Chapter 27
Despite the close distance—barely enough for even a hand to fit between them—there was no backing down between Carlton and Belia.
They stared into each other’s eyes as if being sucked in.
“Ah, I should’ve raised the bet again!”
How long had they been like that before people began spilling out into the usually quiet corridor?
“Ha! I’m winning the next game for sure!!”
“I’m doomed!”
During the brief break, the hallway quickly became crowded.
“I think we should get out of here.”
“Alright.”
Carlton took the lead, and Belia hurried after him with quick steps.
“Huh?”
As the crowd grew, the distance between Belia and Carlton widened, making Belia struggle through the throng.
“Hey! Wait!!”
“This way.”
Carlton reached out and caught Belia as she almost stumbled.
“This won’t do. Excuse me for a moment.”
“Oh, yes.”
Belia blinked at the firmly grasping hand.
‘Cold.’
She glanced at the broad back leading the way, then looked back at the hand holding hers.
‘Covered in scars.’
Usually, someone from the mage tower wouldn’t get their hands so rough.
Most things could be handled by magic; she wondered what kind of work made his hands so calloused.
“Look ahead.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t fall again.”
“Ah, yes!”
Belia twisted her hand free and took hold of Carlton’s hand instead.
Carlton’s shoulder twitched noticeably in that instant.
“Where are we going?”
After leaving the fencing club building and walking for some time, Belia finally spoke.
“To talk.”
“It’s quiet even now…”
Belia glanced at her aching heels and looked around.
The main event building was crowded, but here it was almost deserted.
Carlton glanced at her and slowed his pace.
At the same moment, Belia’s heel glinted briefly.
“Huh?”
“I asked what you’re surprised at.”
“Oh, right.”
“The only reason I’m surprised by you, young lady, is this: Do you know someone named Vain?”
“Who’s that? I don’t know.”
Carlton nodded as if he’d expected that.
“You might not know, but Vain met you.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll explain more later.”
Carlton withdrew his hand.
“Oh, alright.”
Though the crowd had cleared, Belia scratched her cheek, feeling awkward holding his hand.
His firm, cold manner and broad back were very different from the boy she’d imagined, but those red eyes were exactly the same.
“But more importantly, do you believe me?”
When the silence between them stretched, Belia spoke.
“What do you mean?”
“That I think you might have been there eight years ago.”
“You mean eight years ago, when I was eight?”
“Yes.”
“That memory might be right.”
“Based on what?”
“I have no memories from eight years ago.”
Belia flinched.
“Huh?”
“I think you might be the key to what I’m searching for.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Carlton stopped walking.
“This is an abandoned building, isn’t it?”
Belia blinked as she looked at the old academy main building, which seemed ready to collapse at any moment.
“There are rampant rumors that it’s cursed if you go inside…”
Stories of ghosts, suicides if you enter—lots of talk.
Belia recalled rumors she’d heard from a magic professor during her second time reincarnating as a student here.
No actual ghosts, but you might see something like it.
Because…
“This place was once used for studying black magic, so it’s not a good idea to go in.”
“That’s exactly why we have to.”
“Huh?”
Carlton looked Belia straight in the eyes.
“I’m looking for someone named Vain. And he uses black magic.”
“Black magic?”
“There are traces of him in you, young lady. I’m sure you met him because of those traces. You can’t see them, but I can.”
“You can see them?”
“Yes.”
“Where…?”
“Because I see traces but no memories, I think the illusion you saw might be true.”
Carlton reached toward Belia’s nape.
“What are you doing…?”
Startled, Belia pulled back, but then Carlton noticed a faint purple glowing pattern and withdrew his hand.
“You said you had an accident when you were eight, right? No memories from then?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t remember either. I know I was with that person eight years ago, but what I recall is…”
Carlton fidgeted with his left shoulder and swallowed the rest of his words.
“…nothing. So maybe, like in that illusion, you and I met back then.”
“So you were at the burning mansion? The place where I got hurt?”
Carlton shook his head.
“No.”
“Then…?”
“That mansion wasn’t it. If your illusion was real, then we probably spent quite some time together, but in a different place, not that mansion.”
“What does that mean?”
“For now, let’s go in.”
Carlton turned around.
“This place is heavily marked by him, so you might recover some other memories.”
Without hesitation, Carlton pushed open the fence.
Creak—
With a chilling sound, a wooden plank fell to the ground.
“Is it okay to enter like this…?”
“We’re sneaking in. Let’s go.”
Carlton took the lead; Belia hesitated but followed.
The main gate of the building, marked with strange red symbols, slammed shut behind them.
‘It’s dark.’
Belia wrapped her arms around herself.
“Ah.”
She stepped back as she bumped into Carlton’s back.
“Listen carefully.”
“Huh?”
“This place is thick with black magic energy. So don’t ever leave my side.”
“Okay.”
“Now.”
“Okay?”
“Hold my hand.”
Belia placed her hand in his, flinching again.
Even now, his hand was colder than any human’s should be.
After walking for some time and adjusting to the darkness, Belia spoke.
“Why are you looking for Vain?”
“Because I have to.”
His answer was brief.
“Why?”
Carlton fell silent, deep in thought.
Whenever he thought of that person, his left arm throbbed.
Among his jumbled memories, Vain had definitely cursed him.
Vain was angry about something and took it out on Carlton.
That was the end of Carlton’s memory.
If someone asked why he was looking for him, he wouldn’t know what to say.
Because of the curse?
Because he wanted to live?
For revenge?
Carlton had regained consciousness eight years ago without knowing where he was born or why he had to live.
Being asked why he was looking for Vain was like asking why he was still alive.
If he didn’t find him, the curse would consume him.
So if he had to answer, it was simply to live longer.
“…Why do you want to find those memories, young lady?”
“Huh?”
“Losing memories from when you were eight might be regrettable, but honestly, you could live without them.”
“Just curiosity.”
‘Why did I die, why do I keep reincarnating, why does this damned cycle repeat…’
Belia swallowed the rest.
“My answer is the same. I’m curious too.”
‘I wonder what it would feel like to find him and extend my life.’
Carlton swallowed his words.
“Wait a moment.”
Carlton pressed around the stone wall.
Where his hand touched, a brick sank inward and the building trembled slightly.
The wall split open on both sides, revealing a dark staircase.
Carlton flinched.
‘Different.’
His sensitive senses noticed the changed aura since the last time.
Carlton glanced at Belia.
Vain hadn’t returned here.
It was a change caused by this young lady.
“…Let’s go.”
Carlton and Belia descended the stairs, and the stone wall closed behind them.
“Wow—”
Unlike the dark exterior, the underground was brighter.
At the bottom of the stairs, Belia marveled.
A circular room was lined with bookshelves, and in the center was a well.
Belia stared blankly at the faint light seeping from the well.
“Does anything come to mind?”
“Huh?”
“Anything about this place?”
Belia blinked.
“No, nothing.”
“Really?”
Carlton nodded as if he hadn’t expected anything and looked around the room.
“Wait here a moment.”
Carlton approached the well.
Belia again examined her surroundings, trying to find a familiar feeling.
“Vain…”
The name itself felt unfamiliar.
According to Carlton, it was very likely she had met that person during the accident eight years ago.
Not just met, but spent quite some time together — yet she couldn’t understand what that meant at all.
‘Did I really meet him?’
Carlton had sounded certain.
Who was Vain?
If she had met him, why didn’t she remember?
She thought reincarnation was due to an unawakened power of rebirth — but was it connected to Vain and black magic?
