“An umbrella…”

“I’ll be fine,” Lila said, pulling her hood down further as she watched Elvin retrieve an umbrella from the carriage.

“Where do we go from here?”

“This way.”

Elvin quickly opened the umbrella and led them down a shabby alley. The narrow, dark passage reeked of decay.

“Ugh.”

Elvin gagged at the acrid stench that assaulted his nose. Pinching his nostrils with one hand, he quickened his pace. The winding alley eventually opened into a small clearing.

“This is the address you mentioned…”

Does someone actually live here?

Elvin blinked at the half-collapsed building before him. The derelict structure showed no signs of life.

“Are you sure this is the place?”

“It is.”

“No matter how you look at it, it’s just an abandoned house,” Elvin muttered uneasily. The crumbling building didn’t seem like a place anyone could live.

“Wait a moment.”

Lila covered her eyes with an aura-enhanced veil and heightened her senses as she approached the building.

“…It looks like no one’s home,” she murmured, her expression tinged with disappointment. She had hoped to finish her business quickly and return to the Grand Duke’s estate, but it seemed things would take longer than expected.

“Did they run away?”

“No.”

Lila shook her head. Through her aura, she could tell the interior of the building, despite its dilapidated appearance, bore traces of recent habitation. Most telling of all…

“There’s evidence left behind.”

A shadow should never leave traces. A skilled operative, like a rat, would never flee without erasing their tracks.

“If we wait, they should return…”

After a brief moment of contemplation, Lila turned to Huon and Elvin.

“You two should go back to the carriage for now.”

“What?”

Elvin’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected statement.

“I’ll catch the rat and bring it back myself.”

“You can’t. It’s too dangerous!”

“It’s fine. I can handle it alone. The rat is weaker than me.”

“That’s not the issue. I’m here as your escort, Lila.”

Huon spoke firmly, her voice as rigid as her expression, which seemed to hint at anger.

“It’s harder to conceal our presence with more people around.”

“Then I’ll use concealment magic.”

“The rat is sensitive. If it senses anything unusual, it’ll run immediately.”

“If it’s not as strong as you, Lila, it won’t detect my concealment magic.”

“Hmm.”

Lila’s face grew troubled at Huon’s unwavering stance. She had always handled everything on her own, so she couldn’t understand why she kept opposing her.

“Well… since the rain is getting heavier, how about we head inside first?”

Elvin, who had been quietly observing their standoff, cautiously spoke up. At this rate, it seemed they’d still be arguing by sunrise.

“Before we get soaked…”

“Wait.”

Lila raised her hand to cut him off. Her usually warm eyes sharpened, and the relaxed air grew tense.

“Elvin.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know how to fight?”

“Uh… no.”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Elvin shook his head, his face blank with confusion. Fighting was a concept entirely foreign to the bookish young man.

“Figures.”

Lila nodded slightly as if she had expected his answer, then turned to Huon.

“Huon, I’ll leave Elvin to you.”

“What?”

“It seems we’re being followed.”

As she finished speaking, Lila nudged a small stone on the ground with her toe before kicking it sharply.

“Argh!”

The stone flew through the air with a sharp whistle, crashing into something in the alley ahead. A loud thud echoed, followed by a groan of pain.

“?! Who’s there?”

Realizing the situation, Huon tensed and took up a defensive stance.

“Come out.”

At Lila’s command, about a dozen people emerged from the dark alley. Elvin’s face turned ghostly pale at the unexpected appearance of so many adversaries. Even Huon swallowed nervously.

“Are you Baroness Lila Knox?”

The man who appeared to be their leader stepped forward and addressed her.

“Our master wishes to meet with you. We ask for a moment of your time.”

“No.”

Lila rejected his proposal without hesitation.

“If your master has business with me, they should come in person.”

“How dare you…!”

The leader’s face twisted in anger at her blunt refusal. Behind him, another man, who had been rubbing his forehead, let out a furious shout. Judging by the swelling on his head, he was likely the one hit by the stone.

“Now, now. We’re in the middle of a conversation with the Baroness, are we not?”

“…Apologies, Captain.”

“My apologies. It seems one of my subordinates got a bit too worked up.”

The leader, who had stopped his subordinate from drawing his sword and charging, smiled as if trying to appear amicable.

“Wouldn’t it be better to come quietly before things get unpleasant?”

“Whatever house you belong to, this is a blatant insult to House Eustace!”

Huon shouted furiously, unable to contain her anger at their arrogance.

“Oh dear, please don’t misunderstand.”

The leader raised both hands in mock surrender, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

“How could I possibly disregard the Eustace family?”

“Baroness Knox has rejected your request! Leave now!”

“That’s troublesome. My master wishes to have a conversation with the Baroness.”

