But like the saying, blood doesn’t lie, Tobias didn’t faint easily.

‘Insane!’

I was astonished. Tobias had cut his own arm with a sword.

Nonchalantly shaking his arm dripping with fresh blood, he smirked.

“Do you like that necklace? Take it if you wish.”

I wanted to retort, ‘Who cares about a necklace on the floor,’ but my arms were twisted behind me, preventing me from saying anything.

Tobias breathed hotly into my ear. Anyone would think this was a scene of an illicit affair, but it was a threat.

“Open the door now. Or else, I will cripple you.”

Chills ran down my spine.

This man was serious.

Tobias was speaking with 100% sincerity.

I quickly thought.

‘If he knows that I don’t have the holy sword… if he knows…’

But things had changed significantly from a moment ago when I thought he would kill me.

At least he wouldn’t kill me.

Kidnapping maybe.

“…I’ll open it. Let go of me.”

Tobias obediently released my arm.

“Don’t do anything foolish.”

I wanted to cry. Why couldn’t Amy find me yet?

Is Hades Croitner so oblivious that he can’t notice two people scuffling in front of the report he treasures so much?

Since they were not coming, all I could do was obey Tobias and look for a chance to escape.

I closed and opened my eyes.

The day now felt like a distant memory. The order of the marble tiles that I had pressed appeared in my mind.

They symbolized the seven professions of Leodel.

Like that day, I began to press the tiles in the established order.

With a rumble, the door slowly opened.

“…Really, you were told.”

Tobias muttered in a slightly disappointed voice, then confidently walked in.

‘Now’s the time!’
I didn’t miss the opportunity. While he was distracted by the report, I dashed toward the corridor.

I almost succeeded.

If it weren’t for that damned necklace…!

Thud.

I tripped over ‘Tatiana’s Glow,’ which I had carelessly thrown on the floor earlier, and fell flat on the marble surface.

At the same time, a scream of disbelief echoed from inside the report room.

“The sacred sword is missing!”

I tried to get up quickly, but Tobias was faster.

He roughly grabbed the collar of my shirt.

His eyes were bloodshot, all signs of previous courtesy gone.

“Where is the sacred sword? Answer now!”

“I don’t know.”

I answered briefly.

“I didn’t even know the sacred sword was here.”

“That’s nonsense…!”

Tobias shook me.

“It’s common knowledge that Donovan’s report has the sacred sword. It can’t leave the report room. No one should!”

Who was the person who tried to take it out?

But provoking him now would be suicidal, so I kept my mouth shut.

Tobias glared at me with a chilling gaze.

“Tell me where the sacred sword is.”

“How can I tell you something I don’t know…”

“You do know.”

Tobias spat out each word as if chewing on them.

“You came in here to move the sacred sword. Yes, that’s why. That bastard taught a mere servant how to open the report room…”

His grip tightened.

“Speak. Where is it exactly?”

I gasped for air. There was no answer to give Tobias, and even if there was, I couldn’t get it past my choked throat.

Tobias seemed utterly oblivious to this.

Instead, he tightened his grip around my neck, his actions those of a man who had lost all reason.

Just as my vision began to dim and flicker.

Boom!

With a loud explosion, Tobias’s hand was completely off me.

Instinctively anticipating the impact of hitting the floor, I shielded my head.

‘…?’

There was no impact at all.

Instead…

Strong arms, large hands were supporting me.

I stared blankly at the face looking down at me from above.

Eyes similar to Tobias’s but distinctly different in their unwavering steadiness, the eyes of amethyst met mine.

“…Hades.”

It was the first time I voluntarily called his name.