ERTHMB Chapter 65

The Storm Passes

 

The monotonous tone briefly obscured the content.

 

‘Did I just hear that he robbed the lord’s gold?’

 

What nerve. Helena looked up at Elai with eyes that went beyond admiration to near shock.

 

“……How?”

 

“I changed clothes quite a lot today. The most fun part was when I switched with the treasury keeper.”

 

Helena finally understood. Why his forehead was beaded with sweat despite the weather. He must have been busily running around here and there before coming to the lord.

 

Having completely exited the corridor, he headed toward a deserted area.

 

“Ah, there he is.”

 

A figure could be seen sitting with his back against a remote wall. Getting closer, it was the lord’s knight. He had removed his armor and placed it beside him.

 

Considering the bruise on the back of the knight’s neck and his unconscious state… the expression “returning” might be more appropriate.

 

He roughly placed the helmet on the unconscious knight’s head and led Helena away again.

 

After leaving the lord’s estate and entering the busy district, Helena cautiously looked up at him.

 

She hadn’t noticed before since they always met in chaotic situations, but he had quite an attractive appearance.

 

His speech, expressions, and actions that naturally exuded leisureliness like breathing also contributed to his distinctive atmosphere.

 

Taking her gaze away from his unhurried gait, Helena expressed her gratitude.

 

“Then and now… thank you for helping me.”

 

Elai’s eyebrow shot up. He glanced at Helena and answered matter-of-factly.

 

“No need to thank me. I just wanted to do it, and you happened to be there first in that situation. Besides, even if I hadn’t been there, you would have handled things somehow.”

 

“It must have seemed like foolish stubbornness.”

 

“I like people like that. Regardless of the outcome, good intentions are never foolish. And.”

 

Elai’s head turned downward.

 

“Your ankle.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

His vivid red eyes fixed on the ankle that occasionally showed beneath the green velvet dress.

 

He stared intently as if checking whether the ankle moved properly, then raised his gaze to meet Helena’s eyes.

 

“You said you’d repay me somehow. Think of it casually.”

 

“It wasn’t your fault…”

 

“And I’m not free labor either.”

 

He waved his hand dismissively as if to forbid any further gratitude. Surprisingly, three gold coins appeared in his previously clenched fist.

 

“No one would notice if three gold coins disappeared from a full treasury.”

 

The yellow metals glinted under the midday sun. The three gold coins smoothly rose into the air and settled back into his palm.

 

Elai repeated this action several times like rolling dice, speaking leisurely.

 

“This is my service fee.”

 

When he finally clenched and opened his fist, the gold coins had vanished without a trace. While Helena watched with surprised eyes, they reached a crossroads.

 

He stopped in front of the path opposite to the one leading to the guild. Then he naturally backed away, lightly waving his wrist.

 

Helena caught the gold coin that flew toward her in bewilderment.

 

“You worked hard too.”

 

Helena flipped the received gold coin with her thumb, then voiced a question that suddenly occurred to her.

 

“……Wait. You were standing by the door from when I met with the lord. You had stolen the money from the beginning, right?”

 

Instead of answering the question, he gave her a sly smile.

 

“I’m quite fond of you, Helen.”

 

Perhaps because he entered the tree shade, his eyes looked much redder.

 

Whether skilled at disguise-like transformations, he momentarily looked like a completely different person. Then suddenly, a greater suspicion pierced through her.

 

‘Did I… tell him my name?’

 

Helena quickly parted her lips to ask back, but he had already turned away.

 

Afraid to lose sight of him, she followed his retreating figure with her eyes, but it was the same as before. As he began mixing with the crowd, he disappeared in the blink of an eye.

 

****

 

Time flew by like an arrow after the meeting with the lord.

 

Fortunately, Garta moved for money. From the day after the meeting with him, hired workers gathered at the village boundary adjacent to the forest and began building barriers.

 

Their coordinated movement showed that they too sensed the crisis of the situation. The wind and rain grew rougher day by day, becoming harsh enough to make skin tingle.

 

“This is too much! The sun will set soon, and it’ll be dangerous if we proceed further here!”

 

However, no matter how much they hurried, the typhoon approached even faster.

 

Helena sighed in front of the last unfinished barrier with Ian. As the worker said, any more work would be dangerous.

 

Despite wearing layers of clothing, the fiercely pouring rain painfully struck their entire bodies, and the wind was fierce enough to blow away wooden roofs.

 

If they pushed themselves unnecessarily, they might not avoid casualties.

 

‘But if we can’t get through tonight…’

 

As if to comfort the anxious Helena, Ian rubbed her shoulder and pulled her along.

 

“It should be fine until tomorrow. You know that pushing here won’t get us the results we want. Let’s come back as soon as day breaks.”

 

It was his usual calm tone. However, Helena noticed. He too couldn’t completely hide his anxious expression.

 

If even that mountain of a man was like this, how could she be any different? Helena tried to comfort herself and nodded.

