Chapter 11

The look in Selue’s eyes remained stern as he silently turned and exited the room, leaving just the man and woman behind. Silence settled over the chamber. Eventually, though, the black-robed man spoke. “Are you okay with this, Aviella?” he asked. “It doesn’t bother me. Besides, it’s not like I can do anything about it.” “In that case, you would do well to leave this country. Even from afar, you can still learn what unfolds.” The woman smiled but said nothing and gave no indication of moving. Her bewitching gaze was fixed upon the serpent sculpture on the table. The black snake’s empty eye sockets were pointed toward a corner of the room. The sun was setting very quickly. The edges of the sky had barely turned red when the translucent veil of darkness descended upon the city. Shizuku, who had returned to her room in the inn, looked out through the window. In the distance, she could see the partially obscured shape of the castle, illuminated by the city’s lights. “Looks kind of eerie,” she muttered. Only then did Shizuku realize that this was the first night she would spend alone in this world. She’d always slept by herself, of course, but no one else she knew was under the same roof. She thought this over as she sipped her tea and quickly realized she was wrong. Shizuku wasn’t alone. Mea was with her. She’d been in bird form for so long that Shizuku had forgotten she could become a girl. “Could you return to your original form? We’re inside, and there’s nobody else around…,” Shizuku said. “Guess not, huh?” It was supposed to have been a peaceful night for the two of them. However, Mea’s behavior suddenly took an odd turn. The bird fluttered to the windowsill and let out a piercing cry. Green light shone faintly in her eyes. Noticing something was unusual, Shizuku leaped to her feet, panicked. “What’s wrong? Are you angry about something?” Mea shook her small bird head. Puzzled, Shizuku knelt on the floor so that she was on the same level as her assistant demon. She followed Mea’s gaze to see what had seized her attention. “Oh…is it something to do with the castle?” The small bird chirped in agreement. Shizuku scooped Mea up in her hands and stood frozen, unsure what to do. Erik was inside the castle, and now Mea was wary of the place. Shizuku considered her options, nodding after a while. “Okay. Let’s take a short trip out.” Shizuku gathered up some of her things. She carefully collected her books together and placed them in her bag, then covered them with some clothes. She then placed a few smaller objects in the bag’s side pocket, but she packed no more, thinking it best to travel light. After confirming she still had on the ring Erik had bought for her, she bobbed her head at the small bird in the window. “I’m ready. Let’s go.” Erik had brought his belongings with him to the castle. That meant Shizuku could leave the inn whenever she liked, provided she took her luggage with her. She didn’t feel the need to depart the city, but if there was something going on at the castle, she wanted to take a look for herself. Shizuku spared a bit of time to pack up all her things just in case she needed to make a run for it. Mea definitely seemed like she was trying to warn her. Ultimately, that turned out to be for the best. Shizuku left her room at the inn with Mea on her shoulder. She ran down the stairs and made for the door, yet right as she was about to turn the corner, she retreated and hid in the hallway. The door to the inn had just opened, and five stern-faced soldiers were entering. Why were there soldiers here? Shizuku felt her heart begin to race, but she tried to reassure herself that this had nothing to do with her. After all, she had no idea what she’d be in trouble for. So long as she acted confident, no one would be suspicious. However, she ended up holding her breath and spying instead. When she sensed the soldiers drawing closer, she recoiled in fear. She took another step back so they wouldn’t spot her. Someone rushed out in a huff. Shizuku figured it was the innkeeper. His footsteps sounded unusually loud as they echoed through the dark rooms of the inn. “How can I help you?” he asked apprehensively. “We’re looking for somebody. A young girl with black eyes. We have reason to believe that she’s traveling with a mage.” Shizuku had to clap her hands over her mouth to stop a yelp. She exchanged glances with the small bird perched on her shoulder. There were no other girls with black eyes who were traveling with a mage here. These men were looking for Shizuku. Unsure whether to reveal herself or not, she concentrated on gathering her thoughts. Sweat built on her fingers as she gripped her bag tightly. “And why are you looking for her?” the innkeeper pressed. “She hasn’t done anything wrong. We just want to speak to her briefly about her companion.” Something must have happened in the castle, and it concerned Erik. Shizuku wanted to learn the details, but she wasn’t reckless enough to expose herself just to ask. She leaned in for a better listen while trying to remain undetected. “Has there been some sort of dispute? I’d prefer not to get involved,” the innkeeper said. “It’s nothing serious, but I must warn you that this is a formal edict from the castle. Keeping anything from us is a punishable offense.” The moment Shizuku heard this, she turned around and started walking in the opposite direction. She wished dearly to run, but the sound would alert the guards to her presence. Sensing her legs begin to tremble, Shizuku chided herself mentally. Slowly, she made her way to the inn’s back entrance. She couldn’t let the soldiers see her. They wouldn’t have threatened the innkeeper with punishment over an ordinary matter. When Shizuku reached the back door, she lifted the latch and stepped out into the darkness. Without saying a word, she turned the first corner she could, and then another. She leaned against the wall of a closed shop and stared at the sky. The castle peeked through the narrow gaps in the buildings. A faint light shone from its glass domes. “What do I do now?” Shizuku wondered softly. Worry gathered in her stomach. She used both of her hands to lift the bird off her shoulder to have a better look at her. “Hey, Mea. What do you think I should do? You don’t happen to know where Erik is, do you?” Shizuku had no way of locating him herself, but Mea was a demon. Plus, Erik’s name was on the contract that designated Mea as Shizuku’s assistant. Perhaps Mea could use her magical powers to track Erik down. Shizuku gave her assistant demon a sincere, hopeful look. Mea tilted her head to one side slightly, then began to rise into the air, although not at all how a bird would have. Shizuku hastily released her, and the small creature’s outline began to warp. The bird’s form became a vivid shade of green. Shizuku’s eyes widened. The next thing she knew, an emerald-haired girl stood before her. “Mea!” “Be warned, Master,” Mea declared. “Abnormal magic swirls in the vicinity of the castle.” “Abnormal? What do you mean?” said Shizuku. “What about Erik?” “I can’t sense any magical power coming from him.” “Huh?” This blunt response made Shizuku shudder with horror. Erik had been born with magical power, yet Mea couldn’t feel it. Did that mean…? “Don’t worry. It might be that the magic coming from the castle is so powerful that it’s preventing me from detecting anything else. I’m not a very powerful demon, after all.” Shizuku had been growing pale, but upon hearing that, she nearly collapsed with tremendous relief. She covered her face with one trembling hand. “He’s okay, then?” she asked. “I have no proof, so I can’t say for sure, but if he is safe, he must be inside the castle.” “Has something happened there?” “I can sense powerful magic moving about and slowly being molded into shape… It’s like… I don’t really know.” “Molded into shape?” Erik had gone to the castle to carry out some sort of work. Shizuku stared at the structure. He had to be there, and according to Mea, something unusual was taking place. What if he was in danger and needed to be saved? The closer Shizuku got to the castle, the more likely it was that the pursuing soldiers would capture her. Were that to happen, she could end up more of a hindrance to Erik than a help. If her priority was saving herself, finding a place to hide was best. And yet… “The castle, huh?” …if something weird was transpiring, leaving Erik to fight for himself wasn’t an option. Shizuku hadn’t embarked on this journey to save the world or to rescue someone important to her. There was no reason to sacrifice her traveling companion, the person she was so indebted to, for the sake of her own progress. If sacrificing Erik was a necessity, Shizuku never would’ve embarked on this journey in the first place. She would have spent the rest of her life in that small town. But instead, Shizuku had chosen to set out. Supported by the kindness of others, she aspired to pursue every possibility that was available to her. Abandoning Erik or giving up on him had never been options. Shizuku had no intention of casting him aside. She didn’t want to. She took a deep breath and released it slowly. Waves of anxiety had threatened to throw her into a panic, but this slow, deliberate breathing helped to steady her nerves. Resolute determination took hold of Shizuku. It was the sort of mentality that had helped her cross the desert when she first arrived in this world. She envisioned herself walking ahead. Shizuku adjusted her grip on her bag. When she noticed how stiff her fingers had become, she grimaced slightly. “Okay, let’s go. There might be some way for us to sneak in.” Mea became a bird again in response to her master’s words. Shizuku offered her left arm to the assistant demon and then set out. With that, the anomaly that nobody had expected to arrive dissolved into the night and vanished. Erik deduced the underlying plan rather swiftly. He was the first of the fifty mages in his group to work it out, at least. It wasn’t necessarily because he was excellent with spell decoding. Rather, it was owing to the fact that Erik was the sole individual present who possessed the necessary background knowledge. He’d seen a similar spell before in a cursed tower in a small village. Once he noticed the similarities between the two spells, the answer came quickly. As soon as he gained a rough understanding of it, he chided himself for being so slow to catch on. The Noy family’s tower had been erected a hundred and twenty years ago after a woman was influenced by a religious sect. That woman originally lived in the castle city, which suggested that religion had its roots here, too. More than a century had passed, but the faith still had some influence over the castle city. “Wait… Wasn’t it connected to some sort of religion? There might be similar ones all over the place,” Shizuku had said. She was right. That was the most sinister thing about this. The tower Erik and Shizuku had come across had a spell meant to erode people’s minds without them knowing. And the spell Erik was working on now… “This is insane,” he muttered, although the words didn’t truly leave his mouth. Such an event had never happened before. The continent kept records spanning more than a thousand years, but there were no documented occurrences—only a number of unsuccessful attempts. Failures or not, each had resulted in a great many deaths. Undoubtedly, invoking such a destructive manifestation was a forbidden curse, and Erik was helping to set it in motion. He couldn’t let the curse be completed. But how would he stop it? The one remaining mystery was why this was happening in the castle. Past attempts had been enacted by small groups motivated by religious fanaticism. No state had ever spearheaded the construction of a forbidden curse. The reason was obvious. Once the spell was activated, everything in the immediate vicinity would be destroyed. It was therefore likely that most people who worked for the castle were oblivious to the true nature of the spell. If Erik could persuade enough of them, he’d have a much higher chance of preventing disaster. Once Erik had finished reciting a long chant, he assembled sequence twenty to twenty-five. These expanding sequences intertwined and connected with similar ones on either side. It was essential that he keep an eye on the others. That way, he could work out who believed the false information about the spell and who knew the truth. This was risky business. One wrong move, and he could be killed immediately. Erik recited another chant, then intently surveyed his surroundings. There were two royal mages in the room with him. One looked to be in his late thirties, while another was around Erik’s age. The older one seemed to carry more authority, even judging by the way he was dressed. However, his grouchy-looking face suggested he’d be hard to convince, especially considering Erik was an outsider. If he had to speak to one of them, the younger man seemed like the better option. Erik searched for an opportunity to make his move, and to his good fortune, it arrived far sooner than he expected. Another mage entered and called the older man away. Aside from the soldiers, the only authority in the chamber was the young royal mage. Erik devised a plan quickly. Once he reached a suitable point to pause his work, he raised his hand. “Excuse me,” he said. “Could I go outside for a short break?” “Sure, no problem,” replied the mage. “Do you want me to accompany you?” “Please.” Erik suddenly wondered what would become of Shizuku if he was killed. He would’ve preferred not to consider that unpleasant possibility, but he needed to. Shizuku was fairly well-adjusted. She had Mea with her, so she’d probably be able to return to Wanope by herself if necessary. Perhaps she’d find a different companion and continue her journey. It wasn’t like Erik was an irreplaceable presence in Shizuku’s life. Still…she’d probably be upset. Erik could imagine her patiently waiting for him, oblivious to the fact that he would