Volume 3 Chapter 162 The Illusion Of The Past Shadow
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The next morning, after carefully slipping out of bed where Natra and Rufna lay tangled in sheets, Kian quietly cleaned himself.
Natra stirred midway and tried to stand, but her legs trembled. After all, her body had been pushed to the edge more than twenty times the night before.
”…Sir Kian, um…”
”What is it?” Kian asked as he wrung out a cloth.
Wrapped in a thin sheet, Natra glanced at him with a conflicted look, then turned toward Rufna, who still slept peacefully with her arms spread out like a child.
”Are you… thinking about Elder Sister?”
”It’s the day after all that happened. Anyone with a heart would feel something.”
”I believe… Sir Kian made the right choice,” Natra said quietly.
After pulling on a shirt and running her fingers through her tousled hair, she raised her face with resolve.
”Lady Sarah may not have had ill intent… but she always meant to use you. From the very beginning.”
”She’s the kind of woman who brings sadness to the men around her, huh? Then there’s no point in worrying anymore.”
”…”
”It’s over. I’m going to make an appointment at the manor first. After that, I’ll stop by the Guild, then visit the Owl’s Knight we helped. Once she’s healed, I want you to come see her with me.”
”Sir Kian,” Natra called softly.
”…Natra. I’m sorry for being so rough yesterday. Watching Sarah’s resolve break and… surrender like that… it stirred something in me. I acted like a beast.”
”That’s not true,” Natra said, shaking her head gently.
Kian gave a small smile.
”I’ll be going now.”
* * *
Just as he stepped out into the hallway, the door next to his opened with a soft creak.
He hoped it was Linca.
But instead, it was Sarah—wearing a pale negligee, standing in the doorway with a dazed expression.
”Ah…”
”Good morning, Sarah,” Kian greeted calmly.
”…Good morning…”
Sarah’s eyes shimmered as if tears were about to fall. Without another word, she stepped back and quietly closed the door.
Kian stood there for a moment, as though struck. But remembering his duty, he turned and headed downstairs.
In the inn’s dining area, Serena was already awake, nibbling on beans while flipping through a magic book Aliona had given her.
”Oh, Kian!”
”Good morning, Serena,” he said, forcing a small smile.
She tucked a pressed flower bookmark into the pages, then walked over.
”You were… very active yesterday.”
”We had the barrier up. But… did the sound carry through?”
”Not the sound. Your hair still holds a trace of someone’s scent,” Serena said with a teasing smile. “But it should fade after a short walk.”
”I see. Today, I’ll visit the manor, check in at the Guild, then visit a knight I know. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”
”Understood. I’ll stay here until your quest is finished.”
”…Ah.”
Serena paused, then looked up at him.
”Kian. Thank you.”
”Huh?”
”I was able to stand up again… because you were there. If I had been alone, I might’ve fallen apart. But you stayed, and you dug the grave with me. That saved me.”
Kian scratched his cheek awkwardly.
”You’re giving me too much credit.”
It was true that the letter from Glen and the others had given Serena the strength to carry on.
Their love had pulled her back.
All Kian had done was dig alongside her for a little while. Nothing more.
”Really. …By the way, changing the subject, I haven’t seen Demete since yesterday. Do you think he’s at a bathhouse or something? Anyway, he’s from a different party. He’s not our concern anymore.”
”Yeah… but still. Am I the only one who’s worried? The Guild staff and the Wolfmen girls don’t seem to care at all.”
The Wolfmen girls had always disliked Demete’s attitude.
Umar’s kindness only made his behavior stand out worse in comparison.
As for the Guild, they had their hands full—sorting out the gate issue, relaying battle reports to Ramsey, and coordinating with Eleonora’s camp—all while hiding everything from Owl’s eyes. They simply didn’t have time to think about someone like Demete.
By the time evening came and he hadn’t returned to the meeting spot, panic would probably begin. But by then, it would be too late. Demete’s tendency to act on his own had finally backfired.
”I can’t go searching for him directly, but if anyone sees him around town, I’ll tell them to bring him back.”
”Alright.”
”Then I’m off.”
As Kian turned to go, Serena called out, “Wait!” She handed him a small cloth bundle—bread and cheese she hadn’t touched yet.
