IHRS 05

Chapter – 05

The Leweiz Marquis family was falling apart. Yet Zeppetto wanted to kick me out.

Then what to do?

I would extract money from the family as compensation.

After all, this was a plan only possible because the other party was Zeppetto.

“…….”

Zeppetto, silent for a long moment, picked up the documents.

He seemed unable to believe it, repeatedly checking the signature line before suddenly turning his head sharply.

“Hey, you can’t back out of this. Got it? You did this with your own hands.”

“Yes.”

I did it.

I tilted my nod into a smirk.

“But… do you have proof?”

“What?”

“You could have coerced me into signing. You might have forged it.”

“I… I was the one you hit! I got hit, so why would I… I, I… coerce you?”

“That has nothing to do with this matter.”

If the Marquis were still alive, this is probably how he would have handled it.

“I only acted as a member of the Leweiz family because I couldn’t stand to leave someone who tried to ruin the house unpunished.”

“What nonsense,”

“Martt Estate. Fading Moon Inn. The code word is ‘Dawn’s…’”

“Shut up!”

At first, Zeppetto stared blankly, but as more words were added, veins bulged in his neck and his face turned red.

“Did you really think no one would know this is a drug distribution spot? Really?”

There were exactly two things in the world the Marquis hated the most.

One was when someone did something without his orders.

“Oh, how heartbroken your father would be. He always believed the family should be inherited by the eldest son. And now, if he knew his son was involved in drug trafficking under imperial investigation…”

“Damn it, shut up, shut up!”

The other was feeding information to the Crown.

Eventually, Zeppetto raised his voice, but his gaze at me flickered anxiously.

He was probably calculating all sorts of things in his head—whether to silence me now, whether it was even possible.

Seeing him hesitate, I offered a bit of advice to help him sort his thoughts.

“Luckily, I’m utterly sick of this family. I’m tired of living like a bastard. Besides, you hold the legal papers to throw me out of this house. As an outsider now, I no longer dine with the high and mighty Marquis. Your secrets won’t reach your father. Don’t waste this perfect opportunity.”

His wildly rolling eyes froze.

“What do you want?”

I made a circle with my hand.

Children… don’t try to solve things with your mouth.

Thus began the negotiation.

“500 marks.”

Zeppetto held out one hand flat.

For context, the mark was the currency here; the average commoner lived for about 100 marks a month.

“Ugh, stingy. Planning to start a salt farm later too?”

“…2,000 marks. That’s as far as I can go.”

“Hmm, I wonder.”

He leaned his chin on his hand, looking at me.

Taking that small sum and leaving? Really, the generosity among acquaintances was shockingly stingy.

Especially since we both knew exactly how much he earned from drug trafficking.

“Damn it, 5,000 marks!”

Finally, a curse slipped out.

It wasn’t a fully satisfying sum, but considering how Zeppetto had spent most of his earnings on indulgence, it was the best he could offer.

“Fine.”

“Then get out!”

The words I longed to hear. I left immediately—of course, taking Masha with me.

Masha, who had lost her future as a Paladin, returned to being my personal maid.

When we came to the Marquis estate, I had no certainty about Masha’s fate.

My own history might have been erased, leaving her to remember being saved by someone else. That might have been better for her life.

Apparently, the gods preferred crueler endings.

‘Or perhaps it was because Masha had been a Paladin. Having a guardian for a forgotten saint is odd, so when Seraphina’s time was erased, Masha’s time might have been erased alongside it.’

God Ludina would give this a perfect 100/10 for explanation.

‘Ugh, why is there so much dust floating around?’

-(ꐦ°꒫°)

Anyway, taking Masha out was good, but…

‘Where to now?’

There was nowhere to go. The hour was late at night.

Eventually, I walked silently toward the old temple.

“Why did you…?”

“…….”

“Just swapping my handkerchief and identity!”

Masha’s fists were clenched, her face red, her voice holding back something.

Masha disliked that I had sacrificed something for her.

She had always carried guilt toward me.

“Even if you go back now, you should…”

“I’m not going back.”

No way.

Signing the papers, extracting money, taking Masha out—everything was necessary.

“You’re foolish. If you think I’d be happy about this, you’re mistaken.”

“I know. Your feelings are precious.”

That was all.

“I know you stayed by my side for revenge too.”

All she had left of her family was a single handkerchief.

