ITIMLT 68

Irina answered calmly.

“It doesn’t look like a play anymore.”

It wasn’t just her who thought that way—children all around started crying.
A dark, heavy mood spread quickly. Irina understood at once.

‘This was a trap prepared for us.’

The people in front of them were servants of the Evil God. Their black robes gave them away.
That meant Evil God followers had snuck into the Reders Duchy.

‘How could they have reached all the way into Reders land?’

There was no time to think further.

Dark shadows bound Ezekiel’s body so he couldn’t move.

“Irina! Damn it, what are these things!”

Screams rose everywhere. Ezekiel tried hard to reach her, but the shadow’s grip was too strong.

Black fog wrapped around Cedric and Ezekiel. It even tried to coil around Irina, but—
the fog did not dare touch her.

They instinctively knew she was someone untouchable.

“Kyaaah!”

“They’re followers of the Evil God!”

“P-please, help us!”

Irina thought quickly.

‘If they dare to act in the middle of Reders land, then at least one of the Seven Rings is involved.’

She did carry the Seven Rings inside her, but her full power had not yet returned.
No matter how sharp her mind was, her body could not keep up.
Right now, at best, she could fight with the strength of five rings.

‘Of course… if I burn my life away, I could call back my true power.’

Fsshh—
The fog thinned.

A twisted voice hissed in her ear.

“Found her! That’s Irina Reders!”

Bang!

Irina tilted her head slightly.
The spot where her face had been just moments ago exploded with force.

Cedric’s face went pale as he realized—if she hadn’t moved, her head would have been shattered.

The magic they had thrown was that strong.

‘They really mean to kill me.’

The killing intent was clear.

“Irina! Run!” Cedric shouted.

“Cedric.”

“Hide among the fleeing people! Escape now!”

But Irina’s eyes stayed on the Evil God followers.
They were smiling cruelly.

‘If I run, they’ll just grab hostages. Ezekiel is already in danger. Running won’t help anyone.’

That was their way—to corner her using others’ lives.
She wouldn’t allow it.

“Die!”

A huge fireball shot toward Irina.

The crowd froze, watching as if she would be swallowed whole.

Irina knew—
if she used her magic, she could block the flames.

But she did nothing.

Because she already felt Sasha’s presence nearby.
Which meant he was here too.

‘If it’s the person I know, he won’t just sit back.’

“Irina!” Cedric threw himself in front of her, his body glowing white.
With holy power, he broke free of the fog and shielded her.

Then—

KWAANG!

A thunderous sound shook the theater.
The fireball vanished instantly.

Irina blinked slowly.
Gasps filled the air.

“Wh-what… what is this?”

“He cut magic apart with a sword?!”

The one who appeared was the same merchant who had refused to sell Cedric a sword.

People close to transcendent power usually had reckless personalities.
Kallios and the Duke of Kania were prime examples.

Gaon was no different.

In the original story, he appeared often—one of the Ten Strongest.
A madman, especially brutal when facing Evil God followers.

A fanatic.

He loved the gods, but also hated them.

Gaon swung his blade again and again, white flashes bursting forth.

Cedric, trembling, covered Irina’s eyes with his hand.

“KYAAAH!”
“AAAHHHH!”

The screams of Evil God followers filled the hall.

“Don’t look.” Cedric’s voice shook, more nervous than her.
Irina touched his sleeve gently, and his trembling calmed.

Step, step—footsteps echoed.

“Hey.”

Irina carefully pushed Cedric’s hand away.
Her sight cleared, and she saw him—
a young man with long black hair down to his waist.

‘It really is Gaon.’

He looked like he had bathed in the blood of Evil God followers.

BOOM.

An overwhelming aura burst from him.
Cedric trembled hard but still stood before Irina protectively.

Gaon didn’t bother to hide his power.
He looked around at the people in the theater and spoke coldly.

“Get lost.”

At his words, the crowd bolted for the exit like mad.

Now only silence remained in the empty hall.
Gaon’s sharp gaze landed on Irina.

But Irina stayed calm under it.
Gaon twisted his lips.

“You knew I would show up, didn’t you?”

Cedric kept trying to block her from Gaon’s eyes.

“Normally, when Evil God followers appear, people tremble in fear.
Especially if deadly magic flies at them.
A noble lady like you should have collapsed in terror.”

That was the normal, human reaction.

“But you stayed calm. Almost like you didn’t care if you died.”

“I wasn’t planning on dying.”

“Then you must have known I would intervene.”

“…Does it sound that way?”

Gaon narrowed his eyes.

“Who are you? And who is that boy? Did you approach me on purpose?”

“No. No intention at all.”

“What?”

“I only came to buy a sword.”

“I gave you a cheap, useless sword because I didn’t want to talk.”

“Even so, someone here found it interesting.”

At that, Cedric scratched his head awkwardly.

In truth, Irina had never spoken to Gaon first.
It was Cedric’s curiosity that led them to him.

[How dare that man scold Irina!]

Sasha crawled onto Irina’s shoulder angrily.

“Hmph. Nonsense. When disguised nobles speak to commoners, it’s suspicious.”

Gaon raised his blade lazily and pointed it at Irina.
With Cedric standing before her, it was practically aimed at him—
but Gaon’s eyes stayed locked on her.

“I asked who you are.”

“I am Irina Reders, daughter of House Reders.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

Irina looked puzzled. Why wouldn’t he believe her?

“If you are Irina Reders, then you’re Adel’s daughter.
He told me about her many times.
He said she was kind, gentle, timid.”

But the girl in front of him looked nothing like that.

“He said you were so pretty and fragile, precious and shining, weak in body—someone who must always be protected.”

“…Um. My father tends to exaggerate.”

“Hah, nonsense. Even that fool wouldn’t make things up.
You may be a little pretty, but kind and gentle? I don’t see it.”

Irina’s face flushed. She couldn’t even imagine what Adel had been saying about her.

She stammered an excuse.

“Maybe… maybe that’s just how he sees me.”