”Have a safe trip. Good luck out there.”
* * *
Leaving the inn, Kian walked toward the castle on the hill.
Apparently, there’d been a major battle near the northwest fortress last night, and they were told not to contact Owl to avoid confusion.
If the fighting had ended, things should be settling down now. But if there was still no word, they’d have to check elsewhere and wait.
The quest itself was already complete. All that remained was the handover… and to request a sample capture of Priscilla.
After everything, Kian figured it was time to rest his mind a little. He’d been under pressure for far too long.
The sky was bright and blue.
Their party was finally whole again. They should have been on the verge of a new beginning.
But instead of gray clouds… the sky hanging over him felt pitch black.
He knew why.
It was because of his own choices.
Still, leaving Demete alone could be dangerous.
Umar, who even Jibril failed to catch, would be free to escape if given the chance. Giving that man any room would only turn the hunters into prey.
Kian’s sixth sense—his constant guide through life-or-death moments—was telling him clearly: this was the correct path.
However… when it came to Sarah, he’d gone too far.
It was the first time he had exercised direct control over someone using command authority.
Kian’s transformation. The stripping away of her freedom. It was a silent threat—there are others who can take your place.
In that moment, he had truly believed he no longer needed Sarah.
But then he saw her face—how lost she looked. Even just now, her expression lingered in his chest.
He couldn’t excuse it. Not the night they spent together. Not the fact that he’d involved someone already hesitating.
And it had been with three people.
There was no defending it.
Judging by any human standard… he was beyond help.
Linca had likely already realized it.
When she said Kian was fit to be her lord, he hadn’t understood what she meant.
Now, he began to see.
* * *
’What’s done is done. Now lift your head. You’re this one Knight, aren’t you?’
”────!?”
Kian spun toward the voice.
He looked through the gaps in the morning crowd, toward a dark alley.
But even with his enhanced vision, he saw nothing. Not even a stray cat.
”…Glasses?”
People passing by glanced at him curiously.
”Glasses, is that you!?”
Kian pulled the ‘glasses’ from his chest and held it up toward the morning sun.
He poured magic power into it.
But, as always lately, there was no response. It remained cold and still.
(…Maybe I’m imagining things.)
Even so, the silence from ‘glasses’ in recent days bothered him.
He’d been too focused on Sarah and Linca to think about it, but he couldn’t put it off anymore.
Perhaps something had happened to the Black Onyx spirit.
If Talia’s soul hadn’t been fully consumed, and if it was still somehow linked to another world, to the spirit inside the onyx, and to the glasses…
Then maybe the spirit that acted as a bridge had been destroyed.
That would explain why Kian and Talia could no longer communicate.
But could something truly destroy a spirit?
(…Yes. There are people who could. Like Oswald… or Jibril, with that imitation holy sword.)
Also, the Misty Magic Sword was a weapon made to slay spirits.
And there were many ways to do that.
”────”
Kian stared down in silence at the person he called ‘Glasses.’
He hadn’t told anyone about their connection.
Not once.
He always gave reasons like, “No one would believe me anyway.”
But if ‘Glasses’ didn’t return this time…
Whether the truth came out or not—whether his rise in power got exposed—none of it mattered anymore.
If he wanted to bring Talia back, he had to pass the knowledge on to a capable magician. Someone who could understand it—and explain it.
Unlike with Aliona, if he told them the truth about ‘Glasses’ and his strange, unreal journey, they’d probably look deeper into everything.
(First, Rufna. Linca and Sarah are out—they can’t be trusted.)
Also Christy.
Aliona.
And maybe… Owl, as a last resort.
Thinking it over, he realized there were quite a few magicians who might be able to help him.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he could hear a white-haired Witch yelling, “What about me, idiot!?”
* * *
”Sir Kianー!”
”……? Natra?”
His name was called with a bright voice.
Kian turned around slowly, still standing in the middle of the street under the eyes of passersby.
Running toward him, dressed in neat clothes of white, red, and green, was a girl.
Natra jogged up and gripped his right hand tightly, her face slightly tense.
”What’s the matter?” he asked, after checking the alley behind him.
Her hand let go abruptly. She opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, then hesitated.
