Ch.226Interlude, A Story (7)

Roseline chose her own mystery.

Not something she was born with, but a mystery she chose herself.

There are no cases of humans acquiring mysteries after birth. There are instances where people belatedly realize the mysteries they were born with by chance, but there has never been a case of a human born without a mystery later acquiring one.

But Roseline obtained a mystery after birth.

By her own will, she chose her mystery.

This is evidence that half of her is a witch, and proof that she has finally accepted the half of herself she had been denying all this time.

“That’s impossible.”

Merlin’s eyes widened.

Having hated mysteries more than anyone in this world, and having studied them more deeply than anyone else because of that hatred, Merlin knew how absurd this situation was.

“Choosing a mystery? A human? Even if half-witch, how is that possible……”

What confused Merlin was that Roseline before him was still human. Despite awakening to her mystery, Roseline’s soul still maintained its human form.

The outside of her soul was human.

The inside of her soul was filled with witch.

A contradictory existence who was both human and witch, witch and human simultaneously. Merlin couldn’t understand why they weren’t mixed but separated into “outside” and “inside.”

‘Because that’s how she could be protected.’

Najin understood.

‘From the witch’s taboo.’

The rule and taboo established by the witches of Camlann.

Those who violate the taboo become enemies of all witches and are dragged to the Black Tower. If they refuse punishment, only a more miserable end awaits them.

And Roseline Askarlo’s very existence violates the taboo. A being where witch and human are mixed. Clear evidence that a witch and human shared love.

‘She’s the kind of existence that would make witches foam at the mouth.’

-That’s… true.

‘So they hid it.’

Just as a father embraces his child to protect them from danger, Roseline’s “witch part” was covered by her human part. It was Albert’s soul that made this possible.

How remarkable, Najin thought.

Those called parents will do anything for their children. No matter how complicated, difficult, or treacherous the task, they gladly accomplish it. What is commonly called paternal or maternal love.

‘Though I wouldn’t know what that’s like.’

-……

Having been alone since birth and not even knowing his parents’ faces, Najin felt a slight bitterness.

“Roseline.”

Najin called Roseline’s name.

Roseline, who had been staring intently at the masterpiece, raised her head to look at Najin. Her eyes held confusion and a few tears.

“Your mother is imprisoned in a place called the ‘Black Tower.'”

“Where is that?”

“It’s a tower built on a remote island in the middle of a great lake deep within the Outer Continent. It’s a kind of prison for punishing witches who have violated taboos.”

That’s where your mother is imprisoned.

She has been incarcerated there for 600 years.

“I received a letter from your mother. And I promised. To tell you this story after delivering her letter to you.”

Roseline wiped her eyes with her sleeve and nodded. Najin relayed exactly what he had heard from Lena, the red-eyed witch.

“If you ever become strong enough to set foot on the Outer Continent, my child.”

“Come find me someday.”

“Even if it takes ten years, 100 years, or even longer, it’s alright. I’ll be waiting forever.”

When Lena heard that Roseline had been successfully born into the world, and that she had inherited her father’s talent…

Lena dreamed of an “if.”

A dream that if her daughter became strong enough—strong enough to set foot on the Outer Continent, cross the great lake, and challenge the tower—they might reunite.

“With those final words, your mother fell into a deep sleep. Dreaming of reunion with you.”

“……”

“It’s also a means of recovery. She’s endured a curse consuming her body for 600 years, but now she no longer needs to accept it.”

Lena said she would prepare to be released from the tower. But being released from the tower means denying one’s witch nature, which typically leads to death.

But Najin knew a way to prevent that death.

A way to ensure this story wouldn’t end in complete tragedy.

Just as Anton and Lapis had done, if Roseline supported Lena, she could survive. Najin conveyed this fact to both Lena and Roseline.

“Your mother said she doesn’t want to burden her child, that just seeing your face would be enough. So the rest is your choice.”

A guide only shows the path.

“What will you do?”

“You call that a question?”

Roseline curled up the corners of her mouth.

“Don’t you know my personality? I’m greedy. I’m the kind of woman who needs to grab everything, this and that, not missing a single thing to be satisfied.”

With a smile befitting a mercenary and true to her nature, she said:

“The echo from that tower far away in the Outer Continent has reached me. Since it reached me……”

She tapped the masterpiece Echo in her hand.

“I must return it.”

The mystery Roseline chose was echo.

Roseline, the Witch of Echo, gripped Echo tightly.

“To my mother.”

2.

Roseline Askarlo is a genius.

Of course, her reputation has been overshadowed by the natural disaster that is Najin, but before Najin appeared, Roseline was considered a symbol of success in Cambria.

She established a mercenary group at a young age and reached the realm of Budding at an age considered young among warriors.

She wasn’t just a talent limited to Cambria; even across the entire continent, those who reached such heights at her age could be counted on one hand.

“……”

But that was as far as it went.

Roseline couldn’t find a reason to progress further. She had reached the realm of Sword Seeker, passed through Budding, and even with the realm of Blooming in sight, she didn’t move forward.

Because she couldn’t find a reason to train harder.

Because her current life was satisfying enough.

Running her mercenary group and drinking with her members. Creating a space where she could laugh and talk freely. That was Roseline’s dream, and achieving that dream didn’t require reaching the realm of Sword Master.

Sword Seeker.

