Chapter 136
While Ridipin’s group was still reeling from the shock, Reina delivered the decisive blow.
“Marry Beryl Dout. Two weeks from now, on Saturday.”
Ridipin’s vision swam as if he’d been struck on the back of the head three times with a hammer. He barely managed to steady himself.
“W-Why would you make a choice like that…?”
Reina gave an awkward smile.
“Um… it just happened. After meeting him, he seemed like a better person than I’d expected.”
“B-But you’re still a first-year…!”
“I’ll keep attending the Academy. We’re just getting married, that’s all.”
Then Ceres asked,
“Don’t tell me it’s a shotgun wedding…?”
“There’s no way!”
One by one, the others slowly came out of their shock, but silence still hung heavy in the air.
No one knew what to say.
It was too sudden and too early to congratulate her, yet they didn’t know the reason behind the marriage well enough to try to stop it.
So Ria asked carefully,
“May I ask why you’re getting married so suddenly?”
“No comment. That’s my personal business.”
“I see…”
Reina drew a firm line.
But that line wasn’t solid. It was drawn on the ground—anyone could step over it. Yet no one did.
They were afraid of what might be lurking beyond it, and because Reina was wearing a sorrowful smile.
“I was going to tell you when I handed out the invitations, but I thought I should let you know in advance.”
“Re-Reina…”
“And don’t tell Van, okay? You never know what he might do. He might even burn down the wedding hall.”
She said it jokingly, but no one laughed. They didn’t know how to react.
Reina stood up.
“Sorry. I ruined the mood. I’ll head out first. Enjoy yourselves.”
Time rewound to last week.
Forced by Beryl’s thinly veiled threat, Reina had no choice but to change locations.
They arrived at a dessert café—The Hour Between Dog and Wolf, in a private room.
In a perfectly secluded space, the two sat in silence, enjoying tea and sweets.
Too anxious to sit still, Reina kept picking at the snacks. Beryl, sipping his coffee, leisurely enjoyed the sight of her tension.
Then Reina spoke.
“How did you—”
“Please don’t ask how I know. Isn’t it obvious?”
A killing intent slowly crept into Reina’s eyes, but Beryl calmly smiled and set down his teacup.
“More importantly, shouldn’t you be curious why I brought this up?”
“…Why did you bring it up?”
“To have a private conversation with you like this, Miss Serenia.”
Heat rushed to Reina’s face as she pressed a hand to her forehead. Beryl smiled at the sight.
Thinking of all the humiliations he’d suffered so far, even seeing Reina flustered was enough to amuse him.
Now that it’s come to this, it’s my victory. There’s no harm in enjoying a little amusement.
After savoring his tea in silence for a while, Beryl spoke again.
“Aren’t you curious why I insisted on talking alone?”
“Is there any reason I should be? You’ll tell me when the time comes.”
Reina answered boldly.
After all, he couldn’t threaten to expose the existence of that inside her.
She’d already said it would be troublesome, and more importantly, there was no way to prove it.
When Reina countered so calmly, Beryl’s eyebrow twitched.
Hah. A woman without a single cute trait. Still, that pride won’t last long.
Smiling, Beryl conceded.
“You’re right. The thirsty one digs the well.”
With that, he ended the topic and returned to his tea. Reina raised her voice slightly.
“Stop wasting time and get to the point. Otherwise, I’m leaving.”
“You’re impatient. Very well. I’ll get straight to it. Please marry me.”
“…What?”
Reina doubted her ears.
Marriage?
Seeing her confusion, Beryl continued.
“Oh, for reference, I’d like the wedding to be before the end of this term. I’ll need time to prepare for finals, so how about two weeks from now?”
“W-Wait. What on earth are you talking about—”
At that moment, Beryl reached for her hand. She tried to dodge as before, but a hand formed by holy magic caught hers.
He slowly pulled her hand toward him and wrapped it in his own.
“It’s a proposal. I truly love you.”
More precisely, he loved Reina—the one who carried that within her.
A chill ran through her.
She became certain of one thing.
The man in front of her was insane. Something was fundamentally broken in him as a human being.
Forcibly pulling her hand away, Reina said,
“Why would I ever do something like that?”
“Because I intend to give you the two things you want most, Miss Serenia.”
“Two things…?”
“First, I will guarantee the safety of you and your friends. If you become engaged to me, there will be no more attacks.”
“….”
It was an incredibly tempting offer.
She wanted to overcome every attack with her own strength—but that was the best outcome she could hope for in the worst situation.
If possible, it was far better that no attacks happened at all. Her goal wasn’t merely to survive, but to become a knight commander and prove herself.
More than anything, what truly moved her heart was the guarantee of her friends’ safety.
If there were no attacks, no one would have to sacrifice themselves for her. She wouldn’t have to cry alone, fearing someone might get hurt. She wouldn’t have to live with guilt.
But Beryl wasn’t done yet.
“Second, I will remove that from inside you.”
Reina slammed the table and stood up.
“Really?! You can do that?!”
At her desperate, urgent voice, Beryl replied with a gentle smile.
“Of course. I am the next High Archbishop, after all. It will take time, but I’m sure we’ll find a way.”
At those words, Reina couldn’t hold back and shed a few tears.
Her dream had always been clear—to become a knight commander through her own strength, without anyone’s help.
But that dream existed because she believed she could never remove that.
If that could be removed, there’d be no need to become a knight commander at all. She wouldn’t have to feel guilty just for being alive.
Still, she couldn’t fully trust his words yet.
