VI. A Friend in Peril

The brown horse galloping down the gloomy slope foamed at the mouth and drooled, perhaps from having traveled a long distance.

As the sky darkened, Jeff urged on his tired horse while trying to soothe it. He had no time to enjoy the scenery of the setting sun at leisure.

This place, without a single hint of life-sprouting color, was the Black Forest. Its formal name was Schutzwald Forest, but due to its eerie darkness covered in pitch black, it was commonly known as the Black Forest.

Jeff couldn’t afford to be distracted, as even a brief rest might lead to death befitting the forest’s reputation and eternal imprisonment. He looked up at the darkening sky and gray clouds. The southern sun seemed to set particularly quickly.

‘A journey to meet a friend shouldn’t be this arduous……’

To reach the Duke of Adrian’s mansion, one had to pass through the Black Forest. Perhaps because of this, visitors who risked their lives to visit the Duke’s residence were extremely rare.

Jeff was the only one who regularly visited the Duke of Adrian’s mansion, being his sole friend.

Jeff grew anxious as he needed to exit the forest before the sun completely set. At night, the monsters in the Black Forest grew even more powerful, making them difficult to deal with even for a Guardian.

“Grrrr……”

After galloping for a while, Jeff spotted a beast too hideous to be called a wolf. His green eyes widened slightly at the sight of the monster with spike-like sharp teeth and claws longer than a palm. As he recalled, this wasn’t a monster that typically appeared in this area.

Jeff turned direction while gripping the reins tightly. The monster immediately took an attacking stance and leaped toward its prey, kicking off from the ground.

“Kiaaaaa!”

With an ear-piercing shriek, the monster attacked Jeff with its mouth wide open as if trying to snatch him in one bite.

“Kuk!”

Jeff’s blue hair brushed against the monster’s sharp teeth as he turned his head.

As identical monsters began to emerge from the bushes, Jeff let out a hollow laugh.

‘Have they evolved enough to hunt in packs……’

As the number of monsters increased, they began following Jeff with their blood-red eyes flashing.

Jeff skillfully maneuvered his horse to avoid them and galloped at full speed, but the pack of beasts that had caught the scent of blood far outpaced the fine steed.

“Hihihihihihing!”

The horse was instantly surrounded and reared up in terror, raising its front legs.

“Damn it.”

A murderous aura rose from Jeff’s entire body as he pulled the reins. His eyes flashed, and the surrounding air became taut as if about to burst.

“Kraaaa!”

Sensing the ominous atmosphere, the beast that appeared to be the leader howled, and the monsters lunged at Jeff like lightning.

“Stop.”

As Jeff’s eyes flashed and his special ability activated, the monsters that were about to swing their claws ferociously cowered and lay flat on the ground like docile dogs.

“Ha, Caesar……”

Jeff muttered his friend’s name resentfully as if finding it troublesome, then kicked the horse’s side. With the obstacles in front of him gone, Jeff galloped forward, trampling the monsters under the horse’s powerful hooves.

Shortly after arriving at a gloomy mansion not much different from the Black Forest, Jeff handed the horse to a groom and dusted off his crumpled robe.

“Your Highness, you’ve arrived.”

The butler received the gloves Jeff had taken off and greeted him respectfully.

“I saw monsters even near the mansion.”

“…We are aware.”

“They were even moving in packs. Is Kyle trying to turn the ducal territory into a lawless land?”

“About that… I’ve been consulting with the Knight Commander to send them away from civilian areas as much as possible in this urgent situation, but……”

A troubled look crossed the old butler’s face.

“Since His Grace the Duke hasn’t given any orders, it’s difficult to respond aggressively……”

Jeff sighed.

“I’ll talk to him. Where is he now?”

“He’s not in the mansion at the moment. He left two days ago and there’s been no word.”

Jeff touched his forehead. It was clear that his friend was avoiding him, not wanting to meet after receiving his letter.

“Haah, this irresponsible fool…… How is his condition?”

“It’s serious enough to look precarious…… All the servants are afraid, as it reminds them of when Your Highness was about to go berserk last time.”

“It seems he’s desperate to follow Catherine.”

Shadows fell over the faces of Jeff and the old butler as they worried about him.

