Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Ju Rina (3)

Rushing to Huberto as soon as I heard Ju Rina’s story wasn’t just because she’s a talent to become a Rogue Master.

If this recruitment is successful, I can alleviate worries in two aspects.

First, I won’t have to worry about money in the future.

Right now, I can handle it, but the story changes as a little time passes. My time will become more precious as it goes.

As the organization grows, the money spent will also increase. I’ll find ways to cover it, but it takes time.

In other words, Ju Rina will be an inexhaustible well.

‘Some nobles have more money than one can imagine.’

The second is her stealthiness. She’s someone who could even rob the imperial palace where the Sword Master is.

It means she’s an expert in moving unnoticed.

When I can’t move, I can use her to get information.

Whether it’s stealing documents, eavesdropping, or otherwise, there are various ways.

Additionally, I can get Ju Rina’s know-how. What I learned at the intelligence agency isn’t perfect.

Even with the help of traits, becoming a Rogue Master means she has her own methods.

‘I can also teach Aron, Jofor, and the people I’ll recruit in the long term.’

The presence or absence of such a being greatly helps the growth of the organization. It means it’s quite an important position.

I looked at Ju Rina with a serious attitude.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Judging from her recent reaction, the issue with Arachne seemed more valuable than I thought.

In contrast to how it was resolved in the game, it meant I had an opportunity.

“What do you want to talk about?”

She glared at me sharply. The Winds were suppressing her with full force.

Since the moment I was about to say her name, she was trying to draw a dagger hidden in her bosom. She was about to jump up and attack me right away.

“Calm down.”

“Who do you think you are?”

“I told you, I’m not from Arachne.”

I raised both hands to signify I had no intention to attack and nodded towards my back.

People’s gazes slightly turned to her intense reaction.

Neither of us would benefit from drawing attention.

Especially Ju Rina, who robbed the duke, would feel this more. We communicated with our eyes. I deliberately raised my voice.

“It’s not because I’m interested in you, it’s because I like archaeology too.”

“…Archaeology?”

“That book, it’s by Lupiten, right? I enjoyed reading it too. You know, it’s hard to meet people interested in archaeology.”

“You should have said so earlier.”

People’s gazes gradually moved away. It’s the look of seeing eccentrics. A natural reaction.

In this world, archaeology is considered a weird hobby.

A cafe where only rich people come, Ju Rina probably brought the archaeology book for that reason too.

After exchanging acting and observing me, Ju Rina seemed a bit calmer.

“I understand you’re not from Arachne.”

The atmosphere of her speaking was peculiar. Relief and a bit of regret were visible. I couldn’t understand.

Regret? Why regret that I’m not from Arachne?

Suddenly, a thought occurred to me in a different direction. I had considered her leaving traces of the butterfly pattern as an overreaction.

But, if that’s not it.

If she intentionally left traces to catch the Arachne chasing her…

Assuming my hypothesis is correct, I also understood her habit of staying for two weeks where she turned.

The same goes for her trying to attack me with a dagger as soon as I mentioned her name.

It was a reaction as if she had practiced it.

***

In fact, Carlyn’s guess was true. Ju Rina left the patterns to catch Arachne.

She was still naive, but it was for revenge.

“Thanks for checking.”

“You have Mystic Power. This wind. There’s no one like that in Arachne. I’ve never seen you before either.”

Arachne is an elite few. There’s no one Ju Rina doesn’t know.

Maybe except for the children who are being raised secretly and viciously like her after being kidnapped.

But she wouldn’t not know someone of Carlyn’s skill level. She wasn’t worried when Carlyn approached.

Because it was a face she didn’t know. She thought he was just an annoying fly.

She only tried to attack because she was surprised he knew her name. She could move immediately because she practiced imagining this situation.

But that doesn’t mean she let her guard down. In her surprise, she quickly turned her thoughts.

‘Who is he? Did Arachne hire someone?’

She shook her head.

