“And whenever I say something, you’re sarcastic. Always twisting my words.”

“……”

“Forceful and stubborn. Finding fault over the smallest things when you’re displeased, and unkind.”

The feeling of ‘Is it really okay to do this?’ clashed with ‘When else would I get to say these things?’

The latter won.

Yes, when else would I get such an opportunity?

I poured out all the complaints I had been holding back.

Of course, there was no response.

……It would be a disaster if there was.

I paused for a moment before speaking again.

“But……”

My gaze dropped.

Memories of my time with Cardien flashed by.

It’s been just under half a year, yet why are there so many memories?

A smile naturally formed on my lips.

“Still, I like Your Grace.”

Knowing he couldn’t hear, even more honest and unfiltered truths spilled out.

But regardless of the sincerity, I felt a bit embarrassed.

It’s not like I have many chances to say such things.

But precisely because I rarely get to say these things, I wanted to say them now.

Even if I had to borrow this situation.

“It seems Your Grace doesn’t realize how much I like you and Mercedes.”

The path leading underground was long.

What could be at the end of this?

Knowing that this moment wouldn’t last forever, I didn’t hesitate to pour out my true feelings.

Even if the person in question couldn’t hear them.

“You know what? The thought I had when I first came to Mercedes.”

“……”

“That you were my only savior.”

“……”

“That only Your Grace could save me.”

Thinking back to that time, a wry smile escaped my lips.

I didn’t know then. That the family heirloom would be lost.

‘And that our relationship would become this close.’

“So at first, I was shocked when I found out the heirloom was gone……”

I take each step carefully.

At a pace that’s neither too fast nor too slow, matching Cardien’s.

“But now it’s okay. Rather, I often think that I want this life at Mercedes mansion to continue a bit longer because it’s so enjoyable and there are so many good people. And……”

“……”

“Your Grace is much warmer and kinder than you think. That’s why I like you.”

Remembering the day I dreamed with him, I smiled softly.

But where there’s a beginning, there’s also an end.

‘That’s how it is.’

Like my life ending senselessly, like losing my only family, my father, right before my eyes without being able to do anything.

“……An end that comes without preparation is harder than you’d think.”

I’m sick and tired of the emptiness of loss that comes without preparation.

“That’s why I was doing it. Not just waiting for the day to leave, but because I’m so happy and content now, I wanted to prepare my heart in advance.”

Finally, the end of the stairs came into view.

I slowed my steps with a pounding heart.

What could be down there?

‘……There won’t be anything dangerous, right……?’

I don’t think the woman in my dream would have shown me something dangerous, but still, my heart constricted for no reason.

“Your Grace, from now on, really don’t let go of my hand……”

As I was saying this and turning around, I was startled for a moment.

Cardien’s gaze was fixed exactly on me.

Could he have regained consciousness?

“Your…… Grace?”

I called out to him cautiously, but his tightly closed lips didn’t part.

Looking closer, his focus seemed slightly off from me.

I tilted my head to the side.

‘Was it my imagination?’

For a moment, I thought our eyes had met.

Still, it seemed certain that his consciousness was returning.

‘If this continues, we might be able to get through this without a magic outburst.’

I passed the last step while holding Cardien’s hand tightly.

In front of the stairs was a massive iron door with a lock firmly in place.

We can’t enter like this.

‘Should we go back?’

But it felt disappointing to return without any results.

Moreover, something I suddenly thought of while coming down this structure.

‘It matches what was written in Jeffrey’s diary.’

A hidden space beneath the temple.

It was a situation suspicious enough to consider as Egrid’s hideout.

‘The fact that it’s locked from the outside probably means there’s no one inside.’

Unless there’s a separate escape route.

Anyway, I couldn’t just go back like this.

As I was pondering what to do, my eyes suddenly fell on the bracelet.

‘Come to think of it, this bracelet had a cooling magic on it, right?’

Recalling the battle with Jeffrey, I swallowed hard.

Then I placed my hand towards the lock and channeled my magic.

Hiss-

As the cold dripped down, the lock began to freeze.

