ASLD 23

Chapter 23

“Ugh.”

Groaning, he slid down from Joan’s slender shoulder, acting as if every bone in his body ached.

“As expected, defense is the best I can manage.”

“I-I’ll protect you…!”

Sarah’s brave outburst was unfortunately drowned out by Wolfgang’s sudden arrival.

Now that I thought about it, the outside—which had been like a war zone—had gone quiet. That guy… there’s no way he’s hurt, right?

I stole a sideways glance and immediately locked eyes with him. He scanned me and Levi up and down, as if to check we were unharmed, then tapped his blood-smeared sword against his shoulder and said,

“There should’ve been about four.”

“We took down one…”

“Oh, I took care of one too.”

As Joan and Betty cautiously reported, everyone’s gaze shifted toward the barely-conscious assassin lying there.

“There’s another one on the second floor.”

Levi pointed at the man and said, “This one.” His tone and eyes weren’t exactly kind.

Then, looking oddly irritated, he took my wrist and held it out in front of everyone.

“And this is what he did.”

As if tattling.

Why’s he making a fuss like this? It’s not even a big wound.

But when I looked around, everyone was staring at the back of my hand with worry—even Wolfgang.

“Tch. Take her to get treated. Quickly.”

“Yes, sir.”

Among the maids who bowed, Betty looked especially displeased. Without another word, she scooped me up into her arms.

As I left with the maids, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the men’s backs seemed… ominous somehow.

Almost like I should be hoping that assassin never wakes up again.

“I’m sorry, Asha.”

“…Huh?”

“I thought hiding you away would be the safest option.”

“No, Betty, why are you apologizing?”

Really, she’s so soft-hearted. How is she going to survive in this brutal world?

I wrapped my arms tightly around her neck and whispered,

“Thanks for hiding me… and for counting.”

When I grinned, Betty’s lips parted like she wanted to say something, but she stopped herself.

I leaned into that gentle restraint—the kind that knew what not to ask.

Anyway… I survived. Though it seemed like I was the only one who thought things were that serious.

Half-spaced out, my eyes wandered—and I saw Joan’s poison needle case was open.

Absentmindedly, I reached out to close it, but she stopped me in alarm.

“Hey, don’t touch that carelessly. It’s got poisoned needles inside.”

…What?

Joan closed the case herself, then said to Sarah,

“Tell the laundry girls to come clean this up.”

“Yes, sis.”

Sarah ran off, and before long, maids carrying white cloths and buckets streamed in.

Bibi was among them, looking bored.

“…Why are they here?”

“They handle clean-up.”

Clean up… what? No, I don’t want to know. Honestly, I think I’m starting to get how this insane household works.

I squeezed my eyes shut—but then a burning question slipped out anyway.

“So the poison room girls stab people, the laundry girls clean up… what about the kitchen girls?”

“What? Asha, really.”

Joan and Betty laughed primly, covering their mouths. I laughed along awkwardly.

“She’s quick on the uptake, isn’t she?”

Let’s just pretend I didn’t hear that.

Crash!

A man hurled a vase, veins bulging on his neck.

“You said this time was a sure thing! I even gave you the Holy Mirror!”

That had been a risk, and a loss.

If they’d just completed the mission properly, he might have laughed it off. Or at least taken out one of those damned Bastion pests.

The old men groveling before him stammered excuses.

“B-but, the watchers were certain…”

“Yes. From the report, it didn’t seem like ordinary power at all.”

“When they left the territory, it felt like a chance we couldn’t miss.”

So basically, these senile fools got overexcited and jumped the gun.

The young man ground his teeth.

“I told you to be careful! You knew this could get confusing…!”

He yanked at his reddish-brown hair in frustration.

Damn it, damn it. Trying to get rid of an old problem, only to add a new one.

The attendants quickly lit incense—specially blended for a man as sensitive and stress-prone as he was.

Breathing in the haze, he slumped into the sofa. It didn’t so much calm him as make him woozy.

“…It’s fine. It’ll be fine. Those demon bastards who never set foot near a temple… how would they even know it’s a holy relic?”

The old men rushed to agree.

“Of course! Even priests in the borderlands often never touch one in their lifetime.”

