The way to deal with a plague and the act of avoiding Nir’a stem from fundamentally different origins. By principle, the Marquess of Saklani should have evacuated the nearby residents or at the very least prepared them for an emergency. But if such dangers were concealed, wouldn’t the unknowing people of the land be slaughtered without a chance to escape when Nir’a descended?
“Are you saying Nir’a appeared at this time of year, and during the day, no less?”
Kirill asked again, his voice laced with disbelief. For someone normally so expressionless, it was the first time he showed such a reaction. But it was understandable. The reason the people of Solias had managed to adapt and continue living despite the presence of a monster like Nir’a was precisely because Nir’a only moved within a limited time frame. If Nir’a started appearing indiscriminately, it would only be a matter of time before its range of activity expanded.
Seiyad recalled the vision he had seen—Nir’a crossing forests and mountains to reach the capital. That lingering image shimmered at the edge of his memory. He still didn’t know whether it was a future to come or a past that had occurred after his death. But if anomalies continued to emerge and the Devil kept growing stronger, then that vision might not be so far off.
Already, the acceleration of past anomalies was unsettling enough. Events that had taken five years to unfold in his previous life were now rapidly shifting, driven by Aster’s changed behavior. It must’ve been because Seiyad was no longer dancing to Aster’s tune.
The Seiyad of the past had pushed everyone away. If he hadn’t come back with memories of his former life, he likely would’ve repeated that same path. But now, there were people beside him—and unlike in the old days, when he had clung to Aster and drowned in solitude, he no longer stood alone.
If all these shifts were because of him, then hadn’t his resurrection actually hastened the downfall of the kingdom?
The thought crept up on him, uninvited. Until now, Seiyad had believed he’d been given another chance so he wouldn’t repeat the same sins. But if his altered actions were triggering events different from the past, wasn’t it possible that his very existence was doing harm to the world instead?
‘If my existence is what’s breaking the world…’
He wished it were just baseless fear. It sounded ridiculous that a colossal being like the Devil would go through so much just to target him.
He wanted to dismiss it like it was nothing, but recent events tangled inside his mind. Aster’s near-insane fury, the cruel implications aimed at Ressas—everything had been tied to him.
That creeping guilt pressed on his heart. Seiyad found himself unsure of how to respond to Kirill’s question. Back in the spring, when he had reached out and altered the course of Ressas’s path, he had felt the same unease. But it wasn’t the suffocating pressure he now felt. Now, it was like walking on a thin sheet of ice on a lake—just one misstep, and he’d plunge into freezing water.
“Yes. Lady Charlotte delivered the news herself.”
Stella, who had been waiting in silence as if expecting Seiyad to answer, stepped forward. From the way she spoke, it didn’t seem like she’d verified the information herself.
“Is the report reliable?”
Seiyad asked, and Stella motioned toward the misty surroundings with her eyes.
“That’s why I came. I also received a tip, and I brought His Highness along to report it. If things got out of hand, I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle it alone—so I called you too, Seiyad.”
“That’s right. You said you’d found something.”
Ressas affirmed her words. Stella scanned the knights one more time, as if ensuring their discretion, then nodded with resolve.
“After returning to Vetria, I began exploring the forest as well. Seeing what happened in the southern woods—an event even its master didn’t know about—it made me uneasy. But something felt off. Nir’a’s dormant form wasn’t visible anywhere. If that were the only thing, I might’ve brushed it off, but what made me determined to report it was…”
Stella hesitated for a moment, and Ressas picked up the thread with a low voice.
“Was the tree’s core empty?”
“…Your Highness is correct.”
“Then the Devil must’ve reclaimed another part of itself from the eastern forest as well. Winter in the East won’t be what it used to be.”
The moment the word Devil was spoken, the knights’ gazes turned toward them. The confusion over terms like Nir’a and Devil finally prompted Kirill to speak again—an unusual show of emotion from him.
“Is the Devil you’re referring to the one that’s said to have escaped from the South?”
Rumors of the Devil had already spread across the entire kingdom, and now Shildras bore public scorn because of them. Even those stationed at the far edge of the North knew this much. Yet, since no one had actually seen the Devil, the atmosphere of dread had begun to settle down in recent days. People tend not to fear what they can’t see.
“Yes. Though it hasn’t shown itself yet, it’s clearly drifting around us.”
“…Then we must kill it at once.”
Kirill spoke with firm conviction. Stella countered coolly, as though trying to cool his head.
“Do you know how to kill the Devil?”
“That…”
Kirill glanced at Seiyad, then, after what seemed to be his deepest contemplation, gave the best answer he could muster.
