TSFA l Part 2 CH 65

Part 2 Chapter 65

***

The encampment, inside the barracks.

The Prince was sound asleep, unaware of anything. I sat nearby, watching the beasts with worried eyes.

Across a small table, under candlelight, a boar and a rhinoceros were holding a late-night strategy meeting.

Beasts speaking like humans—it was still a strange sight.

“The Prince should stop by Romaiya on the way back.”

“Yes. And I’ll also pay a visit to the Marquis’s estate when we arrive at the capital.”

Crazy.

What were they talking about? They meant that as soon as the campaign ended and they returned, Nike would drag my fourth brother Gabriel and my third sister Diana by the hair and throw them into prison.

Not to kill them right away—no, they’d be hostages, to gather all the gifted ones in one place.

“Wait! You’re moving too fast!”

I hurried to cut in. Stop charging blindly!

“It’s not too fast!”

The boar snapped back, excited.

“Bania, once the instant-death power is complete, we move forward exactly as planned. Don’t worry.”

The rhinoceros tried to calm me with gentler words, but it still meant the same thing—they intended to rush in.

“No, there’s a huge problem. Even if everything’s ready, how exactly do we break in?”

“Huh? The same way as before the regression.”

The boar frowned, as if it were an obvious question.

Do you know why Ryan had been able to successfully raid our family estate before the regression?

Because Richard wasn’t there.

Richard Bassenberg.

Holder of the advanced abnormal-action ability: .

It could completely restrain its target, regardless of strength or scale. How could anyone break through when someone like him was standing guard?

Even if the private troops armed with Rivan’s new weapons fought valiantly, it would mean nothing.

As long as Richard was there, everyone would just freeze and wait helplessly for death.

Of course, before the regression, that hadn’t happened. Richard had already taken his own life and was gone from the world.

But this time was different.

Richard was alive. He was part of Bassenberg’s forces.

“I know you beasts are eager, but calm down and listen to me!”

On the day of the final battle, of course Father would order Richard to defend the estate.

And sure, you might think: Richard is on our side, so won’t he disobey Father’s orders and betray him at the last moment?

But how will you guarantee Richard’s safety then?

The enemy’s camp would be crawling with terrifyingly gifted siblings and countless Bassenberg soldiers.

If Richard suddenly revealed himself as a traitor—he’d die 100%.

That’s why, when I met Richard before, I had asked him one thing:

“At that time, Brother, you must hide from Father’s eyes and be somewhere else.”

That was it.

Given his long years as a wastrel, barely monitored anymore, it had been an easy request for him to grant.

“But if Krista gets caught, Father will surely start watching me again too.”

“…I suppose.”

“Then I’ll have to wait again—until Father’s suspicions fade, until his watch over me weakens.”

“Don’t push yourself, Brother.”

“Yes. But I will… succeed.”

And judging by how Father had recently been flicking his suppression on and off—something he’d hardly done in his entire life?

There was a 99% chance Krista had been caught and was being “educated” at this very moment.

Which meant Richard was also under renewed suspicion and surveillance.

After explaining all this, I made it clear to the two reckless beasts:

“I’ll tell my brother that we’re fully prepared.”

“But until his safety is guaranteed—we absolutely cannot move.”

That dawn, I sent my brother a voice message.

<Mirror’s Eye – Telepathic Whisper>

***

[Brother, we are ready. We’ll wait. But there’s no need to rush. I’m not pushing you, so calmly plan your escape. If things become truly impossible, use the secret method we discussed. Then I’ll think of a way to abduct you and Krista.]

“How long are you going to stay like this?”

Krista sat, staring blankly at her brother Richard’s unfamiliar face, her expression full of irritation.

‘Why… Did he come?’

In recent days, Krista had defied Father over Alexander, causing him endless headaches.

She cried, refused to eat, begged to be let out—constantly throwing fits.

“Say what you want.”

Had Father sent her brother to coax her, since he himself couldn’t handle her tantrums? Or had Richard come of his own will?

She didn’t know.

“Won’t you answer?”

Krista glanced around with only her eyes. The ears of servants and guards were everywhere, standing silently along the walls.

“Alexander… Father is going to kill him.”

“So what.”

Richard’s cold reply to her tearful words made Krista flinch. His voice was so chilling.

It had been forever since she’d shared a warm conversation with him, or even spent any time together.

To avoid suspicion, he had kept his distance, so they wouldn’t be accused of conspiring together.

So it had been far too long.