That level was enough, so Roseline lost her drive the moment she reached it. She was satisfied with the present and settled. No matter how much of a genius one is, growth stops the moment one becomes complacent. Thus, Roseline’s growth stagnated.

“The Black Tower contains the Trial of Memories.”

But at this moment.

“It’s a trial you must overcome on your own without anyone’s help. According to someone who accompanied me, you need to be at least a ‘Transcendent’ to endure it without your mind breaking.”

“…What about you? Didn’t you go too?”

“I’m an exception. My case is a bit special.”

“I suppose. So?”

“It means you need to reach the realm of Transcendence if you want to challenge the Black Tower.”

Roseline now had a goal.

“Once you meet the minimum conditions, go to this place. There are helpers there who promised to assist you.”

“Helpers?”

“Anton Kehano and Lapis.”

“…The man who fell in love with a witch?”

“Yes, he was my companion.”

A reason to move forward.

A reason to look higher.

“Alright.”

With her mother’s letter in her bosom and her father’s masterpiece Echo at her waist, Roseline stood up.

The late night had ended, and the sun was rising.

As sunlight filtered through the curtains illuminating the room, Roseline pulled them wide open. She opened the window to ventilate the trapped air and stretched in the warm sunlight.

…She had a goal now.

Parents are typically a child’s first guides. Parents are the first to suggest how a child should grow and what they should become.

It took 40 years for Roseline, and 600 years for her parents.

Lena and Albert showed Roseline the path. Looking at that path, Roseline smiled. It was a path worth walking. Imagining her mother waiting at the end, Roseline Askarlo closed her eyes.

“Najin.”

Sitting on the windowsill, Roseline rolled a cigarette. With a flick, she lit it and said:

“Want to make a bet with me?”

“What kind of bet?”

“You said you’re on the verge of Blooming too, right?”

“I’ve roughly grasped it.”

“Right. Me too.”

We’re at the same starting line.

Muttering that, Roseline exhaled a long stream of smoke and curled her lips.

“How about we bet on which of us will reach Sword Master first?”

Najin’s eyes widened at the proposal.

“With me?”

“Why? Think I’m not up to it?”

Chuckling, Roseline tapped off her cigarette ash.

“Of course, you’re growing at an absurd rate. Eighteen years old, reaching Sword Expert would be enough to turn the Empire upside down, but you’ve not only reached Sword Seeker but also earned five stars.”

But, Roseline shrugged.

“As special as you are, I must be special too, right?”

The Only Witch, Lena, counted among the top five witches including those of Camlann.

And the Brave of United Kingdom, Albert, who survived a thousand duels with her.

Their souls were each half-melded into Roseline’s. Though they say children don’t fully inherit their parents’ talents, in Roseline’s case, she had inherited them completely. She had simply been turning away from them until now.

“Look at this.”

Roseline held up Echo. Then she lightly flicked the blade with her finger.

Twang.

A light echo, but it reverberated throughout the room. Eventually, with a “keeeeeng!” sound, the sword energy in Echo bloomed like a flower.

Blooming (開花).

Seeing Roseline instantly raise her realm so ostentatiously, Najin’s eyes widened, and then he burst into laughter.

“Didn’t you say we were at the same starting line?”

“We were until just now, right? Not anymore.”

Roseline shrugged.

“I’m one step ahead, kid.”

For soul sublimation, the most important thing for reaching Transcendence is to affirm oneself. And Roseline Askarlo had been denying half of herself all along.

But she denies it no longer.

The witch’s soul that makes up half of her is not a trace of a curse. It’s neither evidence of black magic nor something dirty and disgusting, nor something terrible. It’s a gift left by her mother and proof of love.

What had remained a wound all this time.

Her distrust and hatred for half of herself disappeared. Now, even if someone insulted that half of her, she would no longer be hurt. No matter what others said, she herself would not think that way.

“Huh.”

Najin laughed incredulously.

A person called a genius despite denying half of herself, a miraculous existence born among Transcendents. Najin felt joy at the situation where such a being volunteered to be his competitor.

Until now, Najin had no competitors.

No one even thought of trying to keep up with him.

Amid all this, Najin laughed at the presence of his first competitor. Laughing out loud, he stood up.

“I should have told you not to speak informally.”

“Ah, um……”

At Najin’s remark, Roseline broke into a cold sweat, wondering, “Did I go too far? Should I have bowed and thanked him first?”

“I’m joking. Fine, let’s make that bet.”

Najin tucked the postman’s hat and bag into his coat. Then, with a swish, he dispelled the transformation magic on his coat.

Flutter.

The uniform of a free knight that only Najin could wear on the continent. Wearing the uniform permitted only to Najin, he raised his hand.

“Free Knight, Najin.”

The raised hand touched the horn-shaped pauldron covering his shoulder.

“I accept that bet.”

Touching the pauldron symbolizing his master, Najin showed a confident smile.

“If you think you can beat me, that won’t be enough.”

“I’m at a higher realm than you now, aren’t I?”

“I’ve defeated Transcendents before. Could you win against me in a duel right now?”

Roseline shook her head.

She would lose ten out of ten fights. The man before her was a Sword Seeker, but he possessed strength comparable to a Transcendent.

Still, Roseline said:

“The higher the goal, the better, right?”

“Ah, I agree with that.”

The bet was established.

Najin was certain that the next time he met her, it would definitely be in the Outer Continent.