Chapter 79
“This will require an additional fee.”
The Master shook a thick stack of documents as he spoke.
Lucy pulled another money pouch from her chest and handed it to him.
Leaving Icarus, Lucy headed straight toward the mansion of Count Sinon mentioned in the report.
She had no immediate plan for revenge against Count Sinon. For now, she simply wanted to see for herself how he was living.
However, during the carriage ride, Shan kept tilting his head as if deep in thought.
“Shan? What are you thinking about so intently?” Lucy asked.
“That guild master we just met… he feels strangely familiar,” Shan replied.
“Is it someone you know?”
Shan narrowed his eyes and muttered quietly.
“Ostrich…”
“Ostrich?”
“I once participated in a large-scale monster extermination battle. During that time, I encountered a mercenary who rode an ostrich.”
A mercenary riding an ostrich? Lucy frowned, unable to picture it clearly.
“Yes. She was an extremely peculiar woman, so I remember her well.”
“A woman? But the Icarus guild master is…”
Lucy paused mid-sentence and narrowed her eyes. On second thought, he had seemed somewhat smaller for a man.
His voice could easily have been altered, just as she had done herself. And with the mask covering his face, it was difficult to guess his gender.
“Shan! Tell me everything you remember about that female mercenary!”
Curiosity sparked in Lucy—what if the female mercenary Shan mentioned was really the Icarus guild master?
“It’s nothing major. All I remember about her are unpleasant and annoying things,” Shan said, frowning as if he hated recalling it.
“Riding an ostrich alone is already extremely bizarre, isn’t it? The more I think about it, the more I believe that the person we just met is the same woman. I don’t want to believe there are two humans in this world who raise pet ostriches!”
Shan spoke more than usual. Listening quietly, Lucy finally understood why Shan disliked her so intensely.
‘Ah, that’s right—Shan has always been afraid of birds. No wonder he reacts like that!’
She thought perhaps Shan’s memory of the event might be slightly distorted.
“Moreover, she had a fiery, self-willed personality. In short… she was crazy…”
Shan’s expression suggested he wanted to curse her, but he seemed unable to follow through and kept silent.
‘He really does hate that female mercenary…’
Shan knew more about her than Lucy had expected—her love for expensive jewelry and gold, and her habit of collecting rare magical items.
‘Could this be a love-hate relationship?’
Lucy’s curiosity about Shan’s past with this woman grew.
While Lucy and Shan were talking, the carriage stopped in front of Count Sinon’s mansion.
Lucy did not get out immediately; she slowly surveyed the mansion from the carriage window.
It was still as luxurious as ever.
Lucy wanted to spit in Count Sinon’s face right then and there.
But she swallowed her rising anger and asked the coachman to continue to the next destination.
“Isn’t the person you wanted to meet over there?” Shan asked, puzzled.
“I don’t think it’s the right time yet. But Shan, what would you do if I asked you to kill someone?”
Lucy asked genuinely. Until now, Shan had followed her orders meticulously in his duty to protect her.
But she was not sure if he would obey an order to take someone’s life. He valued his principles more than anyone.
“My mission is to protect you safely. If anyone poses a threat to you, I will do my best to stop them, no matter who they are.”
Lucy thought for a moment that he probably wouldn’t kill anyone.
“And if the opponent is beyond my control… I would have no choice but to take their life.”
Lucy gazed at Shan with an expression of admiration.
Feeling her intense gaze, Shan looked away slightly, embarrassed.
When had it started? The usually taciturn Shan now spoke longer to her, anticipating her thoughts and answering before she asked.
Lucy was both amazed and grateful for these small changes.
“It’s almost time to renew our contract. This time, I’ll raise your pay!”
Shan shook his head.
“The current pay is sufficient.”
He was truly content with the present.
Shan’s gaze softened as he looked at Lucy, who shone with admiration.
He had become a wandering mercenary to find his younger sister, Roche, whom he had been separated from in childhood.
Following her traces to the Kingdom of Colin, he finally found her, but her situation was dire.
Shan spent all his savings to pay off Roche’s debts and even secured a large mansion in town.
Yet Roche refused to leave her shabby shack, saying she had to wait for her husband.
“Moreover, if I move now, I won’t be able to meet the benefactor who saved me,” she said.
Benefactor. There was someone who had saved Roche from being captured by debt collectors.
Shan was shocked to learn the truth:
“Lucy… Lucy Rayford is a noblewoman. She will soon come to see us again, so I cannot leave until then.”
Immediately, Shan sought Lucy out and signed the contract.
That was the only way he could repay her kindness.
He could not spare the contract fee if he wanted to give Roche even a little support before leaving.
But did Lucy know? She was the first and last true lord he had sworn to protect with his life.
He had never revealed this, but he was always ready to obey her command.
The carriage carrying Lucy stopped in a secluded alley.
She had arrived in a quiet backstreet of Tyran’s city center, where Dino’s organization was rumored to operate.
“There are suspicious people watching us. What shall we do?” Shan asked.
Lucy glanced around but saw no sign of anyone.
“They’re probably Dino’s subordinates. As long as they’re not a threat, just ignore them.”
Lucy confirmed the address from Icarus as she stepped into the dark alley.
“It seems to be nearby… Ah, there it is. A gray building that looks suspicious to anyone.”
She smirked and entered the headquarters of Nex, the most notorious criminal organization in Tyran’s underworld.
The organization’s members blocking the entrance had already been subdued by Shan and lay on the ground.
Lucy smiled at them.
“I’ll say it again. I’m here to see your boss, Dino. Just tell him that Lucy has arrived, alright?”
“Ugh… I don’t know who this woman is, but he doesn’t see just anyone!”
Lucy sighed lightly.
“Really, they don’t understand. Shan, it seems talking won’t work anymore, so let’s just break in.”
She pointed to the large door they had been guarding.
Shan silently drew the longsword on his back.
A wave of white energy surged from Shan’s sword, cleaving the heavy iron door in an instant.
“Su-Sword Master…!”
The members on the ground trembled in fear at the aura from Shan’s sword.
“Sword Master” was a title reserved for the very few elite swordsmen in the empire.
“Intruders!”
“How dare they—!”
Hearing the door crash, the members inside began rushing out.
Shan released his sword’s energy toward them.
“Shan! Don’t kill them! They’re just Dino’s subordinates!”
Lucy peeked cautiously, scanning the fierce-looking men.
Though the subordinates were furious, they trembled at the powerful aura emanating from Shan’s sword.
“What’s all this commotion?”
At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind the men.