never return. He didn’t enjoy that idea very much. Erik couldn’t understand why, but he didn’t wish to see her upset. They were still a long way from Farsas. Shizuku needed to get back to her old world. Erik maintained his composure as he climbed the stairs, accompanied by the royal mage. As they moved down a silent hallway on his way back from his short break, he broached the topic of the spell. “Do you happen to know what kind of spell this is?” In the brief amount of time that they’d spent together, Erik had judged the young royal mage to be a nice person, so he decided not to beat around the bush. As expected, the man looked a little uncomfortable. “The royal chief mage has explained it to me, but it’s confidential information that I’m not able to disclose. It sounds like it’s a spell that the castle has known about for a long time.” “Does it have anything to do with a religion?” Erik pressed. “I don’t believe so. Our country doesn’t favor any specific faith,” the mage replied. Erik didn’t get the sense the man was lying. In other words, he didn’t seem to know the truth. Erik was nonetheless relieved by how genuine the royal mage was. He didn’t show any prejudice toward Erik for being a traveling mage. When it came to people like him, being polite and upfront was best. Erik lowered his voice, a serious look on his face. “The truth is, I saw this same spell in the archives in Farsas seven years back. Several centuries ago, a small group of religious fanatics unleashed a forbidden curse in the castle city, hoping to obliterate Farsas. Their attempt was thwarted, but fifty-seven people still lost their lives.” “What?” Erik’s words had a clear effect on the other mage, as intended. For a long time, he simply looked stunned. Then his surprise morphed into a mix of fear and doubt. With a perplexed look in his eyes, the mage struggled to laugh away his concern. “That can’t be true…” “You might not believe me yet, but I assure you, it is. This is just a personal suspicion of mine, but I think someone might have lied about this spell’s effects when presenting it to the castle staff,” Erik said. “In reality, while the first nineteen sequences that form the foundation of the spell are powered by magic, sequences twenty-seven and forty directly absorb the flesh and souls of those who come into direct contact with it. Once the magic is activated, sequences twenty to thirty will coalesce to create a circle, creating a hole—conceptually speaking.” “A hole? Conceptually speaking?” “A hole leading out of this world…one that leads to the Sea of Negativity, an ocean deep below. Its existence hasn’t been proven, but during a separate incident outside Farsas, a dense miasma formed inside a spell circle, leading many to go missing or perish outright. Some were also noted to have experienced mental abnormalities. There should be a record of it in the Magical History Almanac, albeit a very general one. Of course, you’d be able to gain more specific information if you asked Farsas.” “That…doesn’t sound good…” Erik interspersed the facts with a few white lies. Survival was critical. The exact truth had to play second to that imperative. Exaggerating a few parts of the story was Erik’s only recourse. He was confident that he was right about curse’s true nature, and provided his confidence wasn’t misplaced, proof would reveal itself in time. Even if he found no evidence, individuals who knew the truth would surely present themselves if he built enough skepticism around the spell. The young royal mage seemed shaken. It was obvious from the look on his face that he was trying to make sense of the things he’d been told. Erik gave him plenty of time to consider, then offered another push. “Personally, I don’t think we should allow this spell to be completed,” he said. “Do you think His Majesty desires the destruction of the castle city?” “Of course not!” the royal mage replied. “His intent was to protect his kingdom…” “All the more reason for us to stop this. Once it’s complete, there’s no going back.” The spell would inevitably bring about a monumental tragedy. Not only would numerous lives be lost and the castle city be obliterated, but no one truly understood how to seal such a hole. The court mage, who’d turned white as a sheet, spent a moment considering before responding: “I can’t guarantee that we’ll be able to stop the spell’s construction right away—but if what you say is true, we should be able to halt its assembly,” he muttered, somewhat hesitant. “I understand. Thank you for listening.” This was a good start. The spell wouldn’t be finished for another two days. The truth was sure to become clear before then, barring interference. Erik advised the royal mage to be careful whom he spoke to. Then he went back down the hall the way he’d come. The spell, which covered the entire chamber, now exuded an overwhelming presence. It seemed to sneer at everyone’s ignorance. When Candela’s assistant royal chief mage received the report, he couldn’t stop himself from tutting. After all, it was the king who’d sought the creation of this so-called forbidden, and its long-awaited construction had only just begun. The huge spell had been brought to the castle around a century ago. Originally, it had been described as an array to form a magic projectile potent enough to burn away an entire town effortlessly. It didn’t require any flesh or blood, but it was dubbed a forbidden curse for the large-scale destruction it would cause. Once complete, it would provide Candela with immense power, defensive and offensive. The recent trouble in neighboring nations had caused Candela no end of concern, but this forbidden curse would be its trump card. Unfortunately, a report came in claiming that the spell would have a different effect. The assistant chief couldn’t help but grimace. It felt like someone was trying to hamper the country’s agenda. The two mages standing in front of him looked puzzled as they delivered their report. It seemed like they felt the same way. “Upon investigation, the Magical History Almanac does indeed detail two incidents in which religious fanatics used forbidden curses to unleash devastation. One took place a hundred and twenty years ago, and the other four hundred and ten. The latter failed because the spell was incomplete, and the former was foiled thanks to Farsas’s intervention during the curse’s assembly. Despite this, both incidents had a significant number of casualties. There was a similar occurrence three centuries ago in Farsas’s castle city, but there’s only a brief description about what the forbidden curse created there. We’d probably be able to find out more if we asked Farsas…” “How could you even consider such thing?!” the assistant royal chief mage exclaimed. “This is a forbidden curse we’re talking about!” Asking Farsas for that information would be like begging the most powerful nation on the continent to get involved. Farsas, a country that viewed itself as the overseer of all magic, wielded significant authority across the land. It would surely impose sanctions upon learning that Candela had tried to create a forbidden curse. That needed to be avoided at all costs. The mages who’d delivered the news huddled together. The assistant royal chief mage did little to conceal his irritation. “The magic is so complicated. It’ll take a long while to analyze. Even if we get someone to examine it in secret, three days won’t be enough…,” one of the mages said. “Maybe that was inevitable… The spell has been hidden away for so long.” For over a century, the only ones permitted to view the spell diagrams were kings and their royal chief mages. The assistant royal chief mage had been astonished by the intricacy of the diagrams. He never guessed forbidden curses would be so convoluted. He couldn’t say for certain, but it seemed unlikely that anybody would be able to discern its true purpose in a few hours. That said, turning a blind eye to the situation could lead to dire consequences. He furrowed his brow and scowled harder than he ever had. “Should we pass your message on to the king…?” one of the mages asked. “What message?” came a voice from the entrance. The whole room tensed. Royal Chief Mage Idos shot his subordinates an icy glare. It wasn’t clear how long he’d been there. He was accompanied by another mage who stood behind him, frowning. That man must have overheard the conversation and told Idos about it. The tension was so palpable that it felt like it was piercing the assistant royal chief mage’s skin. He rose to his feet, trying to hide how unnerved he really was. “A—a message saying that the spell in question may have unanticipated effects…” “Who said that?” The assistant royal chief mage knew better than to answer this question honestly. The wisest course was to say something needless to buy himself time while he worked out how to outwit Idos. Idos was the royal chief mage. He’d been granted access to that spell for years, yet he’d never remarked on its effects. That’s what made the other mage suspicious and led to them seeking the help of the assistant royal chief mage rather than Idos. Unfortunately, Idos’s intimidating presence proved too much for the assistant royal chief mage. In an attempt to shift the blame, he confessed, “One of the newly recruited mages mentioned it,” and revealed Erik’s name. Idos had somebody fetch Erik’s application. He took a quick look at it, then nodded. “A traveling mage talking nonsense…,” he said. “You should all return to your posts immediately.” Judging by his tone of voice, he wasn’t prepared to tolerate any counterarguments. Once the others hurried away, Idos summoned his soldiers and gave them the documents on Erik. “Lock this man in solitary confinement. Kill him if he resists. He’s only one traveler; I doubt he has any friends. No one will kick up a fuss if he’s never heard from again.” “No, there was a girl with him. I’m sure of it,” one of the soldiers replied. “I saw them together when we issued the call for mages.” “Then arrest her as well.” One of the incidents the mage named Erik mentioned had never been publicized by Farsas. If it was true, then he had some connection to the kingdom of magic. Even if it was a lie, there was a risk he or his companion might inform Farsas about the scheme in Candela. Were that to happen, so much work would be for nothing. Idos arranged for a group of soldiers to search the inn recorded on Erik’s application for the girl who was his companion, then ordered them to go. He let out a deep sigh as he took a seat in his chair. “Be patient for a while longer, Bishop,” he said. “Soon, the minds of every person in this country will serve our god…” For over a hundred years, an endless stream of fanatical believers had been strategically planted within the castle. Idos was just one of many. He let out an exuberant laugh. Little did he know that the mage’s suspicions were correct. The forbidden curse wasn’t the one the bishop had told him of, but something more sinister. He also had no idea that his comrade, Selue, who’d uncovered the truth, was en route to the castle to disrupt the forbidden curse’s creation. The approaching chaos, which would come to be known as the Three Days of Silence, was about to begin. Shizuku had never been more grateful for her good sense of direction. She occasionally glanced up at Candela Castle as she weaved her way through the narrow alleyways. As she gradually approached the magnificent structure, it dominated more and more of her field of vision. Shizuku suspected that traversing any of the larger roads would make her easier for the soldiers to spot, so she’d erred on the side of caution. Thankfully, she’d still managed to close in on the castle. “Now it’s just a matter of getting past the walls, I guess…,” she muttered. Up close, it was clear that the barricades were at least three meters tall, too tall to climb. Shizuku would need to locate a rear entrance or the like to sneak through. Shizuku took the next right turn, which brought her even closer to the castle. “Maybe we should have done some exploration beforehand.” Shizuku hadn’t gone anywhere near the palace since she and Erik had stopped by to take a look a few days ago. She could only guess at the possible location of a rear entrance. She assumed it would be on the side opposite the front gate and took off in that direction. She wasn’t running for long, though. As the castle drew closer, Shizuku heard a muffled explosion from behind the walls. Her gaze went up to the night sky at the sound. “Huh?” Shizuku had lived an extremely ordinary life. She’d never heard an explosion before, not even in her old world. She hadn’t even seen a fire. There’d been a boom when Mea destroyed that tower, but Shizuku had been in too much of a frenzy to remember. As such, she couldn’t help but flinch when she heard the explosion. It sounded like a bunch of fireworks going off at the same time. “…Boom?” Shizuku said, mimicking the sound in a somewhat goofy way. No amount of silliness would alter the reality of the situation, though. After trading a glance with the small bird on her shoulder, Shizuku took a hesitant look at the castle from the shadow of the city’s buildings. She couldn’t see any smoke or fire, perhaps because it was too dark or she was too far away. Shizuku didn’t get the impression that things had calmed down yet, though. Noise filled the streets. Other people must have heard the explosion, as well. “L-let’s go and check this out.” Shizuku kept an eye on her surroundings as she took off again. She steadily approached the castle, making sure to conceal herself where she could. The palace, which remained faintly lit even during the night, gradually became larger and larger. Then a high-pitched sound cut through the air, a noise like clanging metal. Shizuku only just barely managed to hear it, and she cocked her head in confusion. Some people were sticking their heads out of windows, but not many of them appeared interested enough to venture outside to investigate the situation. Shizuku