“That’s how it ended up happening.”
“…………….”
Duke Nicholas’s story was utterly disgusting.
Even though I had prepared myself to some extent, the story was beyond imagination, and I couldn’t help but grimace.
‘Is this why he said he couldn’t tell outsiders?’
When I first received Duke Nicholas’s letter and came to meet Leisha, he had said he couldn’t tell outsiders about the reason she was stuck in the turret.
Frankly, it didn’t make sense. A man who would go as far as sending a letter to a mere board game creator to pull his youngest daughter out of the turret, yet he wouldn’t explain the most crucial part—why Leisha ended up in the turret in the first place.
To truly get Leisha out of the turret, the root cause of her being there needed to be addressed. So why didn’t he say anything?
Fortunately, through Kyle Galli and Spirit Poker, I managed to open Leisha’s heart, and she even started exchanging letters with me while accompanied by spirits. But in the end, Leisha didn’t take a single step out of the turret.
Why didn’t the Duke tell me the most important reason?
Only now did I understand.
This was truly…… a story that couldn’t be told to someone outside the family.
‘Same family…… huh.’
I had been so focused on board games at the Academy that I had delayed reading the letters. It was only when I urgently needed to leave that I finally read them all, so I found out a bit late.
Duke Nicholas, no, the Everts Ducal House, had sent an engagement proposal to the Byron Viscountcy.
Of course, it was in my and Leisha’s names.
When I first read it, I was completely baffled, but at the same time, part of me understood.
Frankly, from the Duke’s perspective, I wasn’t such a bad choice.
‘I’m the third son of the Byron Viscountcy, a close ally, I have some fame, and most importantly, I’m the only man who can actually talk to Leisha.’
Even if there were some shortcomings, I was probably the only person who could marry Leisha.
Of course, understanding it was one thing, but it was still absurd. I decided to set that aside for later.
………Because the Water Tiger’s condition was serious.
“That Water Spirit.”
“The spirit is fine. But……….”
“But?”
“……It seems to have been affected by the Spirit Master, showing abnormal reactions even at the Academy. That’s why I rushed here.”
It was a lie.
Sally told me everything. The Water Tiger I had been with all this time might not actually be the Water Tiger.
It could be Leisha herself, synchronized with the spirit.
‘Synchro…… I’ve only read about it in books.’
I remembered it because, after discovering I had no talent for aura or magic as a child, I desperately delved into spirit techniques.
A spirit technique only skilled Spirit Masters could perform. I never imagined Leisha could do it.
The fact that the Water Tiger, who had been with me since I first visited the Everts Ducal Castle and headed to the Arkhé Magic Tower, was actually Leisha.
The only saving grace was.
‘She said she can’t maintain synchro for long.’
At most, less than an hour a day.
I thought that was fortunate. I had bathed and slept with the Water Tiger many times, and if it had been Leisha all along, I wouldn’t have been able to face her.
She probably only synchronized when she wanted to look around outside or play board games.
Anyway, because of that, I realized the Water Tiger’s strange behavior was actually Leisha’s problem.
If Sally hadn’t told me, I would have never noticed.
And Leisha’s condition might have gotten even worse.
‘Stupid, incompetent fool.’
The fact that I’m incompetent and Sally is a magician is no excuse. I should have paid more attention to the Water Tiger, to Leisha.
While she was locked in her room screaming and having fits, I was playing board games with my brother.
Thinking that Leisha was suffering while I was having fun made my heart heavy.
“Kyle Byron, what…… are you going to do now? Is there any way?”
“First, I need to go to the turret.”
“What? Are you serious? The tower is quiet now, but it’s like a bomb about to explode. Last time it was like this, the servants who tried to enter the turret were hit by spirit technique bombardments!”
Since it’s not the spirit itself but borrowing its power to use magic, there’s no distinction between friend or foe.
It’s just an extreme method to eliminate anyone who gets too close to the turret.
After the Duke’s words, I asked Adela, who had entered the room after the conversation ended.
“Adela, is it true?”
“Someone with expertise in spirit techniques…”
“I’m not on your side. But I can read the flow of mana. Just as Duke said.”
“………….”
“If you get too close to the turret now, even if it’s you, you’ll be attacked.”
“……It’s fine. There’s a way.”
“A way, you say? You can’t rely on me or the magicians of the Duke’s castle. Even if we could force our way through, if too many people approach, the Princess’s condition might worsen…….”
“Sally.”