* * *

Throughout the climb up the clock tower, Estelle clutched her pounding heart. This was the moment when what she had attempted dozens of times was finally about to be realized.

How many deaths had she experienced trying to reach the holy relic? It felt beyond moving, almost unreal. Finally… finally, she could approach the holy relic without any obstacles after overcoming all those hardships!

Estelle paused for a moment to catch her rough breathing.

“Are you that excited? I’m starting to feel jealous.”

Lexion, who was supporting her, said in a playful voice.

“If you’re hoping for the goddess’s blessing, that’s all unfounded superstition. The holy relic only responds to those with special abilities from the family.”

The sacred holy relic, a medium of the goddess, carried many hypotheses.

“I know.”

“I don’t understand why someone who knows this would still be obsessed with the holy relic.”

“Your Highness.”

Estelle said, applying pressure to Lexion’s arm that she was holding.

“Thank you… for everything you’ve done for me.”

Regardless of what kind of person he had been in the past, it was undeniable that she had received much help from the current Lexion. Perhaps facing a situation where she might disappear while having her special ability absorbed, Estelle conveyed her gratitude that she couldn’t express as one human to another.

“……”

Seemingly surprised by this, Lexion looked down at her with slightly widened eyes. Was she feeling sad about leaving the imperial palace? Whatever it was, receiving words of gratitude from her was extremely satisfying.

“Don’t feel too disappointed. You’ll meet me sooner than you expect.”

With a sly smile, Lexion stepped up the stairs with a pleased expression.

‘Now… I can finally fix it…!’

With each step she took, Estelle felt like she might burst into tears. This was a miraculous day when she could properly restore the distorted time and life, and her heart was overwhelmed with memories of the countless hardships she had endured.

When she saw the holy relic placed on the golden altar, Estelle held her breath. The hourglass looked ordinary at first glance, but it was emitting a subtle sacred light.

Estelle reached for the holy relic with trembling hands. Truly, numerous emotions crossed her mind in this short moment.

“Estelle.”

At that moment, Lexion, who was leaning against the wall, spoke.

“Keep your promise.”

He lightly tapped his lips with his index finger. He was referring to the price he had demanded in exchange for showing her the holy relic.

“……”

Estelle didn’t answer. She would disappear from this place anyway, so what did it matter?

In the worst case, if only her regression ability disappeared, she could just keep the promise.

After all, she never specifically said she would kiss him on the lips.

‘It would be amusing to see his face when he realizes he’s been deceived.’

Imagining herself kissing his instep while he frowned, Estelle smiled faintly and grabbed the holy relic.

Now a circular magic circle would appear on the floor, and starlight would swirl around her body, with sacred energy seeping in like the goddess’s breath.

Estelle closed her eyes, imagining the situation to come, thinking about what excuses she would make if Lexion asked questions.

But… it was quiet. Even after waiting for a long time, everything around her remained silent.

With an anxious heart, Estelle opened her eyes. The holy relic was clearly in her hand.

“No, no……”

She desperately clutched the holy relic. However, the palm-sized hourglass only dropped fine sand inside the glass bottle, not giving her the answer she expected.

Thud……

Estelle heard the sound of her heart dropping to the bottom.

‘No…… No…… No!’

When she gripped the hourglass tightly with fierce intensity, Lexion, who had been watching, stopped her.

“Estelle, stop it. If you break it, you’ll have to forfeit your head, even if you are the saintess.”

“Wait, just a moment!”

Estelle shook off Lexion’s hand as if having a seizure.

“…Estelle?”

“Don’t touch me!”

Thrown into chaos, Estelle clutched the hourglass with trembling hands. She was so desperate that blue veins showed through her pale hands.

‘Oh, please, Goddess! Please… please!’

“Estelle!”

Lexion grabbed her wrist and forcibly pried her fingers off one by one.

“That’s enough.”

“Let go of me!”

Estelle resisted violently. It felt as if everything before her was being dyed with despair. What had she been doing all this time? If the holy relic wasn’t the answer, what would become of the numerous deaths she had experienced and her future?

‘Do I… do I have to continue living like this…? Forever unable to die?’

As Lexion took the holy relic from her hand, Estelle collapsed to the floor, her strength gone.