HTWBB Chapter 7

The sensation of grounded earth beneath the soles of her feet after two full days was welcome. The soil itself wasn't different, but perhaps because it floated in the air, the ground there had felt strangely alien.

Rietta roughly brushed off her dirt-covered clothes. They were torn in places from the final confrontation, a pitiful sight, but she didn't care. Considering what she'd been through, this was hardly rough treatment.

She drew in a breath and sharpened her senses for a moment. She could hear water nearby. After walking just a few steps, she easily found the valley and roughly washed off the dust in the flowing water, then suddenly stared at the still surface.

She saw a familiar face returned to brown hair and eyes. Water droplets running down her chin left small ripples, blurring the image.

'I've delayed too long.'

After parting with Abel at the floating tomb, her strength depleted again, she'd had to wait another half day before she could descend.

She was somewhat late to pursue him, but considering the geographical conditions, it wasn't impossible. Abel, who had caused an explosion at the end, was surely exhausted and needed at least as much rest as she did. He would have no choice but to stop by a village.

Going back to Luemmasa would be foolish, so the probability was high he'd choose to move quietly through Helron.

'That monster's core...'

Rietta took another breath and stood up again. Trivial matters like contracts or compensation didn't matter at all. There was something she had to find no matter what. She had to catch up as quickly as possible and see the necklace before losing track of Abel's whereabouts. Even if she gave up on possessing it, she absolutely had to confirm it.

Rietta began leaving the dense forest without hesitation, even though there was no path. Dusk clung to her feet like shadows trying to snatch at them as she advanced.

She didn't get lost on the way back. She couldn't. After setting her direction and descending haphazardly, Rietta discovered familiar things from a certain point onward.

Sometimes it was roughly scratched tree surfaces, sometimes stones weakly imbued with a nymph's power. At times, small animals led her forward with fearful eyes.

It was consideration Melian had intentionally left behind. Those markers continued guiding her along a relatively docile and easy path, similar to when she'd climbed up.

Rietta recalled the boy's expression she'd last seen. The moment anxiety and fear settled and relief spread.

Screech.

A large hawk flew low over Rietta's head as she left the mountain behind. Black hawks weren't common. Rietta chose the most secluded areas possible and picked up her pace slightly.

The dark clouds that had been gathering again disappeared as soon as she crossed Luemmasa's boundary. From here it was one-way. Following the road would make her conspicuous, but with trees thick on both sides, it was actually good for hiding.

Even accounting for pushing through grass, at this speed she could arrive in Helron around midnight.

"...Sir!"

"Still..., ...must have."

Rietta stopped moving. It was people's voices. Perhaps because of the distance, they sounded faint now.

After listening briefly, she climbed without delay to the top of the nearest tall tree.

It was already deep night with only the occasional sound of insects. On a moonless night like this, her bright eyes in the darkness gave her an advantage. If she just concealed her presence, her immediate safety was assured.

How long had she waited with bated breath? Several sets of footsteps lightly brushed through the grass.

"He's no ordinary guy. Hard to make out what's ahead in this, yet he disappeared without a trace."

"He could move at that speed even with restraints on? I've never seen him in the registry."

"That's why we have to catch him, idiot. He was definitely hiding something."

White light flickered below, and soon they revealed themselves. Several magical light orbs, swords at their waists, black uniforms with thin red lines, shoes specialized for tracking. All symbols of the 9th Knight Order.

Rietta watched them pass by, keeping their distance from each other while scanning their surroundings. From their conversation, they seemed to be looking for someone.

"Definitely not an ordinary hunter, probably a mage then? But his movements looked closer to a swordsman's."

"A mage."

Rietta lowered her body at the mid-low voice thrown out carelessly. Her breathing grew even quieter. A bewildered voice continued from below.

"Sir? He didn't resist much when he was caught."

"He looked exhausted, so his magical power might have been depleted. Stop chattering and search."

"Yes, Commander!"

Various colored heads quickly passed below. Someone who seemed a span taller than the others suddenly stopped. It was right in front of the tree trunk where Rietta was hiding.

Platinum hair reflecting weak light brilliantly announced its presence. From this downward angle, it looked as if his eyes were closed. She knew the spring-green eyes that would be beneath them.

For an instant, he stood like a statue, then moved again. Once the commander joined them, without much more waiting, the 9th Knight Order quickly grew distant. Rietta descended below after confirming a definite distance had opened up.

Her guess that they were heading toward Luemmasa had been correct. If she'd been a little later, she would have run into them. She exhaled in relief and left the spot.

And when she had retraced about half the path they had come from, she poked her head out over the thick wild thicket.

"For someone who fled, you didn't get very far."

Abel, who had been leaning haphazardly against the densely tangled bushes as support, raised his head. His face, as clearly exhausted as when she'd seen him in the floating tomb, was beaded with sweat that hadn't cooled. He smiled while frowning.

"Can't you just let me go?"

"I still have business left."

"No. I haven't been able to check it yet either."

"I'll handle that for you. Give me the necklace."

Rietta pointed at Abel's wrist. It was a restraint with three blue jewels set in a black body. It was an object applied more to monsters than people, to attack-specialized mages with criminal records rather than ordinary mages.

"You escaped well wearing that."

"...You can remove this?"

"Yes."

"I know it can't be destroyed from the outside. It's constantly draining my magical power even now."

"Will you give me the necklace?"

Abel closed his mouth. The restraint's jewels shone bright blue, blinked three or four times, then returned to their original color.

Ha. He exhaled as if incredulous and irritably ran his hand through his hair.

