“You’re absolutely irredeemable trash! Stealing this mansion from Cherry Sinclair? Only garbage like you would stoop that low!”
The sudden shout came from a middle-aged woman named Emma, echoing below the mansion’s outer wall. Her tone sounded strangely theatrical, almost as if she were acting.
‘Wasn’t she the clothing store owner?’
“See? I told you so,” Amy said smugly, looking straight at me.
Emma’s outburst drew the monsters’ attention toward the villagers. The people facing off against Emma and the chef flinched in panic.
Kwaaahhh!
Then, the villagers threw two corpses at the approaching monsters. But even that wasn’t enough. In the end, the innkeeper was dragged away.
I quickly turned to look at Ethan and Nox. Shouldn’t we step in?
Ethan shook his head. Not yet. I bit my nails and continued watching.
Out of everyone down there, I wanted to save Emma and the chef. They felt different—less selfish than the rest of the villagers.
That’s when the villagers suddenly grabbed Emma and began dragging her forward.
“Damn it! Who cares if we’re trash? We just need to survive!”
“No! Let me go! Stop!”
The chef, still wearing his apron, clung desperately to Emma’s arm, trying to hold on. But the villagers outnumbered him.
They tore Emma from his grasp and shoved her toward the monsters—throwing her in as bait to save themselves.
I stared in disbelief, my eyes wide.
“Those insane bastards!”
I grabbed Ethan, who looked like he was about to jump out and act.
“Emma!!”
The chef shouted and ran toward Emma, who had just been sacrificed.
“Miss Cherry, now’s the time,” Ethan said, signaling me. He had been waiting for the right moment—when the villagers and the pair were far enough apart.
I didn’t hesitate. Grabbing a bundle of firewood, I hurled it with all my strength, like throwing a baseball.
Whoosh—
The bundle flew over the wall.
CRACK!
It landed right in front of the villagers and burst apart.
The monsters immediately shifted their focus away from Emma and the chef, turning instead toward the larger group of villagers.
The chef quickly assessed the situation, yanked Emma’s hand, and darted to the side.
‘Good. At least he’s quick on his feet.’
Emma, too, was sharp. Earlier—
“You’re absolutely irredeemable trash! Stealing this mansion from Cherry Sinclair? Only garbage like you would stoop that low!”
—those words had clearly been meant for me to hear.
I didn’t waste any time. I threw several more bundles of firewood toward the villagers.
“Miss Cherry, I think it’s time for some shooting. I’ll cover you,” Ethan said, pulling out his revolver and checking the cylinder. Then he gave orders to Nox and Amy.
“Nox, you and the kid get ready to open the gate.”
He looked at me like he already knew what I was thinking—that I wanted to save Emma and the chef.
“Open the gate?” Nox asked, frowning.
I nodded and explained.
“I think we should bring them in.”
Click. Ethan loaded his revolver and cocked it. I glanced at Nox and Amy, giving them a quick nod.
“Hurry and go. I’ll catch up soon.”
Nox, looking like he had no other choice, led Amy down from the roof. I wasn’t sure if Amy could actually open the main gate, but with Nox beside her, it should be fine.
Meanwhile, Ethan loaded his revolver, aimed it in the direction of the chef, and said,
“Miss Cherry, if you throw the firewood to lure them away, I’ll help the two escape from the opposite side.”
The plan was for me to distract the monsters with firewood, drawing them in the opposite direction of the escape route. Ethan would then shoot down any monsters blocking the pair’s path.
“Hey!”
I called out to the middle-aged couple.
The villagers turned to look as well. They must have realized I was talking, but so had the monsters—turning their focus to me, if only for a moment.
“The gate!”
I pointed toward it and hurled the firewood bundle in the opposite direction.
Bang! Bang!
Ethan immediately fired, killing the monsters blocking their path.
The chef and Emma ran for their lives. The villagers tried to push through the chaos and chase after them, but—
‘Not a chance.’
I threw firewood bundles repeatedly to block the villagers’ path.
Every throw hit its mark, and the sound of the bundles smashing apart echoed loudly.
