Chapter 28: Her Request

“…Are you saying that Agnes is dead?”

“Yes, it’s sad, but that’s the case.”

Argin, the chief of the Shield Tribe, rarely showed his sad emotions so openly.

It was around the same time that contact with his daughter had been lost.

Those who believe in Tengri consider it unfortunate to die under foreign skies, away from their homeland.

Did his daughter die unhappily? 

Or did she find happiness even after leaving the land of Tengri?

The daughter who could answer this question is no longer in this world. 

It was sad, but he did not despair.

Who else but his own bloodline could have come all the way to the harsh northern lands and laid the groundwork for a reversal of fortunes? 

He was proud of his grandchild, the one who carried on Agnes’s will. 

Despite his tired body, Argin wanted to quickly join the allied forces to see that child.

“This land will never regain its vitality as long as the Infectors are here. At dawn, all tribe members will move to the allied side.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Frennila agreed with his opinion.

Arsaces is too remote a place; now is the time to unite if we are to survive.

If we can use this incident to wash away past grievances and form a stronger alliance, then wiping out the Infectors from this land will only be a matter of time.

In the past, reconciling with them would have been unthinkable.

The relationship was so bad that picking up weapons would have been quicker than talking. 

Suddenly, the words of Sviokha about the “timber of the Khan” came to mind.

The one who overcomes the crisis of the ethnic groups and unites them, the one who unites the Saka, which had been suffering from division—no matter how much I think about it, it would have been impossible without the prince.

“Hahaha, by the way, did you know? The reason Prince Kenneth came all the way here is because he fell head over heels for this girl, Frennila, and chased her all the way to the north.”

“Oh, is this the girl my grandchild fell for? No wonder she seemed so sharp from the first meeting.”

Erka, perhaps trying to lighten the mood, spilled unnecessary information to Argin.

About why the prince came here, about his relationship with Frennila.

Frennila gave a bitter smile. 

The story had taken on a life of its own, and people like Erka had started to view her relationship with the prince in a romantic light.

In reality, it might not be that kind of relationship.

Regardless of her own feelings, the prince’s emotions and the foreseen future were holding everything back, and she was only thinking of letting go.

But Frennila didn’t say anything more. 

She didn’t want to ruin the good mood by speaking up.

Clatter, clatter!

The sound of hooves echoed through the quiet night on the plains, drawing everyone’s attention.

What could it be at this hour?

Although the Infectors had been driven back, the night forest was still too dangerous to venture into at this time. 

Unless it was something serious… huh?

“Gasp, gasp! Something terrible has happened!”

“What is it? Catch your breath and speak.”

No, it can’t be. 

A foreboding thought flashed through my mind.

“Prince Kenneth and Werhe have gone missing!”

“All guards, prepare.”

Without waiting to hear more, Frennila grabbed her bow and hurried to leave.

*

Agnes, the final chapter, somehow felt like her arrangement. 

As if it were her words, I was naturally swept along.

From being attacked by a monster and falling into the river, to meeting a turtle and reaching this cave, it all felt as if it had been planned.

I had seen her portrait many times, but this was the first time I had seen her in person.

Even in the portrait, she had a mysterious aura, but facing her in person, I realized the portrait hadn’t captured her essence.

“You look very flustered. Don’t think too deeply about it.”

In the white space, a tea table emerged, and Agnes pulled out a chair and gestured to me.

“Shall we sit first? I have a lot to talk about with my son after such a long time.”

She pushed me into the chair and quickly set up the table with a tea set and snacks, as if she were a skilled servant.

The golden liquid flowed from the pot, and the sweet, nutty aroma of golden jasmine tea filled the space.

“Drink.”

I should have been wary of a stranger’s drink, but her harmless smile made me unconsciously bring the tea to my lips.

“…It’s delicious.”

“Right, right? It’s my favorite tea. It’s even better with honey cookies.”

Mom. The moment she called herself that, I was at a loss for words.

I am not of this world. Somehow, I ended up in the body of Kenneth, a stranger who flowed into this world, a soul that took over her son’s body. 

I am not her child.

I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong, but I felt guilty towards her. 

I thought it would be disrespectful to let it slide. So, I decided to speak.

“Agnes.”

“Oh my, did you do something wrong? Why are you calling me by my name all of a sudden?”

“Agnes, I am not Kenneth. I am not your son. I am a stranger who has taken over your son’s body.”

But even after my confession, the smile on Agnes’s face did not fade.

She stood up and, before I knew it, was behind me, hugging me from behind.

“No, you are my son. In this world, and in other worlds, you’ve suffered so much. Because of your foolish mother, you’ve had to bear so much.”

…This world, other worlds?

What does she mean?

Does she know about my true identity?

I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t open my mouth.

The warm feeling made something well up inside me, and the memories of countless horrific deaths I had experienced through numerous regressions seemed to fade.

