Chapter 206

Chapter 206

The central square was bustling, caught in the fervor of a post-defense victory celebration.

Right next to it was a cafeteria.

Three women had gathered in this space, open late into the night in honor of the victorious celebration.

A red-haired mage in a wheelchair. A saintess in snug-fitting cleric robes. And a young sorceress with a foxy expression, her pointy hat pulled low.

Their names were Lilly, Saintess Margarita, and Junior. They huddled around a table.

"Alright, lets start the second meeting of the Crossroad Women Heroes and Mercenaries Rights Protection Committee, or for short, CWHMRPC," Lilly announced solemnly.

Junior, who was attending this gathering for the first time, furrowed her brows.

"Uh, Senior Lilly, can we change that abbreviation...?"

CWHMRPC? What was that? It didnt even sound like a dragon roaring or anything. More like someone puking... (TL Note: Dont worry, it made no sense in Korean too.)

"...Please understand, Junior. This name was coined by our President, Miss Evangeline. As the Vice President, I dont have the authority to change it."

Lilly sighed softly and looked towards Margarita.

"President Evangeline is currently confined to the temple due to injuries."

Margarita, who had just come from treating patients at the temple, nodded with a face full of dark circles.

"She is stable but needs to rest for at least today. She told me to apologize for her absence at your initiation ceremony... um, I mean, your welcoming party."

"You just said initiation ceremony, didnt you, Saintess? You definitely did!"

"Ah, no, its a welcoming party, a welcoming party."

Margarita dodged eye contact as she broke into a nervous sweat, and Juniors eyes twitched.

"So, I was invited, but what exactly is this gathering about?"

Lilly pulled out the cafeterias menu to answer.

"Its just as the name suggests. We unite as female heroes and mercenaries in Crossroad for our rights and"

"And?"

"have some chats, drink some booze, and get along."

So its just a casual get-together...

Deflated, Junior sank into her chair. She initially thought it was some grand event based on the name, but apparently not.

"Well, having a space like this isnt so bad, right?"

Lilly lifted her hand with a bright smile.

The cafeteria owner hurried over, and Lilly ordered a bottle of wine and a few simple appetizers.

"We should at least be friendly among ourselves in the grim monster frontlines. It was a great idea by Miss Evangeline. Oh, and shes covering all the meeting expenses."

At that, Juniors eyes lit up. Well, if thats the case...!

Soon, wine and appetizers were arranged on the table. The three women awkwardly toasted their filled glasses.

"So, shall we..."

"To commemorate todays victory?"

"Uh, cheers?"

Even the clink of their glasses seemed awkward.

Lilly savored the aroma of her wine, Margarita downed her shot, and Junior took a small sip before grimacing and putting her glass down.

Though their drinking styles differed, the atmosphere eased as soon as alcohol entered the equation.

Before long, the three women were giggling and gossiping away.

"Come to think of it, all the members of our group are single, right?"

As a new bottle of wine and appetizers arrived, Lilly shifted the conversation to the topic of romance.

"Saintess Margarita, youre such a beauty. Dont you have a boyfriend?"

Margarita, clad in her priestess robes, was undoubtedly a head-turner. Although shed been developing dark circles under her eyes lately...

After downing a glass of wine, Margarita shook her head with a sour face.

"Ive pledged my life to the Goddess. I have no interest in romance or marriage."

"Aww, priests are all the same. Boring."

Lilly, visibly annoyed, shifted her target.

"What about you, Juju?"

"Between magic training and providing for my siblings, Im too busy. And as you can see, my face isnt exactly inviting romantic opportunities."

Junior had a vivid burn scar on the left side of her face. She continued with a bitter smile.

"Also... I dont think Ill be living much longer."Rread latest chapters at novelhall.com

"Ah..."

"So Im dating myself. Im in love with magic. Thats more my style."

Junior lifted the mood with her hearty laughter. Lilly and Margarita joined in.

"Thats right, who needs men! Im in love with myself!"

"Lets live as fabulous career women!"

Just as the three women were about to toast with a unified Yay!, an unexpected, dreary voice interrupted.

"You never know what life has in store for you."

Startled, the three women turned to see an officer in imperial uniformReina, holding a cigarette, seemingly out of nowhere.

With a smirk, Reina extinguished her cigarette and winked at Junior.

