Can You Please Keep the Original Setting?

“Do you have any questions? You’re the first pretty person I’m seeing in a while, so I’ll tell you a thing or two.”

The woman said as she led the way. It seemed that what she had said earlier about me looking like this was probably a compliment.

I stared at the nape of her neck and the edge of her shoulder, which had an unsightly scar that looked shriveled as if it had been caused by fire. It would be useless to question this ridiculous situation, but to be honest, I was curious.

“Why did you bring me here? The Princess was there too.”

“Oh, you’re a little clever. That’s right.  The original plan was to bring the Princess, not you.”

As Red Tail reached out and pulled on one of the empty candlesticks, the wall split open, and a staircase leading up appeared. The dust that had been settled for a long time rose in the air. I closed my nose and mouth to avoid sneezing.

“But the Leader said you were worth more than the Princess. I’m still not sure, though. Hey, come on, stay near me. It will be a hassle if this closes.”

Hearing that, I quickly returned to her side. She then kicked the ground hard with her clunky boots.

Then, a part of one wall went all the way up, and a small stone gate appeared. The corridor they had just walked through disappeared as if it had never existed before.

Being in a place as strange and serene as the deep sea made me nervous. Mikael, the main character, went around the Catacombs with ease, but I was just a supporting role.

“It’s funny to talk about this with your hostage, isn’t it?”

She covered her mouth and giggled, and I shook my head unenthusiastically.

“Not really.”

“What? Are you all this boring?”

Sighing, Red Tail groped the wall and opened a hidden door. Like that, we climbed two more secret stairs before arriving in a narrow corridor with nothing.

At first glance, Red Tail seemed to have crossed a physically hidden path, but in reality, Zeno’s magic was involved in everything. It wouldn’t even be open without permission in the first place.

“I can’t believe you got a chance to see our Leader in person. Face him with great honor. Most people only know of his existence.”

“He’s not Elijah Dell.”

“Where do you think you are to mention that disgusting name?”

Under the dim lights, her eyes shone menacingly.

“You can’t possibly know the ugly side of the man you call your father. You are a young lady who grew up without knowing the world.”

“I told you earlier. I was called a burden there, too.”

“Contrary to what is said, he treats his daughter like a burden… That’s ugly in its own way.”

Giggling, Red Tail suddenly started tidying up her shirt and pants.

“Hey. Fix your clothes before going in…”

Then, as she looked at me from head to toe, she let out a fake laugh as if she had lost her spirit.

“It seems like your clothes don’t need to be fixed. Only your hair.”

Using my fingers, I combed my long hair without much hesitation. It was tangled worse than I thought, because of the friction of the blanket I was covered with earlier.

“That’s enough. This is the place where our Leader is.”

I raised my head silently at her words. A stone door could be seen stuck to the ceiling and hidden in a perfect camouflage.

“What? How did you know the entrance was up there?”

Red Tail opened her mouth wide.

“I just thought it was up there for some reason.”

How did I know? Well, I’m the one who set it all up.

“I heard that you absolutely cannot use magic. And you don’t even look like a knight.”

“I can’t use it. I have no power whatsoever.”

“Then why the hell is that scummy man taking you around with him when he’s treating you like a burden?”

She frowned slightly. I shrugged indifferently.

“You’re right. I wonder why.”

“Hmm.”

Red Tail stared at me with strange eyes, and I was unable to grasp her intentions for a moment. Then she muttered, “You’re really boring,” and pushed down a wooden ladder after pressing a stone on the wall.

As she went up one step, she pulled the doorknob while hanging from the ladder, and opened the small, round door on the ceiling. Then, she reached out her hand.

“Grab it.”

I hesitated for a moment and held out my left hand. Red Tail laughed.

“One hand? What are you trying to pull off with that weak body? If you want to separate your arm from your shoulder, I’ll help you.”

“Ah.”

I held onto her tightly with both hands. Without any effort, Red Tail grabbed me as if she were throwing me, and gently sat me in the doorway on the floor.

“Get up quickly. Don’t forget to be polite to our Leader. He really is a great man.”

Her red eyes were clear as she hung from the ladder and looked up at me. I got up very slowly from the ground. I really wasn’t feeling well.

As I stood there, pressing my temples, I could hear Red Tail coming up and closing the door on the floor.

“Over there.”

She pointed to a door in the distance. It was already half-open as if saying to come in quickly.