Volume 4, Chapter 43 – Payment for the Aid

Translator Note

[Imperial Blessing] > [Imperial Gift] its at vol2 ch39

The two quickly reached the outside. The dungeon of the Pescia family had an exit that connected directly to the mansion, but also one on the back garden’s hillside. Refina took the safer hillside door.

It was the middle of the night. With her vampire night vision, Edith confirmed that there were no soldiers around, including in the watchtowers.

“Where are the soldiers who were guarding this place?”

“They all went to encircle the summoned monster. Camilla has a carriage prepared outside the city. I can get you out of Elden City right away.”

“A monster? Camilla? How long has it been since I passed out?”

“Only half a day. The monster is an item Miss Yisi gave me called [Imperial Gift]. It can summon a very strong stone monster. Miss Yisi said the stone monster could buy us at least five minutes, so I took that opportunity to come rescue you.”

“Why did Camilla prepare the carriage? Where are Chesire and Eileen?”

Edith’s question made the running Refina pause for a moment.

“…They were captured by the soldiers. They should be in the impostor’s hands now.”

“Tch.”

…

After nearly half an hour, Refina finally carried Edith to the city gate. Although Edith was not heavy, with the addition of the iron ball, it was an exceptionally heavy burden. By the time they reached the gate, Refina was covered in sweat, her breathing ragged.

“You there! Who goes there!”

A squad of vampire soldiers prepared to surround them. Perhaps having heard some news, the city gate was slowly closing.

Reаⅾ on KαtRеaԁinɡCαfe

It’ll be bad if it closes.

Without hesitation, Refina crushed a crystal she had been holding in her hand.

Immediately after, a behemoth over fifty meters tall and engulfed in green flames suddenly appeared. Its flaming eyes stared at the city gate, and with just one stomp, it easily crushed the city wall and the gate together.

“M-monster!!!”

“Quick, inform the Lord!”

Fearing the unimaginable power, the soldiers who were about to surround them scattered like rats. Refina took this opportunity to climb over the ruined city wall, running out of Elden City with difficulty but without fear.

The carriage arrived as promised, quickly pulling up beside Refina.

Sitting in the driver’s seat were Mary and Camilla. The latter glanced at Refina and Edith.

“What a mess. Hurry up and get in.”

“Miss Refina, I’ll help you!”

Quickly standing up, Mary helped Refina pull Edith into the carriage.

Not long after the carriage left, the Tower of Pescia, glowing with a red light, shot out a dazzling beam, blasting the destructive stone giant into pieces.

…

Arriving safely in the dense forest on the outskirts, the carriage slowly came to a stop. Yisi, in her Magic Fairy form, along with the pet who had been in charge of the assassins, came forward to greet them.

“Camilla, how did it go?”

Rеaⅾ oո КαtRеaⅾіոɡCαfе

“Just as you said, Onee-sama, I brought Edith back.”

“I see… that’s good. And you, Camilla? Are you hurt?”

“No. The city guards were held up by a stone monster and didn’t chase after us.”

After speaking, Camilla got off the carriage. Mary and Tiffany followed her out of the compartment, showing no signs of injury.

“Master, Miss Tiffany has already healed Miss Edith’s injuries~”

In contrast to Mary’s cheerful expression, Tiffany pouted unhappily.

“It was bitter.”

“There, there. I’ll reward you later, Tiffany. Just bear with it for a little while.”

Patting Tiffany’s head, Yisi finally saw Refina and Edith, the last to emerge. The magic restraints on Edith had been destroyed on the way, leaving only the iron shackle tightly clasped around her ankle.

“Well then, Onee-sama, I’ll go change my clothes inside first.”

“Me too~”

“It’s all blood…”

Because Edith had slaughtered Hetty, she was covered in bloodstains. Camilla and the other two, especially Tiffany who had made physical contact with Edith, found their previously clean clothes now smelled of blood.

“Okay. The other two carriages are just inside the forest—”

“Allow me to take the young ladies.”

Reaԁ оn KαtReаⅾіոgСafe

The one who spoke was the only remaining pet besides Refina. Without much thought, Yisi accepted her kind offer and let her take the three of them to the base in the forest.

The clearing on the edge of the forest immediately fell silent. From where Yisi stood, she could just overlook Elden City, standing on the plain under the starry sky.

Although she really wanted to ask Edith what had happened, it was clear that now was not a suitable time. Yisi pretended to be relaxed and turned her back to Edith.

“Let’s go inside too.”

An indescribably complex emotion flashed across Edith’s face.

“Pathetic… you want to say that, don’t you?”

“Hmm?” Yisi turned her head. “I never thought that.”

“Then why did you arrange for a carriage outside the city?”

Is she trying to say that I saved her just so I could laugh at her afterward?

Yisi felt a headache coming on. She looked at Refina, who was supporting Edith.

“It was Refina who asked me to. That’s why I had Camilla park the carriage outside the city. That item was also something I gave to Refina this morning. It wasn’t a last-minute decision.”

Yisi’s words made Edith look at Refina, her blue eyes filled with anger.

Begging others for help to escape a predicament should be a kind of shame for Edith.

If this continued, Refina might be disliked by Edith. In fact, Refina also had an expression as if she knew how she was about to be treated, and she lowered her head timidly.

“Of course, I did not accept Refina’s request for free. We have already agreed that after you reclaim your position as the count’s eldest daughter, you must persuade Count Pescia to pay me gold coins equivalent to half a year of the territory’s income for five years. Even if you cannot persuade him, you must still carry this out after you become the Countess.”

Rеаⅾ οո КαtRеaԁіոɡСαfе

“Huh?”

Refina’s head shot up, a cute sound of surprise escaping her lips.

This was only natural. Yisi had never asked Refina for any payment. The so-called price was just something she had made up on the spot.

With Edith’s personality, she would not accept favors for free. So as long as she was made to feel that there was a profit to be made and that it wasn’t just a casual remark, it would be fine. This was why Yisi had demanded such an exaggerated payment.

She had to make Edith think that this was just cooperation, not charity.

Unaware of Yisi’s thoughts, Refina’s face turned pale. In her eyes, Yisi’s actions were pushing her off a cliff.

Edith’s anger subsided, and she turned to look at Yisi with a very dangerous gaze.

“What’s the meaning of this money to you? You shouldn’t be short of money.”

“Whether one is short of money depends on how one usually spends it. With my current savings, I have no worries about living an ordinary life. But as you’ve seen, I run a tavern. My goal is to have Margaret spread throughout the entire continent of Alexia. With that as a premise, half a year’s tax revenue from your territory is just a drop in the bucket. If I hadn’t considered your ability, I would have demanded more.”

Back at Margaret, Edith had indeed heard Fran talk about the plan to open more taverns. Yisi was now just exaggerating that so-called plan.

Edith was silent for a moment, then let out a light snort.

“…Hmph. Since we’ve reached an agreement, I won’t criticize you any further. But don’t let this happen a second time.”

“O-okay!”

Realizing that Edith’s attitude had taken a turn, Refina’s face was filled with surprise and joy. She shot a grateful look at Yisi.