EBCP 13

Chapter : 13

This was the perfect way to end it in one shot!

I roughly shoved the Aliyan fruit into my mouth, then ran to where the arrow had fallen.

“There really is someone here.”

From here, I could just barely make out a figure standing beyond the hill.

It was a tall man.

If I make a rustling sound with the leaves, will he think I’m an animal?

From this spot, an arrow could pierce straight through my head or torso.

After positioning myself, I grabbed a tree branch.

Shoot me and go!

I shook it violently, making the leaves flutter.

“……”

Oh, he’s looking!

At last, the man turned his body and looked down in my direction.

It was a little scary, but still—

It’s fine. This is just a novel.

This was a fake world made of text anyway.

Even if my heart were pierced by an arrow, would I even have time to feel pain?

Rustle! Rustle!

Contrary to my resolve, cold sweat seeped from my hands.

But I couldn’t stop.

Here!

The prey you’re looking for is right here, so hurry up and shoot! Kill me…!

— Don’t.

Just then—

— Who gave you permission to run away?

A voice came from somewhere.

What is this?

Where is that voice coming from?

I sharply turned my head, then slowly froze in place.

— You have to feel exactly what I felt.

Until a moment ago, it had been an ordinary forest. What were all these mists?

“……”

Raindrops began to fall, brushing against my face.

“Do you know me?”

— Of course. I know you very well.

I couldn’t see properly.

No, it was more like my mind had grown hazy, as if bewitched by the fog.

“Did you know I’d come to this lake too?”

— Yes.

“How?”

— Because I’m always watching you.

Wind and rain violently shook the forest.

Watching me…

I stared intently at the man standing beyond the hill.

His face was hidden by darkness, and no status window appeared.

Judging by the fact that the arrow was A-rank, that man must be A-rank too.

“If you were waiting for me… why don’t you come out in front of me?”

— You wouldn’t recognize me anyway.

Then—

Whoosh!

Another arrow flew past, grazing just above my head.

“Huh!”

My startled heart pounded wildly.

But only for a moment.

Soon, disappointment grew stronger.

Ah, I almost could’ve been hit.

That bastard—did he deliberately aim just a little off?

Even from that brief glimpse, I could tell he was incredibly skilled.

“Hey! Stop messing around with the trees and just kill me already!”

Feeling like I was being toyed with, I shouted at the top of my lungs.

But no answer came back from beyond the hill.

“No, seriously. You seem to have some kind of grudge against me, so just kill me instead.”

Hah. In that case, I had no choice but to try coaxing him.

“There are no witnesses here, and it’s the perfect place for a perfect crime, right?”

“……”

Does that man have a grudge against Diel? Or against me?

I had no idea how things had ended up like this.

Still, the conclusion was simple.

I need to die right now, and that man wants to kill me.

I repositioned myself so I’d make an easy target.

“Wait a moment.”

My legs trembled weakly.

“Alright, done. Now shoot. Let’s not waste each other’s time.”

Repeating to myself that the pain of having my heart pierced would only last a moment—

— Don’t go.

“What?”

Just then, carried by the night wind, I heard the man’s whisper.

— Stay by my side.

Unlike the killing intent loaded onto the arrow, his voice was strangely gentle.

“Ha……”

Maybe that was why—I suddenly felt all my strength drain away.

Before I knew it—

What kind of situation is this?

The man’s figure that had loomed atop the hill was gone.

At the same time, my foggy, dazed mind cleared completely.

“When can I return to my original world? How long do I have to stay here?”

— As long as I waited for you.

The conversations I’d shared with the man filled the empty space.

— Be wary of men other than me. No one here is in their right mind.

For the one who seemed the least sane to say that—

He was definitely enjoying messing with me.

“You’re in for it. I’ll find you for sure.”

I yanked the arrow straight out of the tree.

His owner’s traces were surely left on it.

Let’s go back now.

Just in case, I threw on the robe I’d brought and quickened my pace.

Hmm, maybe because I even hid the arrow inside—somehow it felt like my combat power had increased.

If I retrace my steps, I can get back before the maids arrive.

When I left the lakeside, the sky had already grown fairly bright.

It was later than planned, but this should still be fine.

Then I heard voices from somewhere.

“I’m telling you, Your Highness. Why do you think mages are so obsessed with morning dew?”

At dawn, before the day had fully broken—and women standing on such a deserted forest path.

“Please trust this mage I worked so hard to find. It’s widely rumored that Baroness Rett’s pregnancy was thanks to that mage.”

They were standing beneath a tree covered in blooming red flowers.

Why does it have to be right on the path I need to take?

Since they were half-turned away, no status window appeared, but one of them looked familiar.

Princess Lucia?

Ah—she was a supporting character who appeared occasionally, the daughter of Empress Mary.

“Nanny, make sure no one’s coming. If we’re discovered, what a disgrace that would be.”

At that moment, Lucia took out a bluish pair of scissors from her bosom.

“Don’t worry. The imperial palace has so many splendid gardens—who would ever come to a place like this?”

As the woman called the nanny glanced around, I quickly hid behind a tree.

What are they doing?

Lucia looked thoroughly displeased. Still, she reached out and cut the flowers.

Red petals fell messily around her feet.

“Do I really have to do all of this myself? At this rate, my nails will be ruined!”

“You must pick the flowers yourself, Your Highness, while they still hold the first morning dew—that’s how their energy transfers. Your counterpart is Grand Duke Ferzen, Your Highness.”

Standing a step back, the nanny spoke firmly.

Though Lucia had been snapping irritably, she pressed her lips together tightly at the name Ferzen.

Looks like she’s trying some kind of charm spell.

I could guess what was going on.

I’d seen all kinds of strange superstitions back at headquarters.

It wasn’t particularly surprising. This was a world where such things actually worked.

What should I do? This is going to take time.

I didn’t care what they were doing.

But since they were blocking the path, I couldn’t pass through.

“Even His Majesty would be delighted if Grand Duke Ferzen bowed his head and became his son-in-law, don’t you think?”

The nanny spoke as if planting a suggestion in Lucia’s mind.

“If you become the Grand Duchess Ferzen, Her Majesty Empress Mary will become Empress, and Prince Alester will become Crown Prince.”

“That’s why I’m enduring this!”

Lucia snapped back curtly, but her hands grew even more careful as she picked the flowers.

At a glance, it didn’t look like they’d be done anytime soon.

Just as I was wondering whether it’d be better to take a longer route around—

“Your Highness, um…”

“Oh my, has a reply already arrived from Grand Duke Ferzen?”

From afar, a maid came running in a hurry.

“Please look, Your Highness. The fact that a reply came so early in the morning must mean good news.”

Even the nanny’s face brightened, as if this was the news they’d been waiting for.

“What did he say? He’s coming to have tea? Around what time?”

Lucia asked eagerly.

“Your Highness. Th-that is… he says he’s grateful for the proposal, but… he doesn’t have time to share tea together.”

“What? Ha!”

Clang!

Lucia hurled the scissors she was holding to the ground.

Innocent flower petals were shredded and scattered.

“Your Highness, please calm down!”

“Calm down? Do I look like I can calm down right now? What use is any of this?!”

Unable to contain her rage, Lucia stomped violently on the fallen petals.

“Your Highness!”

As Lucia caused a scene, neither the maid nor the nanny could stop her.

This won’t do. I should go back.

The situation felt like it was only getting worse.

It would be faster to turn back now.

Please…

Just as I quietly turned my body to slip away—