Chapter 196

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on January 22, 2025

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“What the heck just happened?”

Right after the strange event began, Fertisha was in complete shock. Just moments ago, she was holding Ulan’s hand, and now—poof!—it vanished.

“U-Ulan? Where are you?!”

While she looked around with a startled expression, a white light suddenly exploded in front of her.

She instinctively closed her eyes tight but soon reopened them. Her eyes widened, just like a surprised rabbit.

“Huh?”

The scenery around her had completely changed.

Instead of the gloomy Zone 4, she found herself in a vibrant, lush forest. A place she was incredibly familiar with.

“This place is definitely…?”

The forest of the Imperial Family where Fertisha had grown up.

It was unmistakable. The dense foliage and towering trees were all too familiar.

After a brief pause, she started to walk, trying to figure out why this scenery had suddenly appeared. Eventually, she arrived at a pond and soon faced a younger version of herself.

“……”

And in that moment, Fertisha finally realized.

This was her memory.

As the vivid memories came flooding back, she silently watched her younger self grow.

‘That’s right. I used to be like that.’

When she first opened her eyes, the only world she knew was the blue sky seen through the trees.

But strangely, she felt no loneliness.

She had friends by her side.

‘Spirits.’

They existed everywhere.

They revealed themselves in the gentle breeze, the lush greenery, the moist earth, and the cool water.

Fertisha communicated with them, sharing emotions and having many conversations. Maybe because of this, she learned about loneliness much later than others.

However, when she turned ten, loneliness crept in.

Unlike the formless spirits, she had a physical body. As soon as she recognized the differences between humans and spirits, a deep wave of solitude washed over her.

But her solitude didn’t last long.

One day, a stranger appeared in the forest.

Crown Prince Chartang Monique Al Rubens.

With his neat platinum hair and kind smile, he casually said, “I’m your brother.”

It was the arrival of family, tied by blood.

‘And from that moment on…’

Her world began to expand a little.

Maybe that’s why?

At this time, Fertisha eagerly awaited the days when Chartang would visit. During those times spent together, a sudden question popped into her mind.

Curiosity about the outside world.

So one day, she mustered the courage to ask about the world beyond the forest.

But the response she received was cold.

“It’s dirty and dangerous outside.”

He took a long time explaining just how perilous the outside world was. Then, in a voice filled with pressure, he urged her, “So you can stay here.”

At that moment, Fertisha realized.

Chartang didn’t want her to leave the forest. Not wanting to lose her only family, she remained silent.

However, as time passed, perhaps Chartang’s attitude changed. He began to share various stories from the outside world with her.

Fertisha listened eagerly, especially captivated by the tales of a barbarian youth like herself.

‘Ulan.’

The first barbarian to enroll in the Arsen Academy, making history by causing over a hundred casualties at the entrance ceremony.

Just hearing stories about him ignited her curiosity. Wanting to hear more, she even asked the spirits to aid her.

To keep an eye on Ulan’s every move.

‘A fascinating person.’

The more Fertisha learned about Ulan, the more captivated she became.

Unlike herself, trapped in the forest, Ulan roamed the world freely like a bird flying in the sky.

‘And that’s why I felt envy.’

Just as she pondered this, the scenery enveloping her suddenly shifted. The green foliage vanished in the blink of an eye, replaced by a pale ash falling like snow.

“Where is this…?”

A dreary space filled with shades of gray.

While she silently gazed around, a mysterious voice broke the silence.

【I’m feeling the same way.】

The speaker was a black mass.

Somehow, it emerged from a nearby spot and began to creep closer to her.

【I’m envious of you too.】

That voice felt strangely familiar.

Where had she heard it before?

As she wracked her brain, realization struck.

“Ah, I see.”

The reason she had sought the Source of Magic.

The whisper of the spirit at the center of the spring was that very voice.

As soon as she recognized this fact, the black spirit nodded silently, as if reading her mind.

【Yes. You’re just like me.】

Just like her? What did that mean?

Fertisha was about to ask with a confused expression, but once again, the other party’s response was much faster.

【I too am a ‘spirit created for a special purpose’.】

But her questions remained unanswered.

If anything, they only grew larger.

She had no clue what the ‘special purpose’ mentioned by the spirit entailed, nor could she understand what it meant to be a created spirit.

【The only difference is that I’ve been alone for much longer than you.】

Regardless of Fertisha’s astonishment, the spirit continued speaking. After a bitter mutter, it looked back at her.

【It’s really unfair.】

Like a sulking child.