If so, they wouldn’t have approached like this. Arachne isn’t the type to reveal their organization’s name.

In a state of tension, she unknowingly let out a deep breath. Carlyn recognized that anxiety.

Since the atmosphere was better for conversation than before, he carefully opened his mouth.

“I’m someone hostile to devil worshippers.”

“Devil worshippers?”

Ju Rina frowned at the out-of-nowhere remark. Carlyn nodded.

“Why does that come up suddenly?”

“First, to explain how I came to know about you.”

“Tell me.”

“The guys I caught thinking they were devil worshippers were Arachne.”

“Who did you catch?”

“Well. They hardly opened their mouths though.”

Carlyn didn’t know much about Arachne.

In the game, it was an already disappeared group, and he only picked up rough information under the Chief of Intelligence.

It’s an elite few fanatic group in the east that worships the moon god, Lu Nanna.

It’s also secretly supported by King Elish, who guards Lu Nanna’s holy land.

Carlyn guessed in the game that Arachne might have been done in by devil worshippers.

Because the east was eaten up 100 out of 100 times by devil worshippers. There were few other possibilities.

Anyway, because they were a fanatic group, Carlyn’s words didn’t sound strange.

Ju Rina also thought that if it’s those guys, they might do that. Her question was in a different direction.

“But did they talk about me?”

“To be precise, I overheard. Ju Rina, they were looking for a red-haired girl who likes butterflies? I already knew about Arachne.”

It was Carlyn’s improvisation. It was a risky statement, but fortunately, Ju Rina didn’t find it strange.

“How did you know about those guys?”

“I’ll tell you that when our relationship gets a bit more solid.”

Carlyn smiled slyly. Ju Rina looked at him silently. She seemed displeased.

Carlyn looked around and lifted his top a bit.

Right side of his waist. When he tore off the covered bandage, the wound inflicted by Pelia appeared.

The flesh pierced by the power of darkness was eerily black. Just by looking, one could tell it wasn’t necrosis or the like.

“That’s…”

“A wound I got fighting devil worshippers.”

“Don’t tell me, did it happen in Veurtan?”

It was natural for her to make the connection since she had also seen the newspapers. It was the most recently talked about event.

Carlyn thought things were going well. He lowered his clothes again and lifted his hair to show a scar.

“That’s right. This one is from the bomb. Well, I can’t prove more than this that I’m hostile to devil worshippers.”

Carlyn’s words were convincing, and Ju Rina also agreed.

“Anyway, before the Veurtan incident, I happened to catch Arachne and overheard their conversation.”

Ju Rina silently looked at Carlyn. Her wariness had eased a bit, but she was still tense.

Carlyn maintained silence.

He had the lead, and there was no reason to be hasty. As he thought, it was Ju Rina who broke the silence.

“So, why did you come to find me?”

“To recruit you.”

Ju Rina furrowed her brows under her thick horn-rimmed glasses. For her, who suffered under a fanatic organization, it wasn’t a welcome proposal.

“Why?”

“Because I’ve heard about your skills. Even this time…”

“Who are you? Where do you belong?”

For Ju Rina, an individual opposing devil worshippers was an incomprehensible realm.

Having grown up in an organization since she was young, she thought Carlyn was the same as her.

“I told you. Someone hostile to devil worshippers. I don’t belong anywhere.”

“Does that make sense?”

“Why doesn’t it make sense?”

“That’s…”

Ju Rina lost her words for a moment.

“They’re a huge group that killed the empress. Without being crazy, how can you oppose them alone?”

“I’m not alone.”

“See.”

“But I don’t belong anywhere. I’m creating an organization. That’s why I’m trying to recruit you.”

It was a statement without much room for rebuttal. Ju Rina realized she was getting drawn in little by little.

“I don’t want to join anywhere. I’m sick of those places. Anyway, you want me for money and my body, right?”

Carlyn frowned. Because an out-of-place word popped out of Ju Rina’s mouth.

