MTIHIS | CHAPTER 08

CHAPTER 08

‘The sewer entrance!’

As expected, when I hurriedly dragged Greta along, we found the robber crouched by the door, grunting.

Clack, clack.

He was desperately trying to fit a key into the lock.

“Wh-what’s wrong with this thing?”

“Isn’t it obvious? The lock’s been changed.”

The disappointment in my voice made the robber turn around with a blank face.

“W-what?”

“You used to work as a sewer laborer before becoming a coachman, right? You’ve been using a stolen key from that job to get around.”

“N-no! I didn’t—!”

“Deny it all you want. We already figured it out and replaced the lock. It’s over now.”

Crossing my arms, I smiled triumphantly. The robber looked stunned.

“Shall we drag him away?”

When I turned to Greta, she nodded. We began closing in on him step by step.

But the robber wasn’t one to give up. Suddenly, he pulled a whistle from inside his collar and blew hard.

Peeeeep!

Peeeeep!

To our surprise, a group of men with clubs appeared from inside the alley.

“Heh, calling us to deal with two women? Guess you’re not much of a man.”

“Now that we’re here, we might as well make it worth our while, huh? Gotta get our money’s worth.”

“Tsk, I don’t like hitting women, but looks like I don’t have a choice.”

“Man, you didn’t see it earlier! That one threw a punch at me—it wasn’t a woman’s punch, it was a rock!”

The robber pointed at Greta.

Okay, but six against two? That’s not fair.

I hadn’t expected the robber to have backup and felt a wave of panic. I clutched the small pouch tightly, but Greta spoke calmly.

“I’ll handle this. You should run.”

“Me? Alone?”

“Yes. It’s dangerous here. Go quickly.”

“But…”

I looked between Greta and the thugs swaggering toward us.

If it comes to this, then I—

***

Jenna didn’t feel much regret about her choice to run.

Even if she stayed, she’d only get in the way. And being abandoned like this was nothing new.

“She’s running!”

“She’s got the money—after her!”

“No, the money’s with me.”

Greta raised the pouch she had taken from Jenna’s waist.

Then she kicked over a trash bin, blocking the men from rushing forward.

“If you want a fight, come at me.”

“Ha! Look at this girl. She’s got guts.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t go easy just because you’re a woman!”

Ignoring their taunts, Greta attacked the nearest one first.

She struck his stomach, kicked behind his knee, and snatched the club from his hands.

Holding it like a sword, a sharp twinge ran through her shoulder, and old memories surfaced.

‘Greta, you trust me, right? You lure the beast out, and I’ll come save you with the others.’

‘Yes, sir. I trust you.’

She had once trusted the words of her superior, the vice-captain of the White Wolf Knights.

During a monster subjugation mission, she’d risked her life believing in that man.

The reward for her loyalty had been betrayal.

He had used her as bait just to earn credit and climb ranks.

When the monsters came in greater numbers than expected, he fled, leaving her surrounded and alone.

He didn’t even call for help.

Greta watched the vice-captain’s back as he ran, the despair and betrayal beyond words.

She barely survived after fighting to the brink of death, but her right shoulder was severely injured, forcing her to put down her sword.

All the years she’d spent gaining recognition as a female knight from common birth were lost in an instant.

Although Aizen later punished the vice-captain harshly and forced his resignation, it didn’t change the fact that Greta had to leave knighthood too.

When she was ready to return home, Aizen stopped her and offered her a new role—as a maid.

With no hope or expectations left, Greta accepted.

So even if Jenna had hidden instead of helping her, it wouldn’t have mattered.

Holding the club with both hands, Greta fought using only her left arm, avoiding strain on her injured shoulder.

Her movements were precise and efficient, the mark of a seasoned knight.

“Ugh, what the hell? She’s strong!”

“Then rush her together! She can’t take us all!”

Realizing they couldn’t beat her one-on-one, the men attacked at once.

“Ah!”

Dodging an incoming blow to her shoulder, Greta lost her grip on the club.

Driven into a corner, she thought calmly. Losing the money was fine—but if her left shoulder got injured too…

‘Then I’ll lose my job as a surveillance maid.’

In the quiet alley, Jenna’s face flashed through her mind.

Had she just hidden instead of reporting this?

Abandoning the last trace of hope, Greta steeled herself and shifted into a defensive stance, protecting her left side.

She had no faith left in anyone—

“Yaaaaah!”

Then, a loud voice echoed from the alley entrance.

Greta and the thugs all turned their heads.

“You disgusting pieces of trash!”

Jenna, her face flushed and breath heavy, came running while holding something.

“Don’t you dare touch my friend!”

