Chapter 40

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 40: The Celestial Voice (3)

The next morning, Ara Sweet asked after hearing the report.

“They’re dead?”

“Yeah, both of the mercenaries we hired are dead.”

“I guess we found a bodyguard who’s tougher than expected. How good is he?”

“Well, that… I'm not really sure about that.”

She grew annoyed at her manager’s response.

“What kind of nonsense is that? I told you to go and check it out yourself. You didn’t actually go, did you?”

“Oh, no, I definitely went. I went and watched it myself. But before our mercenaries could even begin their operation, they just dropped dead. When we examined the bodies, they each had a hole in their foreheads.”

“…Does that even make sense?”

Ara furrowed her brows.

Even though she was just a singer, she knew that what happened didn’t make any sense.

“So you’re saying the other side anticipated this and acted before we even started?”

“I couldn’t understand it either, so I went to the mercenary office to ask. They said it was because they ‘sensed killing intent.’”

“Killing intent?”

“They said that masters can detect it when someone is determined to kill them. Some can even trace that energy back to pinpoint the other person’s location.”

“So, that means the bodyguard hired by that lowlife is a master?”

“Pretty much.”

“…Interesting.”

She had no idea where they found such a mercenary, but it wasn’t a bad thing.

In fact, hearing about it sparked an even more intriguing idea.

Rising from her seat, she said,

“Get the car ready.”

“Where are you going? Shopping?”

“No, I’m going to meet that so-called bodyguard.”

“Why do you want to meet him?”

“Why else?”

To hire him, of course.

* * * *

The private dining room in the sky lounge of the Grand Baran Hotel.

This luxurious spot was rumored to cost more than an average worker’s monthly salary for a single meal.

Marin, who entered this extravagant space as if it were her own living room, asked,

“So? Isn’t the atmosphere and view here amazing? And the food’s fantastic, too.”

“…”

This woman—every time she was in a slightly enclosed space, she instantly switched to casual speech.

Oscar, determined to fix that habit, spoke up.

“Please be more careful with your words outside. Even in this room, there are listening devices.”

“…What?”

Marin’s pupils shook as if in an earthquake.

The moment Evelyn stood up to meet the manager and resolve the issue—

“Sit down. I already disabled them the moment we entered.”

Oscar spoke nonchalantly.

Ever since he’d seen a speaker installed in his own room, it had become a habit to cast a scanning spell wherever he went.

“Whew, saved. I almost got recorded saying something outrageous.”

“You know, when it’s just the two of us, nothing like this ever happens, but now that Killian’s here, you seem much more relaxed.”

“Wh-what nonsense! What does he have to do with anything?!”

While Marin spent over ten minutes denying it, the dishes were brought out, filling the circular table completely.

“Here, you’ve probably never seen any of these before, but start with this.”

Marin excitedly pushed a plate forward.

“These are dumplings from the Yan Empire. And by the way, they’re delicious. Take one bite, and the broth just…”

“I know. I’ve eaten enough of them in the past to be sick of them.”

Marin tilted her head in curiosity at his response.

“That’s strange? I heard that all the White Tower mages were poor, but I guess that’s not really true?”

“Marin, sometimes telling the truth can hurt the other person.”

“…”

Did they think he was a beggar?

Oscar’s eyebrow twitched as he retorted,

“Yes, there was a brief, very brief time when the White Tower had some financial struggles, but ever since our recent success with the potion business, we’re quite wealthy.”

“Oh, now that you mention it, I think I read about it in the news. You developed some cold medicine, right?”

“It’s not cold medicine, it’s a treatment and vaccine for Cadena flu.”

“Oh, right. I heard the person who developed it is a genius.”

“I think I heard that, too. People said he was once recognized as a famous prodigy.”

Of course, that genius they were talking about was none other than himself.

Marin, who was chatting with Evelyn, turned and asked him,

“So since you’re in the same tower, you must be at least somewhat acquainted?”

“Yes, well, we cross paths every now and then…”

Mostly in the mirror…

Just as he wished for the conversation to change, the door opened, and the manager entered.

“Oh my, Manager! The food here is still as delicious as ever~”

Marin put on an angelic smile and greeted him, but it wasn’t the manager who responded.

Instead, a woman with sunglasses, standing behind him, spoke up.

“That’s good to hear. Eat as much as you want; I already took care of the bill.”

The moment the woman smirked, both Marin and Evelyn’s faces went rigid.

Judging from their reaction, it was obvious who she was.

‘That woman… Ara Sweet…’

Marin, surprised to meet such an unexpected guest, forced a smile and spoke up.

“Manager? Allowing someone into a private dining room during our meal? What’s going on?”

“Oh, she said she’s a close senior and just wanted to say hello.”

The manager’s expression showed no sign of hesitation, nor did he seem nervous.