The spirit shouted in anger.

【We were born for the same reason, so why is it only you who gets to roam the world outside? I also want to go out!】

The spirit quickly closed the distance between them.

Feeling somewhat threatened, Fertisha instinctively took a step back. But the spirit reached its destination much faster than she did.

【Now it’s my turn.】

With a chilling whisper, the spirit’s finger touched Fertisha’s forehead. In an instant, something astonishing began to happen.

“……!?”

The spirit’s appearance, which had merely been a black mass, quickly transformed.

Swish!

Its ambiguous form morphed into that of a human.

Pure white hair sprouted, eyes gleamed like jewels in deep red, and slender arms and legs emerged.

“That figure is…!”

Fertisha’s eyes widened in shock.

The spirit had changed to exactly match her appearance—specifically, her form as a ten-year-old child.

【From now on, I’ll take your place.】

As soon as she heard that chilling statement, Fertisha understood the spirit’s intention.

She instinctively reached out to stop it, but it was a futile effort.

Plop!

Suddenly, an enormous force struck her, and Fertisha found herself plunging into the pond without any possibility of resistance.

【You’ve seen the outside world for even a moment, so you shouldn’t be unhappy, right? Of course, even if you are unhappy, it won’t change anything.】

After bursting into laughter, the spirit that had snatched Fertisha’s childhood appearance, body, and voice grinned slyly.

【Now that you’ve stepped into this place, your friends won’t be able to help you. Not at all!】

With the sound of its fading laughter, Fertisha’s consciousness began to drift away.

As she felt her body sinking below the pond, she eventually lost her awareness.

5.

How much time passed?

Fertisha gradually regained consciousness.

The first view she saw was a space of gray ash. A void that had no underbrush, trees, rocks, or pond—essentially, a world of nothingness.

‘Where is this…’

It felt strangely familiar.

And then she remembered.

This was the place where the spirit that had stolen her appearance existed. So when she struggled to remember what had happened before losing consciousness, something suddenly sprang up from the ground.

A black mass. The very spirit that had taken her body.

Like a tree, the spirit towered as it finally spoke after what felt like an eternity.

「Who am I?」

An existential inquiry.

But it couldn’t find an answer. For in this space, it was the only entity that existed.

As aeons of time passed.

The spirit posed another question.

「Where is this place?」

This time, there was still no response.

From that moment, the spirit fell silent, realizing these questions were futile.

As time continued to flow, the spirit stood still like a tree. Then, suddenly, a change occurred.

「Huh?」

A crack formed in the gray space.

With a curious expression, the spirit poked it. Thus, a part of the space shattered, revealing a black void, like the night sky.

It was the world beyond this gray space.

At that realization, the once-limited world of the small spirit expanded drastically. Simultaneously, a long-suppressed curiosity erupted.

Yet, the spirit couldn’t move beyond.

【You can’t escape here.】

As strong beings blocked its path.

Formless, grotesque creatures.

Initially mistaken for spirits, they turned out to be something else entirely.

As the spirit watched, a strange feeling of dread and chills washed over it.

「Why? Why can’t I go outside?」

The spirit asked in confusion.

A fair question. The unidentified beings spoke in unison.

【You must remain here until the door connecting the two worlds is opened.】

【This is the fate you’ve been given.】

【So we cannot allow it.】

Unreasonable answers.

The spirit shouted defiantly.

「Why should I seek permission?」

This was also a valid counterargument, but the beings blocking its way remained unmoved. It tried to force its way out, but it was useless.

They were unbelievably strong.

Thus, the spirit was forcibly dragged back to the gray space.

But the spirit refused to give up.

It realized that the gray space wasn’t the entirety of the world. So it repeatedly tried to escape, only to be blocked every time.

As a long time passed.

The spirit experienced endless despair.

「……I’m lonely.」

Crouched in a corner.

It cried out in solitude.

「I don’t want to be alone anymore.」

Despite being so close to the outside world, the feeling of helplessness consumed its entire being.

「Someone help me. Please…」

With that desperate plea, the gray space slowly began to dissolve. Darkness enveloped the view again, and Fertisha, watching from a distance, realized.

‘That child’s memories.’

The spirit that had taken her body had been alone for far longer than she could imagine.

That’s why it continuously called for help, and it was Fertisha, able to hear the spirit’s voice, who had followed the whispers here.

‘We really are alike.’

Perhaps it was that sense of kinship?

Moisture gathered at the corners of Fertisha’s eyes.

