Chapter 31: Resurfacing doubts (2)

For him, opening the door was not that difficult.

It was because his job was to supervise most of the facilities of this castle.

“You can rest assured. Lady Yukomis called for you.”

While he was looking for the right key in the bunch of keys,

Only something was heard lightly bumping from beyond the door without any answer.

And also the sound of breathing as if forcibly enduring it.

‘The key… is here.’

Click.

He turned the knob, but the door was about to open and then got caught on something.

‘…Hmm.’

Chairs and tables were forcibly dragged to block it.

Had the lie already been exposed? And such quick action.

‘Did she already learn this from her guardian?’

Bang bang.

He didn’t care and kicked the hinge part with his booted foot.

There was a huge noise, but he didn’t care at all. After all, there was no one around to hear the noise anyway. He checked everything and came here.

Koo Woong.

When he moved the shattered door to the side, the scenery inside the room was visible.

The large windows located directly opposite the doorway were wide open in both directions.

And the curtain hanging on the left window lightly fluttered in the wind.

When he turned his gaze to the corner of the room, the fireplace, which seemed a little empty for some reason, was burning weakly,

And this was telling him that there was someone in this room until just now.

“Did she run away…”

He deliberately let out a soliloquy.

And he walked towards the window and looked down below.

This was the 3rd floor. There were no traces under the window.

“That can’t be.”

He smiled subtly while looking down, having noticed something.

“It’s impossible to jump down from here with that body… Isn’t that right? ‘Signo’?”

Instead of an answer, something was swung at him from next to the window frame.

However, he, who was anticipating it with the addition of having grasped the situation with a small sign,

Leapt back lightly from the spot and avoided it.

“Amazing. Did you learn that all from her?”

As he was waiting with a relaxed smile,

The small girl who had appeared from the outer wall of the building slowly stood on the window frame.

It was Signa. She had been deceiving him by hanging on the side of the window all along.

In both hands, she was holding the small sword that she had just swung at Galar, scabbard and all.

And between the flaps of the roughly fastened hood, tangled black hair from the drafts were sticking out as they were.

Although the full-fledged winter hadn’t come yet, the wind of the northern region was fierce.

“I’m sorry for startling you. But I came to help Signo.”

Signa scanned the opponent in front of her.

Was he called Galar? The son of Count Odresa.

‘I’ve never seen that knight during the Great War. He also didn’t fight together with the Count. Then he can’t be that old…

His equipment is a long sword and a dagger each attached to his waist.

How good is he? It’s an unknown.

Whatever the case, what’s in front of me is a knight. Also, the son of a count…

It would be disrespectful to even compare him to the bandit gangs I encountered for the first time.

‘For the suspicious Yukomis, who is so cautious at a time like this, to send Galar, whom she doesn’t even know, instead of coming herself? That doesn’t make sense.’

Whatever the case, he was trying to deceive herself by selling Yukomis’s name.

It was certain that his purpose was not friendly.

“You can speak in front of me. Because I came knowing who Signo is.”

“…So you’re calling me Signo after all.”

Signa opened her mouth for the first time.

“Yes.”

“Who did you hear that name from?”

“If you come with me, you’ll know everything.”

Galar held out one hand with a good-natured face.

“Signo… No, Lady Thermis. We know Signo’s identity.”

Wince.

She was greatly shaken when the name Thermis came out.

‘Where on earth did they hear that story?’

She may have let Silissa hear her voice, but… It should still only be suspicion.

She didn’t show her face either, and above all, only Yukomis and Silissa were there.

Where did he get the information to link me with that name?

Even if her face was sold somewhere,

There were very few people who could suspect to the point of linking that face with Thermis, and furthermore be certain.

“I refuse.”

Signa answered.

“……Why? Isn’t it hard to live captured by that magician?”

It was a little unexpected, but Galar still had a good-natured smile on his face.

“Signo. I came here to serve you. It’s not just me. A lot of people are waiting impatiently for Signo, who has descended again.”

“Tell them to keep waiting.”

Signa lightly ridiculed Galar’s words.

“I don’t know how many friends you have, but you’re all misunderstanding. I’m not Thermis, I don’t care whether you serve me or not, and I have no intention of following you.”

“…I see. So what she said was right…”

Galar muttered quietly after hearing Signa’s answer.

“You’re firmly possessed by something. Signo.”

“What?”

“It’s certain that you’ve been brainwashed, as she said. Poor thing… but don’t worry.”

Step. He took one step closer.

Signa reacted to that and flinched slightly.

“I came here to help Signo from the clutches of that witch.”

“I said there’s no such thing!”

At the right time, the wind that blew again briefly swept up Signa’s bangs.

