32. Pursuit and Seizure
She had to survive, use this document to bring down Count Treshi, avenge her father, and make him pay for breaking into their estate.
“Bella. Break the bracelet.”
“I can hold on a little longer!”
Despite Bella’s words, the mercenaries were already almost upon her.
One of them drew an arrow from his quiver and pulled back the bowstring. The creaking sound of the bent wood sent shivers down Bella’s spine.
Swish! An arrow grazed her cheek.
Trying to dodge, Bella missed her footing and tumbled down a steep hill.
The forest was pitch black—impossible to see even a hand in front of her face. The mercenaries, also hindered by the darkness, couldn’t locate her and milled around at the top in confusion.
“Damn it, where did she go?!”
The lead mercenary furiously threw his club to the ground. If that arrow had hit Bella, she would have died instantly.
“If we turn a bit from here, we’ll reach the festival grounds. Maybe…”
“She’s a local. No other lunatic would run into a forest in the middle of the night unless they knew the way.”
The leader spat on the ground and cursed. The subordinates looked around nervously, lost in the dark woods.
Just then, the scouts ran up to report to their boss.
“We’ve looped around. If we keep going, we’ll reach the arena.”
“Search every inch of the festival grounds!”
At the order, the mercenaries scattered toward the celebration area.
Now, only silence remained in the forest.
…
Bella, who had rolled far down the hill, also lay completely still.
A thin line of blood trickled down her cheek as she lay unconscious on the cold earth. Her wrist, likely smashed against a rock during the fall, was swollen and red. Scattered around it were beads from a broken bracelet.
A piece of jewelry caught in the blue moonlight began to shine faintly. Then, Bella’s eyes slowly fluttered open.
…
She raised her hands and stared at them, as if seeing her body for the first time, then rubbed her face.
“…This body…”
It was Bella’s voice—but the tone wasn’t hers.
Inside Bella now dwelled Chei, whose seal had been broken.
Chei staggered to her feet, wobbling a few times.
Cold dirt pressed beneath her feet—rough and soft at once. A chill sank into her bones. When she placed a hand on her chest, she could feel her heart beating steadily.
Alive.
Chei was alive now.
An indescribable joy and ecstasy nearly overwhelmed her. But forcing herself to focus, she noticed Bella’s injured body.
“…Revenge.”
This must be what vengeance felt like.
In a flash, Chei climbed the hill and fixed her gaze on one spot.
At the edge stood the mercenary leader.
“You vile thing, so you were hiding all along.”
The mercenary, who had been grinning eerily, froze when he met Chei’s gaze.
Something was wrong.
She was a scrawny, unimpressive woman, but the aura radiating from her was unmistakable—it belonged to someone who had killed before. The chilling bloodlust of a seasoned warrior.
“Who the hell are you?”
Tense, the mercenary drew a long sword from his belt. Chei stood still, staring calmly at him, then gave a slight smile.
“You’re more perceptive than I thought.”
“What’s with that archaic speech?”
“It’s a shame about your talent. You’ll meet your end here.”
Chei picked up a club that had fallen nearby. Just as her fingers touched it, the mercenary charged with his sword raised.
“Blame your own thieving hands!”
“I admit I’ve got sticky fingers.”
Her voice was gentle and unbothered.
As Chei raised the club, the mercenary was already sent flying, his ribs crushed as he collapsed to the ground.
“Don’t resent me. You’re just receiving the punishment you deserve.”
“Guh… Urgh…”
Without hesitation, Chei ended his life with a final blow.
“You… You’re the thief?!”
“Oh dear.”
At the voice behind her, Chei let out a low sigh and turned around. Mercenaries who had finished their search were glaring at her, swords drawn.
Chei gently kicked the dead man’s sword into her hand.
“If you had just lost me, your client might have let you off with a warning.”
“W-What?!”
“Why provoke me and bring death upon yourselves? Such a pity.”
Bella’s eyes had always been violet, but now—filled with bloodlust—her skin and eyes looked a chilling blue.
The mercenaries instinctively backed away in fear.
“What are you doing?! Get her, now!”
At the vice-captain’s shout, the mercenaries charged in unison.
Chei stood calmly, sword in hand, then slowly raised it.
“…Huh?”
It happened in a flash.
That massive sword flew like an arrow and pierced the vice-captain’s chest.
“I’m sorry, but none of you will leave here alive.”
With that, Chei said no more.
With each swing of her sword, the number of soulless corpses increased.
* * *
“Haa…”
Exhausted, Chei slumped to the floor and leaned her head against the wall. Moving a physical body after a hundred years made it feel heavier than expected.
More than anything, the difference in muscle mass was enormous. Though she’d successfully eliminated all witnesses and even burned the tent, her skills and stamina were a far cry from her prime.
After destroying all evidence, Chei checked into a nearby inn and drew a bath. She needed to wash off the splattered blood. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“…Is Bella dead? I don’t think so.”
She murmured as she placed a hand on her chest. Beneath her thumping heart, she sensed a faint presence—Bella’s soul.
A body hosting two souls weakens quickly. In severe cases, the stronger soul can fully take over.
If Chei wished, she could now expel Bella’s soul and keep the body for good.
She looked down at her trembling hands, shaking with expectation and hesitation, then sneered at herself.
“How pathetic.”
Once honored as a righteous figure, now all that remained was a monster trembling at the sight of flesh, overcome by dark urges.
“They said I’d return tomorrow anyway.”
So then… where would her soul go after leaving Bella’s body? Back to the mansion? Or would she become a free spirit, released from the estate?
After a moment of thought, Chei chuckled and stood up. Even if she gained freedom, she had a strange certainty she wouldn’t be able to leave the Prelload estate.
Wrapping a towel around her body, she stepped into the bath.
The hot water felt unfamiliar—like being reborn. Every sensation was new, marvelous, and enchanting.
She even thought… maybe she wanted to stay like this.
“…But still, this body is a bit much.”
She mumbled, staring at her pale forearm.
It was her body now, yet she couldn’t bring herself to look directly at her naked form.
Eventually, Chei closed her eyes and picked up a sponge.
“The hardest part was this.”
More than destroying the gambling ring or extracting more evidence, the real challenge was… washing Bella’s body.
She couldn’t imagine ever getting used to such soft skin and delicate curves.
“Damn it…”
While bathing, Chei had to repeat that phrase in a strained voice.
Over and over again.
* * *
“Chei, Chei!”
“….”
Bella’s voice rang out as Chei woke with a soft laugh. A white ceiling came into view.
A white ceiling?
Chei bolted upright and checked her body.
She was still inside Bella.
“What is this…?”
A whole day had passed. Bella should’ve regained control of her body by now. But all she could do was barely whisper to Chei.
Only then did Chei realize—her presence was suppressing Bella’s soul.
Bella had complained of headaches throughout the trip. She always looked tired. And she was gradually able to sense and talk with Chei more clearly.
All signs that Bella’s soul was weakening.
“Chei—why are you in my body?! No, what is happening?! I don’t understand—”
“Bella, calm down.”
Her voice rang loud and clear in Chei’s ears. She gently patted Bella’s shoulder in her spiritual form, trying to soothe her.
“How can I calm down?! I feel like I’m disappearing! I’m scared! Chei, I’m scared! Get out of my body!”
Only now did she realize.
Chei let out a bitter chuckle as she sat up.
The touch of the floor on her feet was jarringly unfamiliar. Bella had taken all this for granted. Naturally—she’d never died before.
So it was impossible for her to fully understand Chei.
But now, Bella did understand.
Because she had become a ghost herself.