moved around those who did and past the many open windows. The castle walls were straight ahead. No immediate sign of an explosion presented itself, and there were no soldiers nearby. Shizuku glanced at the tall wall across the street, then followed it around, toward the side opposite the main gate. The faint metallic noise, which had been barely audible at first, gradually became clearer. “Clang, clang?” muttered Shizuku, mimicking the sound. It sounded like she was making a stupid sound effect. She still had no idea what the sound was, though. It reminded her of a blacksmith striking iron with a hammer. The gentle slope of the castle walls guided her along. Shizuku wasn’t exactly flying, but she did run almost as fast as she could. However, as Shizuku’s momentum carried her along, a bird screeched shrilly in her ear, prompting her to make a hard stop. She stumbled three or four paces before coming to a complete standstill. That was all it took. She’d stepped right into a battle zone. “Don’t falter! Proceed!” White, gleaming light reflected off steel surfaces. As the men brandished their swords, she heard that same metallic sound again. A dumbstruck Shizuku stood rooted to the ground as she watched the scene unfold. She needed a few seconds to grasp that it was really happening. Only then did she finally realized the noise was that of weapons clashing. The castle walls had nearly collapsed, likely from the explosion a few minutes ago. The soldiers who’d dashed out from the castle grounds were engaged with another group of men dressed in black from head to foot. Shizuku witnessed a man mercilessly bring his longsword to bear on the head of an injured opponent who knelt defenseless on the ground. It was all she could do to shield her eyes. A few seconds later, she opened them slightly…only to find a man lying flat on his face. Something poured out of his fractured skull and spread across the ground. Others trampled on his body carelessly. Shizuku had never seen anything like it. Even under the cloak of darkness, it was a gruesome sight to behold. Someone swallowed nervously nearby. It took Shizuku a while to realize it was her. Her legs were stiff as rods, yet they trembled helplessly. In spite of how warm she’d felt moments earlier, her body instantly turned as cold as ice. Where is this? What’s happening? Where is my family? My friends? Where am I? Why are such terrible, awful things…? Words filled her head, splintered pieces of vocabulary linking together. Shizuku’s eyes shot wide with terror, and the instinct to flee overwrote all else. There was no plan; she simply couldn’t consider an alternative. The next thing she knew, however, a man who’d run out in front of her collapsed to the ground. It was too dark to see him properly, but she knew she wasn’t imagining his pained pleas for help and the smell of blood wafting from him. When she met his gaze, she understood immediately that he was experiencing something more than agony. Oh… It’s a person. Shizuku knelt beside him. Before she had the chance to think, her body started acting on its own accord. “I-I’ll help you,” she told him. If wanting to escape was a human instinct, then wanting to help others was, too. She pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it against the wound on the man’s side. The foul stench of blood made her want to gag, but she stifled that urge and pushed hard. Sweat ran down her forehead in beads. What was she supposed to do? There were no ambulances. Would a doctor be able to help him? She wasn’t sure. Shizuku couldn’t use magic. Erik wasn’t here. Would the man be okay? She had no idea. She was scared. She was useless. She hadn’t even managed to run away. Somebody was approaching slowly. A soldier. He carried a sword and glowered at Shizuku and the man with a frightening expression. Sensing him coming toward them, Shizuku looked up. The man slowly brandished his weapon. It felt like everything was in slow motion. Even Shizuku’s body felt sluggish and heavy. Could she defend this man? Shizuku wasn’t hurt, whereas he was. Her hands wouldn’t move, though. Neither would her legs. Her mind wasn’t passing on any messages. She needed Mea. But… A forceful impact sent Shizuku tumbling backward. The man who’d been groaning and crawling along the ground had pushed her away as hard as he could. He looked into her dark eyes for a brief moment, then shut his own. The soldier standing over him thrust his sword into the man’s back. “Wait…” Nothing stopped. Time wasn’t passing slowly or quickly. It ticked on mercilessly, regardless of what was happening. The man with the sword in his back convulsed violently before going grotesquely still. Shizuku, still sitting on the ground, looked up at the young soldier. His expression revealed a mix of distress and excitement. He was undeniably human. “Oh…” As Shizuku gazed up at the soldier, one thought crossed her mind. Maybe this is where I die. The young soldier had turned toward her, hesitantly readying his sword. It wasn’t the first time Shizuku had wondered whether she was about to die, but it was definitely the first time she felt like someone else would kill her. These things happened to other people, not her. Regardless of how distressing the events on the news were, Shizuku had never connected with them on a personal level. Now, though, she was coming face-to-face with her own mortality. It had appeared right in front of her, taking the form of another human being. Still, Shizuku couldn’t fully process everything that was happening. It seemed too absurd. She felt a little bad that she wouldn’t be able to return her books to her college. That was it. Shizuku closed her eyes. She was scared. To feel fear was all she could do anymore. No words would come out. She was too frightened, and she could only wait. A high-pitched clash of metal on metal sounded from right beside her. Shizuku reflexively covered her ears. Her eyes opened cautiously. It was still nighttime. Yet she saw what was before her as clear as day. The soldier looked astonished. Two swords met. “No true guard would strike a young girl without even letting her speak,” a man said, sounding extremely relaxed. Shizuku recognized the man’s voice. As soon as she’d grounded herself again, she frantically retreated backward and rose to her feet. The man, who’d blocked the soldier’s attack with his sword, looked over his shoulder. There was something undeniably shady about his smile, but it had warmth as well. “Come on now, Shizuku. I know exploring the city at night can be fun and all, but you need to rein it in.” Tarkis shoved his opponent back. While the soldier staggered, Tarkis traced a broad cut with his blade in an apparent attempt to scare the man. The soldier leaped back, flustered. A young soldier ought to have anticipated another attack and defended himself, yet he stood motionless, his mouth agape. Tarkis pulled the young woman he’d rescued by the hand and led her away from the castle. As the structure bounded into the distance, Shizuku turned pale. “Huh? Hold on. Wait.” “This is what we call a strategic withdrawal,” the man who’d saved her said. “You can tell me what’s troubling you over a cup of tea or something. For now, we’re running.” Shizuku felt only confusion, but she did as he advised and focused all her attention on moving her legs. Nobody chased them. The sound of swords colliding faded away, yet in the dark, death felt omnipresent. Shizuku’s emotions felt too much to bear, but she endured, nonetheless. When Idos, the royal chief mage, learned that one of his soldiers had attacked the girl they were supposed to capture at the inn but missed, he was furious. However, another revelation made his blood boil even more. The mage who’d expressed concerns about the forbidden curse had disappeared, and nobody knew how or why. Idos scowled at the news. By the time the soldiers whom Idos had sent to arrest him entered the hall in the basement, he was gone. Apparently, he’d wandered off saying he’d forgotten something, and nobody knew where he went. Rattled, Idos ordered his men to search the entirety of the castle. That’s when a new report arrived. The castle walls had been destroyed, and a group was invading. “Dammit! Dispose of the attackers immediately! Don’t let them set foot inside!” If Idos had gone to the battle and investigated the situation himself, he might have discovered that the invaders were adherents of the Shula faith and followers of his compatriot Selue. Instead, he’d convinced himself that the invaders were mage escapees who were planning on stopping the forbidden curse. The attackers did wish to stop the spell, but the details were quite different from how Idos understood them. As a result, he saw these invaders as enemies, issuing commands from the safety of the palace. Only a small number of people knew the truth, and he wasn’t one of them. “Chaos is unfolding.” Aviella stood by the window, looking down at the city. There were no flames. She referred to the surging magical power. A battle had broken out, just as she’d predicted. She flashed a beautiful smile. The elderly man sitting in the chair chuckled softly. “I take it you told Selue the truth to incite him to stop the forbidden curse,” he said. “You truly are a terrifying enchantress.” “Conflict is what we want, isn’t it? I just gave him a reason to initiate a fight.” “Peace never lasts. Still, thanks to you, completion is within sight. The more blood spilled, the closer we get to the end.” The bishop grinned sinisterly from beneath his hood. The woman feigned surprise. “You’re the cruel one. After all, you’re the one who deceived your own followers to get them to construct this forbidden curse.” “In the past, our faith’s followers would have gladly sacrificed themselves for the sake of our god. Can we say the same today? The Shula faith’s emphasis on ‘living in the present’ has proven appealing and promoted proliferation among the masses, but it has also led to a decline in compliance. I’m simply urging everyone to return to our religion’s source.” The black-robed man standing behind Aviella narrowed his eyes at the bishop but remained silent. Aviella parted her lustrous lips to speak in his place. “I suppose the Sea of Negativity is the origin point, now that I think about it,” she said. “One can’t turn a blind eye to an inextricable part of their faith,” the bishop stated. “Do you think everyone should share your perspective?” Silence fell between them, settling on the floor like mud. The old man’s eyes were closed. The woman laughed. Her pale fingers traced the gold embellishments on the cover of a book she held. “The curtain is about to fall. Are you content to remain hidden until then?” “When the end comes, I’ll show myself. I need to welcome my god, after all,” the bishop replied. “I imagine you’ll be leaving soon, Aviella.” “Yep,” the woman responded. “I suppose I should thank you for your help. Without your book, I wouldn’t have been able to replace that spell with a true forbidden curse.” Generations of bishops had spent a long time intricately weaving the roots of their conspiracy. They’d gradually sought to establish control over the country by spreading their faith among the citizens and installing chosen individuals within the palace. They had brought the forbidden curse to the castle over a century ago, where it had been carefully preserved ever since. Once activated, the minds of all the city’s residents would fall under the control of the spellcaster. However, that spell had been swapped out right at the last moment. After learning from Aviella’s crimson book, the present bishop had ordered the royal chief mage to alter the spell’s structure. “I must ask you before you leave… What is that tome?” Aviella’s book wasn’t supposed to exist. It detailed numerous forbidden curses that were believed to have been erased from all records. The bishop was suspicious of Aviella’s mysterious volume, but he’d never asked for the truth behind it before. Aviella looked down at the volume she held. She felt it tremble slightly in her hands, as though it were trying to answer the bishop, but she might have imagined it. Sensing something moving outside the window, Aviella looked down. There, she saw a man running along the street, leading a young woman by the hand. The scene didn’t interest her in the slightest, so she smiled and turned back toward the bishop. She held up the tome and smirked. “Good question,” she said. “I think it’s just…somebody’s personal records.” Having escaped the chaos of the attack on the castle, Shizuku found herself being pulled along into a tavern. The poorly lit room was already crowded. Whispers danced around her, their sounds reminiscent of waves landing upon the shore. The tavern’s patrons, their faces illuminated by candlelight, varied greatly in terms of appearances. There was a reserved man, a mysterious-looking woman, and even a rough-looking guy with scars on his face. The aroma of sweet fragrances and alcohol mixed together, filling the tavern with a well-balanced odor. Feeling like the atmosphere was overwhelming her, she asked Tarkis, the man who was always one step ahead, a question. “Where are we…?” “Huh? It’s a hideout where guys like me go to lie low. Nobody from the palace comes here, so no need to fret.” Tarkis spotted a free table farther inside. He sat Shizuku down first, then took the seat opposite her. They hadn’t placed an order, but someone came and brought them two glasses, nonetheless. “Go on, drink up,” said Tarkis. “What is it?” asked Shizuku. “Alcohol?” “Of course.” “But I’m not old enough…” “I thought you were eighteen,” the man said, chugging down the amber-colored liquid like it was water. Shizuku peered into her glass. The mysterious beverage’s smell was so strong that it burned the back of her throat. She couldn’t bring herself to take a sip. As she looked around the tavern, scenes from earlier came flooding back. The man who’d died a painful death. The soldier who’d killed him. Shizuku had seen people act in