Galar did not miss that sight.

There was a scar near her right eye that had been hidden.

Clearly, traces of having been hit and torn.

“That scar… So you were being abused by her after all.”

“It’s not like that.”

“What else could have caused such a wound on the face of a noble young lady.”

“This is… Just… I fell.”

Even as she said it herself, Signa could not deny that the excuse would sound poor.

Step.

“I’ll scream if you come any closer.”

“Weren’t you not supposed to let your voice be heard?”

“Maybe it’s an exception now.”

One step further.

“I told you not to come closer.”

“It’s okay. It’s all okay…”

It was like soothing a wary cat with his tone and movements.

Step. Another step.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaak! Someone help!!!”

Signa didn’t just stop at a warning and screamed as loudly as she could.

However, her high and thin voice was quickly scattered by the rough wind unique to the northern region, not long after it leaked out of the building.

“It’s no use.”

Some time passed after she screamed, but…

As he said, there was no response inside or outside the building.

“I’m in charge of the security here. I’ve sent all the soldiers somewhere else.”

Signa gritted her teeth at those words.

‘…Where is Lady Yukomis?’

“Your companions are all talking to my mother.”

“What on earth are you? What’s the reason for doing this?”

“As I said, I’m just someone who wants to help Signo. Just… please come with me somewhere for a while. Then you’ll know everything. Who Signo was, what kind of person she can become… you’ll know everything.”

“I know very well who I am.”

“What kind of memories are they?”

“I’m just Signa.”

“Whatever they are, they’re all false memories. It’s a false name too.”

As he continued to approach, Signa grabbed the small sword.

“You’re speaking as if you know more about me than I do.”

“So you’re trying to resist me after all?”

Signa, who was trying to take off the scabbard with a habitual movement, stopped there for a moment.

And she just shook her head lightly.

“…!”

“Are you okay? Even without taking off the scabbard?”

While looking at Signa, who had lifted the small sword, Galar also slowly brought his hand to the long sword on his waist.

However, he didn’t draw his sword either.

Galar had also heard the request that he should not harm the girl in front of him no matter what happened.

‘She’s just a powerless child. If she resists, suppress her so she doesn’t get hurt.’

Of course. There was no way he could hurt the incarnation of that person.

“I see… you’ve been brainwashed firmly. I’ll inevitably commit rudeness for a while… But this is also a burden that I must bear…”

Before Signa’s words were over, she leaped up in surprise.

It was a leap that was much faster and more agile than Galar had prepared for.

Galar quickly lifted the sword, scabbard and all, which he had loosened the fixing strap from the belt in advance, and blocked the opponent’s attack.

Taak!

The leather and buckle, and part of the cross guard collided and made a dull sound.

It was a light and weak pressure that was barely loaded with weight and strength.

However, in the short moment they collided, Galar could see Signa’s shining eyes through the roughly worn hood.

‘Keuk…!’

It wasn’t flustered or terrified.

Signa had eyes that a well-raised young girl wouldn’t make in this situation.

Those eyes, which were fierce and calm at the same time, as if they were disguising insensitivity…

‘They’re the eyes of a warrior.’

Those eyes were too familiar with this situation.

That was something that only someone who had experienced real combat could have.

Before Galar could push away the small sword, the girl quickly withdrew the entangled sword and created distance.

It was a very quick decision, as if she knew well that she couldn’t beat him with strength.

‘Didn’t they say that this person was still a powerless girl?’

It was not the reaction that Galar had expected at all.

His composure had disappeared and he was clearly flustered.

However, before he could think of anything else, Signa leaped towards him again.

Taak!

A slightly smaller impact than before. This time it was an attack inflicted with one hand.

Galar also blocked that sword with one hand.

However, it didn’t end there. This attack was just a deception.

It was the moment when Signa’s attack with her right arm was blocked.

She dug in at zero distance and stretched out her empty left hand behind the robe and pulled out something shining.

‘This…!’

Galar also drew the dagger on his waist with his other empty hand to block it.

‘Is it coming from the left…?’

At that moment, the ‘something’ that was clearly flying from the left towards her face drew a strange trajectory and escaped the tracking of his vision.

Feeling something eerie, Galar lifted the dagger with animalistic instinct and blocked his right temple, not his left.

Chaeaeaeeng!

As expected, the blow that had clearly started from the left was accurately blocked near his right temple.

What Signa had swung at Galar was a small poker.

It was a strong impact that it wouldn’t be strange if his wrist was broken if it wasn’t for the protection he had on his wrist.

It was clear that this was an attack that had been put all her strength in.

‘Where on earth did she learn this technique? Has that witch already taught her even this?’