When I finally withdrew the magic, the lock was completely frozen.

‘And then……’

I took a deep breath and pressed close to Cardien.

‘Because it’s dangerous.’

After leaning against Cardien’s back, I cast magic toward the frozen lock.

Bang!

With a loud explosion, the frozen lock shattered into pieces.

The broken fragments flew in all directions.

“Ugh.”

The sharp pieces that flew like arrows were deflected right in front of me.

‘It really does create a barrier.’

As Cardien said, the bracelet created a barrier without any magic input when it sensed danger.

Thanks to that, Cardien behind me could also be safe.

‘It’s quite useful.’

I probably can’t use it infinitely, right?

It seems to activate using pre-injected magic as fuel.

Anyway.

I lowered my arm that I had reflexively raised.

The lock was shattered into pieces, rolling on the floor.

‘Good.’

I approached the door and unlocked the remaining locks.

Then I pushed with all my might.

Creeeeak-

The door opened with an eerie sound.

Immediately, a pungent smell wafted out.

It smelled like stagnant water, or something rotting.

Should we go in?

I hesitated, but having come this far, turning back seemed pointless.

‘Fortunately, it seems no one’s here.’

“Your Grace.”

I took Cardien’s hand again and carefully stepped inside.

The interior was terribly dark.

I thought the way down was dark enough, but I was surprised that it could be even darker than that.

‘Without this bracelet, we wouldn’t have been able to see even an inch in front of us.’

Thinking about it, this bracelet is more useful than I thought.

It emits light, casts magic, and automatically creates a barrier.

I suddenly felt that Cardien really gave me something nice.

To add that level of functionality to such a small bracelet must have cost an astronomical amount of money.

To give me such a precious thing so readily.

‘What am I to Cardien?’

I know I’m not just a simple tutor.

For now, at least……

“What is this place?”

The bracelet’s light wasn’t strong enough to fully illuminate the interior.

When it only lit up my surroundings, nothing seemed particularly impressive.

Ordinary stone walls and a gray floor covered in unidentifiable stains.

‘But why does it feel so familiar?’

It feels like this place remains in a corner of my memory.

I slowly moved forward, shining the light.

Suddenly, something touched my toes.

“……?”

When I shone the light there, I froze.

“……”

That’s when I remembered where I had seen this place.

‘In Cardien’s nightmare……’

The place where young Cardien was subjected to an unknown ritual.

What lay before my eyes was an altar that looked exactly like the one Cardien had been bound to.

The only difference was that this altar showed much more signs of age than the one in the nightmare, and above all, it was stained with brownish marks.

Suddenly, the man’s memories that I had glimpsed flashed through my mind.

Had that man been captured here too? Had he been subjected to something like Cardien?

‘If that man escaped and made it to the surface……’

That’s when it happened.

Swish-

Just as I thought I heard something like the sound of air being cut.

Clang!

Suddenly a barrier formed, and something bounced off.

‘Wh-what?’

I turned around in shock.

But it’s too dark to see anything.

This time, something flew and hit from behind.

Thud!

The barrier that formed again perfectly blocked whatever had flown in.

Then, along with a light landing sound, a chillingly eerie voice spoke in a low tone.

“Magic, huh.”

“……Who are you?”

“That’s what I want to ask. How did you get in here?”

Then, without giving me a chance to answer, he continued with a sneer.

“No need to answer. You’re going to die anyway.”

Saying that, he repeatedly collided with me.

Each time, the barrier formed to block him, but I don’t know how long this can be maintained.

‘Wh-what’s going on!’

My heart sank at the sudden situation.

I tried to regain my composure.

As much as I’d like to use magic.

‘It’s too dark to find his location.’

“Huh, little rat. It’s too late for regrets now. You’ll die here!”

On the other hand, the man seemed accustomed to the darkness, lunging at me without any hesitation.

At this rate, there’s no chance of winning.

‘What should I do?’

If I lower the barrier and use my ability when he flies at me……

As I was thinking of how to deal with this, that’s when it happened.