I called her, who hadn’t come in from outside.
Sally entered the room with something.
“This is.”
[Grrr.]
It was the Water Tiger, strangely shrunk.
[Whoosh!]
[Click!]
[Meow.]
And similarly, the spirits had also shrunk.
To be precise, spirits that had lost much of their power resisting Leisha’s will.
The Water Tiger, whose sync had been broken, had been shrinking on the way to Everts Castle but was desperately calling out to me.
Wait a little, it said, and it would gather its friends.
Friends who would help reach Leisha.
“There’s no time to waste, Duke.”
“……What can I do to help?”
“Please ensure no one approaches the turret. And……….”
Looking at the eerily quiet and ominous turret.
I clenched my fist and muttered.
“If I don’t come back.”
“Please send a letter to my father and brother.”
*
[Grrr……….]
“I know, buddy.”
[Whoosh!]
“……What’s this one saying? I’m not close enough to understand yet.”
[Click!]
“Ah, that? Of course, I’m serious. I’ll find a way to meet Leisha. Only then can I do anything.”
[Meow…….]
Talking to spirits isn’t hard. You just need to be close enough for them to open their hearts.
But the only spirits I was that close to were the Water Tiger and the Wind Spirit, so I needed them to translate for the others.
They say the qualification of a Spirit Master starts with being able to talk to spirits.
Of course, most people can only talk to them and have no real talent. I was one of them.
Standing at the path to the turret with the much smaller spirits.
[Click!]
“Sally and Adela? It would be great if they were here, but……given Leisha’s current state, anyone approaching besides me or you guys would only backfire.”
Even I might be rejected now.
After hearing what happened to Leisha, it’s a wonder that she stayed synced with me and traveled together.
Did I really earn that much trust from Leisha?
……At least not now.
“By the way, it’s quiet.”
The atmosphere around the turret was eerily silent.
Even though the day was clear and sunny, the area around the turret felt gloomy.
It wasn’t just my imagination. The magic of the various Water Spirits connected to Leisha was making the air heavy.
At least the Water Tiger, the highest-ranking among them, was on our side, which was somewhat fortunate.
Unlike before, when spirits roamed freely, now there was something about the turret that made approaching it difficult.
[Grrr……….]
“I know, first things first…….”
Given what the Duke and Adela said, confirmation was key.
The turret had a wide courtyard and garden around it, but it was ultimately enclosed by a circular wall.
And the only entrance through that wall.
The place that divided the inside and outside of the turret area.
Taking a step inside.
Kwaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
It will be said.
It wasn’t for nothing that the Duke, Adela, and Sally tried to stop me.
“The Duke at least said to wait until the turret settles down before going in.”
Adela and Sally also said to go in after securing safety. Me coming this far with the spirits was half forced.
Seeing the lightning just now, I thought it might be better to go back and follow the Duke’s advice, wait until the turret returns to normal before entering.
Why is that?
“If not now…”
I had a vague feeling that I might never see Leisha again.
And for that, I brushed off the Duke, Adela, and Sally’s dissuasion and came right here.
To Leisha, who must be struggling with her trauma.
Even now, she must be in pain.
“Tiger, how about you?”
[Grrr!]
“Good… then, let’s go!!”
Thud!
The core of the plan was simple.
Spirits made of pure elements are almost immune to various elemental attacks. Frankly, as long as it’s not fire that could evaporate the Water Tiger’s entire body, it would be fine like now.
So, the spirits block the magic, and I break through in between.
Simple and crude, but also the fastest method.
But its downside was also clear.
Crash!!!
“Ugh…!!”
[Grrr!]
“Don’t hesitate! Run!”
Unlike before, now that Leisha is caught in trauma and weakened, the spirits can’t block all attacks.
I had no choice but to take hits from attacks that squeezed through the spirits.
Passing through the spirits, the endlessly weakened lightning, fire, and blade winds scorched and wounded my body.
Though clearly much weakened, the magic was enough to overwhelm a powerless mind.
The distance from the entrance to the turret was less than 100 meters.
But at this moment, it felt incredibly long.
Crack!!!
‘Damn it!’
Blocking the attacks coming at me with my left hand, it was burned and electrocuted, now tattered.
A sharp pain raced through my head, but it only made me run faster.
Just 100 meters. Just a few seconds.
I ran desperately while the spirits blocked for me.
Running, running, and running.
Finally.
“Break the door!”
[Grrrr!!!]
Bang!!!
