66. I’ve hinted at you, and you still won’t clear your name?

The darkness lasted who knows how long, and the moment everything before my eyes became clear yet strange again, I hadn’t even had time to react before I fell from a not-so-high place to the ground.

Let me know if you need anything else!

“Ugh…”

“……”

The pained sounds from the girls beside me immediately made me realize: my earlier actions of holding onto Kephir and Nilu had inadvertently dragged these two big shots into the mess as well. The protagonists and the big boss in the script had fallen on their backsides along with me, which was truly embarrassing. However, considering we had escaped using Nilu’s teleportation technique in such a critical moment, landing safely on the ground was already a stroke of luck. As for the manner of our “landing,” I would have to ask the two big shots to bear with it.

As I looked around, everything in the vast, open space felt unfamiliar. However, from the pre-prepared candlelight and the pattern on the ground that matched exactly with the teleportation formation Nilu had set up, it was clear that we had indeed successfully returned to the Rodmar Empire… just in time to escape the death threat posed by Urasiru and Ludwig, the two white-haired elves, before their domain took effect.

【The group led by Oghlid arrived in the Rodmar Empire using the teleportation technique.】

The script appeared, and while I had to check to ensure our safety, I also let out a long sigh of relief.

I had escaped from the script filled with “death,” and regardless of whether it was Nilu or Kephir, holding onto them felt very real. I had successfully brought both Kephir and Nilu away from danger, without leaving either of them behind.

I certainly felt fortunate, but… I wasn’t so sure about the other two big shots.

Nilu, who was lying beside me, seemed to be in a state of shock, not moving for quite a while, and then suddenly…

She “booted up”!

“Claudilus, quickly cut off the passage! Otherwise, they might follow us!”

Nilu hurriedly got up, starting to do the real “cleanup” work. After a flurry of activity, everything seemed to be safe again, and she returned to stand in front of me.

She gazed deeply at me as if wanting to express something, but I was unclear about it. However, I had a belly full of complaints: during that most dangerous moment, Nilu’s reckless actions had truly frightened me! And what was this talk of “cleanup”? Wasn’t it just leaving me and Kephir to escape while she stayed behind to face death!?

Fortunately, I had managed to grab her back in the end, but that was merely luck! Even if I tried to act tough, I couldn’t guarantee that the next time Nilu did something like that, I would be as lucky as I was this time!

Yet, with a thousand words on the tip of my tongue, I didn’t know how to voice them, and all I could do was let out a sigh.

“It’s not like we had time, Nilu.”

At least from the outcome, it seemed Nilu’s decision to stay behind was merely a path to death.

However, Nilu’s response seemed somewhat absent-minded.

“It’s already too late, Mr. Oghlid. Indeed… it’s still not enough time.”

“That’s the consequence of your frequent use of that ‘ability’ of yours.” Nilu tightened her grip on my sleeve, confirming with me, “Now in your ‘prophecy,’ is it… all related to ‘death’?”

“!”

I wanted to maintain a dignified image for the sake of a man’s pride in front of Nilu, to deny it, but unfortunately, my first reaction had already given Nilu the real answer.

She guessed correctly; during the time those two white-haired elves appeared, my script was filled only with “death,” almost like a curse.

Nilu’s expression gradually dimmed.

“What I was worried about all along was exactly this, which is why I wanted to take you away as soon as possible.”

After casting a somewhat reproachful glance at Kephiel, Nilu’s attitude ultimately turned to resignation. “But now, it seems that no matter what we say, it’s all in vain. Ludwig and Urasilu—no, I should say those white-haired elves—will definitely come after you at any cost.”

Her hands gradually clenched tighter: “Because that is their ‘purpose.’”

I certainly understood the implication of Nilu’s words: didn’t that mean there would always be two “reapers” chasing after me? Surprised as I was, and fearful as I felt, I still had my doubts. For instance, why were they not some bizarre “intruders,” but rather the elven sword saint Ludwig and the pure white nun Urasilu? And why was the “death script” in my narrative not stemming from them, but from the complex notion of “will”…

But one thing I could be sure of.

And it seemed I didn’t even need to say it out loud.

Kephiel interrupted Nilu’s pessimism: “So, Nilu, are you giving up?”

Without a second thought, Nilu fell for Kephiel’s clumsy provocation, proving just how tense and flustered she was at that moment.

“Impossible! I’m bringing Mr. Oujili back to Rodmar for this very reason! I will protect him to the death, even if it means using the entire power of the Rodmar Empire!”

To be honest, I was quite touched, but… Nilu, this is foolish behavior. It’s akin to that king who set fires to entertain a lady, just to make her smile.

But my emotional intelligence told me that it was best to stay silent at this moment; after all, this was not the time for me to stir the pot.

“Then what are you afraid of, Nilu?”

This time, it was Kephiel who had the upper hand. “If they come after us, we’ll fight them back! We’ll make them think twice about such ideas. Or are you saying that after just one encounter with them, you’re scared and want to back down!?”

“Of course not!”

The defiant Nilu immediately looked up to meet Kephiel’s gaze, then, with a slightly weaker tone, repeated, “Of course not…”

I knew what Nilu was worried about; after all, from the very beginning, what had been troubling her was not Kephiel’s provocation, but rather my situation.

Her gaze frequently darted towards me, as if she were expecting something from me, or perhaps pleading for something…

I immediately understood Nilu’s feelings at that moment, and I couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation at her somewhat “humble” demeanor.

Clearly, in her usual boss mode, she exuded such dominance and composure, like a proud and noble queen. Yet, at this moment, it seemed as if Nilu had lost her wits entirely.

Kefir’s earlier words had already hinted that she accepted your presence; otherwise, why would she have used provocation to ask about your attitude towards those two spirits? As for what you might most want to know—my thoughts…

You were worrying for nothing.

“Next time, don’t rush to your own demise. I was so tense when I had to pull you back that my hands were shaking.”

“……”

In Nilu’s eyes, it seemed a light had ignited, and it was time to provide an answer. The conflicts between Kefir and Nilu, the protagonist and the boss in the script, had been resolved, but the danger was not over; rather, it was at this moment that a choice for the future was presented to me.

“Those spirits, one alone can’t handle us, so this time they decided to gang up. It would be quite difficult for Kefir to manage them all alone, so…”

I turned to Nilu, “Could I ask you to… continue to protect me like you are now?”

I knew: this might not be an answer from Nilu, but rather… I had given Nilu an answer.

So this response, Nilu had probably already determined, waiting for a long time.

“Of course I am willing, ‘King’…”

——

This volume of the main text ends here, followed by two extras, and then we move on to the next volume.

Actually, I thought about whether Nilu would ultimately stay or leave, and I realized that I wasn’t writing some deeply tragic drama; it was better to have a more satisfying conclusion, otherwise it would just be a headache.

So she came back, and after that, everything went smoothly. After all, if we were to rank characters, Nilu would definitely be at the T1 level among those I excel at.

I hope everyone enjoys it. Next up are the extras!