IWMHWD 107

Chapter 107 – What Love Is
2024.02.15

Lately, Cordelia had the unsettling thought that she’d been losing consciousness far too often.

‘Master will be worried…’

That thought brushed across her mind, and she instantly opened her eyes.

But all around her was pitch darkness. It was no different whether her eyes were open or shut. At the same time, she realized her shoulders ached badly—because her arms were tied tightly behind her back.

Remaining calm, she tried to recall the last thing she had seen. The awkward boy who had held out a flower… her vision swaying the moment she smelled its fragrance… and then—

“Maximilian.”

She was certain the last voice she’d heard was Maximilian’s.

But she wasn’t confident she had heard correctly. How could he possibly appear in broad daylight, in the very heart of Willas?

Still, her doubts didn’t last long. She had more urgent problems to deal with.

As her eyes adjusted to the dark, faint outlines of her surroundings came into view. The space was so cramped she couldn’t even stretch out her legs—like being trapped inside some sort of box. And it shook and jolted as if being carried somewhere.

A short deduction told her: someone—likely Maximilian—had abducted her, stuffed her into a crate, and was transporting her by carriage.

With a screech, the movement halted. Footsteps drew nearer.

Cordelia tensed. Her stomach churned, threatening to heave.

Someone dragged the box she was inside.

[On my count, push it in.]

[I’m starving. Can’t we just switch wagons first, then grab something to eat?]

They were speaking in Bedos, a language from the southern continent. Since Willas bordered it, it wasn’t strange to encounter Ansen natives. Cordelia held her breath and listened.

[You just ate bread. How long’s it been, and you’re whining again?]

[Not crumbs. A proper meal.]

One man grumbled. She felt the box being lifted—so they really were switching carriages. At least, it seemed they weren’t planning to harm her immediately.

Where am I now? How much time has passed? Surely Baron and especially Leonard would be beside themselves once they realized she was missing.

Instead of fear for her own predicament, the first face that came to mind was Leonard’s, searching for her.

[With what money, huh?]

[Don’t think I don’t know about that advance you pocketed from the man.]

*[What are you babbling about? We were promised payment after handing “this” over.] *

One of them kicked her crate. By “this,” they obviously meant Cordelia. What began as petty complaints quickly escalated into an argument.

[Don’t take me for a fool! I know you already took five hundred Linkits up front—you planned to keep it all for yourself, didn’t you?]

[You’re spewing nonsense.]

Their bickering dragged on while Cordelia’s shoulders throbbed unbearably.

Finally, she decided. Drawing back her leg, she kicked the box hard. Better to try something before they got too far from Willas. If she could just activate her barrier magic, they wouldn’t be able to harm her anyway.

[Shut up about the rest of the—]

[What the—?!]

The box jolted violently, and the two men fell silent. Cordelia shattered that silence with another kick.

[She’s awake. What do we do?]

[Open it. She’s already up.]

When Cordelia suddenly spoke back to them in Bedos, one of the men practically jumped out of his skin. His scream made her chuckle. What kind of kidnappers are this sloppy?

After whispering frantically among themselves, they opened the lid. Light flooded in. Blinking hard, Cordelia squinted until her vision adjusted.

[How’s she awake already? Wasn’t she supposed to be out for two days at least?]

[Maybe because she slept well last night.]

Cordelia retorted brazenly. After being in one position so long, her legs tingled with prickling numbness.

[D-Don’t move!]

[Stay still!]

Two men—one tall and lanky, the other bearded and burly—aimed their blades at her, visibly nervous. Though she was a bound woman, and they were armed grown men, Cordelia somehow looked far more composed.

She scanned the area quickly. No one else was around. She’d expected Maximilian to be there too, but only these two were in the secluded forest.

[Do you even know who you’ve kidnapped?] she asked coolly.

[Why should that matter?]

[Clearly you don’t. Otherwise you wouldn’t have dared.]