”N-No, it’s nothing,” she said, looking away.
”Wanna hold hands? Sure, let’s go on a date,” Kian replied lightly.
”…! Yes, of course. I mean…”
She answered in her usual soft, serious tone.
”I’ve told you so many times. You shouldn’t go out alone. And don’t just stand in the middle of the road. Or stare up at the sky like that. Also—”
”Alright, I get it, please forgive me,” he cut in.
”You need to reflect properly. If something happens, it’ll be too late.”
”You’re exaggerating.”
”It’s not exaggeration,” she said firmly. “Just now, it really felt like the wind would carry you away. That thought… it scared me.”
Kian frowned slightly at her words.
Was it really that bad…?
”You’re heading to the castle, right? I’ll come with you,” Natra said as she stepped beside him.
Kian nodded. “Yeah.”
”On the way, will you share your worries with me, Sir Kian?”
”Why do you want to know so badly? It’s not the kind of story anyone would enjoy.”
He tried to brush her off, but Natra gave him a small smile and shook her head.
”I want to hear it for your sake. I may not have lived even half as long as you… but I can still listen. I can still share it with you.”
”Share? Not empathize?”
”Yes. Share. So, not just what happened—I want to know how you felt.
Every feeling. Every moment. I want to understand it all, then, in the end… truly empathize.”
She looked up at him with quiet determination.
”When I was struggling, I talked to Rufna. And Sister Almeisa. It helped, even just a little. ──It’s just something I remember.”
”You? Struggling? I don’t think you’ve ever hit rock bottom.”
Natra gave a small smile and showed her teeth.
”There are hard times besides failure. Like… being turned down for marriage because the guy didn’t like me. It sounds silly, but I really was upset. I guess my personality rubs some people the wrong way. They think I’m arrogant or something. It’s nothing compared to what you’ve been through, but… talking about it helped me, too.”
Kian hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod.
”Alright. But don’t expect too much. It’s a story about a thirty-something man and a twenty-seven-year-old woman… obsessing over each other.”
”Heh… When you put it that way, it sounds kind of amazing,” Natra said. “A thirty-year-old uncle and a twenty-seven-year-old aunt… huh. What are we even doing at our age?”
”Seriously.”
That last word—”Seriously!”—came out with youthful heat, far different from her usual calm tone.
She paused, her face composed again. Then, as if making up her mind, she spoke.
”Rather than saying something complicated… why not just give up on Elder Sister and choose me instead?”
”Huh?”
”Wouldn’t it be better to be with someone like me—kind of plain, a bit short—but who’s truly devoted to you? I’m ten years younger than her.”
”You’re important to me, too. But I’m not planning to abandon Sarah,” Kian said gently.
”You say that so easily. Just a day after yesterday,” Natra shot back, her tone sharp as a blade.
Then, without warning, she grasped his hands and pressed them to her chest.
Through the fabric, he could feel her heart racing.
The innocent beat of a young girl—vivid, honest.
It made his senses waver. The vampire blood in him stirred slightly.
Then, Natra rose onto her toes and kissed him.
A quiet kiss, soft and fleeting, like she was stealing it.
Their lips met. Their tongues touched.
A fresh, faint sweetness lingered on her breath. There was no bitterness, no scent—just her.
And then, as always, she pulled back slightly, licked her lips, and wiped the corner of her mouth with the joint of her index finger… almost tasting his presence.
”Hey, Sir Kian?”
”……”
She looked straight at him.
”If it were me… I would’ve run away with you. I wouldn’t hesitate like Elder Sister. I wouldn’t destroy the most important thing I have.”
”She has her reasons—”
But before he could finish, she kissed him again.
Their shameless public flirting drew more and more attention from the crowd around them.
The stares hurt. But neither of them stopped.
After nearly ten seconds of deep kissing, Natra finally pulled away.
”No matter her reasons, it’s a fact that you got hurt,” she said clearly.
”I didn’t know. I was naive. I thought it was good for you, but… that was just an excuse. Ignorance is a sin. If I couldn’t see it through, I shouldn’t have offered help in the first place.”
She took a breath and continued.
”I never asked what you truly wanted. I assumed too much. I gave up halfway, saying things like ‘for your sake,’ when I really just didn’t want to deal with the pain.”
