DSFL | Chapter 83

~Chapter 83~

“W-What’s wrong with her?”

Terrified, I stumbled backward. Amy stood there pale and stunned, but then suddenly walked toward me with a determined look.

“You know something about this situation, don’t you?”

“I-I don’t know exactly.”

“Liar.”

Amy was already standing right in front of me.

“Where are you going right now?”

She looked just like she did at the auction house. I gulped nervously. Wasn’t she mistakingc me for Ricardo?

“Can I follow you? Don’t say no.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be looking for the princess…?”

“I-I never said I’d stay with her the whole time! I just meant I’d go with her until I found her.”

With that, she naturally moved beside me.

She wasn’t exactly someone I wanted as a companion, but I couldn’t find a good reason to say no.

“Fine. Do whatever you want.”

“You won’t regret it! I’m the princess’s favorite maid, you know!”

Amy started rambling about herself. I half-listened while walking, following the arrow.

‘They said this was a guide. And it really is guiding me.’

I found Arkan’s one useful trait.

“Oh, that person…!”

After a while, we reached a place that looked like our destination.

[If you had left earlier, you would’ve had more time with the person you were looking for. What a shame.]

What’s the point of saying that now?

“That’s Ailins, right?”

Amy asked, and I quietly nodded.

Ailins was locked inside a prisoner transport cart, looking like a criminal. Around her stood stern knights holding sharp spears, watching the area carefully.

At least… it seemed like they were having a meal?

“…!”

Just then, one of the knights glanced around—and suddenly turned his head toward us. I quickly pulled Amy down, making her sit.

She fell on her butt and gave me a resentful glare. I held a finger to my lips to signal for silence, and Amy widened her eyes and nodded.

“Good job.”

“…!”

I watched Ailins through the bushes. She looked older than when I saw her in Dremokan as a child, but still young.

About the same age as me.

That fact made me feel a little sad.

Amy fidgeted with her fingers before hesitantly whispering.

“She looks really pitiful… should we help her?”

She was already getting emotionally involved.

“She’s here because she chose to be.”

“M-Maybe the situation forced her to! How could she endure it when everyone treats her like that?”

Amy continued, sounding uncertain.

“Sh-She seems as amazing as your grandfather…”

I listened quietly, then spoke up.

“Alright, then.”

“…You will?”

“Why are you so surprised? You’re the one who suggested it.”

“I thought you’d ignore me for sure.”

What kind of person does she think I am?

Meanwhile, the knights around Ailins started settling down.

“Things are quiet. I thought everyone would be freaking out about the demon.”

“Most of the people in the city died. They’re probably in shock.”

“Sigh, I hope no one was hurt too badly. Honestly, all this bloodshed wasn’t even necessary…”

“Shhh, watch your mouth!”

I listened to their pointless conversation and slowly approached the cart Ailins was in. She was staring blankly at the sky, deep in thought.

“What I said isn’t wrong, is it? The demon didn’t even hurt us.”

“Hey! Watch it! You don’t want to get into trouble.”

The knights didn’t seem very alert, which likely meant she had already surrendered to the emperor and given up her name.

I stood right in front of her. Finally noticing me, Ailins looked at me suspiciously.

“…”

There were many differences between the original story I knew and this twisted reality, but the biggest one was Ailins.

I had to know why she gave in to the emperor.

‘They said human will can change fate.’

“If you have power, why did you give up your name?”

Ailins frowned.

Was that too blunt?

I was about to rephrase when she quietly answered with her dry lips.

“…Because that was the right thing to do.”

Even after hearing her answer, I didn’t quite understand.

“You’re not a demon.”

“Just losing a name ends it all.”

I wanted to say it doesn’t end there, but I held back.

“Then what about you?”

“I…”

Ailins clenched her fists. But soon, she looked straight at me.

“You’re telling me to betray the empire?”

Ah… now I get it.

Ailins’s will.

“I’m saying don’t abandon yourself. If the empire can’t survive without you, it wouldn’t have made it this far anyway.”

“Y-Yeah! We can go on without you…”

Amy suddenly cut in. But her voice was loud—and the nearby knights all stood up angrily.

“Who’s there?!”

“Hic!”

Amy quickly hid behind me. The knights came closer, tightening their grip on their spears.

I quickly changed my expression and spoke calmly.

“She’s my sick sister. She got excited seeing the demon for the first time.”

I grabbed Amy’s arm, and she shouted dramatically.

“I saw it in a storybook! A story about demons and angels!”

The knights looked at each other, unsure.

Taking the chance, I pulled out some bread I got earlier from Charles and handed it over.

“Thank you for your hard work. It’s not much, but please take this.”

“This is mine! I’m going to feed the demon!”

She didn’t have to act this hard…

I pushed Amy away from the bread. One of the knights scratched his head.

“Ahem… You’re clearly struggling with your sister. We’re fine.”

Meanwhile, a knight checking Ailinth’s cart signaled with an “X” to show there was no issue.

“It’s dangerous. Get out of here. We’ll let it slide just this once!”

“Thank you!”

As we left, Ailins looked at us and said bitterly,

“What if I follow your advice and it all falls apart? Just to save myself…”

“Then you live with it.”

“…!”

“Besides, you’re not the kind of person who’d run away just to save yourself.”

I couldn’t even imagine what kind of time she had endured alone, to go from this girl to someone driven only by revenge.

“Hey! Why are you still here? Get going!”

“Ugh, Amy, come on!”

I joked and pulled Amy’s hand, walking away.

Once we were out of sight, I let her go. She glared at me with a pout.

“Y-You did great.”

“Forget it! I cleaned up my own mess, so I don’t need your compliments!”

Then why are you mad…?

“Okay, thank you. If it weren’t for you, we would’ve been caught.”

“Just saying it doesn’t count!”

Then what do you want from me?!

“Then keep calling me your sister.”

“…Did you actually enjoy playing the ‘dumb little sister’?”

“Are you crazy?!”

Amy was horrified. I hesitated, then cautiously spoke.

“Hey, if this is about Ricardo, I’m not involved with him…”

Amy started to reply, but instead clenched her teeth and punched her own chest.

“Sis!”

That’s when Penny’s voice rang out.

As I turned, the day suddenly shifted into night. The world changed rapidly around us.

“…!”

[Time is passing! I warned you this would happen!]

I felt dizzy, like I was going to be sick, and quickly closed my eyes.

“Sis, are you okay?”

Penny held me up.

The child I brought along was also there. Unlike Amy and the child, who were both scared, Penny chatted away without fear.

“I found a man wearing the same clothes and mask as you! He said he’s on our side!”

…Ricardo?

“He also said he knows how to return to the real world. All we have to do is watch these memories and not interfere!”

Penny took my hand and pulled.

“Let’s go! If I don’t get back to Uncle soon, I’ll be in big trouble!”

“Wait… That man, he sent you back alone?”

“Yeah!”

That’s not Ricardo.

The Ricardo I knew would never send a child away unprotected.

If it were really him, he would’ve reunited with the Penny I know.

‘And yet he said he’s on our side…’

These memories were affecting the real Ailins too.

If he knows that, it means he doesn’t plan to stop Ailins from taking revenge.

And the one who benefits the most if she attacks Carpea is…

‘Only the Kingdom of Orphen.’

As my thoughts spiraled out of control, Amy leaned in and whispered.

“That kid’s suspicious.”

“Sis, who is this woman?”

Penny pulled me to her side, and Amy grabbed my other arm, unwilling to lose.

A spoiled kid bought off with money, and a lady who joined me over some guy.

‘What a weird combo…’