Chapter 43: Ambushed

‘Damn, I’m lost.’

Chloe stood frozen, staring blankly for a moment before deciding to just pick a path and keep going.

Once she got out of the alley and onto the main road, it’d be easier to find her way.

With that thought, she trudged forward.

Straight paths, she followed; forks, she picked a side randomly.

“Ouch! What the heck?!”

While weaving through the alley, Chloe’s foot struck something hard, and she yelped in pain.

She bent down, determined to see what dared trip her up.

Chloe was annoyed.

Wandering aimlessly in the alley was boring, so her mind had drifted to a critical decision.

Should she crash on Silia’s big bed or Larvia’s?

The relief station’s conditions were decent for a homeless person, but they were still just average inn quality—nothing compared to the royal maids’ dorms.

And definitely not as luxurious as Larvia’s or Silia’s massive, soft beds.

Chloe had been eyeing those beds for ages.

So big, you could roll around without worrying about falling off.

After days outside, she desperately wanted to sink into one of those beds.

But whose?

As a defeated Sword Saint turned loli, she still held a grudge against Larvia… at least when she was clear-headed.

But crawling into a friend’s bed felt… impure.

She’d slept with Silia once, but only because Silia was too tired to leave Chloe’s room.

With Larvia, though, she was used to it.

Chloe mulled this over the whole way, distracted.

That’s when she kicked something, snapping her out of it. She was pissed.

But when she looked down, scanning the ground, she found nothing odd—just a pile of fallen leaves.

“Huh?”

‘What did I kick?’

‘My foot’s still hurting; it wasn’t my imagination.’

Puzzled, Chloe wondered if something was hidden in the leaves.

Curious, she nudged the pile with her foot.

To her surprise, she felt something off.

There was a hard, rectangular object inside.

Crouching, she dug through the leaves and pulled out a small rectangular box.

If she wasn’t mistaken, it was made of mithril—sturdy and heavy, explaining why her foot hurt so much.

The box was enchanted with a fourth-tier mimicry spell, blending seamlessly with the leaves in a yellowish-green disguise.

If she hadn’t kicked it, she’d never have noticed it in this alley.

Chloe was thrilled.

‘A mithril box? That’s worth a fortune!’

Nervously glancing around to ensure no one was watching, she stuffed the box into her pocket.

‘No one’s claiming it, so it’s mine.’

Gripping the box, her curiosity spiked.

‘What’s inside that needs a mithril box with a mimicry spell?’

‘Is it more valuable than the box itself?’

Eagerly, she opened it.

But when she saw the contents, her excitement vanished.

Inside the palm-sized box was just a single parchment letter, devoid of any magical aura—a plain old letter.

“Tch, boring.”

Chloe was disappointed.

She’d hoped for something amazing.

Though she had no interest in the letter’s contents, it felt like a waste not to peek after all that anticipation.

And what kind of letter needed such an expensive box?

‘A treasure map, maybe?’

Licking her lips, Chloe prepared to open it.

Suddenly, faint footsteps sounded behind her.

Before she could turn, a chill ran down her spine, and a wave of killing intent hit her.

As a Sword Saint, she’d faced countless battles and knew this feeling well.

Instinctively, she tilted her head and raised her staff.

Swish!

A gust of wind grazed her ear, slicing her hair cleanly. Her staff was cut in two, the remnants shattered by the shockwave.

A black figure appeared where she’d stood, gripping a gleaming dagger.

The stone wall beside them bore a two-centimeter gash from the attack’s aftershock.

Chloe’s heart raced.

If she hadn’t dodged, that strike would’ve crippled her, even if she survived. It was at least fourth-tier in power.

They were out to kill her!

No time for hesitation, she cast a third-tier Swift Step spell.

As the magic took effect, the figure struck again.

The dagger aimed for her heart, but Chloe, reading their movements, dodged every strike.

After evading a flurry of attacks, she sized up her opponent.

‘Pretty weak.’

With Swift Step, her body felt nimble.

Combined with her vast combat experience, the assassin’s lightning-fast moves were like slow motion to her.

‘Magic’s great. I can buff myself without relying on anyone.’

Chloe dodged the assassin’s strikes, thinking smugly.

The swish of the dagger echoed in the alley as she calmly evaded.

‘Being full feels amazing.’

She’d struggled against Lena, a third-tier mage, but a fourth-tier assassin? No problem.

Minutes later, the assassin’s movements slowed.

Chloe, watching closely, noticed.

She was only a third-tier mage. To take down a fourth-tier, caution was key.

‘Time’s up.’

With a cold huff, she snatched the dagger mid-strike and kicked the assassin into the alley wall.

Bang!

“Cough, cough…”

The assassin collapsed to one knee, clutching their abdomen, spitting blood mixed with organ fragments.

Chloe flipped the dagger in her hand.

‘Since you tried to kill me, don’t expect mercy.’

She might be naive, but she knew who to spare and who not to.

Against a disarmed opponent, she let her guard down, approaching without caution.

Raising the dagger, she channeled mana, ready to finish them with a sword technique.

She didn’t need a sword technique—physical force would suffice.

But this was cooler.

Just as the technique formed, a glint flashed from the assassin’s waist.

Chloe froze.

‘Another dagger?!’

She saw their intent but was too late.

Her sword technique was locked in, mana surging. Stopping now would cause severe internal injuries!

The assassin, aiming for a mutual kill, had taught her a lesson.

‘Damn!’

‘Shouldn’t have shown off!’

Regret was useless now.

Chloe had to pay for her arrogance.

Closing her eyes in despair, she knew even if she survived this hit, she’d be bedridden for months.

‘Damn it…’

Her hands trembled, and Larvia’s image flashed in her mind.

In her final moment, she shouted without thinking, “Save me, Larvia—!”

Swish!

A sharp gust cut through.

Warm, blood-scented liquid splashed across Chloe’s face.

“…Huh?”

‘No pain?’

Opening her eyes, she saw the assassin’s arms severed, blood dripping steadily.

“Well, well, looks like I had to step in after all, little Chloe.”