CHAPTER 65…………………………………
“Ter, please take good care of Krimu.”
“Don’t worry. Have a safe trip.”
Since the Duke would be leaving, Tereseurus agreed to stay behind at the mansion to look after Krimu.
Then I, along with Kautz and the Duke, gathered in one place.
There was no need to bring soldiers.
After all, when the greatest swordmaster of the Empire, Getre Kereis, was personally going, who else would be needed?
On top of that, Kautz was a former magic researcher with extensive knowledge about herbs and energies found in the forest.
And lastly—though I hadn’t told the Duke yet—I could now use magic as well.
So even if we were only three people, our group was actually quite formidable.
“Then, let’s depart.”
We purposely chose the evening, just as the sun was beginning to set.
Because I couldn’t stop thinking about what Rose had once told me:
‘If you ever need to go to the Trensia Forest, I recommend going during the deep night when everyone’s asleep. Only then can you hear the secret the forest tries to tell.’
Flash!
A bright white light flared from the teleport.
In the blink of an eye, the three of us arrived in the northern Trensia Forest.
*
The eastern side of the Trensia Forest wasn’t originally an entrance.
But because we didn’t want to get caught, we avoided the official entrance and instead stood before a tiny opening hidden in a side path.
Once we pushed through the vines, we would be inside the forest.
“……”
The Duke stepped forward without changing expression.
But even though he tried to appear calm, the tips of his cold fingers trembled faintly.
I wondered how many years it had been since he last came here.
When Ron went missing, he had practically lived in this forest—tens, no, hundreds of times.
Swinging his sword like a madman, killing monsters, screaming in despair.
But the missing child never returned.
Shhk.
As his hand gripped the sharp blade, blood welled up and dripped onto the ground.
Memories he had buried deep inside were overflowing.
He squeezed harder, letting the blood flow freely, and reached out his hand.
A strange ripple—an unseen distortion in the air—shattered with a tak sound.
“The barrier is undone. Let’s go.”
At the Duke’s words, Kautz and I followed.
The air was damp, as if it had rained during the night.
Each step left a dark footprint on the wet ground.
It wasn’t particularly cold, but the eerie chill seeped into my bones.
“This way.”
If the Duke hadn’t visited the forest several times in the past, we would’ve gotten lost endlessly in this maze-like place.
Any monster or wild beast that appeared, the Duke took down instantly.
Thud. Clang!
He didn’t even blink while doing it.
Watching those monsters fall effortlessly reminded me again how truly powerful he was.
‘He’s seriously strong…’
Thankfully, in this situation I had no need to reveal my magic.
There was simply no point in me stepping forward.
We walked through dense trees, past muddy puddles, deeper and deeper into the forest.
Because we’d entered through a side path instead of the main entrance, it was still a long way to the spot where Ron had disappeared.
Though none of us complained, both Kautz and I were becoming exhausted.
Walking endlessly through a damp, cold forest on a sinking mud path weighed heavily on the body.
‘No. I need to focus!’
Especially when I looked at the Duke—
he was throwing himself forward with single-minded intensity.
He must’ve looked just like this in the past when he had searched the forest in desperation.
I hurried to keep up.
Darkness fell quickly under the forest canopy.
We ran through the silence.
I had no idea how much time had passed when—
“—Ah!”
I suddenly realized there was no sign of anyone around me.
Just moments ago, we’d all been running together.
“Kautz? Father? …Kautz?”
I called out, but no reply came.
Just as I was about to use magic, I noticed something.
The atmosphere here… felt different.
Not like the forest anymore—it was as if I stood in the middle of a sky full of stars.
And then—
Someone is here.
A powerful force tugged at me, drawing my gaze.
Between the trees, a giant glowing staff floated, radiating light.
“…Who’s there?!”
The staff pulsed, and a heavy echoing voice rang out.
—I am the guardian deity of the Trensia Forest.
“You… really are the guardian deity?”
—Yes.
