“Who are you trying to take away?”

“Number 12.”

At that moment, the word “Curiosity” appeared beside Aiger.

Raylin clenched her fist behind the folds of her skirt.

‘This is my chance! If I want to improve my relationship with him even slightly, I must hold onto this topic.’

“The arena’s greatest fighter?”

“Yes. They say he’s the best in history, and there will never be another like him.”

“What was his name again?”

“Kertan.”

In the past, the empire had enacted a law after repeated incidents where certain fighters gained excessive public popularity and used that influence to plot dangerous schemes.

Fighters were only referred to by their assigned numbers, not by their names or grandiose titles.

It was a rule set in place because they knew how powerful the act of naming someone could be.

“Weren’t there many people who tried to buy him? As I recall, no one ever succeeded.”

Seeing Aiger’s curiosity begin to fade, Raylin hastily spoke up.

“That’s because they don’t know what he truly wants.”

“What does he truly want?”

She could practically hear his unspoken thoughts: Is there such a thing? And you claim to know it?

The answer was clear without him having to say it aloud—because his curiosity, which had started to fade, was growing stronger again.

“He has a younger sister whom he cherishes more than his own life. She was sold off due to debt; her whereabouts are unknown.”

It was a classic story.

A family so poor they could barely survive, a father consumed by alcohol and gambling, a mother who abandoned them, and the children left behind.

The siblings couldn’t find a witch’s candy house, unlike Hansel and Gretel. Instead, they were sold off by their father and forcibly separated.

Years passed, and the brother, now a man, was willing to do anything to find the only family he had left. Meanwhile, the sister was barely surviving the harsh currents of the world, battered and broken. Their tearful reunion was inevitable.

“I plan to find his younger sister.”

Raylin intended to seize the opportunity that had allowed Catherine to take control of Kertan in Re.Vil.Bre.

Catherine had obtained a small sum of money by selling off her few pieces of jewelry, using a maid whose weakness she had exploited. She then significantly multiplied that money at this very arena.

Of course, even with that money, she couldn’t afford to buy Kertan, the arena’s greatest gladiator.

However, she had casually dropped a hint about what Kertan truly desired, creating an opening between them. Using his sister as bait, she ultimately helped him escape the arena.

What happened after that was obvious.

Who wouldn’t fall for the savior who granted them freedom and the one thing they longed for most?

Kertan became Catherine’s sword, completely devoted to carrying out her orders.

He was used for everything—from guarding her to engaging in combat and even assassination.

“I worship her.”

That one time when Raylin had held a rather lengthy conversation with him, Kertan had spoken those words with a blank expression.

Looking back, Catherine had merely kept Kertan trapped and used him to her heart’s content.

Even after she married Theron, Kertan had silently remained by her side.

Had he continued protecting her even after she killed Theron and Raylin?

The answer would forever remain unknown.

“You seem quite confident.”

“A well-founded conviction.”

Seeing Raylin push out her chest and slightly lift her chin, Aiger was reminded of a golden sparrow boasting its soft, white down.

Suppressing a chuckle, he crossed his arms.

“I’m quite intrigued. May I stay?”

Raylin’s mind raced at Aiger’s words—he wanted to personally witness the moment she reeled in the big fish, Kertan.

This might put her in Aiger’s debt.

No, rather than a debt, it could be seen as a gift—a goodwill gesture.

Wasn’t that enough as long as she fulfilled Kertan’s desires and granted him freedom?

Besides, Aiger could rescue Kertan’s younger sibling far quicker than Catherine.

And for Aiger, obtaining Kertan—a man whose loyalty and strength were guaranteed by Re.Vil.Bre—would be nothing but beneficial.

Raylin, on the other hand, wouldn’t have to resort to underhanded means to eliminate one of Catherine’s strongest allies.

“Of course! But, Your Highness—”

“Hm?”

“Don’t you need capable people? Someone strong… Well, maybe not as strong as you, but still very powerful and loyal!”

As he observed Raylin’s expectant green eyes gleaming with excitement, Aiger stroked his chin.

Even though she hadn’t explicitly named anyone, the context made it obvious who she was referring to.

Kertan.