But only for a moment.

‘It’s unfortunate, but…’

That didn’t mean she could relinquish her body.

Fertisha was just as curious about the outside world. So it would be better to find a way to go out together.

‘I must intervene first.’

Determined, she focused her mind.

To call upon her friends who always circled around her, Fertisha whispered earnestly.

“Guys, lend me your strength.”

But today, their response was slow.

No, not only were they unresponsive, there was not even a single answer. Even when she called out again, the result was the same.

“……Huh?”

Fertisha’s voice trembled.

Her expression was visibly flustered.

It was understandable; this had never happened before. Afterward, she called upon the spirits repeatedly, but no response returned.

Then a sudden memory struck her.

Before losing consciousness, the spirit that had stolen her form had said a single line.

『Now that you’ve stepped into this place, your friends won’t be able to help you. Not at all!』

As soon as she recalled this fact, she realized.

She was completely isolated.

Right in the dark abyss.

“Ah, oh…”

It felt as if white paint had been spilled inside her head. Her complexion had long since turned pale, and her hands and feet trembled.

It was utter solitude.

As she felt that she alone remained in this empty world, soon a wave of indescribable loneliness and terror washed over her.

Could she not withstand the fear of being alone any longer?

Her consciousness began to fade.

She knew about the evil hand lurking, but she couldn’t help it. The fear of enduring alone was too overpowering.

Just as she was about to be swallowed by darkness.

「……I understand. I’ll tell you.」

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out.

At the same time, Fertisha’s eyes widened. She recognized the owner of the voice.

‘It’s Ulan’s voice!’

The voice came from above her.

Realizing this, she desperately swam upwards, clinging to a glimmer of hope.

As a result, she successfully reached the surface of the pond, but she couldn’t emerge.

‘A wall?’

A transparent, invisible barrier blocked the surface’s edge. So she knocked against it with all her might, but it remained unmoving.

Fortunately, she could clearly see the scenery beyond the wall.

‘……!’

The view beyond showed her stolen face and voice, as the spirit chatted side by side with Ulan.

Fertisha cried out desperately.

“Ulan! That’s a fake!”

She shouted in vain, eager to reveal the truth, but her voice didn’t reach across the barrier.

“I’m here! Please….”

She desperately pleaded for him to know she was present.

But it was futile.

In the midst of her despair, Ulan continued conversing. Suddenly, he uttered something that sparked his eyes brightly.

「I met Fertisha there.」

In that instant, Fertisha’s red eyes lit up.

‘Huh, how…’

He knows my name?

But she had never told him her real name!

After all, only a handful of the Grand Nobility, including Crown Prince Chartang, knew the name “Fertisha.”

And so, she froze, caught in surprise and confusion, but such moments never lasted long.

「Will you take me outside?」

Suddenly, the spirit that had stolen her appearance proposed to Ulan that they should go out together.

At that, Fertisha banged furiously against the wall again. With enough force to crush her fist.

“Ulan! I’m here!”

Still, her voice couldn’t reach him.

Staring at the wall that would not crack, Fertisha slumped down, feeling utterly defeated.

Could she really be left alone here forever? Just as despair closed in on her.

“Huh?”

Fertisha locked eyes with Ulan beyond the wall.

What’s this? Just a coincidence?

As she pondered, unexpectedly, Ulan leaned closer and sniffed the air. Then he approached, plunging his hand into the pond.

And in that moment.

Smash! Crash!

He shattered the invisible wall and grabbed Fertisha’s wrist.

“……!”

Her expression was one of sheer shock.

Pulled by a powerful force, Fertisha’s body was hoisted from the pond.

“Cough, cough!”

She coughed as she swallowed some water during the process. But as the fit passed, Fertisha stared blankly at Ulan.

“H-how…?”

Did you know I was here?

How did you figure it out?

Questions swirled in her mind as Ulan casually answered.

“I smelled you in the pond.”

Just a simple answer.

Nevertheless, a wave of emotions surged abruptly within her, emotions that couldn’t be expressed by words.

No matter the reason, he was the only one who truly recognized her.

“Ugh…”

At that moment, emotions overwhelmed her.

Her vision blurred. She wanted to express her gratitude, but no words came out.

Just then.

“Fertisha.”

Ulan called her name again.

Then suddenly, he declared.

“I will get you out of the Imperial Castle.”

“……!?”

“I swear on the warrior’s name, I will.”

His scarlet eyes blazed like flames.

As her expression froze in astonishment, a sudden headache struck.