"Even when you think youre going to die here, you might find yourself living much longer than you thought. Lifes unpredictable."

Junior frowned.

"What brings you here, Officer Reina? We didnt hear you were coming today."

"Youre so cold. Didnt I hear something about a Crossroad Women Heroes and Mercenaries meeting?"

Reina nonchalantly pulled out a chair and joined the table.

"I may be temporary support, but arent we comrades fighting on the walls of Crossroad? I think that gives me the right to join."

Reina stretched her arm and placed it over Margaritas shoulder.

"Isnt that right, Saintess?"

"I am Elize from the Winter Silver Merchant Guild. Although its a temporary membership, pleased to meet you."

A woman in a maids outfit, who was also a swordswoman, Elize bowed gracefully.

She then scanned the group with her cold, navy-blue eyes.

"Also, fortunately, it seems none of you consider Prince Ash as a love interest."

"...?"

"He has already chosen someone. Please maintain this attitude moving forward."

Prince Ash belongs to my master, Lady Serenade, so dont get any wrong ideas.

Elize tossed out this gauntlet.

Caught off guard by her blunt remark, Evangeline awkwardly scratched the back of her head.

"Oh, is that so? Hes made up his mind already? I see. To think he had chosen me..."

...Shes misunderstanding something.

Evangeline twisted her body in embarrassment.

"Ah, how foolish of me not to know his heart. Thats awkward... Understood, Elize. Ill make sure to keep any loiterers away from him!"

"As expected of Evangeline, you possess the wisdom befitting the heir to the Margrave of Crossroad. Thank you."

"Why would I let people stick to him? Ahahaha!"

"Indeed, quite the fitting sentiment. Hehehe..."

Amidst the slightly off-key conversation, they ordered more food in high spirits.

It was all meat, as if to cater to the warriors.

"Now, everyone, drink up! Ill cover all the costs!"

Beaming, Evangeline suddenly put on a serious face, stretched out her hand, and slowly clenched her fist.

"And then, by expanding the influence of CWHMRPC, Ill eventually gather all the female heroes of this city and..."

"Gather and then?"

"...take control of Crossroad!"

"..."

I mean... youll eventually take control of it anyway, as the heir to the Margrave of Crossroad...

Everyone thought that, but there was no reason to refuse free wine and snacks.

The party atmosphere deepened.

Evangeline and Elize ate meat, Saintess Margarita began drinking again, and Junior was lost in thought about the words Reina had tossed at her earlier.

As for Lilly,

"Hmph, what mission could he have taken thats keeping him from returning..."

She grumbled to herself, thinking about Godhand.

- Miss Lilly, my team and I are departing for our mission now. If we can return safely, I wish to apologize in person then.

- Well be on our way.

After saying that, he had been silent for a long while.

Maybe Godhand had left this front line for good.

He might not return. Maybe he ran away without looking back, ignoring the mission altogether.

Elves were all like that, really.

"Liars."

Lilly muttered as she took a sip from her glass.

"Liars..."

***

At the same time.

The three members of Shadow Squad were hanging in the underground dungeon.

Godhand. Bodybag. Burnout.

All three were bloody, having endured brutal torture. Godhand, in particular, was so battered that his face was a mess of blood.

Chained by the neck and both arms to the cold iron of the dungeon, they hung like cuts of meat in a butcher shoputterly pitiable.

"..."

Blood dripped, drip by drip, through Godhands green locks. His eyes slowly opened, blurred.

He heard something.

Clop. Clop.

The sound of shoe heels hitting the floor.

Then, with the harsh creaking of an iron door, someone entered the dungeon.

"Youve got some nerve, you elven spies."

Straining his blood-soaked vision, Godhand looked ahead.

"You dare crawl before me of your own volition."

Standing there was a dark-haired girl wearing a silver crown.

She looked barely ten years old, but that was deceptive.

She was actually one hundred and twenty years old; her name was Dusk Bringar, derived from the name of her dragon ancestor.

She had many titles.

Duchess Bringar. The Dragon-Lady Sovereign.

And simply, the Dragon Lady.

Her dragon eyes, like those of a reptile, had vertical slits for pupils. Radiating the aura of a malevolent dragon in her small frame

The Duchess who stood before the prisoners grinned wickedly.

"So, how would you like to die?"