Chapter 18 : Golden City (4)

“Finally, Goldenhaven has welcomed a new owner.”

The secretary’s report continued.

“A new trade route has opened using the Diamond Blade’s mining line and the Blue Dragon Society’s maritime route. The profit has increased by 30% compared to last year…”

Numbers followed. However, my gaze was fixed on Estelle. The shoulders of the ten-year-old girl now looked sturdy.

“How is the improvement in the treatment of the miners progressing?”

Estelle’s voice had strength. There was no longer any anxious tremor.

“The old exploitation system has been completely abolished. With the new welfare policies…”

“Good. Proceed as planned. We’ll clean up all the dark deals of the past.”

Estelle said proudly. There was a calmness in her eyes.

“We are also in the process of establishing an orphanage. The children will no longer have to work in the mines.”

“Meow! I’m glad I helped, nya!”

“Everything is thanks to Mr. Haru.”

Estelle smiled at me. Her young face already held the wisdom of a merchant.

I wonder how incredible she’ll become when she grows up.

“Uncovering the darkness of the Diamond Blade, stopping the violence of the Blue Dragon Society…”

Her gaze shifted to the city below the window.

“Now, the Golden Chariot Guild is a true guild. We no longer need to hide in the shadows. So…”

Estelle stood up from her seat. She walked to the window and gazed at the moonlight.

“I want to repay your kindness.”

She took out a small box. The golden decorations sparkled in the moonlight.

“Have you heard of Gaiah’s Gold?”

At that moment, Nia’s ears perked up. Her black tail puffed up, looking tense.

“The magic of the Giants is imbued in it…”

“Yes, it’s a treasure passed down through my family for generations.”

Estelle opened the box. A mysterious light seeped out.

I knew it was somewhere in Goldenhaven, but I never expected Estelle to have it.

“But this is…”

“Thanks to you, I protected my family. No object is too precious.”

“Thank you. I’ll use it well.”

“And… I have one more thing to say.”

Estelle’s voice trembled. The moonlight illuminated her silver hair.

“Yes?”

“Actually… since the first time we met…”

Her eyes began to glisten with tears. Ah, this situation…

“Meow! No, don’t!”

Nia suddenly pushed between us. Her black tail stood up threateningly.

“Haru-nyan is Nia’s butler! How dare a young female…”

Her sharp claws flashed in the moonlight. The murderous intent toward Estelle was clear.

“Nia, calm down.”

I grabbed her shoulder. This situation… I was used to it by now.

“I’ll handle this.”

Nia’s ears stood up, then flattened. She was still clearly wary, but her claws retracted.

“Ha… Mr. Haru…”

Estelle’s voice shook.

“I remember the first time we met. You appeared like a knight from a fairy tale… you saved me…”

A wry smile lingered on her lips. It was a familiar pattern. A pure admiration for the savior, which would eventually distort…

‘This is cute, in comparison.’

I remembered Aris’s possessive gaze. The obsession of a dragon who had lived for thousands of years.

Sylvia’s cold smile also flashed through my mind. The ominous feeling of the forest spirits watching me.

The wild gleam in Seraphine’s violet eyes was still vivid. The twisted desires hidden beneath her pure white wings.

Compared to them, this felt… almost innocent.

“Estelle.”

“Yes?”

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“You still have a long way to go, don’t you?”

Her eyes wavered.

“You’re leading the Golden Chariot Guild, transforming the city… you have so much to do.”

“But…”

“And above all.”

I smiled faintly and delivered the final blow.

“You’re still too young.”

Estelle’s face turned bright red.

“I… I’m about to turn twelve!”

She clenched her hands in protest, but it only made her look more like a little girl.

“Okay, okay, I like mature women.”

Estelle’s eyes welled up with tears.

“I-I’ll send you off now. After all, all I have is money…”

She lowered her head deeply.

“But…”

Her eyes glimmered dangerously in the moonlight.

“Once I grow up, be prepared.”

‘So this is what she’s going to say.’

I couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. Even as a yandere expert, I was quite familiar with these situations.

“Haru-nyan! Let’s go now!”

Nia grabbed my arm and pulled me away. Her black tail wagged with joy.

“Meow! Another female defeated, nya!”

As we walked down the moonlit alley, a sigh escaped me.

“Haru-nyan, how many times is this now?”

“I can’t even count.”

Nia’s tail wagged playfully.

“Meow! Haru-nyan really is popular with girls!”

‘Yeah… this is easier to deal with.’

Compared to the obsessive madness of the hero party, this was actually kind of cute.

“Now, I’ve finished everything I had to do here.”

I stood by the window of the hideout, leaning against the frame. It was the last night in this city.

I spread out the map and started looking for my next destination, but for some reason, a strange feeling crept up my spine.

Nia was quieter than usual. That was suspicious too.

The one who always chattered nonstop, today she was just swishing her tail beneath the moonlight, watching me silently.

Suddenly, our gazes met. Nia’s golden eyes sparkled like the moonlight.

“Haru nyang, wait a moment.”

Nia jumped onto the table.

“Why?”

I asked nonchalantly, but my fingertips trembled with tension. My intuition was warning me of danger.

“Meow meow! I have a fun story to tell you, Haru nyang!”

Nia’s tail swayed mischievously. Something felt off. Her expression looked too pleased.

“Nia?”

“Harunyang, did you know? Why Nia was so eager to commit crimes?”

My spine chilled instantly. Nia’s lips curled up wickedly.

“That’s…”

“Stealing from the Diamond Blade headquarters, invading the Blue Dragon Society’s ship, causing chaos at the auction house…”

Nia counted off each one with her fingers. Her black tail swayed dangerously.