Yes, she hadn’t been loyal to me.

[I work for Lady Laura.]

Her pledge had been a lie to soothe me.

But even lies can be acts of devotion.

She had bound herself to that statement, and that made it genuine.

After all, two years ago, she had brought Masha out of the mansion.

I knew what kind of person she was.

“I don’t care what you think of me.”

Even now, it was the same.

[Do you need a special reason to save someone?]

It would be nice if I could gain Masha’s heart, but it wasn’t necessary.

[If you wish, I will stake my life to protect the Saint.]

I remember.

[If it is what Lady Laura needs, I will do it.]

That alone was enough.

“Yes, earlier, it was unavoidable.”

Exactly that. Nothing else mattered.

We arrived at the temple.

Even on the outskirts, Masha seemed surprised to see a temple here, eyes wide as she looked around.

But she quickly regained composure.

Tomorrow was uncertain, but today we had no choice but to stay here. She began looking for a suitable room.

I walked to the room where Seraphina was lying.

“Where’s Seraphina?”

-Not awake yet!

A semi-transparent bird-like creature, like a wisp of wind, circled around me.

Its appearance was that of a cute little animal, but in truth, it was Shirin, the Spirit of Sound.

I had left it with Seraphina, unable to leave her sleeping alone.

Shirin was perfect for sending messages with sound to specific people.

Laura used Shirin mostly for espionage or noise attacks on people she disliked.

-But who is this? The contractor’s daughter? Strange. Doesn’t look alike at all. But she slept so peacefully! Is this a true contract child?

It could also perform minor physical actions.

-Oh, I lifted the blanket to help her wake up! Good job, right?

Shirin had one fatal flaw:

-It talks too much.

“Did you fight…?”

-And about this, it’s a temple, right? Of course! I could tell immediately. The holy energy is everywhere. The goddess loves marking her territory. That’s why it’s like this. Uh, um, uh?

As Shirin’s rapid-fire chatter continued, I finally noticed the room’s state.

The door was open.

“Sleeping?”

Seraphina was gone.

-Shirin, she was sleeping, right?

It wasn’t only Seraphina; the blanket and sheets were also missing.

Shirin hopped over and fixed her gaze on the far diagonal room.

A small enough distance for a child to reach.

The blanket sticking out from under the door confirmed it.

‘Ah.’

Still, I knocked to be sure.

“Seraphina?”

“She’s not here!”

A grumpy voice answered.

She must be turned away from the door, not visible.

-Shirin: Princess, I apologize for losing focus with such a beautiful princess! You must have been surprised. I, Schoenne, will perform the Cossack dance for atonement! Or rather, I’ll just show it—

“She says she’s not here!”

Eventually, she made the girl cry.

“……Shirin, go in.”

I dismissed the summon, and Shirin happily obeyed.

Meanwhile, Seraphina was wailing.

‘This is bad.’

If memory serves, this room was a storage closet—small, no windows, not meant for a child.

‘Is the door… locked?’

Then:

“Masha?”

Masha appeared in the corridor.

She grabbed the door.

Seraphina froze, unsure what to do.

Masha sniffed.

“The young lady appears to have wet herself.”

Ah……?

Masha handled it skillfully.

She undressed Seraphina, checked her condition, washed her, and dressed her again.

Seraphina, upset since the accident, laughed again after being freshened up.

Yet the surprising thing was not Seraphina—it was Masha.

Efficient, precise, no wasted motion.

“My parents were busy. Taking care of my younger siblings was my duty.”

I kept my mouth shut, knowing what had happened to those siblings.

Thankfully, the awkwardness didn’t last long.

“It’s all done.”

“Thank you.”

But another crisis arose.

“By the way, what is this child?”

“That….”

Fortunately, no explanation was needed.

Seraphina, now dry and comfortable, glowed, and a message appeared:

-You successfully confiscated Zeppetto’s illicit funds, reducing the amount of drugs smuggled into the Empire.
-The number of drug addicts in the Empire decreases.
-You prevented Masha Dwayne’s death and gained her loyalty.
-You successfully left a turning point in history.
-Based on achievement contribution, calculate curse mitigation.
-The Curse of Oblivion is mitigated by 5%.
-Someone’s memories are fully restored.

No need to check whose memories.

“Lady Laura.”

Masha gazed at me, eyes reddened.