“His Grace the Grand Duke will not forgive this.”

Despite Huon’s warning, the leader remained composed. He trusted in his numerical superiority.

“What do you think, Baroness? Wouldn’t it be better to come with us for a while rather than wasting energy unnecessarily?”

“…You seem skilled, judging by how adept you are at hiding your presence and your solid physique.”

Lila, who had been calmly meeting the arrogant gaze directed at her, slowly opened her mouth.

“Why not heed Huon’s advice and quietly return?”

Lila lowered her hand and fiddled with the sapphire-encrusted belt at her waist.

“I’ll try, but I can’t promise I won’t kill anyone.”

She was sincere. Although their numbers were overwhelming, none posed a real threat to her. Yet, the leader ignored Lila’s warning. With a sly grin, he reached for his waist.

“If I return empty-handed, my master will punish me… Men! Seize Baroness Knox!”

“Yes, sir!”

At the leader’s command, his subordinates drew their weapons and charged at once. Lila remained unfazed. She watched them rush toward her with an indifferent expression, then moved her hand.

“I warned you.”

Swish―

The flexible sword, drawn from her belt, whipped through the air like a lash, slicing the hand of the nearest attacker.

“Argh!”

Seeing the man drop his sword from the wound on his hand, Lila turned her body. Twisting her wrist, she extended her arm, and the flexible sword slithered like a snake, cutting into the waist of another assailant.

“Ahhh!”

The cries of his comrades caused one of the more enthusiastic attackers to falter. In that moment of hesitation, Lila tossed the flexible sword to the ground and leaped forward.

“Lady Lila!”

Shing―

Ignoring Huon’s cry, Lila drew the sword from her waist and channeled her energy. The blade, emitting a faint glow, radiated black aura.

“Guhk!”

“Ahh! My hand, my hand!”

As the black-aura-clad sword sliced through the heavy raindrops, screams echoed continuously through the downpour.

“Don’t retreat! We outnumber them!”

The leader shouted, urging his faltering subordinates. But his attempt to turn the tide failed. With every flash of the black aura, one by one, his men fell to the ground. Amidst the earthy scent of rain, the acrid stench of blood spread.

“My goodness…”

Elvin could hardly believe what he was witnessing. He knew Lila was strong, but this was beyond imagination. He couldn’t even follow her movements.

“What is this…?”

The once-confident leader now struggled to hide his shock. He had heard rumors that Lila was a top-tier expert, but he hadn’t believed them. A girl not even twenty years old reaching such a level? It seemed absurd. But the rumors were true.

“Are you going to continue?”

Having subdued half of them in an instant, Lila looked at the leader.

“A monster…”

The leader muttered, his face pale with fear as he surveyed the fallen. He couldn’t believe what he had seen.

“I didn’t kill anyone.”

Lila glanced at the enemies sprawled on the ground with a calm expression. Contrary to her earlier worries, no one was dead. It seemed her sparring sessions with Evan had paid off.

“So? What will you do? Will you continue?”

“L-Leader…”

The outcome was already decided. One of the subordinates, having lost the will to fight, called out to the leader.

“Tend to the wounded.”

Realizing the futility of further resistance, the leader gave the order with a resentful expression. Persisting would only lead to more casualties.

“… I’ll take my leave for now.”

“You made the right choice.”

Lila, after the enemy retreated with the injured, lightly shook her sword and sheathed it, as if there was no more intention to continue the fight.

“Lady Lila!”

Huon and Elvin, who had been anxiously watching, rushed over to Lila as the enemy withdrew.

“Are you alright?”

Huon, with a worried expression, checked Lila over. She wanted to help her, but the space was too cramped to use any attack magic hastily.

“Any injuries…?”

“None.”

After hearing Lila’s response, Huon carefully checked again for any injuries before sighing in relief. Her heart was still racing.

“I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“I couldn’t do anything while I was supposed to be guarding you, Lady Lila.”

Lila tilted her head at Huon’s apology.

“You protected Elvin. You did what you had to do.”

“That’s right. Thank you!”

Elvin bowed his head toward Huon, but she didn’t relax her expression. She continued to watch as Lila picked up the fallen practice sword, speaking seriously.

“If this was sent by the Emperor or Crown Prince, we should return to the Grand Duke’s mansion and plan immediately instead of chasing a rat.”

“Do you think the imperial family has already acted?”

“No. If the Emperor was involved, he wouldn’t send someone like that—he would send a shadow.”

Though the person seemed strong enough to not be called just a “minion.” Elvin rolled his eyes as he listened to their conversation.

“Huon, can you use magic to clear the traces left behind?”

“I’ll give it a try.”

“Please.”

As Huon started cleaning up the surroundings with magic, Lila began to formulate a plan in her mind. It was time to hunt the rat.