Ch.117 Is there any other way?
That night, back in the Imperial Capital…
“Ugh… I’m so full.”
During the day, I’d toured the city with Mia and Scarlet; for dinner, the Emperor held a grand banquet I attended—but…
Ministers kept throwing
subtle, disapproving glances—as if unsure whether my food went in through my mouth or nose—while Leah and Cecilia shot
annoyed looks.
Of course the ministers resented —I’d moved an entire fortress without the Emperor’s permission. And Leah and Cecilia were obviously pretending to dislike
for each other’s benefit; their exaggerated glares were clearly staged.
“Does everyone have to make life so hard?”
Every mont with Scarlet and Mia felt like my blood was draining away.
‘Hans-ssi, shall we go to the opera? It’s been so long.’
Back when Scarlet first visited the Imperial Capital, I’d taken her to the opera—entertainnt was so limited compared to modern Earth that opera was one of the few decent options.
She must’ve been recalling that mory…
‘The Sage doesn’t enjoy such noisy music.’
But Mia, being an elf, perhaps due to heightened hearing, disliked loud sounds.
‘But you went with
all the ti before, didn’t you?’
Mia shot
a look.
‘Doesn’t the Sage prefer strolling through the mountains? Isn’t that right?’
‘Then… maybe we should just tour the Imperial Capital together? The three of us never explored it before, right?’
Reluctantly, they both nodded.
After sightseeing, more icy glares awaited us at the palace.
I honestly don’t understand why life has to be this exhausting.
If only they’d all just leave
alone.
“Huu…”
What should I do about Selena?
When the King of the Dead dies, the possessed vessel always dies too.
Without exception.
I rember it as a core ga chanic—the vessel perishes alongside the King’s destruction.
Does that an… I have no choice but to take her life myself?
Our shared mories made it hard to reach that decision as a human being.
She’d tried to kill , yes—but…
What if she’d been brainwashed by the Church of Death’s fanatics?
That wouldn’t erase Selena’s cri—but it did make
feel a little sorry for her.
She said she was from an orphanage, right?
I’d seen forum posts claiming the Church of Death ran orphanages to brainwash children.
They’d indoctrinate kids using fabricated stories—wasn’t that the setting?
“Well… nothing to be done. She’s fated to die… better not overthink it.”
After all, Selena had genuinely tried to kill both
and Nekhuf.
Her death alongside the King of the Dead was only fair paynt.
Damn it… I’ll stop thinking about it now.
No need to dwell on unpleasant thoughts.
—Knock knock.
Who could it be at this hour?
Curious, I called out.
“Who is it?”
‘It’s . Saintess Cecilia.’
“Ah…”
I hurriedly opened the door at Cecilia’s voice—only to find her cheeks slightly puffed.
“Hmph!”
What… what’s with the ‘hmph’? She ca here herself!
If she’s going to sulk, she shouldn’t have visited at all.
“D-do you want to co in?”
“Yes.”
She stepped in and sat on the edge of my bed.
“Have you been well?”
“I’ve been fine. But your expression…”
Cecilia shot
a sidelong glance.
“I heard you’ve been strolling with Mia lately?”
“Huh?”
When I couldn’t sleep at night due to overthinking, I’d often go to the garden—and Mia was always there.
So we’d walked together a few tis—but…
“I just went out when work stress kept
up at night. How did you even find out?”
“Well… that’s…”
Cecilia rolled her eyes.
Her mysterious behavior sent a chill through .
It’s a week’s journey from the Imperial Capital to my domain.
For her to know exactly who I t and what I did… that’s deeply unsettling.
What if, before I can even catch the King of the Dead, I end up quartered by these won?
Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
“Ahem… well, I have my ways. Anyway! Don’t get too close to Mia.”
“I… I won’t.”
She stared at
intently.
“Really?”
I nodded firmly, as if it were obvious.
“Of course. You’re the only one for .”
—Knock knock.
Just then—another knock.
Who is it?
Our eyes t.
When she gave
a look implying, ‘Who else would visit you?’, I shook my head vigorously.
‘I know you’re not sleeping.’
Leah’s voice ca from beyond the door.
—Zzzt!
She glared at
with dangerous eyes.
Cecilia quickly slipped into the wardrobe in the corner—
—Swish.
She opened it, stepped inside, and jerked her chin toward the door.
Her gesture clearly said: ‘I’ll hide here—you open the door.’
Goosebumps prickled my spine at her eagerness to eavesdrop like a pervert.