It was a momentary battle of strength.

But after all, the strong impact was only at first. The girl’s endurance was terrible.

Galar, who had pushed Signa away by pushing the dagger, steeled his heart.

‘If I deal with this person ambiguously, I’ll be the one who gets hurt.’

If that feint and attack had been a little faster, or a little stronger,

Galar would not have been able to cope with it, and he would have been hurt for sure.

Galar, taking advantage of the gap where Signa’s posture was disturbed, put down both weapons and ran towards her.

Signa, who was breathing roughly, couldn’t avoid that this time.

“Kyaaaaaak!”

Thud. Signa, who had been pushed down by Galar’s body, distorted her expression.

Galar fixed her to the floor by pressing her neck, and took out a small vial from inside his arms with his other hand.

“Heup… Get… get off…”

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me!”

The Signa that was being pinned under Galar’s body wildly struck him with both hands and feet, but

The resistance of her insignificant strength was all absorbed by the thick coat and armor that Galar was wearing.

Signa’s complexion, who was suffocating, slowly turned pale,

And Galar forcibly poured the contents of the vial into her mouth, which was open to seek air.

“Wooeup.. Keup… Wh… what… what are you…”

While feeling that her resistance was slowly weakening, Galar whispered in Signa’s ear.

“If you just go there… you’ll know everything…”

Silissa had only been staring at the ceiling inside the prison until the soldier returned.

She was having a complex time with many questions on her mind.

Was she thinking too much?

Would the Count believe her words?

Why was that girl, who was like a ‘young lord’, walking with Yukomis?

The last thing was the most incomprehensible.

If that was really her lord, why was Yukomis trying to hide that from her?

Because she didn’t trust me? Or was it because that person wasn’t her lord?

…Was it because I felt uneasy about something?

If I calmly think about it, it was an absurd imagination that her lord had revived.

Magic that summons the souls of real dead people only appeared in legends,

and even things like the ‘Army of the Dead’ were just a variation of puppetry that moved bones and corpses.

No matter what happened… the dead could not come back.

‘Maybe she’s really just a girl who looks like her? Did they hide her identity because they were afraid I would misunderstand?’

Even if that was the case, the way she got angry seemed to have really touched a raw nerve…

Hmm.

‘Come to think of it… The fact that my lord and I had that night together… When I think about it carefully…?

It also feels like a vague and disorganized story.

That’s strange. At first, I was very confident in that memory,

But the more I thought about the girl’s exclamation, ‘That didn’t happen! You idiot!’, I began to doubt that there might have been a misunderstanding.

‘Hmm… Maybe something like that happened between my lord and someone else? Could it have happened?’

If my lord really enjoyed those things, wouldn’t she have done it not only with me, but with others as well?

Silissa did not dare to think that she could be the only partner of that person…

As much as she was arrogant to that extent.

Elves were basically a bit generous and relaxed about the scope of erotic love,

And if someone like her lord had laid a hand on several people, regardless of gender…

Silissa was able to pass it off by saying that ‘she was a person who deserved it’.

She was only having these thoughts now, which she should have had before she released the story in front of the crowd.

But after all, ‘thinking’ didn’t seem to be her specialty.

As all sorts of possibilities began to intertwine in her head, the reasoning could not proceed any further from there.

‘I can just ask the person involved… Yukomis won’t abandon me here and leave.’

Squeak. It seemed like the soldier had finally returned.

However, the soldier who was standing in front of Silissa’s bars was somehow alone.

‘…Why did he come alone?’

“The Count said that you are in an important conversation. I couldn’t meet her.”

“An important conversation?”

“Yes. She said that no outsiders should be let in… I think she’s talking to the Great Magician, but.”

“Yukomis? She has something to talk to her about……?”

Is she talking about my treatment?

“Was there anything different, any special signs?”

If it was difficult now, we could meet later.

‘Signs?’

The soldier thought hard for a moment.

“There weren’t any special words. Everything was the same as usual… Ah. Come to think of it.”

“Come to think of it?”

“I didn’t even run into a colleague on the way. Hmm. I wonder why?”

That was a question that Silissa couldn’t answer even if she asked.

“There was no one?”

However, Silissa, who had somehow felt a little ominous, frowned.

“Yes. The road heading to the main office is the guest room, but it was as quiet as a graveyard, unlike usual.”

“So someone’s scream could be heard very well…”

“A scream?”

Silissa hurriedly cut off the words.

“You heard a scream? What kind of voice was it?”

“Yes? Yeees… Ah, now that I think about it… it’s a little strange. It sounded like a young girl’s voice. Well, I heard that and something bumping together, so I thought a maid had knocked over some furniture or something.”