I could hardly believe it at first, but the overwhelming energy, the voice ringing clearly in my ears—
nothing else could explain it.
“Where are my father and Kautz?”
—They continue running toward their destination. They feel as though you are running beside them. I made it so.
I stared at the shimmering staff, my thoughts tangled.
“Why did you appear to me?”
—This world is meant to follow its destined flow. But there is an intruder… so I summoned you.
“You mean I am the intruder?”
A low chuckle echoed from the staff, shimmering with dark glints.
—You were born with a wicked power. But your soul is not evil.
“……!”
—However, you must not change the destinies of others.
He was talking about my soul possessing the body of Maryanne.
I steadied myself and asked,
“Are you the one who brought my soul into this world?”
—I care nothing for such trifles. Only my prophecy matters.
“…And what prophecy is that?”
The lights around me burst outward, then gathered again—
forming a vivid scene.
Just like in the novel—
the future Kereis family torn apart in a river of blood.
“…Shevert and Maryanne!”
Shevert drenched in blood.
An evil Maryanne who stole the male lead and female lead.
A horrifying fate.
And another—
“Ron… Ron!”
Ron Kereis, radiating terrifying malice.
He swung his sword at everyone in sight, expressionless.
His blade suddenly turned toward me.
Our eyes met—cold, murderous.
“……!”
As Ron rushed toward me, the vision shattered, returning to the flickering staff.
—This is the future that awaits. Do not try to change it. Accept the prophecy.
“Haa… haa…”
Fear gripped me, but anger rose from deep within.
Don’t change anything?
Accept the prophecy?
Why?
Why should I?
After everything I’d done to avoid that future—
how could I accept it now?
Tears spilled down my cheeks.
I rubbed them away and lifted my head.
“No. I won’t. I refuse.”
—You dare defy a guardian deity?
“I don’t want to watch the people I care about suffer.
I’ll change it. No matter how hard it is, I’ll change everything!”
I would prove it—
that Ron, Shevert, and Maryanne wouldn’t become like that.
Forget the original story.
I would shape this world.
The lights shook violently.
Was the guardian angry?
No.
He was laughing again.
—Hahaha… Very well. I am curious to see what becomes of you.
“…Anne!”
A voice broke into the sealed space—
the Duke’s.
This was my chance.
“Father! Fatherrrr!”
Suddenly the air tore open, and the glowing sphere around me vanished.
“Young lady! Why are you shouting like that?”
“Anne! Are you hurt?”
They were right in front of me—as if they’d never been gone.
“Haa… no. It’s nothing.”
I needed time.
I couldn’t tell them about the guardian deity right now.
I might accidentally mention the novel.
“I think I ran too hard. My head hurt for a bit. I’m fine now.”
“Can you continue, young lady?”
“Yes.”
The Duke checked my expression again, then resumed walking.
“We’re almost there.”
“Okay.”
Before long, a faint light appeared ahead, revealing a barren clearing.
But looking closely, it wasn’t originally a clearing—
tree stumps remained here and there, as if the area had once been a dense forest.
“This is it. The place where I lost Ron.”
The Duke exhaled deeply, scanning the surroundings.
What must he be feeling, returning to the place he lost his child?
I stepped toward the center.
The cold earth seeped through my shoes.
Ron…
I couldn’t help turning around repeatedly, half expecting to see a small Ron behind me.
But only darkness filled the forest.
“I was hunting with him. You may think it strange that a child so young was hunting, but in the Kereis family, once a child could walk and speak, they were taken to the forest. I did it. Shevert did too.”
“What if the child got hurt? What if something worse happened?”
“They would have called the child weak and unworthy. Only the strong may survive.”
“……”
It was horrifying.
To bring a small child into a forest crawling with monsters…
“But a child going missing was unprecedented. After that, no one returned to this forest.”
I thought of Ron again.
No matter what the family tradition was, he must have been terrified and lonely.
Then—
Rustle.
We all froze and turned toward the sound.
At that moment—
