Chapter 23
They arrived at the Imperial Capital two days later.
“Master!”
The hotel manager, as noisy and dramatic as ever, did not recognize Celine at all—not when she was dressed head-to-toe like a noble lady.
“Oh my, aren’t you the new hero from the North? Sir Rute, wasn’t it? Word of your achievements reached even here.”
Celine awkwardly smiled, shook his hand, and hurried upstairs.
“…Did that bother you?”
Leonhardt asked carefully behind her.
“No?”
“I meant what he said. If you were even a little offended—”
Celine frowned slightly.
“Why would I be offended? It’s normal he didn’t recognize me.”
“……”
Leonhardt still looked uneasy, but Celine didn’t pay attention.
“We should go. You said we’re meeting the Crown Prince tomorrow afternoon.”
“…Alright.”
Soon, they arrived at the cursed mansion.
The outer walls were just as they had been—covered in mold and ivy, the yard just as desolate as when she left.
“…Haa.”
Celine let out a bitter sigh.
She really, really didn’t want to be here.
Especially not considering what she had to do in this place.
But if she wanted to live like a human being again, she had to break the curse.
They crossed the dead yard and approached the entrance.
“…What?”
Leonhardt’s puzzled voice echoed.
The mansion’s antique doors were boarded up. Thick planks and heavy chains were wrapped around the handles.
Before Celine could move, Leonhardt slashed through the boards and chains with Lashir and pushed the doors open.
A sickening creak rang out.
Leonhardt cautiously looked inside—and groaned.
“What is it?”
“……”
He froze, unable to speak. Celine stepped in beside him.
“…!”
Her mouth went dry.
Not far from the entrance lay a brown, dried stain. The shape was still clear—small, child-sized.
Celine felt her blood turn to ice.
With no one left to chase intruders away, children had probably treated this place like a bravery test…
And one kid died here.
The villagers must have found the body and boarded up the door.
Leonhardt said something under his breath, but Celine couldn’t move.
A child died here.
A child.
Who was it?
She couldn’t even remember their names.
She remembered several innocent faces—kids who had tried to talk to her—but she had never reached back.
Suddenly, Leonhardt’s low voice cut through her thoughts.
“It isn’t your fault.”
“What?”
Celine flinched.
“It’s not your fault.”
Leonhardt continued slowly.
“I know… part of you thinks you should’ve stayed. Driven kids away. Anyone would think that.”
Celine’s body trembled. Guilt crashed over her like waves.
“I was the one who rushed you to leave. I didn’t even give you time to think.”
“…It was thoughtless.”
“Yeah. I was thoughtless.”
Celine knew he was talking nonsense.
She was the one who should have thought of the danger.
She should have at least boarded up the entrance herself.
But she knew Leonhardt was trying to relieve her guilt, so instead of arguing, she sighed.
After tonight, I’m shutting this place down. Permanently.
She swallowed and looked up at Leonhardt. He looked relieved, as if he thought she’d calmed down.
I have to tell him.
Every time Leonhardt asked what she planned to do here, she had avoided answering.
Celine closed her eyes, then opened them.
“I have a favor to ask.”
“Anything.”
He placed a hand on her shoulder—warm, steady, trusting.
“Chase me. Like that day.”
“…What?”
He blinked, as if he misheard.
“Chase me like when you thought I was the Dark Witch. You don’t have to kill me. Just… come after me with everything you’ve got. Don’t actually catch me.”
“I truly don’t understand.”
His voice trembled faintly.
“Aren’t we here to break the curse?”
Celine nodded.
“I know it sounds strange. And I know I’m asking something difficult. But… this is the only way.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then I’ll just do it alone. Pretend I’m being chased. Just… please don’t laugh.”
She tried to joke, but her face wouldn’t move. It came out stiff and painful.
“……”
Leonhardt couldn’t say yes.
But he couldn’t say no either.
She had thrown her life away to save his.
What had he ever done for her?
Even if her request made no sense, the least he could do was honor it.
“…Fine.”
Celine’s eyes widened. A small smile bloomed on her lips.
“Thank you.”
Leonhardt decided that smile was enough.
A moment later—
“Start.”
The instant Celine spoke, Leonhardt sprinted.
“Watch out!”
He barely took two steps before a massive mounted beast—taxidermied—fell from above, aiming its horns straight at Celine.
His body reacted faster than thought.
Lashir flashed free, and Leonhardt launched toward the beast.
-CLANG!
Lashir struck a huge wall of ice—Celine’s ice.
The ice dissolved instantly. The beast crashed harmlessly into the floor, horns breaking and rolling away.
By the time he looked up, Celine was gone.
He spotted dusty footprints and ran.
Footsteps echoed through the empty halls—hunter and prey.
Not bad. I can do this.
Celine jumped over a fifth trap with a burst of wind.
The horrors of the past months had faded. She hadn’t expected the traps to still be operating.
If she’d returned powerless, she would have died several times already.
But she wasn’t powerless anymore.
“Hah—!”
A massive steel trap snapped from the floor. Celine shoved a block of ice into its jaws.
-SNAP!
It crushed the ice instead of her leg.
With each trap avoided, hope bloomed in her chest.
Maybe I can really clear this stage.
But fear grew alongside it.
She passed the final floor. Only the roof remained.
The one place she had never crossed.
Because she died here.
She pushed open the attic hatch. Hinges squealed and dust exploded into the air.
Nothing had changed.
It looked exactly as it did the day she met Leonhardt.
Celine coughed on dust and opened the window. Winter wind cut into the room.
It’s fine.
She could control the wind now. If she slipped, she could form icicles and climb back up.
Slowly, she stepped out onto the roof.
—Celine…!
Leonhardt screamed internally.
Her trembling movements, her wind-tossed golden hair, the white cape—she looked exactly as she had that day.
The day he killed her.
He froze, unable to move.
He wanted to grab her, drag her away from the edge.
But she had begged him.
Don’t catch me.
Minutes passed, long and unbearable.
Celine reached the edge and looked down.
Nothing but distant ground.
She knew exactly what came next.
Then—she jumped.
“CELINE!”
Leonhardt’s roar was almost animalistic.
He reached the edge in only a few steps.
No sound of impact.
Maybe she was hanging from the ledge. Maybe—
He leaned over.
…What?
She wasn’t on the roof’s edge.
She wasn’t on the ground.
The view outside the mansion was gone.
Only black, swirling storm clouds filled his vision.
“Leonhardt!”
Her voice echoed from far below.
“Jump!”
He jumped without thinking.
Darkness swallowed him.
Then—solid ground.
He drew Lashir and ignited its flame. A long underground corridor stretched out before him, damp and suffocating.
…Underground?
He had fallen from a roof into a basement.
But he wasn’t surprised. This mansion was filled with secrets.
He ran.
-CLANG!
Lashir sliced through rising spikes.
-CLANG!
Fireballs fell, but vanished against Lashir’s arc.
-CLANG!
The floor opened beneath him; he drove Lashir into the wall and climbed out.
“Hah… hah…”
This mansion wasn’t suspicious—it was lethal.
I’ll report this when we get back.
Strangely, there was no trace of dark magic.
Ahead, something glimmered—golden hair.
Leonhardt slowed.
This is it…!
Celine silently cheered.
Finally—the end of the first stage.
A small ornate box sat at the end of the corridor.
Her hands trembled as she picked it up. It vibrated faintly.
Click.
The lid opened.
Her pale blue eyes flew wide—
End of chapter.