Natra narrowed her eyes and spoke with conviction.
”Elder Sister is the worst kind of woman. She tries to please everyone out of fear, and in the end, fails to protect the ones who truly matter. I don’t think she’s the right person for you.”
”If Sarah hears that, she’ll leave the party.”
”She can go. Take her bug magic and disappear. The rest of her doesn’t matter.”
”Y-You… Kekeke… Hahaha!”
”Finally, you smiled.”
”Yeah. Thanks.”
Kian let out a soft laugh, finally feeling a little lighter inside.
”I don’t plan to kick her out. I’ll support her to the end. I’m also interested in her insect magic.
Rufna seems to be able to use it, too.”
”Really? I’ve never seen Rufna use insect magic.”
”It’s apparently pretty hard. And… yeah, a little gross.”
He didn’t hide the distaste in his voice.
Still, insect magic was cheap and deadly. In the right hands, it was a valuable weapon.
”Insect magic, huh… Didn’t Elder Sister need four years to learn it because of her bad memory?
I think I could manage it in one.”
”You probably could. For now, you’ll be earning points as an Adventurer, but… will you be training with Rufna at the same time?”
”Keke. I figured you’d say that. Actually, I’ve already started. I’ve had a lot of patrol duty lately, so I’ve had time to study.”
”You’re serious about getting stronger. I respect that.”
”Not as much as you, Sir Kian.”
Natra said this as she intertwined her arm with Kian’s.
* * *
Kian returned to the castle gates and asked the gatekeeper once more if Owl could be contacted.
According to the man, Owl had been treating wounded soldiers at the fortress. Last night’s battle had been brutal.
”They said to wait a little longer,” the gatekeeper added with a kind look.
Though the Owl army had dealt heavy damage to the enemy by leading a small force of soldiers and many Cain species, it still hadn’t been enough to stop the fall of Ramsey.
The gatekeeper, voice low and eyes full of concern, urged Kian and Natra to escape the area while they still could.
The townspeople couldn’t leave—Owl had imposed a high toll—but for some reason, Kian’s group was exempt. Even now, the Owl knights remained on Kian’s side.
Afterward, Kian made his way to the Adventurer Guild. He reported that Rean’s group had completed the handover, then met with the Guild Master of Ramsey to discuss the past assassination attempt on Owl.
”All of them were found dead,” the Guild Master said, his tone cautious.
The carnage on the upper floor had shaken the guild staff. Though it had been called an act of self-defense, the sheer violence of it told another story. The bodies had been hacked apart with cruel precision. Blood had been spilled purposefully, and some organs had even vanished—possibly taken or destroyed by Owl during the process.
The guild saw this as far beyond self-defense. But since Owl held both judicial and military authority over the town, no one dared speak against him aloud.
”I know someone on the opposing side,” the Guild Master said, lowering his voice. “I’ll try to look into it quietly.”
Kian only nodded and replied, “I see.”
When the conversation ended and Kian returned to the entrance, he found Rufna standing next to Natra. The dark elf had changed into a set of warm fur gear, and she raised a hand when their eyes met.
”Hey, Master,” she said casually.
”I thought you were still asleep,” Kian said as he walked up to her.
Rufna perked up her long ears and laughed lightly.
”It’s already day, right? Even if we stayed up all night, I’m not sleeping forever.”
”So you came to follow me?” Kian asked, glancing at her arms.
”Nope. I was looking for this month’s magic magazine and a few useful spellbooks,” Rufna said as she lifted the books in her left hand.
Though she rarely joined in sword training, Rufna always made time for studying magic. She claimed it was both her work and her hobby. Still, as a swordsman, Kian often wished she’d put at least a little of that dedication into swordsmanship.
Her technique, whether it was swordplay or the martial arts of a warrior monk, was graceful and precise—likely a trait of her race. To leave such skill unsharpened seemed a terrible waste.
”Once this place turns into ash, the books will all be gone,” Rufna said, her tone light. “I have to grab what matters now.”
”Don’t say things like that where people can hear,” Natra whispered sharply.