ways she’d never seen before, and yet they were undeniably human. She was too drained to cry, but at the same time, she couldn’t shake how she felt. Her emotions seared her insides more intensely than the potent stench of alcohol. “Are you upset?” Tarkis asked her. “I don’t know, am I?” she replied. Perhaps she was. Shizuku stared at her hands. Her fingers, which she’d seen so many times before, shook slightly. Death was merciless. Shizuku had come perilously close to meeting her end. She’d remained still and stared at the man trying to kill her, unable to do a thing. Tarkis, on the other hand, had to be accustomed to those situations. He conducted himself as he always did. When he noticed Shizuku dolefully hanging her head, he pushed the glass toward her. “Drink it. You don’t look too good.” “I don’t want it. I’m sorry, but I don’t drink.” “You’re missing out. This is pretty good stuff.” The man took her glass and casually drained it. It was a bold gesture, one that served as a reminder of how different Shizuku and Tarkis were. Her expression turned glum. Shizuku knew she was useless alone, but she hadn’t realized to what extent. If Tarkis hadn’t showed up, she would have died without so much as a fight. She never would have seen Erik again or made it back to her world. Shizuku turned to look at the small bird on her shoulder. If she’d asked for Mea’s help, she would’ve escaped, but she’d hesitated. After recalling that half-destroyed cursed tower and seeing the fear and excitement in the eyes of the soldier who was trying to kill her, she couldn’t bring herself to do a thing. It wasn’t that Shizuku wanted to die. She was just a coward, too scared to decide. She’d retreated inward, unable to carry on by herself. Nothing could have come from that, but she hadn’t been able to manage anything else. “…Thank you for saving me,” Shizuku whispered. “You’re welcome,” Tarkis replied. “But it was really no big deal.” “It was a big deal,” Shizuku argued. Shizuku put her elbows on the table and rested her head in her hands. A deep breath did little to pacify her turbulent mind. At last, heat gathered behind her face, but Shizuku held back the tears that threatened to cascade down her cheeks. When she closed her eyes, there were flashes of that bright, glistening sword. The stark reality of what she’d been through allowed no room for anything else. She’d been frightened—desperate for someone to save her. That’s why she’d felt so relieved when Tarkis showed up. Still, the truth was that she hated herself for being that way. Her own inability made her want to sob. Death awaited all humans. Everybody knew it’d come around eventually. Shizuku had never been made to confront it so violently before, but this hard truth wasn’t unique to this world. Shizuku had merely been fortunate enough to live in a peaceful environment. Countless books documented the immense bloodshed that had taken place in her world. There were some realities too uncomfortable for her to acknowledge, but for humans who were forced to fight to survive, they were an inevitable part of life. Shizuku knew she was powerless. That was her starting point. Next time, she’d force herself to make a decision. She wouldn’t cower, at least. The commotion she’d witnessed proved that something strange was happening in the castle, and Erik was caught in the middle of it. The fact that soldiers had come to arrest Shizuku, his companion, was evidence enough. She needed to find some way of communicating with him. After a long silence, Shizuku quit staring at the table and lifted her head. She leaned in toward Tarkis, who looked intrigued, then pointed in the direction of the distant palace. “I want to sneak inside the castle. Do you think I could enter through the collapsed part of the wall?” “No chance. There’ll be more guards there than anywhere else now. You’ll never get through.” “Oh…” In that case, Shizuku needed to come up with another method to get in. She needed to think of the most feasible strategy possible, one that someone like her could manage. Abandoning Erik wasn’t an option. He’d believed everything she’d told him, no matter how outlandish it sounded. He’d come on a journey with her and even rescued her from that castle at the bottom of the lake. Neither of them really believed they were friends, but they possessed a better understanding of each other than most acquaintances. Shizuku enjoyed talking to Erik and learning from him. He was an irreplaceable figure in her life. She lacked the words to describe their relationship for now, but she knew that he was already an important person to her. She had to explore every avenue she could. As Shizuku mulled over her options, Tarkis cracked a wry smile. “Aren’t you going to turn to me for help? You can, you know.” “I’d like to, but I don’t have any way of repaying you. It wouldn’t be worth it for you.” “Is that right? There’s plenty of things I’d like to ask you. How about you reward me with some answers?” Shizuku refused on reflex but realized she had to give his offer careful consideration. Answering his questions would probably reveal where she was from. He’d learned she was from another world—an unprecedented occurrence. Tarkis made no effort to conceal his curiosity. If she disclosed her secret, what would become of her future? Would things become even more complicated, or would they take a different turn altogether? Shizuku was helpless. Even if Tarkis knew the truth about her, she believed that there wasn’t much to gain by exploiting that information. Tarkis stared at Shizuku, making his fascination quite obvious. Shizuku thought for a moment, then looked up at him. “How many questions do you want?” she asked. “Let me think… Three seems plenty, doesn’t it?” “Three, huh?” She wondered if the genie in Aladdin’s lamp got nervous whenever he offered three wishes, too. Unlike Shizuku, that genie was extremely powerful. For that reason, he probably enjoyed the whole process. She doubted he ever felt as nauseatingly anxious as she did. Narrowing her eyes, Shizuku said, “Will you really help me enter the castle?” “I’ll figure something out. I’m a mercenary with a reputation for taking on all kinds of different tasks.” “Jack-of-all-trades, master of none?” “No need to be so blunt. Forget it. Can you make up your mind already? I know you’re worried about that mage.” Shizuku frowned, wondering how he’d figured that out. It was a reasonable assumption to make. Erik wasn’t around, after all. Shizuku’s priority was confirming Erik’s safety, and speaking to him, if possible. She needed all the help she could get. “Fine. I accept your conditions. So please…get me into the castle.” “I’ll make sure of it, client.” Tarkis sounded serious, but the look on his face was so childish that it left Shizuku feeling somewhat taken aback. The deal felt fair enough, but the mercenary’s expression made her feel like she’d been deceived. Tarkis offered his hand with a smile, but his eyes watched the space behind Shizuku. “That’s our agreement sorted, so what do you guys want? I have a vague idea, but I need to hear the specifics.” “Huh?” Prompted by Tarkis’s words, Shizuku turned to look, and her mouth fell open. At some point, four men had appeared right behind her. All of them were wrapped entirely in black. The evident leader, a man in his thirties or forties, had an anguished look on his face. The group started fixedly at Tarkis with clear displeasure. Shizuku had seen people wearing clothes like theirs during the battle. They were the outfits of that mysterious band who’d been fighting the soldiers. The older man was the one who answered. He spoke with a sour tone. “Mercenary. We’ve heard that you are willing to take on any task, no matter how complicated. Will you accept ours?” “Depends what it is,” Tarkis replied. “If it’s interesting, I might consider it.” He placed his hand on Shizuku’s head. She still looked startled. “We’re moving,” he said to her. “Are we going to a different tavern?” “No,” he answered. “Just follow me.” Tarkis immediately headed to the back of the tavern. He gave a signal to the proprietor with his eyes, then opened a small wooden door and entered the room it led into. It was a small, private room that was likely used for confidential discussions. Once everyone had settled into their respective seats, the older man laced his fingers together. He seemed to be the boss of the men dressed in black. He introduced himself as Selue. “I’ve heard that your extensive network of connections makes you an efficient go-between, mercenary.” “If you want me to work for you, you could at least call me by my name,” Tarkis said. “You’re right about me having a lot of contacts, though.” “In that case, Tarkis, there’s just one thing we want you to do for us. We want you to initiate an attack on the castle before the end of tomorrow.” Shizuku bit her lip to stop herself from making a noise. These really were the men who’d fought the soldiers earlier. It didn’t sound like they were ready to give up, either. What did they hope to achieve? Tarkis glanced at Shizuku out of the corner of his eye, then looked back at Selue. “It’s rare that people hire a mercenary to wage war against a nation, but it’s the scale and time frame of your plan that are the most unusual. There’s so few of you, and tomorrow is just around the corner. Do you know how reckless this is?” “We have no choice,” Selue argued. “Why’s that?” “This whole country is going to be destroyed.” Understandably, this direct admission left Tarkis at a loss for words. Shizuku covered her mouth with her hands. What in the world was happening? Once Tarkis had regained his composure, he pressed Selue for information. “Why? That sounds a little far-fetched.” “Because of a forbidden curse. If it’s completed, it will engulf this entire nation and kill everyone. We need to stop it from being finished.” “A forbidden curse…” Shizuku had only recently learned the term. Erik had told her about forbidden curses at the inn. The term applied to any magic that shouldn’t be cast. Numerous countries had been wiped out by forbidden curses in the past. It felt surreal to hear the term. While Shizuku tried to digest what was being said, Tarkis chuckled from beside her. “This isn’t the first time someone’s used that alarming term to win my help. What proof do you have?” “I’m not in a position to say.” “Then I refuse,” Tarkis declared. His statement was so blunt that it felt anticlimactic. The man who’d referred to himself as Selue went pale. As Tarkis made to stand, Selue stopped him. “Wait! I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you, so just hear me out!” We are the source!” “Huh? What do you mean?” “It’s us… We’re the ones who devised the plan to get the castle staff to create the forbidden curse.” Tarkis and Shizuku exchanged glances. As they looked into each other’s eyes, they processed what they’d heard…then returned their gazes to Selue. “Are you stupid?” Tarkis and Shizuku said at the same time. “O-of course not! Had I known the truth, I would have stopped it long ago!” “Oh… Right… Fine. I get it. Just lower your voice, will you?” Tarkis limply waved his hand. Selue, who’d almost risen to his feet, sank back down. When he spoke next, he made sure to stay quiet. “So…are you convinced? Do you accept my request?” “I understand what you’re getting at, but…am I right in thinking that the forbidden curse being created is not the one you thought it was?” “Correct.” “That’s your own fault, then. Don’t expect other people to clean up your mistake.” Selue tensed so suddenly, he seemed to be choking. While he sat in silence, Tarkis continued mercilessly. “I don’t know what kind of forbidden curse you hoped to produce, but you shouldn’t have been messing with that kind of magic in the first place. This whole country is doomed anyway if Farsas finds out.” “…I know that.” “You guys are part of some religion, right? Judging by your clothes, I’d bet it’s that Shula faith that’s spread throughout the city.” Selue couldn’t bring himself to answer, but his silence said it all. “The Shula faith?” Shizuku parroted back at Tarkis. “You know those black snake sculptures that are hanging all over the city? These guys go around distributing them,” Tarkis explained. “Oh. Now that you mention it, someone mentioned that name to me,” Shizuku said. “Wait, a religious group wants to create a forbidden curse?” “That’s right. I bet these guys have agents inside the castle, too. They’re playing the long game and waiting for their allies to gain influence in the palace so they can manipulate things. The king probably doesn’t even realize he has Shula followers in his midst. They pretend to be loyal to him, but they’re working for the sect.” “Whoa…” The fact that there was a religious sect that had infiltrated the city to the point where it was the mastermind behind the forbidden curse made Shizuku frown. Were incidents like this one the reason so many mages were atheists? Shizuku wasn’t religious, either, but she always tried to respect other people’s beliefs. She couldn’t guarantee that she’d remain indifferent next time she spotted those snake sculptures around the city, though. Selue had kept quiet while wearing a distressed expression, but at long last, he sighed and elected to speak again. “So…are you going to help? Or are you going to flee the country?” “Let me check a few things first. How are we going to stop this? We obviously can’t destroy the whole castle.” “The castle’s royal chief mage is one of ours. If he doesn’t know the truth, then explaining it to him might be all it takes. Otherwise, we simply need to kill all the mages working on the spell.” “Wai—,” Shizuku started to yell, but Tarkis stretched out his arm and covered her mouth in a smooth motion. Shizuku struggled to break free, but Tarkis refused to let go. He ignored her attempts to lash out and forced a smile. “This is a real mess. And the clock is ticking, too. This isn’t the kind of task you should entrust to a wanderer like me.” “Then we’ll ask someone else. As