NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34 - Debt
Scene 034: Debt
“Wake up.”
“Ugh!?”
Blanche opened her eyes at the sudden voice. As she tried to sit up, a sharp pain coursed through her body, making her grimace. There wasn’t a single part of her that didn’t ache.
Everything had gone wrong because of that man—the one who had appeared out of nowhere and disrupted everything.
“Where’s Marco?!”
“He has already left,” a deep voice answered.
Blanche raised her head to see a burly man looking down at her. It was the nobleman Tristan Ruelberta, exuding an air of arrogance he made no effort to conceal.
“Bastard…” she muttered.
“You won’t be able to move easily yet, not after taking Marco’s power head-on,” Tristan replied.
Her body felt drained of all strength. It was only then that Blanche realized she was sprawled on the ground.
“…Did I lose?” she asked.
“Yes, you lost to him.”
Blanche lowered her head deeply. She had returned to her human form. Even with her superhuman recovery, her wounds had not fully healed. The cold mana she had been using earlier was also completely depleted. Just as Tristan had said, she had lost.
To think that such a monster existe… Marco, the captain of the Imperial Guard. He had effortlessly withstood her attacks. Nothing she had done had worked against him.
In the past, she had lived as an assassin, taking down countless targets. In one-on-one combat, she had never doubted her ability to win—and she never had.
Yet today, Blanche had lost. And not just once—twice.
Hugging her shoulders as if trying to hold herself together, Blanche trembled uncontrollably. She slumped onto the cold ground, forced to confront the depth of her helplessness.
“…I’ve died twice today.”
Blanche had never fought without putting her life on the line. For an assassin, failure meant death. Every fight was a matter of life and death for her. And today, she had lost. Yet… she was still alive.
“Why am I alive…?” she whispered.
“Did you not want to live?” Tristan asked.
Blanche raised her head, meeting his gaze.
“I thought you wanted to live. Was I wrong?” he continued.
“Ha… what could you possibly know about me?” she retorted.
“I know.”
“?”
“I know the kind of person you are,” Tristan said calmly, with an intense gaze that seemed to pierce through her. Blanche avoided meeting his eyes.
“Do you always say those kinds of arrogant things so naturally?” she said.
“I’m merely stating the truth,” Tristan replied, his tone unshaken.
Come to think of it, even in the past, he was like that: an arrogant boy, full of superiority and presumption. At least, that’s how she remembered him. But now, seeing his expression, an inexplicable anger boiled within her.
“No. Tristan, you know nothing,” she bit out, her voice shaking.
“You don’t know how much I hate you.”
“I know.”
“…How much I want to kill you.”
“I know that too.”
“How much I despise you.”
“I know it all.”
“No! No, you don’t know anything! If you truly knew—” Blanche bit down hard, tasting blood in her mouth.
“—you would have killed me. I’m nothing but an obstacle to you,” she spat.
Blanche covered her face with her hands. While she was unconscious, Tristan had several chances to kill her. If he had done so, she would surely be dead. Yet, for some reason, he hadn’t.
Blanche steeled herself.
“Kill me now. Otherwise…” She looked directly at him.
“I’ll come after your life again.”
Tristan sighed deeply, then slowly approached her. Kneeling on one knee, he spoke.
“I know. I know you’ll come for me again.”
“?!”
“But I won’t die.” His eyes locked onto hers, as if peering into her soul.
“…”
At that moment, Tristan threw something at her. It was a coat, the same one Tristan had worn during the battle. But now it was completely torn.
“Get up slowly. You should be able to stand now.”
“This is… huh?!” Blanche glanced down in confusion and realized she was nearly naked. Her clothes were in tatters from the battle.
The outfit Bella had gifted her was ruined, and a wave of despair washed over her.
Tristan’s blunt voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Leave now. But when do you intend to pay?”
“…Pay?” she echoed, confused.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Ah, I see. I didn’t mention the amount,” Tristan replied nonchalantly. “Based on my estimation, it’s at least 5 billion Kael.”
“Wait, what are you even saying right now?!”
“Repair costs.”
“Repair costs…?”