Wiping away her tears, Reina asked,
“Thank you for the offer, but why keep me alive? You could just kill me.”
“I’ve already answered that.”
“…What?”
Beryl casually placed his hand over hers. She hesitated, about to pull away again.
Seizing the moment, Beryl took her hand.
“Because I love you, Miss Serenia.”
“….”
“So when I placed the continuation of humanity and your life on the scales, I chose you without hesitation.”
Holding her hand, Beryl slowly brought it to his lips.
Reina still found him repulsive, but she didn’t refuse.
A soft kiss landed on the back of her hand.
The hollow sound echoed through the room, sending shivers through both of them.
Neither of them truly wanted the act.
But they both hid their true desires—they didn’t want to miss this golden opportunity.
Still, Reina hesitated. She worried whether marriage was really acceptable, and whether it would distance her from her friends.
Reading her thoughts, Beryl met her gaze.
“Just until that inside you is removed. Please allow me to be your husband, even if only for a short while.”
That was the final blow. Reina’s resolve wavered.
“…Fine. I’ll do it. I’ll marry you.”
She didn’t know how long it would take, but she could endure it. She’d be labeled a divorcée—but that was nothing compared to being a Serenia survivor.
Even if her relationships with her friends were damaged, she could divorce him and fix things later.
I don’t know if they’ll accept me again… but it’s far better than them dying because of me.
If only she sacrificed herself for a while, her friends would no longer be in danger.
No one would lose their life in her stead anymore.
“But if that inside me disappears, I’m divorcing you immediately.”
“Yes. If by then I still haven’t changed your heart, you may leave without hesitation.”
Seeing Reina’s earnest yet bright smile, Beryl laughed uproariously inside.
He had no intention of separating her from that.
Watching her cling to false hope and promise herself a future was so absurd that Beryl let out a small chuckle.
The Academy, late at night.
Disguised as Kim Se-hyeon for the first time in a while, I activated my stealth skill and left my room.
I needed to pick up an item Ria had promised me.
I’d planned to go right after the tournament ended, but various things kept piling up, so only now did I make the trip.
Between conducting faction rookie interviews and dealing with the irritating Beryl, I’d been short on time.
When I entered the Cosmo Merchant Guild building, Ria was seated at her desk, deep in thought, unaware of my arrival.
I lightly knocked on the window, and she finally noticed me and greeted me.
“Welcome, Mr. Kim Se-hyeon. I didn’t expect you today.”
“Something on your mind? You seem different.”
“It’s nothing. Just… my thoughts are a bit tangled.”
“I see.”
Something was clearly bothering her, but since she didn’t want to talk about it, I didn’t pry.
There hadn’t been any major issues with the Cosmo Guild or Ria around this time anyway.
“Is the item ready?”
“Yes. The silk woven from magical beast thread, and high-grade stealth mana stones.”
I placed them into my subspace pouch.
In two weeks, I’d have to take down Beryl. With my current outfit, my identity might be exposed during combat—I needed better gear.
And there were a few achievements worth unlocking too.
As I was about to leave, Ria spoke.
“Mr. Kim Se-hyeon… do you happen to know someone named Reina Serenia?”
Huh? Why Reina all of a sudden?
I couldn’t grasp her intent, but since quite a few people knew Kim Se-hyeon was trying to save Reina, I answered calmly.
“I do. We go way back.”
“I see.”
Ria smiled, as if satisfied with the answer.
“This may be presumptuous, but may I ask you for a favor?”
What was she planning to use me for this time?
Still, the items I’d just received were extremely valuable, so I decided to hear her out.
“Go on. As long as it’s within reason.”
“That may be difficult. What I’m about to ask could, if mishandled, make an enemy of the Azerum Empire.”
Just what is it…?
“I’ll be the judge of that. Speak.”
“I recently heard that Miss Reina is getting married.”
What?! What kind of insane nonsense is this?! Reina? Suddenly? Why? To whom?!
I forced down the questions threatening to burst out—but what came next was even more shocking.
“They say the groom is Beryl Dout.”
My vision reeled.
“Where did you hear that?”
“From Miss Reina herself. The Cosmo Guild sponsors her, so we’re acquainted.”
What is this—am I dreaming? Just yesterday, Reina was cold toward Beryl, and now she’s suddenly getting married overnight?
If this was a dream, there could be no worse nightmare.
I steadied my trembling legs and asked,
“Why tell me this?”
“Please bring about the downfall of Beryl Dout.”
“…What?”
“The method doesn’t matter. If you need the Guild’s help, we promise our full support.”
“…Why go that far?”
“That’s because… Beryl Dout is infuriating. After all the money I poured into him, he slips away the moment his growth takes off. It’s extremely irritating.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Her acting was good, but there was no emotion behind it.
Those words were just an excuse. The real reason for asking me—and offering full support—
She was worried about Reina.
If Beryl Dout were dating someone else, she might not have cared. But since it involved someone close to me—especially Reina—it was different.
“That favor isn’t necessary.”
“Why not…?!”
“Because I was planning to kill that bastard anyway.”
Ria let out a relieved, hollow laugh.
“Please don’t scare me like that…”
“My apologies.”
My goal was always to take down Beryl. Now there was just one more reason added—an enormous and crucial one.
“Do you know when the wedding is?”
“I believe it’s two weeks from now, on Saturday.”
The timing matched my original plan perfectly.
“Next time I come, I’ll share the concrete plan. Have the mercenaries ready to move.”
“Yes. I’ll place my trust in you, Mr. Kim Se-hyeon.”
