Ch.49Hold My Hand

“Comrade?”

I asked with a hostile tone. Following that, the Emperor’s angry shout reverberated through the hall.

With a face as red as a volcano about to erupt, he strode toward Zikharun.

“Zikharun? That man? Charle, that scoundrel who kidnapped the child has the audacity to come here!!!”

“Your Majesty, please calm down!”

“You of all people, YOU OF ALL PEOPLE!!! I will surely capture you and tear you limb from limb!!!”

“You must not, Your Majesty!”

Bartlant was already in combat stance, controlling the green light overflowing with life force in his eyes. Isgal was busy holding the Emperor back.

Even amid the chaos, Zikharun calmly stated the facts.

“You should heed the words of a loyal subject, ‘Confused Ruler.’ If you’re not careful, the entire imperial palace might be annihilated, you know?”

He looked at me, seeking agreement.

“Isn’t that right, Marquess Nepy Alteon?”

“… That’s right.”

Zikharun’s signature technique, the golden pillar—Roar of the Mad Spirit—is a large-scale area annihilation skill. It possesses enough power to easily engulf the vast imperial palace and more.

Nevertheless, the Emperor wasn’t intimidated. Instead, he stepped forward to rebuke him.

“Fine, go ahead and try to burn down the imperial palace with that precious ability of yours. Do you really think you can?!!!”

“Hmm. I predicted you’d react this way, but this is behavior unbecoming of a head of state.”

‘Surely, that can’t be possible.’

The Emperor was someone who could see through human emotions clearly. He would have easily discerned whether Zikharun truly intended to do it.

Especially since Charle would be staying in the imperial palace with the Empress, and the Emperor, who was angry on her behalf, wouldn’t fail to consider the consequences.

“I don’t understand how you can be so attached to someone who isn’t even your biological child… but I should deliver my message first.”

Zikharun’s next action was enough to surprise everyone present.

He bent his waist at a right angle respectfully, brought his hand to his chest, and apologized.

“I sincerely apologize for using your family. While Feita’s trouble isn’t my responsibility, Charle Millote’s situation is entirely my fault. I willingly accept your anger.”

It was an apology so brazen it left my mouth hanging open. What made it even more absurd was that it felt sincere. Even the Emperor, who had been fuming, was left speechless with wide eyes.

I was so dumbfounded that I stared at him intently, and noticed something odd.

‘That guy, hasn’t he grown taller?’

His height, which previously seemed comparable to Charle’s, had now grown enough to look down on her. This change had occurred in just a few months.

‘He’s steadily reaching the specs of the latter part of the original work. It’s happening so fast, even though the original story hasn’t even begun yet…!’

While I was secretly marveling, Zikharun’s ruby-like eyes met mine.

“To get to the point, this was honestly unexpected. The Emperor… no, running into the Marquess was purely coincidental. It’s quite disconcerting.”

“As if I’d believe such nonsense.”

“I came to see Bartlant after hearing news of him, and it just happened to be now. Nothing more, nothing less. Irefi Justitia’s current situation was an unforeseen variable.”

He cast a glance in Bartlant’s direction.

“You’ve aged.”

Bartlant retorted while maintaining his hostile stance.

“That’s rich coming from you.”

“Haha, don’t live too hard or you might become unrecognizable.”

“…”

Zikharun’s slick encouragement, whether sincere or not, was irritating.

In the momentary lull, I was the first to speak.

“So, if you just came to see the man’s face, you could have quietly observed and left. Why show yourself?”

“I told you, didn’t I? To offer help. You don’t need to doubt me. It seems our objectives align perfectly this time.”

“Help?”

“Yes, the subjugation of Irefi Justitia. I’ll lend a hand.”

“Stop talking nonsense and die.”

Despite my scathing rebuke, Zikharun wasn’t deterred. Instead, he boldly sat down on the sofa and presented his argument logically.

“Unfortunately, if she goes berserk at this point, we’ll all be uprooted. That’s problematic. Besides, most forces are like paper tigers before Irefi Justitia. We lack asymmetric power. And I believe you’re in the same boat?”

I was determined to cover my ears and reject whatever he said. That was my resolve until Zikharun delivered the final blow.

“Above all… Destroyer. If it’s you, Marquess, you’d have some idea about this title.”

“You…!?”

“We both have many questions. Shall we take a walk? Marquess Nepy Alteon.”

◇

Under the dark night sky, two men walked side by side through the imperial palace. The only way to distinguish the two men with identical black hair and red eyes in the darkness was perhaps their height difference.

The Emperor and Bartlant were watching us from inside the imperial palace. This was the result of Zikharun’s insistence that he wouldn’t say anything if anyone other than me joined.

In fact, I felt the same way, so this time our hearts aligned.

Zikharun was the first to break the silence.

“Are you Korean?”

“You too?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, damn. So there really were others besides me.”