“Aaargh! Nooo!”
Screams rang out from every direction. Damn it. More monsters were coming.
“P-please save us, Miss Cherry! Please, have mercy!”
The villagers—those same people who had once called me a lunatic and gossiped about me—were now begging for their lives. Somehow, they must have realized who I really was after seeing my name in the papers just before the world fell apart.
“Please! Show mercy! Save us!”
I stared down at them and then looked at the last bundle of firewood in my hands.
‘I don’t really need firewood.’
With the strength I had, I could just rip out the catapult and hurl it instead.
‘Forget this little bundle. Maybe I should just send the whole catapult flying.’
These people had schemed to kill me and take my mansion. And now, I’d seen firsthand how they threw their own neighbors to the monsters without hesitation.
Why should I show them mercy? Once was enough. I’m not some god—they had no right to expect anything from me.
“Later, when my conscience tries to guilt-trip me, I’ll need something to say back.”
“One act of mercy is enough to maintain a shred of humanity.”
I had already given them that one chance. I’d done more than enough.
Now that society’s restraints had crumbled, I needed to abandon any lingering softness to survive.
Or maybe... I should just climb down and wipe them all out myself.
As my thoughts grew darker, the blackened emotions seeping into my mind, a sudden weight pressed over my ears.
It didn’t completely block out the noise, but it dulled my senses just enough to calm the storm inside me.
I looked up. Ethan was covering my ears with both hands.
I blinked at him in confusion.
He gazed down at me with a hardened expression before leaning in close—his lips almost brushing against my ear.
“Don’t listen to the trash, Miss Cherry. It’ll stain your soul.”
His low voice rumbled gently, soothing me despite its sharp edge.
It was... gentle.
His voice was flat, devoid of any emotion. And yet, for some reason, it felt strangely gentle to me.
‘That was close.’
If it hadn’t been for Ethan, I might have actually ripped the catapult out and hurled it.
‘I can’t let myself be the one who crosses that line. No matter what happens, I can’t kill people with my own hands.’
As that thought lingered, I glanced at Ethan again, suddenly aware of his presence.
He was still looking at me with that same steady expression—completely unshaken, like a stake driven deep into solid ground.
“Thanks.”
The words came out awkwardly, but I meant them.
There was no time to dwell on emotions, though.
The firewood distraction was losing its effect, and the middle-aged couple still hadn’t reached the gate.
It wasn’t surprising. Unlike us, they were just ordinary people.
To make things worse, they had pressed themselves close to the wall, making it difficult for Ethan to get a clear shot with his revolver.
And now that the noise had attracted even more monsters, it didn’t seem like they’d be able to move forward at all.
I hesitated briefly before reaching for the axe strapped to my back.
The distance between the roof’s edge and the wall wasn’t too far. If I jumped with all my strength, I could make it.
The monsters swarming below would be an issue, but if I moved quickly enough, I could stomp through them without getting bogged down.
‘If I’ve decided to help them, I need to follow through.’
If I only pretended to care—if I helped them halfway and then patted myself on the back for “trying my best”—it would leave a bad taste in my mouth.
Once I made up my mind, I pulled out the Elphinus herb I always carried in my belt pouch and swallowed it.
Unlike Ethan, I actually needed it. And Elphinus herbs tasted absolutely disgusting.
‘Like chewing poison.’
I grimaced, wiping my mouth as I stood up. Ethan gave me a confused look.
“Miss Cherry, what was that just now—?”
Then his eyes fell to the axe in my hands, and his expression darkened.
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“Wait... you’re not seriously planning to jump down, are you?”
I didn’t answer, just gave him an awkward smile while gripping the axe tighter.
Ethan clicked his tongue in irritation.
“Unbelievable.”
He holstered his revolver and drew his sword instead.
“Fine. I’ll cover you. Lead the way.”
“I can handle this on my ow—”
“Don’t even think about arguing.”
And just like that, any chance of going alone disappeared.
Muttering under his breath, Ethan vaulted over the railing of the lookout platform without hesitation.