Chapter 184 - A Dilemma

If she had run into him in a different situation, she would have only been filled with joy. She would cry as much as she wanted, thank him that he survived, tell him that she missed him and was glad to see him, act like a baby sister, listen to how he had been all along, and promise that she would protect him from now on. She wanted to do all of that. She just wanted to be engrossed in the fact that Benhiram was alive. However, in this situation, it was strange. She could not merely be happy now.

‘The one I’m after is the culprit of the missing incidents.’

Enduring emotions surging up inside her, Azriel called, “Benhiram.”

“Yes?” he replied.

“Were you kidnapping people with unnamable mana?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered her lightly to the point that it sounded bright.

Azriel swallowed her groan and opened her eyes. “Why?”

“It’s my job,” he said.

“What kind of a job is this?” she asked.

There was no response. Her twin brother only looked down at her with a neat smile on his face.

“You said… you were looking for me. When did you find me?” she asked.

“It’s been a while,” he said.

“Why didn’t you come to see me right away? Why did it have to be th-this way…?” She could not continue.

“You know, I’m not in the position to meet you right away.” Benhiram shrugged and pointed behind her. It was where Marthi was protecting the target who could have been kidnapped.

Azriel turned back and looked back at Benhiram. In a low voice, she asked, “…What happened 12 years ago?”

“…”

“How have you been living for the past 12 years?” she asked.

“…”

“Why are you kidnapping people? Did you get caught up in a bad situation or are you being forced by chance?” she asked. Benhiram maintained his smile and did not respond. Feeling that her eyes were welling up, Azriel dabbed her eyes with her finger and continued, “I became a wizard. Now, I can help you. So, please, tell me what’s happening. Benhiram, I—”

“Another time.” He cut her off. “People are coming, so let’s talk later.”

“An-another time? When?” she asked.

“Let’s meet at the top of the clock tower in the central square four days from now at midnight,” Benhiram added, pulling down his hood again. “Don’t tell anyone about me, especially the broken watchman.”

“What?” she said.

She could not believe her ears. ‘Why am I hearing the word watchman here?’ She could not help but wonder why the expression watchman, which she had only learned recently, came out of her twin brother’s mouth. What was worse, he called Rhema the “broken watchman.”

Benhiram slightly lifted his hood. Under the shade, his golden eyes sparkled like stars, boring into her. “You know him, the Wizard of the Horizon, the one who gave the name you’re using now.”

“How do you know him?” she asked.

“I know more things than you. I also know that he is very dangerous,” he said.

“That’s—”

She could hear people coming from a distance. They were probably from the Topaz Guild, arriving after receiving her communication. After putting back his hood, Benhiram pointed in Marthi’s direction.

“Since I couldn’t bring him, that person will die soon by the hand of the watchman,” he said.

“Who? Are you talking about the one you were going to kidnap? Is he going to get killed by Rhema because you failed?” she asked.

“You are quick to understand. You’ve always been smart,” he said.

“What do you know? What are you doing exactly?” she asked in desperation.

Benhiram stepped back. “Ramhita, I am your brother. A brother should protect his sister.”

“…!”

She remembered what the seven-year-old Benhiram said as if to promise while hiding her first. He bitterly smiled. “I want to protect you this time, too. That is why. So, please, I want you to believe me.”

“What… do you want me to believe?” she asked.

“Me, not the watchman,” he replied.

Her head became blank. She stared at him without even blinking.

“I’ll be waiting for you in four days. I’ll tell you everything I know then.” Benhiram jumped off the roof, disappearing quickly. Azriel was frozen in the spot for a long time.