It was a reminder of how much power this woman wielded in the city.

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]

“…Let’s go. I’ve lost my appetite.”

The fact that Marin, even in her angel mode, would say something so strong indicated just how angry she was.

As the two stood up, Ara crossed her arms and spoke casually.

“If you’re going, just you and your manager should leave. I need a word with your bodyguard.”

“…What would you have to discuss with my bodyguard?”

“Well, business.”

“You’ll have to look for someone else; he won’t be free anytime soon.”

"Well, isn't it up to the individual to decide? If someone else covers your contract cancellation fee and offers ten times the pay... wouldn't your opinion change? What do you think?"

With a smug smile, she exuded a confidence that left no doubt about her belief: There's no way you'll refuse my offer.

Marin and Evelyn, visibly anxious, exchanged nervous glances.

"Ten times the pay? That's an offer I can't refuse. Fine."

Hearing this, Marin's eye twitched in shock, and Evelyn's face darkened.

Ara, as if she'd expected this outcome, simply grinned smugly, watching the two.

Oscar, who had been watching the scene, tilted his head and asked,

"But do you even know what my pay is to offer ten times that?"

"It doesn't matter. I have plenty of money."

"Wow, I like your straightforwardness. So my fee is a hundred thousand bells, meaning you'd need to pay a million bells."

Ara Sweet paused, startled.

The amount was far higher than she'd anticipated.

‘One hundred thousand in pay? She really went all out.’

Realizing the circumstances, she nodded in acknowledgment.

"Fine. A million."

"Oh, wait. I just remembered—the advance was only one hundred thousand, but the full contract is actually one million, one hundred thousand. So...that would make it eleven million bells. All right. As soon as I see the transfer, I’ll head over. Fair transaction, right?"

"..."

Ara Sweet's body trembled slightly.

It dawned on her that he was mocking her.

She clenched her lips tightly, glaring at him as if she could kill him with her eyes.

Her ice-cold stare pierced through her sunglasses.

"And what's your name?"

"My name is Killian Lockwood, the Saint of the White Tower."

"Killian Lockwood... Well, I hope you look forward to what's coming. Your life is about to get a lot more interesting."

If a certain someone lying in a hospital bed in Baran had heard her, they'd have been shocked.

But what does it matter?

If he wanted to be here, he should have come himself.

In response to her venomous curse, Oscar merely shrugged.

"If things get interesting, great. My life is already pretty dynamic, you know."

He wasn’t wrong.

After all, he'd fought with tower masters, clashed with demons, and come back to life after being dead… He'd been through it all.

"......"

Ara Sweet glared at him, unwilling to utter another word, then swiftly left the room.

The manager, who had been warily observing the situation, dashed out after her, as if a storm had just passed through.

"Why didn’t you take it? That was a whole million bells,"

Marin asked abruptly.

"Do you think I accepted this contract just for the money?"

"Weren't you just unable to cancel it because there's no cancellation penalty?"

"......"

To some extent, that was true, but…

This woman, seriously.

Oscar let out a soft sigh and revealed his true thoughts.

"You said you wanted to save your father, right? I really hope you achieve that dream."

He hadn’t even had the chance to save his master, a man who’d been like a father to him.

That regret haunted him, so he couldn’t just stand by when he saw people like her.

"....."

Marin Maria turned her back, muttering a single word.

"...Thank you."

It was the first time she'd ever expressed genuine gratitude to someone other than her parents or Evelyn.

* * * * *

Crash!

"Those insolent fools!"

Back in her room, Ara threw a whiskey glass at the wall in a fit of rage.

Those glasses, worth thousands of bells each, meant nothing to her in that moment.

She’d traveled a long way, hoping to see that lowly guard's face twist in defeat, only to return humiliated.

"…Bring in the Udok brothers right away."

"Uh, y-yes, ma’am."

Although they were technically allies, even the manager was intimidated by them.

But right now, refusing her icy command would be far more frightening.

Soon after, the summoned brothers entered the room.

Ara looked at them and began to speak.

"The plan has changed a bit."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Weren't we originally going to kill the manager once the show started, and injure the singer so she could never use her voice again?"

"That's right. But now, there’s one more person to eliminate."

She needed to make Killian Lockwood, the guard who had dared to mock her, suffer as well.

"He’s Marin's guard. Kill him slowly and painfully."

"As you wish. And what about the women?"

"Proceed as planned. Kill the manager and ensure Marin can never sing again."

"Heh, I like this plan more every time I hear it."

"But you know what this means, right? You'll need to pay extra with one more person to kill."

"Fine."

It wasn’t as if the cost would reach eleven million bells anyway.

She could just consider it the money she’d intended to spend on that guard.

‘I'll make it clear. Nobody disregards me in this city and gets away with it.’

They’d painfully understand the price of their disrespect in a few days.

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]