The moment Erin departed, Hellix turned to Isis with questioning eyes. He knew his brother well. Isis had no faith in humanity, having grown up in the imperial palace where he witnessed countless atrocities committed by the royal family and nobles.

In that environment where showing weakness meant being taken advantage of and where neither friends nor family could be trusted, Hellix had gradually become emotionally detached. This was similar to why Isis had begun wearing his metaphorical mask.

“Isis, what are you thinking? This mission is dangerous. I might struggle to fight while protecting you.”

“I meant exactly what I said. I want to see for myself whether she’s truly evil like the Emperor.”

“But didn’t you already believe that? Why bother…”

“You know the royals and nobles. They’re quite skilled at fabricating falsehoods. I can’t easily believe everything I hear.”

“That’s true.”

For Hellix, only Ferdin mattered. Regardless of who accompanied him, he simply needed to focus on finding clues at the orphanage. Yet Erin still troubled his thoughts, particularly when he recalled how Ferdin’s people had treated her at the academy. Their eyes had been full of trust—hardly the way one would look at a villain.

“I’m afraid, Hellix.”

“…”

“I feel the day the Saint spoke of is approaching—the day when everyone dies, including Lord Ferdin.”

“That day won’t come.”

“I want to believe that too. Anyway, we should focus on the task before us.”

Isis shook his head as he spoke. “Erin Liserth’s promotion test is merely an excuse. She’s likely here to monitor us.”

The western territory had limited habitable areas. Beyond the “safe zones,” using holy power or mana was almost essential, and the risk of experiencing hallucinations or monster attacks was high. Even for an exceptional knight, venturing alone beyond the safe zones was extremely dangerous.

“What will you do about Erin Liserth?”

“I’ll accompany her on the mission. We need to go there anyway.”

“…”

“I intend to see what kind of person she is with my own eyes. We’ll decide what to do after that.”

Isis walked to the window, gazing at the desolate western lands that had been ravaged by mysterious phenomena. The starving people. The burden of protecting the people of the Holy Kingdom weighed heavily on his shoulders.

“Or perhaps she isn’t the villain we think she is.”

His eyes remained dry and devoid of hope as he spoke these words.

* * *

In the underground prison of the Liserth estate, Corelia sat comfortably in a chair she had brought. Behind the iron bars before her, Marquis Liserth was bound and imprisoned. Through the crystal ball she had placed in the west, she could see Hellix heading toward the dangerous zone with Erin.

‘The high priest Isis is with them too.’

Corelia muttered quietly.

“Ferdin Lexia’s dogs.”

At these words, the previously listless Marquis suddenly raised his eyes.

“Ferdin Lexia’s dogs?”

“Your daughter and those temple people from the west.”

Corelia spoke mockingly to the Marquis.

“They’ve finally entered the danger zone.”

Upon hearing about the western danger zone, Marquis Liserth trembled with rage. He glared at Corelia and shouted, “The west? What are you planning to do to Erin? What’s your purpose in doing this to us?”

“Now you’re worried about your daughter? Don’t worry. I’ll send everyone to join her one by one so she won’t be lonely.”

“Why are you doing this? If you want something, you could just ask me. Leave my daughter alone!”

Corelia laughed hollowly at the Marquis’s words. “That won’t be possible since you’re still useful to me. Once Duke Asili is dealt with, I’ll send you to your daughter’s side.”

With those words, Corelia left the prison. Alone, the Marquis’s face contorted in despair. The situation seemed hopeless. He couldn’t understand how Corelia had taken over his household or what she was plotting.

His daughter’s face kept appearing in his mind. His Erin…

‘None of it was Erin’s doing…’

Guarding the northern border was no simple task. The Marquis had few days to rest, and even those were spent handling accumulated work in the capital. After his wife died, he tried to forget his grief through his busy daily routine.

Then it occurred to him that he needed someone to guide and protect his children while he was away in the capital.

This was why he accepted the Emperor’s suggestion to remarry. He believed it was all for his children’s sake. The Marquis worked harder to protect the Empire and strengthen his household for his family.

‘When did things go wrong?’

The Marquis tried to recall when everything had started to unravel. Once or twice a year, whenever he made time to visit the estate, Corelia would grasp his hands and plead:

“Lloyd, I’ll take responsibility for the children’s education, so please don’t worry too much.”

“Erin seems to need time alone. Even though you want to see her, please be patient just this once.”

The Marquis believed her words. Each time he returned to the estate, he brought gifts for Erin, but they spent less and less time together. It would be a lie to say he hadn’t questioned why his daughter avoided him.

He recalled young Erin looking at him with pitiful eyes, clutching his hand. His daughter had always been that way, gazing at him intently, seemingly hoping he would notice something. Each time, the Marquis tried to speak with her, but never learned the reason behind her behavior.

“Is there something…”

“Lloyd, since you’re here after so long, please watch Karon’s swordsmanship this afternoon. He’s been working very hard lately.”

And at some point, Erin stopped looking at him that way. Thinking back, Corelia was always by the child’s side. The Marquis believed Corelia was being affectionate toward Erin, but that wasn’t it. She had deliberately prevented him from speaking with his daughter.

Only now could he understand what Erin had been trying to tell him when she clutched his hand. The Marquis’s face turned pale. Uncontrollable regret washed over him when he thought about what that wicked woman, who had hidden her true nature until now, might have done to Erin.

* * *

Hellix had several reasons for believing Erin wasn’t the “person” they were searching for. One major reason was her notorious reputation as a villainess. While Isis said they couldn’t completely trust rumors, this was something known throughout the Empire.

Another reason was that she was completely different from the Saint’s description: “A child who cries easily and is gentle.” Erin matched none of these traits.

Even now, Erin walked at the front, cutting down branches blocking her path with a cold expression. There wasn’t a trace of gentleness on her face.

‘Erin Liserth shedding tears?’

It was completely unimaginable.

Hellix smiled slightly at his own absurd thought while watching Erin walk without hesitation.

At that moment, the air flow changed. They had reached beyond the safe zone. For some unknown reason, a deathly energy had begun emanating throughout the western territories. It killed trees and dried up the land.

‘The Emperor claimed it was because God had abandoned the people of the Holy Kingdom.’

The smile disappeared from Isis’s face as he gazed at the barren land. Monsters overran this desolate terrain, and they were stronger here than elsewhere. This was why the west was known to be dangerous.

Isis observed Erin. He and Hellix possessed holy power, but she did not. To breathe comfortably here, one needed to know how to utilize mana. Yet despite this, Erin was following them silently. Isis found this puzzling.

‘She shouldn’t even be able to handle mana yet. Why doesn’t she show any signs of struggling?’

Isis moved closer to Erin and spoke with a cold expression.

“This must be an unfamiliar landscape for someone who grew up comfortably in the capital. The western lands are the most barren in the Empire.”

“…”

“You’ve probably already noticed, but it’s best not to move recklessly here. We’re accustomed to the west’s harshness, but you’re not. Feel free to turn back. Even breathing must be difficult for you.”

“There’s no need to concern yourself.”