But no one reacted. Not even the adventurers nearby. Most of them weren’t here for monster hunting anymore. They’d been ordered by Owl to reinforce the frontline, and with the town in such a grim state, the guild branch had fallen quiet.
Not even the rougher types gave Kian’s group a second glance, despite their distinct appearances.
”Sorry, sorry,” Rufna said, waving her hand. “But no one’s really listening, right?”
”Honestly…” Natra sighed.
”Rufna, if you’re done shopping, how about we find something to eat?” Kian asked, looking around.
The Guild’s tavern was closed. There weren’t enough visitors to keep it open, so they’d need to go outside to find food.
”Oh, that sounds great! I want meat!” Rufna said with a grin.
”Natra?” Kian asked.
”Then I’ll have meat too,” she replied with a soft smile.
”There’s a place Owl took me to before. Let’s eat there,” Kian suggested.
They also planned to visit Gunter, one of Owl’s knights, who was hospitalized after an incident with an adventurer. Since they wanted to bring him a gift as well, heading out to the main street would kill two birds with one stone.
And so, the three of them left the guild and walked south, toward the bustling main street lined with market stalls. Natra and Rufna seemed a bit confused by the twisted alleys, but Kian, having walked them once already, moved without hesitation.
They no longer needed a map. Both the new town and the old had been thoroughly explored by now.
On the way—and while waiting for their food to arrive—they took turns telling stories of recent adventures. Back at the temple, they’d only had time to share the basics. But now they had the luxury to go into detail.
Though they’d spent a lot of time recently with Sarah and Linca, it felt good to talk like this again—just the three of them. Traveling together had its joys, but going separate ways and swapping stories afterward brought a special kind of satisfaction.
Kian had never had real friends before. Talking like this with his companions filled him with a quiet warmth.
”Bug techniques, huh?” Kian muttered as their food finally arrived.
He brought up his earlier conversation with Natra for Rufna to hear.
Rufna took a big bite of grilled meat, chewed slowly, then wiped her mouth with a handkerchief before answering.
”Learning new stuff’s fine and all,” she said, setting the skewer down, “but I wouldn’t recommend that one.”
”Why not?” Kian asked.
”By the way,” Natra leaned forward, “Rufna, can you use bug techniques?”
”Of course I can,” Rufna said with a smirk. “I’m the Head Magician of Nakash, remember? The secret technique passed down by Lord Umar—the one Lady Leeque inherited—I wrote the whole thing down myself and stored it in the archives. It was still in use up until about five years ago.”
”Up until five years ago?” Kian asked.
Rufna nodded.
”That’s part of why I say not to use it. It started with Lord Umar. Everyone was amazed by how cheap and deadly it was. But after Lady Leeque started using it, even low-ranking warrior monks in the Nakash family picked it up.”
”Now that you mention it, even Almeisa’s makeshift army had an Insect Master,” Kian said thoughtfully.
”Lady Almeisa could use insects too,” Natra added.
”You didn’t copy the technique back then?” Rufna asked.
”I… I don’t like bugs,” Natra muttered, face stiff.
Kian blinked, surprised at the girlish tone in her voice.
”Really?”
”They’re disgusting. Crawling everywhere… I hate them.”
”But if Master Kian asks me to,” she said, straightening up, “then I’ll do it. Even bugs.”
”I just told him not to,” Rufna sighed. “At least let me finish the story.”
She leaned on the table, spinning the empty skewer with one finger.
”Once the lower ranks got hold of it, the technique spread like wildfire. Umar’s methods stopped being secrets and became regular research topics. Scholars poked at them from every angle—and found fatal flaws. That’s why it stopped being used around five years ago.”
”What kind of flaws?” Kian asked.
He transferred the meat and vegetables from his skewer to Natra’s plate, careful not to let the sauce stain her clothes. She smiled brightly.
”Thank you, Master Kian!”
Rufna continued.
”After a certain time, the insects stop obeying completely. You can’t control them anymore. And once they’re loose, they don’t just attack enemies. They bring disease. They ruin the land. There was a theory that you could guide them using pheromones on the wind, but newer research says Umar was wrong. His disciple—Lady Leeque—still believes in him and uses the techniques, but she’s clinging to outdated ideas. Even Lady Almeisa, following Lady Sarah’s will, taught it to the lower ranks.”
