episode_0013

It was night.

The sewers where no one was.

Beyond the unlit garden, only the wind shook the fallen branches.

Sierra stood within it.

In her hand, a piece of a broken magic reactor.

Proof of her failed chase after Leo.

[…Again.]

Her lips trembled.

[Abandoned again.]

[Again.]

[Again.]

Her heart pounded as if it would burst.

It heated her whole body.

Her sweat-soaked palms slipped, but

she gripped the piece tighter in her hand.

Blood dripped, falling onto the white marble floor.

[Leo…]

From deep in her throat, a broken sound flowed out.

“Ugh…”

[How could you… go so far, without me?]

[How could you… smile with another woman—?]

[How could you… do this to me, like this.]

Her vision blurred and wavered.

Anger and sadness, jealousy and obsession intertwined and burst forth.

Sierra took a step forward.

And right there,

she slammed the broken reactor onto the floor.

Thud.

Fragments flew.

Sharp pieces grazed her hand and cheek.

Blood streamed down.

But she felt no pain.

Only one thing was felt.

[What I need is… Leo.]

[Just Leo.]

[Without Leo, I’m… nothing.]

[For me to… love you this much.]

[For me to… be this crazy about you.]

[Why—why aren’t you by my side?]

A silent scream.

Tearing her chest apart, she sank to the floor.

She didn’t cry.

She couldn’t even cry.

She just muttered, as if breathing.

[Nothing else matters]

[Everything that stands in your way.]

[That woman too, that family too, that rebellion too…]

[Everything.]

[All of it.]

Mad obsession was etched in her eyes.

Sierra slowly stood up.

Her shadow swayed, but her eyes were clear.

I won’t lose you.

I will pull you back into my arms.

By any means necessary.

With every step she took, the blood flowing down her ankle left marks on the floor.

Bright red trails.

Traces of an irreversible resolve.

She, like that, disappeared into the darkness.

Alone.

Gambling everything, to break everything.

Only for Leo.

Leo raised his head and looked up at the night sky.

In the sky, a moon as clear as it was cruel hung suspended.

As if knowing nothing, looking down on everything.

Breaking through the cold night air, Leo moved towards the old abandoned station.

Rooden Mine Abandoned Station.

Abandoned railway tracks and rusted supports creaked in the wind.

In the middle of the abandoned station platform,

he sensed the carefully settled trace of magic.

‘…Here.’

He surveyed his surroundings one more time.

No signs of anyone following.

After Sierra’s weeping had faded away, he had erased human-like emotions.

Only coldly, moving only with his objective in mind.

Below the steel pillar, an old pattern was etched into the floor.

The unique seal of ‘The Moon’s Other Side’.

Leo knelt and placed his palm upon it.

[Darkness hides light, and light hides darkness.]

As he chanted the password,

the pattern glowed faintly and the ground beneath his feet softly opened.

“…Well met, Leo.”

From beyond the darkness of the hidden underground space, a familiar voice was heard.

It was Rania.

Now without her cloak, revealing soft black hair that flowed to her shoulders.

She greeted him with a smile much brighter than before.

“I thought my neck would break waiting, you know?”

Even while speaking cheerfully, Rania’s eyes were sharp.

A light where caution and curiosity intersected.

Leo nodded.

“Things got a bit complicated.”

“I’d imagine. Next time you come, it would be good to shake off your tail.”

She must be talking about Sierra.

Rania laughed briefly and gestured.

“Follow me.”

The underground passage snaked like a serpent.

Above their heads was a damp stone floor, and on the walls, old magic characters glowed faintly.

After walking for a long time, a small underground base revealed itself.

On an old table lay an unfolded map.

A detailed map showing the northern part of the capital and all the areas where anti-empire forces were hiding.

And,

beside it were weapons.

Black magic firearms, teleportation magic stones, and small core bombs.

“…Is this all?”

When Leo asked, Rania shrugged her shoulders.

“For now. The supply transport ship was looted, and the magic relay is cut off.”

“We… have to fight the Empire with this?”

“Yes.

So, that’s why I need your strength.”

Rania approached with a playful smile.

“I’m talking about your specialty.

That ability to ‘delay one Empire unit alone’.”

“…Back then, I had support.”

“You have it now, don’t you?”

Rania’s eyes sparkled.

“Me.”

Leo sighed.

‘Once again, I’ve returned to a dangerous place.’

‘But the choice is made.’

Leo nodded.

“Tell me the plan.”

“Alright.”

Rania quickly spread out the map.

“First, we need to restore the cornerstone in the south.

If we reconnect the magic circuit, communication with the central hub will be possible.”

“While the cornerstone is being restored, what about me?”

“You’ll disrupt the perimeter network.

You can’t do it without me.”

Rania approached and looked him directly in the eyes.

“Leo, it’s you that’s needed.

In this organization, right now.”

A quiet sincerity could be felt.

For a moment, Leo was speechless.

But in a corner of his heart, the torn feeling was still raging.

Sierra.