“Exactly.” Tristan pointed around them, gesturing toward the rooftop of a ruined department store.
“Thanks to your reckless rampage, the garden I carefully built on this rooftop is completely destroyed.”
“What?! No, but that’s—”
“You’re not seriously thinking of leaving after reducing someone else’s property to this state, are you?”
“Property? Wait, are you saying… is this place yours?!”
“Yes. I purchased it recently,” Tristan said casually, as though discussing something trivial.
Blanche stared, unable to comprehend the extent of his wealth.
He held out his hand.
“So, when will you pay me? Five billion Kael.”
“That is…! Of course, I don’t have that amount of money! I won’t pay you!”
“I see. I didn’t expect you to. But your body is at least usable, so pay me with that.”
“Wha-what?! Usable? What exactly do you mean by that?!” Blanche instinctively shielded herself with the tattered coat.
“Can’t do it, then?”
“Of course not!!” she snapped.
“Then I suppose I’ll bill your employer.”
“?!”
Blanche paled. She knew the duke’s financial situation and was aware that Bella would do anything to pay her debt, no matter what.
“That’s… not an option.”
“Why not?”
“Please don’t tell the lady. This is entirely my responsibility.” Blanche clenched her teeth. The situation was unbearably humiliating. She owed a debt to the man she despised most. How was she supposed to continue living like this?
“I’ll repay the debt myself.”
“Fine. In that case…” Tristan extended his hand.
“Help me walk.”
“Why should I—?!”
“50,000 Kael.”
“Quickly, help me,” he gestured, his tone calm yet insistent.
———
“Please evacuate in an orderly manner.”
Following the staff’s instructions, nobles filed out of the department store one by one. Outside, Wendy and Bella sat on a bench.
“What on earth happened…” Bella muttered, baffled, as she looked up at the department store rooftop. Smoke was rising from the top.
About 30 minutes earlier, the staff had informed everyone of an unexplained explosion on the rooftop, prompting an immediate evacuation. Although it seemed there were no casualties, the incident had completely ruined their shopping trip.
‘But those knights in red armor…’
It was a strange sight. Bella knew there was only one order of knights in the country that used that armor, and they had no reason to be there: they were the knights of the Imperial Palace.
“Some-something feels strange…” Wendy finally broke her silence, her voice trembling.
“The Count still hasn’t come out…”
“What?!” Bella exclaimed.
“Most people have already evacuated, but the Count is nowhere to be seen… Could something have happened to him?” Tears welled up in Wendy’s eyes as her voice wavered.
Bella gently wiped them away with her sleeve.
“Wendy, don’t worry. The Count will be fine.”
“But…”
“Nothing bad ever happens to that man. He’s probably showing off and wasting money somewhere.”
“I hope that’s all…Unnie, is your companion okay? That person hasn’t come out either… Will they be safe?” Wendy asked, her concern shifting.
“She’s so strong, I’m not worried.” Bella replied confidently.
Blanche had become a guard knight for the Duke’s family at a young age. From the moment she joined, her strength, exceptional skills, and natural talent made her stand out. That’s why she was chosen as Bella’s guard over everyone else.
But…
‘Leaving me alone like this is unworthy of a guard knight,’ Bella thought, crossing her legs impatiently. Just then, Wendy suddenly jumped up.
“The Count!”
As Wendy had said, Tristan appeared in the distance. But he wasn’t alone—a young woman was helping him walk.
The moment Bella recognized the woman’s face, she couldn’t help but shout in surprise.
“Blanche!”
“L-Lady Bella…!” Blanche stammered, her eyes widening as she spotted Bella.
“Where have you been?! I was so worried about you!” Bella demanded.
“That’s…” Blanche averted her gaze, looking thoroughly flustered, as though she’d been caught in an embarrassing situation.
Bella crossed her arms and studied Blanche’s face intently.
…
Something had definitely happened.
“Why are you with that man? What’s with your clothes? Are you hurt? Explain yourself, Blanche,” Bella pressed.
“The truth is…” Blanche hesitated, glancing nervously at Tristan beside her. After a brief pause, she finally answered.
“…This man saved me.”