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Chapter 40
“Die!”
From the direction where the dagger had flown, the man—whom they thought had been knocked unconscious by magic—was now charging forward with a sword in hand.
Rahel spread out a magic circle, one far larger than the one she had just used.
Vivian’s heart sank as she looked at Rahel.
In Rahel’s eyes, as she glared at the man, was a chilling murderous intent.
‘No…’
She knew that unless that man was killed, both she and Rahel could be in danger.
But still—
‘I can’t let Rahel commit murder.’
Of course, she understood that one day, in order to protect herself, Rahel would need to be prepared even for killing.
But she didn’t want that “someday” to be now.
Not like this—without any mental preparation, while still so young. She didn’t want Rahel to have to confront that darkness yet.
“Rahel, no—”
Just as Vivian tried to hold her back—
“Urgh…”
The man with the sword suddenly collapsed forward.
Behind his fallen body appeared a tall man in a robe.
In his hand was a blood-dripping sword.
And nearby, the other kidnappers—the ones who had been swallowed and spat out by the spirit of darkness—lay dead as well.
Since this man had taken care of the kidnappers, the chances were high he was an ally, but because he was still an unknown figure, they could not afford to lower their guard.
Rahel immediately stepped in front of Vivian, redirecting her magic target to the man.
If he shifted his stance to attack them, she would counterattack at once.
The man sheathed his sword and strode toward them without hesitation.
“Stop. One more step and—”
“…Dad?”
At the same time as Vivian’s voice rang out, the man stepped into the moonlight.
Silver hair that shone brilliantly, and golden-amber eyes exactly like Vivian’s.
Only then did Rahel realize the man was Vivian’s father.
“Dad, how are you here…?”
Hearing his daughter’s voice, Dias rushed forward and embraced Vivian tightly.
“I’m sorry, Vivian.”
“Dad, I’m fine—”
“I’m sorry I was late. I’m sorry I left you alone… so sorry…”
The large hand stroking the back of her head and her back trembled. So too did his voice, repeating “I’m sorry” again and again.
Feeling this, tears finally welled up in Vivian’s big eyes.
This warm embrace—this person who loved her more than anyone else in the world—she had almost lost him forever.
It was only now, in his arms, that the reality hit her.
“Huwaah, Dad!”
Vivian burst into tears in her father’s arms. Dias, trembling with the fear of almost losing his daughter, held her close.
Watching them, Rahel bit her lower lip hard.
None of this should have happened to Vivian or Dias.
If not for being entangled with her.
Watching the two together, Rahel turned and started walking back in the direction she had come.
She felt she should no longer stay here, by Vivian’s side.
But before she could get far, her body gave way—her consciousness, strained to the limit, finally blurred.
“Rahel!”
Vivian broke free from Dias’s arms and rushed to the collapsing Rahel.
“Rahel, what’s wrong…? Please, wake up!”
Fresh tears welled up in the little girl’s eyes that had only just begun to dry.
Dias hurried over and checked Rahel’s condition.
‘…She exhausted her strength from overusing magic.’
Patting Vivian’s trembling back, he reassured her.
“Vivi, it’s okay. She just got worn out from using too much magic.”
“Really…?”
“Yes. So let’s hurry back to the villa and let her rest.”
Vivian finally stopped crying and nodded.
The spirit of darkness, clinging quietly to the child’s shoulder, caught Dias’s eye—but that was something to ask about later.
Right now, for Vivian, nothing was more important than Rahel.
The knights of Edelvine arrived just as Dias lifted Rahel into his arms.
“My lady!”
The knights, startled to see Dias holding Rahel, relaxed once they saw Vivian beside him.
The stranger’s face, so clearly resembling Vivian’s, made it obvious he was her father.
Still, doubts lingered—how had he gotten here, and how had a mere civilian made it safely this far?
“The young lady seems exhausted. She has no external injuries, but she used a great deal of mana at once. It would be best to let her rest.”
After giving this advice, Dias handed Rahel over to them.
Then he picked Vivian up.
“My daughter was also badly shaken, so I’ll take her home first.”
The knights, glancing at the scattered corpses, Vivian, Rahel, and Dias, pieced together the situation. They belatedly stopped him.
“Sir Hessen, we understand your wish to return home, but it may be dangerous to go there now.”
“That’s right. The kidnappers’ backers and motives are still unclear. There could be remnants left.”
“Wouldn’t it be safer to return with us to the villa? We understand if you don’t trust us after we failed to protect your daughter properly, but…”
“No. Thank you for the offer, but I prefer home.”
Dias firmly rejected the knights’ concerned suggestion.
‘Truthfully, I’d rather go to the villa too…’
Vivian, worried about Rahel, wanted to go to the villa as well—but she held back for her father’s sake.
Without his usual glasses and smile, her father looked utterly exhausted.
Then she suddenly remembered something and asked the knights.
“Excuse me, sirs… what about the nanny? What happened to her?”
“The nanny was found unconscious in the market. She’s likely resting at the villa. Are you worried about her?”
It seemed the knights didn’t yet know the nanny had been involved.
Apparently, the nanny had tricked them by playing the victim.
‘She must have thought I’d die here, since I was the only one who witnessed her colluding with the kidnappers.’
Which meant she had to be caught before realizing Vivian had survived and escaping.
“No. It’s just… I think the nanny might be involved in this.”
“The nanny?”
“When the kidnappers approached me in the plaza, I saw the nanny notice—and then turn away as if nothing happened.”
The knights’ faces stiffened in disbelief at Vivian’s words.
But they had no choice but to believe her.
Vivian was a child who had nearly died in this incident. There was no way she would lie.
The knight captain ordered a subordinate:
“Return to the villa at once and secure the accomplice.”
“Yes, sir!”
With that issue settled, Vivian clung to Dias’s neck, signaling she was ready to go.
As Dias carried her toward the forest’s edge, one of the knights who had suggested protection earlier tried to stop them again.
“Um, little one… we may uncover the mastermind soon now that we’ve found the accomplice, but your home could still be dangerous…”
But before Vivian or Dias could refuse, the knight captain intervened.
“My apologies for troubling you. Please, go safely.”
Dias gave a polite nod and turned away.
One knight, watching the father and daughter retreat with worried eyes, asked the captain:
“Are you sure it’s alright to let them go like this?”
“It will be fine.”
The captain’s voice carried conviction.
But as he watched Dias’s fading figure, his eyes narrowed, recalling the corpses they had passed on the way here.
All of them had fallen to the same sword technique.
‘All struck down by one man.’
And not by brute-force mercenary fighting—
But by a seasoned knight, trained for many years. Each wound was clean, precise, striking only vital points without waste.
And at the end of that trail, the one holding a sword was…
The captain silently turned away, watching until the prime suspect disappeared from sight.
