ITIMLT 76

76.

Irina continued speaking.

“To purify a dirty lake, it takes a long time. But if we remove the true cause that dirties the water, one day it will surely become clean again.”

“Do you think that boy can really do it?”

“Yes. Cedric has the strongest holy power in this world. Strong enough to defeat someone who even hates you.”

“……”

“I don’t believe in God. But I believe in Cedric.”

And she believed in herself too.

In the original story, Cedric had nearly defeated the followers of the evil god.

‘Maybe in the ending that I never saw, he even cut off the High Priest’s head.’

Even if that wasn’t true, Irina planned to help Cedric. She wanted to stop any more tragedies from happening.

As soon as the monster hunt ended, Jerat came looking for Irina. Behind him, many knights followed.

“What is it, Brother?”

“Irina, I think we need an explanation.”

Jerat said this and pushed Cedric forward, placing him in front of Irina.

Cedric looked terrible. His trainee knight’s uniform was covered in blood—whether it was his or a monster’s, no one could tell.

“Cedric defeated Haol.”

“Haol?”

“Yes. He killed the high-ranked monster with holy power.”

“Ah.”

Ignoring Jerat, Irina walked over to Cedric and checked him carefully.

Though he was soaked in monster blood, his wounds were only scratches.

“Are you alright, Cedric? You’re not hurt anywhere?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief.”

Jerat frowned, confused.

“Irina, don’t you have anything to explain?”

But Irina only frowned as if annoyed.

“What are you asking me for? Do you want me to praise Cedric? Of course, I will. What he did is amazing. Defeating Haol? Even full knights can’t do that easily.”

“……”

“But what I really want to ask, Brother, is this: why did you take trainee knights into the Monster Forest?”

“Why?”

“Yes. Why was there a high-ranked monster in the forest, and why was Cedric the one to fight it? What were the knights with him even doing?”

Jerat’s face stiffened. For the first time since meeting Irina, he looked shaken.

“I needed certainty, Irina.”

“That means you put the knights in danger on purpose.”

“……”

“Well, it doesn’t matter. In a few days, everyone will know about his holy power anyway. No need to get worked up now.”

Irina went on.

“When Grandfather comes, he’ll see whose fault this really was.”

Then she ignored Jerat and turned back to Cedric.

“Oh no. Your handsome face is messed up.”

Jerat sighed like he was truly worried.

“Irina, I only did this because I care about you.”

“Care?”

“Yes. Hiding holy power goes against God’s will. Why are you letting that happen?”

“And for that, you risked Cedric’s life and the knights’ lives?”

“Irina, please. Try to understand me. One day, you’ll know why I had no choice.”

Jerat sighed deeply.

He really looked like someone worried about her.

“If you ever feel troubled about something, please talk to me. We’re family.”

Irina’s eyes turned cold.

Family. That was a word Jerat should never have spoken. The more she looked at him, the more wrong he felt.

“See you in a few days, Irina.”

With a stiff face, Jerat left.

Irina watched his back for a long time. She was beginning to understand why he had acted so recklessly.

‘Jerat already suspected Cedric had holy power.’

After all, he even said the temple itself would come to fetch him. If he had just waited a few days, he would have known. So why risk lives instead?

‘Jerat isn’t simple anymore. He didn’t do this just because he was angry at me.’

He must have wanted to see how she would react. And now that Gaon had arrived, Jerat was feeling rushed too.

‘He’s afraid Gaon might take Cedric as a disciple before the priests arrive.’

Yes. Jerat wanted to see Cedric’s holy power with his own eyes.

Irina sighed softly.

She looked at Cedric’s blood-covered face with pity.

“Take Cedric and wash him.”

At her order, maids stepped forward to guide Cedric. But Cedric grabbed the edge of her sleeve.

“No. Just wait outside. I’ll send him soon. Please prepare the bath.”

“Yes, Lady Irina.”

The maids bowed and left. Irina flicked her fingers.

A spell blocked all sound around them. Cedric noticed and asked quietly,

“Because of me, you’re in trouble now, right?”

“……”

“No, Cedric. You did nothing wrong. You did very well.”

“I did well?”

“Yes. I was watching the whole time. Didn’t you hear my voice?”

Cedric’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I’m proud of you—for not abandoning your friends, for protecting them.”

“……”

“Your holy power was always going to be revealed someday. Better to use it well than to waste it hiding.”

Irina gave him a small smile.

“Then… do I have to go to the temple now?”

“Cedric……”

“I don’t want to leave you, Lady Irina.”

Cedric carefully held her hand.

Irina blinked in surprise. It was the first time he had reached for her hand.

“I want to stay by your side.”

But going to the temple meant leaving her.

Cedric looked down at their joined hands. Irina had told him before that only someone as full of impurity as she was could quiet the endless voices that screamed in his head.

For the first time in his life, he felt peace.

If he had never known it, maybe he could let it go. But now that he had tasted it, he couldn’t.

But it wasn’t just that. Whenever he held her hand, he felt warmth—something he had never known before. He liked it. He looked at her with the softest, most harmless face in the world.

“But if my presence causes you trouble, then I will go to the temple.”

Irina froze. Cedric, who once killed her in another life, was now looking at her with near tears in his eyes.

“I don’t want to leave you, Lady Irina. But causing you harm… that’s even worse.”

Irina shook her head hard.

“No, Cedric. You have never been a burden to me.”

“That’s good… if it’s true.”

“……”

“I know you’re preparing to help me escape from the temple’s hands.”

“Cedric?”

“When the priests come, I will let them test my holy power. Then I’ll go to the temple.”

His face was firm with resolve. Irina hadn’t expected him to say such things.

“I heard Sir Gaon only left the temple after many years. I think I can do the same.”

Cedric spoke with eyes full of determination. Irina was left speechless.

She remembered Sasha once teasing her, saying she was weak against handsome faces. Maybe it was true.

Sasha’s voice spoke in her head.

[See? I told you, Irina. You’re weak to pretty faces. And of all people, this boy had to be one.]

Sasha sounded very displeased.

Irina gently wiped the blood from Cedric’s face, like soothing him.

“First, let’s clean you up. We’ll talk more later.”

Cedric nodded and walked out.

But the moment he turned away, his teary face disappeared. His expression became cold and hard as stone. He walked out silently.

Once outside, Cedric showed no emotion. It was hard to believe he was the same boy who had looked ready to cry just a moment ago.

And right there, waiting outside Irina’s room, was Gaon.

He saw everything—how Cedric’s face had changed.

“Ha.”

The door closed softly.

Gaon smirked as he looked at Cedric.

‘This brat is supposed to be “kind”?’

Irina was being fooled.

‘Or maybe she knows, but she’s forcing herself to believe it. In a filthy world like this, it’s hard to find anyone you can really trust.’

Maybe even Irina, who acted so mature, was still just a child after all.

Cedric met his eyes. His gaze showed no feeling. But Gaon had survived countless battlefields.

There was no way he couldn’t sense the hostility Cedric was hiding.

“Why do you keep sticking to Lady Irina’s side?”

Gaon felt wronged.

It was always Irina who came to him.

He had never once gone looking for her.

“What nonsense. Irina is the one who comes to me.”

“You keep using her kindness by trying to take me as your disciple. That’s why.”

“You cheeky little brat, what did you just say?”