She paused, then said in a more serious tone,
”Insects are easy to detect. Physical walls block them. Azrael’s homeland criticizes their use. Poison isn’t reliable. You can’t bring them from far away—you have to catch them locally. And unless you know every detail about every insect in the area, they’re useless.”
She let out a breath.
”To really master them, you need time, knowledge, and patience. And that’s way more effort than it’s worth.”
”What kind of magic replaced it?” Natra asked.
Rufna crossed her legs and replied,
”Carnivorous fungi. Remember that wraith in the forest—the one with the ‘Pesta’ fungus? It works the same way. You use pheromones to spread a fungus that infects through skin.”
She tapped her silver side-tail.
”The fungus crawls into the brain and takes over. Once it does, the body spreads the infection to the next host. The infected die in two days. Their bodies crumble to lime and feed the soil. If you use a kind with low spore spread, cleanup’s not even needed.”
She placed her skewer down and folded her hands.
”With current techniques, the harm is massive, but contained. It ends naturally, it’s portable, you can pick the target, and if something goes wrong, you can cure it. Unlike insects, it’s predictable. Of course, it’s still dangerous,” Rufna said, folding her arms with a serious look. “The ethical issues are even worse than insect magic. Some claim it could solve Azrael’s shortage of warrior monks, but honestly… I remain doubtful.”
”So Lord Jibril is researching monster soldiers, then?” Natra asked, tilting his head slightly.
”There are probably other reasons too,” Rufna replied, resting her hand on her chin. “But compared to mushrooms, this approach is much more sound. The Smiling Prince probably wants to strengthen the military the proper way. It’s also useful for maintaining the so-called ‘Empire’ with just a handful of elite warrior monks.”
”I see. After hearing all that, insect magic doesn’t sound so great anymore,” Kian muttered as he raised his tea cup.
”In Milady Natra’s case, you should focus on finishing your Witch training first,” Rufna added with a gentle smile. “You’re almost done, aren’t you?”
”So after I’ve completed the basics,” Natra asked, her tone curious but flat, “does that mean I can study whatever I like?”
”Exactly,” Rufna answered as she gently ruffled Natra’s hair.
Natra, still expressionless, swatted Rufna’s hand away without a word.
Even before they parted ways, Kian had noticed it—Natra’s movements were faster now, sharper than when she was alive. She was growing stronger at an unbelievable pace.
(What about me? The time to break free of this shell… it’s coming.)
With that quiet thought, Kian placed his tea cup back on its saucer.
Once their meal was finished, Kian reached into his coat and retrieved Isthbaran’s head from the Wraith. Holding it at an angle, he made sure the other guests couldn’t see.
”Rufna, I need you to make a mask that completely hides this head,” Kian said, keeping his voice low.
”That’s Isthbaran’s head?” Natra asked, glancing toward it.
Kian gave a small nod. “Make sure it stays on even during hard movement. No scent leakage—nothing a Wolfman could pick up.”
”Understood,” Rufna replied. “Give me a little time.”
”Take all you need,” Kian said calmly. “In the meantime, I’m searching for a suitable body to match the brain’s capabilities.”
He looked back and forth between the two before continuing. “I’ve found some candidates, but I want you both to help look as well. What I need is a whole lower body, including vocal cords. Race doesn’t matter—but preferably male.”
* * *
(──It’s over.)
In the dim room of a quiet inn, midday light crept in, but Sarah remained in her negligee, sitting on the bed with her knees drawn to her chest.
Yesterday, Kian had asked her—would she still choose Umar after all these years?
He had known everything. How Umar loved her in silence, and how, without realizing it, she had stood beside the suffering Kian… while failing to see him.
Kian had been angrier than ever yesterday. It was because she defended Umar. That eccentric man had always been difficult, never someone who should stay close to Kian.
And yet, deep in Sarah’s heart, she had still hoped—just maybe—that Umar’s smile could be directed at Kian.
He was Kian’s father, after all. She couldn’t let go of that truth. Her loyalty to Kian must have felt like a betrayal even to herself.
