[Mek-pendragon]  Here it is! Please let me know of any grammar errors and the like!

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Chapter 6: My Mistress Decrees, The World Shall Obey

“Five rupee gold coins… This is quite a hefty sum even for a one time payment.”

I read the contents of the contract that Mr. Vincent handed me in regards to the small expedition  we talked about. Confused about many things, I curiously asked another question.

“What type of ruins are we traversing exactly?”

Mr vincent stares at me, tapping his fingers on the wooden surface of his table.

“It is because of that reason that the pay is high. Either you take it or leave it. The carriage for the mines will leave in four days. If you want to partake, now’s your only chance to sign up.”

I crossed my arms and tilted my head to think for a moment.

Indeed, the pay can be striking. A single rupee gold coin is enough to last me and Sharona a month of leisure. With that much money, I could buy her a lot of things and even have some leftover money on the side. It’s a very tempting offer—not one that I could refuse easily. But because of how vague the informations were presented to me, I’m having second thoughts.

Naturally, since were talking about Mr. Vincent, he thinks like a business man. Other than his daughter, everybody else can go to hell—including me.

“So you’re sending over twenty people to their deaths?”

After musing about it in my head, I couldn’t help but say that.

Right after he heard my provocative question, he gave me a look as if I did not understand anything. That I am nothing but a naive child, clueless on how the world works.

Maybe that’s also the reason why he did not retort me. He clasped his hands together and leaned forward, his expression retained neutral.

“So, what will it be?

“I’ll join,” I answered without hesitation. “I need the money so bad I’m willing to compromise.”

“Good,” He leaned back on his chair and twiddled with his pen. “Sign the documents and return in four days. Necessary equipment would be supplied on the job site.”

Following his instructions, I signed my name “Kekewne” at the bottom left on this fine print. It feels like I’m signing my death certificate, but I just laughed it off in my head. Hopefully, whatever troubles I would encounter in the near future would at least give me some space to run away.

I’m not the type to dive headlong into danger like this, but who knows? This job might be worth the risks in the end.

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After I’ve finished my business in the Glenis household, I went straight to the clock tower, per orders of my mistress. The sun up high feels like it’s burning my skin.

“Milady, do we really have to see the clock tower today?”

I asked my mistress, who took the same lazy position on my handcart. Her clothes disheveled and a different type of book was covering her face from the sun.

But it wasn’t because of how hot it is that I wanted to go home. There’s a gigantic crowd formed in front of the clock tower. Recalling what the old man in the gate had told me, this must be because of the princess’s visit.

“Yep,” she shivered for a moment, but that’s all she said.

I sighed and placed her on the side. A spot where the passing people wouldn’t even pay attention to her. After that, I crammed in and pierced through the crowd of people, looking for a way to get inside.

“Sorry, sorry. Let me through please!”

It’s as if we’re fanatics dying to see our lord. Plowing through this crowd maybe harder than I thought, but I persisted. Still, to gather this much crowd on a place such as Sharona, the princess must be a celebrity. Well, she is a princess after all.

It’s been a few decades since the Rukbein  republic separated from the nobility. That’s why noble visits like this are very rare occurrence. At least it is in my own opinion.

Onward, in front of the clocktower, three men stood with their feet planted on the ground. Other than their stern expressions that prohibits entry, their attire—consisting of a black vest on top of a white leather jacket with black leather pants and boots—made them seem important. Quite similar to that scary looking dude I came across to a few days ago.

That was all I saw until the crowd forces me back to where I originally started. Luckily, I landed on my butt.

“Ouch! Seems like our visit to the clocktower would have to be suspended.”

I stood up while massaging my behind and as soon I do, my mistress was already waiting for me. Her expression made me discern that she knew about my failure. She knew exactly what words would come out of my mouth.

“Sorry, the crowd is just too much. We can return some other day if milady wants?”

“No, I want to see what’s inside this building today.”

While she was demanding, I shifted my gaze at the clock tower and refreshed my memory.

The interior of the clocktower was gigantic, even bigger than how you would imagine it inside. Bookshelves lined the wall on both sides while the gears to operate this gigantic mechanism are guarded by metals bars. Right in the middle of that vast room was a spiraling stairs that reach to the upper echelons.

According to the rumors I came across to while I was reading the tomes here, most of the books were written and gathered all over the continent by none other than the great Sharona herself—the greatest alchemist in the world.

Due to this treasure trove of information, the clock tower is heavily manned. Compare to the town entrance, the clock tower could be described as a castle. That’s how important it is to the people here.

“Well, if milady has a plan on how to sneak past those guards, then sure. Why not?”

“Huhuhuhu,” she started laughing, as if I just asked something simple. “Nyahahaha!”

“Eerm…?”

While I was struggling on what to say, I noticed something different about her. Her eyes were lighted by that mysterious light, concealing her mesmerizing golden pupils at the same time.