—Knock knock! Knock knock!
Leah knocked impatiently.
‘I know you’re in there! If you don’t co out, I’ll burn the door down!’
At her thinly veiled threat, I sighed deeply.
“Haah…”
—Creak.
I opened the door to find Leah standing there, eyes sharp.
“Why’d you take so long to open?”
“I was asleep…”
“Hmph!”
Odd… she’s acting exactly like Cecilia.
She asked, “What are you doing? Not letting
in?”
She was clearly demanding entry into my room.
I wanted to talk outside—Cecilia was inside—but…
She shoved past
before I could stop her.
What… what is happening?
I deeply regretted agreeing to Aria’s request today.
As soon as she entered, Leah snapped,
“Explain. Why have you been clinging to Mia lately?”
Her words confused .
Was a few garden walks really ‘clinging’?
“Huh? What are you talking about? And how did you even know?”
Both Cecilia and Leah knew about my walks with Mia—how?
“That’s… that’s not the point! Why are you sticking to Mia, Master?!”
Leah sounded like a jealous child—making
sigh again.
“We haven’t been ‘sticking’ together. If I tell you how I know, will you tell
how you found out?”
Both Leah and Cecilia seed to have gotten their info from the sa recent source.
If they’d known earlier, they’d have grilled
in letters.
I needed to uncover how they were getting intel on .
“Fine. You go first, Master.”
I shrugged dismissively.
“I just walked in the garden when work stress hit. Mia was always there.”
Mia was a High Elf—she loved gardens with trees and grass, so we kept running into each other. That’s all.
“Really?”
Seeing her skeptical look, I just shrugged.
“That’s it. Now tell
how you knew.”
Leah scratched her cheek.
“Aria told us.”
“What? Aria?”
That was strange.
“How did she see that?”
“She saw you two together through her window at night.”
Ah… now I rembered.
Cecilia and Leah had taken Aria out that day.
It clicked: they’d lured her with treats and interrogated her about —and innocent (or clueless) Aria had spilled everything.
“I see… so that’s how.”
Just as I pieced it together, a petulant voice reached my ears.
“Pfft… Master didn’t even miss ?”
Leah’s eyes were half-lidded.
“Huh? What?”
Her words baffled .
Cecilia was watching us from the wardrobe.
“I missed Master so much…”
Leah’s face reddened slightly, clearly embarrassed.
“R-really?”
Just then—
She lunged forward and hugged
tightly.
Why… why are you doing this? Do you really want to kill your master?
Was the cold killing intent from the wardrobe just my imagination?
Leah rubbed her face against my chest, then looked up.
“Hmph. Guess you didn’t miss
at all.”
Her disappointed expression left
flustered.
“Well…”
I opened my mouth—but words wouldn’t co.
Cecilia was hiding in the wardrobe.
Anything I said would be twisted against .
“Tch… after all this ti apart, is this really how you treat ?”
Watching her pout, I grew anxious.
‘Am I about to die by Leah’s hand?’
Her eyes burned fiercely, a few strands of fiery red hair defying gravity—a sight both unsettling and srizing.
Illusion magic? Or will my head explode?
This wasn’t a joke.
Frantically searching for an escape, a glimr of hope struck .
Cecilia couldn’t kill .
Not while the King of the Dead still lived.
She was fundantally too kind-hearted.
If I died, the adversary would vanish—and the world’s destruction would be certain.
Even if her mind was a garden of flowers, she wouldn’t risk ending the world; she’d just stew silently.
But…
Leah was different.
When angry, she acted without thinking—spells flying everywhere.
The best move was clearly to soothe Leah.
Gently, I stroked her hair.
“I actually missed you.”
At my soft words, she leaned into my chest and asked,
“Really?”
“Of course.”
She peeked up at , her face flushed.
Why’s she acting shy? She used to be way more forward when we were alone!
“Master… can I really believe you? You truly love , right?”
Her anxious eyes trembled slightly, making my chest tighten.
After all… we had lived together for a long ti.
Our master-apprentice relationship wasn’t exactly normal—but that cohabitation gave her a special place in my heart.
Not as a woman—more like a little sister.
“That’s…”
Should I tell the truth?
But could I?
‘I don’t love you. To , you’re just like a younger sister.’
Knowing Leah’s temper, she’d unleash magic everywhere—and I couldn’t say that.
Then… is there another way?
Wait—was there ever another way?
As my mind spiraled—
—Knock knock.
Another knock echoed at my door.
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