At the corner of the handkerchief was a scale, with a sword and a shield on either side.
It was the emblem of the House of Axus.
“This pattern…”
“As you know, it is the crest of the Duke of Axus. I will use this as the credit.”
I couldn’t reveal who I truly was.
I hadn’t come here as the second son of my family.
“Um, I see. I can give you three days to make the payment.”
“Thank you.”
After receiving the paper bag containing the box, I gave a slight nod and turned my back.
It was an unexpected expense.
Should I give Raina a present?
“…”
Then suddenly…
The mana I had been preparing earlier instantly spread throughout my body.
My muscles surged awake as I spun around.
Then, in one swift motion, I drew my sword and slashed upward.
With a metallic clash, the dagger was deflected.
“What?!”
A woman’s face twisted in shock came into view.
“As expected.”
Though, there was really nothing to expect.
Without hesitation, I swung my sword and severed the limbs of the attacker—no, an Avatar member.
A high-pitched scream rang through the store.
I braced myself for a magical counterattack, but—as expected—none came.
After all, in the original story, this person was an informant, not a combatant.
“Who are you?”
Her limbs now severed, she collapsed to the floor. She raised her head and glared at me, grinding her teeth.
It must have been excruciating.
But maybe the pain hadn’t fully set in yet—maybe endorphins were dulling it.
Still, judging by how her entire body was shaking, it wouldn’t be long before it hit.
“Knowing just the name of the organization isn’t enough. You’re affiliated with the Duke of Axus. The organization couldn’t have been exposed!”
“Don’t worry. I’m the only one who knows.”
“What?”
“I guess you were just unlucky.”
“What kind of bullsh!t is that—!”
Her words never finished.
I didn’t feel like listening, so I ended her life with a single cut.
‘Ha…’
The heroine’s past is revealed.
The crown prince breaks off his engagement with Raina.
But even so, it wasn’t enough to completely isolate her.
The Axus family had been loyal knights since the founding of the empire.
And the Rogelia family? A lineage of merchants who had also remained loyal since the early days.
From the empire’s financial backbone to distribution, economy, and public sentiment—the Rogelia family had their hands in nearly everything.
That influence had endured for centuries.
If the Duke of Axus was the sword and shield that protected the empire, then the Duke of Rogelia was the pillar that upheld it.
“They’re not one of the two ducal houses for nothing.”
Raina was the eldest daughter of such a family.
No matter how revered the heroine might be as a saintess…
No matter how much Raina had bullied her…
Even if the crown prince used that as an excuse to break the engagement—
Raina’s standing as the daughter of the Rogelia family made complete isolation impossible.
If the heroine was the saintess of the empire, Raina was a pillar of it.
And yet, Raina got caught up in an incident that nearly stripped her of her position in the Rogelia family.
That incident was, Avatar.
An organization working to bring down the Astraia Empire.
At this point in time, their existence was completely hidden.
But three years after the heroine entered Arcana, they began operating openly and gained a notorious reputation.
This store, Arin, was one of Avatar’s branches.
The problem?
Raina was a regular customer here.
Based on that alone, combined with a few coincidental past events, rumors started to spread.
People began claiming that Raina was one of Avatar’s collaborators.
In an instant, she was shunned.
I remember reading about the situation.
Looking back, it was an outright witch hunt.
No one listened to her.
Even when she brought forth evidence, no one cared to look.
Just like that, Raina became an invisible scapegoat.
A trash can people could dump their frustrations into.
She carried the burden of a truth no one knew and malice that couldn’t be erased.
“If you hadn’t opened a shop in Heros, none of this would’ve happened.”
I whispered to the c0rpse, now forever silent.
“…”
My body trembled.
It was my first time taking a life.
No matter how vile she had been, no matter how necessary it was…
The shaking wouldn’t stop.
The sensation of cutting someone felt murky.
An overwhelming discomfort surged through me, followed by fear.
Could I really get used to this feeling?
“It’s scary.”
But the thought of Raina suffering that cruel fate again—that scared me more.
So I had to get used to it.
Somehow.
Little by little.
“With this, I’ll cancel the credit.”
As I said that, I tossed the paper bag into the air and sliced it cleanly.
A sweet fragrance and a blue mist slowly spread through the red shop.
My movements were definitely faster—stronger.
In the past, I probably wouldn’t have even reacted to that surprise attack.
Even if I had, it would’ve been a hard-won fight.
This method really was the right answer.
I had wanted to test my strength—and I had gotten lucky.
If I was this capable now, then I had a real chance in the finals next week.
I calmed my trembling body and stepped into the alley.
“Ike?”
“…Anna.”
Standing before me was Raina’s personal maid—Anna.