episode_0065

Passs …

The padlock that had locked the white door scattered like dust along with the [old key]. Ashe swallowed dry saliva and opened the unsealed white door.

CLANG!

Asher’s eyes finally revealed the unknown.

“This is…”

Asher is drooling.

Beyond the white door, there was a long, pure white wall and staircase. As soon as Asher stepped into it, the white door closed on its own.

The whole world was covered in white. If I stayed longer, I would lose my sense of time and direction and lose myself.

So, Asher quickly climbed the stairs, longing for the end.

‘But… aren’t the stairs too long?’

It is true that the mansion’s stairs were unusually tall and long, but the white space that Ash was currently climbing was too long. He was worried that he might never be able to escape from it for the rest of his life.

The destination appeared out of nowhere, without warning.

Along the way, I felt like time and space were being distorted, and before I knew it, a doorknob was located near Ashe.

The surrounding area was so completely white that if there had been no doorknob, you would never have guessed there was a door there.

Even Ashed, who had experienced many mystical experiences, was truly perplexed at this time.

“Let’s go!”

Suddenly.

Asher turning the doorknob.

Then the hinges creaked and the outside view was revealed.

The rooftop of the Arkaden mansion.

The view from the height comparable to the Imperial Palace was magnificent. It was a place where one could see the vast territory of Old Arkaden at a glance.

Although the territory was now mostly covered with coniferous forests, Asher’s eyes were witnessing the past that remained like an afterimage.

“… This is not the time to be sentimental.”

Asher’s gaze is directed straight ahead.

Hurrruk!

A green flame burns above the altar erected in the center of the rooftop, as if it were a lush green forest.

It was truly a rare sight.

Just like the Will-o’-the-Wisp, the flames floated in the air without even a combustion medium, burning on their own.

‘Is it my imagination that the flames feel small?’

An altar full of spiritual clues and a flame that burns in defiance of natural laws.

There must be elements that are deeply related to Letia, a witch with psychic powers.

Asher judged that the burning flames were a measure of Letia’s remaining strength.

The mansion destroyed by the butler’s tragedy is not restored. This is not simply to hinder Ashe’s path. Ashe was certain beyond reasoning.

Letia cherishes her butler so much.

That’s why I would have loved even the mansion where memories sleep.

The feat of rebuilding the mansion on the day of the decisive battle between the butler and the saint is proof of this.

After all, Letia wanted not just a butler to stay by her side, but to have a place of her own.

‘If I put my mind to it, I could put out the flames right away…’

I don’t know what it would have been like when he first visited the mansion, but the flame that was currently in front of Asher was no bigger than the palm of his hand. It was even shrinking in real time.

If he hadn’t been killed by the butler, Ashe would have been able to see the complete annihilation of the flames with his own eyes.

As Asher took a step towards the flame.

“No way─.”

A voice that sounded sad grabbed Asher by the back of the neck.

Asher immediately turned around and recognized the familiar tone of voice.

“Letia.”

Call the name of the lady who rules the mansion.

No longer was there any black noise bouncing from Letia’s body. There was no longer a butler by her side. Letia faced Ashe while still maintaining her human appearance.

Boom. Boom.

At that time, rain clouds gathered. The sunlight in the clear sky was obscured by thick cumulonimbus clouds, darkening the heavens and earth. Raindrops falling from the dark clouds covering the sky lightly knocked on the ground.

Kururung… kookung.

A heavy clap of thunder rang out.

It was a sign of a heavy storm.

It reminded her of the storm that had driven her on her first day at the mansion, the day that her escape had been so arduous and painful.

Letia took a step closer to the scene that was literally the calm before the storm.

“Don’t steal it─.”

“… What do you mean don’t take it?”

“Abba─Ah… Now, now─we met─.”

Tears flowed from Letia’s black eyes and melted into the raindrops.

“Letia─. We were together and sad─there were too many─.”

“…”

“But now─the womb. Time, time, has disappeared forever─.”

Thud, thud.

Letia walks in on short legs. She expresses her sorrowful feelings towards Ashe, who can reach the altar with just an outstretched hand.

Letia approached within close range.

The moment she grabbed the hem of Asher’s clothes, it suddenly came crashing down.

“It’s been turned around─.”

“…”

“Abba-ah─. Storybooks are great─. Lullabies are great─. Tteokbokki is great too─. If you use Abba, everything will be great─. Now I’m going to get tired─.”

“…”

“Ugh, ugh… ugh─.”

He cries like a normal child. He reminds me of a toddler who cries and cries over trivial things.

The living disaster that was said to bring discord to the empire was crying while holding a girl who had been abandoned by the world.

It was forced.

If Letia had not harbored hatred, and had met the butler without coming into conflict with Bernacien’s soul.

The two would have enjoyed hundreds of years together in their own treasure trove.

Ashe’s fault for being born into that tragic bloodline was absolute.

Asher was just a one-sided victim.

Nevertheless, Asher made a decision.

“… I won’t take anything away. ”

Kneel down on one knee and get eye level with Letia.