you say, there is no time to lose.” “Hold on, let’s not be too hasty. I’ll do it. If nothing else, this is pretty interesting.” Despite being the one who’d made the request, Selue was momentarily dumbfounded by the nonchalant acceptance. It seemed like he’d half expected Tarkis to refuse again. The three other men who were dressed in black appeared similarly surprised. Tarkis looked at Shizuku, his hand still over her mouth, and laughed. “Plus, I have a request from this girl to complete, too. She wants me to sneak her into the castle.” Shizuku’s eyes widened. Tarkis winked at her. She glanced over at Selue. He regarded her as one would a mad fool, which left her uneasy. Once the discussion was finished, Shizuku was dropped off at a small inn. After Tarkis brought her there, he said, “I have a lot of preparation to handle. Our work begins at dawn, so get some rest.” And with that, he disappeared into the night. Shizuku wasn’t entirely sure whether he’d return, but it was late, and she was exhausted. The castle was visible from the window. If there was any more significant commotion, she’d see it. Feeling rather weary and not wishing to burden the mercenary who’d agreed to help her, Shizuku curled up on the bed without changing her clothes. Mea seemed wont to keep watch, for she hopped onto the windowsill and let out a soft chirp. Shizuku replied to her assistant demon. “Good night.” Shizuku swiftly fell into a deep sleep, likely aided by the terrible stress. She had intermittent dreams about sharing a meal and laughing with her family in her old world… She knew it wasn’t real, and as she smiled with her sisters, she wanted to cry. “Wake up, Shizuku.” It wasn’t even daybreak when Tarkis came to rouse her. The sky through the window was pitch-black, and the city was utterly silent. Dazed, Shizuku shook her head and stood up. Tarkis was in the doorway, gazing at her with surprise. “I noticed this in the stagecoach as well. You really can sleep anywhere, can’t you?” “Isn’t it normal to sleep on a bed?” she replied. “Thanks for waking me, though.” “You’re welcome. Do you want me to carry your things?” Tarkis offered. “I can do it. Just so you know, it really hurts to get hit with this.” Shizuku slung her bag on her shoulder and walked over to Tarkis. When she stopped in front of him, he offered her a lengthy, thin object. “Take this. You never know when you might need it,” he said. “…A sword?” “It’s not too long or heavy, so you should be able to use it.” Shizuku stared fixedly at the rugged black handle he was holding out in front of her. She couldn’t help but recall how Erik had offered her a dagger and she’d turned him down. “Won’t people assume I’m willing to fight if I’m armed?” “What are you talking about? You became a rebel the moment you decided to sneak into the castle.” This exchange was enough to show Tarkis that Shizuku wasn’t eager to carry a weapon. He bent to look her directly in the face. “Take it. You might regret it otherwise.” “Will I need to attack people with it?” “It’s for defending yourself.” Shizuku wasn’t necessarily a staunch pacificist; she just lacked confidence. She feared that carrying a tool capable of harming others would change the way she thought. It’s why she’d refused the dagger. Erik carried it on him instead, but the weapon had been meant for Shizuku. “I have no desire to bring a sword. I don’t want to use it against anyone,” Shizuku stated as she reached out and took the weapon from Tarkis. The man smiled, looking amused. It was the kind of grin that only someone with more life experience could wear. “Then you’ve got to put in the effort. There are plenty of things that are scarier than weapons.” “I know.” Shizuku partially unzipped her bag and slid the sheathed sword, which was slightly longer than a dagger, inside at an angle. Only the hilt stuck out, but it was visible, nonetheless. She figured it was kind of like when people let the handles of their tennis rackets stick out of their sports bags. However, Tarkis frowned, clearly displeased. “What are you doing? That doesn’t look cool at all.” “That’s not my priority.” “Well, whatever,” he said. “You look ridiculous.” “Shut up!” “Eh, I guess it’s not that bad.” Tarkis swiftly turned and strode out. Shizuku followed after him. When people died in this world, that was it. It was a scary thing to come to terms with. You only had one life. Once it was over, that was it. Never had the notions of life and death carried such profound weight for Shizuku before. The reality of death was so cold that it was enough to make ordinary existence feel like a miracle. Her brush with death had really made that apparent. That’s why she didn’t want to shove other people aside for the sake of her own progress. Shizuku refused to end someone else’s life for her own sake. That said, she had no intention of letting anybody else snuff her or Erik out for their benefit, either. “Mea, I’m going to need your help,” she said. The bird nodded at the sound of her master’s voice. It was early morning, and the sun was yet to rise. Amid the silence of the city, the second day began. A musty smell drifted through the cramped room. Crates were piled on top of one another. Erik looked around the windowless room. He paused in the middle of his work and stood, sparing a moment to examine the white magic circle he’d etched into the floor. It wasn’t as accurate as he would’ve liked, but he knew it was the best he could hope for in his current circumstances. After giving his array a quick look over, he got back on his knees to add more to it. Exhaustion hounded him, and as he sighed, the sound turned to quiet words. “I never expected to encounter a forbidden spell again… Am I still paying for my sins, Katiliana?” His whispers, which were meant for a distant past, traveled to the door. For a moment, there was great weariness in Erik’s eyes, but he dismissed this fatigue with a long blink and returned to his work. The Shula faith had spread throughout Candela’s castle city. Its core tenet was focusing on the present. Life was fleeting. It was constantly in flux, and change was inevitable. There was no knowing when one might lose or win. That was precisely why the faith taught people to cherish the present and do their best in the now, rather than pin their hopes on an uncertain tomorrow. The black serpent sculptures were modeled in the image of Shula, a god purported to guard over people’s lives. Few knew that Shula was the same evil deity that had existed during the Dark Age centuries ago. Under the name the Negativity, it had emerged from a hole opened in the depths of the world and encroached on the land of the living. Only a handful of Shula’s followers were privy to that terrible truth. At intervals throughout history, this heretical religion reemerged like the crash of an abrupt wave. The true doctrine of the faith, which was responsible for many appalling crises, was “Embrace despair.” Day had not yet broken, and no lights illuminated the alleyways. Shizuku had followed Tarkis outside and walked into him when he came to a sudden stop. She placed her hands on his back to shield her head from the impact, but she ended up pushing him forward slightly. Tarkis looked over his shoulder, his eyes menacing. “…What do you think you’re doing?” “If you’re going to stop, then tell me so.” “Do I need to alert you to every little thing? Okay, I’ve stopped now.” “Too late for that.” “Who’s that girl?” a voice called from nowhere. The speaker sounded as though they were right next to them. Their voice was so low, it might as well have been crawling on the ground. Shizuku shuddered, but Tarkis didn’t seem bothered at all. He smiled, acting in his usual way. “Another person who’s enlisted my help. She’s harmless, so take no notice of her.” Tarkis sounded like he was talking about a bug, which Shizuku didn’t particularly like. Still, she was aware that she was a hindrance to him. Shizuku promised herself that she’d remain harmless, if nothing else. While she did, she peeked past Tarkis and down the dark alley. Several people were gathered at the dead end. Shizuku strained her eyes to count how many of them there were, but the shadows were heavier toward the end of the alley, so she couldn’t quite tell. Tarkis seemed to know these people and addressed them calmly. “The plan remains as discussed. You’ll proceed as we planned in thirty minutes. The second attack begins at daybreak.” “If we’re still alive by then, that is,” one of the people responded. “The castle’s huge. Once you get in, you’ll figure something out.” “There’s a magical abnormality building in the palace. It might kill us as soon as we enter.” Shizuku was already aware of this possibility, but hearing the man, concealed in darkness, voice it out loud made her feel anxious. After all, Erik was in there already. “Please let him be safe,” she whispered to herself. Tarkis laughed into the darkness, amused by the man’s suggestion. “If it kills us as soon as we step inside, then those within the castle are already long gone. That’s how vicious these forbidden curses are, apparently. They’re beyond human control. My conditions remain the same.” No further arguments were voiced. No one walked away, either. Tarkis laughed. His low voice had a certain incisiveness to it. “If you have no complaints, then get to your positions,” he said, his excitement palpable. “A chance like this doesn’t come around often. I want you to enjoy it.” It had taken Shizuku a long time to catch on, but at that moment, it finally clicked. Tarkis relished these high-pressure situations that involved a lot of people. He was the kind of person who found joy in critical moments where the outcome of a single battle could change everything. He was full of curiosity and always ready for a challenge. The man constantly hunted for something he could jump into. Clearly, he viewed Shizuku as one of those “somethings,” but at the moment, he was gearing himself up for the task at hand. Shizuku stared at the hilt of the sword Tarkis had given her. She couldn’t imagine what the rest of it looked like. Hopefully, she’d never learn. As everybody leaped into action, Tarkis tapped Shizuku on her shoulder. “Come on, you need to go. You’re part of the unit that’s sneaking in. I still have some other stuff to take care of.” “I hope it goes well.” While one group entered the palace, several others would create distractions. That was all Shizuku had heard. She didn’t actually know what sort of diversions they would be. The people in the alley weren’t the whole team. Apparently, they were just the leaders of their respective parties. The plan sounded terrifyingly grandiose. These people had to be at least somewhat skeptical. They were launching an attack on the castle, after all. Following Tarkis’s orders, Shizuku proceeded to a back alley two blocks from the castle. Armed men, purportedly part of the infiltration unit, were waiting for her. After bowing her head to the mercenaries, Shizuku crouched and looked up at the night sky. The sole woman of the group sat a short distance away. Shizuku had heard that the woman was an unarmed mage who would play a crucial role in this operation. After the other team’s distractions exerted pressure on the castle wards, she would forcibly destroy the barrier and create a transit gate inside. It sounded like quite a challenging task. Although the mage resembled a prim and proper clergywoman, Tarkis had described her as “really terrifying.” This woman, whose name was Lydia, was Tarkis’s acquaintance and had been called to the city very early this morning, as evidenced by her furrowed brow and closed eyes. Shizuku looked around at everyone and took a deep breath in. Her objective was quite different from the others’. She was doing this to see Erik. Her teammates’ only goal was to stop the forbidden curse. They were even considering killing the mages if the situation demanded it. Shizuku needed to find Erik before it came to that. What would transpire after that, though? She wanted to stop the forbidden curse if possible, but she hadn’t yet decided on what to do exactly. “Five minutes to go.” As Lydia’s voice reverberated down the alleyway, the atmosphere shifted. Shizuku rose to her feet. Aside from her phone, she had no way of telling the time. She didn’t know whether five minutes in this world were the same as five in hers. It didn’t feel too different. According to Erik, the number twelve was regarded as a stable number, so multiples of twelve were probably used in timekeeping as well. The units of time in Shizuku’s world were based on astronomical movements. Given that this world also had a sun and moon, perhaps there were similarities. Such wonderings came and went. Shizuku adjusted her bag. It had felt unbearably heavy once, but these days, it didn’t bother her so much. Had she gained some muscle during the journey? Lydia spread her arms wide to begin a chant. While Shizuku watched nervously, someone gently whacked her from behind. “Scared?” Tarkis had appeared out of nowhere. Shizuku knew he had a lot to do, so the realization that he’d come back to check on her made her eyes widen. “Huh? I thought you had to be somewhere else.” “You’re still my client. I need to protect you until you get inside the castle.” “Because you wouldn’t be able to ask me questions if I died?” “Now that you mention it, that’s a good point. I’d forgotten about that.” Tarkis scratched his temple, his gaze momentarily going to Lydia. “You’re right. Now that we’re both here, I want you to answer something,” he continued. “You never know; maybe I’ll die first.” “I doubt it,” Shizuku shot back. “Don’t say that, Shizuku,” he replied. “Tell me, who are you, really?” A tremendous boom sounded in the distance. Shizuku cocked her head to one side, then looked up at the sky. A number of successive ruptures followed, echoing through the early morning sky. The chanting stopped. A kind of distortion resembling a watery curtain manifested before Lydia. The armed men leaped into it without saying a