(I knew how furious Kian had been. I had seen Umar’s cold eyes toward him ever since we were children. Still, I thought I could handle it. I was his ex-fiancée, his childhood friend. Maybe… I was wrong. Maybe I had misunderstood everything…)
”I want to go back… even just three days ago. If only this were a dream──a dream!”
Sarah suddenly stood and began bouncing on the bed.
If it was a dream, she thought she’d wake up. But all the bed gave her in return was a groan—a sound far too real.
She stopped, dropped onto all fours, and collapsed into gloom once again.
”This is reality… ufu… weird voice… ufu… haha… haah…”
No matter how much she regretted it, what was broken would not come back.
Seeing Kian surrounded by other girls had made her anxious, afraid of being left behind. Driven by those feelings, she had invited him into something she wasn’t ready for.
She was swept away by his warmth, and in her heart, a foolish hope had bloomed—that maybe, someday, she might marry Kian.
This was her punishment.
It started with Umar’s words. But if she had really seen what was going on between Umar and him before the exile from Azrael… there were probably deeper reasons for all of it.
If she could fix things, one by one, would Kian forgive her?
The eyes that once shone with Sarah’s strong will were now dulled and cloudy.
Her hair was still messy, damp with the sweat of yesterday’s confusion. But none of that mattered anymore.
She had loved Kian.
More than anything.
But now… she couldn’t understand him at all.
Not long ago, he had smiled at her. It felt like things were going well.
Then, without warning, he pushed her away.
Still, her love hadn’t faded. And that made it all the more painful.
(I can’t just stay like this forever… but—)
Her gaze moved to the meal tray by the door.
It was from Serena, who had been worried and left it there.
Since morning, ever since seeing Kian, Sarah hadn’t touched the food.
”What will become of us now…?” she whispered, hiding her face in her knees.
Mistress and servant.
She used to smile, work for pay, do what she was told.
That was how it had been during her time with the Nakash family.
But she never wanted to be treated like that by Kian.
Still, she thought about the people back in Nakash waiting for her.
Even if it hurt, even if she had to be treated like just a tool… maybe that was what she deserved.
”U… uuuh… hic… ngh…”
”It’s okay to cry,” a voice said gently behind her, “but don’t you think it’s time to take a bath?”
”Wha—!? M-Ms. Linca!?”
Sarah jumped at the sudden voice.
Still kneeling, she twisted around to see Linca, who was crouched behind her on the bed.
”This is reality!” Linca declared, raising a finger.
”That wasn’t just my imagination!?” Sarah asked, eyes wide.
”This is reality!”
”Stop that! That’s annoying! Are you here to laugh at me!? Fine, go ahead! Laugh at the miserable woman dumped by her lover!”
”This is a serious wound,” Linca said quietly. “Maybe I pushed too far.”
”Huh…?”
”Ms. Sarah,” Linca said as she grabbed the hem of Sarah’s nightgown. Then, using her [Transparent Penetration], she tore it off in one swift move.
Before Sarah could react, Linca pointed toward her chest.
”Enough. Go wash up in the bath. I’ll open the window. Change your clothes and eat something.”
”Wait, hold on──”
Before she could finish, the window creaked open.
A soft beam of white sunlight filled the room, and cold air rushed in, blowing away the heavy gloom that clung to Sarah.
She stared in silence as Linca looked at her with sincere concern.
”I didn’t want to see you like this,” Linca said quietly. “You were always calm, always carried yourself with pride. That was the opponent I respected.”
”What do you know about me!?” Sarah snapped, her voice trembling.
”I know enough,” Linca replied, turning away slightly.
”I don’t like you. I’ve been waiting for the day I could beat you so badly you’d have no comeback.”
Notes:
• Linca – Jibril’s favorite girl. High-ranking warrior monk woman from Shin, with strong abilities like ignoring attacks and poisons.
• Serena – Wolfmen Girl
• Demete – A male dark elf shaman and a servant in the Umar household.
• Mag – The wolfwoman under Yelmar—the one who was caught by Kian’s group earlier.
• Gunter – Male. One of Owl’s knights, fully armored in a turtle-like appearance. He is easily distracted by Linca’s charm and struggles to maintain professionalism. His relationship with Owl is one of a subordinate, and he is often scolded for his behavior.
• Isthbaran – The High Warlord of the ‘Storm Herd.’
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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