“What am I going to do…?” the man mused, his voice tinged with uncertainty. “I don’t really have a reason to go toe-to-toe with someone like you, Veronica. And let’s face it, I’d be outmatched considering the skill you’ve got up your sleeve. It’s like all other skills are just… worthless in comparison. Maybe throwing in the towel is the smart play here. My skill is all I’ve got left to rely on. But damn, that ticket… I really want it.”
His gaze flicked to Zeruel, still glaring daggers at him. Though the fiery aura had faded, the oppressive heat of the room still lingered, searing into our skin.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but you’ve got to let it go. Your father’s made it clear,” Veronica interjected with authority.
“Really? Well, if my father, the King, insists, then I guess I’ll have to wave goodbye to the ticket,” the man conceded. It all seemed too easy, though. Was he scheming something? As he spoke, the woman’s attention shifted to me, and with a swift motion, she retrieved a small vial from her pocket. Inside glimmered a crimson liquid—a healing potion.
“Drink this, and your wounds will close up in no time,” she said, holding the bottle close to my lips. I followed her instructions and took a sip, feeling the effects almost instantly. The healing potion she’d given me was as potent as a saint’s miraculous touch.
Extending her hand, she helped me to my feet. But the moment I stood upright, she shoved me back against the wall, her elbow pressing firmly against my neck.
“W-What the hell are you doing?” I demanded, glaring at her.
“I’m giving you a choice,” she stated coldly, her gaze icy. “Keep quiet about what happened here, or face the consequences.”
Her threat didn’t faze me. With a steely gaze of my own, I met her cold stare. “So the royals don’t want their dirty laundry aired, huh? Killing people and torching buildings. Seems like royalty is cut from the same cloth in every damn realm.”
The woman’s demeanor remained stoic, her eyes piercing me with an icy stare.
“Fine. I’ll keep my lips sealed. But I’m not doing it for free. I want something in return… Can you grant me a ticket to the King’s Game?” I pressed, hoping to strike a deal.
But she didn’t flinch. Instead, she responded in the same emotionless tone, “Do you think my words were some kind of request that needed compensation for compliance?” With each word, her grip tightened, pressing down on my throat until I couldn’t utter a sound. Her strength was astonishing, given her seemingly frail appearance. I couldn’t even attempt to shake her off.
“I doubt you will,” I managed to rasp out, despite the pressure on my neck. “But will you indulge me with another question?”
She remained silent and unmoving, but her lack of objection spurred me on. “I overheard your conversation earlier, mentioning that you became a magic knight at the tender age of seventeen. How did you manage such a feat?”
A flicker of surprise danced across her features at my bold inquiry, the first sign of emotion I’d seen from her. “And what do you intend to do with that information? Are you aspiring to become a magic knight at a young age yourself? But judging by your attire,” she glanced down at my uniform, “you’re hardly even worthy of such aspirations. If you’re stuck in the bronze class, dreaming of becoming a magic knight is nothing but a pathetic fantasy.”
“I can make it,” I declared with determination. “If you doubt me, then why not see for yourself?”
With a swift, decisive motion, I broke free from her grip, my hand chopping away hers that had pinned me against the wall. Stepping back swiftly, I kept a wary distance, ensuring she couldn’t trap me again. In response, she launched a backhanded strike at my face, but I agilely dodged aside, narrowly avoiding the blow. Swift as lightning, she followed up with a vicious kick aimed at my vulnerable spot.
Her raw power was evident; a single blow from her could easily render me unconscious. It was clear she possessed a strength unlike any other I had encountered in this world. However, I was determined not to let her land a hit on me.
Slightly taken aback by my evasion, she exhaled deeply and extended her arm, palm open, likely intending to throw me to the ground. Anticipating her move, I swatted her hand away, refusing to be easily overpowered.
