“Welcome, Lady Brian! I warmly welcome you to Noctar!”

In the reception room of the lord’s castle, Baron Bardelli of Noctar greeted Narsha with open arms. Narsha responded with a refined and graceful smile, not overdoing it.

“What brings a delicate lady like yourself all the way to Noctar, and alone at that?”

Though Baron Bardelli feigned ignorance, he already had a good idea why Narsha had come.

The story went back to a month ago when a meteor wiped out the Desert Rose Trading Company.

The head of the company, Ropermahn, along with his prized collection, had turned to dust, and someone had completely looted the premium goods hidden deep underground.

Baron Bardelli had been one of the people profiting from turning a blind eye to Ropermahn’s shady dealings, receiving money in exchange for his silence and conveniences.

But when the trading company responsible for managing Noctar’s marketplace disappeared overnight, the city was thrown into unprecedented chaos.

Other trading companies, all vying for the now-vacant position, caused daily disputes. Already poor public security worsened, and prices soared.

And then Narsha appeared.

The Brian family.

Based in the capital city of Kalia, it was one of the most powerful trading houses in the kingdom, often hailed as the owner of “Dawn’s Voyage,” a top-tier merchant guild.

Narsha Brian, the only daughter of Count Brian, was considered the heir to the guild.

So, when Narsha appeared in Noctar at such a pivotal time, her intentions were obvious. She likely intended to exert influence over Noctar.

‘It’s practically impossible to control a count’s family. I won’t be able to take money like before…’

But it wasn’t all bad.

Helping the Dawn’s Voyage guild expand its influence could naturally forge connections with the Brian family.

Not just with the count’s family but also with other central nobles. This was a chance to build a foundation with branches extending far and wide.

‘I can’t afford to let her control me too much, though...’

Bardelli knew not to underestimate someone young. The first move was the most important. While calculating his next steps, Narsha asked a seemingly out-of-the-blue question.

“Lord Bardelli, have you heard of a man called the Slave Reaper?”

Was she trying to ease the tension before getting to the real business? Not a bad approach.

“The Slave Reaper… I believe I’ve heard of him. Wasn’t he the one who kept elves as slaves?”

“Elves?”

For a brief moment, Narsha’s face flashed with a cold expression. However, as a seasoned merchant, she quickly restored her poker face.

It was a fundamental skill for any merchant.

“What brings you to inquire about him? Ah...”

The baron suddenly remembered an article he had once read in a newspaper.

It had been about the daughter of a noble family who was kidnapped by bandits and sold into slavery. She was nearly killed after being sold to the Slave Reaper but was eventually rescued and returned to her family after much hardship.

The protagonist of that story was standing before him—Narsha Brian.

“But I thought the Slave Reaper spirited you away not long after?”

“It would have been nice if that were the case...”

“What? What did you just say...?”

“It’s a misunderstanding. If that had been the case, I wouldn’t be standing here before you.”

“Hmm, I suppose that makes sense. So, you’ve been chasing the Reaper?”

“Yes.”

So it wasn’t for business but personal revenge. Bardelli clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“Do you think he’s here?”

‘That man…?’

There was something odd about the way she referred to him.

Baron Bardelli didn’t bother to correct her. She must’ve picked up some bad habits after being treated harshly under the Slave Reaper.

Poor girl. The baron clicked his tongue internally.

“The day the meteor fell in Noctar, that man also disappeared. At first, I thought he died, but seeing that his elf companion is still alive, it’s more likely he slipped away.”

“So, he’s not here, then.”

“For the time being, no.”

“…I understand.”

Narsha bit her lower lip, thinking for a moment before rising from her seat.

“You’re leaving already?”

“I’m going to take a walk around the city.”

“As the lord, I must tell you, Noctar’s streets are not very safe. I should send someone to escort you.”

Narsha shook her head and slightly revealed the rapier at her waist.

“I appreciate the offer, but I can handle myself.”

“If that’s the case, I have nothing more to say. But be careful of a place called the Duke of the Night’s Tavern.”

“Why?”

“Elves frequent that place. Even the elf that traveled with the Reaper goes there. They view humans as vermin, so if you get involved with them, it’ll be troublesome.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

After leaving the lord’s castle, Narsha walked aimlessly. Her steps felt weak.

Again...

She was late again.

Though she pursued Karamir’s great path, she was always one step behind. Whenever she thought she was close, she would only find trash who pretended to be the Slave Reaper.

