Ch.240240. The Ancestor’s Test (3)

Sione Sianella spent two days investigating this strange world where she had been dropped alone.

She gathered several pieces of information.

The first head of the family who had dropped her here had generally hidden various information she might need through the books in her room as mediums.

“Hmm…”

Every day, all she could do was stay cooped up in her room eating snacks, reading books, and occasionally looking out the window at the world outside.

She was quite exhausted from opening each of the books scattered throughout the room one by one, checking them, and copying hints onto several blank sheets of paper.

Scratch. Scratch scratch.

A small period was marked at the end of where the fountain pen had danced across.

“Is this the last book?”

Having finally finished organizing everything, Sione snatched up the paper where she had summarized only the most important facts.

Thud… thud…

After dragging her heavy body and throwing herself onto the bed without hesitation, Sione looked at her handwriting and thought.

“The time discrepancy between reality and this world—”

Given how urgent the situation was outside, she started with the most important thing.

This place was a space with a time axis separate from reality. No matter how much time was spent here, reality would pass significantly less time, but that didn’t mean she could stay here indefinitely until passing the trial.

The failure condition for the trial was the passage of 15 minutes in real time.

So she learned that if she couldn’t deal with the hidden demon until half a year passed in this world’s time, she would not only fail to secure what her ancestor had left behind, but also be ejected from this place and receive quite a severe penalty.

“So I need to take a completely different path from the predetermined past…”

To avoid that happening in vain, she needed to change.

But.

“I don’t care right now.”

She was tired from opening all those books and writing…

Actually, she was exhausted from vigorously moving her body that normally never moved, rummaging through everything around her like hunting for mice.

“Let’s rest a little before continuing.”

Swish.

Sione pulled the blanket up over her head, blocking her view.

Though the sun was high in the sky, only after her vision became pitch black, unable to see even an inch ahead, did she sigh and call for her nanny.

“Herel! Clean up all these books!”

Yet even as she called out, she slightly lowered the blanket to take in the state of her room.

“…It’s a complete mess.”

The room was, even by her own admission, absolute chaos.

She thought that even two or three children would find it difficult to make such a mess.

Sione ultimately erased any trace of guilt she felt toward Herel.

“It’s Herel after all.”

Even though she had cut off relationships with everyone else.

She had thought that at least with Herel, they had treated each other with consideration and understanding.

But Herel’s kind appearance was just a mask.

“…Hmph.”

Everything in reverse.

Rewriting the past.

This time, she intended to give her quite a hard time.

* * *

The blood that Edelin had drawn by wounding her own hand.

The magic using blood as a medium was nearing completion.

The undead, who walked clumsily with hardly any intelligence to be found, and the inferior monsters that had crawled out from hell, as if to say they at least had heads attached.

Sensing danger from Edelin’s magnificent magic, they began to press us more fiercely.

“…No matter how many I cut down, there’s no end to them.”

There was no time for the blood to dry on the sword.

Perhaps because there wasn’t even enough time to properly shake off the blood, it had begun to congeal bit by bit on the blade.

‘It would be different if they were opponents who gauged the situation before attacking.’

Since there were no creatures here who would become frightened at the sight of blood flowing down the blade or lose their composure,

The dried blood sticking to the sharp edge only disrupted the sword’s balance, serving as nothing but a useless hindrance.

Swish!

Once again shaking the blood off the sword and naturally following with an offensive stance.

As the sword that had rushed toward the ground soared into the sky, drawing a diagonal line to the northwest.

The head of a creature that had been testing me from afar, hoping to take a bite, suddenly flew off and rolled on the ground.

While the elven royal guards formed their battle formation again, and numerous spirits were supporting us,

‘It seems we can stall for more than enough time.’

Though I was certain we could hold out until the high elf used her magic,

There was still one thing bothering me.

“When is she going to wake up?”

My master, who showed no signs of waking as she lay against the stone monument.

I had definitely told Orna to stick close to Sione just in case, and try to wake her up while at it.

Wondering how the little cotton ball was struggling, I looked back.

“Myeong! Myaang!”

Chomp! Chomp chomp!

I could see the cotton ball slapping Sione’s cheeks more vigorously than I had expected.

Despite the adorable appearance of the small front paws moving diligently with effort, the force was surprisingly strong.

Yet seeing Sione not budge at all, I swallowed a sigh, grabbed Orna, and placed her back on top of Sione’s head.