“Have you calmed down a bit?”

“…Yes.”

“I see.”

Instead of returning to her seat, she stroked my head. 

Looking at her face, I wondered if this person really was my mother.

From the moment I first heard her name to the moment I first met her, the conflicting feelings of unfamiliarity and longing confused me. 

Then what was I before the possession?

“You’re looking serious again!”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

I apologized obediently to her remark. 

Hehe, she smiled and then spun around to stand in front of me.

“Kenneth, I know it’s shameless, but can you grant me one more request?”

“What kind of request?”

“I’ve seen many timelines. The timelines that flowed as they wished, in those timelines, the world was filled with nothing but destruction and chaos. Everything went as they wished, and the continent faced mutual destruction.”

“…Mutual destruction.”

Even after my death, did the world continue to spiral into ruin? 

No, more importantly, how does she know all this and make such a request?

“They will start moving soon. Lead the children of Saka, so they don’t destroy each other with hatred anymore. Tell grandfather. That mother and my death were not their fault, that the tribe fell into chaos and civil war, all of it was the plot of the worshippers.”

Worshippers? 

Is she talking about some shadowy existence? 

I had so many questions for her.

But as if blocked by some force, I couldn’t open my mouth.

“And finally, tell His Majesty and Kaela. That I’m sorry, 000 00000.”

It felt like my senses were malfunctioning. 

Her words sounded distorted, as if fast-forwarded. 

The space began to crumble.

I tried to reach my arms, reaching out to her, but I couldn’t touch her.

“It seems Tengri’s power can only go this far. Fate won’t allow any more intervention.”

“Will I not see you again?”

“…Probably not. The boundary between the living and the dead should be clear.”

She laughed, saying that everything happening now was her own stubbornness. 

She straightened her posture and gave me a final farewell.

“Take care, son. Be careful.”

I called out her name, but it no longer reached her.

Mom loves you very much. 

Her last words echoed in my ears.

The space crumbled faster, and soon the foreign entity was expelled from the space.

…

“Mom, mom!”

“Prince! Are you okay?”

In front of me, Werhe was looking at me with worried eyes.

Had I returned?

The scent of golden jasmine flowers still lingered at the tip of my nose, proving that what had just happened was neither a dream nor an illusion.

I turned my head to wipe away the tears that were forming.

“Oh? The prince cries too?”

“…What’s with you all of a sudden? People can cry. The prince is a person too, isn’t he?”

“Hehehe, no. I was just curious, gap difference plus 15 points.”

She giggled and started saying things only she understood.

I knew that her nonchalant attitude was her way of being considerate, but for some reason, it made me feel petty, and I responded curtly.

“If you have time to tease me, why don’t you go scout the area?”

“I waited because you were standing there blankly, how mean!”

“I’m grateful for that, but this is a separate issue. It’s a matter of survival. We need to find a way back and food to eat.”

It was a valid point, but Werhe, for some reason, felt rebellious towards the prince’s petty attitude.

Except for a slight twinge of pain, there was no hindrance to her movements, but she lied and pretended to be hurt.

No matter how cold-blooded someone is, if they call you a patient, what can they say? 

Then they’re just a bad person.

“Ouch, my back still hurts.”

“Are you okay? Show me your back. Hurry!”

“….”

But this prince is so serious that when a problem arises, he responds like this immediately.

Yesterday, even when it seemed like he would give up on me, he didn’t give up until the end, which was cool.

And this overreaction was a big thrill for her, so she didn’t even think about fixing the lie she had just told.

‘Ugh, he’s my friend’s lover.’

She took off her outer clothes and showed the prince the wound on her back.

Honestly, it didn’t hurt that much, but as he carefully examined the wound, she started to moan in pain.

“It looks like it hurts a lot.”

“Huh? Uh, yeah, it really hurts. Ouch, I’m dying.”

Her acting was terrible, like reading a textbook, but the prince didn’t take it as a joke.

Instead, his face was filled with guilt.

“I’m sorry, it’s because of me. I’m weak, I couldn’t help. I’ve been a burden.”

“Huh, huh? No, that’s not it.”

No, if you react like this, I feel guilty for lying.

Werhe’s expression became subtle.

How can I explain this? 

I quickly turned my head to find a way.

Slap!

“Eek!?”

“The turtle told me. The temple is filled with mysterious natural energy, so wounds like this heal quickly.”

You lied, didn’t you? 

He slapped her back hard and then stuck out his tongue and ran away. 

Werhe’s face turned red with shame and pain.

“Hey!!! You want to die?”

Judging by the loudness of her scream, it seemed like she would be able to move after a day or two of recovery.

If I get caught, it won’t end with just a couple of hits.

I hurried to the entrance, thinking about my meeting with my mother, and decided to rush back to the camp.