Chapter 115

She reached out her hand toward Ginger. Ginger looked at her bleeding hand and then cautiously hopped onto it.

“What?”

Perhaps frustrated that they couldn’t communicate, Ginger pounded its chest repeatedly. But what could she understand about what a cookie was trying to say in this situation?

“Ginger, stay still. You’re being distracting.”

At that moment, Ginger pointed at her with the tip of its staff and then pointed at its own chest.

“You want something?”

Ginger nodded.

“What do you want? Oh…?”

At that moment, she recalled something Little One had said about Ginger.

– If something happens, infuse mana into Ginger.

– What kind of situation?

– You’ll know when the time comes. Though I personally hope it never happens…

Little One hadn’t explained exactly when that would be, but for some reason, she felt like now was that moment. Ginger seemed to be saying the same thing.

“You’re telling me to infuse mana into you?”

Finally, Ginger nodded.

“Alright, Ginger, help me.”

She grabbed Ginger and infused mana into it. At the same time, a strong light burst from Ginger’s body.

Her eyes closed involuntarily.

When the light disappeared and she opened her eyes again…

“I had hoped this day wouldn’t come…”

The adolescent version of Little One, whom she had seen during the festival, stood before her with a wistful expression.

***

Felix headed straight for Denas Street without resting. Perhaps because it was nighttime and there had been commotion in the royal palace, the streets were eerily empty.

In the middle of the street stood a man wearing a hood. Felix immediately sensed that this man was the kidnapper and approached him.

“Where is Elena?”

“Drop your weapon and follow me.”

“I’ll ask first. Is Elena safe?”

“She’s alive, for now.”

Felix drew his sword and pointed it at the man’s neck.

“If there’s even a scratch on Elena, I won’t let you live.”

The man smirked.

“Do you really think this is the time to act tough? If you keep this up, you might never see your fiancée again.”

Felix gritted his teeth and dropped his sword. With a clattering sound, the sword hit the ground.

The man threw a black cloth over Felix’s head and led him somewhere. Felix endured it silently, thinking of Elena, who was likely trembling alone right now.

They traveled for quite a while in a carriage. The carriage, which had been moving nonstop, finally stopped in a place where the sound of crickets could be heard.

‘It must be somewhere away from the busy streets.’

While Felix was making his guesses, the man roughly grabbed his arm and dragged him out.

“Follow me.”

He was led down several flights of stairs and finally seated in a chair. The man tied both of Felix’s wrists to the chair’s armrests.

Only then did someone remove the black cloth. Felix guessed that the person before him was the one who had come to meet him. He planned to deal with this person and go find Elena as soon as possible.

But then…

“Professor…?”

The face before him was one he knew well. It was Professor Deros, someone he had exchanged letters with not long ago.

“How are you here…?”

Felix’s face, initially filled with surprise, quickly twisted into one of contempt.

“Are you Anguis as well, Professor?”

“You figured it out faster than Miss Bellote did.”

Felix quickly pieced everything together.

“I’ve heard absurd rumors that the executed Second Prince has been resurrected. Is that why you’ve been researching time travel magic, Professor?”

Professor Deros merely smiled faintly, as if a student had answered correctly during a lecture.

“What do you want from me in exchange for Elena?”

Professor Deros placed a sheet of paper in front of him. Several names, including his own, were written on it.

“Sign your name here and join me in achieving greatness.”

“Do you think I’d commit treason?”

Professor Deros lifted one corner of his mouth in a mocking smile.

“Oh dear, it seems you don’t care what happens to Miss Bellote.”

Felix tried to jump up from his seat, but his hands were tied, preventing him from doing so. He struggled against the bonds, glaring at Professor Deros.

“Leave Elena alone. If anything happens to her, I’ll kill you with my own hands.”

“If you join me, I’ll release Miss Bellote unharmed.”

“Prove to me first that she’s safe.”

“This isn’t the time to be playing tough.”

Professor Deros tapped the paper lightly.

“You don’t need to worry about Miss Bellote’s safety. I need her as well.”

“If this is just to threaten me, let Elena go.”

“Little One, was it? That child seems to be following Miss Bellote.”

“…”

“So I’ll keep her safe.”

Felix used magic to free himself from the ropes. He immediately strode over and grabbed Professor Deros by the collar. The professor remained calm, as if he had anticipated everything.

“If I were you, I’d spend this time signing. My colleagues aren’t as patient as I am.”

