Chapter 88…………………………
When Noah first learned that Cordelia had disappeared, he simply wore a blank expression.
He neither blamed nor grew agitated with me, but that quiet silence was what Tyrain found even more frightening.
Yes… it felt like the punishment that must be received had simply been postponed.
“Priest Riness, there’s something I’d like to tell you. Do you have a moment?”
See, like this.
When Noah suddenly appeared and made such a declaration, Tyrain blinked nervously, unable to guess his true intentions. Should he just make up an excuse and drive him away?
“It might be something that helps with the current situation.”
As if expecting this, Noah quickly cut in. The moment Tyrain saw the other members’ faces brighten with hope, he pressed his fingers to his forehead in frustration.
“If you’re offering cooperation, that’s welcome… but why not speak here?”
“It’s a personal matter. I’d like to tell someone I trust first.”
While the others looked puzzled by Noah’s polite request, Tyrain’s throat was uncomfortably dry.
“Then let’s hear it. For the priest’s safety, I’ll join as well.”
As Tyrain swiftly volunteered, Marcel tilted his head.
“What, only you, Captain?”
“I’m immune to magic, am I not? That lowers the risk if something happens.”
“Ah, well, that’s true.”
“Right. You all keep watch—if word comes from the field, let us know immediately. Now, this way.”
Taking Riness and Noah with him, Tyrain entered a room next door. As soon as Riness cast a soundproof barrier, Tyrain leaned against the door and snapped.
“Do you realize where you are?!”
“I apologize. But no matter how I thought about it, I felt I had to tell you.”
“What are you—”
“Priest.”
Noah spoke earnestly.
“You said when Lady Cordelia and I switch bodies, a thread connects us, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then… could it perhaps be tracked?”
“Ah!”
Riness let out a soft exclamation, as if realizing something. He silenced Tyrain with a gesture and answered Noah’s question.
“So it’s possible?”
“Since your bodies are connected, yes. It’s magic. Not difficult to track. I can do it myself.”
At his reply, Noah exhaled in relief, then grew more serious.
“I know the conditions, but… is there any way to increase the chance it activates? Lately I’ve been having trouble focusing. I thought perhaps you could help.”
His steady, neither rushed nor slow voice carried a faint unease. Watching Noah rub his face repeatedly as if to clear his mind, Riness finally asked,
“It’s possible, but… how many threads do you have left?”
Without a word, Noah removed his gloves and showed the back of his hand. Seeing only three threads remaining, Riness clicked his tongue.
“They’ve changed again already?”
Noah merely smiled faintly. Swallowing the urge to interrogate him about how he’d unraveled the magic, Riness added,
“As I’ve said before, once the magic runs out, no one knows what might happen. You still insist on doing this?”
“Yes.”
He answered without hesitation.
“It’s already been two days. Something might have happened to her—I can’t just sit here waiting.”
Though Noah’s tone was resolute, the end of his voice trembled. His face, usually calm, was pale with fear, his eyes clouded with darkness.
Tyrain had never seen Noah so shaken. Even as surprise struck him, a quiet chuckle escaped.
Yes, no one gets to decide whether they love or not. Even the coldest person he knew was being swept away helplessly by his own emotions.
“And… I’d manage better than Lady Cordelia. I’ve learned some self-defense.”
“When did someone of your status learn that?”
“My uncle taught me. Given my circumstances, it seemed necessary.”
When Tyrain glanced aside, he muttered evasively, then looked back at Noah.
“You must be careful. Even if this works, don’t forget—you’re carrying more than just your own life.”
Though his expression was one of wanting to forbid him, Tyrain could only say be careful. Noah smiled faintly.
“Don’t worry.”
“…So this really does work, huh.”
Cordelia’s sudden outcry made Tyrain murmur weakly, realizing the bodies had just switched. Riness immediately checked her condition.
“Lady Cordelia, are you alright?”
“For now, yes. But I don’t think I’ll be for long. Oh, and—I met Lady Mirian.”
“What?”
Cordelia quickly explained the situation. Riness nodded in understanding, and Tyrain jotted it down.
“As expected, near the mountains. Priest, we must hurry.”
“Yes. Lady Cordelia! Stay still.”
At Riness’s gesture, the thread began to shimmer from Cordelia’s fingertips. Narrowing his eyes at the thread’s path, he chanted a spell. A small blue magic circle appeared over the back of his hand, and he bound the thread to his compass.
The compass needle spun wildly, then fixed itself in one direction. The thread vanished.
“Done. We just follow this. Please gather the soldiers.”
“Good!”
Tyrain snatched the compass and strode out. As Riness turned to follow, his sleeve was tugged. Looking back, he saw Cordelia on the floor, her eyes resolute.
“I’m coming too!”
“What?”
“It’s my body. How can you ask me to sit and wait?”
In truth, she was worried about Noah, but she scrambled for excuses. If she admitted the real reason, they’d only forbid her.
“Don’t be ridiculous—”
“Truly, I can’t?”
Her pitiful gaze left Riness speechless. With a heavy sigh, he relented.
“If you’re coming, then hurry! We’ve no time!”
“Yes!”
Cordelia nodded vigorously, her voice bright though her heart was heavy. Pulling on her gloves and following Riness, she prayed desperately:
Please, let everyone be safe!
“Lady Cordelia? Are you alright?”
Mirian looked at her with concern. Cordelia, who’d been focusing so hard, suddenly drooped her head as if her flame had gone out.
Fearing she had fainted, Mirian called to her carefully—but still no response. Just as tears threatened her eyes, Cordelia twitched, slowly opening her eyes. Her gaze swept the room, calm in a way that felt unnatural.
“Um… Lady Cordelia?”
At Mirian’s second call, she finally looked her way. Was it just her imagination, or had her expression shifted from earlier?
What is this?
“Excuse me.”
“Y-Yes!”
“How many men are outside?”
“…What?”
“Quickly. There isn’t much time.”
Though confused why she’d ask what she already knew, Mirian stammered an answer under the weight of her urgency.
“Uh… about six men, I think, guarding outside. Some in pairs patrolling nearby.”
“That’s manageable. And Horel—he’s outside?”
“No, he left, said he was fetching clothes.”
At her reply, Cordelia’s face stiffened. Watching nervously, Mirian soon heard her murmur,
“Clothes… Then we must hurry.”
“W-What?”
Ignoring Mirian’s bewilderment, Cordelia wriggled for a while. Then suddenly—the ropes binding her wrists dropped to the ground.
Mirian’s eyes widened.
The ropes hadn’t budged at all before. How could they come undone so easily?
“H-How?”
“I’m good with anything done by hand.”
“…What?”
“…I wish you hadn’t overexerted yourself.”
Rubbing her bruised wrists with a bitter look, she picked up a stone from the ground and struck it sharply against the floor. The fragment broke into a sharp edge, which she used to saw through the rope binding her to the post.
As soon as she was free, she cut the ropes around her ankles, then moved quietly to Mirian and freed her as well.
After briefly touching the bandaged wound on her forehead, she offered her hand.
“Come. Let’s escape.”
Right now.
