Chapter 6
I asked Kanna, the biggest victim, about Donau’s punishment. Normally, I’d report to the police and let the law handle it, but this is an isekai world. Plus, Evangeline’s a noble, so handling a criminal myself should be fine, right?
“Should I lock her away forever in some underground dungeon?”
Kanna and Hena looked at me. If that’s what she wants, I’ll make sure she eats prison rice for life.
But Kanna shook her head. Is she saying it’s too harsh? Is she an angel? No wonder she gets along with Hena. Fool, worry about yourself first!
“How about her neck?”
Now that I looked, Kanna’s throat wound was deeper than expected. A long red line like a thread stretched across her neck.
Is there any Holy Water left at home? Would that heal it without a scar? A glorious wound could be a badge of honor, but getting kidnapped isn’t glorious.
“Sounds good!”
Kanna replied with delight. Her reaction seemed a bit over the top? I wondered, then understood.
Getting kidnapped but rescued by the villainess who even worries about you—yeah, that’d move anyone. Kanna’s a maid at the Rohanson Mansion too. Compared to the ones who faint at the sight of me, this is nothing.
“Hic.”
Then suddenly Hena paled and covered her mouth. Not because of me, right? Hena’s gaze was toward my back. What’s behind me? Crap, Donau!
Did I take the knife Donau was holding? I whipped my head around to an unexpected sight.
I thought Donau would charge at me with the knife, but she was the one stabbed.
“Did you see it?”
“Yes. She stabbed her own throat.”
Kanna confirmed it.
Donau had killed herself. With only a knife in hand, she must have stabbed her own throat. Not her wrist, but the vital spot? Did she hate paying for her crimes that much?
Criminals always kill themselves to escape punishment! Isekai’s no different.
“Sorry. She went and died.”
I wanted her to taste justice….
“It’s fine. This is enough for me.”
Kanna’s eyes sparkled. Her bright smile was refreshingly free of grudges. So magnanimous….
“Thank you for saving me.”
Even her greeting was cheerful.
Huh? No, it’s not just the greeting that’s bright.
‘Isn’t it kinda bright around here?’
Whoa, crazy! Fire!
Fire had broken out behind Donau, lighting up the room. No wonder it was so visible despite the boarded windows and no lights!
Now I could see the whole interior at a glance. And the Summoning Circle drawn in the center of the room. No way, is that…? The one stolen from me?
Then this fire…. Donau must have summoned a fire spirit. So it was a spirit Summoning Circle! Dang…. How did she do it? She should’ve returned the paper or at least told me! Ungrateful criminal scum!
I hurriedly led Hena and Kanna out of the house. Good thing I’d smashed the door open. Smoke escaped through it, making it easier to breathe.
This jerk racked up one more crime before dying! If there were subtitles, it’d say (+arson). Theft, kidnapping, and arson! A triple crown winner!
Thankfully, the neighboring houses didn’t catch fire—must be some isekai fireproof building material. What quality! I should import this back.
Donau’s house burned fiercely on its own, a spectacular sight.
Tears almost welled up. My Summoning Circle… probably burned with it?
***
Rusty walls, musty room, cold soup, narrow hard bed, two-handspan window.
That was Kanna’s entire world.
She’d been sickly since birth. Difficult labor—her mother died giving birth. If she’d eaten her mom to be born, Kanna should’ve been healthy, but no. Kanna was always on the verge of death.
Dad worked himself to death for her medical bills, and now her sister Hena had taken his place.
Even after devouring two family members’ lifespans, Kanna didn’t get better. Now all she could do was lie in bed.
She couldn’t even lift a hand, let alone breathe easily. Hena hired a nurse and extended her work hours to pay for it. Kanna worried she’d devour her sister too.
But Kanna could do nothing. She wished she could tell her sister to give up on her hopeless case, but she wanted to live. She wanted to cling to this pathetic breath.
Hena called that hope.