“Even if they found out, so what?”

“We can just claim it was stolen.”

“That demon clan has plenty of enemies.”

“Exactly. Who would suspect us? Who’d dare even imagine it?”

Not even the assassin guild knew who they were.

The truth was passed down in an intricate chain, step by step—never directly.

It wasn’t like they’d only been doing this for a year or two.

The Holy Mirror might have been wasted, but there was nothing to worry about.

Evidence? Even if shown, no one would believe it. At most, the demons might suspect—nothing more.

And the funding would keep pouring in.

Relaxing, the old men finally smiled, trying to lighten the mood.

The young man looked at them with disdain, then leaned his head back.

“…Lay low for a while.”

At least until the next opportunity came.

On his forehead, beneath the tousled red-brown hair, a lotus mark glowed faintly.

As if there had never been a ridiculous battle, Bastion’s night was calm.

Having been treated, I sat quietly, not asking about the clean-up. No point—would only make me uneasy. And there was something more important right now.

“Wow. Four holy relics.”

Benjamin blinked at me. “Is that… a big deal?”

“Of course it is!”

It was like finding four winning lottery tickets.

But unlike me, a former temple priestess, the others didn’t seem to grasp it.

I guess for ordinary folks, touching or seeing a relic up close was rare.

Without me, they might’ve tossed this unfinished-looking mirror away. Just thinking about it made my stomach twist.

“This is called the Holy Mirror. Usually, it doesn’t reflect anything—but if you’ve got divine power, it’s like this…”

Flash!

I lifted it to my face, and it shone with a golden light.

Bright and vivid, just like when William appraised valuable goods.

‘Why is it wavering like this…? Oh well. At least it’s brighter than last time.’

Maybe that was the Bastion effect. If so, then no matter the danger, it was worth sticking around.

Smiling, I turned it toward Benjamin—only for the light to vanish in a blink.

“Oh… that is interesting.”

“Wait until you hear the price. For this size, it’s probably…”

This much.

When I whispered the estimate, Benjamin’s face lit up.

Nothing beats financial therapy. I’d never seen him smile so widely, except maybe after a terrible pun.

Humming, he cradled the four mirrors and practically skipped toward the underground vault.

‘Seriously, where did they even get these?’

One would be hard enough—four was insane. They must have powerful backers.

And why give us the Holy Mirrors? What were they trying to find?

I tried to think about it, but failed—because my hand kept distracting me.

“…Hey, can I take this bandage off now?”

My shoulder was going numb.

It looked like the paw of a certain earless robot cat, ready to pull random gadgets out of its pocket.

But I wasn’t the only one bothered by Betty’s overzealous treatment.

Wolfgang, sitting in the reception room instead of his trashed office, said seriously,

“Bacteria might get in.”

“Even if they did, I could purify it.”

He made a face like, Oh yeah, that’s true—but still didn’t let me take it off.

Damn it, it’s so uncomfortable.

I looked to Levi for help… but he avoided my gaze.

Typical overprotective father and son.

I clicked my tongue—then suddenly felt genuinely gloomy.

“Why? Does it hurt?”

Levi caught on instantly, but I shook my head weakly.

“No… it’s just that spring break ends tomorrow.”

“…”

“You have to leave, and it makes me sad.”

I still hadn’t fully won him over.

It was like playing a romance sim for hours, only to have the game crash right before the ending.

My head drooped—and Levi stiffened.

“Don’t cry.”

“I’m not—”

No, better to act without overthinking.

I pressed my face into his small hand and my clumsy bandaged one. I could feel his panic beside me.

Then, in my best teary voice, I said,

“I want snacks.”

“Here.”

“And juice.”

“I’ll ask for it.”

“With ice.”

“Got it.”

“Get engaged to me.”

“Okay.”

“And married.”

“Mm.”

“…Yes!”

No take-backs!

I jumped to my feet.

That’s it! Victory!

Wolfgang clapped like he’d expected this all along.

Levi looked like he’d been duped—but oh well.

After all, in relationships, if one side pushes, the other side can’t stop it…

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Uh… what?”

“The engagement ceremony.”

Levi’s crimson eyes burned brighter than ever.

In the end… maybe I was the one who got caught.