Chapter 465 – Walking Nightmare (3)

Please, let nothing have happened.
Shiba, navigating through the flames, prayed inwardly several times.

“Please.”

Her feet and legs ached. As her calf muscles tensed, cramps set in, and her pace noticeably slowed.

– Thump.

Her heart raced. Another sensation. To make matters worse, Shiba felt a strong impression that someone was approaching from the direction of the garden. Shiba, breaking into a cold sweat, tightly closed her eyes.

“The King…”

That strange sense of alienation she had experienced once before during the Forest Keeper selection. The King was the reason Shiba had come to this distant foreign land, and the person she absolutely had to meet in order to find Mary’s whereabouts.

“…No, not now. It’s Camellia.”

Still, she didn’t stop.

At that moment, Shiba valued her friend’s life more than the king’s. Even if she couldn’t see that man today, Shiba had a future, but her friend did not. Melia’s young life could end today.

Hold on and run. Don’t stop.

Gathering her resolve, Shiba kicked open the door of the bedroom she had finally reached. The slightly ajar bedroom door shattered, revealing the scene inside.

-Clash!

Spears and swords exchanged blows, their lethal power crying out, as if they sought to tear each other’s throats apart. An emotionless man in a suit was slowly pushing Soo-yeon and Melia back. It was likely A.B., the core member of ATU that Kim Soo-yeon had mentioned long ago.

“Sis… Miss Maid?”

Without any time to answer Shiba’s question, the battle continued. Soo-yeon wielded her sword to repel A.B., then shouted at Melia.

“Melia.”

“…Yes.”

As if understanding without needing words, Melia charged at A.B. with her dagger raised.

Soo-yeon retreated a few steps and held her trembling arms.

“Shiba.”
“Yes… sister.”
“Take the lord and flee. She’s next to the wardrobe….”

Upon Soo-yeon’s warning, Shiba immediately turned her head to check on Dong-baek’s well-being.
Camellia lay on the ground, unable to make sense of the situation, simply trembling.

“…But what about you, sister?”
“Never mind that. Hurry… The king is coming.”
“I… I know.”
“If you know, then go quickly. Get as far away as possible… It’s alright to leave this city.”

– Kang!

As Camellia’s body showed signs of being pushed away, Soo-yeon cut her words short and dashed forward.

“Quickly!”

A decision had to be made.
Shiba closed her eyes tightly and went to Camellia’s side. Leaving the shattered wheelchair behind, she embraced the fallen Camellia.
Camellia’s limp body helplessly nestled in Shiba’s arms.

“…….”

Shiba could feel the trembling of her body through her skin.

“Are you okay?”

“…Shiba… is that you?”

Camellia, uncertain, attempted to verify by feeling their body. Their face was pale, as if their senses were dulled and they struggled to discern the situation.

Shiba gently stroked Camellia’s cheek.

“Yes, it’s me. Your friend.”
“I see…”

Camellia, nestled in Shiba’s arms, buried their face into Shiba’s chest.

With one hand wrapped around Camellia’s waist, Shiba exited the room, carrying them.

“Camellia? Where is Camellia—”
“Don’t ask now.”
“Wait a moment, Shiba…”

They needed to put as much distance between them as possible. Shiba, now in motion, swiftly raced through the mansion’s hallway.

-Boom!

Gunshots echoed from outside. Immense magical forces clashed against each other. Sensing numerous presences nearby, Shiba halted in the corridor and surveyed their surroundings.

‘….’

Escaping seemed quite difficult. Even if they tried to leave now, they wouldn’t get far before being caught. Shiba selected an appropriate room, entered, and sat Dongbaek against the wall.

“…Sorry. I couldn’t come to you a bit sooner.”

Shiba gently stroked Dongbaek’s head and summoned her magical power.

After several castings, a transparent barrier appeared around them, concealing the presence of the two.

“…”

Inside the barrier, Shiba held the breathless Dongbaek in her arms, hoping that this gesture could calm her down, even just a little.

– Thump, thump.

Both of them could feel each other’s racing heartbeats. They were both equally tense, their hearts pounding with anxiety.

Time passed without change. Shiba patted Dongbaek’s cheek, embraced her neck, and held her as warmly as possible. This was Shiba’s own way of offering comfort. She knew Dongbaek well enough to know that she would undoubtedly blame herself.

