Chapter 76……………………
“Ast still hasn’t shown up among the ones who passed?”
Mari nodded faintly with a grim expression at Roziana, who was startled.
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
Since the sun had risen high into the sky, the number of those who cleared the trial had gradually increased, while some gave up midway and returned, unable to reach the summit.
But whether successful or withdrawn, among the returnees there was no sign of Asterios.
Roziana, waiting while sipping her afternoon tea, felt as if her blood was drying up.
The only thing keeping her calm was the faint thread of Asterios’s mana still connected to her. If she had not felt that trace of his presence at all, she would already have rushed up the mountain to look for him.
Perhaps it was because she had once seen a vision of his corpse in rags.
Whenever she closed her eyes, she feared he might return to her horribly wounded, and so she couldn’t get a wink of sleep.
It was already five in the afternoon.
Only four hours remained until the end of the first round.
As her turn came to greet the passers and stamp their chokers, Roziana thought now she would be satisfied if Asterios only returned alive.
“When the end time passes, I’ll go and search for him myself. Mari, prepare as well.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Since it was still during the competition and eyes were watching, she could not even ask Ijef or Edwin if they had seen Asterios. Roziana was gradually reaching the limit of her patience.
If she had known that the competition she had organized would put Asterios in such danger, she would have devised another way.
Ast being this late is strange no matter how I think about it.
Even Ijef and Edwin, who had passed the round quickly, were still waiting at the staging area instead of returning to the detached palace—perhaps they were thinking the same.
Just then, Prince William came out from the tent and handed Roziana a document.
“Rozi, here’s the list of those who’ve passed so far, along with the totals you were curious about.”
“Thank you, Brother.”
Roziana accepted the list with both hands. Out of the 78 who had entered this first trial, 24 had passed.
“There are still 19 who haven’t returned. 35 withdrew midway and gave up…”
Nearly half had failed to reach the summit and dropped out.
“Nineteen…”
And among them was the one she was waiting for.
Roziana ran her eyes down the names listed in order.
Most of the passers were gifted individuals—those with holy power, knights wielding dragon strength, magicians, or unique ability holders like Mephisto.
Ordinary participants had been unable to overcome the challenges posed by the mountain of illusions.
No matter how I think about it, it’s strange Ast hasn’t passed yet.
At that moment—
“Aaagh!”
A scream tore through the air, and the mountain’s base descended into chaos.
“What’s going on?”
Imperial knights who had been on standby rushed over. Soon, urgent cries for help were heard.
“Emergency!”
“Healers and physicians, quickly here!”
Someone was clearly in critical condition. The atmosphere at the mountain’s foot froze instantly.
Roziana dashed forward, throwing herself into the commotion.
No…
Please, no!
If the injured one was Asterios, she could not just sit still.
Cold dread pierced through her whole body.
When she arrived, she saw one trembling participant and a corpse lying bloodied as if it had tumbled down.
The corpse had a gaping hole near the heart, and the face was so mangled it could not be recognized.
“!”
Seeing the corpse clad in a black cloak, Roziana’s face drained white.
Imperial healers and physicians calmed the panicked participant and moved him aside. Knights inspected the body to identify it.
Beneath the ruined face, a choker was still visible around the neck—proof that it had been a participant. The garments were soaked in blood from the shattered chest, their original color indistinguishable.
No… it can’t be. I—I must confirm…
Just as her trembling hand reached toward the corpse—
Tap.
A large hand caught hers.
“It’s dangerous.”
At the same time, a low voice pierced her ears, cutting off the flood of dread and terror running through her.
That familiar voice and scent made Roziana’s eyes well up instantly.
“Ah…”
It was Asterios.
With the late afternoon sun at his back, he wore a faint smile.
Kneeling before her, Asterios bowed and kissed her hand.
“I beg your pardon for causing worry, Your Highness. I am late.”
“…Now that you’re back, that’s enough. Congratulations on passing, Ast.”
Roziana swallowed her tears quickly and turned to the knights.
“The body’s identity and cause of death must be confirmed without fail.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Crown Prince Alex, having rushed over at the report, assessed the situation and issued orders.
“Raiden and Tempest Knights, escort the passers safely back to the palace. Blaze Knights, remain alert until all participants have returned! Healers and physicians, thoroughly check that no other participants are in poor condition!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Knights and healers busily moved the corpse and guided the shocked participant away.
Roziana returned to the checkpoint with Asterios. When he knelt, she pressed her seal onto his choker.
A golden griffin with outstretched wings shone upon it.
Within two hours, things had mostly calmed. The corpse had been discovered when a descending participant tripped over it and screamed. The body was covered in fractures, abrasions, and internal injuries.
“He must have fallen from a high cliff near the summit and died. Rolling down the mountain could explain the abrasions and organ damage or loss. Though… the state of the body is still strange.”
The physicians looked perplexed.
“What we cannot explain is how the body ended up all the way at the entrance. Even accounting for postmortem stiffness, a corpse does not simply roll down on its own.”
“Perhaps, under illusion, someone mistook it for something else and moved it… though that’s uncertain.”
No one had seen the body earlier that night or witnessed it being moved. The estimated time of death was dawn, not midday.
The body moving on its own was unlikely, and none of the returnees bore bloodstained clothing.
Hearing this, Crown Prince Alex and Prince William’s expressions darkened.
“Since the identity is known, have the body transported to the palace. Word has already been sent ahead—they will be prepared.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
When the chaos subsided and only an hour remained until the end time, all had either passed or withdrawn, except for the one found dead.
Only after the remaining 77 had come down did the dead participant’s identity become clear.
He was the eldest son of Baron Bavilner, known as an exceptional administrator with keen calculation skills.
“A precious talent, lost. I’ll inform Father first.”
“Yes, Brother. I’ll see you at the palace.”
The procession was led back by Crown Prince Alex, with Roziana following behind. William, under orders, escorted the other participants to the detached palace.
“Come to my chamber once we arrive at the palace.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Bowing, Asterios received her order. The escort of Roziana’s carriage was handled by Mari and the three companions, while Asterios was excluded. Once the princess boarded, the carriage rattled off toward the palace.
“Why did it take you so long?”
As soon as Asterios entered her chamber, Roziana immediately pressed him with the question that had been tormenting her. Her eyes alone told how deeply she had worried for him.
Mari quietly closed the door, leaving the two of them alone, and stationed herself outside.
“I apologize for making you worry. There was something I needed to confirm.”
“Sigh… I thought you might have met the same fate as that man earlier—my heart nearly stopped. What was it you had to confirm?”
Exhaling in relief, Roziana gazed at him, and Asterios, with a regretful look, explained slowly.
“Did Your Highness not also experience the illusions of the Secret Fog more than once?”
“Yes. I clearly thought the illusions were gone, only to realize I was still within them. That was what I found strange.”
“Indeed. On the way back to the palace, I checked with Edwin and Ijef. I also listened to the accounts of others. In conclusion—aside from you and me, everyone either experienced the illusion only once, or not at all.”
“Only once—or not at all?”
Roziana’s eyes widened. The revelation was so shocking it felt like a dream.
How could that be?
“We’ll need to investigate if there are exceptions, and the cause as well.”
“I already have a rough idea. It was meant to put you and me in danger—and to keep us apart.”
“…Could it be Mephisto?”
“…It’s too soon to say. But…”
Asterios recalled the warning he had heard all too clearly.
“…what’s certain is this: it is someone who bears me a deep grudge.”
