“If you really rember everything... then put the ring on later.”
I spoke in a subdued voice.
“You said you’d do it after destroying the Temple, as soon as we got out of prison.”
Of course, we were technically outside the Temple now—but it still didn’t feel like everything was over.
“After it’s all finished, then put it on . Just like we promised back then.”
I forced myself not to cry as I said it.
“Keep at least that one promise... You didn’t keep a single promise in the last life.”
“...Yeah.”
Zahid, who had been walking in silence for a long while, spoke calmly.
“You’re right. That bastard didn’t accomplish anything.”
“...Huh?”
His tone wasn’t ordinary, so I asked cautiously.
“Let’s be honest. Between and that bastard—who’s better?”
“...What?”
Now that I thought about it, Zahid referred to his pre-regression self as that bastard.
“That bastard told not to go looking for him...”
Even though he’d gained knowledge through Fire’s mories, it seed he didn’t quite perceive himself as the sa person.
He muttered in clear discontent.
“From what I saw, that bastard just flailed around in front of you, answering everything like a dumb dog.”
“...A dumb dog? He was the top scorer on the entrance exam. And besides, the one who almost actually turned into a dog was you.”
“Woof!”
“Rosie, I wasn’t going to say this because I didn’t want to seem la, but... I ranked dead last on purpose. So I could be in the sa class as you.”
“Mmm. That’s a romantic and decent excuse. I can’t verify it, but I want to believe it’s true.”
“You really—!”
Zahid glared at furiously. Just as he was about to fire back with so indignant excuse—
“...Wait.”
His face suddenly froze. At the sa ti, Fire and Athena, who had been walking nearby, also stopped.
He quietly lowered to the ground and whispered,
“Soone’s coming.”
“Huh?”
“They’re ard... For now, hide with Athena behind .”
I nodded and tucked Athena back into my bag. Holding my breath, I ducked behind a stone pillar.
Soon after, even I could sense the presence of others approaching.
Zahid drew his sword and stood in the narrow cave path with Fire at his side.
* * *
Late at night, at the Noart estate.
A guest arrived in secret, identity hidden.
“Julian...”
The guest was Calliona—disguised in n’s clothing.
Calliona had spent the past few days in the Imperial Palace, nervously biting her nails. In the end, she made her way to the Noart estate.
“Your Majesty?”
Julian wore ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) a clearly unimpressed expression, as if to say, Why are you here?
“It’s just... I was too curious.”
Led to Julian’s room, Calliona fidgeted with her calloused fingers, hesitating.
“That day, you rushed off to save Yuta... but you didn’t even go to Arhad...”
The day he regained his mory, Julian had asked the Emperor to contact the Sinesse Marquisate. Then he stord out of the palace, saying he had to save Yuta.
Everyone thought he’d head straight to Arhad—but instead, Julian had gone to the Magic Tower.
After doing sothing there, he’d holed up at the Noart estate and hadn’t left since.
“Ah, so that’s why you ca.”
Julian blinked calmly, sitting in a neatly tailored outfit.
“Yuta won’t die just because I don’t go imdiately.”
“...What?”
“They’ve already decided to use him as bait. They’re not stupid enough to kill him now.”
“Then...”
“If I rushed after him carelessly, I’d just fall into the trap they’ve set.”
Julian sat upright, sipping tea with elegance.
“I need to go fully prepared.”
“Prepared how...”
“RosieRosie already set so things up in advance.”
“RosieRosie did?”
“She’s smart. Must be my sister.”
“....”
“Sure, if I left right now, I could save Yuta. But if I wait a little longer, I can create a more effective situation. As long as Yuta can hold on.”
“Hm...”
“And if I’m going to Arhad anyway, I may as well take the High Priest’s head while I’m at it, don’t you think?”
Just as he smiled smugly—
One of Julian’s attendants knocked and entered in a rush.
“Sir Theo has just arrived from the Academy.”
Calliona’s eyes widened in surprise.
Theo Noart had gone from Academy teaching assistant to the youngest professor of magical nano-science.
He had crafted the artifact that helped Rosie hide her divine power. Fearing the connection would be discovered, he had kept himself hidden away at the Academy.
And now, he’d co to the Noart estate himself?
As Calliona furrowed her brow in confusion, Julian’s door opened again.
Theo, cloaked in a dark brown robe, entered—and flinched when he saw Julian.
“...What is this.”
Julian didn’t say a word. But from his posture, clothes, and expression alone, Theo looked utterly shaken.
“Your hair’s back to normal and your eyes are insufferable again. You got your mory back, didn’t you?”
At Theo’s cautious voice, Julian let out a small laugh.
As soon as that one-sided smirk appeared, Theo began to backpedal.
“...We’re dood...”
He trembled, lips quivering in shock, as if he’d seen sothing unspeakable.
“So the cold-blooded bastard really... rembered... Haa...”
“Theo Noart.”
Julian slowly rose to his feet, gazing at him like he was pathetic.
“Did you forget? We’re on the sa side. Why are you looking at like I’m so kind of villain?”
“...Ah.”
As if coming to his senses, Theo furrowed his brow and stopped retreating.
“I wasn’t that close with pre-amnesia Julian Noart...”
“Oh? So we were close after I lost my mory? You could’ve said you liked ...”
“That’s not it! You delinquent bastard—hm?”
Calliona gently tapped Theo on the shoulder, whispering quietly.
“It’s a bit mixed...”
“...What?”
“That delinquent Julian... is still in there.”
“...Is that possible? He’s not so split-personality case...”
“It’s mostly the old Julian, but so of the friendliness and decency from the new one stuck.”
“What a bizarre combo—ugh! I greet Your Majesty, the Emperor!”
Only then did Theo realize the Emperor’s presence and hurriedly bowed.
Julian clicked his tongue in amusent and sat down with arrogant ease.
Theo shivered again as he looked at him.
“Ugh. Now I rember. I really hated that look of his...”
“Still, don’t forget—he kept the friendliness and decency.”
At the Emperor’s reminder, Theo finally scowled. Then, still wearing a look of disbelief, he handed a letter to Julian.
“It’s from Ethan.”
“Ah.”
Julian opened the letter without a change in expression.
Watching his precise, deliberate motions down to his fingertips, Theo muttered,
“...If Ethan sees this, he’s going to faint.”
“Grandfather already did.”
“Was he happy? You and he were close, after all...”
“He’s been treating differently since then.”
Theo nodded knowingly.
After reading the letter, Julian’s face turned cold.
“Then... I guess it’s ti to move.”
Theo blinked, still not used to the situation, but then nodded.
“Right.”
Then, steeling his expression, he said,
“Ethan will arrive soon. Let’s head to Arhad first.”
Calliona looked at them in disbelief, then cautiously asked,
“So the plan to rescue Yuta now is... the three Noart brothers going together?”
“No.”
Theo answered firmly.
“We’re going for Rosie. Saving Yuta-sunbae is just a side mission to keep us entertained on the way.”
He furrowed his brow and continued.
“While we’re at it, we should tell him to stop the spy stuff and take a proper job teaching theology at the Academy. We really don’t have anyone better.”
Calliona could only nod stiffly.
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