“Good job. Since she won’t wake up even when you try, just keep protecting her. You can handle that much, right?”

“Mya.”

As if telling me to just trust her, Orna began tapping Sione’s crown with her front paws again, chomp chomp.

After watching the creature one last time, I began to focus on the battle again, and finally Edelin began to demonstrate her prowess for all to see.

“At last!”

The joyful voice of the guard captain coming from far away.

The old elf who had been holding out alone in the midst of enemies, successfully completing her magic, completely reversed the tide of battle.

It was only natural.

The spirit contract that connected soul to soul. Those who had sold their souls to the spirits by not only connecting their souls but also making an unbreakable promise with the spirits had returned to this world.

“Sweep them away.”

No one could stop the sacred flames that began to spread around at Edelin’s command.

They were more experienced than anyone else on the continent at slaying demons.

* * *

If this mysterious space progressed in the same flow as the path she had walked, her reunion with Ray would be in about two months.

But she had no intention whatsoever of remaining trapped here for that long.

With the situation outside being so urgent, what good would it do to be trapped here for a long time?

To change the past, she needed to fix this damn body, starting with simple exercises that wouldn’t strain her too much.

But—

“No, but still…”

Still, I kind of want to see Ray when we first met…

Always with that cold attitude but saying everything that needed to be said clearly.

Usually so conscious of my feelings, but then when things get tough—

“…It’s a bit disappointing.”

What should I do? Just seeing his face and then leaving…

“What am I thinking?”

No, I need to focus and deal with the demon first before anything else can happen.

“First I need to do something about this body.”

There’s nothing good about being locked up in the room like before.

An obstacle I’ve already overcome once.

Sione changed her clothes without hesitation and left the room.

“Lady Sione…?”

It was winter at this time, and before meeting Ray.

I never went outside my room except for family meals.

Sione looked at Herel’s surprised and subtle expression with a haughty gaze.

“What?”

“…Are you planning to go out?”

“It’s not really going out. I just want to take a walk.”

“The weather is cold.”

“Do I look cold to you, Herel?”

“…But the weather hasn’t fully warmed up yet.”

…Look at her, surprised but still refusing to deny that I don’t look cold.

Sione swallowed a sigh and said:

“Exercise makes you sweat.”

The moment those words left her mouth.

Sione turned her head.

Herel had seemed to care about her more than anyone on the surface, but behind her back, she had been gossiping about me with others. I heard it clearly with my own two ears.

A person’s eyes cannot lie. Unlike my clouded vision back then, if I were to peer into her eyes now, she would surely be looking down on my words.

But why?

“Do you really mean that?”

Since I had shut myself in my room, Herel was acting with a happier voice than ever before.

To the point where it didn’t even feel like an act.

“You’ve… thought well, Lady Sione. You’ve truly… thought well.”

“…Herel?”

Seeing the small teardrops rising above her upturned lips, I became confused.

Why was she respecting my choice with such sincerity, when she had seemed to hate me more than anyone, cursing me behind my back?

I still vividly remember the day I drove her away, how she approached me first and hurled abusive words. Yet now she showed genuine sincerity that didn’t match the image of someone who had deceived and betrayed me until the end.

‘…Something’s strange.’

I began to wonder.

With my clouded and devastated mind, were there things I didn’t know about in the world I viewed in my own way? Or were there things I misunderstood and distorted?

Looking silently at Herel with tears welling up in her eyes, I couldn’t help but soften. Even if I tried to suppress and bury my emotions, she was the one who had raised me.

“Even so, you will surely be cold when your sweat cools. I’ll bring something for you to wear over your clothes later.”

Herel wiped her eyes and slipped into her room.

As I quietly stared at the space where she had disappeared, trying to sort out these unfamiliar feelings.

Unfortunately, before I could finish sorting my emotions, an unwelcome visitor arrived.

“Sister? What brings you outside your room?”

Sion Sianella.

Though we’ve awkwardly reconciled now.

Back then, he was my damn little brother who was desperate to get at me.

“You wouldn’t even come out for a walk when there was no one around because it was cold… Does coming out now mean you’re heading to the dining hall?”

Anyway, this is a created world.

Though it’s a realistic world based on the past I’ve walked,

In the end, it’s a world-line that won’t exist forever, one that will disappear the moment I fail my ancestor’s test.

Since it wouldn’t cause any harm to my real self anyway.

Sione spoke her mind refreshingly.

“Sion.”

“Yes, Sister Sione?”

“Shut up.”