It's really you…
After ssing with my face for a while, Carn finally confird my identity.
"Spare this nonsense… That strike of yours could've killed ."
With a smile, Carn supported my exhausted body.
"Yeah… Even though I wasn't serious back there, a blow like that should've been enough to finish you off."
She fell silent for a mont before continuing with a chilling expression.
"But you survived… and with minimal injuries."
I'd been caught red-handed.
I turned my head away from Carn, avoiding her gaze.
"Guess I just got lucky."
In truth, I had only revealed a fraction of Balerion in that mont. He was the one who blocked Carn's attack. I prayed she hadn't noticed.
"Luck, huh?"
Yeah… she wasn't buying it.
I needed to think fast—either co up with a convincing excuse or do sothing reckless.
"I don't know since when luck can block an S-Class strike, but you were right about one thing—you were lucky to run into before the others."
I nodded silently. She was right.
The mont I escaped Byron, my entire body scread at , warning of the storm headed my way.
Several overwhelming auras were closing in fast.
Luckily, Carn was the fastest.
Had one of the Elders who wanted dead reached first, I wouldn't be standing here right now.
Speaking of Byron…
I spotted the giant charging toward us in the distance, his entire body ablaze with a destructive aura.
His furious roar echoed across the entire area.
"You bastard! Do you really think you can escape from ?! I AM BYRON!"
His massive fist hurtled toward at terrifying speed, growing larger and larger as it neared.
But I wasn't afraid.
The reason stood right beside .
In response to Byron's attack, she raised a single finger.
One finger.
That was all it took to stop the giant's devastating punch.
But she didn't stop there.
In a blink, her finger pierced his fist—then his entire body.
With my enhanced Hawk Eye, I caught sixty-one precise strikes.
But I was certain she had landed far more than that.
The terrifying part?
Every single strike had targeted a vital point.
Byron collapsed, his limbs twitching, completely helpless.
He had no idea what had just happened.
Carn stood over him, a wicked grin curling her lips.
"Well, well… Aren't you General Byron or whatever your na is? Tell —was my presence so insignificant to you? Or… have you beco soone important without realizing it?"
Byron's eyes widened in sheer horror when he saw who was standing before him.
He imdiately attempted to kneel, but his broken body refused to obey.
All he could do was slam his head against the ground in a pitiful attempt to bow.
"M-My deepest apologies, Elder Carn… I was blinded by my pursuit of the intruder. Please allow to—"
"Elder?!"
Carn's voice bood across the battlefield.
I barely held back a chuckle.
Byron… you just signed your death warrant.
You shouldn't have called her that.
Beads of sweat rolled down the giant's face as he realized his mistake.
"A-Ah… I-I an, Miss Carn… My apologies…"
Before he could finish, his massive body was sent flying by a single, missile-like kick.
He smashed into the ceiling.
Then the ground.
Then the ceiling again.
And finally, he crashed down, unconscious.
The worst mistake you could ever make was reminding Carn of her age.
That, and the fact that she wasn't married.
Honestly, she was probably more upset about the way he addressed her than the fact that he had ignored her earlier.
"Calm down, Miss Carn. Giants like him tend to have small brains."
"Tch… If he weren't family, I would've crushed that thick skull of his."
She wasn't joking.
Regaining her composure, Carn turned back to .
"So, not only did you survive , but you also managed to slip past Byron."
"In truth, several guards attacked on the way here… I just don't get why no one recognized ."
Carn tilted her head.
"Recognize you? Of course they wouldn't. Have you even looked at yourself in a mirror?"
"My… appearance?"
Now that I thought about it—I hadn't.
I'd been imprisoned in the Shadow Sect for an entire year.
"You look like a noble disguised as a vagabond. That wild hair covering your face? It only made things worse. And let's not even talk about your stench."
"…My stench?"
I raised my hand and took a sniff.
All I could sll was… .
Did this really count as horrible?
"…What the hell are you doing now?"
"Trying to figure out what you're talking about."
Carn let out a frustrated sigh.
"Spending a whole year locked up turned you into a damn idiot… Co on, let's fix this ss."
Before I could protest, she grabbed my arm and dragged my exhausted body along.
I knew better than to resist her.
I didn't want to end up like Byron.
After taking a few steps, Carn slowed down slightly.
"Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you…"
She turned to with a smirk.
"You're officially a dead man right now."
I stared at her, expression blank.
"…Dead?"
---
The Capital – Belgrade
Ada let out a deep sigh as she scanned the mountain of work waiting for her.
Docunts were stacked high on her massive desk, all demanding her attention.
Ever since she had assud the position of Lord, her workload had doubled.
She had always been a busy woman.
After all, she had managed a large portion of the family's affairs from a young age.
But this…
This was nothing compared to what she had to deal with now.
Ada threw the papers aside and leaned back in her chair.
She muttered to herself.
"…I fulfilled my dream."
She had officially beco the Lord of the Starlight Family.
It was the greatest desire she had ever held.
Ever since her late father, Abraham Starlight, had left behind a will naming her brother, Frey, as the rightful heir, Ada had felt…
Neglected.
Like a re shadow in the corner, disregarded by the very person closest to her.
Her father.
So, she worked.
She sacrificed her childhood, a portion of her youth.
She honed her skills, expanded her knowledge, and built a na for herself.
She accomplished what no one else her age had ever done.
She didn't just want the title of Lord.
She wanted the recognition that ca with it.
But the words she had longed to hear… never ca.
The man she had wanted to hear them from… died.
She never resented her father.
After all, he was her family.
She just wanted to hear…
"You did a great job, Ada."
For the past year, she hadn't smiled even once.
Frey's death had struck her like a bolt of lightning in broad daylight.
She had hated him, yes.
She had wished death upon him more tis than she could count.
And he had deserved it.
But as they say…
"You only realize the value of sothing once you've lost it."
He had been corrupt, yes.
But he had been the last piece of her family.
And towards the end…
He had changed.
Guilt consud her.
She took full responsibility for his death.
"I should've never let him enter the Nightmare Lands. I should've never left him alone. I should've never wished death upon him…"
It beca an obsession.
She now visited the church—a place she had never set foot in before—begging for forgiveness.
Despite Not Being the Primary Reason...
Ada let out a sigh as she stretched out in the chair of her office, her gaze empty.
"Why did you leave... and abandon ?"
She took off her shoes, pulled herself up onto the chair, and buried her face between her knees.
"What am I supposed to do now?"
At that mont, a loud, frantic knock echoed through the door.
An elderly maid hurried into the room, her expression filled with confusion.
"Frederica? What's wrong?"
Ada now resided in the estate that had once been granted to Frey, while she had made the old maid her assistant.
Frederica took a deep breath, struggling to get her words out.
"Lady Ada... Frey... Lord Frey..."
"He's back!"
In that instant, Ada's expression completely shattered.
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