Priest Franz walked down the creaking wooden hallway and stopped in front of a door.

The room belonged to the party’s thief, the woman who would soon be his.

He raised his hand to knock but hesitated.

He recalled hearing that women take a long time to get ready.

Of course, she was beautiful even in the dungeon, so she could probably make other women look like goblins without even trying.

But women always want to show their best side to the man they like.

Yes, this was for her sake.

Lost in his delusions, Franz turned away from Derin’s room.

No trace of a priest remained in him as he huffed with excitement.

He arrived at the inn’s dining area.

Seeing him sit, a neatly dressed middle-aged man, the innkeeper, approached and asked.

“Priest, here for a meal?”

“Yes. Oh, and it’s a special day, so make it something good. I’ve got plenty of coin.”

“Something good happen?”

“Heh… something like that. Can’t tell you, though. My lady might get shy.”

“Oh? Understood. I’ll prepare our finest dish then.”

As the innkeeper headed to the kitchen, leaving the smirking Franz behind, a question arose in his mind.

What kind of woman would get involved with a guy like that? Even a blind person would sense his vibe and steer clear.

And a priest devoted to the Goddess embracing a woman? That’s madness.

*

The middle-aged man, a devout follower of the Goddess, gripped the hidden necklace—his mark of faith—and prayed.

‘Goddess, please prevent crimes like kidnapping or assault from happening in our inn. And may divine punishment fall upon the corrupt priest.’

He finished his earnest prayer and began cooking.

There was no dish fit for a corrupt priest, but as a guest, he had to be served.

Spitting in the food might be a stretch, but he figured the Goddess would overlook it.

Oblivious to the innkeeper’s thoughts, Franz toyed with the pink potion in his pocket, huffing eagerly.

‘Derin, tonight’s gonna be long.’

*

Derin, sprawled in her room clutching Crow’s pillow, felt a sudden chill run through her.

“What… why do I suddenly feel gross?”

* * * * *

Long after the sun sank behind the mountains, the moon lit up the dark night.

As midnight approached, Derin rose from her bed and donned the gear she’d tossed on the floor.

That guy probably bought some kind of aphrodisiac without a second thought, so she didn’t need to prepare much.

Still, was it right for a priest to jump at a woman just because she flirted a bit?

As she shook her head at the priest’s deranged behavior, she heard the wooden hallway creak outside.

Derin swiftly moved, pressing herself against the wall by the door.

She needed to assess the situation first.

Sure, the priest seemed like an idiot, but it could’ve been an act… though probably not. Still, it didn’t hurt to be cautious.

As expected, the creaking stopped at her door, followed by a knock and Franz’s voice.

“Hey, Derin. If you’re ready, shall we head out together?”

Derin swallowed the bile rising in her throat.

His voice was always disgusting, but now it was like the cry of a lust-crazed goblin.

She hated that she had to respond to him, but for the sake of her rosy future with Crow, she had no choice.

Hoo—

Taking a quiet deep breath, Derin answered in a slightly trembling but excited tone.

Having faked countless voices to gather information, this was nothing to her.

Though, of course, it pissed her off to no end.

“I’m not ready yet. Sorry, could you go ahead and wait for me?”

“Mmm… my Derin, making me wait. Alright, I’ll be there.”

The creaking resumed and faded as he walked away. Derin pulled a potion from her magic pouch to clear her dizziness and drank it.

She had a feeling Crow wouldn’t be the only one saved by killing that guy.

She didn’t believe in the Goddess, but if she existed, it must be rough.

Getting prayers from a guy like that? She’d want to die if she were the Goddess.

With the potion’s effect clearing her mind, Derin went to the bed and buried her face in Crow’s pillow.

She inhaled deeply.

His scent filled her, making her feel like they were one.

Even his smell was perfect—what a ridiculous man.

Feeling better after “recharging” on Crow’s essence, Derin stood, opened the window, and leapt out.

Her room was on the second floor, but for a thief, the first or second floor made no difference.

She landed silently and melted into the darkness, heading toward the spot she’d promised to meet the damned priest.

The world looked peaceful, despite someone’s impending death.

Derin reached a spot with a clear view of the bridge where she’d meet Franz.

Hiding behind a tree, she was sure he’d never find her.

But where was this priest? He left first, yet she couldn’t see him.

A sudden bad feeling hit her.

What if Franz had been acting all along? What if he knew everything when he came to her room?

He could be riding to the nearest church right now…

As dread filled her mind, Franz appeared, proving her wrong.

He held a bouquet in one hand.

His appearance was laughable, but knowing the bouquet was for her killed any amusement.

Was there anything more humiliating than getting flowers from a man you despised?

Franz, arriving a bit late on purpose, looked around when he didn’t see her.

He figured she might be shy, meeting a man she liked on such a late night, so he understood.

She was probably hiding somewhere, the sly little cat.

Franz began searching for his “cat.”

Under the bridge, in the bushes, even glancing at the river… from atop the bridge, of course—he couldn’t risk getting his clothes wet.

But his cat was nowhere to be found.

Well, Derin’s been a thief her whole life; she probably doesn’t know how men’s hearts work.

If she teases too much, a guy might walk away.

After searching a bit farther from the meeting spot, he returned to the bridge.

Someone was there.

Shoulder-length hair, a lithe figure.

The moon was hidden by clouds, obscuring her face, but the silhouette alone told him it was Derin.

Overjoyed that she’d finally shown up, Franz ran toward her.

He could forgive a cat’s little mistake.

He’d just discipline her tonight.

As they drew closer, within two or three steps, a breeze blew away the clouds hiding the moon.

The two daggers in her hands gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

In that instant, Franz knew.

She hadn’t called him out to share love.

He threw the bouquet and turned to run, but something pierced deep into his neck.

A warm liquid flowed down, followed by burning pain.

As Derin pulled the dagger from Franz’s neck, the deep wound gushed dark red blood.

He opened his mouth to speak, but only the sound of air escaping a hole came out.

And so, the pleasure-crazed priest’s life ended.

Derin wiped the bloodied dagger on Franz’s clothes.

The blood she’d seen from Crow that day was prettier than this. Maybe blood color had something to do with one’s mental state.

Whatever. The job was done, and once she cleaned up, she could sleep easy. That was enough.

Derin placed the bouquet back in Franz’s hand and threw him into the river.

With clouds gathering and rain imminent, no one would find traces of tonight.

That night, as Derin returned to the inn, a torrential downpour washed away all evidence of Franz from the world.