episode_0058

The sunny sky made for an impressive day.

I knelt humbly with my head bowed at the Duke of Lupentel’s estate.

I realized belatedly that a grave incident had occurred while I was unconscious.

If it weren’t for Serin, Luca, and the princess, I would have gone down in history as a mass murderer by now. I would have met my end at the hands of the emperor seeking glory in his prime.

In that sense, the three of them were saviors of my life.

“Truly… I am indebted to you…!!!”

However, from the perspective of the three receiving my apology, my response seemed awkward. Serin was the first to express this awkwardness with her delicate lips.

“Oh no… it was Riann who saved me…”

She suggested that perhaps I should be the one apologizing. Serin left a brief self-reproach.

Following suit, Luca and the princess also stood me up with a troubled expression.

“I was the one who dragged you into my personal affairs. I have no right to make a fuss about it.”

“Yes, Riheart… or should I say, Rahilt now. Anyway… as a member of the royal family, it is my duty to kneel before the savior.”

Without hesitation, Luca knelt before me. Unable to just stand by and watch, I quickly helped him up.

As Luca stood up with my help, he wiped the cold sweat off his forehead.

“I’ll be busy for a while. The country will be in chaos. It will take time to investigate those who were brainwashed by the dark mage and to remove the various tumors, big and small.”

“I’ve lost my emotional abilities, so it must be quite uncomfortable.”

“If you don’t have them, so what? The Mu family still has the swordsmanship skills to keep their mouths shut.”

Especially swordsmanship, which the princess had diligently learned on her own. Despite losing her mystical abilities, it seemed that her efforts were not in vain.

“… I didn’t realize I would feel such a loss.”

“Kanarin…”

Luca couldn’t comfort her hastily. He simply pondered on the appropriate gesture while fidgeting with his hands.

Feeling that it was not right to put others in front of her just to sell her story, Luca advised us.

“Rahilt. And Princess, if you wish, I can provide you with convenience to return to the empire.”

“Convenience?”

“Yes, I have learned some spatial magic that can be useful this time. You can arrive at the imperial palace from here in about a month.”

Luca added.

“Thanks to you, Kanarin.”

“Thanks to me?”

“Yes.”

“I see…”

The princess’s dark expression slightly lifted at Luca’s words. She then lightly pinched Luca’s cheek and gave him a playful jab.

“Stop choosing your words carefully. Who lost their abilities, and who gained them because of me. Aren’t you being foolish?”

“Ouch, Kanarin…! That hurts!”

“It’s not worth it if it doesn’t hurt.”

“Even if it’s not worth it…!”

Although it seemed like she was imposing a punishment outwardly, the princess seemed to be enjoying herself. Serin watched the two of them with amusement and let out a quiet chuckle. I also smiled softly at the strange tranquility in their everyday lives.

At that moment, the two who had been teasing each other turned their attention to me simultaneously.

“It’s a bit of a confirmation, but my friend here seems to have been born with a face far removed from common sense.”

“I thought the mansion was brightening up for a moment when you smiled.”

“Sorry, Kanarin, could you close your eyes for a moment? I’m getting scared in multiple ways.”

“What kind of person treats someone like a pervert? And I’m getting scared too. Thanks to the person who will protect us from the upcoming trials.”

Lucas nodded as if he fully understood Kanarin’s statement. Finding it difficult to understand the meaning, I simply stayed silent.

“Ha… Haha.”

Serin just laughed without saying a word. However, her eyes, set horizontally, looked slightly terrifying. If there was something she didn’t like, I wish she had given a warning in advance.

It was at this awkward moment that Estiel came down the stairs at a very appropriate timing. Following behind him, the noble’s younger brother looked disappointed as he stared at us.

I naturally embraced Estiel.

“Did you finish the greetings properly?”

“Yeah, I’ll see them again soon.”

“You made a friend.”

“Exactly! Now I only need to make 98 more to reach 100.”

“… Who’s the other one?”

“Is it Teser, brother?”

Both Serin and the noble’s younger brother, Arhan, were shocked at Estiel’s casual remark.

“What?!”

“What did you say?!”

Each was Serin and the noble’s younger brother, Arhan.

Especially Serin seemed so surprised that she stammered as she looked at Estiel.

“Teser is your friend, Tiel?”

“Yes. He took good care of me.”

“That indifferent kid…?”

Serin seemed incredulous. What had her brother been like before to elicit such a dramatic reaction? It might be better to allow the relationship after investigating when she returns.

Meanwhile, the noble’s younger brother, Arhan, was experiencing his own despair.

“It’s not my first time…”

His despondent muttering was filled with disappointment, but unfortunately, it was too soft to reach the innocent Estiel’s ears.

After bidding their farewells, Serin asked Luca to perform spatial magic that she had been persuaded to learn.

“Ahem, I will accept the favor of the two princes. Will you unfold the spatial magic?”

“Oh, of course. Come here, both of you.”

Luca took out a branch from his waist. The branch, which immediately absorbed particles of light, transformed into a large staff, fitting perfectly in Luca’s hand.

“Alright, let’s go.”

A vast magical power circulated inside the mansion. The strong magical waves shook the frames hanging on the walls.

Swoosh.

Finally, the magical power gathered into a circle, tearing the space into the shape of a pond. Everyone in the room looked admiringly at the rippling surface of the space. Especially Estiel was so amazed that he poked the space’s ripples and exclaimed in admiration.

“Wow… so amazing.”

“Did I do well?”