And he felt a deep hatred there.

He could roughly guess the situation. He who grew up under Duke Brusek was rather lucky.

“It’s partly true for money, but not for your body.”

Ju Rina glared at Carlyn without responding.

“I’m not just telling you to come under me. I’ll take care of Arachne for you.”

Ju Rina’s pupils dilated a bit.

“Those guys?”

“Yes.”

It was an icy face. Indeed, as Carlyn initially hoped, that part had potential.

Because Ju Rina still had hatred and fear towards Arachne.

“And I’ll support what you want to do.”

“What I want to do?”

What are you saying? Ju Rina asked back with a curious face.

“You like stealing, right? Your goal is to rob the imperial palace.”

“What nonsense is that?”

Carlyn was taken aback. Because that was the goal of Ju Rina that he knew.

In fact, it wasn’t. Ju Rina wanted revenge on Arachne.

But as Carlyn guessed, devil worshippers had taken care of Arachne.

In the life of Ju Rina, who doesn’t trust people, the goal of revenge disappeared. All that remained was stealing.

“…Those guys were saying that. A crazy woman whose dream is to be a Rogue Master?”

“That’s nonsense. What I want to do is rip apart and kill those Arachne bastards.”

Good thing he said he overheard. Carlyn thought he needed to quickly change the topic.

There was still a possibility.

“If I take care of those guys for you, will you join?”

“What do you want?”

“For you to be my strength in the fight against devil worshippers.”

“You mean earn money for you?”

“Not just that. I need your abilities.”

Carlyn grasped Ju Rina’s mental flaw. A life where she had no choice but to treat her body and mind roughly, like a tool used by others’ will.

He had learned using captured spies from other countries as teaching materials.

Depending on the degree of the flaw, it’s sometimes impossible, but also how to persuade them.

“You’re not just a tool for earning money, right? You know you can do much more than that.”

You have to create ripples in the heart with words and show sincerity with actions.

Of course, this method isn’t 100%.

After Carlyn’s words, Ju Rina was lost in thought for a while. Carlyn judged the situation wasn’t bad.

“…If I refuse?”

“Then you refuse. I’m not coercive. You can stand up and leave right now. I just hope you won’t tell anyone about our conversation.”

“Do I have to decide right now?”

“No. But, the sooner the better.”

“I need time to think.”

He said he has companions. Ju Rina was trying to observe Carlyn and his companions during that time.

“Take your time.”

Even as Carlyn said so, he felt regret. It seemed like she had almost come around…

He had a feeling that if he let her go now, it would be hard to meet her again.

“How about staying with us in the meantime? Whatever you decide, I’m going to take care of Arachne.”

“Huh? You’ll rip apart and kill Arachne even if I refuse?”

I didn’t say rip apart and kill… Carlyn didn’t catch her words and just nodded.

“I’m the one who wants you. Think of it as me showing sincerity first.”

Ju Rina looked at Carlyn with surprised eyes. Carlyn met her gaze with a serious face.

It’s something he had in mind while coming to meet Ju Rina.

He had thought about the route to take according to the plan.

Even if you leave Arachne alone, they’ll disappear anyway, but it’s a cost worth bearing to get Ju Rina.

“Wait. You’re not trying to lead me to Arachne with such words, are you?”

Suddenly, Ju Rina glared with sharp eyes. But she, too, was doubting her own words.

It was certain he wasn’t sent by Arachne. She just wanted to hear him say no because she was anxious.

“Why would I? I could just capture you.”

Carlyn raised mana and pressured Ju Rina. The ominous mana swirled only near her.

Ju Rina faced the difference in power.

She realized Carlyn’s words were true. He was a stronger being than she imagined. Carlyn released his power.

Two seconds. Despite the short time, she felt her breathing become rapid. She couldn’t breathe.

Her heart pounded from the tremendous pressure. Towards her, Carlyn showed a kind smile.

“How about it? I want to hear your answer now.”

Author's Thoughts

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