My destiny is such that I can only bring pain to those around me. It was certain he would plunge himself into a chasm of guilt.

“…Why? How did things end up like this?”

The firm lips of Dongbaek parted, and a strained voice emerged. It was exactly what Shiba had anticipated.

“Don’t think about anything right now.”

Dongbaek, who called her name with desperation, managed a smile.

“You know…”

His voice was calm, as if resigned.

“Can’t you just run away on your own?”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“I want to see you live.”

If he were to die, she wouldn’t see him at all.

“The World Tree said that my death could greatly weaken the king’s power.”
“Why is that?”
“So… Even if I survive and return, I’m going to die anyway. It’s better for you to save your life-“
“Be still.”

Shiba cut off Dongbaek’s words.

“Why have we come here? I’m here to protect you. The gods don’t matter, I’m fulfilling my role, so what’s the issue?”

The judgment of the World Tree held no relevance.

Though it began as an official matter, the desire to protect her as a friend now took precedence.

Because they were friends.

She didn’t say it, but her emotions must have been conveyed.

“…”

Camellia’s eyelids twitched.

As the veil that had been covering her eyes lifted, Camellia’s clouded, dull gray eyes came into Shiba’s view. Though invisible, strangely enough, Camellia’s eyes were directed at Shiba.

“Please.”
“No.”
“Shiba.”
“I’ll do as I damn well please.”

Startled by the profanity, Camellia’s face hardened.

-Traipse. Traipse.

As the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, Shiba rose to her feet. As she drew the sword from her waist, Camellia spoke.

“Even now-“
“Hey, do you know what my mom told me when I was little?”
“…”

“My father seems to disregard his life. He’s said to have saved my mother.”

Was it said to have occurred in a dungeon?
When a spatial magic trap was activated in the Academy’s dungeon, and she almost lost her life.
My father nonchalantly offered himself as a shield.

Shiba clenched her sword tightly.
A surge of gray magical power coursed through her body.

“It seems I am my father’s daughter too. I can’t even remember her face… but I feel like I understand the emotions that drove him to do that.”
“Why-“
“Making friends is hard, isn’t it?”
“…”

Camellia silently hung her head.

– Bang!

The door was violently torn open, and A.B entered.
What happened to Kim Soo-yeon and Melia’s lives? Shiba was curious, but she couldn’t afford to dwell on it now.
Shiba aimed the tip of her sword at A.B.

‘Never.’

She couldn’t afford to be pushed back here.

– Swish.

As the gray magical power surged, Shiba’s hair fluttered.

A.B.’s eyes, hidden behind a mask, narrowed for a moment.

“…This. Sorcery? No, more than that–”

He muttered something to himself.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Holding a spear in his hand, he extended it towards Shiba. Shiba’s body shot forward as if propelled with great force.

-Suddenly!

Lannachal (攔拿扎)

He swung the spear to push her away, pulled it back, aimed, and thrust. It was a standard maneuver but, due to his proficiency, it was difficult for Shiba to counter with her sword. The spear, aimed at Shiba’s shoulder, collided with her blade.

“!”

She barely managed to block it, but A.B.’s spear continued to pressure Shiba.

-Clang, clang!

As the exchange went on, Shiba gradually lost ground. Her eyes narrowed fiercely. Retreating quickly, Shiba gripped her sword with both hands.

Could it be due to experience? The difference in skill was evident. Shiba thought it was fortunate that Dongbaek was blind, as he wouldn’t be able to see her being pushed back.

Shiba steadied her breath and assumed a defensive stance.

– Huung!

A.B’s body lunged forward, aiming a deadly thrust at Shiba in the blink of an eye. She tried to dodge the attack, but this time, she couldn’t.

‘Of all places.’

Camellia was behind her. If Shiba were to evade now, it would be Camellia who would die, not her. Shiba had no choice but to make a quick decision, raising her sword to block the incoming spear.

– Jjaeng!

The sword shattered with a resounding noise. Shiba’s reaction had been too slow, and she hadn’t fully manifested her swordsmanship.

The extended spear effortlessly pierced through Shiba’s shoulder, ripping her skin apart and burrowing between her muscles.

– Paak!

In excruciating pain, Shiba tried to scream but bit her lip instead.

“Wait–”

Could he sense her unease?

“Just a moment. It’s me you need to secure, isn’t it?”