I scratched my head at the unexpectedly revealed truth. I went on to ask one more thing.

“You fight well, don’t you? Just like the real Zikharun.”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“What’s obvious about it? Did you do any sword fighting in your past life?”

“I am Zikharun, so why would that be an issue?”

“Huh?”

The conversation was strangely misaligned. Just to be sure, I asked again.

“Aren’t you a possession case?”

“I am.”

“Then why do you display abilities completely disconnected from the real world? Even if you have his body, you’re not Zikharun himself.”

“I don’t understand. I am Zikharun… No, wait. Let me ask you. Where does your identity lie? In your past life? Or in the possessed body?”

“Obviously in my past life. It feels like I’m sharing separate rooms with the original owner of this body, the old man.”

“I see. That clears up my confusion. Even though we’re both possessions, our fundamentals are different.”

Zikharun calmly shared his insight.

“When I first entered this body, I completely became the possessed entity. Not just memories, but thoughts, desires, and behaviors all assimilated. In contrast, you’re more like your past self who just changed bodies.”

“I understand. In other words, unlike me, you’re almost identical to the real Zikharun.”

“That’s right. Now it’s my turn to ask. What are you? You’re clearly a named character with significant power, but I’ve never heard of you.”

There was nothing to hide anymore. I casually revealed the hidden truth.

“Me? A hidden boss mob. The Great Cavern where you fought me was a hidden boss stage. I was trapped there until Irefi got me out.”

“That’s quite an interesting truth… but let’s postpone the Q&A. Tsk, it feels like I’ve been blindsided.”

“Who’s denying it?”

Zikharun might be a damn enemy, but talking like this almost makes me feel a bit glad to see him. Maybe as people from the same homeland, we could get along…

Making such an assumption meaningless, Zikharun hardened his expression and got to the main point.

“I’ve been staying in the Empire since the end of Feita’s commotion.”

“What? Are you crazy?”

“The only people who know my face are you and Charle Millote, so it wasn’t particularly problematic.”

“… That’s true.”

I never dreamed he’d be casually wandering around right under the enemy’s nose. Talk about the darkness under the lamp.

“It was partly to catch you off guard, but that wasn’t all. I was also monitoring Irefi Justitia because abnormal signs were detected.”

“Abnormal signs? From Irefi?”

“Yes. There were indications that her personality as the Destroyer was awakening. And after overhearing your situation, my suspicion turned into certainty.”

Zikharun stopped walking and looked up at the sky. The beautiful stars twinkling like sugar sprinkled on black paper.

“Let me be clear, Marquess. My objective hasn’t changed. The empire’s downfall is non-negotiable. But THIS.KIND.OF.ending is problematic.”

“What are you…”

“Let’s join hands. Bartlant is here too. Both of us might be lacking in specs compared to the future, but with you here, we can cover that.”

“…”

He extended his hand. It was a pale, almost girlish hand. This was clearly an irresistible temptation. Yet, I found it hard to take Zikharun’s hand.

“Take it, Marquess. There’s no choice. Unlike the game’s timeline, Irefi Justitia is young at this point. You could say she’s in her prime.”

“Ugh!”

“I’ve put my life on the line. I’m prepared to die if this fails. I’ve come before you desperately seeking a way to survive. If you’ve witnessed such a calamity… prepare accordingly.”

Zikharun’s hand was still suspended in the air. It was no easy task to escape from a demand that combined both righteousness and rationality.

The path given to me wasn’t a fork in the road. It was a single straight line, the only guide.

Gradually, my hand rose to the equal position he offered. And as the moment of decision approached.

I asked one final question.

“Do you agree with this too? Executing Irefi… her…”

◇

A scream.

A terrifying scream that shook the basement.

It was the loud cry of a woman consumed by grief, as if her intestines had been severed.

But soon, the woman’s lament subsided as if dead. It seemed to have vanished abruptly, like a match dropped in cold water.

“Nepy. You startled me.”

Irefi gently caressed the cold cheek of the corpse that was Nepy. Her face showed relief, as if all anxiety had been cleanly swept away.

“Really… really… you went too far. Without saying a word to me…”

Soon after, she stood up. Turning her back on Nepy’s corpse, she raised her sword and drew an invisible slash on the floor.

Kkakakakaak-!

Sparks flew from the friction. The tiny lights, mere embers, devoured each other and grew. The light, multiplying endlessly with momentum, transformed into a demon and dyed the basement crimson.

That day, the fire that engulfed the warehouse of Marquess Justitia’s manor could only be suppressed after half a day.

However, before that, there was a woman who calmly walked out of the burning warehouse. Dressed in pristine white uniform without a trace of soot, she was the perfect image of a knight.

In her blue eyes, which rippled like waves, a strange heat lingered faintly, as if she had absorbed the fire.

“Wait for me, Nepy. I was very disappointed, you know.”