“It was all Nia’s plan!”

“What…?”

“Now, Harunyang is a criminal too! Nia just sent all the evidence to the media!”

Nia laughed, a smug, cat-like grin.

“What did you say?”

“Meow meow! Cats are naturally cunning. Harunyang, you’re not as sharp as you seem?”

Nia grinned wickedly. Her golden eyes sparkled with the joy of victory.

“Now, Harunyang is in the same position as Nia!”

In that instant, everything clicked. All the suspicious actions, the seemingly unnecessary crimes… it was all part of a plan to trap me.

“All… targeting me?”

“Meow meow! Finally understood?”

Nia moved like she was dancing beneath the moonlight. Her black tail swayed to the rhythm.

“Now, Harunyang can’t return to the hero party! Saints, dragons, or elves won’t accept criminals!”

‘That doesn’t seem likely…’

Nia danced beneath the moonlight. Her black tail swayed in joy.

“Nia is the only one who will accept Harunyang! We’ll live together forever and ever!”

…

“You naughty cat…”

Her golden eyes gleamed with affection and obsession.

“From the moment we met… Harunyang has been Nia’s. When Harunyang saved Nia, Nia’s heart was already stolen.”

Her voice trembled. The moonlight illuminated her wet eyes.

“Only Haru understood Nia… everyone else called Nia a thief cat… but Haru was different…”

A laugh escaped me. Should I call this impressive?

“Meow? Harunyang is laughing?”

“Should I call you a genius cat? To come up with a plan like this?”

Nia’s ears perked up.

“Acting all confident doesn’t help! Now the married thieves’ gang begins! Harunyang is Nia’s partner!”

Nia looked very satisfied, like someone who had just won a game of chess.

“I can’t help it.”

I folded the map and stood up.

But Nia didn’t know. I had already predicted this situation.

“So… you reported it to the media?”

“Yes! I have all the evidence…”

“Strange.”

I stood up. Nia’s ears twitched suspiciously.

“What’s strange?”

“Did you see the newspaper this morning?”

I took the newspaper out of my pocket and spread it on the table. Nia’s golden eyes widened.

[Hero, no, Warrior! Eradicating the Corruption of Goldenhaven]

[The Sword of Justice Reveals the Blade’s Corruption] Diamond

[The City’s Hero Who Stopped the Blue Dragon Society’s Violence]

“Wh… what is this…!”

Nia’s ears perked up in shock.

“This can’t be! There must be evidence…!”

“Estelle is smart.”

I continued speaking slowly.

“If rumors spread that the hero you like is a criminal… what do you think she would do?”

Nia’s ears perked up.

“She would act to protect her honor. In the manner of the city’s greatest leader.”

“But… the evidence…”

“The media is always on the side of those with wealth and power.”

Nia’s tail drooped. It was the moment when her plan completely fell apart.

“Then… Harunyang…”

“I knew from the beginning.”

I smiled and said,

“I knew Nia was planning something. That’s why I intentionally helped Estelle.”

“Meow…?”

“I knew it would turn out like this.”

Nia’s expression twisted. Her golden eyes flashed with anger.

“This can’t be! Nia’s plan… Nia’s perfect plan…”

“The genius cat Nia’s plan… couldn’t overcome the warrior’s experience, it seems.”

The moonlight reflected her tearful expression.

“It seems like you still have a lot to learn?”

“Harunyang, you’re too much…”

Nia collapsed on the table as if fainting. Her black tail weakly swayed.

“Did you suspect me from the beginning?”

Nia whined. In the hideout where moonlight seeped in, her golden eyes glowed with sorrow.

“You tricked me too.”

I answered with a smile, and Nia’s tail swished in displeasure.

“Still… still, Harunyang is…”

“Come here.”

I opened my arms, and without hesitation, Nia ran into them.

“Nia loves Harunyang the most… Didn’t you have fun with Nia too? We can live like this, happily forever…”

As I hugged her, I quietly pulled something from my pocket. It was Gleipnir, ‘borrowed’ from the royal treasury.

Whoosh—

In an instant, the golden rope tied Nia’s body.

“Meow?! W-what is this?!”

Nia’s claws flashed, but it was useless. Gleipnir was a chain that could bind even a dragon, if only for a moment.

“Harunyang! This doesn’t make sense! What are you planning to do to Nia?! Are you planning something perverted?”

Nia still joked, but at the same time, her eyes flashed dangerously. No longer a playful cat, but eyes like a beast.

“Let me go! Or… or…”

“What will you do if I don’t?”

I gently petted Nia’s head. Her black ears trembled.

“Ugh… I believed you…”

Nia’s voice trembled.

“I… I believed in Harunyang…”

“I know.”

I softly scratched her belly, and the tension eased. Cats, as always, are weak when their belly is scratched.

“Purrr…”

Her tail began to wag slightly.

“Meow… No… This shouldn’t be happening…”

When I scratched behind her ears, she melted even more. When I stroked her tail, she completely gave up, her body limp.

“You’re cruel… exploiting Nia’s weakness…”

“You did the same to me.”

“That… that was love…”

Nia’s eyes shimmered wistfully.

“We’ll see each other next time.”

I patted her head one last time and stood up.

“Harunyang! Don’t go! Nia was wrong! I won’t steal again, I’ll listen to you from now on! Please…”

“Gleipnir will loosen in about 3 hours.”

“You can’t escape! Nia knows Harunyang’s scent!”

I turned at the door. Tears were barely visible in her eyes.

“Yeah. I know too.”

With a final smile, I opened the door. Nia’s cries pierced the night air.