word. Shizuku turned to look at Tarkis. She wasn’t as anxious as she’d anticipated. Perhaps she’d gone numb already. Sensing nothing but her racing pulse, Shizuku smiled slightly. “I’m just a liberal arts college girl,” she said. Tarkis responded with a dubious expression before starting to run. She headed toward the distortion that everyone else had vanished into, then stepped inside it. She closed her eyes. In that moment, the world around her changed. It felt so much quicker than when she was first cast into this world. After appearing in the outer court, right beyond the castle walls, Shizuku spared a moment to peek at the sky, then launched into a run. That quick glance was all it took for her to reorient herself. That’s why she’d done the same upon arriving in that alleyway. The men who’d reached the outer court ahead of her had already drawn their weapons. Astonished soldiers intercepted them as they charged the palace. “Don’t look.” Tarkis reached out from behind to forcibly redirect Shizuku’s gaze, presumably assuming that witnessing the gruesome battle would leave her paralyzed by fear. And yet Shizuku continued running regardless. She dodged the nearby guardhouse where the soldiers emerged from and plunged into a cluster of trees that ringed most of the outer court. Shizuku pushed through the darkness, beating back the dense, luxuriant foliage blocking her way. She thrust branches aside and stepped over shrubs as she made her way along. Pain shot through her as several scraped her skin. “Get down,” ordered Tarkis. Rather than respond to the brief order, Shizuku crouched where she stood. Not a moment later, something cut through the air above. When she looked up, taking care not to raise her head, she realized that a soldier to her left had swept his sword at her. Tarkis had defended her with his. Still stooped low, Shizuku shuffled forward. Fortunately, no other soldiers had caught up. She slung her bag off her shoulder and gave it a forceful, horizontal swing. The bag, which was packed full of thick books, struck the soldier who was fighting with Tarkis right behind his knees. There was a thud, and the man let out an anguished groan as his legs buckled. Shizuku swiftly stood and swung the bag again. “Hey!” The soldier’s shout sounded nearly casual. The bag struck him right on his shoulder, making another loud thud. He collapsed under the weight of the blow, falling to the ground. Tarkis dealt him one final strike by hitting him hard in the back of the neck with the butt of his sword. “What do you even have in that bag of yours?” Tarkis asked. “Books,” Shizuku replied. “What if I’ve made them crooked?” Emergency situation or not, she’d used her college’s books as blunt weapons. When Tarkis saw Shizuku’s genuine worry, he forced a smile and started wading his way through the foliage. “Come on, let’s go.” “Okay.” Shizuku checked that she had Mea and all her things with her, then followed after Tarkis. They didn’t get far before there came a sound like something bursting. Shizuku heard shrieking, too. She spun in the direction of the noise, alarmed by the tremendous, firecracker-like bang. However, she could only see the thicket’s dense flora. Tarkis, who was walking ahead of her, laughed. “Lydia must be on a rampage,” he said. “Lydia?” “She’s just as powerful as any court mage. And when it comes to hands-on experience, she’s on a whole other level.” “Whoa.” Was she the mage whom Tarkis had mentioned before—the one who could open a gate leading straight to Farsas? As Shizuku stepped around plants underfoot, she called to Tarkis. “We need to turn a little to the right. We’re veering off course.” “Are we?” he replied. “I thought we went straight ahead.” “Nope.” Shizuku’s assertion brought a skeptical look to Tarkis’s face, but he followed her advice anyway. Branches rustled as the pair shoved them aside to clear their path. Their surroundings started to brighten. Day was breaking. That meant that the deadline for stopping the forbidden curse was getting nearer. On the third day, the spell would be complete. The battle that was unfolding would determine whether progress came to a halt. “Couldn’t that Selue guy find a way of contacting the castle’s mage?” Shizuku asked. “I thought they were friends.” “Apparently not. The link between the castle and that religious organization is a strictly guarded secret, so emergency contact can only be made via the bishop, and nobody knows where he is right now. Selue didn’t say so explicitly, but it’s possible that the bishop knows the true effects of the forbidden curse and has tricked his followers.” “Ugh. That doesn’t sound good.” Instead of heading straight for the palace, Tarkis and Shizuku moved parallel through the plants. They were planning to sneak in via a distant entrance while the soldiers were preoccupied. Shizuku listened carefully to the sounds of combat as she walked. The din faded farther into the distance with each step. “Why can’t we just tell everyone at the castle that their forbidden curse will actually lead to this country’s downfall?” she asked. “They’d wonder how we knew about the forbidden curse in the first place. Just focus on yourself, Shizuku.” Tarkis made a good point, so Shizuku held her tongue. For now, she had to concentrate on what was ahead of her. Allegedly, more than a hundred people were involved in this plan. Shizuku couldn’t think of anything that likely hadn’t already been discussed. “This whole country is going to be destroyed.” No matter how many times she replayed that statement in her head, it didn’t feel real. How could an entire nation be wiped out that easily? If they failed here, would it really happen? The end of the thicket came into view. Directly to their left stood a white tower. On their right stood the castle walls. Luckily, there were no other people around. Shizuku and Tarkis nodded at each other, then burst from the heavy foliage. From there, they hurried to a small door in the tower. Tarkis pulled out a knife and twisted its blade in the gap to remove the latch. While keeping a close eye on his surroundings, he checked past the door to ensure no one was waiting for them, then he shoved Shizuku inside. This structure, stationed in the northeast corner of the castle, was a supply storehouse frequented by court ladies. Presently, it seemed abandoned. The two of them opened the nearest door, and the next one they came across led to the room they’d been hoping to find. Castle-employee uniforms were kept here. Myriad sets of clothing were neatly folded and arranged on the wall-mounted shelves. Without saying a word, Shizuku rushed over and started looking for women’s attire she could put on. She picked something up and unfolded it—a simple gray dress. It was ankle-length with a formfitting shape. She figured it was for a servant or the like. “This will do.” “Sounds good.” Tarkis turned to face the wall as Shizuku hurriedly changed her clothes. She fastened all the buttons; there were nearly ten in total, going right down to the bottom of the garment. To finish, she pulled on an apron, then stuffed her old clothes into her bag and picked it up. Shizuku knew her bag would make her appear extremely suspicious, but there was no way she could leave it behind. She didn’t know if she’d be able to go back and fetch it. Once she’d had a look at her new outfit, she said to Tarkis, “I’m done. I can go now.” He turned around. “Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own?” “I’ll manage. You have your own stuff to do, after all.” The man raised an eyebrow as though there was something he wanted to say, but in the end, he just told her to be careful and left it at that. Sword gripped tightly, Tarkis placed a hand on the door. He looked over his shoulder at Shizuku and gave her an affectionate smile. “Let me ask my second question, client. What country do you come from?” he said. “Japan,” Shizuku replied. “It’s an island nation in the east.” That wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth, either. Her intention wasn’t necessarily to deceive. It was more for self-preservation. Shizuku nervously waited for his final inquiry. His first two questions hadn’t provided him all the information he was looking for. He was undoubtedly trying to work out how to use his last one. Was he about to learn that she was from another world? What was she supposed to do then? “I see. I’ve never heard of that country. In that case, my last question is…” “Yeah?” “Eh, I’ll leave it for later. I’ll ask you when all this is over.” “Huh?!” Shizuku exclaimed. She’d been taken by surprise. The ordeal had just begun, and things were only going to get fiercer. Neither Shizuku nor Tarkis knew whether they’d come out of it in one piece, so why did Tarkis postpone his reward? Shizuku was dumbstruck, having lost her composure. Tarkis enjoyed a laugh. “There’s no point in me knowing who you are if you’re just going to die. I’ll ask my question once this is over. Try your best to stay alive, okay?” His words felt like genuine encouragement. He was guaranteeing there would be a future. Perhaps Tarkis was a good person after all, if overly curious. If his intentions weren’t sincere, he wouldn’t have remained with Shizuku for so long. When Shizuku regathered herself, she gave him a grin. “Got it. You’ll take care, too,” she said. “I’ll be just fine. Catch you later, Shizuku,” he replied. He spoke with the casual manner of someone simply leaving the house for an errand. He hurried out the door and quickly disappeared. Shizuku, now truly alone, glanced at down her outfit one last time. She took a deep breath in and steeled her resolve. She had to go—the sooner, the better. The clock was ticking. “Come on, Mea,” she said to the small bird on her shoulder. Then she opened the door. As the sun began to rise, and the sky grew light, noise spread throughout the chaos. As a lone girl moved into the castle, Idos, the royal chief mage, was watching over its wards. He grimaced. The palace had repelled the first assault late at night, but a second group had attacked just before dawn. Unlike the first attempt, which had been a reckless charge through the walls using magic, this second one was cleverer, involving several organized squads. Worse, there were skilled mages among this group’s ranks. They’d breached the wards at the castle’s perimeter and created a transit gate to the other side of the wall. A decent portion of the attackers who’d stormed in had been fought off, but over half of them managed to sneak inside the castle. Small skirmishes were erupting in unexpected locations. While Idos had ordered his men to dispose of the intruders, he could do little else. “It can’t be true,” he assured himself. For several hours, the words of a man captured during the first attack had been tormenting his mind. As soon as the black-robed man, who was locked in the castle dungeons, saw Idos come to question him, he’d shouted, “As an acolyte of Shula, I issue you with a warning! The forbidden spell has been secretly altered!” Others had been watching, forcing Idos to punch the man to silence him. He was certain the man was a private soldier from the religious group Idos was affiliated with. There’d been no word from the bishop. Was there really something wrong? He was torn between desiring to know the truth and his commitment to completing the forbidden curse. He felt both irritated and unsettled. There was a knock on the door, and a mage entered to give him a report. “At present, there are no anomalies in the barrier. However, the battles at the back entrance are not going in our favor.” “…This isn’t good. The sun is rising. People are going to start gathering.” News about trouble in the castle city could quickly spread to other countries. Should Farsas learn of the situation, someone from the kingdom of magic might teleport to Candela to investigate. Even if it didn’t come to that, the incident was sure to provoke anxiety among the Candela’s people. Idos ground his teeth, then came to a painful decision. “It’s no use. Break the outermost castle wards. Let them come in and get our generals to engage them head-on.” Under normal circumstances, Royal Chief Mage Idos lacked the authority to command the army, but there was a forbidden curse being created. As the project organizer, he’d been given that power. The mage ran off to pass on his orders. Idos informed his other aides that he was going to attend to a private matter, then headed for the dungeon. “…I should probably give him another chance to explain himself,” he muttered. He’d kept anyone from interrogating the captured Shula follower. With no word from the bishop, the man was Idos’s only chance at more information. Idos had indeed swapped out the forbidden curse for another right before its construction commenced, but he’d just been following the bishop’s orders. What did the man mean when he said it had been altered? Idos stepped into the dungeon alone. He came to a halt before he had the chance to light his magic lantern. A strong stench of blood hung about the place. It hadn’t been there a few hours earlier. A dungeon was home to some putrid scents, stale blood among them, but nothing so repulsive and fresh as this. The guards who were supposed to be stationed here were troublingly absent. Idos quietly invoked a defense spell; however, a familiar voice interrupted him, calling from the darkness. The hoarse words belonged to an old man whose tone seemed to echo from the depths of the earth. It was soul-chilling. Idos found himself dropping to one knee. Bowing his head, he replied, “My esteemed bishop. What are you doing here?” “Selue has betrayed us. He’s the one leading the attack.” “Selue?” “He must have harbored some traitorous ambition. But do not be discouraged. Soon, we will finally get what we’ve desired for so many years. Simply focus on your mission.” “…As our god wishes,” said Idos. With a satisfied chuckle, all trace of the bishop vanished. At the same time, the invisible pressure bearing down on Idos evaporated. He stood