Chapter 232

Anxiety

I quickly looked at the other roses. The Yellow Rose is still in full bloom and there is no big difference. For the White Rose, it had black spots as if it was contaminated when I saw it a long time ago, but now it is in full bloom just like the Yellow Rose.

At that time, Francia was on a dangerous escape from Chaser’s pursuit, and she had not grown up properly, so is this revealing that she is not now? My eyes turned against the Red Rose.

‘Black Rose.’

And that moment I saw the Black Rose, my eyes fluttered. Obviously, even when I saw him a long time ago, he wasn’t very normal……. he was miserable.

Petals torn like burned, broken thorns, and flowers crushed like ground charcoal. If that was a dying flower, it looked like dying in its worst form.

Why is it worse than the Red Rose that might really die?

And looking towards the center, the place for the Blue Rose was hollowed out. Far from being a jewel, the shape of the flower is nowhere leaving only the stem and leaves.

‘…… why?’

It was strange. If they really represent the state of the roses, won’t it be different now, as I had already awakened? Why didn’t the Blue Rose appear?

“Iana?”

“Ah…….”

I quickly removed my eyes. Yes, now is not the time to think. There was no time.

“Now do you see a huge spell circle around that altar, that is, around that stone?”

“Yes, I see.”

“Yes. I can.”

“I see it.”

I nodded as I listened to the answers that came one after the other.

“Ricdorian, I think you should be standing there.”

“Can I just stand?”

“Yes. I think you have to stand…… at the center.”

I looked at the altar and narrowed my eyes. I just looked at it and thought of how to use it. To be precise, the guardian deity that dwells in me was sending images into my head in a whisper.

‘…… Why do you know everything?’

Thinking about Pudding, Pudding did not know much. It was born late and didn’t think about much. The same was true of the other guardian deities. However, I could feel the traces of a long time in my guardian deity. As if it had endured a long time.

‘Why don’t you talk to me like Pudding?’

Numerous questions crossed my mind, but now is not the time to seek answers to these questions. And soon I felt like I knew what to do. If only I could accomplish the last task on this stage…….

“Then, in the meantime, me and the White Rose will stand guard.”

“Yes, please.”

As I took a step toward the altar. I felt a sense of ingenuity in my back. Without realizing it, I looked left and right. Surely there’s no one there?

There was still time for the Empress to pursue us. Besides, when I was here, I already felt that the noise from the underground should not be transmitted to the outside. Still, why do I feel the tension like being pricked with a needle?

The wide road felt like walking on a one-way street. Holding my breath, I took another step. At the same time, my wrist was grabbed and swung backwards.

“Iana!”

Something huge flew past where I was. And flutter. Black feathers flowed down where I was.

Suddenly, in front of me, there was a blue wall that I instinctively created. And on both sides, Francia and Lenag, respectively, stood up. I raised my gaze slowly, maintaining the barrier.

The one who came down through the air lightly touched the floor with his toes. Then a huge bird sat down with the man’s outstretched arm. The familiar eagle, Aquala. Chaser smiled and put his feet down completely. The tension that had stretched just a moment ago tightened even more.

“Hello, Iana.”

It didn’t matter how he descended from the air like flying. The important thing was that he appeared in this space.

‘Is this the true nature of my anxiety?’

I had thought of all the scenarios that would occur after I misled the Empress. And this was the worst.

“I was a little tired of waiting.”

Ricdorian’s hand, that was holding my waist, grew stronger. I stared at Chaser with my hands outstretched. Chaser just gave me a soft smile.

“You said you wouldn’t disturb me.”

“Right. Those words don’t change, Iana. I told you I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You showed up here saying you wouldn’t disturb me?”

“Right. It’s a contradiction.”

His voice was as sweet as a song.

“But I don’t really mean to disturb you. To be exact, I came here to fulfill my purpose.”

Aquala, who was sitting on Chaser’s arm, flapped her wings. At the same time, a huge beast appears in front of his thigh. Another of his guardian deities, Rattan. The black jaguar opened his mouth and exposed his fangs sharper than ever. A terrifying cry rang out.

“Your purpose?”

As long as he appeared up to this point at this moment, his purpose could never have been good for me. Unsurprisingly, Chaser tilted his head and showed a picture-perfect smile.

“Yes. Purpose.”

It’s like he was imitating the ‘kind’ brother in Domulit’s mansion.

