The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 157

Chapter 157

‘I always thought we were nothing more than stepping stones on your path to greatness… Ghost–Hammer couldn’t help thinking.

But now, he realized just how wrong he’d been.

He couldn’t have been more wrong.

Ghost–Hammer could never forget the scene when Nova Blake came rushing to save him.

To keep him alive, she didn’t hesitate to give him even more blood than her body could safely spare.

Nova knew better than anyone: for a mercenary, going beyond her physical limits like that would mean dangerous complications down the road.

Her strength would fade–her body would grow weak… If an enemy showed up right now, she’d be putting her life on the

line.

It was a risky gamble, and Ghost–Hammer knew just how close she’d come to disaster.

“Why…?‘ Ghost–Hammer couldn’t help but wonder.

For a big guy with a surprisingly sensitive heart, Ghost–Hammer had always thought Nova never really saw them as her family–but even so, the idea of ever betraying her had never crossed his mind.

But now, Ghost–Hammer really couldn’t make sense of it at all.

Why does the boss care about me so much? Why does she care so much about Marlie and Falcony, mourn their deaths like they were her own blood… Why does she treat us like real family?‘ he wondered.

In that moment, when Nova saw her own people die right in front of her, she didn’t shed a tear–not even a flicker of sorrow crossed her face.

She didn’t cry.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of grief in her eyes.

It almost felt like…

…maybe it was only them who ever truly saw her as family.

It was a chapter of memories sealed away in Kata City, dating back nine years.

It marked the birth and the rise of a legend–and a past Nova Blake would never dare to face again.

There were five kids, just barely into their teens, who crossed paths in Kata City. In that unforgiving place, they became each other’s shelter, their only source of warmth in a world that had none for them.

Of the five, Ghost–Hammer was the oldest.

Nova Blake was the youngest, but every heavy responsibility somehow landed squarely on her shoulders.

On the glittering streets of Kata City, poor and desperate kids had no choice but to scrounge for scraps left behind by the rich, just to keep hunger at bay.

By the time they were barely ten, some of them were already forced to join the mercenary guild, taking whatever jobs they could get delivering newspapers, or worse, standing there as living punchbags the rich could lash whenever they felt like it.

The streets of Kata City were littered with the bodies of beggars and children who had starved to death.

Among these kids, forgotten and abandoned–with nobody even caring enough to pity them–fights and brawls broke out

all the time.

It is normal for some kids to get their heads split open in a fight. But with no cash for a doctor, their wounds go untreated, festering until they die.

Ghost–Hammer and Snowfang were the first ones to meet each other.

Back then, Ghost–Hammer was all brawn, and Snowfang had all the brains.

But even if those two teamed up, they were still no match for Nova Blake–who, at just ten years old, could wipe the floor with both of them.

From then on. Ghost–Hammer and Snowfang stuck with Nova Blake, drifting through slums and bouncing from mercenary guild to mercenary guild all over the world–making do wherever fate landed them, never really having a place to call

home

The three of them eventually found themselves at the Kata City mercenary guild, picking up whatever measly jobs the adults left behind.

It was barely enough to keep their stomachs from growling, but with luck, they could scrape together a few coins.

Back then, the place they slept was considered pure luxury for orphans like them.

Under an overpass.

It shielded them from the biting wind and rain, and when nights turned freezing, they’d bundle up in newspapers and warm themselves with a small fire cobbled together from scavenged sticks.

“Sorry… we’ve been hungry for three days already. Could you please spare us a little change so we can buy some stale bread

to eat?

“I promise, as soon as we have money, we’ll pay you back!

“Please, I’m begging you!

“My sister hasn’t eaten in ages! It’s okay if I go without, but please, just let her have a little something…”

Their first encounter with Marlie and Falcony was pure chaos–those two came crashing under the overpass, stumbling into Nova’s ‘home‘ like they’d just barely escaped from disaster.

Falcony wrapped his arms tight around Ghost–Hammer and Snowfang, pleading frantically for help while yelling at Marlie to run for her life.

He didn’t fight back–just took every punch, every blow to his back, thin as a stray dog, but didn’t let go.

Falcony and Marlie were always together; to Falcony, Marlie was family–his little sister, through and through.

Falcony was so hungry that his body was all skin and bones–there was no way a runt like him could ever take on big guys like Ghost–Hammer and Snowfang.

That day, Ghost–Hammer and Snowfang totally roughed Falcony up.

By the end, his face was all swollen and bruised, nose dripping blood.

But honestly, even after all that, Falcony still felt happy. He thought he’d managed to hold the others down long enough for the smallest kid–Nova–to go after Marlie.

He was sure Marlie would make it out, dash to the bakery, and grab whatever stale bread she could find.

‘At least she won’t have to be hungry anymore… Falcony told himself, a little hope sparking inside him.