"Who the hell made this dog shit of a thing?"

"I don't know either."

"If you lied about being able to remove it..."

"It looks like I could take it without your permission right now, so why would I?"

Considering Abel's condition, it clearly seemed like a gentlemanly transaction request. He sighed again and nodded.

"Fine. Let's do that."

"Follow me."

Rietta, who had crossed the thicket in one go, extended her hand to Abel. When he just stared blankly, she grabbed his arm and pulled him up. She immediately turned around and moved forward while adding a few things.

To remove the restraints, she absolutely needed a special key, and since it was now in the backpack Melian had taken, they had to accompany each other to Helron.

Abel only slowly started walking when Rietta had finished explaining and turned around questioningly.

"How do you have something like that?"

"Someone gave it to me."

"Something like that?"

Rietta nodded. Abel stared at her with eyes observing something peculiar.

As he said, it wasn't an ordinary object. But since they wouldn't see each other again after their temporary alliance ended, it was better not to tell him the detailed story. Instead of making excuses, Rietta turned the question back.

"Why were you chased by the 9th Knight Order?"

"I ran into them trying to get to Helron. They suddenly grabbed me saying I was suspicious."

"They found out you went to the tomb?"

"No way."

Abel shook his head. While exhausted, he had tried to use magic to flee, and unfortunately failed. Thanks to that, he only piled on more suspicion and as expected, inevitably ended up wearing the magical power-blocking restraints.

The knight order, overconfident in the restraints' function, became considerably complacent with just that. And Abel didn't miss the opportunity. Targeting a momentary gap, as soon as he slipped through their surveillance net, he quickly concealed his presence and fled once more. With no strength left to conserve, hiding his body was actually easier.

"Though it seemed useless to you."

Abel, who had suddenly moved ahead, faced Rietta. Instead of stopping, she chose to slip past by angling slightly. Abel, who quickly came to her side, continued speaking with a short laugh.

"What exactly are you?"

"Where did you leave your manners?"

"You're clearly human, but you don't seem human."

"That's strange."

He didn't care even as her answers became increasingly insincere.

"The smell of the sea."

"That's all you say whenever you see me."

Rietta's generosity went that far. Abel tried speaking a few more times, but when extremely brief answers returned, he closed his mouth. The remaining path held only silence, but there was no awkwardness.

Before long, the deep night passed and the stars of dawn revealed themselves. Rietta saw the lights illuminating Helron in the distance. It was a slightly later return than expected.

Because it was still early dawn, closer to night, the inn was quiet. Only drunkards with bottles scattered messily on tables and a few people eating an early breakfast filled the empty seats.

Rietta went straight to an employee and gave Melian's name. The employee, glancing at her and Abel, silently held out a key.

As always, the room was at the rightmost end of the top floor. As soon as she inserted the key, the door swung wide open with light footsteps. The small nymph looked up at her with tearful eyes.

"Miss Rietta!"

At the face clearly showing delight, Rietta couldn't help but smile a little.

"You kept your promise well, Melian."

"Uh, yes..."

Melian answered vaguely with wide eyes. Meanwhile, Rietta let Abel inside and locked the door.

Melian, who had been absorbed with her, only then discovered him and opened his eyes triangularly.

"Why did this guy follow you?"

"He has something to receive. The letter?"

"I sent it. She said to come back as quickly as possible."

Rietta, who had nodded, gestured to Abel.

"Give it first."

"It's in subspace. Remove this first."

"Is that so? Excuse me for a moment."

Rietta, who had stepped boldly toward him, reached out. Chest and back, sleeves, pants pockets—a very quick search was conducted. Abel, whose body was suddenly groped, blinked with a bewildered face.

"...What are you doing right now?"

"How can I trust your word? Now that I've confirmed it, don't get any strange ideas."

Rietta pulled out a key from inside her sleeve. Abel let out a hollow laugh.

"You said it was in the bag."

"Who carries something like this in a bag?"

"You're not just a treasure hunter in name only."

"Focus."

He didn't need to focus. Melian, who had been watching the two with sharp eyes, slipped to Rietta's side.

Rietta, holding up both of Abel's hands, brought the key to the leftmost jewel among the three. When she pushed it in with slight pressure, it engaged the hole with a click. The left restraint loosened. Rietta stepped back.

"You'll be able to use some magical power. Take it out."

Abel removed his left hand from the restraint. After clenching and unclenching his fist a few times, he met her gaze.

"After you confirm it, can I examine it too?"

"As long as you keep your promise."

"I don't even have the strength to run away now."

Muttering this, Abel grasped at empty air. A rattling sound was heard, and the necklace dropped as if falling onto his empty palm. The expensive jewel, unsuited to the shabby inn, reflected the lamp's light.

Abel, who had hesitated as if reluctant, finally held out the necklace to the staring gaze. Rietta slowly received it. Cold metal and jewels wrapped around her fingers. Melian, who had been quietly watching them, opened his eyes wide and exclaimed softly.

"It really is gorgeous when you look closely."

She ignored the dozens of diamonds and focused on the black jewel in the center.

The necklace, having completely concealed its dark red aura, now felt like nothing. It looked merely like an ornamental accessory that a craftsman had painstakingly made.

After staring at it quietly for a moment, Rietta placed her hand on the black jewel. When she channeled magical power, she felt strong resistance. When she persisted a little more, this time clear defensive magic activated. At least five layers or more. Taking a deep breath, she looked toward Abel.

"There's defensive magic on it. Five or more overlapping layers."

"Damn. There really was some mechanism on it."

"Can you break it?"

"Of course."