“To get you home.”

Home? Certainly not Domulit. His fingers point to the back, the altar and the spell circle.

“I’m here to bring you back to your original world.”

The moment he said that, all the roses’ eyes turned to me.

“…… Return to the original world?”

While I was clenching my lips, darkness like smoke settled down in this huge space. The bright space like daytime was gradually encroached. On a moonless night, in pitch-black darkness, Chaser’s body, headstone, and altar are all swallowed up.

The light disappeared, and only the faint light emitted by the jewels could be seen in front of me. A low voice came from right next to me.

“…… Iana, what was he talking about?”

Suddenly, Ricdorian was standing next to me. He grabbed my hand and muttered. His voice sounded choked.

“Are you going back to your original world?”

The sight would not be clearly visible to ordinary people. But maybe it’s because my eyesight improved a little after awakening?

He looked like he was about to burst into tears. It occurred to me that not only Ricdorian, but perhaps the other two were also looking at me with similar eyes.

“…… Just like the man said.”

I didn’t mean to lie anyway. I just put it off for a while because of another important priority.

“I am not from this world.”

I saw Chaser blocking the way.

“I was just an ordinary person who was forcibly dragged here by that man.”

A person who lived a peaceful life, unable to let go of my ordinary memories. A still rage rose from the depths of my heart. But I buried it.

“But Ricdorian, I have not yet decided what to do.… Because I didn’t think of anything but saving you.

I can’t say that I don’t miss that world. It was the honest and best answer I could give at this moment.

I grabbed Ricdorian’s hand.

“Don’t be fooled. Me and you too. I set priorities and it was to put your life ahead of my past life.”

I did not avoid Ricdorian’s eyes.

“My words matter, does that man’s nonsense matter too?”

“Of course Sister’s words matter. Why would you ask?”

Francia’s words passed by right next to me.

“I thought of something more important.”

Ricdorian looked as if he had woken up at my words, and then his face hardened.

“Iana, you are right. Anything.”

“Yes. It’s nice to hear those words at this moment.”

Even at this moment, the Empress will be on the move. I pulled his hand.

“Let’s go.”

Then I turned my head and turned to Francia and Lenag.

“Francia, Lenag! May I ask for a cover?”

A pure white light spreads out around me in the dark space. The light that Francis had shed, and suddenly she was smiling with a huge hammer placed lightly on her shoulder.

“You don’t have to ask me to do that, sister.”

“Of course.”

Lenag also held a weapon that embodied his guardian deity in his hand.

“You just look ahead. We will clear the road.”

This conversation would have been heard by Chaser as well. I disarmed the barrier without hesitation. Then I moved my feet.

“Iana. Behind me!”

Ricdorian, who was holding my hand, pulled me back and put me behind him. Suddenly, a large sword was in his hand, which I had never seen before.

‘Is it Pudding?’

I felt Pudding inside me disappear. Pudding went to Ricdorian of its own will. My sprinting didn’t stop.

“Iana, do I just need to be in that spell circle?”

“Yes? Right!”

A huge spell circle is drawn on the altar and the ground surrounding the altar. When we get to the center, I can activate that. My guardian spirit was saying and whispering over and over again.

“Then go first.”

“What? But you needed it.”

The moment I said that, I stopped. In the darkness that filled the space, something was wriggling on the floor and rising.

“What is that…..”

“Iana, I didn’t tell you before, in fact, this is the space I used once.”

Chaser, who had already moved from among the shadows, was standing with his hands behind his back.

“Because I brought you into this world from here.”

Watching what was happening in the dark gave me an eerie feeling. Like seeing the people who have lost their mind in the cathedral halls..….

“So actually. This is the place where I was fully prepared.”

My enemy, who is stronger than anyone at this moment, laughed with ecstasy.

“How about it, isn’t it the right place to send you back?”

Why? A terrible word came to mind: if I can’t have it, I’ll destroy it.

Didn’t that guy say he’d rather send me away if he couldn’t have me? So that anyone can’t have me either?

Boom!

A heavy sound came. The huge roar was enough to awaken me from the eerie sensation.

“Sister!”

The voice was Francia’s. She was shouting as she had blown away the shadow he had just approached.

“Hurry!”

I checked my location with Ricdorian.

“Ricdorian, you must be stepping on the spell circle!”

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