Pop!

A firecracker exploded in her hand, scattering glittering dust through the air.

“Hold your breath!”

At Jenna’s shout, Greta instinctively did as told.

Bang! Bang!

Jenna set off two more, covering her mouth and nose.

The surprised thugs inhaled the glittering powder and started coughing violently.

“Cough! Cough!”

“What is this—”

“Ugh!”

Thud.

One by one, the men foamed at the mouth and collapsed.

Jenna rushed over, dragging Greta out of the smoky alley. Once they were clear, they both breathed normally again.

“Greta, are you okay?!”

Greta stared at her quietly before saying flatly,

“…I thought you ran away.”

“As if. How could I leave you behind?”

Hands on her hips, Jenna explained.

“I read a book and made a paralyzing powder from herbs. But throwing it by hand wouldn’t be enough to knock them out, so I ran off to find something useful.”

She had gone to a nearby general store, swapped the contents of some fireworks, and rushed back.

“I was a little worried it wouldn’t work, but looks like I have a knack for alchemy after all.”

She smiled proudly. Greta’s eyes flickered with mixed emotions.

To be trusted by someone she hadn’t trusted at all—it felt strange.

“You didn’t have to risk yourself for me.”

“What? Of course I did. You’re my bounty-hunting partner and my friend!”

Jenna puffed up her cheeks.

“Sure, you said we couldn’t be friends, but I think we are. We’ve talked more than three times, and that’s enough for me. Even if I lost my memory, we’ve spent way more time together than that.”

…No, that wasn’t true. When Jenna opened her eyes for the first time, that was the first time Greta saw her too.

Avoiding those clear blue eyes, Greta quickly changed the subject.

“Um… perhaps we should call the guards before they wake up.”

“Ah, right!”

While Jenna called for the city guards, Greta stood watch.

Soon, several guards arrived and arrested the group. One of them looked at the two women in admiration.

“Wow, did you two really take these guys down?”

“Yes! We caught the serial robbers, so we’ll get a reward, right?”

“Of course. I’ll record you as the captors. May I have your names?”

“I’m Jenna Kreutz.”

The guard tilted his head.

“Kreutz? Never heard of that noble house. Are you from the north?”

“Yes, that’s right. We’re part of the Kreutz Barony.”

Hearing this, Greta hurriedly stepped in.

“We recently moved here, so you probably haven’t heard. This is Lady Kreutz, and I’m her maid. Please register only her name.”

“Ah, I see. Understood.”

The guard nodded, and Jenna smiled, realizing that must be true—they’d just moved to the Kalrad Duchy.

“Let’s go home, Greta.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“By the way, when will we get the reward? I hope soon. When we do, I’ll make sure to give you your salary first!”

Jenna grabbed Greta’s hand and smiled like spring sunshine.

Greta’s lips twitched faintly in response.

“But Greta, your hands are covered in calluses. Only people who hold swords every day get hands like this.”

“…”

“A maid with hands like these… you must’ve worked really hard!”

Greta’s mouth clamped shut like a sealed envelope. Jenna, oblivious, just looked at her with pity.

Greta said nothing as they returned to House Kreutz.

***

That evening.

Aizen waited for Greta’s report at his office in the Kalrad Ducal Castle.

He had been working there all day, handling affairs that couldn’t be done from the barony.

But another visitor arrived before Greta.

“How’s life in the Kreutz household, my lord? Must be tough living with a spy under your roof.”

Black hair, brown eyes, the blue uniform of the White Wolf Knights.

It was Ralph Schmitt, Aizen’s right-hand man, smiling as he spoke.

“So that spy really believes she’s the baron’s wife?”

“Yes.”

“Wow. How simple-minded can you get? No wonder she was stupid enough to try poisoning you.”

Thinking of the few times he’d seen Jenna before, Ralph clicked his tongue.

She always walked around like she’d done something wrong—and for good reason, since her true self was rotten to the core.

It was a miracle she’d been caught just before she could poison Aizen.

“I can’t wait for the day you finally get rid of that woman,” Ralph added lightly.

At that moment—

“My lord, it’s Greta.”

“Come in.”

Greta entered, hands clasped behind her back.

“My lady solved the serial robbery case. The guards contacted us about her bounty claim.”

“I see.”

Aizen’s tone was calm, as if he’d expected it.

Ralph, however, gaped.

“Wait, that spy did? That’s weird. People who try to kill others usually can’t save them. Maybe she just clicked with her own kind.”

He laughed as if he’d made a clever joke, but Greta’s expression stiffened.

‘…You don’t even know what you’re talking about.’

That thought burned in her chest, and her lips began to move.