DARLO 08

“A troublesome item… Should I be grateful that they took it away…?”

It hadn’t been a job he liked from the start.

If it had been a request he could refuse, he wouldn’t have even looked at it.

That was why he had deliberately handled the “item” carelessly.

As if to say—if you can escape on your own, then try it.

Though he had never expected such a surprise event to occur.

“Height… about this much.”

He raised his hand to chest level, estimating based on where he had grabbed the arm.

“A young woman. Early twenties? Maybe even late teens.”

He recalled the brief groan, the grip strength, and made his guess.

“Good strength, speed, and movement, but lacking technique. Doesn’t seem like a fighter… maybe athletics? If she’s a woman, possibly a dancer. Or someone in our line of work—a broker or information dealer….”

Trailing off, Kasha thought for a moment before smiling.

“No. If she were in this field, she wouldn’t dare come at me. Probably from a civilian agency. A detective, perhaps?”

He lowered his gaze quietly and looked at the bite mark on the back of his hand.

Blood seeped from the deep wound.

“Even if all my guesses are wrong…”

He slowly raised his hand to his lips.

A red tongue slipped out and traced over the wound.

Along with the lukewarm taste of blood, he sensed an unfamiliar scent.

“This is undeniable evidence.”

Looking at the clear bite marks and traces of saliva, Kasha smiled.

His instincts, honed through years in the underworld, told him—

Someday, he would meet that “thief” again.

“Ugh…”

I groaned, letting my bruised arm hang limp.

When he grabbed my arm, I thought I was going to die—but somehow, I managed to escape.

It was a really close call.

‘What the hell was that guy…?’

Unlike everyone else trapped in the fog, that man acted like he knew exactly where I was.

He even grabbed me instantly, despite my stealth ability hiding my presence.

How did he know?

He’s not normal. Definitely an S-rank threat.

It’s a miracle I got away safely.

After leaving the port, I checked multiple times for anyone tailing me, wandering around aimlessly just in case.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like I was being followed.

‘The rope tying the kid and the box didn’t look that secure either. Maybe it wasn’t that important?’

Even that terrifying man didn’t chase after me, almost like he just “let me go” after losing his grip.

That was a relief… but something felt off.

Maybe I shouldn’t have interfered—but I couldn’t help it.

If it had been an adult, I would’ve ignored it as some kind of conflict between organizations.

But that child… struggling desperately to escape, like they had been kidnapped.

‘Still… the man who grabbed my arm looked unusual from the start.’

He was a handsome man, but unlike the cold beauty of the Marquis—he had a sly, serpent-like charm.

With that striking appearance and ability, I was certain.

He’s a “main character.”

‘But there’s no one like him in <계.후.이>.’

Of course, not every handsome and capable man is a character from a novel.

But something about this felt off.

Ever since I possessed this body, there was something that kept bothering me—

A system message that never disappeared.

You have opened the library. Please select a book to read.

Books owned: 1

Yeah, that message!

Isn’t it weird?!

Until now, I thought I had possessed an extra in <The Contracted Marchioness Requests a Divorce>.

But then why say “select a book” and track the number of “owned books”?

It’s as if there are other stories in this world besides <계.후.이>…

Which means—

‘Is this a shared universe with multiple stories intertwined?’

Did I just end up stuck in the middle of all of them?

As the owner of an agency solving problems for various protagonists?

Then that crazy guy from earlier might be the lead of another novel?

‘This is seriously bad.’

I let out a deep sigh.

That’s not the only problem.

If there are multiple stories, that means a higher chance I’ll get dragged into trouble.

Like getting involved in world-ending crises, succession wars, or noble power struggles just because some important guy takes interest in me…

That’s the worst-case scenario.

‘I’m already struggling as it is.’

Dealing with a client who wants to kill me is already exhausting—I don’t want to take on other protagonists too.

If I get caught up, there’s no way out.

Just like right now.

“……”

An awkward, uncomfortable silence brushed against my cheek along with the cold sea breeze.

What do I do now?

I turned my head and looked at the boy, who was holding my hand tightly without saying a word.

As expected, what the ‘Sharks’ had been transporting was a child.

Not extremely young—he looked to be in his early to mid-teens.

A thin, frail body, with melancholic eyes that didn’t match his age.

A beautiful boy.

But the really important thing was something else.

“……”

Sensing my gaze, the boy slowly looked at me.

My reflection appeared in his empty, emotionless eyes.

His messy black hair fluttered in the wind.

…That’s right. He has black hair.

‘A black-haired pretty boy always means trouble!’

I think I messed up.

Saving a kidnapped child is one thing.

But if that child turns out to be a protagonist from another story, that’s a whole different problem.

What if he really is a lead character from another novel?

What if I just interfered with another genre entirely?

‘A “dark-haired boy sold to a dangerous organization with a tragic past” is basically male lead material.’

Do you think I’ve only read one or two novels?

At minimum, this type is a second male lead.

Not someone an extra like me should be keeping around.

I need to send him back to the main storyline as soon as possible.

“Do you have a place to go?”

“……”

He only tightened his grip on my hand.

I could feel a faint tremble through our contact.

My chest felt heavy.

Whether he becomes a sword master or massacres everyone and takes the throne in the future… right now, he’s just a child with nowhere to go.

The only person he can trust is me—a complete stranger he just met today.

And even then, he’s probably terrified of being abandoned again.

‘It’s late… I don’t have a choice. I’ll just let him stay one night.’

In the end, I brought Damon home.

‘At least Chelsea’s situation should be resolved tomorrow.’

After sending Damon to the bath, I sat by the fireplace, lost in thought.

I had a rough idea where Chelsea would go.

In fact, the moment she was shaken by the mention of the Dowager Marchioness, her destination was already set.

Now, I just need to go catch her at the right time and the job will be done.

“Phew…”

As the tension left my body, I slumped.

Knowing the ending was near brought me some relief.

Of course, the ones reaching their ending are Chelsea and the Marquis—not me.

I still had plenty of problems left to solve.

For example…