I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 152
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Yeshion frantically searched his pockets, but he had brought nothing. He hadn’t expected this.
“M-my pay… not yet… I-I’ll pay next time—no, as soon as I get it—”
“What?”
Baine’s face twisted in a snarl as she strode toward him. Just as she grabbed him by the collar, someone outside kicked the wooden door.
“Let’s go. Now.”
It was that man with the pale blue eyes. He shot Yeshion a look, then turned and walked off.
Baine clicked her tongue and shoved Yeshion away.
“Double.”
“……”
“Six hundred gold. If you don’t bring it next time, I’m taking one of your ears. You’ve got two, what’s one less?”
Baine left those words behind and followed after the man.
Yeshion dropped to the ground with a thud, letting out a shallow breath.
“Idiot……”
Maybe the illusion had been a warning not to get involved with them in the first place.
Charging in with bravado, vowing to find out who was trying to kill Adelio, that had been a mistake.
He was scared.
Not for a single second did he want to stay here.
Yeshion pushed against the ground with trembling legs and stood up. He just wanted to get out of here as fast as possible.
But even with the wall to support him, it took him over two hours to return the distance he’d covered in just ten minutes earlier.
“Haah……”
Yeshion let out a long sigh and lifted his head.
The temple steps he usually passed without a second thought looked impossibly steep today.
“I just want to stay out here……”
But he couldn’t.
Not after telling Eldis earlier that he’d be back soon.
‘How many hours has it been…?’
It felt like at least three or four had passed.
Hoping Eldis had a full schedule today, Yeshion climbed the steps, checking his body’s condition beneath his robes with every slow movement.
Thank the heavens for the Divine Power woven into priest’s robes. If he’d met them in regular clothes, something definitely would have broken.
‘Maybe they knew that, and held back just enough.’
The only visible wound was the cut on his jaw, where the woman had stomped on his head.
The others had been so skilled in beating him that there wasn’t a scratch below his knees or elbows. But above that, his entire body was a map of bruises and welts.
“If I’m not careful, he’ll notice……”
How long would it take for these bruises to fade?
Would Eldis give him medicine if he asked? Without it, healing would take forever.
‘He wouldn’t ask me to do that again while I’m recovering… would he?’
If not for that, he thought he could hide the injuries. If Eldis found out who he’d met today, he’d definitely be furious, so he planned to say the gash on his chin was from a fall.
“I’m going to die……”
Climbing the steps felt endless. Finally, just as he was nearing the top…
“…Yeshion?”
Rosaline’s voice rang out from nearby.
Yeshion looked up to see him striding over, horrified.
“W-What is this… What happened to you?!”
“I—I fell.”
His awkward lie made Rosaline’s face twist.
“You think I’m going to believe that?”
“……”
“Come with me. Now.”
When Rosaline grabbed his arm and pulled, a sharp pain surged through Yeshion’s body, and he instinctively bit his lip.
But he couldn’t hold back the pained gasp that escaped through his teeth.
“You……”
Rosaline’s eyes narrowed as he saw Yeshion’s twisted expression. He yanked up the priestly robe without warning. Yeshion tried to stop him, but it was too late.
In Rosaline’s pale pink eyes, a deep, seething anger flared.
“Don’t move. Not unless you want me to really get mad.”
“……”
Rosaline examined the wounds and bit down hard on his lip.
It wasn’t just bruises, there were imprints from shoes on the pristine white robe, cuts, and discoloration everywhere.
He quickly pulled the robe back down so no one else would see, then gripped Yeshion’s hand tightly.
“Let’s go to the infirmary.”
“I…”
“No more talking. Just follow me.”
The unusually low tone silenced Yeshion immediately. Eyes lowered, he obediently followed behind.
And.
Not far away, Eldis, who had been watching it all, turned his gaze toward the place Yeshion had just returned from.
“…I seem to have forgotten there are still pests that need dealing with.”
His chilling voice scattered into the breeze.