“Impressive reflexes,” she commended, her voice tinged with a hint of surprise. “I didn’t expect you to evade my attacks so adeptly. It seems your claim of rising from the bronze class to become a magic knight holds some merit.”
Despite her words of praise, her expression remained inscrutable, betraying no hint of emotion.
“You’ve sparked my curiosity,” she continued, her tone steady. “What’s your name?”
I remained silent, my guard still firmly in place.
“Fair enough, you’re guarded,” she acknowledged. “But since you’ve caught my attention, I’ll share how I became a magic knight at such a young age. You might not achieve it as early as I did, so I suggest focusing on climbing up to the gold class yourself. Judging by your appearance, you’re likely in your first or second year. I’ll await the day you join the esteemed ranks of the magic knights. I anticipate our future collaboration.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” I pressed.
“As I mentioned, you can’t replicate what I did. Graduating from the academy is a prerequisite. I’m simply an exception, which allowed me to attain the rank at a young age,” she explained.
Exceptional case, huh? I wondered what made her so unique. Before I could dwell on it further, the man interjected.
“Enough idle chatter. Let’s conclude this and return to the castle, Veronica. I’ve no time to waste,” he interjected.
“Yes, Your Highness,” she replied briskly, her demeanor cold and authoritative. Her gaze bore into the brown-haired woman. “You understand the repercussions should you utter a single word of what transpired here. Any indiscretion, and you’ll face dire consequences,” she warned with a chilling edge to her voice.
“You… You think you can just sweep this under the rug because I’m a commoner?” the brown-haired woman exploded, her voice quivering with righteous fury. “Do you honestly believe I’ll stay silent while countless others suffer?!”
“I understand your reluctance, but you must also consider your sick mother and your little sister, don’t you?” the black-haired woman countered, her tone measured yet firm. “Think of their safety before you act rashly. Do you grasp the gravity of the situation now?”
Clutching her fists in frustration, the brown-haired woman wrestled with her emotions, her resolve visibly wavering. It was a harsh reminder that even in this world, justice was often elusive.
“If you truly comprehend the consequences, then I trust you’ll heed my counsel,” the black-haired woman concluded, her voice steady. With deliberate movements, she retrieved a smartphone and a paper from her pocket. Dialing a number, she pressed the phone to her ear. “Therese,” she spoke into the device. “It’s time. Activate the teleportation spell.”
Following her instructions, she carefully spread out the paper on the ground, revealing a large circle with intricate runes inscribed within. The symbols seemed to pulsate with an otherworldly glow, casting an eerie light in the surroundings.
“Your highness, step forth into the circle,” she beckoned, her voice carrying an air of authority. “It will serve as your conduit, transporting you directly to the safety of the castle.”
“Sure thing~!” the man chirped, his tone oddly jovial. As he set foot onto the paper, a brilliant azure light erupted from its surface, engulfing him in its radiant glow. With a mischievous glance in my direction, he playfully stuck out his tongue before succumbing to the dazzling radiance and disappearing from sight. Following his lead, the black-haired woman gracefully leapt from the building’s aperture, vanishing into the darkness with a swift and silent grace. With the flames quenched and the oppressive heat dissipating, the aftermath of the cataclysm left an eerie calm in its wake. It was as though the chaos had materialized and dissipated in the blink of an eye, leaving me feeling bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
As I fixated on the spot where the woman vanished, a piercing cry shattered the eerie silence. My attention snapped to the distraught figure of the woman still cradling her mother in her arms.
“M-Mom!” her anguished voice echoed, tears cascading down her cheeks. The woman’s grip on her mother tightened, her fingers trembling with desperation. Yet, her mother lay motionless, the tubes that once sustained her now severed and charred by the inferno.
“M-Mom…! Please, don’t leave me…! Please…!” the woman pleaded, her voice choked with sorrow as she clung to her mother, her entire being consumed by despair.
But then, her mother’s breath grew shallow.
In that moment, I watched as her mother took her final breath, her life slipping away.
