A small whirlwind swept past Cecilia. Her silvery, flickering eyes returned to their natural black as she blinked.
“…Oppa? What was that just now?”
Cecilia glanced around the clearing, her eyes wide with confusion. She seemed to have no memory of what the Moon had said while using her body. Seiyad gently calmed his bewildered sister.
“It looks like the being you met in your dream borrowed your body for a moment. You don’t remember anything at all?”
“Mmm, it just felt warm and cozy, like I was sleeping. I don’t remember anything else.”
While Seiyad stroked Cecilia’s head to comfort her, Ressas approached. Seeing the small scratches all over him from tumbling around made Seiyad reach out as soon as he came close. His large hand gently brushed over her soft skin, checking for injuries.
“Are you hurt anywhere, Your Highness?”
As his thumb caressed her cheek, Ressas quietly nodded. He showed no interest in his own wounds, his gaze instead shifting intently to Seiyad.
“I’m fine. What about Eid? And Cecilia?”
His solemn eyes scanned Seiyad from head to toe, and Seiyad realized the seriousness came from guilt—Ressas felt responsible, knowing he couldn’t heal Seiyad even if he were injured. Wanting to reassure him, Seiyad exaggerated on purpose.
“I’m perfectly fine. But for someone so worried about me getting hurt, you sure were quick to order me to go alone.”
“…That was my mistake. I’m sorry, Eid.”
It had only been a lighthearted jab, but guilt flashed across Ressas’s face. His eyes welled with tears, and he continued with visible remorse.
“Now that I think about it, you could’ve been hurt fighting those things. I was so stupid, I didn’t even consider that. I got caught up in other things and completely forgot what really mattered… I’m a damn fool.”
Cecilia, startled by his self-reproach that bordered on self-loathing, quickly tried to soothe him.
“Your Highness, it’s okay! No one got hurt!”
She’d meant to shake him from the mindset of trying to go off alone again, but Ressas’s overly serious reaction made Seiyad’s chest twist. Seeing his reddened eyes made the ground feel like it was crumbling beneath him. He’d promised himself to bring only happiness, yet he had ended up making him cry.
“No, Your Highness. I was just sulking because you didn’t want to stay by my side. You did nothing wrong. There’s no reason to involve others in something I can handle alone. What you said was entirely reasonable.”
“He’s right.”
With Cecilia chiming in, Ressas’s shaken expression softened a little. Wanting to comfort him further as he blinked away tears clinging to his lashes, Seiyad hurried to change the subject.
“Anyway, we’ve got the sword now, so everything’s done. We just need to get out of the forest and head to the capital. By now, Stella should’ve arrived too. Let’s hope Count Miriam makes it on time.”
With that, Seiyad looked down at the Holy Death in his left hand. The sacred relic, which the Moon had claimed was forged from her very flesh, shimmered with a radiant silver glow. Holding something that had only ever been wielded by royalty gave him an odd feeling. He offered the sword to Ressas.
“It was originally a royal relic. Would Your Highness like to keep it? I only need it when fighting the devil.”
“No, the relic belongs to you, Eid. To me, it’s a meaningless sword.”
“If you intend to accept the title of Crown Prince, then it should be returned to Your Highness.”
“I don’t need to become Crown Prince anymore, so it doesn’t matter. The title was only necessary to protect you and draw out my brother. It was never a role that suited me.”
Ressas spoke like someone who had let go of all hope. Seiyad furrowed his brows and tried to correct his mindset.
“If someone as upright and righteous as Your Highness doesn’t become Crown Prince, then who possibly could? Once everything is over, you should enjoy the place you rightfully deserve.”
“The only thing I’m good at is swinging a sword. I couldn’t even protect my own Tither. How could someone like me protect an entire kingdom?”
So that’s where all his self-doubt had been coming from—this belief that he wasn’t worthy.
It was true that Ressas had lived a life far removed from the usual education of a Crown Prince, and compared to Aster, his experience was lacking. But the most crucial qualities for ruling a nation were leadership and compassion. Anything he lacked in knowledge could be supplemented by the bureaucrats.
Seiyad wanted to explain all that, but Ressas gave a small smile, lightening the mood. His expression shifted to one of ease, and he stepped back before issuing an order.
“We really don’t have much time. We’ve finished what we came here for, so let’s leave the forest.”
As if in response to his words, the ground suddenly trembled. The vibration, like a stampede, was something they’d felt before in the southern forest. Before anyone could say a word, everyone began scanning their surroundings. All around, Nir’a began rising from slumber.
Everything in the forest that had been asleep was now awakening and starting to move as one toward an unseen destination. A horrifying sight of blood-red eyes shifting en masse spread before them.
…They must’ve noticed the relic is gone. The monsters that had remained dormant all this time suddenly awoke the moment the sword was taken. Aster must have figured it out.
“It looks like we won’t be able to leave the forest just yet, Your Highness.”
Drawing his sword, Seiyad reached out with his other hand to summon power—but Ressas grabbed him.
“No. To end all of this, we need to go to the capital. Nir’a has no interest in the north anyway. They’re only responding to my brother’s call, so they’ll head straight for the capital.”
Ressas was always right, but it was hard to ignore what was right in front of their eyes. That’s when Cecilia stepped in.
