218 Third Party

Tick-tock.

The wall clock clattered as its hour hand moved. It was a classic design, the kind often used in clock towers. Mariang sat in her chair, staring at it blankly with a bored expression.

As she did so, she suddenly remembered the days when she had still been active in the Clock Tower.

She had enrolled about twelve years ago. Her enrollment had been a little late compared to others, so she was shunned at first, but in the end she brought home top-tier grades. Vividly, she also remembered secretly trampling those who crossed the line during that process.

‘It wasn’t a very enjoyable life.’

Unfortunately, the Clock Tower's students were so far below Mariang's level that the difference was extreme. Even if she knocked them down, there was no thrill or sense of accomplishment to be had.

Just as no one feels a rush of victory from stomping ants to death, Mariang felt little even when she beat them in duels. The only thing she had ever been interested in was finding a way to become stronger. She struggled on, chasing only that, and in the end became a criminal, but she did not regret it.

After all, hadn't she met her master? Just thinking of his face made her feel happy, so why on earth should she regret it?

The only thing that had ever annoyed her was the unwanted act of playing Eddie's lover. Even without any romantic feelings between them, just thinking about the brief time they had stuck together made her want to gag.

What's more, that bastard Eddie even had a real girlfriend on the side. Of course, Mariang didn't know what she looked like, and she had no intention of finding out...