Chapter 180: Elisa’s Grandmother, The L-Rank Powerhouse And Head Of Frostbane Holdings

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While taking a bath together, Elisa shared more of her past with Riven. She spoke about how she often took down small groups of organized crime in her free time whenever she had solid leads. However, as she explained, this was something her family strongly disliked for some bizarre reason.

Her grandmother in particular — the one who was truly in charge of Frostbane Holdings — eventually learned about her little escapades. She feared how these actions could damage the family reputation, so she threatened to completely disown Elisa from the family if she did not stop... and so Elisa stopped.

Even now, though, Elisa still had no clear idea why her grandmother was so obsessed with maintaining perfect appearances. Why would it be considered a bad thing for the young heiress of Frostbane to take down dangerous criminals?

Or rather, why were people this high in society somehow completely ignorant — or perhaps willingly blind — toward organized supernatural crime?

Now that she had heard everything from Riven, Elisa was finally beginning to realize the harsh truth behind it all.

She sighed after recalling those memories and then shook her head. "Well, none of that matters now, seeing how I’m all crippled here and unable to do anything on my own..."

However, Riven found himself struck by curiosity about Elisa’s grandmother, the real authority behind Frostbane Holdings.

"Your grandmother..." Riven whispered. "I remember her a little from back then."

Back when he was only ten years old, during that famous gala where the Claymore and Frostbane families had gathered once more, Elisa’s grandmother had been constantly surrounded by countless people seeking her attention.

She was a tall and gorgeous woman who had barely aged after awakening and becoming so powerful herself. She was widely known for her incredible Ice Magic capable of freezing an entire city in mere seconds if she wished. People feared her as the Winter Witch Queen, one of the few true L Rank Hunters alongside Riven’s father and Elisa’s older sister. Apparently her own parents were only SSS Rank.

With cascading white hair and sharp blue eyes, she stood taller than most people at the party and carried an overwhelming presence. Yet she always smiled kindly at those around her. Through those same blue eyes, however, young Riven could never feel anything except an emotionless and calculating stare.

"Well, that doesn’t matter anymore. I haven’t seen her in ages, but she was the one who decided what to do with me once I became a cripple," Elisa said quietly. "My parents always obey whatever she says without question."

"I see..." Riven looked toward the window for a moment in silence. "Alright, let’s wash your hair and then go to bed."

After carefully washing her hair and drying it, then helping her put on her night clothes, Riven walked her over to the bed and rested by her side, gently covering her with the soft blankets.

Now that she could move her hands freely again, she was finally able to use her phone properly. She remained constantly amazed and entertained by investigating things and handling tasks on her own.

However, she still wanted nothing more than to have him by her side in order to sleep well. She quickly told him that he was not allowed to sneak out during the night to do anything else.

"I’m not sneaking anywhere, don’t worry," Riven reassured her while holding her hand. "I just have to go check on our guests. So it’s fine for them to stay here?"

"Yes, give them some rooms," she nodded. "Label can have her own room, and that ninja girl too... the rest, those three boys, can share one."

"Sure," Riven nodded before walking away.

He quickly introduced Label to her new room and helped her bring some of her belongings from her old house — her alchemy equipment and many other important tools.

"We’ll buy you anything else you need later. Tomorrow maybe," he said kindly. "For now, good night, Label."

"Y-Yeah... I’ll work a little on some things before I sleep," she nodded. "Goodnight, Riven..."

As Riven was about to close the door, she suddenly stopped him for a moment.

"Um..." she muttered, causing him to turn and look back at her.

Beneath the soft moonlight leaking through the window, she smiled faintly.

"Thank you..."

The shy girl was still present.

But deep down, Riven knew that something about her had changed — perhaps for the better.

The future had been rewritten.

Label, the girl who had originally been stabbed coldly to death... someone so young, with such a bright future ahead of her, who had her life stolen away so abruptly.

In that original world full of corruption, those villains never paid for any of the awful things they committed.

The American Yakuza continued their crimes without consequence, and Ryujin got to live a relaxed and comfortable life.

That world had been rewritten now.

That girl he had been unable to save before, that poor child whose future was stolen from her...

Riven had given it back to her. He had even given her the opportunity and the tools to fight on her own this time.

He smiled back gently and nodded. "You’re welcome."

Riven closed the door and left Label on her own. She began playing around with her new phone, which Riven had purchased for her on the way back home. Chemy rested quietly by her side while her Alchemy Grimoire floated silently in the air.

Despite how she had been forced to step far outside her comfort zone and face many scary situations, despite how she had been pushed to her limits again and again... Label felt a deep sense of ease.

Not just because she had finally avenged her father or been freed from the Yakuza’s control.

No, there was a much bigger reason.

...Because she was no longer alone.

Creaaak...

The door opened slowly, revealing Daniela standing there with a bright smile.

"Hey Label, wanna do a pajama party?" Daniela asked cheerfully. "Girl’s night and stuff, so we can get to know each other more! Look, I even brought her!"

"U-Uh..." A young Japanese girl stepped into the room, wearing simpler clothes that fully revealed her face. Label almost did not recognize her at first.

"Ah, Hinata...?" Label gasped in surprise.

"What’s... a pajama party?" Hinata wondered aloud, tilting her head in genuine confusion.

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