Chapter 44: The Still-Alluring “Former” Fiancée

“Strange, where did everyone go? The alarm was so loud.”

Kane changed into fresh clothes, put on his mask, wore the handcuffs, and carried the bedside cabinet on his back as he moved through the corridors.

If it were the old Kane, he wouldn’t have had this kind of strength at all.

But after all, he had faced off many times against the Hand of the Undead Demon King in Training Mode (though it was really just a one-sided beatdown), so his constitution had strengthened somewhat.

Now, even shooting ten suns in a row wouldn’t be a problem for him.

Unfortunately, Kane had completely forgotten to account for the toll Enya had taken on him.

“My waist… Enya, that girl, really doesn’t hold back at all when she squeezes me dry.”

Somewhere in the corridor of the mansion, Kane was gasping for breath, supporting himself with both hands on the bedside cabinet.

According to his original plan, he should have run into patrolling soldiers by now. After all, with the invasion alarm blaring, all the soldiers in the mansion should have been mobilized.

But for some reason, after walking around for so long, he hadn’t even run into a single mouse.

And now, what little stamina he had left was completely exhausted.

He felt like he could fall asleep the moment he lay down.

Should I just take a nap? No matter what, it’s not like Enya will just come back and—Wait, crap, Enya!

Just as Kane was about to close his eyes, through the window, he saw Enya’s figure dashing down the corridor opposite him.

And she was getting closer.

Becoming clearer and clearer.

Enya was running straight this way.

Kane immediately wanted to pick up the bedside cabinet and run, but he really didn’t even have the strength left for that.

Fortunately, he noticed a window not far above his head.

At this distance, he could still make it.

Using the bedside cabinet for leverage, Kane stepped up and climbed onto the window.

At the exact moment Enya turned the corner into this corridor, he used the last bit of his strength to pull the bedside cabinet up after him, successfully avoiding a collision with Enya.

But because of the weight of the hanging bedside cabinet, his already weak body couldn’t support itself.

His body lost control and he fell backward, staring up at the ceiling.

——Bang!

“Ouch, my head…”

“Where is this…?”

Kane opened his eyes again.

Moist mist filled his vision, making it hard to see the surroundings clearly.

After a long moment, Kane finally realized that he had stumbled into the bathhouse.

Unbelievable. After all that running around, he’d ended up here.

From the very beginning, Kane had wanted to take a bath, but for various reasons, he had missed the chance several times.

And now, with no such intention, he had finally made it in.

Kane’s feelings were complicated— he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“But at least I finally broke free from the chains.”

Kane lifted his now-freed arms. Thanks to the impact of his fall just now, the handcuff chains had been smashed apart.

“Once Enya manages to shake off Seth and the others, she’ll definitely come back looking for me.”

Just in case, before confirming Enya had left, it was best for him to stay here.

Kane let out a long breath and sat down right where he was.

Because the temperature in the bathhouse was so high, Kane, with his mask and heavy cloak, felt like he was wearing thick armor. His body was growing heavier and heavier.

Within less than a minute, the heat seeped through his clothes, and the warmth soaked into his body through his pores, putting pressure on both his mind and body.

He had to take off his clothes.

Otherwise, he’d either suffocate or pass out from exhaustion.

Kane reached for his belt.

“Who’s there?”

But just as Kane was about to act, a cold, clear voice came from the misty front of the bathhouse. A hazy silhouette could be seen within the huge bath.

Someone was bathing inside.

From the voice, it sounded like a girl?!

This was bad. If he was mistaken for a pervert, there’d be no way to explain himself, not even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

Kane couldn’t care about anything else— he tried to get up and run.

But his clothes were so heavy that as soon as he stood, the pressure crushed him. Losing his balance, he stumbled forward and slid right to the edge of the bath.

Just his luck— the owner of that cold voice had also arrived at the edge of the bath at that very moment.

The mist slowly faded, and the hazy figure grew clearer.

Jet-black hair, a curvaceous figure, and those cold, distant eyes that kept everyone at arm’s length.

Seeing that familiar silhouette, Kane’s mind went completely blank.

——Vanessa von Silithes.

Damn, why is my ex-fiancée here?!

……

Just as Kane accidentally barged into the bathhouse where his ex-fiancée was bathing—

Night had fully fallen. It was nearly midnight, eleven o’clock, and the Blood Moon was at its brightest.

The Border Count’s Mansion, where the alarm had been raised, was ablaze with light, as bright as dawn.

A group of fully armed soldiers held torches high, surrounding the mansion so tightly that no one could enter or leave.

Seth, dressed in a skirted armor robe and with a ruby-encrusted sword at her waist, looked noble and dignified like a devout paladin.

But in truth, the reason she wore this outfit was simply because it looked cooler and more charming.

“Well? Have you caught the intruder?”

Seth questioned a squad of soldiers who had just returned.

The soldier replied, “The intruder is extremely cunning, having escaped our pursuit several times. We’re still doing our best to hunt them down.”

“This hard to catch?”

Seth frowned.

As the Border Count responsible for guarding the kingdom’s frontiers, the quality of her soldiers was by no means low.

Yet even so, they still hadn’t caught the intruder, which meant the enemy was definitely no ordinary person.

“Who could it be, daring to break into the Count’s Mansion so brazenly?”

“Could it be the Tower of Truth?”

“But what is her goal?”

“Why does it seem like she’s searching for something…”

Ever since the intruder was discovered, she had been darting around the mansion like a headless fly, causing the soldiers to be scattered all over the place.

“What about Her Highness and the Hero? Have they been notified?”

Seth turned to ask a female soldier beside her.

The female soldier replied, “According to Lady Beth, Her Highness is bathing right now. Someone has already gone to inform her, but the Young Hero is not in his room.”

“Not in his room?”

Seth was stunned, instinctively thinking that Taliya had snuck out for a midnight snack again.

But then she remembered— Taliya had just eaten with Kane not long ago. No matter how much of a foodie she was, she couldn’t have snuck out again.

Could she have gone to chase the intruder too?

Seth opened her mouth, about to give orders to intensify the search.

“Report! A suspicious figure has been spotted near the Observation Tower to the southeast!”

“Move out at once!”

Seth quickly changed her command. At her order, the fully armed soldiers marched in force toward the Observation Tower in the southeast.

But just as the whole army had barely taken two steps—

“Report! A suspicious figure has been spotted to the northwest!”

“Another intruder?!”

Seth’s voice rose in shock.

Could there be more than one intruder?

Seth was alarmed, but there was an even bigger problem.

The bathhouse was to the southwest, and Princess Vanessa was still bathing inside.

Without time to consider the reason, Seth immediately gave the order:

“All women, follow me to the southwest! The rest of you, head to the Observation Tower!”