⚠️[ WARNING]:
ELIZABETH ARGENTO WILL DIE IN 05:45:17
Consequence: DEATH
I rubbed my temples.
"I'm like a hundred miles away," I muttered. "She's surrounded by elite guards. Why is this my problem again?!"
I looked around and whispered, "System... if you're listening, help me. Please. I'll do anything. Just—get me there."
There was a long pause.
Then—
[SYSTEM RESPONSE ACCEPTED]
📦 Emergency Protocol: Cross-Location Transfer Crystal Available
⚠️ One-time use only. It will vanish after activation.
⚖️ Cost: Health will be consumed as collateral.
Estimated Result:
Health: 75→ 40
Stamina: 70 → 45
Mana: 75 → 50
I stared at the numbers.
"...Are you kidding me?"
Accept Offer?
[ YES ] | [ NO ]
I groaned. Loudly. Long enough for Liora to poke her head into the room and ask, "Are you dying again?"
"Not yet!" I snapped, then turned back to the floating window.
"Forty health? That's two stubbed toes and a sneeze from death!"
The system didn't respond.
"Fine!" I yelled. "Fine, I accept! Just send me already!"
✅ Offer Accepted
🌀 TELEPORTATION IN 3... 2... 1...
Reality bent like a mirror underwater. My skin felt like it was being peeled and re-wrapped in shadows. The room stretched, then snapped like a whip.
💥 Health -35
Current Health: 40
Current Stamina: 45
Current Mana: 50
⚠️ Side Effect: Nausea. Dizziness. Microcellular damage.
I collapsed face-first into a pile of snow.
Somewhere, a wolf howled.
I opened one eye and saw the Argento estate's western tower.
I rolled onto my back, wheezing.
"System, I hate you."
I stumbled to my feet and stared at a cracked-open window on the second floor.
📍 [SYSTEM GUIDE ENABLED]
Target: Elizabeth Argento
Location: 2nd Floor – East Wing
Entrance: South Garden Balcony
Climb Difficulty: 9/10
Success Chance: 22%
Suggested Route: "Don't mess up.
No stairs. No ladder.
Just one noble idiot with bad lungs and worse timing.
I backed up. Ran. Slipped.
[Health: 40 → 38
"Cool," I wheezed.
Tried again. Grabbed a ledge. Climbed a little. Slid down again.
One boot slipped. I barely caught myself on a frozen stone gargoyle with an angry pigeon nesting on it.
"Sorry, bird."
Eventually—somehow—I reached the window, panting like a dying walrus. I rolled through the opening and flopped into a pile of pillows.
[Stamina: 45 → 30
[Dignity: 0
[SYSTEM DIRECTION MODE: ACTIVE] Route: Turn right, then 2nd hallway on the left. Avoid patrolling guard at 45-second interval.
I limped through the halls, hugging walls and trying not to breathe too hard.
I turned the corner just as a guard passed.
[Stealth Success: 74%]
Modifier: "You're too tired to make noise."
"Yay for exhaustion," I muttered.
[Next: Enter Room #87 – Elizabeth Argento Suite]
I reached Elizabeth's door.
It was open.
Inside, the room glowed faintly from candlelight. She was asleep. Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
A shadow leaned over her with a knife.
I didn't think. I didn't breathe.
I charged.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!"
The assassin spun. I tackled him like a drunk goat, knocking us both into a table. He slashed—cut my shoulder.
[Health: 38 → 28
I punched him in the face with the hilt of my sword.
He went down.
Then the window shattered.
Another assassin dropped in.
"Why is it always two? Why never just one?!"
He lunged. I rolled. My ribs screamed.
[Health: 28 → 26
He raised a glowing dagger. I raised my sword.
I rushed him.
We clashed.
Steel met steel. Sparks flew.
He was faster. Stronger.
I was bleeding within seconds.
[Health: 26→ 23
I backed up, gasping. My sword shook.
I had nothing left—except one last move.
Mana Infusion – Blade Enhancement:
The edge glowed dark with raw energy.
I roared and swung.
He blocked—
Then blood sprayed across the room.
The assassin's eyes widened. Then rolled back.
He dropped, dead before he hit the floor.
I blinked.
I hadn't landed the final blow.
Then I heard the soft shuffle of movement behind me.
Elizabeth stood by her bed, eyes sharp, blade already drawn.
She had killed the first assassin.
She stepped forward and points her sword straight at my throat.
"…Why are you in my bedroom?" she asked coldly.
I blinked at the sword. Swallowed. Hard.
Okay. Okay. Don't panic.
I forced a weak smile.
"One of my guards said he saw someone following you," I said quickly. "So… after you left the estate, I, uh, followed. Just to make sure you were safe."
Her expression didn't change.
"And how," she asked, sword still firm, "did you get into my home?"
My brain screamed: Lie well or die weird.
I shrugged. "I saw them crawl in through the window… so I did the same."
She tilted her sword slightly.
A line of blood dripped from the tip to the carpet.
I swallowed again.
Loudly.
Elizabeth stared at me for a second longer.
Then—finally—she lowered the sword.
"…I believe you."
I sighed in relief.
And immediately fainted.
Noah collapsed near the bed, face down, barely breathing. His sword was still close to his hand.
He had saved my life.
And nearly lost his own.
The door burst open behind me. Guards rushed in with weapons drawn.
"My lady!" one shouted. "Are you hurt? What happened?"
Before I could answer, Walter stepped into the room. Calm, quiet, but his eyes widened when he saw the scene: blood on the carpet, two corpses, and Noah Drakopoulos unconscious.
He blinked once.
"Shall I prepare tea?"
I sighed and lowered my blade.
"They tried to kill me," I said. I glanced at Noah. "He stopped them."
That was all I said.
It was enough.
[Ten Days Later]
I woke up in a bed that wasn't mine.
Soft sheets. Big window. Smelled expensive. Not hell, though — too clean.
So either I was alive or the afterlife had really good interior design.
I sat up too fast and immediately regretted it.
"Ow. Everything hurts. Great."
The door opened.
Vivianne walked in with a steaming cup and a very unimpressed look.
"You're awake," she said.
"Barely," I muttered. "When did you get here?"
She set the cup down.
"You've been unconscious for ten days."
"Ten—what?!" I blinked. "Ten days?! I thought I was dead. I was about to start looking for the light."
"You looked dead when I saw you," she said. "Duke Kazuki was generous enough not to kill you."
"…Wait, so he thought about it?"
She ignored me. "I was shocked to learn you snuck out in the middle of the night, climbed up a noble estate, and broke into the North Duke's mansion."
"'Snuck in' is a little strong," I said. "I prefer 'crashed in dramatically.'"
Vivianne didn't smile, but I saw the twitch in her cheek.
"You're finally living up to the Drakopoulos name."
I chuckled. "Guess I'm a real one now, huh? Saving nobles, passing out in style."
She threw a folded shirt at my chest.
"Get dressed."
I caught it, barely.
"Why?"
"You're having lunch with the Duke. And his family."
I froze.
"…Can I fight another assassin instead?"
"No."
She walked out and closed the door.