~Chapter 46~
“There’s not a single thing you have in common with her. Why would you be mistaken for her?”
Of course, I’m different from Idette!
And that’s not even what I meant!
I opened my mouth in disbelief, but couldn’t get the words out. Peril frowned, clearly annoyed by my reaction.
“More importantly, you’re doubting me again.”
“That’s not it—I only said that because Idette might be in danger.”
I finally found the words to explain myself.
“She’s fine. She has plenty of people protecting her.”
So she didn’t get kidnapped, then.
I let out a sigh of relief—but Peril’s eyes narrowed, suspicion deep in his gaze.
“…Did you know she was going to be in danger?”
That hit a nerve.
“His Highness gave me a little warning before the ball.”
I lied smoothly, but Peril’s eyes didn’t soften.
It wasn’t an obvious lie… Was it?
Please don’t tell me he has magic that can read minds…
“Let’s go. The night’s shorter than you think.”
Worried he might start asking more questions, I quickly stood and tried to rush him along. Peril watched me for a long moment, then sighed softly.
“Alright.”
“…And thanks for keeping your promise.”
He gave me a confused look at that.
Saying thank you was something I still wasn’t used to. I spoke again, awkwardly.
“I mean… It’s not like I’m used to being alone in situations like this.”
“You’re grateful to me?”
Peril let out a short laugh.
“You heard me. Why are you asking again?”
“Well, in that case—how about calling me by name from now on?”
He said it so casually, I almost didn’t catch the meaning.
But the moment I understood, I shook my head firmly.
“That would be too disrespectful.”
“……”
“You’re older than my grandfather, you know?”
“…Tch.”
Peril clicked his tongue and stood up.
Was he offended?
Still, there’s no way I could casually call him by name.
Without saying anything else, Peril started walking ahead, not even looking back to gesture for me to come along.
Yup. He’s definitely the type to hold grudges.
I quickly followed behind him.
“What about ‘Grandpa’ instead? I don’t just call anyone that, you know.”
“……”
“Or how about ‘Granny’? You pulled off that disguise really well last time.”
At my teasing, Peril turned to glare at me without saying a word.
…Okay, yeah. Even I thought that one went too far.
***
Once again, we stood before the great walls of Dremokan.
They were as massive and imposing as ever.
Can we really get over this…?
Just as I started to feel uncertain, Peril silently wrapped my arm in a cloth.
“What’s this for?”
“It’ll protect you. Since you’re entering by force, Dremokan’s barrier magic will try to push you back.”
Then he tied the vine I had brought around the cloth on my arm.
“We’ll use the root you brought to teleport.”
“…I’m going in alone, right?”
“If I go in too, the barrier magic will only get stronger. You don’t want that, do you?”
Peril smirked teasingly.
“Then how do I come back?”
“You’ll have to chant a spell.”
Alone…
I really hoped nothing bad happened.
Now that I was actually about to go in, nerves started creeping up.
“You’ll wait for me… right?”
I asked hesitantly, but Peril didn’t answer.
This guy—seriously!
Feeling anxious, I reached out and grabbed onto the hem of his cloak.
“W-wait for me! I’ll be back soon!”
“Hm… should I?” Peril replied playfully.
“I’ll be good from now on! I’ll even bring what you asked for, right away!”
Peril tilted his head slightly.
“I didn’t even expect that much.”
“Then…”
“It’s fine. Just go. I’ll be waiting.”
Ugh, seriously!
Why did he always have to mess with people’s feelings, even in serious moments?
Still, I felt a bit more at ease.
“What’s the activation word for the spell?”
Peril answered as if he had been waiting for the question.
“Peril.”
“….”
“You don’t like it?”
I shook my head quickly.
“I love it. It’s perfect.”
At last, Peril smiled and placed his hand gently on my forehead.
“Off you go.”
A warm sensation spread from my forehead through my entire body. My body felt lighter, and Peril’s voice started to fade away.
“What did you just say—?”