“Promise me. If I sign, you’ll release Elena unharmed. And don’t touch Little One. I’ll complete the time travel magic myself. That child knows nothing.”

“Hm.”

Professor Deros pondered for a moment before nodding.

“Very well. Let’s do it your way, Christian. Now then…”

Professor Deros gestured toward the paper. Felix clenched his teeth, released the professor’s collar, and picked up the pen.

Professor Deros’s smile deepened.

***

“Little One, is it really you?”

Elena asked, her voice trembling, unable to believe her eyes. The boy, now dressed in the Verka Academy uniform, approached her and gently held her bloodied hand.

From his hand, a warm light began to radiate, and the pain in her hand gradually disappeared. The boy wiped her hand clean with his uniform jacket and spoke urgently.

“There’s no time for this. We need to get out of here right now.”

“You’re right.”

Realizing the urgency of their situation, Elena quickly stood up. The boy reached for the lock on the cell bars. The lock, which wouldn’t budge no matter how much magic she had used, opened instantly when the boy cast his spell.

This was proof that his magical ability far surpassed that of Professor Deros. However, there was no time to marvel at his strength. The boy grabbed her hand and hurriedly led her out of the cell.

“Who’s there?!”

Their escape had been noticed. Several men rushed toward them, led by the one she had attacked earlier with a rock.

The boy stepped in front of her protectively.

“Stay still and don’t move.”

Instead of casting another spell, he charged straight at the man leading the group. Though the boy was tall and well-built, he didn’t appear particularly muscular. In contrast, the man was clearly large and intimidating.

It seemed obvious that the boy would lose in a physical fight. Moreover, he was unarmed.

‘Why isn’t he using magic…?’

The man, sensing victory, smirked wickedly and swung his sword at the boy.

“Little One…!”

Elena began to gather mana at her fingertips, but before she could act—

“Ugh!”

The boy dodged the sword by bending low and swept the man’s legs out from under him, causing him to crash to the ground. The sword the man had been holding clattered loudly against the stone floor.

“You little runt!”

The man scrambled to grab his sword, but the boy was faster. He stomped on the man’s hand and swiftly picked up the weapon.

And then…

Elena couldn’t bear to watch what happened next. She squeezed her eyes shut.

“Ahhh!”

A blood-curdling scream echoed through the corridor. When she cautiously opened her eyes, the man who had been facing the boy was now lying motionless on the ground.

In that brief moment, a pool of blood had formed on the floor. The crimson liquid seeped through the cracks in the stone and reached Elena’s feet.

She staggered backward, suppressing a silent scream. But there was no time to feel relief.

“You bastard! How dare you?!”

Three more men charged at the boy simultaneously. No matter how skilled he was with a sword, it was clear that he would struggle against multiple opponents.

The boy managed to fend off their attacks at first, but he hesitated for a moment. One of the men seized the opportunity and swung his sword forcefully at him.

“Argh!”

The boy twisted his body to dodge, but the sharp blade grazed his arm. His uniform tore, and blood sprayed into the air. Elena held her breath, afraid that any noise might break the boy’s concentration.

The boy quickly regained his stance. He dodged a sword aimed at his neck and parried another targeting his side.

But he couldn’t avoid the third blade, which slashed across his thigh. The boy stumbled, and one of the men delivered a powerful kick to his abdomen. Gasping for air, the boy staggered, only to be kicked again.

This time, he collapsed to the ground, unable to rise. The men laughed cruelly, their voices echoing in the dim corridor.

“Can we kill this one?”

“Who cares who he is? Kill him. Just leave the woman alone.”

With permission granted, the tallest of the men raised his sword high with both hands.

“Run, Little One!”

Elena screamed as the blade came down with a whooshing sound. The boy rolled out of the way just in time.

Her anxiety grew. 

Why wasn’t the boy using magic? With his abilities, he could easily defeat these men using spells.

Driven by a mixture of fear and determination, Elena ran toward the boy. She spread her arms wide, shielding him from the attackers.

The man who had been about to strike the boy froze, his sword halting mid-air.

“Please… move…”

The boy’s strained voice came from behind her, but Elena stood firm, glaring at the men in front of her. The blood-stained swords in their hands made her body tremble uncontrollably, like a leaf in the wind.

But her instincts told her she was right. These men wouldn’t kill her. She was too valuable for whatever “greater cause” they were pursuing. They had even been ordered earlier not to harm her.

“Little One, run while you can.”