“The Devil was originally sealed by the Guide and Tither. If the legends are true, perhaps it can be sealed again in the same way.”
In theory, yes—but the issue was the specifics. Stella shook her head immediately.
“I’ve never heard of any such thing. That’s the problem.”
Just then, one of Ressas’s knights spoke. He had been silently observing them the entire time without uttering a word. The man had long brown hair tied back and wore glasses. His features were gentle, and so was his voice.
“The Devil isn’t something that can be sealed by human power. It is a darkness that has existed since the beginning of time. That’s why it took the Moon and Sun sacrificing themselves to barely seal it away.”
“And who are you, to know such a thing?”
Seiyad fixed the man with a suspicious stare and interrogated him. The man exchanged a glance with Ressas, as though silently asking for permission, and then offered a graceful bow.
“Let me introduce myself, Your Grace. I am Asella, one who carries the traces of Solias in his blood. I’m a distant relative of Lady Parma, so it’s no surprise the Duke—who has stayed away from high society—would find me unfamiliar.”
“Asella Diadem? The second son of Count Diadem, yes? I’ve read one of your books on the history of Solias.”
It seemed Stella was familiar with Asella. But Seiyad, who had never involved himself with noble genealogies or social circles, knew little of such people. He had only ever learned what was necessary to survive as a weapon of efficiency—prioritizing knowledge related to territory management and discarding all else.
“Not many have read my books. This must be fate.”
“It was a fascinating read—though a bit eccentric, which is why I remember it. I thought you were a scholar, never imagined you’d be a knight.”
“I’m a knight in name only. I’ve just trained enough to protect myself while wandering from place to place.”
Seiyad had resolved to no longer doubt anything Ressas did, but even so, moments like this stirred questions. In his previous life, it had been Desertus; now, he was encountering a scholar well-versed in legends. Was it simply because the one he called “the sun” was beside him?
“If what he said is true, Your Highness, then… what should we do?”
Kirill looked utterly hopeless. Ressas replied gently, as though trying to reassure him.
“If it was sealed, that means those who sealed it anticipated a time it might awaken, and prepared accordingly. Perhaps the seal itself holds greater meaning. We’re still seeking that out—so you must continue to protect the Grand Duke with unwavering courage. Don’t be swayed by the words of others, but also do not accept what is wrong, even if others do.”
The final words came out of nowhere. Though puzzling, Kirill fell silent as if they’d struck home. His eyes visibly trembled.
To lift the now-heavy atmosphere, Stella steered the conversation back to the main issue.
“In any case, what we need to do now is investigate the place the Marquess mentioned. If Nir’a vanished from the Vetria estate, it may have come here. As the one responsible for the East, I came here to confirm that.”
As she finished speaking, Stella once again surveyed the area. The mist surrounding the forest had thickened like smoke, to the point that anyone not in close proximity appeared as hazy figures. It felt like being trapped behind frosted glass.
Being near a waterfall could explain it, but the sensation was unsettling. There were few things more dangerous than a place where visibility was compromised.
“If the fog is this dense, it’d be safer to reschedule the forest search and focus on guarding the area today.”
Seiyad made the suggestion to prevent unnecessary accidents, but Stella replied in a conflicted tone.
“That would be nice, but this forest is always like this. It’s the same no matter when you come.”
“Then we should each tie a light cord around our waists so we don’t get separated.”
“Good idea. The Marquess’s villa where Lady Charlotte is staying is nearby—I’ll send a knight to fetch some.”
Stella clapped her hands, agreeing cheerfully. At that moment, Ressas, who had been quietly listening, asked her a question with a faint hint of concern.
“Did the Marquess of Saklani mention me in the letter he sent asking for aid?”
“No, not explicitly. But he did say that since they were going to capture Nir’a, they should not forget to bring a Guide. Since Your Highness is the only one currently capable of Purification, it didn’t strike me as an unusual request.”
It was a reasonable suggestion, given that no one knew how large or numerous Nir’a might be. Yet even after hearing that, Ressas’s expression remained unsettled.
“Are you alright, Your Highness?”
In the end, Seiyad couldn’t hold back and spoke. He’d been restraining himself, not wanting to seem out of character by addressing Ressas in front of others—but his worry overcame that.
“There’s something that bothers me. If the core disappeared from Vetria’s forest, then Nir’a shouldn’t be able to emerge from the Eastern woods anymore. So why… only here…”
Ressas’s words were abruptly cut off. Before he could finish, a scream rang out from beyond the mist.
“Aaaagh! Help! Somebody help! A monster…!”
It wasn’t a single voice, but dozens. The desperate screams of those on the brink of death tore through the air, and all eyes turned toward the forest.
