Chapter 9: As Long as I Die

Hearing Spark’s explanation, Ainola could not help but feel a bit afraid.

“According to you, since this is a product left behind by the Great Cataclysm of the Abyssal Rift, isn’t it very dangerous down there?”

Spark thought for a moment, folded her arms, shook her head, and said, “I don’t know.”

No one knew what it was really like beneath the abyss, so naturally, Spark dared not conclude whether it was dangerous or not.

However, since Ainola had already reached this point and the encircling net of the Temple Knights was tightening, she knew she had no retreat.

She braced herself and said, “I guess I have to take it one step at a time… Spark, how much longer until the Temple Knights arrive?”

“If my predictions are correct, they should be here by the morning after tomorrow.”

The mobilization of the Temple Knights took time, and tracking Ainola’s trail took time; no matter how fast Anderson was, he could not have pinpointed Ainola’s location instantly.

“Is that so?”

After giving it some thought, Ainola decided to rest here for a while.

She gathered some wood and started a simple campfire.

As night fell, the campfire Ainola lit dispelled the evening chill.

Watching the flames, she could not help but think back to that fire in the Royal Palace all those years ago.

It had burned away everything she had and forced her into a life of drifting.

Everyone she was close to had perished in that fire, leaving only her, holding onto a final shred of resentment as she embarked on her journey of revenge.

Yet, upon meeting the target herself, she found his image deviated slightly from her original plan.

‘Perhaps… I am still too kind.’

Hearing Ainola muttering to herself, Spark nodded in agreement.

“Indeed, if you had just killed Anderson directly, you wouldn’t have to worry about so many things.”

“We’ve known each other for over a year, and he even saved my life once… I really just can’t bring myself to do it.”

Ainola sighed, looking up at the two full moons in the sky, unable to help but feel nostalgic for her past life.

At the very least, life in her previous world was far more peaceful than in this damnable alternate world.

She wouldn’t have to run around every single day just to stay alive.

In fact, living with Anderson for this past year was probably the most comfortable time she had ever spent, right?

“You seem a bit reluctant to let him go?”

“I’m just reluctant to give up that bed.”

Ainola generally kept her inner world hidden deep; she would not reveal her true feelings to anyone, not even her closest companion, the small spirit.

However, based on what Spark knew of Ainola, she must have seen through her, just without pointing it out.

“You should get some sleep first, I will keep watch for you.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

As Ainola’s personal spirit, Spark could not be seen by a third party.

Usually, when it was time to sleep at night, Spark would keep watch for Ainola.

Otherwise, this young girl would not be able to sleep peacefully.

The flames gradually began to die out, leaving only a few embers that radiated warmth into the dark night.

Once the surroundings were completely pitch black, Anderson arrived on the scene, one step ahead of the Temple Knights.

Right now, he was squatting in the bushes, peering through the gaps and seeing Ainola sleeping on the grass.

“Tsk tsk~ I finally found you.”

Anderson moved with extreme caution.

Having spent a year with her, he knew that Ainola’s sleep was always light; any sound would startle the young girl awake.

Furthermore, now that the encirclement had not yet fully formed, Ainola’s ability to escape was famous throughout the assassin world.

Therefore, Anderson had to proceed with extreme caution.

After lying in ambush, he began to wait for the right moment.

Although Ainola was a light sleeper, three o’clock in the morning was when she would be in her deepest slumber.

By then, the encirclement would be complete, and she would have nowhere to run.

However, Anderson was a bit puzzled; why would Ainola come to a place like this in the middle of the night?

There were cliffs on three sides; if she was looking to escape, this was definitely not a good place to be.

As for leaving from the bottom of the abyss, Anderson felt that was an unrealistic possibility.

It was far too deep down there, and no rope could possibly reach the valley floor.

As for flying down, that was even more laughable.

The sky above the abyss was covered in lethal Miasma; once inhaled, one would become dizzy, and within half a minute, they would fall unconscious.

The Kingdom of Huiyao had once attempted to send people down to investigate, and three full teams of the top explorers had gone in, never to return.

The abyss beneath them was like a gaping maw, swallowing anyone who tried to enter it.

Time passed quickly, and soon it was the middle of the night.

Anderson looked at Ainola’s position, noting the girl was still asleep with no sign of waking up.

Thus, Anderson began his move.

He hunched his back and crept little by little toward Ainola.

In his hand was not a lethal longsword, but a net infused with a paralyzing agent.

Anderson wanted to capture Ainola alive, then give her a firm spanking.

“Hey!”

Spark, who had never expected Anderson to track them down so quickly, hurriedly called out to Ainola: “Wake up! Someone has come to catch you!”

Because Spark was a spirit, Anderson could not see her figure nor hear her voice.

He could only see Ainola waking up from her dream in an instant.

Seeing that things were going poorly, Anderson quickly threw the net in his hand.

But it was too late; Ainola was fast, and she performed a backflip to dodge the net.

With eyes completely devoid of sleepiness, she looked at Anderson and teased, “I didn’t expect you to find me so quickly, Anderson.”

“And I didn’t expect you to be sleeping so soundly in a place like this.”

Anderson had no choice but to draw his knight’s sword and say to Ainola, “My dear Miss Red Sparrow, would you be so kind as to put down your weapons and give me the antidote? For the sake of our past, I will not hurt you.”

“Blegh~” Ainola stuck out her little tongue at Anderson, looking very playful and cute as she said, “I’m sorry, but I don’t have the antidote on me.”

Of course, she wouldn’t give the antidote to Anderson; even if she were to die or jump off this cliff, she would never give it to him.

Otherwise, all her efforts would have been in vain.

“Is that so?”

After a moment of silence, Anderson assumed a battle stance and said, “Then I have no choice but to use force, Ainola.”

Ainola looked at the Temple Knights appearing one after another behind Anderson, but a pleasant smile appeared on her face.

As expected, Anderson had no intention of killing her.

But her own plan would not end here.

She said to Anderson, “Do you know why I came here?”

Seeing Ainola retreating bit by bit toward the edge of the cliff, Anderson felt a sense of foreboding in his heart.

“Anderson, I am the only one who knows how to make the antidote. So~ as long as I die, you will never be able to be cured for as long as you live. Am I right?”

On Ainola’s face was an expression of pure, pleasant joy.