Silissa’s expression beyond the bars slowly became scary.

“If you think about it… there’s… there’s no young maid like that…”

The soldier was intimidated by that and trailed off.

“Soldier.”

Silissa said in a heavy voice.

“Open this door right now.”

“You’re telling me to protect your companions?”

The Count said inside the office.

“That’s right.”

Yukomis did not add any more words.

“Why are you asking me directly for this…?”

The Count only said that much and realized that it might sound like a refusal.

“Ah. Please don’t misunderstand. I can listen to any request of Yukomis. But why does I, of all people, have to protect her ‘directly’?”

“Because you are the most trustworthy person.”

Yukomis didn’t bother to add the word “relatively” before it.

“I also have my son, Galar… Can’t I entrust it to him?”

“Absolutely not.”

Yukomis answered immediately.

Even the Count herself was in an unstable situation, so there was no way she could trust a knight whom she had met for the first time today.

“I’m saying again, ‘You directly’, ‘take responsibility and’ protect her.”

“……Yees.”

“It’s a situation that’s too hard to explain. Just, just trust me.”

“You’re telling me to protect her, but how?”

“Just stay with that child until I finish the investigation and come back.”

Yukomis, who was saying those words, had a very serious and heavy expression.

“You absolutely must not be apart from her for even a moment. Even if she says she wants to go to the bathroom, even if she says she wants to take a walk, you must be there unconditionally.”

“…Is it that much?”

“It’s that much.”

Yukomis nodded.

“If you see her directly… you’ll know why I asked for this.”

If she continues to increase the number of people who share the secret like this one by one,

There was bound to come a point when she could no longer hide it.

The people in Solenas’s mansion knew, and now the Count knew…

Someday it would be revealed to the whole world.

But Yukomis could only hope that she could find Manya quickly before that happened.

She was feeling so anxious even in the short moment of talking to the Count like this.

‘Why at a time like this. At a moment like this. Did this happen while I was with Signa…?

This is all Silissa. All because of her.

The contradiction of the person I was looking for to be a strength rather putting a huge mountain on my shoulders.

‘After putting the Count and Signa together, I have to go straight to the dungeon. I’ll make her tell me everything, from the base of the cult to their personal details.’

And one more thing.

‘While interrogating her, I’ll beat her up something fierce. I’ll beat her up so much that she’s really out of her mind, and when the words ‘Save me, Yukomis!’ come out, I’ll beat her up once more there…’

Yukomis was gnashing her teeth just thinking about Silissa, who had driven her into this dead end.

“I’m sorry, but please put aside what you’re doing right now. You have to go to the guest room with me right now.”

“……Yes? So quickly? But the work I was doing…”

“I’ll take responsibility for it later somehow. Go to the guest room right now and…”

Yukomis, who had become impatient, spat out whatever words she wouldn’t have said normally.

“Well, put her on your lap and accept her fawning or something. You’re used to children anyway, right?”

“Well… I do have a lot of children under my wing…”

Excluding Galar, they were all working as heads of other castles or regions.

Just as the Count was about to get up from her seat while answering dazedly.

Thump thump thump.

The large door of the office rang loudly.

“Who is it? I told you not to come in for a while.”

Because Yukomis had something to say only to the Count, everyone had been dismissed to the outside.

“It’s an emergency! Count!”

“An emergency?”

“……!”

Yukomis’s expression, who had a bad feeling at those words, distorted desperately.

“Silissa has escaped from prison!”

“What??”

The Count was just as surprised.

“First, come in!”

Thud.

The soldier almost poured into the office.

“Did Silissa suddenly have a thought to escape?”

The Count already knew that she couldn’t be stopped if Silissa had made up her mind to do so.

“Yes, that’s, that’s what I mean, it was so sudden, it was really sudden!”

“Have Galar sent to chase after her immediately! How to persuade her again…”

As if there was more bad news than this, the soldier didn’t know what to do.

“Sir Galar has also disappeared!”

Kwaang.

Yukomis, who had already guessed what was going on, slammed the table.

Ah.

Again.

It’s happening again.

Why does the same thing happen every time.

“Galar?”

“Yes! Apparently, he should be working right now, but the guard at the main gate said that he hurriedly rushed out, carrying something loaded on the back of the saddle…”

“Where were the knights and soldiers who were working with him?”

“That’s, that’s because he told them all to step aside for a while… Uh uh uh!”

Both the soldier and the Count couldn’t continue their words.

It was because Yukomis had run to the Count and grabbed her by the collar.

“Count.”

Yukomis’s cold eyes were burning with anger.

“You’re going to have to explain it to me very well.”