Chapter 36: Haven and a Glimmer of Hope

Evrys woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling.

Since being thrown into this world.

She hadn’t encountered a truly familiar ceiling.

Only varying degrees of unfamiliarity.

‘Just unfamiliar and very unfamiliar ceilings…’

She chuckled wryly at the thought.

The fact that she was even capable of such a silly pun meant her sword must be out of reach.

Her last memory was of her body being torn apart…

So, it was odd that she was even intact.

Evrys blinked her still blurry eyes.

Her mind was pleasantly blank.

Perhaps due to just waking up.

She hadn’t felt this sleepy in a long time.

As she snuggled into the soft bed.

The events in the forest came flooding back.

‘I wonder if Amelia is alright.’

The fact that Evrys was in a bed, not a patch of grass.

Suggested that the princess was safe.

They had been investigating the ruins together.

When they were suddenly attacked by what Evrys assumed were monsters.

As if to compensate for the lack of dangerous creatures in the previous forest.

These monsters were numerous.

And impervious to physical attacks.

Evrys had managed to defeat them using… something that welled up inside her.

But it seemed to have knocked her unconscious.

She vaguely remembered seeing Iris running towards her…

‘That can’t be right.’

Evrys buried her face in the pillow and shook her head.

Trying to dispel the lingering image.

She let the unfamiliar comfort of the soft bed lull her back towards oblivion.

Just as she began to relax.

She heard the door open.

The distance gave her a moment to observe the room before the unknown visitor reached her.

It was dark, lacking any light source.

But the furnishings felt strangely familiar.

Austere yet functional.

It reminded her of the mansion in the North.

‘…I need to find a new sword soon.’

With that thought, Evrys turned her head to see who had entered.

She was greeted by a truly unexpected sight.

Her jaw dropped.

‘I must look ridiculous right now.’

“I… Iris?”

“Evrys.”

Iris, who was holding a light source.

Placed it on the bedside table.

Then pulled up a chair and gently closed Evrys’s gaping mouth.

Only then did Evrys come to her senses.

Her face felt warm.

She worried her voice might tremble.

But she had to speak.

“Wh-why are you here?”

Iris’s voice was tinged with a hint of dejection.

“…You don’t remember.”

“Huh? Remember what—”

But her moment of vulnerability passed quickly.

Iris regained her composure and continued.

“Never mind. You must be wondering where you are.”

Evrys nodded silently.

She had been right to think the room felt familiar.

‘Could this be the North?’

‘…But what about Amelia?’

As if sensing her concern.

Iris quickly provided an answer.

“You’re in our family’s townhouse in Haven.”

‘They have a townhouse here…?’

“Haven… I think that’s the capital.”

She remembered hearing the name when Amelia had smiled and said, ‘Welcome.’

Even though they had ended up in a random forest instead.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Being in the capital meant someone had found them.

Amelia couldn’t have brought an unconscious Evrys back on her own.

The hazy image of Iris before Evrys lost consciousness…

‘Could it have been real?’

“Did… you find us?”

“Yes. I was lucky.”

Evrys felt a pang of guilt.

She had imposed on Iris yet again.

“…I’m sorry.”

Iris’s expression was complex.

After a brief silence, she shook her head.

“It wasn’t intentional. You don’t need to apologize. And… personally, I’m glad I could help.”

“…”

Evrys couldn’t meet Iris’s gaze.

Guilt gnawed at her conscience.

“Is… is Amelia alright?”

“You’re calling the princess by her name?”

“Uh? Oh… she insisted…”

“…You’ve become quite close.”

“Not really.”

If Evrys had to define their relationship.

It would be ‘blackmailer and liar.’

She didn’t have fond memories of Amelia.

“I see.”

Being near Iris made Evrys acutely aware of her lack of a sword.

She felt as uneasy as she had when they first parted ways.

‘I should apologize for breaking the sword.’

