Villain Hiring: Help! Author Wants Me Dead-Chapter 65: A New World

Morning came faster than I expected.

I sat up, feeling the slight ache in my muscles. My body was still adjusting to the Slave Body Refinement Technique, but it wasn’t pain—it was strength being carved into me, drawn into my very bones.

Rolling my shoulders, I stood up. Grandma Sylvie was already awake, sitting by the window as she stealthily looked through the curtains.

"Anything interesting?" I asked, stretchingmy body a little as I took in her worried expressions.

She let the curtain drop and turned to me. "The city’s more active than usual, Noah. I saw more soldiers patrolling the streets."

I frowned. That was indeed troublesome.

We were planning to leave today, to head straight for the portal…

But if security was increasing, it meant something was happening.

Maybe it was just routine.

Maybe it had nothing to do with us.

But there was also the chance that someone had caught wiff of our movements.

That was bad.

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"Change of plans?" I asked, worried a little.

Ma shook her head as she stared at the streets below with a hidden resolve.

"If we stay too long, we’ll just give them more time to close off exits. We leave today—no matter what."

I nodded.

There was no point in delaying.

After a quick but surprisingly tasty breakfast of stale bread and dried meat jerky, we checked through our supplies.

Potions, food, weapons—everything we needed was packed.

Ma tossed me a black cloak, her voice serious. "Put this on. It’ll help you blend in."

I did as she said, pulling the hood over my head. It felt heavier than expected, but it would do.

Once we were both ready, we stepped outside.

The streets were busier than before.

Groups of people rushed past us, muttering under their breaths about different topics.

I ignored them and focused on our path ahead.

The portal wasn’t far, but we had to go through the marketplace to reach it.

And according to Grandma, some more assassins were stationed nearby.

As we walked, I kept my head down, watching from the corner of my eyes.

Nothing unusual at first. The same shady merchants, the same cautious eyes.

Then, I spotted them.

A group of men, armored but without emblems, lingering near a weapons stall. They weren’t looking at anything in particular. Their eyes scanned the crowd instead, searching.

Waiting.

I tugged on Sylvie’s sleeve. "There," I muttered.

She followed my gaze and sighed. "Troublesome."

We couldn’t go around them—the market was the fastest way to the portal.

So we walked straight through.

I forced myself to stay calm. To walk like I belonged.

The mercenaries didn’t seem to notice us at first. They kept watching the people around them, focused on whatever—or whoever—they were waiting for.

But then, one of them turned.

His gaze swept over me.

I didn’t react.

He squinted slightly, as if trying to place something.

Then—

A crash.

Somewhere behind us, a cart tipped over, spilling crates of fruit onto the ground.

The merchant shouted, and the mercenaries turned toward the sound.

Ma grabbed my arm. "Move."

We slipped past them, blending into the shifting crowd.

My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to keep walking naturally.

Minutes later, we were past the marketplace and nearing the portal.

It stood tall at the city’s edge—a massive, circular gateway carved into stone, shimmering with faint blue light.

Guards patrolled the area, but they weren’t stopping anyone.

The portal was public, meant for travel between major locations.

Sylvie exhaled softly. "Almost there."

I nodded. We were so close.

Then—

"Stop."

A voice cut through the air.

I tensed.

One of the mercenaries had followed us.

He wasn’t alone. Two others flanked him, eyes sharp and unreadable.

I slowly turned to face them.

Sylvie stepped slightly in front of me, her stance shifting ever so slightly.

Ready to fight.

The lead mercenary, a man with short gray hair and a scar running down his cheek, crossed his arms.

"You there," he said, looking straight at me. "Where are you headed?"

I forced myself to stay calm. "Traveling," I answered simply.

He stared at me for a long moment. Then his eyes flicked to Sylvie Grandma.

Recognition flashed in them.

"Change of plans," he said, reaching for his weapon. "Take them."

Everything happened in an instant.

Sylvie moved first.

Her dagger flashed as she lunged, slashing at the closest mercenary.

He barely had time to react before blood sprayed from his arm.

The other one grabbed for his weapon, but I was already moving.

I ducked under his swing, my body reacting faster than I thought possible. My fist shot forward, striking his gut—

The lead mercenary swore, pulling out a short sword.

I met his gaze, breathing steady.

The Slave Body Refinement Technique worked in strange ways.

I didn’t feel stronger.

I didn’t feel faster.

But my movements were sharper, more efficient.

The mercenary hesitated.

That was his mistake.

I closed the distance before he could react. My foot slammed into his knee, forcing him to stumble, and in that moment of weakness—

Sylvie’s dagger sank into his side.

His eyes widened, shock flashing across his face.

Then he collapsed.

The fight was over in seconds.

I exhaled slowly, wiping my hands.

Sylvie looked around. No one was paying attention—people were too busy with their own lives, their own problems.

A small fight in the corner of the street wasn’t worth their concern.

She grabbed my wrist. "Come on. We need to leave before the guards show up!!"

We hurried toward the portal.

No more interruptions.

No more mercenaries.

The shimmering blue light swallowed us whole—

And the city disappeared.

We had stepped into a new world.

We had entered the Kingdom of Blackblade.

We had finally reached…the duchy of the Romero’s.

***

A/N:

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