But before Falcony could even process what had happened, Nova came striding back–not thirty seconds later–dragging Marlie by the scruff of her neck like she was nothing but a runaway chick, and tossed her effortlessly back under the

overpass.

‘Guess the escape plan didn’t get very far… Falcony thought helplessly, watching Marlic get dropped right where they’d started, powerless against Nova’s grip.

In Kata City of Palion, the black market was a lawless free–for–all, and the poor were left to rot in the dirt.

Even the adults had to beg for scraps at the feet of the rich, just to survive.

Kids of their age had zero rights–nobody gave a damn whether they lived or died.

If a kid got caught stealing or robbing, the adults would beat them to death without a second thought. In Kata City, thieves weren’t even worth a mention–no one cared when one of them died.

Their bodies would just get tossed by the creek, and not a single soul would bat an eye.

Back then, Falcony and Marlie genuinely thought they’d just signed their own death warrants–caught in the act by Nova and her crew. There was no way they were getting out of this alive.

The two of them were so small, their whole bodies shaking like leaves in the wind

Falcony kept Marlie shielded behind him, dropping to his knees and bowing down again and again, apologizing like his life depended on it, desperate for Nova and the rest to show mercy.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!

“It’s all my fault–I must’ve lost my mind, thinking about stealing!

“If you want to beat me or kill me, just do it to me! Leave my sister out of this!

“Please, I’m begging you!”

No one saw that coming.

Unlike everyone else who’d just beat a thief bloody or leave them dead, Noya Blake didn’t even raise her hand at Falcony or

Marlie.

Instead, she gave each of them a soft, fresh roll–fluffy white bread like they’d only seen in dreams.

To them, it tasted like the best thing in the world–something they’d never once had in all the years they’d been alive.

From that day onward, Falcony and Marlie stuck to Nova, Ghost–Hammer, and Snowfang like glue–never letting up, always pestering Nova to take them in just like she’d done with the other two.

“Hey, big sis! What do we have to do for you to let us join your crew?” Marlie said, grinning from ear to ear.

“We can call you boss, just like they do–we promise!

“We really, really want to be with you! Just say the word and we’ll do anything for you!”

Back then, Nova laid down the ground rules:

“You wanna join my crew? Fine–but I don’t take in freeloaders or useless baggage.

“If you want to join in, each of you has to hold your own against me for ten rounds.”

Of course. Falcony and Marlie totally survived all ten rounds.

“Boss, both Falcony and I stuck it out through ten rounds against you, see?

“So, does that mean we’re official now? Can we really follow you, just like Ghost–Hammer and Snowfang?

“We wanna be just like Ghost–Hammer and Snowfang!”

Marlie said it with a huge smile, looking all proud and eager.

Once Nova said yes, Marlie couldn’t help but jump up for joy.

“Wow, this is the best!

“We’ve never had a real family before. You’re the first one to treat us like we actually matter.

“So… what do you say if we start being family, right here, right now?”

Marlie was a total bundle of quirky energy, always flashing a cheeky grin and ready for whatever came her way.

She radiated optimism and sunshine, never letting anything keep her down.

Falcony couldn’t help but spoil her–he was always there, letting her get away with just about anything.

For Nova, who almost never let her feelings show, this was the very first time anyone had ever called her that: “Family?”

“Uh–huh, that’s right!

“Me, Falcony, Ghost–Hammer, Snowfang, and you, boss–we’re all family now!

“Family means sticking together no matter what, being super close, and staying together for our whole lives!

“So, that’s settled–I’m the little sister, Ghost–Hammer’s our eldest bro, Snowfang’s the second, and Falcony’s number three!

“And our boss–you’re not just our leader, you’re like the coolest, strongest head of the family! Isn’t that great?

“Now we’re a real family! Deal? It’s a promise! We’ll stick together forever and ever, no matter what!” Marlie said with tremendous joy.

Lost in memories that felt like they belonged to another lifetime, Nova couldn’t help but drift back to those days long gone.

Now, the same question from Ghost–Hammer came back–Nova couldn’t escape it anymore.

“Why didn’t you shed a single tear when Falcony and Marlie died? You didn’t even look sad–you just sat there, stone–faced, like nothing had ever happened… Ghost–Hammer thought, his heavy confusion weighing on every word.

Nova slowly turned away from Chost–Hammer, her back to him;

She didn’t utter a single word.

The silence was so thick. It felt almost suffocating.

It lasted so long that Ghost–Hammer wondered if she’d ever answer him at all.

At last, Nova spoke up, her voice quiet and steady, but every word reached deep inside Ghost–Hammer, unlocking

memories he’d kept sealed away for years.

It felt like she was finally giving the answer Marlie had been waiting nine years to hear–the answer to that innocent, playful question from so long ago.

“Because we’re family–I’m not just your boss. I’m the one who looks after you all…

“If I let myself fall apart whenever tragedy hits, how can I protect you? I can’t bear losing any of you ever again.”