Chapter 20

Outside, the sunlight was blazing, but the alley squeezed between the building walls remained perpetually dark, untouched by the sun’s rays. Of course, the difference between the darkness of the alley during the day and at night was like heaven and earth, but few would argue that the daytime alley wasn’t still dark.

Even in that dark alley, there was a daily routine, with the same people always passing through. But today was different. A young woman, dressed neatly in a maid’s uniform made of luxurious fabric rarely seen in such a place, was walking briskly through the alley. Such individuals usually entered the alley on errands for nobles, so few dared to bother them.

Almost, that is. The word “almost” was crucial. No matter where you went, there were always bold individuals, and the narrow spaces of the alley were especially teeming with such people. Being near the Academy, the rate of violent crimes was relatively low. But conversely, it meant that even within the Academy’s protected grounds, there were those who committed such crimes.

In such a place, a beautiful woman walked alone, unprotected. That alone was enough to make her prey. This was especially true for the drug-dealing group, Daidalos.

Unlike other groups, they worked under a high-ranking figure enrolled in the Academy, and despite their bold actions, they had yet to be caught, likely due to their powerful backer. This had made them quite arrogant.

From a shadowy corner of the alley, a man named Jeffery nudged the man next to him, Ralph, and pointed at the maid.

“Hey, Ralph.”

Ralph, who had been polishing his dagger, glanced at it indifferently and spoke.

“What.”

“That one would fetch a good price, don’t you think? You’ve got connections with the maritime kingdom, right?”

Only then did Ralph follow Jeffery’s finger to see the maid. She had long black hair, crimson eyes, and was walking briskly in her neatly pressed maid uniform.

“Black hair and red eyes… There are plenty of folks who’d pay a fortune for something rare.”

Though they didn’t usually deal in human trafficking, the maid’s beauty was enough to break that rule.

“We could have some fun and then sell her off. It’d be a nice payday, and we could finally leave this damn place.”

“The maid uniform is a bit of a problem, though. Esher, what do you think?”

At Jeffery’s question, Esher, the leader of Daidalos, quietly observed the maid. Honestly, if the one who had organized Daidalos shared their current intentions, money wasn’t urgent. But the embroidery on the maid’s uniform was the issue.

The embroidery of the House of Portus. The Empire’s number two family’s servant. If she was working near the Academy, she was almost certainly a prized servant of the House of Portus. How a back-alley thug like him knew this was because Esher was well-informed. Though not a mastermind, he had a network of informants and made sure to gather any information related to the Academy to survive in the alley.

That’s why he was the leader of Daidalos.

“It’s the House of Portus.”

“The House of Portus?”

“What? Seriously?”

“Yeah. That thorny flower pattern. It’s unmistakable.”

“How can you even see that? I can’t make it out.”

Jeffery squinted, covering his eyes with his hand, and Ralph quipped.

“Get some glasses.”

“They’re expensive. I can’t afford them.”

“That’s because you blow all your money on entertainment.”

“What? You’re no different, Ralph!”

“Enough. Let’s just do it.”

The two, who had been hesitant upon hearing “House of Portus,” widened their eyes.

“Aren’t we biting off more than we can chew? Esher, the House of Portus is really dangerous!”

“It’s fine. The House of Portus treats their servants as expendable.”

“Hmm. Well, alright. Esher’s never led us into danger before. Let’s give it a shot.”

As Jeffery prepared his tools, Ralph sighed deeply and sheathed the dagger he had been polishing. Behind them, a few more members of the group took their positions.

“Why so many for just one woman?”

“You never know. Others might be after her too.”

“Ah, a show of force, huh?”

“Exactly.”

Esher answered as he gripped his spear. It was an old military spear, and every time he held it, he felt the weight of his past. He had once thought he would give his life for the country in the military, but now he was leading a group to kidnap a woman.

‘Ah, how did I end up like this?’

Esher briefly lamented his fate, but the past wouldn’t return. Glancing at the carefree members walking ahead, he slowly approached the maid. But her reaction was unusual. Normally, when a group of burly men approached, anyone would show fear, but the maid simply continued on her way without a care.

“Hey, stop.”

“…Are you talking to me?”

“Yeah. You. The maid.”

“What do you want?”

Despite Ralph’s menacing tone, the maid remained calm and turned to look at them. Her expressionless face was strikingly beautiful. Up close, Jeffery’s face lit up, thinking they had hit the jackpot.

“Come quietly, and it won’t hurt as much.”

“…Hmm, is this a kidnapping?”

“Yeah. You’re a maid of the House of Portus. We’re kidnapping you.”

“That’s troublesome. I have a task from the Young Lady.”

The maid spoke as if that was the only issue, leaving Ralph dumbfounded. He drew his dagger, but the maid didn’t even blink, staring at them intently before speaking softly.

“What happens if I don’t come quietly?”

“You’ll still be taken, miss.”

“…I see.”

The maid sighed and finally moved. With the agility of someone who had undergone rigorous training, she struck the nearest thug’s pressure point. With a groan, the thug collapsed. The sudden turn of events left the group momentarily stunned, and Esher’s voice rang out.

“What are you doing? Get her!”

“Sigh…”

The maid moved without pause. Before Esher’s command even finished, she had already taken down three more members and was now charging at Ralph. Ralph swung his dagger swiftly.

No matter how skilled, she couldn’t handle a weapon, Ralph thought, but his face twisted in pain as the maid’s dagger, hidden in her thigh, struck his abdomen.

“Guh, ugh-!”

“Ralph! Damn it!”

Enraged by his comrade’s injury, Jeffery charged at the maid. His steel pipe was about to hit her back when she rolled forward, dodging the attack. Simultaneously, she drew more daggers from her thigh and threw them at Jeffery. Though he managed to deflect a couple, the rest embedded themselves in his body.

“Argh-!”

Though the thrown daggers weren’t life-threatening, the wounds were enough to immobilize him for a while. Ignoring him, the maid continued to knock out the remaining thugs.

“Damn it, everyone move! I’ll handle her.”

Seeing his men fall one by one, Esher bit his lip and stepped forward. The maid glanced at his spear, her expression still blank. A few drops of blood on her emotionless face added a dangerous beauty, but Esher had no time to admire it.

He planted his spear on the ground and stared at the maid. He never imagined he’d use a spear in this alley, let alone against a woman. But the maid’s movements were reminiscent of someone who had trained for decades.

Tense, Esher gripped his spear and took a stance. The maid, watching him, began to move like a lion stalking its prey. The two clashed.

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