Chapter2
. The Lady with Crimson Eyes and the Tiger
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The woman with crimson eyes stared at me wide-eyed. Then, trembling, she slowly lowered her gaze, looked at the blue-haired girl lying beside me, and cast her eyes down.
—No, wait! I really don’t know what’s going on. I just found myself here before I knew it!
Those words spun frantically in my head, but I couldn’t get them out of my mouth. Not just because I was panicking — it was also because the red-eyed lady in front of me had started to cry. What was it today, the “let’s make women cry” day?
As the image of tearful Rika flashed in my mind, I was once again reminded — yeah, I got dumped. I don’t even know how many times I’ve confirmed that now.
The lady’s long black hair swayed as she opened her mouth.
“Princess Leafa… Your life, offered up for the sake of the citizens of the Kingdom of Darshan — it shall not be in vain. Please, rest easy and leave the rest to us…”
Huh—?
Beautiful lady. Did you just say “princess”? And “kingdom”? And “citizens”?
What kind of themed café is this?
Wait—did I come to a place like that because I was so shocked from being dumped?
No offense, but I’ve never been to one! Why would I come here? Me?!
The black-haired lady spread out her gold-trimmed black dress, exposing her shoulders as she knelt and bowed deeply before me.
The dress clung tightly to her body, outlining her slender waist.
“O Revered One—”
That’s what she called me.
“We humbly thank you for responding to the princess’s summons. However, this place is no longer safe. Please, allow me to guide you at once to the royal castle.”
I could tell she was holding back sobs. She was dead serious — no trace of acting.
What… what am I supposed to say here? “Very well”?
She continued, solemnly.
“We swear upon our lives to protect you, O Revered One, whom the princess has summoned at the cost of her life. I understand that you must be confused, but I beg of you — please, trust us and withdraw for now.”
I can’t keep up with this. I really can’t.
Rika dumped me, and now everything feels meaningless — but this weird roleplay? I don’t have the energy for it.
“Uh…”
When I finally spoke, the lady lifted her head and looked straight at me with those crimson eyes.
Whatever fantasy world this is, I’m sorry, but I just can’t care right now.
“That girl… she’s alive, right? I can hear her breathing.”
Sorry for ruining your scene. I really am.
But the lady’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. She hurried to the blue-haired girl’s side and pressed her ear near her mouth.
Her long black hair slid down her shoulders, revealing a pale back.
The back of her black dress was cut low to her waist, and beneath it I saw a flowing white skirt.
Her waist was so impossibly slim that I couldn’t help noticing — and when her hips shifted slightly toward me, my heart skipped a beat.
I quickly looked away.
“Princess… why…? But—thank goodness…”
She whispered to the blue-haired girl, her voice trembling with emotion.
She seemed so sincere, so absorbed, that I didn’t dare interrupt.
Honestly, I just wanted to go home.
But then again, if I went home… Rika would be next door.
Or worse, maybe waiting in my room.
Yeah… I couldn’t face her.
Just as I covered my eyes with my right hand, trying to clear my head—
The scarlet door the lady had entered through earlier burst open with a deafening crash.
“Lady Shiyun! You must flee!”
A man’s shout echoed.
I quickly dropped my hand and saw a broad back clad in dull silver armor.
And beyond that armored shoulder—
—A tiger?
It was wearing an incredibly realistic tiger mask—no, wait. Its mouth was moving. Too realistic. The fangs gleamed wet with saliva as it roared in fury.
A real one? A real tiger? But—it’s standing upright!?
“O Revered One!”
The black-haired lady called out to me in a loud, urgent voice.
But I couldn’t take my eyes off the tiger.
The armored man braced himself, blocking the creature’s path with his whole body—but over his shoulder, I saw an arm—yes, an arm—swinging toward us, claws flashing.
An arm, not a foreleg.
Furry, striped in yellow and black like a tiger—but definitely a humanlike arm.
“Please run! There’s another door on the opposite side!”
Her shout snapped me back to reality.
I turned to her and saw she was trying to lift the blue-haired girl.
No way. Those delicate arms couldn’t possibly carry her.
Pushed by the tiger’s ferocity, I rushed over and picked up the blue-haired girl myself—after hastily covering her with the clothes lying nearby, since she was in her underwear.
I had no idea what to say to the black-haired lady.
If there’s a script, someone please hand it to me.
“Thank you so much!”
she said, bowing deeply.
“D-don’t mention it…” was all I could manage.
The blue-haired girl in my arms was peacefully asleep, breathing softly.
“This way!”
I followed the lady as she dashed off, escaping through the door opposite the tiger.
Outside, the rain had stopped.
Through the breaks in the clouds, countless stars glittered in the sky.
Before me, along the lower wall ahead, fires burned in a long row — campfires? Torches?
On the connected wall ahead, tigers and wolves — standing upright — fought fiercely against countless armored warriors illuminated by the flames.
Where… where the hell am I—
