SOKM CH 05

Episode 5

I wanted to argue back, but in that moment it felt as if my lips were sealed by some binding. I couldn’t speak.

<If things continue this way, the Goddess will gain power far beyond what we can withstand.>

<She will reach out, even into other worlds.>

<We will break our covenant with the Mother to stop her here, but you must go to another world and stop her yourself.>

No… this can’t be right. I never agreed to this—why do they keep talking as if I did?

But I wasn’t bold enough to question a god directly.

So, swallowing my tears, I asked a different question.

“Why give such a mission to me, who is already dead, and not to someone still alive?”

<Because in this place, there is no longer a key.>

<This time, live properly.>

The voices overlapped, and I couldn’t understand everything.

So I was to find this “key,” and open the right door?

“I can’t do it alone.”

<Alone, it would be too much… in that case…>

“What? What will you give me?”

I cried out desperately, but that was the end of the voice.

The ground of light beneath me collapsed at frightening speed.

***

Before I even realized I could feel ground again, my body crashed to the floor.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

It was only a light impact, but it felt as if my flesh was being pounded with a hammer. The sensation of guns and magic ripping through my body was so vivid that I couldn’t think of anything else—not where I was, not what I had just experienced.

“Aaagh!”

I couldn’t even roll on the floor, just clawed at the carpet in my hand.

“Master!”

A small hand tugged on my clothes. That slight touch made me feel as if skin was being torn away.

“Are you alright? What’s happening to you?”

It was a boy’s voice, high and young, not yet broken.

He was shouting in panic, but the ringing in my head drowned his words.

“Open your eyes! Please, open them!”

Open my eyes? As if I didn’t want to?

Struggling, I lifted my eyelids. Golden wallpaper glowed in my blurred vision.

“Ugh. This place….”

Wait. Why did this look so familiar?

A temple?

The more I forced my eyes open, the clearer the sight became.

Warm air filled my lungs, chasing away the icy cold I remembered.

Panting, I grabbed the boy’s clothes.

“Who are you? Where is this place…?”

“Don’t you recognize me, Master? Don’t you hear my voice?”

His desperate cry rang out.

I didn’t remember his name, but his voice was painfully familiar.

I shook my head roughly.

“I don’t know, damn it. I can’t see well.”

“Someone! Call a physician!”

My head pounded—I just wanted silence.

But the boy shouted louder, like an alarm.

“Over here!”

“Shut…”

“Physician! Quick! Little master, please help! Someone save him!”

Please shut up!

His yelling made my skull throb so badly I could barely move my lips.

Thankfully, after five minutes that felt like five hours, the pain subsided.

Then, as if I’d been dunked in ice water, I was left shivering.

I curled up, gasping.

Damn. It wasn’t even autumn yet—why was it so cold?

“Are you alright?”

“No.”

Because of this brat, I almost died a second time.

Still, it seemed the god’s blessing had revived me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be feeling such vivid pain.

I clutched my head and forced myself upright.

Who dared assign me such an incompetent caretaker?

“You. Which house are you a priest from…?”

Wait.

I froze, sucking in a breath.

Messy blond hair. Light brown eyes like milked chocolate. A small frame in the neat uniform of the Academy.

Impossible.

Why is this child here?

“Amon?”

When I called his name, Amon broke into a relieved smile.

“Yes, Master. Can you see me now?”

I nodded with shock, and his round cheeks flushed pink.

“Thank goodness. You suddenly collapsed—I was terrified! This is another prank, isn’t it?”

But I couldn’t share his joy.

Because Amon, my student, had been killed by servants of Darkness years ago.

So why was he here, alive, just as I remembered? Was this a dream?

“Wait.”

Ignoring Amon’s gaze, I ran my hands over my chest, my sides, my stomach.

The pain was real.

The warmth in my body was real.

I wasn’t dead.

Dazed, I reached out toward him.

“Come here.”

“Ow! Master?”

