Ch.7878. Supporting Character

I had a dream.

“Ainer, you must become a high priestess. Become a high priestess and connect with a man from the imperial family. That is the only way to serve our Manis family.”

These were the words her father, who usually allowed her everything, repeated to Ainer every day.

Because of this, Ainer had lived with the dream of becoming a high priestess since childhood.

Her surroundings were too confined for her to have any other dream.

“Ainer. Take note of those poor people. All they have to eat each day are a few pieces of bread, some soup, and a few vegetables that look like leftovers. Always remember this. If you do not serve the Manis family, you too will become no different from them.”

She believed her father’s words.

She lived the life her father had set for her.

If she didn’t, she would become something like them.

That’s what life is.

Life doesn’t belong to those who enjoy it, but to those who protect what they have.

She had considered these words absolute rules.

But.

“My lady! Look at this flower!”

Something changed after meeting her personal maid.

“My lady, today I happened to hear about the Labyrinth from some explorers!”

Stories about the world.

Someone’s life. Heroic narratives. Sacrifices for beliefs.

Life wasn’t just ordinary and boring.

“Explorers live such special lives… While I just work here every day… Oh, but of course, being with you is fun too, my lady!”

It could be something special.

Ainer, the young lady of the Manis family, took this deeply to heart.

***

Ainer woke from an uncomfortable dream.

She realized she was lying in an unfamiliar bed and looked around.

“…”

Strong sunlight streamed through the window. Morning had long passed.

She stared blankly at the ceiling for a while.

‘It feels strange.’

That feeling still lingered.

No one wakes her up early in the morning anymore.

Now, she doesn’t even need to rush around following a tight schedule.

Today is completely empty. Tomorrow will be the same, and the day after that too.

While it was comfortable, she also felt an inexplicable anxiety.

-Bang bang bang!

The sound of a ladle hitting a pot could be heard again today.

“Ugh…”

She had heard this noise consistently for days, and when she checked yesterday, she saw children making this racket as they ran through the streets.

‘Indeed, staying at an inn is difficult.’

It had been over a week since she left the mansion to live in the city.

She knew leaving home would be hard, but this wasn’t the kind of life she had imagined.

Of course, she had expected the noise from outside.

‘…I wonder what happened to everyone.’

What concerned her most now was the whereabouts of her party members.

Shiro and Adel had been taken away by knights, and Deneb had suddenly disappeared.

As soon as they exited the Labyrinth, all party members went missing.

While she stayed at the inn trying to calm her confused mind, they had even become wanted criminals.

“…That can’t be right.”

She continued thinking as she got up from bed and changed her clothes.

Adel, Shiro, Deneb.

Those three as wanted criminals?

For high treason, no less?

They were companions she had adventured with until recently—it couldn’t be possible.

But.

‘Even I, who was taken away the next day, was released long ago.’

Ainer had also been taken by the imperial knights for questioning.

It took about a day, but eventually she was released when no charges were found against her.

So, they couldn’t have been falsely accused.

“…”

But she didn’t want to accept it.

Adel.

Someone she couldn’t reach, yet someone she loved, admired, and wanted to be with.

“…The moment you step through that door, you will no longer be the young lady of the Manis family.”

Adel was the reason she had been able to take that step.

She gave up her life as a noble lady that everyone admired and dreamed of.

All to be with him.

It wasn’t just because she loved Adel.

Ainer admired his way of life.

Forging his own path, saving others’ lives, and upholding his beliefs even at the risk of his own life.

She admired such a person.

Enough to throw away her life as Ainer, the young lady of the Manis family.

‘…I wanted to become special.’

At that moment, her legs gave way and she collapsed to the floor.

“Everything’s ruined. Something is wrong.”

Everything had been fine until they entered the Labyrinth.

It felt like she could become the special person she admired after throwing away her life as a noble.

But that wasn’t the case.

She was incompetent.

She wasn’t strong enough to save anyone.

She was so weak that she needed protection.

Because she didn’t have the strength to lift someone who had fallen.

She had to watch Adel struggle to uphold his beliefs.

‘I’m not special.’

She should have lived an ordinary life.