 

In the severe weather where it was hard to even open their eyes properly, everyone had done their best. They could only hope it would hold out until tomorrow morning.

 

The workers also withdrew from the unfinished barrier one by one. Helena pulled her robe down and took Ian’s hand as he mounted his horse first.

 

And just as he was about to pull Helena up for her to mount—

 

Crack-.

 

Her spine instinctively creaked. Everyone turned their heads toward the source of the ominous sound.

 

Helena too was taking in the sight of the barrier that was just beginning to crack.

 

“Everyone get away!”

 

Rumble-!

 

As soon as a large hole broke through the middle of the barrier, it suddenly collapsed. The detained water began pouring out, mixed with rubble.

 

Unfortunately, several workers standing nearby were helplessly swept away like paper dolls.

 

Helena’s face turned pale.

 

‘No.’

 

Reality didn’t come as a simple storm. This was a disaster.

 

The burst torrent flowed rapidly into the village like a snake stalking its prey. Helena felt the sting of a branch that grazed her ankle and looked up at Ian.

 

“Helena.”

 

Ian called her name in a firm voice as if responding to her gaze. The grip of the hand he was holding became even firmer. Each time he blinked, raindrops fell from his eyelashes.

 

Helena slowly shook her head without taking her eyes off him.

 

“Damn it.”

 

Finally cursing, Ian dismounted from his horse.

 

“Can’t you lose just once?”

 

“You always talk as if you’ve been losing every time.”

 

“Fine, you got it.”

 

Though sighing with displeasure, Ian waved his arm. Following his large gesture, the confused workers were guided to one place. Not far away was a shelter prepared by the villagers.

 

Having reached a place to temporarily escape the rain, they all looked at Helena.

 

The general supervisor had been swept away by the torrent just moments ago. In this situation, she was the only one who could give them orders.

 

The person who had appeared with guild members every single day to help with the work. The person who had foreseen this disaster from the beginning and dared to petition the lord.

 

The workers who had experienced her leadership closest up waited naturally for her to speak.

 

‘Why…?’

 

Flustered, Helena hesitated and stepped backward. But she stopped at Ian’s hand gently pressing against her back.

 

Helena looked at him once, then at the villagers and workers who were gradually gathering around them, peering curiously.

 

Only the sound of rain hitting the barracks was the sole noise. Countless round eyes were fixed on her.

 

Finally, Helena closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

 

‘Storms don’t stay.’

 

Not to run away, but to run forward.

 

The dampened humidity was very cold, but there was warmth touching her back. Helena barely managed to straighten her waist.

 

‘Storms pass.’

 

Crash!

 

As if refuting her words, lightning split the surroundings. In that moment, Helena calmly opened her eyes.

 

The venue, which had begun to stir with overwhelming anxiety, soon focused on one voice.

 

“First, we need to prevent the magical beasts eggs from spreading as much as possible, so let’s set up nets. Regular nets won’t last long, so I’ll contact Flam at Partren to ask if we can use Siren scales right away.”

 

“Then what about the lower village that’s starting to flood? This place is fine since it’s on high ground, but everyone down there could die if we’re not careful!”

 

“Since it’s already started rising, we have no choice but to quickly drain the water underground. Is there such a space available?”

 

Murmuring continued for a while. But soon a woman shouted.

 

“There’s an abandoned mine in the eastern and western districts! My father used to work there!”

 

“Would there be area maps and blueprints left?”

 

The woman was already rummaging through her bag before Helena could even ask. She soon pulled out a bundle of papers and waved it high.

 

“Here it is! My father treasured it, so I brought it when I left home.”

 

As soon as Helena received the blueprints, she traced the chaotically spread lines with her finger. Her head was spinning, but there was no time to spare.

 

She immediately organized the waterways frantically in her mind. Soon, a faint color spread across her face.

 

“Fortunately, the mine ends at the lowlands connected to the Danube River, so we don’t have to worry about backflow. So from now on, we’ll find and break through abandoned sewage pipes.”

 

Leaving a breath for response, Helena walked to the corner of the barracks. Ian had thoughtfully hung a large map on the wall.

 

She pointed to each location, explaining the exact positions.

 

“Delfin District, Area 4, Numbers 2 through 8; Seine District, Area 2, Numbers 3 and 5; Harrian District, Numbers 6 through 9. We must finish in the shortest time possible. Those who can manage it, please bring lanterns and accompany us. Is that understood?”

 

“Ready!”

 

Helena’s smile deepened at the resounding answer. It was a fire-like smile that wouldn’t be extinguished even in the storm.

 

She declared, igniting sparks in her eyes.

 

“Storms don’t stay. Today will surely pass. We will overcome this night.”

 

Her unwavering voice rang out clearly. Not only the workers but also the villagers nodded.

 

Meanwhile, several of them lit more lanterns, making the venue much brighter.

 

Helena spoke as if firing a rallying cry.

 

“When the sun rises tomorrow morning, let’s meet again.”