cautiously, scanning his surroundings. “Selue was a traitor…?” he whispered, but there was nobody left to ease his doubts. Idos hesitantly lit his lamp and followed the smell of the blood. There, in the farthest cell, lay the body of the prisoner, sliced to pieces. The most significant diversion employed against the castle was the attack on the back gate. The aim was to keep the palace’s primary forces occupied while the intruders used whatever opportunity they could to break in, and it resulted in a fierce battle at the gate. On any typical battlefield, the Candelian soldiers would’ve had a clear advantage. However, they had been caught by surprise and were facing mercenaries who’d survived countless battles. With the mercenaries deftly targeting the gaps in the soldiers’ defenses using close-range arrows and magic, the Candelian troops were at their mercy. For them, it was an uphill battle. “Close the castle gate!” “A crucial mechanism has been destroyed! We can’t open or close them!” “What did you just say?!” With the gate unable to close, the castle’s magic wards were the last fortifications remaining. So when the mage, who’d planned to instruct his peers to strengthen the wards around the castle, was ordered to destroy them and lure the enemies in instead, he tutted furiously. Idos’s plan made sense, tactically speaking. It was getting brighter, and the skirmishes around the castle gate would only stir up even more commotion. Allowing the enemy inside was preferable. Nearby residents were undoubtedly worried already. There had been explosions and other disconcerting noises the previous evening and in the early hours today. More fighting at the castle meant the news was all but guaranteed to reach other nations. That said, if they were going to let the intruders in, they obviously needed to be very careful about it. With both sides positioning themselves around the gate, the conflict was restricted to a small area, and Candela’s forces could use the castle wards to their advantage. Once the fighting moved to the castle grounds, the rear garden, which wasn’t particularly accommodating, would devolve into chaos. The Candelian soldiers had the upper hand in terms of location and numbers, so it was possible that they’d be able to suppress the attack eventually, but that assumed adequate preparation. They needed to strategically position snipers within the castle and establish effective communication channels. At present, the castle’s defense simply wasn’t good enough. With a bitter look on his face, the mage began to speak. “We’re destroying the barriers,” he announced. “Tell the soldiers to step back for a moment.” Orders from above had to be obeyed. As such, he’d retrieved the fallen and told the soldiers to gradually retreat from the front line. Next, he waited for his allies to receive the message, then lifted the outermost wards. Immediately, magic attacks that had previously been intercepted by the wards began to rain down on the castle. Small fireballs and orbs of light surged in, keeping the castle’s mages busy as they tried to offset them. The battle was steadily encroaching on the castle grounds. Everyone inside was surely wondering what would happen once all the attackers made it in. However, there was more to the situation than that. “What’s causing that commotion?” “It seems like something’s happening inside the castle.” People stood on the street trading questions and glances. It was early morning, and similar scenes were playing out around the city. A slow change was taking place. A man addressed the confused crowd with a low voice. “I hear they’re conducting a suspicious magic experiment inside the castle. If no action is taken, it will harm the city.” “Huh?! What kind of weird joke is that?” “I’m not joking. It’s what a Shula priest told me. He’s running around as we speak, trying to put a stop to it.” Uproar swept through the throng. Instigators repeated similar claims in all corners of the city. As the sun rose, more and more people rushed to the castle to see what was happening for themselves, while others attempted to flee the city. A huge commotion was unfolding outside the castle grounds, exactly as planned. While panic spread through the streets, Shizuku walked down a corridor gripped in profound silence. Her anxiety had left her throat dry, which she found unpleasant, but she persevered, continuing down the hall. She tried to think of an excuse to use if she ran into someone as she looked around in search of a staircase. She’d heard that the forbidden curse was being formed on a lower level. Erik had to be down there somewhere. That was little to go on, though. Aimlessly searching the huge castle left Shizuku uneasy. She strained her ears to hear the distant sound of combat. If those who were attacking the castle lost, the country would be in grave danger, but if they closed in and started killing the mages who were working on the forbidden curse, then Erik would be in danger. Shizuku had to locate him as quickly as possible and explain the situation to get his help. “This is a lot of responsibility… I’m so nervous,” she muttered. None but a small bird was around to hear it. Rounding a corner, Shizuku almost bumped into a woman coming the other way. The stone-faced court lady was dressed identically to Shizuku. She glared venomously as she regained her balance. “Hey! What do you think you’re doing here?!” she snapped. “I-I’m sorry.” “All court ladies were ordered to stay with the mages to keep safe from the intruders! Didn’t you listen?!” “I was sorting out the supply warehouse…,” Shizuku said, hastily fabricating an excuse. Then she saw an opportunity. Just as the woman’s gaze settled on Shizuku’s bag, she spoke up. “Um! A mage told me to bring him this bag!” “Really? It’s rather peculiar looking.” “It belongs to one of the mages who’s been temporarily employed by the castle—but I don’t know where to find him.” “You really are slow, aren’t you?” the court lady said. “The mages who are working here on a temporary basis are using the five underground research rooms. Check them one by one.” Shizuku repeated the words underground research rooms in her head. She felt a little closer to finding Erik, but that meant checking five locations. Her work wasn’t done yet. She prayed her luck would hold out. “Thank you so much. Which is the closest one to get to from here?” “Have you no sense of direction?” the court lady spat. “It’s the third one, obviously. Straight ahead, then take the first right.” “Oh, of course. Sorry.” “And make it quick.” Shizuku set off in the indicated direction, sensing the woman’s furious gaze fixed upon her as she left. Once the woman had disappeared around the corner, she started running. Before long, she arrived at a staircase that led to a basement level. A relieved smile found its way to her face, but she was careful to brace herself for what might come next as she descended the dingy staircase, taking care not to make noise. Once Lydia had completed her short incantation, she turned around and loosed her magic arrows. The projectiles pursued and struck two soldiers, knocking them to the ground amid bursts of sparks. A third soldier flinched, startled, and the woman used that moment to dive into the shadows of the building and vanish. Panicked, the soldier looked in the direction she’d gone, his sword ready, but there was no one there anymore. From a second-floor corridor, Lydia watched the man scanning his surroundings and let out a sigh. She brushed her blond hair away from her face. “This is so annoying,” she said. “You think so? I think it’s rather interesting,” someone answered. The person had been trying to remain inconspicuous, yet they couldn’t resist calling out to her. Lydia frowned as she faced the speaker, a boy. “It might be fun for you,” she said, “but personally, I find this kind of thing tiresome. Had Tarkis not begged me to come, I wouldn’t have bothered.” “It’s not very often that I get the opportunity to do whatever I like, and unique scraps like this one are especially rare. I can’t help but enjoy myself.” The boy, who was in his late teens, shrugged and laughed. His smile made it clear he truly did find the fighting amusing. The young mercenary enjoyed killing so much, it made him a difficult sort to manage. He pulled on gloves covered in blood, took up a spot beside Lydia, and looked down through the window. He hurled a dagger at the man searching for Lydia. There came a startled scream, then the man collapsed. A smile spread across Kaito’s face. He looked pleased with himself. Lydia shot him a contemptuous look. “You really are a terrible person,” she said. “You wouldn’t want to leave him be and let him attack you later, though, would you?” “If that were to happen, I’d deal with it. Anyway, just focus on your job. You freak me out.” Lydia left it at that and began to leave. Kaito waved her good-bye, then whipped out another one of his daggers and focused his attention on the mages who’d come running down the corridor. When he saw the three of them begin to chant, he took a defensive magic implement out of his breast pocket. The bracelet, which had a sizable crystal embedded into it, emitted a faint bluish-white hue. “Focus on my job, huh?” he muttered. “That means killing every mage I can find. Consider it done.” No matter where Kaito went, blood and screams followed in his wake. Slowly but surely, his trail of devastation wound through the castle’s corridors, inching closer and closer to the fourth underground research room. As Shizuku made her way down the dark staircase, she spotted a pair of soldiers standing ahead of her. The sight of them made her jump. Both were armed. They stood facing each other on the narrow staircase. It looked as though they’d been positioned there to obstruct the path. They appeared to be discussing something, but Shizuku was too far to hear what. For a moment, Shizuku was surprised, but she quickly straightened up and continued down toward them. The soldiers took notice of her almost immediately. Stay calm, Shizuku repeated to herself. “What’s wrong, miss?” one of them asked. “Is something the matter?” “I’ve been ordered to stick with the mages since some intruders have snuck in…,” she explained. “So I’ve heard, but the mages down here are mostly outsiders. You can’t trust them.” “But our castle mages are busy dealing with the attackers,” Shizuku argued. “There’s not enough of them to protect us.” The two soldiers exchanged glances, then frowned. They’d probably already heard that most of the castle’s personnel had been tasked with fending off the intruders. Shizuku pushed a little harder. “The truth is, I tried to go back to working alone when I couldn’t find a mage, but that got me into trouble,” she lied. “So could you just let me in for the time being? That way, I can at least prove that I did what I was told. I don’t need to stay for long.” Shizuku placed her hands together pleadingly. The two men smiled. “Who are we to say no?” one of them replied. “You should be safe enough with us here.” Shizuku smiled. “Thank you!” “But don’t let your guard down.” Shizuku found that comment a little weird. Did she really seem that careless? Regardless, she’d navigated this tricky situation like a pro. Relieved, she hurried down the remaining stairs. Upon reaching the wooden door at the bottom, she pushed it open. A stone hall greeted her beyond. It had a peculiar atmosphere to it. Dim light illuminated the place, and a musty smell hung in the air. Shizuku felt something surging toward her, causing her to stop dead. It wasn’t a scent or a difference in temperature. There was simply an indescribable something filling the place. She felt it against her skin, like the atmospheric shift detectable when entering a sauna. The mages’ whispers seemed to slither across the floor and accumulate on its surface. It was hard for Shizuku to decipher what they were saying, but it sounded like a magical incantation. When she had a closer look, she realized there were ten mages gathered in a circle. “Erik…?” she whispered, but her voice was too quiet. Shizuku peered at the concentrating mages and approached them carefully. Orbs embedded into the floor in the center of the circle gave off a white glow. Their light seemed to seep into the surroundings. Shizuku scrutinized each mage, but there was no sign of the one she was searching for. A disappointed sigh blew between her lips. The mage nearest to her noticed this and turned around. “What’s the matter?” he asked candidly. Shizuku hesitated. The man was creating something that would destroy all of Candela. Were she to tell him, would she stop the forbidden curse from being completed? Shizuku’s eyes darted around nervously. So far, this man was the only one who’d spotted her. “Ummm, the thing is—,” she began, but she was soon interrupted. “Who are you?! What do you think you’re doing?!” someone asked furiously. Shizuku jumped. Before she knew it, a robed mage in his sixties had appeared at the entrance to the chamber. The glare he leveled at Shizuku was so sinister that anyone would’ve assumed he carried a deep grudge against her. “A court lady? What are you doing here?” he demanded. “Uhhh, well…,” Shizuku began. “I was ordered to take shelter with the mages…” “Take shelter? There’s no point staying down here. Stay out of these mages’ way.” “…I’m sorry.” As piercing as his eyes were, there was detectable weariness in the man’s voice. Perhaps he hadn’t gotten much sleep. That thought made Shizuku feel a little sorry for him. Still, if the mages completed their work, nobody in the castle would ever sleep again, and they wouldn’t be the only ones. Mild sleep deprivation was nothing compared with the disaster rapidly approaching. As the older mage neared, Shizuku maintained eye contact so that she wouldn’t seem rude. Selue, the one to enlist Tarkis’s help, had suggested that they might be able to convince the mages to stop constructing the spell. Couldn’t Shizuku ask this mage to tell the royal chief mage the