“Kanna, see the people outside? I believe one day you’ll walk like them. I’ll make it happen. So let’s not give up on hope.”
From that moment, the tiny window became special to Kanna too.
In her unchanging daily routine, only the view outside changed. Sun rises, birds fly, kids run, sunset, everyone heads home for dinner, night falls.
Kanna inserted herself into the everyday scenery. Running and playing, going to work, coming home.
Then one day, a new scene appeared outside the window.
‘You’re here again today?’
A golden cat started dropping by Kanna’s window on its walks. It would perch on the sill, watch her, then saunter off.
When she could walk, she’d feed that cat. It wore a collar, so it had an owner—treats would do? The cat naturally claimed a spot in Kanna’s future.
“Kanna! Kanna!”
And then the miracle came.
“Are you okay? Does it still hurt?”
“I…. I’m okay.”
Her voice was hoarse, pronunciation sloppy and stammering. But at those words, Hena hugged her sobbing. Kanna’s shoulder soaked with tears, but she silently hugged back.
Hena got higher pay at Count Rohanson’s house. Lady Evangeline Rohanson, whom she recently served, heard Kanna’s story and donated Holy Water.
Holy Water was something a commoner had to save half a lifetime for just one bottle. Kanna realized Hena’s “hope” was this. Dad and sister sacrificed their lives for something others gave out of pity so easily. For just one bottle!
“I’m so glad. Really glad.”
But hearing Hena’s words melted Kanna’s anger. How could she be mad when the one who sacrificed her life was this happy?
Kanna gradually improved. Moving made her hungry, and eating well put meat on her bones. Hope arriving suddenly was unfamiliar and bewildering, but she was accepting it bit by bit. And Kanna decided to do what she’d always dreamed of.
Kanna stepped outside. She wandered aimlessly nearby or sat resting by the door.
Shy, she couldn’t greet or talk to kids. But basking in warm sun and hearing chattering voices made her feel she belonged ‘outside.’
‘Come to think of it, where’s that cat?’
She’d asked Hena to buy cat treats. She carried them in her pocket daily but never ran into it once. Changed its route? Hope it didn’t get hurt by some mean person.
Worrying but chilled from hanging outside, she thought Hena would be late today, so time to head in. At the edge of her vision, a golden tail swished by.
‘The cat?’
Kanna recalled Hena’s warning not to roam at night. Still daytime. Just a quick check so Hena wouldn’t worry. As she entered the alley, a man appeared.
Next she knew, she was in an unfamiliar room.
Mouth gagged, hands and feet bound. How long was she out? It was dark. Soon her eyes adjusted, and she could see around.
Thought she was alone, but there was someone else. A man sitting reading a paper intently. He must be the creep who attacked her. Furious, Kanna struggled. But her newly recovering body wouldn’t obey.
“What, you’re awake? I’m reading—don’t disturb me.”
A foul smell hit as he approached. Kanna instantly knew it: blood. She’d vomited enough not to recognize it? But aside from the bonds, she had no wounds. The smell was from him.
“Wait quietly till nightfall.”
He said, staring at the wall. Kanna twisted to look. Not a wall—boarded window. Her mind reeled.
Just seeing the blocked window shocked her more than the kidnapping. Windows were her hope. None visible here.
So despite his order to behave, Kanna thrashed.
She called for Hena. Screamed for help. He ignored everything. She sought hope. Showed her beyond the window. Night hadn’t fallen. When did Hena come home? She’d worry if Kanna was gone.
Kanna could do nothing. Back to the powerless patient waiting in bed for Hena before the Holy Water.
Seeking hope soon turned to curses.
Finally the sun set completely, the night he’d awaited. He lit a candle, picked up the knife. Die, die. Die. Accompanying her ravings unknowingly, he danced. Kanna stared unblinking.
Dance over, he knelt before her. She knew what came next—from the paper he’d chanted aloud dozens of times. Angel of light?
‘Sacrifice… me?’
