or spirits couldn’t touch it. I would have to swim through the disgusting water myself.

“If you help me this time too, I’m going back.”

Keith and Enoch clicked their tongues like they were used to this. I quickly gave up and began removing my armor.

“It’s better to get it done before your body temperature drops. Try not to drink the water.”

“It’s not like I’d want to drink it…”

The filthy water looked like it would cause rashes on contact. Surely it was full of waste. No one in their right mind would drink it. My comment made Laila laugh.

“You’re right about that.”

In the novel, ‘Laila’ hadn’t struggled to retrieve the relic once she knew its location. There had been no hellish guards or ancient golems attacking her. I hadn’t known I would have to wade through filth myself… But compared to how valuable this treasure was, this hardly counted as a trial.

Wearing only light clothing, I stepped into the water.

Thankfully, I knew how to swim—Grandmother had taught me.

The sticky, dirty water soaked through my undergarments. It felt like my body was rotting just by touching it, though the smell was worse than the sensation. I couldn’t avoid submerging my face because my feet couldn’t reach the bottom. I swam as hard as I could, but still swallowed some of the water when I opened my mouth. My stomach would hurt for the rest of the day, no doubt.

Disgusting.

But this filth was nothing compared to Linus’s touch. Even when my hair got soaked and my arms and legs flailed off rhythm, I remembered the moment his hand had slid up my thigh. That was far more revolting. Compared to when he had forced my chin up and rubbed his lips against mine, swallowing this filthy water was nothing.

“Ughhh! Bleh!”

When I reached the center of the pool, I finally retched, unable to hold it back. Something clung to the back of my throat, but I couldn’t shove my fingers in to remove it—they were filthier than anything. I wiped my mouth with my arm and straightened up.

‘Ramsa’ was a plain pendant shaped like a small shield, looking like nothing more than a stone.

“This is it…?”

Could this really be an ancient relic?

I picked it up and turned back. Seeing that I had secured it, Laila called out.

“Step back a bit!”

“Step back?”

I instinctively took a step back, and at that moment, Laila launched herself from the far side of the pool. She hadn’t used magic or spirits—just the pure strength of her legs. She landed smoothly at my side, and I couldn’t help staring.

“You stink,” she teased.

“You made me do this…”

“You did well. Now, get in my arms.”

“No, I smell—ah!”

Laila didn’t wait for my answer. She never waited for anyone’s answer. She slid her arm behind my knees and lifted me up in one swift motion. My feet left the ground, and I instinctively clung to her neck. Then I remembered how disgusting I must be and tried to pull away.

“If you move, I might drop you.”

“Put me down! You’ll get dirty too!”

“I’m already dirty. Keep talking and you’ll bite your tongue.”

“…Mm.”

Laila felt like a feather. She jumped so lightly I felt like a feather too. It was hard to believe this wasn’t magic. I blinked, and we were already on the other side. She set me down. Keith muttered.

“You could’ve just gotten it yourself.”

“That would’ve been too easy,” Laila replied.

Enoch spoke up.

“Florence, call a water spirit and clean yourself.”

“Can I really ask a spirit to do that?”

“Spirits aren’t living beings. They’re not animals. They’re just the will and power of nature, so you don’t owe them anything.”

Enoch had always been a spirit mage. He made it clear that spirits weren’t like animals, even if they took forms like fairies or people. I realized I had been treating them like sentient beings without thinking.

“Sequel, please.”

Water droplets formed a large orca-like mouth in the air. The translucent spirit swallowed me whole, cleansing me completely. The filth was gone, but my clothes were still wet and clinging.

Laila called her spirit too.

“Bee.”

Bii! Biii!

Bee wrapped me in its wings as if it had been waiting its turn. My chilled body warmed, and my clothes and hair dried in an instant. I reached out to hold Laila’s hand. She could have done it herself, but I wanted to help.

Bee dried her too, and Laila smiled softly, pretending to pat Bee’s head.

“Thank you, Bee.”

Bii, bii.

Didn’t they say spirits had no will? Bee certainly looked pleased.

“Let’s get out of here. I’m going to throw up if we stay any longer.”

At Keith’s weak complaint, Enoch nodded faster than anyone. He had always had a weak stomach. Watching their backs, I walked leisurely beside Laila.

That night.

Laila gripped ‘Ramsa’ tightly as if she would break it. Magic power flowed into it, and green light shimmered along the pattern etched into the shield-shaped pendant before vanishing.

“The duration is only a few dozen seconds… It depends on how you use it. But it’ll be useful.”

Then she handed it to me. I tried to refuse, but Laila was firm.

“You’re the weakest.”

Cold and logical.

I also took out the sealed box—the heirloom I had taken from Father. Laila said,

“If she said only you could open it and then left it behind, it must require your power or your blood.”

“But Grandmother made this. She knew I couldn’t use magic, so it won’t be a magical seal.”

My poor Florence, my flower. Why did God give you nothing?

If Grandmother truly intended for me to have it, she would have made a way for me to prove I was me even without any abilities. There was only one way.

I pulled out the sword I had used to cut down goblins and slashed my palm before anyone could stop me.

Laila was calm. Enoch and Keith grimaced but didn’t scold me. I clenched my fist and let blood drip onto the sealed box.

The black stains vanished from the box without a trace.