truth? Determined, Shizuku tried to say something. “Uhhh, about this forbidden curse…,” she began. “Forbidden curse?!” someone shouted. It wasn’t the older mage this time. One of the mages working on the spell had spoken up. His voice carried throughout the room, drawing everyone’s attention to Shizuku and the older mage. Some regarded the outburst with mild disbelief, while others looked repulsed. Abrupt tension seized the room, prompting Shizuku to swallow nervously. The pressure stabbing into her back was enough to show her just how much of a taboo the term forbidden curse really was. The older mage, however, looked more angry than surprised. He glowered at Shizuku, his gaze so fierce that it almost made her recoil. While she struggled to keep confident, the old mage lifted his hand. “You…wretch!” he exclaimed. “I won’t be swayed by your baseless claims!” “But that’s what the people attacking the castle are saying!” Shizuku argued. “This forbidden curse is going to destroy the whole country… I need to tell the royal chief mage…” “Me, you mean?” he said. Shizuku felt a sense of despair hit her before she even processed what he was saying. The man standing before her stood at the center of this entire plot. If she could convince him, it might put an end to the danger. He was the person everyone had been looking for. Unfortunately, he didn’t appear to be entirely in his right mind anymore. Idos, the royal chief mage, kept his hand in the air as he scowled at Shizuku. He looked ready to strangle her. “What was it that you wanted to say, young girl? Spit it out.” Shizuku’s plan was falling apart. She thought of the little sword in her bag, and Mea, who was hiding with it. They were there to protect to Shizuku. However, they were not her only weapons. “As the royal chief mage, you must put a stop to this spell’s construction. It won’t actually do what the Shula followers believe. It will engulf the city and harm its people. We can’t let it be completed.” The other weapon was the truth. Even if Shizuku couldn’t get through to the man, her words would probably mean something to the people around them. They clearly loathed forbidden curses. As Shizuku sensed the agitation spreading among the mages behind her, the royal chief mage’s face contorted. They must have been casting him skeptical looks. “How dare you come in here and spread nothing but lies!” he said. “It’s the truth. I heard it from someone called Selue.” “Quiet, child!” Idos began to work a spell. Shizuku dashed forward. She’d been waiting for this. She hurled herself at Idos as hard as she could. The royal chief mage, who hadn’t gotten the chance to complete his spell, fell back onto the stone tiles. Shizuku quickly dodged him and ran out the door. Then she sprinted up the stone staircase two steps at a time. She didn’t get the impression that the man would ever listen to anyone. Not only that, but Shizuku also sensed that there was something else that was scaring him. Was it the forbidden curse, or was it the attack on the castle? Shizuku was in no place to decide. Still, she’d planted the seeds. All she could do now was hope that something grew from them. The two soldiers who were guarding the stairs regarded Shizuku in utter amazement as she came rushing to them. “Emergency! It’s the royal chief mage!” she yelled, pointing down the stairs. “What?!” The soldiers pushed Shizuku out of the way as they hurried down in a panic. Once Shizuku had leaped back into the castle corridor, she wasted no time picking a path and following it, although she was unsure where it would lead. Those in charge at Candela Castle had hoped to handle the situation discretely, causing as little commotion as possible. However, that seemed impossible now. To say that they were annoyed would be an understatement. Quite understandably, they were humiliated. A crowd had slowly gathered outside the castle gates, with people questioning the authenticity of the magical experiments being conducted within. Followers of the Shula faith fanned the flames. The mob that was building before the castle seemed to grow by the minute. Naturally, some citizens attempted to flee the city, fearing the consequences of the magical experiments. Others, however, dismissed the claims as mere rumors. However, when impassioned individuals began forcing their way in through the unsealed rear gate and demanding explanations, the castle city plunged into unprecedented pandemonium. “I know this is a desperate situation, but I never planned to make an army of the citizens. This is an attack on the castle we’re talking about—I’d never be that reckless.” Tarkis had seen the mob flooding into the palace from a small window in the room where he was hiding. His plan, generally speaking, had been to create diversions and sneak inside before dawn. Then the Shula faithful would spread the truth among the populace. If people fled the city after hearing the news, that was fine. Tarkis had no issue with that. That so many swarmed the castle was helpful, however, adding an extra layer of pressure. He couldn’t guess whether more citizens had run or joined the crowd. Both outcomes worked in his favor, though. From now on, everything hinged on the actions of the castle’s troops. “So do we capture the royal chief mage or stop the contracted mages?” Several members of Tarkis’s squad had already managed to infiltrate the castle. After breaking in, it was up to each individual to decide the best course of action, but there was no guarantee any would succeed. Tarkis recalled the faces of his friends, each formidable in their own way. Then his mind drifted toward the most defenseless and enigmatic of his associates—that young woman. Although powerless, she had leaped into trouble to help a friend. Could that girl, who hesitated to carry a weapon, truly succeed on such a bloody and merciless battlefield? “Is she an ordinary girl, or some kind of secret ace in the hole?” Tarkis whispered. “Just don’t die on me, Shizuku.” He readied his blood-drenched sword, preparing to return to the fight. It was day two—one hour after the sun had come up. Shizuka ran down the long corridor as fast as she could. She passed several soldiers on the way, who looked at her strangely, but none of them tried to stop her. Her court-lady uniform helped in that respect. The castle was huge and complicated, but for Shizuku, it was still simpler than the spell design that Erik had made. Its layout felt more logical than that of the infamously confusing Shinjuku Station. From what Shizuku had heard, there were five chambers underneath the castle. After visiting the second, she reasoned that perhaps the rooms were arranged around a common center. According to Erik, magic arrays were almost always circular. Shizuku considered the size of castle and the places she’d passed to make a guess at where the other chambers were. After roaming through the mazelike corridors, she spotted a downward staircase that resembled the one from earlier. Optimistic, she began racing down the stone steps. “I hope…this is…the one…” She was already out of breath, yet she was in strangely high spirits, so she didn’t find it too uncomfortable. She wondered if this is what people meant when they spoke of endorphins. Her body ached, and she was certain that the muscle fatigue would hit her the next day, but that was a small price. Truthfully, she was prepared to endure any amount of soreness if it meant achieving her goal. The staircase plunged into the darkness. Unlike the second underground research room, there were no soldiers stationed here or torches illuminating the path. Shizuku found that suspicious but pressed on, feeling her way down. It took her a long time to reach the door. She pushed it open gently. The air wafting from the other side sparked an instinct to flee. Fresh blood filled her nostrils. As the stench invaded her nasal passages, Shizuku covered her face with her hands. She felt sick. I need to turn back, she thought on reflex. There was danger here—torment. And yet she needed to search for Erik. Shizuku looked over toward the staircase and inhaled deeply. She ventured inside while holding her breath. Very quickly, Shizuku began to feel like the third person to die in a horror movie. The notion sent a shiver down her spine. The passage shared the same structure as others she’d seen in the castle, but the only source of light was one unreliable candlestick. What greeted her ahead could only be described as tragic. The awful smell of blood was thick and pungent here. As Shizuku’s eyes adjusted to the gloomy surroundings, she noticed there were things lying across the floor. Upon identifying them, she was grateful for the dim light. A dozen lifeless bodies decorated the ground. It was too dark to see what had killed them. Shizuku cautiously examined the physiques of several of the men, trying not to get too close. She wanted to make sure none of them were Erik. Tears stung her eyes. Shizuku didn’t know whether they were from sorrow or anger, but she blinked them away. I need to stay calm, she told herself. Still, every time she acknowledged this horrible sight, she recalled the man who’d died in front of her. Shizuku clenched her teeth. She needed to desensitize herself to sights like this, even if only temporarily. The callous notion made Shizuku hate herself, yet there was little choice. Erik wasn’t here. She needed to go. After Shizuku checked the final body, she made to leave the way she’d come. Before she could, however, she sensed a shift in the shadows. A bird chirped, and something moved through the air. Before Shizuku had the chance to register what was happening, she dropped low and fell on her backside. Something sped over her at alarming speed. “Huh?” The surprise didn’t hit her until a moment later, as though her mind and body weren’t synced. Her body had already sensed something was amiss, but Shizuku didn’t consciously recognize it until a second after. Shizuku pushed hard on the ground to straighten up. While deliberating whether to stay put or stand and run, she heard someone whistle in admiration. “Impressive. Here I thought you were a total novice. I didn’t expect you to dodge. You seem pretty lacking otherwise, though. It’s too bad. You’re gonna get killed.” “Wh-who are you?” “You saw me earlier,” the voice said. “Did you forget already?” The boy addressed her quite informally, like he would a friend. He stepped into the candlelight confidently. He possessed a small stature and slim build. His face, which was framed by short brown hair, was strangely pretty. It wasn’t that he had particularly charming features; those were rather average. And yet he was beautiful. He had an unbelievable freshness about him, with no excess. Devoid of bitterness and hesitation, he appeared to lack the kind of emotions that could make people look uglier than they were. He only exuded amusement. It wasn’t strong enough to be described as joy, but he wasn’t totally emotionless, either. His delight was casual. Shizuku answered with a tense voice. “When did I see you earlier?” she asked. “You went through the gate that Lydia opened, didn’t you?” he said. “You really do have your head in the clouds, huh?” Now that he mentioned it, maybe this boy had been there. Shizuku had been too focused on herself to take notice. She thought to apologize, but she remembered this boy had attacked her. “Why did you do that…?” “I was curious about you, since you were following Tarkis everywhere. I thought I’d give you a light slash on the ear, but you evaded pretty well,” the boy replied. “Who are you? Are you really just a novice with good intuition?” “Yep. I’m one of Tarkis’s clients, I guess…” “Is that right? How boring.” The boy seemed to have misunderstood something about her, but Shizuku wished he hadn’t tried to slice her ear for it. She was so relieved to be unharmed that it felt like she might collapse. The boy walked past Shizuku, who was still on the ground. Shizuku figured he really had lost interest in her. As he slowly vanished into the darkness, Shizuku turned around, flustered. “Wait!” she said. “What?” he replied. “Did you…? Wh-where are you going?” Shizuku had wanted to ask him whether he was the one responsible for the death in this room. However, she knew that was a foolish question. Instead, she decided to inquire about something else. When Selue had enlisted Tarkis’s help, he’d said that killing all the mages working on the forbidden curse was one way of preventing disaster. Had the boy caused this massacre, it was only because he’d been told to. Understanding that was a poor comfort. Shizuku was dizzy. Her heart raced, and she felt nauseous. Passing out would’ve been preferable. However, Shizuku was already deeply involved in the situation. She had made her choice. It was too late to feign ignorance and escape. She asked the boy where he meant to go next. Perhaps she could steer him from finding Erik. “I’m going to the next room,” he replied. “Apparently, this one’s the fourth chamber, so I need to find the third or second.” “I’ve already been to the second,” Shizuku said. “Everyone was shocked to hear they were constructing a forbidden curse, so I think they’ve quit working on it.” “Really? Well, I’d better kill them just to be on the safe side. It’s quicker.” There was a crisp clarity to his words that mirrored his appearance. Although amazed by his lack of hesitation, Shizuku frantically tried to reason with him. “I don’t think you need to,” she argued. “I think you can get through to them by talking. The royal chief mage seemed a little weird, but…” “What? So something’s wrong with the royal chief mage, too? Killing him can’t be that tedious. I’ll add him to the list.” The boy turned from Shizuku and began to walk away. “Wait!” Shizuku shouted. Her voice echoed off the boy’s back and around the spacious hall. The two were the only living people here. The candle on the wall flickered like a faulty light bulb. Eventually, the boy turned around and looked at Shizuku, his eyes clear like glass beads.