Camellia, who had been leaning against the wall, writhed and stumbled forward.

Camellia, who had crawled without arms or legs, spoke anxiously to A.B.

“I will go. Please save this child.”
“I think you should have said that earlier.”
“……”

Camellia remained silent at A.B’s words.
A.B touched the bars and then looked at Shiba.

“Uh… Uh.”

Shiba’s eyes, weary from pain and unable to speak, were directed towards Camellia, who was crawling on the floor right next to her.

“Please.”

Camellia spoke without hesitation in response to A.B’s words.

“…I’m sorry. I’ll accept everything you ask for.”

A squirm.

Suddenly, Shiba pulled out a dagger from her waist and aimed it at A.B’s neck.

“Ugh!”

It was the optimal situation for a surprise attack, but the outcome wasn’t favorable.
It was Shiba’s body that had flesh cut away.

– Thud.

Shiba collapsed lifelessly as the dagger was withdrawn.

If one had been well-versed in A.B’s power, they would have prepared for it, but only a handful of people know of this ability.

-Thunk.

Upon hearing the sound of knees hitting the floor, Dongbaek held his breath.

“…No way.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You spoke, didn’t you? You pleaded!”
“It was your own choice.”

It wasn’t a deep wound, so if treated quickly, survival was likely. However, he didn’t feel the need for it. A.B looked at the fallen Shiba. He sensed a familiar magical power within her body, but he didn’t consider it a significant issue at the moment.

-Whirik!

He spun the spear and struck the floor. Dongbaek’s prosthetic arm, sprawled on the floor, was split in half.

-Crack!

“We need to move quickly.”
“Ah… Hnng.”

Holding up the prosthetic arm on the opposite side of the weeping Dongbaek, he dragged him along. The feeling of helplessness, unable to do anything, made Dongbaek’s body tremble at the sight of a silent Shiba.

-Squelch.

As Dongbaek was being dragged away, just before leaving the room,

-Startle.

A noise from behind caused A.B to stand up straight.
Annoying. He clicked his tongue once as if fed up.
When he turned his head, there was Shiba’s limp body, trembling as it tried to rise.

“Really?”

If she had just stayed still, she might have lived a lucky life.
Her determination was impressive. He almost wanted to praise her.

“…Let go.”

With a voice choked with anger, Shiba’s slumped body slowly rose from the floor.

Her right arm, dripping with blood, trembled next to her unsteady leg.
Shiba’s face, obscured by her bangs, had eyes filled with murderous intent glaring at A.B.

– Ugh.

The rising gray magic. He could feel an even deeper emotion than before.
Just as A.B, who had recreated his spear, was about to aim at Shiba, he stopped his attack and narrowed his eyes.

‘What…?’

In A.B’s line of sight, he could see the ears next to Shiba’s hair.
Slightly elongated ears.
It was a physical characteristic that couldn’t be seen in an ordinary person.

“Release that arm.”

The nature of this magical power was peculiar. It wasn’t something woodsmen or humans could handle.
This power… It’s difficult to comprehend.

‘He’s dangerous.’

A.B instantly extended his spear. Shiba’s body twisted like a phantom, evading the spear and dashing forward.
Blood flowed down her neck, but Shiba picked up the shattered sword from the ground and gripped it in A.B’s embrace.

-Phwaaah!

A completely different swordsmanship.
No… even more than that.

A.B’s vision blurred due to the level of agility, akin to the unification of divine swords.
Illusions unfolded. The movements were so hazy they were hard to discern.

‘Even at this level!’

It was within the range of manageable subjugation.
A.B’s spear grazed Shiba’s cheek, causing blood to splatter.
After thrusting the spear downward to break her stance, A.B moved his arm, aiming to pierce Shiba’s throat.

An inescapable angle.
This is the end.

-Clang!

In that moment of absolute certainty, the direction of the spear shot upward.

Someone struck his spear from below.

“…What!”

A girl with dark hair lifted her sword in front of Shiba.
A girl with unfamiliar features.
AB’s brow furrowed at the sight of the girl with striking black eyes that seemed to absorb all light.

– Thump.

His heart raced. Something of a different dimension had arrived here.
As AB swallowed, his calm voice resonated.

“Ebony-“
“Yes.”

When had she come here?

“-Move.”

Following the terse command,
the sword, aimed in a straight line toward AB’s forehead, advanced unwaveringly.