Just as I tried to ask, my vision completely changed.
Startled, I looked around.
Peril was gone, and all I could see was a familiar landscape.
“…!”
No—was “familiar” even the right word?
Last time I came here, this place was a ruin. A thick, creepy forest surrounded me.
But now, under the soft glow of the moonlight peeking through the trees, it looked mystical.
I pushed through the leaves and walked toward the World Tree.
“…Oh my gosh.”
What had once been a tiny sprout was now fully grown, almost as tall as me. It was no longer something you could call “dead.”
There’s no way people won’t notice this.
I finally understood why Brandon had come to find me.
While staring at the World Tree, I remembered Ailins and hurried to where I had last seen her.
I thought it was around here…
I retraced my memory and went to the spot where she had been sitting. But it was completely empty.
Only faint signs that someone had sat there for a long time remained.
So… she wasn’t a statue after all.
And if the spot was empty, that meant she was walking around somewhere in this forest.
Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine.
Then—
Someone grabbed my wrist.
“…!”
Startled by the sudden cold touch, I slapped the hand away before I could stop myself.
“I-I’m sorry!”
It was a young girl.
She looked even more surprised than I was, holding her hands up as if surrendering.
…Who is she?
Her hair was so long it dragged on the ground, like she’d been in the forest for ages.
I was sure I’d never seen her before—but she felt oddly familiar.
And now that I thought about it, her voice wasn’t unfamiliar either.
Then a name came to mind.
“…Ailins?”
She smiled brightly and grabbed my hand again.
“You remembered me!”
Even though I was the one who said it, I felt confused.
Wasn’t she older the last time I saw her?
“You remembered our promise, right? That’s why you came to rescue me?”
Her flood of questions only made me more confused.
“W-wait a second.”
I gently pulled my hand free, trying to gather my thoughts.
She was supposed to be a statue, right?
Now she’s talking like it’s normal?
This is a lot…
“I’m sorry. I didn’t remember the promise. I just came back to find you again.”
The moment I said that, Ailins’s face turned cold.
Her sudden change in expression made my heart race.
“M-maybe if I help you, my memories will come back! Then I can keep the promise!”
“I can’t reach your memories either,” she muttered in a gloomy voice.
Then she glanced down at the chains binding her ankles.
“I’m trapped here in Dremokan.”
“Then… can you tell me what our promise was? Can you at least do that?”
She looked hesitant for a moment.
“…Would you even understand?”
Her voice sounded a bit sad.
Ailins sighed deeply and started walking.
With every step, her chains clanged loudly. They looked painful and heavy.
I hurried after her.
“Isn’t there any way to break those chains?”
“Let’s talk about that later. First… can you tell me about the outside world?”
She changed the subject.
“What kind of person am I out there?”
I was at a loss for words.
Right now, Ailins was a forgotten existence.
Even though she had once been the most powerful archmage in the original story.
I hesitated to answer, but she smiled faintly like she already knew.
“It’s okay. I already know the truth.”
“….”
“Did you know? For mages, leaving behind their name is the most important thing.”
I slowly shook my head.
“That’s why Peril became an archmage, too. People recognize him as the Tower Master—that belief gives him strength.”
Ailins gave a small laugh.
“And that’s why Idette can’t use my power yet. No one knows she’s a mage.”
“….”
“The more people remember a mage, the stronger they become.”
I hadn’t known that was the reason Idette couldn’t use her magic yet.
“But there are some mages who have strong magical power even without fame. If someone like that loses their name… what do you think happens?”
“…They get weaker?”
“No. They become controlled by the magic itself.”
Ailins pointed at her chains.
“Magic was born from a desire to help people. But if a mage loses their name, they become controlled by the very origin of magic. They can no longer act on their own will.”
I swallowed nervously.
This was… Ailins’s own story.
Then what about the original story I read? Was it fake?
Just as that question came to mind, Ailins turned toward me.
“Anyway… what should I call you?”
“…What?”
“Is it okay if I call you Bianca?”
