novelzi Chapter 19
Chapter 19
“How long has it been? Six years?”
“Five years.”
“Five years! Wow... five years.”
Just realizing how long it had been, Ravin felt a sense of futility.
Living recklessly while waiting for the man in front of him, five years had already passed.
Yet, the pride in having successfully welcomed Lin—no, Mr. Lee—into her cultivated domain was greater.
“Mr. Lee has changed a lot too. I never imagined you would become so muscular and sturdy. Even your voice has become deeper. The only thing that hasn’t changed is that oddly gentle face.”
“Really? I didn’t notice. I’ve just been focusing on earning my daily bread.”
“Come on, you’ve become quite something.”
As Ravin tried to continue the conversation cheerfully, she realized there were many eyes around.
Although the Thieves’ Guild was a hub of information, Lin’s information was top secret.
Ravin didn’t like the idea of anyone else knowing about Lin besides her.
“Standing here is a bit awkward, let’s go to my office.”
“You have an office?”
“It might not be much, but I am the head of the Thieves’ Guild, after all.”
As Ravin proudly walked ahead, Lucy, who was following him, grumbled to Lin.
“Lin, why does she call you Mr. Lee?”
“Shh.”
Lin urgently raised a finger to his lips and whispered so Ravin couldn’t hear.
“There are very few people who know my real name.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, being a commoner with a surname and not telling my first name, they just call me Mr. Lee.”
“I see.”
Taking this opportunity, Lucy asked more questions.
“So... how many people know your real name?”
“Hmm, three people?”
“One is me, who are the other two?”
“Uh...”
Should he tell her?
Hesitating, thinking it might cause trouble, Lucy’s eyebrows shot up.
“Are they women?”
Women.
He could just say yes, but he was reluctant to answer.
Lin felt a moment of hesitation, thinking that one of them had no interest in him from the start and the first one had long forgotten about him.
“It’s been so long, they’ve probably forgotten. You’re the only one who’s been curious about my name.”
“Then I’m the only one who knows?”
“...Yes.”
“I’m happy.”
Lucy gently stroked the back of Lin’s hand with her thumb.
“I’m the only one who knows you.”
As Lucy leaned closer, about to rest her head on Lin’s shoulder, Ravin interrupted them cheerfully.
“Here we are, my office!”
Despite glaring, it was hidden by the hood, so Ravin didn’t see it.
The so-called office had no desk, only a simple bed and a few backless wooden chairs.
“Make yourselves comfortable.”
As Ravin gestured for them to sit, he noticed the two holding hands and paused.
Seeing Ravin’s reaction, Lin tried to subtly pull his hand away, but Lucy intertwined their fingers more tightly.
Naturally, Ravin didn’t like that.
“The mage didn’t even acknowledge you!”
“Arsil didn’t heal you even when you were bandaging yourself!”
“The shield-bearer pretended to care but just looked down on you!”
“And the hero was verbally abusive, then fawned over the shield-bearer!”
“Is that how you treat a comrade? Even in the gutter, we didn’t treat the worst of us that way! It’s a betrayal of the promise! Treat a group member with respect!”
Lucy dropped Lin’s hand.
Those accusations, even a part of what the hero party did, hit her hard.
She felt exposed and wanted to hide.
Looking down, she saw the faint glow of the red thread she had once tied, feeling disgusted with herself.
Her former fiancé, who pretended to care only to hurt her, came to mind.
She hated that past fiercely.
Her eyes stung, but she didn’t deserve to cry.
She started to understand why Lin kept pushing her away.
She couldn’t blame him.
Despite feeling she had no right to cry, her vision blurred with tears.
Then, Lin intervened.
“Betrayal... not many have experienced it like us.”
“Yeah, when two nations decided to destroy the gutter...”
“And no one has experienced it like ‘us.’”
When Lin took her hand again, Lucy almost broke down.
Hold it in.
Don’t let a single tear fall.
Be grateful he’s holding your hand.
“Us?”
“Yes, us.”
Finally, Lin pulled back her hood, revealing her long, red ponytail, cat-like features, and tear-streaked face.
“Hero Luciena...! How could you be with Lin...”
“They cut off her limbs right after we defeated the Demon King. I had to rescue her.”
On the verge of an outburst, Ravin was stopped by Lin’s firm stance.
“Did your harsh words lead the hero party to betray you?”
“What are you talking about, Ravin?”
Even as she stepped forward, Lin didn’t let go of Lucy’s hand.
Her warmth was comforting.
“Those people were the hero party.”
“No, they were puppets of the empire. Only me and Lucy were the hero party. We were betrayed by the hero party, not the other way around.”
“...Are you really Lin?”
The conversation circled back.
“You were skinny and weak. Now you’re sturdy, and your voice is deeper... even your demeanor has changed.”
“Not really...”
“No.”
This time, Ravin interrupted.
“During our conversation, no matter the topic, your expression never changed. You seemed calm.”
Ravin stepped closer, almost nose-to-nose with Lin, teeth clenched.
“What happened to you? What pain made you so numb?”
Lucy didn’t understand.
Lin had always been like this.
“You’re like a doll now.”
That painful comment made Lin squeeze her hand tightly.
Lucy finally let her tears fall.