She couldn’t tell what he truly felt anymore.

“How long will you act like this? You’re grown now. You’re not a child anymore.”

“Brother…”

“Think carefully about who your real family is—the ones you’ll live with for the rest of your life. It’s not Alexander, the boy you barely even remember anymore. It’s Father.”

What? Had her brother changed? Or had he been swayed by Father’s serpent-like tongue? Why come here to tell her this?

“If you don’t want to die, then eat.”

“…No. This is how I threaten Father, so he won’t hurt Alex.”

“Just listen for once! I’m sick of this!”

Richard stood and shouted. Krista jumped in fear, tears spilling instantly. He looked terrifying, like a stranger.

“Stop it already. By now you should realize—you can’t do anything. No matter what, you’re in Father’s palm. So please, just stop and behave. Understand?”

Why? Why are you saying this? Did you forget our promise—that someday, even if things were hard, good days would come? That we’d endure together?

She wanted to ask, but she didn’t.

If Father heard that Richard had once resented him, it would only bring death.

“I… I’ll handle it. Just go. It hurts to even look at you.”

“Father was right. That boy has to die—only then will you have nowhere left to cling to, and finally come to your senses.”

“What?”

Her heart dropped.

Richard’s eyes—there was nothing in them but icy coldness.

“I don’t understand why our whole family has to suffer because of him.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. You’re more important to me than him. Father explained all the reasons why that boy must be removed, and I understand perfectly.”

“Brother!!!”

She cried desperately, but Richard’s face showed no emotion.

No sympathy, no pity.

As if his feelings had been cut away.

“Krista, no matter what happens, let’s believe in each other.”

And yet, just as her world crumbled, she suddenly remembered their old promise.

“I might change so much that I forget who I really was. I’ll have to forget myself.”

Yes—they had promised.

“So please… you be the one to remember. That I’ll never truly change. That you’re the most precious person to me. Don’t ever forget.”

Believe. Remember.

There must be a reason. A reason he was being so harsh, shaking her, tormenting her, provoking her.

There had to be.

And Krista realized—because of Alexander, Father must surely have begun to suspect Richard too.

If so…

With so many ears and eyes around them, they couldn’t speak honestly.

So, in that fleeting instant, only their eyes locked in the air.

***

Edgar was walking toward Krista’s room.

Richard had asked if he could see his sister, worried about her refusal to eat and violent fits. Edgar had agreed.

Richard said he would persuade her. Yet Edgar was uneasy.

Krista had hidden rebellious thoughts from him for years with cunning patience.

And Richard—her only trusted sibling.

So Edgar couldn’t help but watch Richard closely again, setting many eyes and ears to renew surveillance.

But as always, Richard showed nothing unusual. And that was suspicious in itself.

Keeping constant suspicion over one’s own gifted children was exhausting—but being betrayed was worse.

One mistake was enough—failing to control Krista.

Could Richard and Krista truly be on different paths? Edgar wanted to believe it, but trust never came.

Whether Richard succeeded in persuading her or not, both outcomes were suspicious.

It was maddening.

Boom!

Outside Krista’s door, a sudden crash stopped Edgar in his tracks.

“Ahhhhhh!!!”

“Young Master!!!”

Horrific screams rang out. Edgar’s eyes widened.

No… it couldn’t be. Not Krista… against Richard? Impossible. Unthinkable.

He ran to the door and flung it open.

The dreadful possibility he had prayed against became reality.

“Richard!!!”

His son lay crumpled, body like a rag. Blood everywhere, his face unrecognizable. He clutched at his torn abdomen, barely breathing.

His entrails spilled from the wound, which he desperately tried to hold in as he turned his tear-filled eyes toward Edgar.

With trembling hands, Edgar fumbled inside his jacket. His fingers closed around a cold vial.

Diana’s life-saving potion—always carried with him.

He yanked the cap off and shoved it into his son’s bloody mouth. But the potion mixed with blood, spilling out.

“Swallow!!! Swallow it!!!”

The light in his son’s eyes began to fade. Horror gripped Edgar. This couldn’t be happening…

Finally, with a gulp, Richard swallowed a mouthful of the potion along with blood.

At once, the spilling organs knit back together, the torn flesh sealing as if time itself rewound.

The pain eased, and Richard’s eyes grew calm. Then, overwhelmed, he closed them and fell unconscious.

“Hah… haaaah…”

Edgar collapsed heavily to the floor, strength leaving his body.