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It was not windy. Not windy at all. But my mistress’s robe would seem like it would rip apart from the wind accumulating around her. Other than me, nobody seemed to have noticed this mystic occurrence.

“Milady?”

It wasn’t just her strange silence. This feeling was exactly similar from the time that fire was devouring our house. I still don’t know many things regarding Sharona, but it’s as if she was a different person entirely when she behaves this way.

“Time alter: RE-CODE.”

She raises her right hand, and starting from the space generating around her, the crowd was swallowed in a monochrome world. Pieces by pieces, bit by bit, it’s as if everything else cease to breath, except for the two of us.

My jaw dropped in surprise. Even then, that reaction was still insufficient on how omnipotent she appeared just now.

“Take me up there. Hurry!”

As soon as she proclaims that, a ticking sound reverberated in my ears. One, two, three… I couldn’t help but count.

“Ah, screw it!”

On the fifth ticking count, I carried my mistress like a sack and bursted my legs into a running momentum. After passing through these guys I would think as the princess’s guards, I rammed my shoulder on the arch door, forcing my way inside the clocktower.

More guards—just like the ones that were standing in attention behind me—circulated the stairs. Including the regular employees and the other staff members, everybody else froze in their spot.

I disregarded everything around me and continued upward.

Never in my wildest dreams have I expected to even visit the second floor. And yet, right now, we’re trudging to go even higher.

*Pak, pak, pak, pak, pak, pak, pak*

On the one hundred thirty-seventh tick, I reached the end of the stairs, and counting from the small observation I made inside my head, this should be the eleventh floor.

Slowing from my fastest run to a jog, I gazed at my surroundings. Contrast to how wide the other floors were, this one is a lot smaller, and the layout made it seem like it’s a hallway of books. This sudden change also gave me the impression that I’m nearing the top.

“Sharona, *haaa* were almost there,” I tricked myself into believing that.

“*huff* *huff* Hurry…” She was heavily panting.

This spell or whatever it is must be taking its toll on her. I need to hurry indeed. I can’t disappoint my mistress now.

However, at the other side of the room was a man. He had a familiar posture, but from how far he was, I can’t fully make sure. Behind him though, were the passage of stairs to reach the next level.

He gave me a bad feeling. I don’t why. It wasn’t because of that massive sword hanging on his back. I’m sure of it. I continued my run anyways, thinking that I would just deal with it if it comes. My heart was beating louder by the second.

*tik, tik, tik, Swoosh!*

My fears rang true! On the one hundred fiftieth tick, just before I could take my first step up, an eerie sensation jolted through me. That feeling told me to jump, and so I leaped to my feet backwards, knocking a single bookshelf in the process.

“What the… You! How did you get here?!”

The man pointed his gigantic sword towards me. Seeing his scary face and sharp brown eyes up close finally summarized the thoughts in my head. It was the same guy I spotted in the city a few days ago. Judging from the suit he’s wearing, this man might also be a princess’s guard. His left arm though, was covered by a metallic gauntlet, large enough to substitute for a shield.

“If you don’t answer, I will be force to cut you down,” He spoke once more, but this time, he took a proper stance. “A kid like you slipping through the royal guard, you must be a trained assassin.”

How I’d like him to at least notice the little girl I’m carrying on my shoulder. But at times like these, when a guy like him makes a conclusion, it’s futile to explain. I knew because I’ve been dealing with Mr. Vincent for almost a decade now.

I patted Sharona’s back and set her down. I merely stared into her sleepy eyes and she nodded her head. After that, my mistress walked some distance away from me and this guy.

“You scum, even bringing an innocent girl with you.”

Umm, more like it was me who was dragged into doing this mess?

Nonetheless, I don’t expect him to understand my reason. If forcing my way through is the only way to advance, then I will do so!

I pulled the knife I concealed in my clothes. Unlike my usual gathering knife, this one is coated by a strong paralytic poison, hence the reason I wrapped it in bandages. A simple cut is enough to fully immobilize a grown elephant. I know because I’ve tried it myself, and it worked.

“Before we start, is it possible for you to turn a blind eye and let us through?”

I figured I’d make my reason clear before anything else. However, the man kept his words to himself. He raised his sword, his face now almost hidden due to the thickness of his blade.

I drew a long breath and spun the knife with my index finger. I caught it and fisted my right hand with my thumb applying the pressure on the handle. I unwrapped the bandages and stepped back. The now fallen bookshelf was on our center and we circled around it.

There was no signal to start.

The man leaped into my field and threw a slash. I almost lost track of his strokes, which were nearly too fast despite the large sword. One hit is all he needs to end my life. I understood that, so I focused on avoiding instead.

Defending is not an option. That giant sword would rip me apart along with my knife. He pressed onward and struck a blow, only to cleave another bookshelf in twain behind me.

It was the perfect chance for me.

I turned my knife and went straight for the tender side of his neck.

However, the moment I thought of that possibility, I caught a glimpse of his smile and a line of blood drew an arch in the air.

“............................Ah?”