Asher looked seriously at the girl who had just tried to take his life.

“If you don’t have time, you can start making it now.”

As I explored the mansion, I thought to myself.

If there is a mission even in an abandoned life, it is the complete liberation of this mansion.

Perhaps my mission is to walk the right path and comfort the souls hurt by the misdeeds of my predecessors.

With that definition in my heart, I ended up looking out over the world from the highest point of the mansion.

Asher looks at the grieving girl and declares proudly.

“Just live. Live normally. I’ll make it happen for you.”

“Are you alive─? Ordinary?”

Letia asks, and Ashe answers.

“Yeah, normally. Grow up normally like everyone else and live a life doing what you want to do… I’ll nurture it for you.”

“Right─Maan─.”

Letia shook her head.

“… Why─? I hate Letian─. The blood of bad people─.”

Letia knows best what Asher went through in the mansion. Asher’s actions were like acrobatics, choosing only the flat parts on a floor covered with weapons.

If you hate Letia for creating this kind of environment, you can never have favor over her.

At that moment, Asher chuckled.

“Well, if you want to give a logical reason, I’m honestly not sure.”

After staring into space for a moment, Asher gave the most absurd answer that was true to his true feelings.

“I want to have one too, like you and the butler… people like family that we can rely on each other.”

If there was one thing that Asher envied while reading about their miserable past, it was their bond.

He lost his mother at an early age and received ‘favor’ from his father as the emperor, not love. And his brothers and sisters all looked down on and tormented Ashe.

However, it was not the case that her high status as a princess was in vain, as there was no one with whom she could truly open her heart.

As the palace shone brightly, the shadow of loneliness grew darker.

“So…”

Asher politely asks Letia.

“If I ever get a chance to live properly again… please don’t hate me too much.”

Letia’s new form is gradually fading away.

A translucent body projects the opposite landscape.

As expected, the green flame burning on the altar was gradually dissipating.

The flame was Letia’s power and soul itself.

Asher stood before him, trying to overcome the final ordeal before the flames were completely consumed.

“Whoo!”

With a sharp breath, she put her hands into her leather pouch.

“This is the last time.”

The item taken out is [The Book of Unequal Exchange].

The effect is to construct a living flesh of the designated target by offering the flesh as a sacrifice.

Once again, the reward for overcoming Mirelda’s trials is sent out to the outside world.

Asher shouted.

“Activate the spellbook of unequal exchange!”

Kiing-!

A pillar of purple light rises. It is a sign of a great law that is similar to cruel sorcery.

Amidst the pillar of light rising from the highest point of Arkaden, Ashe declared:

“My flesh… I sacrifice Arcela’s flesh to construct Letia Arkaden’s ‘human’ flesh! ”

The flesh that can be constructed with the magic book of unequal exchange depends on the status of the offering.

There is no way that Ashe, who is just a normal human, could create a witch’s body. Therefore, Ashe wanted to give Letia a body as a normal human.

“Aww, wooow─. And that’s it─!”

Letia, who was disappearing, raised her voice.

Offering one’s own body.

Even a three-year-old child would know what it means.

On the other hand, Asher pulled the corners of his lips up defiantly.

“I hope you don’t get sick too much…!”

What does it feel like to have your body and soul eaten away by sorcery?

It must be horrible.

It would be nice if he didn’t scream or yell in a dirty way.

It was at that moment when his head was filled with such pessimistic thoughts that a message appeared before Ashe’s eyes.

[The conditions for revival have been met.]

[Item: Coins disappear.]

It was the moment when Asher’s brilliant courage was rewarded.

The body, which would have been terribly devoured by the practice of sorcery, is protected by the item.

The achievements of successfully overcoming the trials of the mansion have been rewarded.

Asher followed the flow and proceeded to perform the next spell.

“Once again…! Activate the spellbook of unequal exchange!”

I will definitely create a happy future.

I will rewrite the tragedy that has accumulated from the karma of my predecessors into a comedy.

“Using Arcela’s body as a sacrifice, the butler─. Baekryun’s ‘human’ body is realized!!!”

Kiing-!

A bright pillar of light crosses the heavens and earth. It soars high, connecting the earth to the ground, as if Asher’s wish is reaching the heavens.

[The conditions for revival have been met.]

[Item: Coins disappear.]

With this, even the last coin was destroyed.

Asher felt dizzy as she was enveloped in a pillar of lavender light. The dazzling halo seemed to weigh heavily on her mind and body.

I felt like I would lose consciousness and fall backwards at any moment.

A woman affectionately congratulated her as the union between soul and body seemed to be breaking.

[Noble courage deserves its due reward.]

It was Bernacien’s voice.

Asher closes his eyes tiredly, drawn to the warm tone.

Behind her, as she lost all strength and collapsed, urgent footsteps were heard.

“Ashe!”

The call of a man I thought I would never hear again invades my consciousness.

The scene that was engraved in her mind just before she closed her eyes was the butler’s arms urgently accepting her.