They didn’t look like trained knights—more like farmhands who had been plowing fields with pitchforks until yesterday. Their clumsy stances weren’t the least bit frightening.

Her tension melted away.

[How much are they paying you?]

[Why ask?]

[Release me now and I’ll pay you double.]

[And why should we believe that?]

[Idiot! You’re supposed to say no right away!]

The bearded one smacked the tall one’s head. It looked so much like a comedy routine that Cordelia couldn’t help but smirk.

[Laughing, are you? You don’t realize your situation. Stay quiet unless you want to die.] He waved his knife threateningly.

[Go ahead. Stab me.]

[…What?]

Cordelia boldly thrust out her stomach. She had repelled Veluce’s attacks—these pitiful attempts would bounce right off her barrier.

[What’s wrong? Can’t do it? Afraid?]

[Is—Is she insane?!]

[Roku, forget her. Let’s just close the lid and take her.]

But pride stung, Roku strode closer, raising his knife high. Cordelia met his eyes without flinching.

[We were told to bring her alive!] the tall one—Tom—cried.

[Alive, sure. A scar won’t kill her.]

[That so? Then go ahead. You still won’t do it. Coward.]

Furious, Roku slashed down.

The blade scraped across her chest in a long arc—yet Cordelia didn’t take so much as a scratch.

[Wha—?!]

The two men toppled backwards from the rebound, bewildered at what had just happened.

Cordelia rose tall, her expression suddenly stern and commanding, as if all her earlier taunting had been a lie.

“My name is Cordelia Vasquez. I am a mage.”

[A… a mage?!]

[Roku! You never said we were kidnapping a mage!]

[Shut it, Tom! How was I supposed to know?!]

“I don’t know how much you were promised, but if you release me now, I’ll pay you double. On a mage’s honor.”

She feigned composure and generosity. If only she knew offensive spells—she could have blasted these fools and walked away. But all she had were barriers, magic circles, and food detection.

‘Once I get back, I’ll beg Master to teach me attack magic.’

[Y-You’ll really pay double?]

“Of course. I am the daughter of the Blue Hawk Vasquez. I cannot speak falsehood.”

[Roku, let’s just let her go and take the money, yeah?]

[Idiot! If we free her, we’re dead. Don’t you get it?]

Unfortunately, Roku seemed sharper than Tom. Cordelia bit her lip to hide her disappointment.

“But if you don’t release me, my master will cut you into eight pieces and feed you to the hounds!”

She kindly elaborated for the ignorant pair:

“My master is Leonard Atillay, head of the White Serpent House. Even southerners like you must have heard the name.”

[Atillay?!]

[No way…]

Roku’s face twisted grimly. Tom looked on the verge of collapse. Indeed, her master’s name carried weight anywhere. She rattled her tied arms impatiently.

“Now, if you understand, untie me.”

[Roku, what do we do? This is all your fault! If you hadn’t suggested this—]

[Quiet! I’m thinking!]

[We’re doomed, doomed! Oh, Mother! Your son’s about to die!]

Tom dropped to the ground, sobbing and pounding the dirt. His wailing was so pitiful it might have been mistaken for a funeral rite.

“Stop crying and untie me. I’ll forgive you and pay you.”

[Tom, get up. We’ll kill her here.]

[Wh-what? Kill her?!]

Roku yanked the bawling Tom to his feet and shoved a knife into his hands. Then he pulled a small pouch from his coat.

[Here. This money came from her. It’s all yours.]

[When did you steal this?!]

Tom instantly stopped crying, opening Cordelia’s purse eagerly.

[We’re caught in a cursed mess. Deliver her to the client—we die. Let her go—we die too. Our only way out is to kill her here and return to Ansen.]

It was, admittedly, a shrewd conclusion. Cordelia sighed in both admiration and dismay.

Of course, her barrier could block their attacks. But not forever. And if they buried her alive, or shoved her off a cliff, even Cordelia would have no way out.