She should have followed that smooth and boring life set by the world.

But she had already strayed from it.

…

Ainer walked down the street.

The streets were crowded.

Children played. Adults conversed. Someone was selling goods.

A child with scraped knees was crying. A girl about her age was helping the child.

She stared blankly at the scene and naturally entered an inn.

She came because she heard it also operated as a restaurant.

She ordered a piece of bread and a bowl of soup.

“…”

She took a spoonful of soup. The seasoning was off.

“What do explorers without money eat? My lady, why are you suddenly asking…?”

Adel had said this place had the best food.

Liar.

She tore off a chunk of bread and ate it. Tears blurred her vision.

‘Was it all a lie…?’

Adel.

‘Were you really not that kind of person?’

Was he not the admirable protagonist-like person she had looked up to?

Was he just a criminal who committed unthinkable sins?

Was he really not a special person?

‘No, that can’t be.’

She wanted to believe otherwise.

She thought about it for days.

She wanted it not to be true.

She denied it countless times. He couldn’t be like that.

She believed he must have been falsely accused.

“To whoever captures the criminal Adel—”

No, no.

He is definitely not a criminal.

“The main members of the group plotting treason against the state are as follows: Former First Princess Seren Gaiana, and the traitors Adel, Shiro, and Deneb Westia—”

No.

They are not such people.

Those who smiled before her were surely wonderful people pursuing their own dreams.

…But.

‘What if it’s true?’

At some point, such doubts began to arise.

What if she just didn’t know?

No, thinking about it, there was little chance she would have noticed from the start.

How much time had she actually spent with them?

Even if they were such people, she wouldn’t have known.

It was simply her hasty decision.

‘I didn’t know.’

Was her father right?

Deviating from the predetermined life was too painful.

Living a special life like others seemed impossible for her.

“—Ainer.”

Just then, a familiar voice called from in front of her.

“…Reneva?”

“Yes. It’s me.”

Reneva wiped the tears flowing down Ainer’s face with a handkerchief.

“I sent letters but got no reply from the mansion, and your party members became wanted criminals… I wondered how you were living, and here you are like this?”

Reneva smiled and gently embraced Ainer.

“I may not understand what you’ve been through, but… I support you. You’ve always been right.”

“Reneva…”

The emotions Ainer had bottled up for days exploded.

Tears flowed endlessly, and it took about ten minutes for her to finally calm down.

“So, what happened?”

Reneva asked kindly.

In response, Ainer poured out everything she had experienced.

She expressed all her feelings, even those that might have seemed embarrassing.

Reneva’s expression never changed as she listened.

Because Reneva and Ainer were closest friends, they could understand and accept everything about each other.

“…So, what do you want to do?”

Reneva respected Ainer.

“I, I… don’t know yet…”

Time always flowed on.

But in contrast, people were too slow.

Too slow even to examine their own state.

That’s why people needed someone to watch over them.

“Hmm.”

After deep contemplation, Reneva carefully spoke.

“I think Adel isn’t really a criminal.”

That was her conviction.

“…Why?”

“Adel isn’t that kind of person. Well, I didn’t spend that much time with him… but the person I first met was definitely admirable.”

Reneva recalled her memories.

It was an incident she had already told Ainer about.

A monster called the “Shade Predator” appeared, and he risked his life to save others.

The story of a foolish person.

Truly foolish and silly.

The story of a truly special hero.

“That’s the kind of person Adel was.”

Reneva believed it.

“What do you think?”

“I…”

Ainer herself.

“I believe in Adel.”

“And?”

“I admire him. And… I respect him.”

And.

“I think he’s amazing.”

And.

“I want to be with him. I want to bet my entire life on that special person.”

And.

“I like Adel.”

“So, what should you do?”

“…I will believe.”

Ainer believed in Adel.

There would be no more confusion.

Now she would follow her own beliefs—

-Piiiiing.

A brief ringing in her ears.

“…!”

Reneva rushed forward and pushed her aside.

An ominous presence felt nearby.

-Crack!

Reneva’s arm was torn off.

She turned her head.

A monster infused with Demonic Blood entered her vision.