“Nigel, you seem to think Etna would be something amazing if he became the Duke, but honestly, there’s nothing all that special about him.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
It brought no joy to hear Etna belittled for the sake of comforting Nigel. But Inas shook his head with a gaze so unwavering, it almost made Nigel want to believe him.
“It’s not nonsense. Do you really think there wasn’t a route where Etna was resurrected and made Duke of Magnus? There was. And it wasn’t anything remarkable.”
If Inas had truly tried everything, there’s no way that route wouldn’t exist. Nigel tried not to listen, but his baser curiosity got the better of him.
“…And what happened?”
“He was very much the Duke of Magnus. Defended the territory just like the previous Duke.”
“Yeah, I figured.”
The selfish wish that his brother had messed up even a little quickly fizzled out. Inas gently rubbed Nigel’s soft cheek with his hand and then let go.
“But Nigel, the Duke of Magnus isn’t only responsible for protecting the land from Intusnica.”
“That’s the most important part.”
If the defensive line around Intusnica—the land where the Light Dragon Odelrat was sealed—were to break, not just the territory but the entire continent would be at risk. Ever since Odelrat was sealed alongside Edelta, defending the territory had been the Duke’s primary duty.
Inas shook his head at Nigel’s stubbornness.
“But it doesn’t have to be you who handles that duty.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The one who commands the battlefield doesn’t always hold a sword or stand at the front lines. You’re the Duke of Magnus, who rules a vast domain. You don’t need to be on the front.”
Nigel shook his head.
“But the Duke of Magnus has always led from the front. That’s what I should be doing, but since I can’t, I dumped it all on you. You’re doing it in my place.”
“Please hear me out. The situation has changed a lot since the Duke first began defending this land. Back then, people from across the continent gathered for the Great Battle. Times have changed. This is no longer an era where a single hero must lead the charge.”
“That’s just an excuse for those who can’t fight.”
“Either way, a change in approach was necessary. Because you entrusted the knights’ affairs to me and focused on governance, the internal situation of the domain during the Great Battle of year 280 was far better than before. And in the four years since you became Duke, the territory has continued to grow.”
Nigel thought of year 280—the future now. It was the year after he became Duke, when the Great Battle had taken place. By the numbers, there had clearly been improvements, and at the time, he’d felt genuinely proud.
But thinking about everything that had happened since, his confidence had withered. His frail body, an inborn weakness, constantly held him back.
“Maybe so. But if Father had changed the way things were done, it would’ve been seen as innovation. If I do it, it’s just a defect’s desperate flailing.”
“That’s not true, Nigel. If the loop had ended, your name would’ve been remembered in history as the one who changed Magnus.”
“You’re exaggerating…”
“I’m not. And besides, you have me. I’m stronger than anything else out there. My value can’t be measured by something as trivial as swordsmanship.”
“Talk about singing your own praises.”
Nigel couldn’t help but laugh at the brazen self-glorification. It wasn’t entirely wrong, though. Maybe if the armies of the entire continent came together, they’d barely be able to match Inas.
The urge to deny Inas’s words softened as laughter eased Nigel’s heart.
More than anything, Nigel wanted to believe them. His long golden lashes trembled faintly before falling gently.
“…Thanks. For saying that.”
“It’s not like I sugarcoated it just for you, Nigel. I’m only stating the truth.”
Maybe Inas, who knew him so well, was just telling him what he wanted to hear—but right now, Nigel didn’t care. He wanted to be intoxicated by those words.
Even if Inas had once hurled insults, calling him a half-baked Duke…
At least in this moment, his words didn’t feel like empty comfort, but genuine belief that Nigel wasn’t wrong. No one would think that way if they looked down on Nigel.
Even if the dream was showing him the past, that was just the past. If Inas had changed his mind after experiencing Nigel firsthand, it made everything a little easier to bear. It meant all that struggle wasn’t for nothing.
It hit him again—he really did like Inas.
As Nigel calmed, filled with affection for the other, Inas seemed to grow content as well. A smile—one Nigel hadn’t seen in a while—gently curved at Inas’s lips. He pulled Nigel into an embrace.
His arms, as always, were warm. Even though they probably held far more hardship than any of Nigel’s recent worries.
“Inas…”
“Yes?”
“You’ve had it really rough too, haven’t you?”
“No.”
Inas denied the question flatly, despite the mood making it easy to just say yes. Nigel frowned.
“You said you’d be honest with me.”
“Of course it was hard. But it wasn’t the worst I’ve faced.”
His expression was calm, as if none of it had burdened him at all. But Nigel didn’t buy it. There’s no way it hadn’t been hard.
“What’s the worst thing to you, then?”
“Who knows?”
Inas replied evasively.
“Repeating the same timeline over and over?”
“No.”
“Me not remembering you?”
“No.”
Nigel scowled. He’d assumed it was one of those two.
…Maybe Inas doesn’t like me that much after all?
Annoyed for no reason, Nigel lightly smacked Inas with his fists. Inas’s expression began to subtly change.
