TABML 28

Episode 28

“Are you just going to keep standing there like that?”

Sylas slowly approached Katrina, who hadn’t moved an inch.

“I came from very far just to see you.”

“……”

“Really far.”

Finally, the man stood right in front of Katrina.

“I didn’t even stop to rest. I rode nonstop to get here.”

Katrina held her breath.

Sylas knelt on one knee in front of her, as if to meet her eyes.

His yellow irises glowed fiercely.

As their eyes met, Sylas let out a vicious smile.

“To see you.”

Her mouth felt dry.

Sylas slowly glanced around.

“Don’t worry. I didn’t kill anyone.”

“……”

“I just made the environment a little more suitable for a conversation.”

He stood up.

As the distance between them suddenly grew after being so close, Katrina watched him warily.

His steps moved leisurely.

Then, he grabbed the reins of the carriage.

“Get in.”

Thump — he tapped the carriage.

“Now.”

His voice was cold and commanding.

Katrina rolled her eyes, scanning the area.

All her guards were unconscious. There was no one left to protect her.

She couldn’t call for help, either.

There was no way out.

Four years ago.

Katrina had personally reported Sylas.

For murder.

And Sylas had been sentenced to three years in prison.

I never thought I’d see him again…

Sylas went to prison, and Katrina returned home.

But now the roles had reversed.

She had returned — and Sylas had escaped.

This was insane.

Clatter, clatter.

In the end, Sylas climbed into the carriage.

Maybe it was his first time driving one, because the ride was rough and shaky.

Katrina instinctively pressed herself into a corner, struggling to maintain her balance.

Where is he even taking me?

It seemed like they were heading farther into a remote area.

The uncertainty of their destination filled her with unease.

God, really…

What was she supposed to do in this situation?

There was no way Katrina could handle Sylas on her own.

He’s clearly here for revenge.

She couldn’t think of any good options.

Should she just surrender to fate?

Was this the end? If she died, would she be free?

Would Sylas even let her die peacefully…?

While she was consumed by these thoughts—

The carriage jolted violently to a stop.

The wheels slid over gravel with a grinding sound, and then all was still.

Where…?

Where were they?

Katrina peered out the window to check her surroundings.

Oh…

She saw it.

A jagged cliff edge, where the wind howled fiercely.

Below lay a dense forest and rocks fading into the distant darkness.

Under a sky choked with black clouds, the endless drop of the cliff sent chills down her spine.

This is insane.

What is he thinking, bringing me all the way here?

No matter how she pictured the future, only grim outcomes came to mind.

Katrina instinctively reached for the carriage door.

…She couldn’t get out now.

But at that very moment, the opposite door was yanked open.

Her arm twisted weakly, and the door flew open.

Cold night wind brushed against her cheek.

In a nonchalant voice, Sylas asked:

“Nice weather, isn’t it?”

His cheerful tone made her skin crawl.

“…What do you want from me?”

Katrina decided not to waste any more time.

She glanced briefly down the cliff.

Whether by choice or force, falling meant certain death.

Gritting her teeth, Katrina asked:

“…Why did you bring me all the way here?”

“No real reason. There’s no one around.”

“……”

“You know, I’m a wanted man.”

His bright red hair fluttered in the wind. Katrina silently watched the enigmatic smile on Sylas’s face.

“Are you scared?”

“……”

“Well, you should be. Do you remember what you did to me?”

“……”

“I went through hell these past four years, you know?”

“……”

“You’re unusually quiet today. Say something.”

What could she possibly say in this situation?

All Katrina could do was keep her mouth shut.

“…So what is it you want from me?”

Sylas was silent for a moment.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“……”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“……”

“There’s a lot I want to do, though.”

What the hell…

Their cold eyes clashed.

The carriage door was already open, and the wind rushed inside violently.

Sylas stood outside the door, looking down at her.

As their eyes met, he slowly stepped toward the carriage.

“Wait, Sylas…”

Before Katrina could even finish her sentence, his foot moved abruptly toward the side of the carriage.

In that instant, it felt like time slowed.

With a loud THUD!, the carriage was kicked and sent rolling off the cliff.

This lunatic!

Still seated, Katrina was thrown back, clinging desperately to a handle.

Even as the carriage rocked and tilted, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Sylas.

A chilling smile spread across his face. His gaze completely overpowered her.

The carriage plummeted down.

Katrina held her breath in shock.

It crashed and tumbled down the sharp rocks of the cliff.

Ha…

If she had still been inside that thing…

This insane man had kicked the carriage off the cliff and yanked Katrina out at the same time.

For a moment, she genuinely thought she would die.

Katrina collapsed, clutching her racing heart.

“Ahahaha!”

But that lunatic just laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world.

“Man, I’m so glad I got out of prison.”

“……”

“This moment — I love it.”

Katrina hated this moment.

“Let’s go.”

Sylas pulled on her arm.

…Go? Where?

“Now that the carriage’s gone, they’ll be searching the bottom of the cliff for a while.”

“……”

“They’ll think you’re dead and start looking for your body.”

Katrina realized what he had done.

He wants me to be presumed dead?

“If that happens, you’ll be a murderer again.”

If he really hadn’t killed her guards, they’d eventually testify after waking up.

“You should go back now.”

She could only hope he’d come to his senses and leave.

“Before you cause any more trouble and get a longer sentence…”

“I have no intention of going back.”

“……”

“I came to take you with me.”

He wasn’t listening.

Katrina couldn’t see a single ray of hope for her future.

“…What the hell are you trying to do?”

She tried to shake off his grip, but it was impossible.

“You could’ve gotten out of prison whenever you wanted.”

“…Hah.”

“And even after you did, you didn’t have to act like this. You didn’t need to make things worse—”

“Hey, Katrina.”

Sylas lowered his head.

As the large man leaned in close, a heavy pressure surrounded her.

“You saying that is kinda funny, don’t you think?”

“……”

“What? Scared I might hurt you?”

His yellow eyes glinted with a disturbing light.

…He’s lost his mind.

This wasn’t the Sylas she remembered.

He was always wild, but now — now he looked like a man with nothing left to lose.

“That’s enough.”

Just then—

“Sylas Lockfenheim, stop right there!”

A sharp voice rang out.

Startled, Katrina turned around.

Behind her, a white cape billowed, glinting softly over golden armor.

Holy Knights?

They must have come looking for her after finding her unconscious guards.

She was lucky.

Just as Katrina let out a breath of relief—

“Sylas Lockfenheim.”

A familiar voice spoke.

From behind the knights, a man Katrina knew very well appeared.

“Been a while, hasn’t it?”

…Lucifer Orléans.