“Ah!”

Pain surged, so intense she couldn’t hold back a scream.

Instinctively clutching her head, fragments of memories she had yet to realize began to surface, like shattered glass reassembling.

‘……!‘

The Imperial Castle engulfed in flames.

Terrifying monsters, never seen before, rampaged through the devastated castle, attacking the people.

‘What is this memory?’

It wasn’t a scene she remembered.

But it was too vivid to simply be a dream. And among the wreckage was a version of Fertisha older than the one she knew.

「Huff! Huff!」

A tiny forest, barely three hundred steps long.

The Fertisha of that memory darted around, thinking of the forest as her entire world.

The reason was simple.

She was running away from the monsters. However, there were too many, and soon enough, Fertisha found herself surrounded by the unknown beasts.

【It’s useless to run away.】

【The seventh star.】

The ones attacking her were giant eyes.

In an instant, numerous eyes surrounded Fertisha, murmuring incomprehensible words.

【Twenty-eight access records confirmed.】

【Outsider’s traces detected.】

【Assessed as potentially altered.】

【The King has given the order—】

The spirits, sensing the threat, rallied together to protect Fertisha, but it was in vain. The giant eyes tore all the spirits to shreds.

【Annihilate.】

The giant eye elongated vertically.

Then, as countless teeth appeared, ready to devour Fertisha.

CRACK! SPLAT!

One of the eyes that had attacked her split in half.

That was not all. The eyes surrounding her turned to ash, one by one.

「Huh…?」

As Fertisha stood there, dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events, heavy footsteps approached along with a powerful presence.

With that, a man reeking of blood, wielding a massive axe, appeared.

「I almost arrived late.」

His bright red hair fluttered in the wind.

His muscular upper body laced with scars.

Seeing him mutter while relaxing, Fertisha stuttered over her trembling lips.

「W-who are you?」

「The third star, Ulan Bator.」

Before she could comprehend the absurd introduction, he scratched his head.

「What was it again? Did the seaweed-haired person mention a prophecy? I’m here to get you.」

After placing the massive axe on the ground, he reached out to her, looking right into her red eyes.

「Patrasche.」

「……Huh?」

「No, was it Petriart?」

Both were incorrect.

When Fertisha pointed this out, he rather shamelessly replied.

「Well, it’s okay. You’ll get to know my name eventually.」

「…….」

“More importantly, we need to escape here.”

Monsters surged like waves.

The odds of winning looked non-existent, yet he showed no signs of fear.

He simply swung the giant axe, smashing all the monsters that tried to obstruct his path.

“We’re going out. Take my hand.”

His voice was sweet-sounding.

But Fertisha hesitated.

Going outside was something she longed for, but beyond the forest, monsters were swarming everywhere. That brought forth her fears.

But her hesitation didn’t last long.

“……!”

He suddenly grabbed her hand.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Covered in monster blood,

he whispered solemnly.

“I’ll get you out safely. I swear on the warrior’s name.”

His words were soothing to only hear.

Ulan grinned at her.

“Let’s go, Fertisha.”

With those words, the fragments of memories she had always viewed as mere dreams seeped into her mind. As she absorbed them completely, tears began to flow down her cheeks.

They kept coming.

‘……Ah.’

Now she remembered.

The identity of the memories she once thought to be dreams.

These were memories of another life that her current self had not experienced. Calling them memories of a past life would almost fit the description.

‘So that’s it. I met Ulan…’

Even though she hadn’t regained all the memories of her past life, it didn’t matter too much.

Noticing that Ulan had come to rescue her made her feel content.

‘Ulan…’

In both lives, he reached out to her.

Moreover, Ulan said he would take her out of the cage once again, just like he did in her past life.

“Wuuuh, wuuuh.”

Hearing the words she had longed for from the person she admired most, and recalling similar events from another life, a sense of relief washed over Fertisha.

Words couldn’t express the torrent of emotions swelling inside her, and she cried endlessly. Meanwhile, through her hazy vision, Ulan appeared.

Then he said.

Just as he did in her past life.

“Let’s go, Fertisha.”

“……Yes!”

Wiping the mist from her eyes, Fertisha smiled brightly as she gripped Ulan’s hand tightly, determined not to lose it again.

【No, you’re wrong!】

A shadow loomed over.

The spirit that had taken Fertisha’s appearance.

Returning to its true form, it expanded like a giant wall, trapping Ulan and Fertisha.

【You can’t go anywhere!】

The furious cry echoed loudly.