Those scumbags who didn’t aim for liberation but killed slaves for their own vile pleasure. Narsha had pierced holes through the throats of every one of them.

Where would he go next?

Even when she got information, by the time she arrived, she was always too late. She admired his noble mission to save the wretched, but she wished he would wait for her… just a little.

Narsha sighed.

I’ll have to check out that Duke of the Night’s Tavern.

Though Baron Bardelli had warned her to be careful, Narsha had to go there. The elf that Karamir had supposedly taken in was said to frequent that place.

She needed to see what kind of person they were, and as their senior, perhaps establish some discipline.

As Narsha wandered through the city, she searched for the Duke of the Night’s Tavern.

“Ugh!”

Suddenly, a rough groan echoed. The sound came from a dark alley in the slums, untouched by light. The sound of a scuffle followed.

It was not a safe area for a woman to wander alone, especially someone as beautiful and noble as Narsha. Even in broad daylight, she was at risk.

The sensible choice was to turn back.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

But Narsha turned toward the alley, walking slowly.

 

In the shadowed slums, which resembled a giant anthill, long, twisted shadows tangled like nightmares blooming in the darkness.

Echoing breaths and the sound of blows filled the air. A boy lay struggling under a man’s foot, while the slum dwellers bared their rotten teeth in mockery.

“I told you not to act like a damn dog, didn’t I?”

Thud!

“Argh!”

The boy, kicked in the stomach, was lifted off the ground before falling back down, curling up like a shrimp as he clutched his stomach, trembling.

His face was already bruised and bloodied, his clothes filthy and torn. There wasn’t a single part of him that wasn’t hurt.

“Kid, didn’t I warn you not to take the others away? No sense of decency, are you?”

Even in his dazed state, the boy squeezed out his voice.

“You… you’re the ones who are bad… You’re the ones keeping kids from becoming slaves and living well, just for your greed...”

“How many times do I have to tell you? If they become slaves, they die miserably, you fool. Use your brain. Do you think it’s normal for them to take only the girls?”

“My brother… he’s different...!”

The man sighed and shook his head. There was no reasoning with someone who’d been brainwashed.

“This is hopeless. I guess I’ll have to show you what happens to slaves.”

The man was about to kick Matthew again when—

“Huh?”

Narsha silently stepped in front of Matthew.

In the gloomy slums, her crimson eyes shimmered with a quiet, yet eerie light.

Her smooth skin did not belong in the shadows of this place.

A noble?

The slum dwellers hesitated for a moment, but quickly burst into crude laughter upon realizing she was alone.

“Judging by your looks, you must be some noble family’s daughter. Didn’t your mommy and daddy ever tell you not to wander into dark places?”

What a jackpot—having such a fine woman walk right into their hands. They didn’t expect this kind of luck, even during the day. Was it daytime? It was hard to tell in this place where the light barely touched.

“......”

Narsha glanced between the children and the slum dwellers.

Children overwhelmed by pain and fear. That was all she noticed. She didn’t feel anything beyond that.

To Narsha, showing emotion was inefficient, and helping others always came with a cost—whether time or money. Emotions only led to losses.

What choice would yield the greatest profit? What was the value of a person’s life?

To her, the worth of a single tear didn’t matter. What mattered was how much gold that tear could be sold for.

But...

He was different.

He never turned away from anyone.

His gaze was always focused on those who were suffering.

He stayed by the side of the wounded, his hands reaching out to lift souls drowning in despair.

Not for his own glory, but for the singular, noble purpose of leading the suffering to salvation—a simple yet profound goal.

For those blessed by him, following in his footsteps was a duty.

Shing—

Narsha drew her rapier, drawing a line between her and the slum dwellers.

“Cross this line, and you’ll die.”

“Hahaha, die? By who? You? With those delicate arms of yours, can you even swing that sword? Whoever taught you clearly should’ve told you a woman’s place is not wielding a sword but—”

The man’s words trailed off.

Narsha had taken a single step forward, crossing her own line.

“Wha—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Narsha’s movements were twice as fast.

Faster than he could process, Narsha’s body flickered as if teleporting.

Thrust.

In an instant, the rapier pierced the man’s throat, its silver glint cutting through the darkness.

“Gurk.”

The man let out a brief, gurgling sound.

As Narsha withdrew her rapier, blood sprayed from the man’s neck, and he collapsed to the ground.

“I clearly warned you. Cross the line, and you die.”

Narsha had offered them one second of mercy.

They should have fled immediately.

“All of you.”