WHFIO12

Chapter 12

“Ugh!”

The man, caught off guard by the sudden attack, fell to the ground without being able to counter even once.

“This… this crazy…”

His companions, already flushed red from the alcohol, charged at her, their faces turning a mix of rage and embarrassment.

Elsez easily dodged the first man’s attack and struck him in the stomach with her knee, causing him to gasp for air.

“Ugh!”

She then shoved him towards the other man standing behind him. As the man stumbled from the weight of his comrade, Elsez seized the opportunity, kicking the group of men apart.

The shockwave from her strike pierced through the two men with terrifying force.

A faint blue glow surrounded Elsez’ hands and feet. She had temporarily enhanced her physical abilities using mana.

This was a common technique for close-range attackers.

However, despite this, the level of power she displayed would be unbelievable for a mere guild member—especially a woman.

The boy, who had been watching from behind, was equally shocked.

Just then, the man who had fallen first managed to rise and charge toward Elsez again. A sharp light flashed from the sleeve of his arm.

The boy shouted in a panic.

“Watch out!”

Without even looking back, Elsez blocked the man’s attack.

Given the man’s drunken state and the heavy blows he’d received earlier, his movements were slow and easy to read.

Elsez twisted his arm, making him drop the dagger he had drawn, and pushed him to the ground.

The man panted heavily, glaring at Elsez.

“Tch… Which guild are you from? Do you know who we are?”

“Should I care? You’re just a bunch of thugs picking on a kid.”

“We’re from the Once—”

The Once guild, notorious in the guild streets, was known for being a dark guild filled with criminals and ruthless members.

Elsez smirked as she looked down at the men, stepping on the dagger that one of them had attempted to retrieve.

“Ah, Once? And what does that mean to me?”

“…”

“Should I go tell your master? What should I say to them?”

At her question, all the men shut their mouths in unison.

With a dismissive smile, Elsez continued.

“You got drunk and decided to harass a kid passing by, and then you got your asses handed to you by a woman. Go tell your master that.”

“….”

Elsez had frequented the guild street like her own home during her first round, and she knew the master of this guild very well.

Madam Latür.

She was a prideful person.

If she found out that her guild members, drunk and bored, had picked on an innocent boy and then gotten beaten by a woman, she would not let it slide.

As someone who proudly boasted about her guild’s notorious reputation, this would be a great shame to her.

“Do you think your master will come after me for this, or will they fire you useless thugs for getting beaten by a single woman?”

“….”

“I could spread rumors too. You know, that I beat three Once guild members. It would be quite the honor for me.”

The men’s faces drained of color.

As they opened their mouths to speak, a large, long shadow cast over the alley.

Feeling the presence, Elsez turned to look. In the dim light, she could clearly make out the figure of someone with bright red hair.

Cassian?

Her eyes widened in surprise as she locked eyes with him.

How did he know to come here?

“I thought I’d wrap this up quietly!”

Cassian, his expression cold and tense, approached with heavy strides.

In the time it took for Elsez to react, the man who had attempted to attack her was kicked down by both Elses’ and Cassian’s feet.

“Ugh!”

Cassian, now standing right before her, scowled as he looked down at Elses.

Elsez couldn’t help but flinch at his presence.

Being a tall, well-built man with a cold expression made it instinctively clear to Elsez that his presence was a threat.

“You…”

Cassian scanned Elses’ body with his cold gaze.

Realizing his concern, Elsez raised her hands slightly to show him her palms, reassuring him.

“I’m… I’m fine. Really.”

This polite speech… still not used to it.

Despite having been friends and comrades for ten years, Elsez could not shake the reflex to speak casually when looking at his face.

Cassian quickly assessed her state and sighed.

“You have no fear, do you? How did you plan on handling three healthy men by yourself?”

“Well, I handled them.”

Elsez casually gestured toward the men lying on the ground.

Cassian surveyed the fallen men and changed the subject.

“Do you know which guild these guys are from? What were you planning to do if they came for revenge?”

In this situation, it seemed unlikely that they would report the incident to their master, but if revenge were to come, it could be dangerous for ordinary people.

“Next time, don’t rush into dangerous situations by yourself. Wait for someone else to come.”

“What if that kid gets seriously hurt while we’re waiting?”

“…”

“Do you want me to just watch while I have the power to stop the situation? That would be cowardly.”

Cassian hesitated, unable to immediately respond.

The emotions reflected in his eyes were fear of losing someone close to him, and a sense of guilt for not being able to ignore that fear and stop the injustice.

Elsez understood why Cassian was angry with her.

He’s projecting his fear of losing someone onto me, just like he did with his father.

Mikhail Riden, the hero who saved the empire’s citizens from monsters, and his son, Cassian Riden.

Just as he lost his father, Cassian was terrified of losing someone close to him again.

But telling me to ignore the weak? That’s not the Cassian I know.

Elsez looked at him seriously, continuing the conversation.

“The strong have a responsibility to protect the weak. I will follow that responsibility. If it’s something I can solve, even if it’s risky, I will handle it.”

“…”

“Isn’t that why your master became a hero?”

At that, Cassian’s expression faltered.

Elsez understood why he had become a hero. His father had become a hero for saving people but had been forgotten by all except for his wife and son.

Cassian, left alone with his sick mother, had struggled to survive while resenting his father.

How can you be a hero when you can’t protect your loved ones?

He had said he would never become a hero, but deep down, he was too passionate not to want to protect the weak and stand up against injustice.

Elsez had seen through Cassian’s heart and convinced him to become a hero.

Looking at the amber-colored eyes that resembled his father’s, Cassian finally lowered his gaze and sighed.

“…Do as you wish.”

He turned to Jack.

“Jack, take the newbie and this kid with you. I have some things to talk about with this one.”

“Got it.”

Elsez left with Jack and the boy as they walked down the alley.

As the three of them left, the coldness in Cassian’s eyes slowly faded away.

He approached the dark guild members still groaning on the ground.

Kicking them aside carelessly, he spoke.

“Stop pretending to be in pain and get up.”

“Ugh…”

The men groaned but remained lying there.

Elsez’ words didn’t seem to be an exaggeration.

Cassian grabbed the closest man by the head and spoke coldly.

“If today’s incident gets out, tell your master.”

“…”

“Touching one of my people is the same as touching me.”

“Of course, it would be best if this never got out.”

Finishing his words, Cassian tossed the man’s head aside and stood up.

The words Elsez had spoken echoed in his ears.

“Isn’t that why your master became a hero?”

Cassian reflected on her words as he turned and followed the path the three had taken.

***

The next morning, Elsez stood in front of the guild with a serious expression.

Maybe quitting is the best option.

She hadn’t even signed the membership contract, so she could leave whenever she wanted.

It wasn’t a difficult decision, but somehow, she hesitated to say something unpleasant to someone who had shown her kindness.

But in this situation, if anyone can get the information from the tower, it’s probably Cassian…

As she pondered the risks and ways to gather information, Cassian suddenly appeared behind her.

“What are you doing? Not going in?”

Elsez turned to look at his familiar, confident face, feeling conflicted.

The thought that if he knew his own strength, he might try to kill her made her uneasy.

Maybe I should go to another guild.

Just as she had made up her mind to speak to Cassian, a guild member ran toward them urgently.

“Master!”

Cassian and Elsez both turned to look.

The guild member, panting heavily, had a grave expression on his face.

“The Once guild master… they’ve taken our guild members.”

“What?”

“They want to meet with the master.”

The guild member hesitated for a moment before glancing at Elsez.

“The newbie too.”

Elsez furrowed her brows.