The firmly closed door, with the spirits’ power and my body thrown against it, shattered, allowing passage.
The recoil sent me tumbling inside the turret, and as I tried to catch my breath and get up.
“Ugh…!!”
Trying to move my left arm, the pain made it hard to even breathe.
Unlike when I was running in a trance, now that I’ve come to my senses, the pain was hard to escape.
Fortunately, no attacks reached inside the turret.
But staying inside the turret too long would surely pass the time when healing was possible.
“Sigh… Now, just need to climb up…”
[……Whirr.]
“Huh? I can’t understand you…”
[………Grrr.]
[Thud… thud.]
“…Why go this far? You’re quick to ask.”
[Whirr, whirr!!]
[Grrr.]
“You guys, distrusting humans like your master? There’s no reason or whatnot. If I can help someone in trouble, I help.”
[Whirrrr!!!]
[Thud.]
“………You guys are quick to catch on.”
Not that anyone would go this far and hurt their left arm for no reason.
Not a wrong statement. There is a reason.
“Just, well, I’ve gotten quite close to Leisha. Hearing her past stories, it’s pitiful… and originally, I’m the only one who can meet and help Leisha.”
[Whirr.]
“From your perspective, you could return to a life without meeting any humans, just living with spirits, right? Why are you stopping me?”
[Whirr………rr.]
[Thud!]
“Me too. I hope Leisha isn’t in pain. Moreover, since engagement letters were exchanged, saving someone I might marry later…”
Above all.
“Playing board games with Leisha is fun.”
[………Whirr.]
“Originally, finding board game friends is the hardest? If I succeed this time, I’ll have a board game friend for life…”
“Getting a board game friend, wouldn’t you do it if it were you?”
It was nonsense, a meaningless conversation, but thanks to that, the pain subsided.
After getting up while trying not to move my left arm as much as possible, I looked at the stairs leading to the top floor.
“So let’s go up. We can’t do anything until we meet them.”
[Whoosh… Rick!]
[Grrr!]
[Meow.]
[Clatter clatter!]
[Grrrrrr…]
“…Uh, who made that last sound?”
There were definitely four spirits.
Firebird, Water Tiger, Lightning Cat, Wind Horse.
And.
“…A wolf?”
[Grrrr!!!]
Seeing the spirits filling the stairs as I went up.
It seemed.
Going to the top floor wasn’t going to be smooth sailing.
*
Leisha was dreaming.
A sweet and beautiful dream. The kind she always wanted to have, never wanted to wake up from.
Playing a board game happily. Leisha was smiling. Even when she lost sometimes while flipping cards, it was just fun.
And the opponent was.
The opponent was.
──Leisha.
──This is love.
Not Kyle Byron.
The face, the voice, the appearance of the person she wanted to forget.
Uncle.
──Kyaaaah!!
Leisha threw the cards and ran away. And desperately thought again.
Memories of playing board games with Kyle Byron, the days she would play board games with Kyle Byron.
The one person who didn’t overlap with her uncle when she thought of those memories.
Her only friend.
──…Huh?
But why?
At some point, Leisha stopped with a blank face.
Even though her uncle was following her from behind.
──Why…
Why does Kyle Byron remind her of her uncle?
Like it did with other people.
Now, now.
Even Kyle.
──No, this is a dream. It’s because it’s a dream. It’ll be different in reality…!!
So even though Leisha knew she was dreaming, she didn’t wake up.
Even though the uncle following her was her nightmare itself.
Even if it was a nightmare that triggered her trauma, she didn’t want to wake up.
If thinking of Kyle made her think of her uncle, even in reality.
…It felt like she couldn’t bear it.
She swam through the nightmare with the flimsy thought that it was just a dream.
Uncle, uncle, uncle.
The hands of the uncles, their smirking faces, reaching out to her.
“……Princess, no.”
A voice.
The voice she tried to remember, but was overshadowed by her uncle.
That voice came.
“Leisha.”
Leisha opened her eyes.
On her messy bed.
Surrounded by dark spirits.
Under the covers.
She woke up from the dream, but it was still dark. The covers she pulled over her head made it impossible to see anything.
Because Leisha wanted it that way.
But.
“I’m here.”
“……”
The ‘voice’ coming from outside the door couldn’t be stopped.
Under the covers, Leisha slowly raised her head.
Outside the covers, outside the bed, and outside the door.
Kyle Byron had come.
The man she had been searching for so much.
…And at the same time, didn’t want to meet.