“What?”
“I’m glad you’re still young.”
“What the hell? Where did that come from…”
“I don’t want to do anything that would make you hate me. But if you were fully grown, you’d be too cute for me to resist.”
It sounded like a code phrase. Nigel grimaced.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I mean, Lord Nigel is doing a lot of very cute things right now.”
“Don’t say weird shit.”
“My apologies.”
“You always say the weirdest things…”
Nigel laughed awkwardly but suddenly realized his mistake and quickly pulled away from Inas’s arms.
He’d promised himself he wouldn’t do this again, but the moment he felt cornered, he instinctively turned to Inas. He shouldn’t be doing this. As Nigel tried to distance himself again, Inas caught on and furrowed his brow slightly.
“Nigel.”
“I don’t know what part of you I’m supposed to trust.”
Nigel cut off Inas before he could continue and spoke plainly.
“You say you love me, but you’ve killed me multiple times—and killed my brother, too. Now I’m scared you’ll go and kill my father next…”
Losing trust in Inas—who used to be the most dependable person in the world—was a heavy burden. Inas shook his head.
“I won’t kill him.”
“I don’t even know if you actually love me.”
“I’ve told you I do.”
“Anyone can say it.”
“I really don’t understand why you don’t believe me.”
Inas’s face genuinely looked like he didn’t understand, which made Nigel laugh bitterly.
“Well, duh. There’s no way to prove it, so I can’t be sure. Why are you doing so well and then suddenly acting like you don’t get it? It’s not like you’re stupid.”
“But I am acting for your sake. That’s not a lie. And I’m frustrated, too, because I can’t prove it either. But because of that, you keep pushing me away.”
Inas muttered gloomily.
“If you love me, Nigel… just believe this one thing. That I’m truly doing my best for you.”
That’s hard to believe—because the countless pasts all scream the opposite.
But Nigel couldn’t bring himself to say he didn’t believe him. He didn’t want to deny his own feelings. Maybe Glarus would want him to, but…
“I’ll try. But in return, make me one promise.”
“A promise?”
“Just for this loop… I want you to only use as much power as I’ve seen from you before.”
No bizarre miracles. No suspicious plots. Just stay by his side—as Knight Inas. That way, at least Nigel wouldn’t have to constantly wonder if Inas was scheming behind his back.
“I can’t do that.”
The answer came instantly, without a second of hesitation, and Nigel scowled.
“Why not?”
“I’m not saying I won’t listen to you. But to protect you, I’ll use my full strength without limits. I don’t ever want to see you killed by someone else.”
“…”
“For everything else… I’ll limit myself to what a sixteen-year-old novice could manage.”
“Then fine—just add one more condition.”
“One more?”
Inas looked puzzled, as if he hadn’t expected that and had no clue what Nigel was about to say. Nigel sighed.
“Use your strength to protect yourself too.”
Glarus was hostile toward Inas, and danger could strike at any time. His brother, who would soon arrive, was another threat. And Kay, who had disappeared, also worried him. Nigel didn’t want Inas getting hurt because of someone else.
But saying it out loud made his face burn with embarrassment. His twelve-year-old body betrayed his feelings more easily, his cheeks flushing red as he tried to hide under the blanket—only to be caught by Inas.
Inas looked absolutely delighted as he held him.
“Nigel… maybe we didn’t need to separate after all?”
“That’s not it… I just—if you die, time resets. That’s all.”
“I see.”
He didn’t sound very convinced. His voice floated like it could take flight at any moment.
“And don’t kill anyone else in this house either. Got it?”
“Of course.”
Inas beamed with a look of pure joy.
So simple…
Nigel was dumbfounded by how simple he was—it was hard to believe he was supposedly so old. But maybe that was a good thing. Even though he’d said they should part ways, he hadn’t planned to push Inas away entirely.
He just needed to maintain the right distance. If things turned too sour and Inas ended up with someone else, he might lose it. So better to keep things manageable. Nigel concluded his thoughts, feeling like he’d just tamed a wild beast.
“Alright, get out now.”
He hadn’t slept properly in days, too busy worrying about quests. This time, he wanted real rest. He’d told Inas to only act like a sixteen-year-old, so he probably wouldn’t sneak into his room anymore.
“Wait, Nigel. I have something for you.”
“Something for me?”
“Yes.”
“I’m good.”
Nigel turned it down immediately without even hearing what it was. He didn’t like the sound of it. Inas looked visibly disappointed as Nigel frowned in suspicion.
“You’ll be happy with it.”
“I said I’m good…”
“Lord Nigel…”
Those black eyes shimmered with moisture. Inas was doing his best impression of a pitiful, abandoned puppy. It was so ridiculous it wasn’t even funny. Who’d fall for something like that…
“…What is it?”
“You’ll understand when you see it. It’s not dangerous.”
“…Fine. Bring it.”
Nigel replied reluctantly. This wasn’t him falling for Inas’s pitiful act—it was just curiosity, he told himself. A very logical, rational curiosity.