It seemed like she had thought of it on the spot, but the proposal wasn’t flawed.

After all, there was a reason Aiger occasionally infiltrated underground arenas like this.

He was searching for useful recruits.

Anyone who survived by fighting with their own body in a place like this had a specific value.

Until now, he hadn’t encountered anyone particularly noteworthy, but now…

The most skilled fighter in the arena’s history, someone he had a guaranteed way to bring in, and who would be bound by chains that ensured his loyalty?

It was harder to find a reason to refuse than to accept.

“Tell me more about this.”

****

Bang!

Bang, bang, bang!

Four consecutive gunshots rang out, and Raylin let the tension drain from her shoulders.

Things at the arena the previous day had gone almost unbelievably well.

“You said you know where my sister is?”

“Yes. I’ll find her and bring her right before your eyes.”

No amount of gold or promises of a dreamlike future had swayed Kertan.

But the moment Raylin spoke, he dropped to his knees.

“What do you want from me?”

“Do you trust me?”

Though he didn’t have a hint of doubt, she asked again.

The ability to see emotions was undoubtedly rare and convenient, but overconfidence in it was dangerous.

In her past life, she had dismissed the ‘doubt’ she saw alongside the overwhelming ‘love’ Catherine had for her—only to die an absurd death because of it.

“No one knows if I have a younger sister or if I’m searching for her. But you, My Lady, do.”

In other words, he believed her claim that she could grant him the only thing he desired.

“You’re making quite a simple judgment of my abilities. Knowing something and being able to do something are different matters.”

Surprisingly, it wasn’t Kertan who nodded in agreement but Aiger.

Noticing the faint flicker of ‘exasperation’ in Aiger’s emotions, Raylin barely stifled a laugh.

Clearing her throat to regain composure, she asked,

“Ahem. Why do you trust my words so easily?”

For the first time, Kertan—who had remained silent—lifted his head.

His gaze was vicious, gleaming like a wounded beast on the brink of death.

“I have nothing to lose.”

If she dared deceive him, he would tear apart whoever was responsible without a second thought.

Even without hearing his words, the sheer killing intent radiating from him was enough to make his stance crystal clear.

At that moment, Raylin froze like a small animal caught in a trap.

Crash!

Aiger grabbed Kertan by the head and slammed him into the ground.

“How dare you.”

His growl deepened as the veins in his hands bulged with exertion.

“Hah… Haa…”

Only then did Raylin exhale the breath she had been holding.

Looking down at her trembling hands, she realized—this was the first time someone had directed such unfiltered murderous intent toward her.

And it wasn’t just anyone.

Kertan was a living weapon, a man whose entire profession revolved around taking lives.

He had likely held back his killing intent just now.

If he had gone all out, the sheer intent to kill would have been enough to cause a heart attack.

—Crunch.

The sound of Kertan’s face being crushed into the ground echoed, followed by a smear of red staining the floor.

“Thank you.”

Raylin gave Aiger a slight nod of appreciation.

“I understand your thoughts well enough. But you’re still a fool.”

The voice that followed was so cold that even Raylin flinched upon hearing it. Yet, Kertan did not utter an apology.

Yes. That unyielding nature—that was Kertan.

‘If I used his younger sibling to threaten him, I could break him anytime.’

Besides, with Aiger here, no matter how much Kertan struggled, he couldn’t lay a finger on me.

But I didn’t want to go that far.

Our ties ended here, and there was no need to leave any lingering attachments.

Raylin glanced at Aiger, signaling him with her eyes. He clicked his tongue.

“You’re too soft.”

Making sure everyone could hear, he muttered those words before lifting his hand off Kertan’s head and stepping back.

Raylin glanced up at him as he moved to stand beside her instead of returning to his original spot. Feeling as if their eyes had met, she tilted her head slightly.

But Aiger turned away wholly, prompting Raylin to return her gaze to Kertan.

Perhaps it was his way of showing remorse, but Kertan kept his face pressed against the ground, not daring to lift his head recklessly.

There was still no trace of doubt or distrust in his posture.

“From now on, treat this person beside me as if they were your own life.”

Kertan responded with silent affirmation.

***