Leaving her behind.

It hung in his chest like guilt that would never disappear.

‘Don’t think about it now.’

‘Not now.’

Leo nodded.

“Alright.

Let’s move tomorrow.”

“Hehe, I knew I could count on you.”

Rania chuckled playfully and lightly patted his arm.

“How about getting some practice starting today?

The new defense magic Empire mages are using these days is really annoying.”

“…Okay.”

Leo forced his tired body up.

“Teach me.”

“Great!”

Rania smiled cheerfully and led him to the training area deeper in the passage.

Darkness and cold air,

the smell of rust, and the faint scent of spreading magic.

Leo had returned to the battlefield.

A hellish battlefield.

Nevertheless, a world where he had to survive.

That was where he stood now.

The time when dawn was just stretching.

The underground base was quiet.

Leo put on a grey cloak over his black combat uniform, and fastened a short sword and a magic induction device at his waist.

Rania appeared with her hair tied up lightly. There was a resolute light in her dark eyes.

“The plan is simple.”

Rania said, unfolding a small magic stone map.

“The cornerstone is in the ruins inside Karas Forest, on the southern outskirts.

It’s a core hub of the magic line connected to the central hub.

We need to restore it to build the foundation of our network.”

“Guard?”

“Yes.

An Empire temporary defense force is stationed there. Magic detectors and a few detachments of guards.”

Leo took a short breath.

“A frontal assault is impossible.”

“So we prepared a detour.”

Rania grinned and pulled out a small magic orb.

Inside, a densely drawn passage like a delicate maze was depicted.

“There are abandoned mine tunnels spread beneath the old forest.

We can use them to get right under the cornerstone.”

“Traps?”

“…Many.”

Rania laughed and counted on her fingers.

“Collapse zones, magic anomaly zones, and—

‘Magic-sensitive traps’ planted by the Empire.”

Leo rubbed his forehead.

“In other words, it’s a path to death.”

“Isn’t it alright as long as we don’t die?”

Rania winked and gave a short laugh.

Leo adjusted his magic induction device and muttered softly.

“Alright.

Lead the way.”

“Look forward to it!”

Karas Forest.

The forest, where autumn had deepened, was covered in grey mist.

The smell of rotten moss and damp earth weighed heavily on the air.

Leo and Rania silently burrowed beneath the surface.

The entrance to the abandoned mine was hidden by weeds and fallen trees.

“Here it is.”

Rania gestured.

Using the magic orb to open the entrance,

the rusted iron door creaked open.

Inside was pitch black.

Only a single magic stone light dimly illuminated them.

The tunnel bent irregularly, and signs of collapse were visible here and there.

On the floor, there were also hardened bloodstains from long ago.

“Be careful.”

Leo took the lead.

In his hand, a short sword was held.

After only a few steps, the first trap revealed itself.

A magic-sensitive trap.

A faint flow of magic laid on the floor.

It was structured to explode if touched even slightly.

Leo knelt without hesitation and took out his magic equipment.

“Need to neutralize it in 5 seconds.”

“Got it!”

Rania cautiously monitored their surroundings.

Leo precisely drew symbols with his fingers.

The equipment’s needle pricked the magic layer, and the unstable flow quickly stabilized.

*Ding*.

“Success.”

“Oh, impressive.”

Rania smiled brightly and gave a thumbs-up.

Without pausing to catch his breath, Leo moved forward again.

And, the second trap.

A collapse zone.

The tunnel was structured to collapse intentionally.

Rania, who had analyzed the blueprints, quickly pointed at the map.

“Here, this brick.

If you touch it wrong, everything will collapse.”

“Understood.”

Leo scanned the floor with the tip of his foot.

Years of experience guided his body.

One step, another step.

Holding his breath, he glided forward.

Rania also followed him quietly.

Her eyes were twinkling, but her gaze was not unfocused for a moment.

‘This kid… is much more capable than I thought.’

Leo admitted inwardly.

A deep point in the abandoned mine.

Finally, they arrived at the cornerstone area.

A single gigantic crystal pillar stood in the center.

It was cracked and vibrating unstably.

And around it,

Empire soldiers were guarding.

Black armor, magic-charged spears,

and detection magic devices.

“…We’ll be detected in 3 minutes.”

Leo said briefly.

“It takes 2 and a half minutes to charge.”

Rania winked and laughed.

“So, you want me to buy time until then?”

“A request with no compensation.”

“I’ll give you compensation.”

Rania whispered playfully.

“If the operation succeeds, I’ll buy you something delicious.”

Leo sighed and drew his sword.

“Forget it and start quickly.”

Rania grumbled quietly.

“Geez, so young yet talking back…”

Rania spread out her palm and deployed the magic circuit.

Leo held his breath.

Before being detected by the soldiers, there was only one chance.

From now on—

everything depended on him enduring.

Leo took a short gulp of air.

His black cloak fluttered in the darkness.

In his hand was a sword entwined with a shimmering flow of magic.

“Starting.”