Chapter 37: Just a Little Bit More

Via’s mouth was suddenly covered. She was pulled backward by an unfamiliar girl and dragged into an abandoned house.

She turned her head. In the pitch-black ruins, she couldn’t make out the other’s face—only a slender finger pressed against the girl’s lips.

The meaning was clear.

Stay quiet.

Via sensed the intent. This person wanted to help her.

So she nodded and did not resist.

In the alley, the noisy footsteps from both sides finally converged.

“Hm? Why is it you from the Enforcement Guard? The suspicious person vanished.”

“You were chasing someone?”

“Yes. Did you see anyone on the other side of the alley exit?”

“No.”

“How could they just disappear into thin air?”

Via prayed silently that these people would leave quickly.

Yet one remark from an Enforcement Guard soldier made her heart leap into her throat.

“There’s an abandoned house here. Should we check inside?”

“…”

Via could clearly feel the girl beside her tense up; her heartbeat quickened slightly.

This was bad.

She and the girl were hiding behind a rotting wooden door. If they were discovered here, escape would be impossible.

The sound of armor scraping against brick echoed inside the ruined house. Following the Enforcement Guard’s suggestion, one Holy Knight stepped in.

Clank, clank, clank—

Each lift and fall of those metal boots felt like it was stomping directly on Via’s heart, making her afraid to even breathe.

The footsteps drew closer and closer.

What now?

Via’s mind raced.

The instant they spotted her, unleash magic and attack?

No—even if she blinded them with a flash spell, there were still so many Holy Knights and Enforcement Guards outside. She would never escape.

With her current strength, she couldn’t possibly handle that many.

If her identity were exposed here, the only path left was death.

“Hm? There’s actually a door panel here. Quite well hidden.”

In Via’s field of vision appeared a metal-gauntleted hand already gripping the edge of the panel.

She had no time left to think. In two seconds, she would be completely exposed.

The panel was slowly being pulled backward.

“This is bad!!”

Suddenly, a panicked shout rang out from outside the ruined house, halting the Holy Knight’s movement.

He straightened and looked outward.

“Those criminals have gone mad—they’ve started a riot! A large group is gathering, trying to force their way through the docks!”

“How dare they?”

“Someone is carrying a magical core infected with abyssal aura—they’re on the verge of turning into a Demonized Being!”

“A Demonized Being is about to appear? Hurry, we must return and provide support!”

The Holy Knight inside the house immediately withdrew, rushing off with the others and leaving the area.

Eh?

Via was inwardly shocked. Could it be that the abyssal-infected magical core the Holy Knight Order and Enforcement Guard came to the underground black market for wasn’t the one on her, but belonged to someone else?

Regardless, she finally let out a breath of relief. At least the immediate crisis had passed.

“Phew…”

Having escaped disaster, Via exhaled.

At some point, the unfamiliar girl beside her had released her hand and was no longer covering Via’s mouth.

She stood up from behind the decayed panel and discovered the girl had already moved to the only exit of the ruined house, one foot already stepping out.

“…”

Perhaps sensing Via’s gaze, the girl turned back and looked at her.

In the thick, silent darkness, the two stared at each other for a full five seconds.

Neither spoke.

After that subtle silence, the girl’s figure vanished into the alley.

“Who on earth was that person? So strange.”

Via didn’t call out to ask. She had a feeling that getting too involved with that person would only invite trouble.

She set it aside for now. First, she had to find a way out of the underground black market.

She moved to the entrance of the ruined house, listened carefully for a long while, and only dared to stride away once she was sure the alley was quiet.

When she stepped out of the small alley and light finally fell on her body, she noticed a strand of blue hair on her shoulder?

“Left behind by that girl?”

Via pinched the long blue strand, somewhat puzzled.

…

…

“It’s complete chaos out there.”

Via poked her head out, looking at the littered, disorderly streets of the underground black market and frowning.

After leaving the alley, she had managed to shake off the Holy Knights and Enforcement Guard. She crept along carefully, avoiding people while searching for an exit from the underground black market.

Although the appearance of someone on the verge of becoming a Demonized Being had drawn most of the attention and eased her escape, she had also discovered a troublesome problem.

This was her first time in the underground black market; she was completely unfamiliar with the area. The only exit she knew of was the docks.

If there were other hidden passages, she had no idea where they were.

“Should I keep searching for a way out, or find a safe place and hide until everything blows over?”

Via was truly troubled.

She never imagined her first visit to the underground black market would encounter something like this.

“Hm? Isn’t that Goren?”

While the pink-haired girl agonized, she unexpectedly spotted a short figure weaving through the streets like a thief, nervously clutching something to his chest, accompanied by a magical puppet.

She didn’t even need to guess—Goren was definitely carrying the Moon Shadow Stone.

This shrewd black-market merchant had operated in the underground black market for many years; he must have a way out.

“In that case, I’ll follow him.”

Via sprang into action.

She wasn’t wearing her mask or black robe, so she naturally couldn’t reveal herself and walk with him openly.

Thus, she chose to tail him quietly.

And so, Via followed Goren, threading through the chaotic underground black market until they reached a narrow path.

Goren stood at the end of the path, glanced around, then leapt forward. The magical puppet shrank in behind him, and together they vanished.

“There’s a hidden passage there?”

Joy surged in Via’s heart. She stealthily approached and indeed found a concealed opening just big enough for one person—this was absolutely Goren’s secret escape route.

If she could reach that spot, she would be safe!

Snap!

Blinding light flared, shining directly on Via.

Her excited expression froze on her face. She stiffly turned her head and found—Holy Knights.

“Miss Via… ? Why are you here?”

The Holy Knights were all astonished and exchanged glances.

“…”

Via fell silent.

Just a little more—just a tiny bit more.

Why was she so unlucky?

“Our apologies, Miss Via. Procedure must be followed. You are simply too suspicious right now.”

The Holy Knights closed in. One of them even carried a device for detecting abyssal aura.

Via lowered her head.

The abyssal-infected magical core she carried would soon be exposed, and she would be treated as a heretic.

“Stop! Don’t you dare bully my little sister!”