He cried as I pinched his cheeks hard, but I kneaded his face anyway.

That warmth! That softness! It was real—living flesh.

“Does it hurt? Really hurt?”

“Yes! Ow! Why are you doing this?”

“Is this some kind of gift? But how are you…? And wait—where exactly is this?”

The furniture was elegant, though all antique. The wall and ceiling decorations were priceless originals.

“The more I look, the more familiar this place feels.”

Squirming out of my grasp, Amon caught his breath.

“This is your home, Master.”

“What? No. This isn’t my home anymore. I—”

I stopped mid-sentence, staring dumbly at him.

Why does this conversation feel wrong?

Looking closer, this mansion was identical to my family’s house in the capital.

But hadn’t that house burned down recently, reduced to ashes?

I narrowed my eyes and looked straight into Amon’s.

“Amon. Tell me… how old am I right now?”

“You, Master? When your birthday comes, you’ll turn twenty-three.”

“What—twenty-three!”

I clapped a hand over my mouth. Amon shuffled backward, nervous.

I ignored his retreat and lifted my eyes heavenward.

My Lord!

You said you would send me to another world—but you sent me to my own past? Ten years ago?

“Amon. Is this really year 507? And you’re ten years old?”

“Of course, Master. You’re teasing again, right? Please stop scaring me.”

I grabbed his shoulders and pulled him close.

“Eek! What’s wrong?”

“I’m just… glad.”

My voice was as tangled as his wrinkled shirt.

I panted, clutching him, then jumped to my feet.

“I don’t have time for this. I must go see Lord Seellus.”

“W-where are you going?”

“To make an offering.”

“But you already did all the offerings this month!”

“No. I’m half a year behind.”

Near death, I’d been too busy to visit the temple myself.

As I dashed down the corridor, Amon stared after me, pale.

***

My room, which the maids must have cleaned carefully, was spotless.

I swept everything off my desk in a rage.

“Not here! Where did I put it?”

Amon followed nervously and trembled at the sight of me.

“Master… I told Sage you were unwell. He said he’d fetch the little mistress. Please rest—”

I ignored him and dumped out the drawers.

“I’m fine. Go fetch my secretary.”

“No. What if you collapse again?”

“Go.”

“No…”

Stubborn, but too afraid to be alone, he left the door wide open.

I glanced at him, hands clamped over his ears, bracing for my anger. Then I turned back.

“Fine, do as you like.”

And I shoved my head into the drawer, searching for the list of temples I donated to.

“Not here either? Been too long—I don’t remember.”

While I muttered frantically, hurried footsteps echoed from the hall.

“Ren!”

“Young lady, where are you?”

Before I could turn, the door burst open and two people rushed in.

What—who dares enter without permission?

But as I stood with a scowl, I froze.

It was Monia—my sister-in-law—and our family’s elderly physician, who had passed away five years ago.

Scanning the room anxiously, Monia let out a small cry.

“Oh, Ren. You’re safe.”

Her face was ghostly pale, almost corpse-like.

“I was so worried when they said you collapsed. Why do you look so pale—!”

She gasped as I flung myself at her, hugging her tight.

Nearly knocked off balance, Monia was steadied by Amon and the doctor.

“Careful!”

“Ow!”

Their cries meant nothing. I buried my face in Monia’s warm cheek.

“Monia! How have you been? Forgive me for being so distant.”

“Distant…?”

“How is your health? No pain, no illness?”

At my words, the doctor and Monia exchanged baffled looks.

“What’s happening?” their eyes seemed to ask.

Behind her, Amon popped his head out and shouted:

“Little mistress! Master has gone mad! Completely insane!”

He spun his finger by his temple. The old doctor dropped his medical bag in shock.

“You insolent boy!”

Ignoring their reactions, I clung tighter to Monia.

“I missed you all so much.”

I whispered, almost crying.

And gentle Monia, though she didn’t understand, softly embraced me in return.