“Iris.”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I need to apologize for.”

“As I said before—”

“No, it’s about the sword you gave me… I broke it.”

Iris paused, then nodded in understanding.

“Ah, that.”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize.”

Iris showed Evrys the sword sheathed at her hip.

The red jewel confirmed it was the same sword.

“…Huh? It’s fine?”

“It was broken, as you said… but…”

With a soft shing, Iris drew the sword.

It was perfectly intact.

“As you can see… it’s perfectly fine.”

“That’s amazing.”

“My father helped me choose this sword. It seems it’s not an ordinary one.”

“…I see.”

‘The Duke chose it?’

Knowing the Duke’s involvement.

Evrys suspected there was more to the sword than met the eye.

As her thoughts deepened.

Iris placed the sword on the table and turned to face her.

Evrys swallowed nervously.

She wanted to reach for the sword.

But Iris was blocking it.

“What are your plans now?”

“Plans?”

“Will you be staying in the capital?”

“Ah…”

Considering why she had left with Amelia in the first place…

Evrys knew she should stay.

“I think so.”

“I see.”

Iris touched her chin thoughtfully.

Then nodded slightly.

“Then, I’ll make the necessary arrangements.”

“Huh? What arrangements?”

“This townhouse has only been minimally maintained. There’s much to be done.”

“Huh?”

“I’m saying I’ll be staying in the capital with you.”

Iris looked at Evrys.

Her crimson eyes reflected Evrys’s bewildered expression.

“If you’d prefer otherwise—”

“N-no! It would be… reassuring to have you here.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“…You’re overreacting.”

“Am I?”

“Um… Iris, can I have my sword back?”

“Your sword?”

“Yes. I want to see it for myself.”

Iris glanced at the sword on the table.

Then met Evrys’s gaze.

“Evrys.”

“What?”

“I haven’t told you what happened.”

“…Right.”

“To keep it short, thanks to the princess’s fervent defense, it was ruled an accident.”

“…What if it hadn’t been?”

“It would have been troublesome, but the outcome wouldn’t have been much different.”

“Why?”

“Our family wouldn’t have stood idly by.”

“…Thank you.”

“It was only natural.”

‘The Duke thinks I’m his ancestor…’

‘So, of course it’s natural.’

Evrys needed to believe that.

Otherwise, the guilt and shame would be overwhelming.

“The mages from the tower said they’ll be visiting soon.”

“The mage tower?”

“Officially, it’s to offer an apology. But they’re clearly eager to find out what happened.”

“Hmm…”

“I can have them turned away if you wish.”

“Is that alright?”

“Of course.”

“No, it’s fine. I have nothing to hide.”

“Understood.”

Turning away visitors from the mage tower wouldn’t be easy.

Evrys couldn’t impose on Iris any further.

“…I feel like I’m always burdening you.”

“Don’t say that.”

Iris touched the sword at her hip.

“You’ve helped me a great deal as well.”

‘…I’m glad I could be of some help.’

Even if it was just for Evrys’s own peace of mind.

“…That’s good to hear.”

“I’ve kept you up too long. You just woke up.”

“I’m fine now.”

“It’s late. I’ll be going now.”

“Oh… okay.”

Iris gave a small bow.

Her gaze lingered on the sword on the table.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

“Goodnight, Iris.”

Evrys waved, hoping she looked cheerful.

The door closed.

Plunging the room into darkness.

Evrys reached out and took the sword.

The guilt and shame she felt towards Iris.

The unease that accompanied thoughts of Amelia.

It all began to fade.

…Almost too quickly.

She knew it was strange.

‘It’s okay.’

‘Everything will be alright when I go back.’

‘So… it’s okay.’

A translucent window suddenly appeared before her eyes.

The same one she had seen when she shouted ‘Status Window!’ while clinging to Iris.

[Synchronization Rate 15% ─ 17.5%]

It displayed an unknown value.

Then vanished.