“Yes.”

“Then, can I pat your head?”

“Sure.”

Estiel leaned towards Luca, offering his head to be petted. Enchanted by Estiel’s behavior, Luca absentmindedly patted his head, lost in the moment.

With lingering reluctance, the farewell came to an end.

We waved goodbye to the Duke and made our way into the rippling space.

…

……

The corridor of the quiet Lupenther mansion after the three people left for the Empire.

There, Kanarin’s younger brother, Arhan, quietly grabbed Luca’s sleeve.

“… Luca hyung.”

“Arhan? What’s wrong?”

“I want to learn magic.”

“Hmm, let’s first look for a suitable magician as a teacher…”

“I want to learn from you, hyung!”

Unexpectedly cutting him off, Arhan passionately pleaded. Luca, who was older, couldn’t understand the reason behind Arhan’s passionate request.

“요, 요, 요, 응큼한 꼬맹이 같으니라고. 관심받는 게 그리도 부럽든?”

“딱히 그런 거 아니거든!”

“그런 게 뭔데?”

“윽… 아니라고!”

Resentfully tapping on Arhan, Luca couldn’t ignore his future brother-in-law’s request and eventually made a promise.

“I’ll get a magic test first, and if I pass the suitability judgment, then I’ll seriously consider it.”

“Really?”

“Am I going to challenge Kanarin’s family?”

“… I believe you, brother.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

That day marked the beginning of Luca’s journey in the Karnah Kingdom of Visha.

The birth of a great magician who would follow in the footsteps of the Karnah King started from this starting line.

Upon returning to the island through the portal, I briefly parted ways with Rahilt. I thought he needed some time to reconnect with his lost family and past regrets.

Of course, I had clearly told Rahilt before.

I knew that you were a child of the royal family. You recognized me as a princess from the moment I was kidnapped.

Naturally, he was very surprised. But he didn’t ask more than necessary. It felt like a very Rahilt-like attitude.

I wish he remembered the messy confession from back then. But it seems like he completely forgot about it. He even seemed to have forgotten the existence of Rastali, whom he executed.

The tragic end of the past that he remembered so vividly.

It was a result that added more regret in many ways.

But he just brushed it off as if it was nothing.

“Sigh… I don’t know. I’m busy dealing with my own affairs…”

Meanwhile, I had my own opponent to face.

The male and female leads who had executed Rahilt’s two parents – my parents in this world.

There were many opportunities to bring it up, but it was difficult to talk about Rahilt’s story in front of my welcoming parents. And now, two days later, I knocked on the door of the study where both parents were sitting together.

Knock, knock.

Permission to enter was immediately granted.

“Welcome, Seriniel.”

“I’ll come in.”

I sat down in the designated chair and looked at the two of them carefully. I was curious to know why my daughter was holding onto such a heavy story.

I can’t delay it any longer.

I brought up the topic directly.

“I have something to tell you about a man you both know well.”

My heart swelled with emotions.

The Elenoth Mansion located in the island. There, a piece of my lost past was still lingering.

“I finally have a home!”

“Do you like it, Esutiel?”

“Yes. I love it.”

“You ran away to the kingdom because you hated home, didn’t you?”

“Well, that was then, but not anymore.”

“Why?”

In response to my brief question, Esutiel proudly puffed out her chest.

“I’ve gained a new perspective. It’s a struggle if I leave home. From now on, home is the best.”

“Your way of speaking… your way of speaking…”

Who on earth taught her such vocabulary? Even though the mercenaries use rough language, Esutiel must have been surrounded by only good things…

It was when we just opened the door to the mansion.

“You’re here.”

Roderick greeted us casually.

He must have already known about the commotion in the Karnah Kingdom. His nonchalance was very typical of Roderick.

At least until he noticed the shocking atmosphere.

“Hey, you crazy bastard, what happened to your face?!”

“I got rid of it.”

“What, what did you say? No, no. You can’t be that stupid… No one has seen your bare face yet, right?”

“No.”

I roughly explained as I remembered.

“The second prince of the Karnah Kingdom, Lady Lufentel, and Serin… and the passersby on the way. That’s about it.”

“Damn it!”

He cursed vehemently. I reflexively covered Esutiel’s ears and said softly.

“The kid can hear you, Roderick.”

“Ah, what the hell is this pretty crazy guy mumbling about?! Pack your things right now, you damn bastard…!!!”

“It’s okay. It’s okay, so calm down.”

I added a word to Roderick, who was pacing back and forth.

“Father.”

Time stopped immediately. More accurately, only Roderick’s time unnaturally froze.

“You…?”

Roderick twisted his body with a metallic sound. Suddenly, he stumbled and fell as if his own feet tripped him. His face, frozen in shock, was so unfamiliar that it seemed like a delusion.

“I’m back, father.”

“…”

I lightly wrapped my arms around Roderick, who had collapsed on the ground.

So this is warmth. Roderick’s body.

I didn’t know in the past.

I regretted not knowing the warmth that didn’t narrow the street. Then, I felt that the last embrace was the chill of decaying flesh.

Now, I had no intention of hiding anything.

“I’m back…”

I repeated the stupid words over and over again.

“I’m back…”

To the distant future.

And from the distant past.

“I’m back… Roderick, Esutiel.”

Esutiel, who must have felt something in the meaningless actions, timidly approached and hugged us together.

Hoping desperately that if this is a dream, it won’t shatter.

I chanted the same words to the miracle that came like a blessing.

“I’m back…”