“Let’s cut our way through as many of them as we can while making our way out of the forest. Oppa, if you’re worried about leaving the north unguarded, I’ll stay behind at the castle. With my power and the knights, I should be able to handle a good number of the Nir’a. We can evacuate the townspeople into the fortress and request help from Lady Selfini.”
Cecilia’s suggestion was more than reasonable. If, as Ressas had said, the Nir’a were all heading to the capital, then the quickest way to end this was to kill the Devil as soon as possible. If Cecilia stayed to protect the north, they could proceed with much less concern.
“Then let’s not waste any more time. Let’s move.”
With the decision made, they plunged into the swarming Nir’a. They left behind only those that the knights could manage, cutting down the mid-level and stronger ones as they pushed through the forest. As the deep night faded and dawn broke, the sun rose overhead—but just like in the south, the bright daylight didn’t stop the Nir’a. They moved in herds, like stampeding buffalo.
Thanks to their strengthened powers, dispatching the Nir’a wasn’t too difficult, but the real issue was stamina. Without Ressas, Seiyad would have collapsed long ago. He was using his abilities non-stop, and not only was there backlash, but physical exhaustion built up fast. Even the act of escaping the forest drained their strength. Just as Ressas had said—there was no time to spare.
By the time they finally emerged from the forest and into open space, it was already afternoon. Cecilia, though clearly worn out, did her best not to show it. They made their way to the village where their horses were tied, ready to return to the castle—but there, Seiyad encountered an unexpected face. Tiaki, whom he hadn’t seen for months, appeared before them with a woman he’d never met.
“Duke!”
Seiyad narrowed his eyes at the unexpected reunion. Encounters with Tiaki rarely brought good news.
“Haah, if I’d been even a little late, we would’ve wasted precious time.”
Tiaki ran up to him in a tattered state. His companion looked just as ragged, like someone who’d been through countless battles. The woman, with her green hair tied up high, appeared to be around the same age as Tiaki.
“What are you doing here? Weren’t you in the capital?”
“I was! But then the capital went to hell, so I came straight here to find you. There’s no time to explain, we need to go!”
“What happened in the capital?”
Cecilia cut in, prompting Tiaki to look at her with wide eyes.
“You must be the Duke’s sister. You two look exactly alike. Hello, beautiful lady.”
“Spare me the nightmare and just explain.”
“Even your temperament is the same…”
Just where that tired, worn-out bastard found the energy to play coy was anyone’s guess, but it was Ressas who, uncharacteristically, stepped forward. The usual smile on his face vanished as he issued a chilling command.
“Just report what happened.”
The moment he spoke, a suffocating pressure emanated from him. Seiyad was stunned—he had never seen Ressas act this hostile before. Tiaki looked even more startled, quickly straightening up to deliver his report. Unlike his usual flippant tone with Seiyad, he now spoke with rare formality.
“S-Some kind of monstrous creature appeared in the capital and everything’s gone to hell. Over a few hundred people are already dead. A massive shadow has wrapped around the palace, completely occupying it. The King, Queen, and everyone inside have been taken hostage. It all happened last night.”
Ressas’s expression hardened. He had expected Aster to act directly, but not this fast or this aggressively. He’d anticipated some kind of attack from the calculations they’d made back at the marquess’s estate, but the speed of this one suggested a different trigger. It had to be the sword. Taking possession of the relic must’ve accelerated Aster’s plan.
“We need to leave immediately. Your Highness, let’s head to the castle. If Count Miriam is on his way, he’ll come there.”
“Unfortunately, the Tither at the palace is dead. When the palace was taken, the King tried to send her away, but by the time we got there, she’d already been killed. I don’t know who did it, but it looked like the work of a person.”
Seiyad cursed under his breath. It was entirely possible, given all the eyes watching every move. He realized now he might have been too careless.
Tiaki quickly followed up, trying to ease the blow.
“I’ll explain more on the way. My companion here—her name’s Lulu—has abilities similar to the Tither. She’s nowhere near Count Miriam’s level, but with her help, we can probably reach the capital within a day. We’ve got the strongest Guide right now, so we’ll make it somehow!”
The woman beside him added, a little unsure of herself.
“I can only teleport small distances at a time… unlike the palace Tither. It’s going to be very dizzying…”
“It doesn’t matter. In this situation, we’ll take anything. Let’s move now.”
Grateful that Tiaki had come, sincerely trying to help, Seiyad placed his hands on Cecilia’s shoulders. His sister smiled as if to say not to worry.
“Oppa, I’ll be safe. Leave the territory to me and come back safely!”
Speaking with extra brightness on purpose, Cecilia turned to Ressas as well and made her request.
“Your Highness, please take care of my brother.”
Moved by her kind words, Ressas gave a faint smile.
“I will, Cecilia. Don’t worry. No matter what happens, I’ll protect Eid.”
A soft golden light flickered in Ressas’s eyes as he whispered those words, then vanished. He turned and extended a hand toward the woman, his movement smooth and practiced, as if he’d done it countless times.
“Let’s go. Even now, someone is dying.”
Lulu studied Ressas with curiosity, then extended her hand to Seiyad as well.
“I don’t know how you knew, but I can only teleport those I physically touch. Tiaki, you’ll have to find your own way to the capital.”
“Thanks a bunch.”
Tiaki shot her a wry look as she winked like she was wishing him good luck. At his cue, Seiyad grasped her hand. The moment the three of them were connected, their bodies were pulled into the air, their vision flipping inside out.
Okay things are ramping up!