Chapter 11
“Ah… Hmm.”
Elshuna’s blue eyes rolled around. Honestly, she was flustered.
‘W-Well, of course he’d think that.’
From Killian’s perspective, she was a very bad person! It’s only natural for him to feel uncomfortable hearing her say “trust me again”!
But still… Isn’t it a bit much to outright threaten someone to their face?
Especially someone who lost—no, erased—their memories! Saying he didn’t know what she might do?
‘I didn’t raise you to be this kind of thug!’
Thinking that made her feel the urge to scold him.
But Elshuna held it back. Now was the time to be careful. Very careful. She was no longer his best friend.
“Haha! Sure! I guess you could think that way!”
Elshuna laughed nonchalantly and nodded energetically.
First, she needed to calm down quietly insane Killian.
Let’s see. She remembered emotional validation was important when dealing with angry people, right?
And then…
“I think you’re right too!”
She vaguely remembered seeing something on TV about using “I-statements” during conversations.
“I-I mean… I’m a little taken aback, but I think I can understand your feelings.”
So instead of the accusatory “you-statements” like “what’s your problem,” she was trying to communicate using “I feel this way” or “I think this way.”
That way, the other person wouldn’t feel attacked and the conversation could proceed calmly.
Feeling proud of herself for remembering such a useful tip, she praised her excellent memory.
But contrary to her expectations, Killian seemed even angrier. His nicely shaped eyebrows were raised high like mountains.
“You understand me?”
His voice was so cold it could’ve formed frost.
Huh?
That’s not how this was supposed to go.
Elshuna tilted her head awkwardly to the side.
“Killian?”
“You understand me?”
Something felt off.
Why does it feel weird?
There was… yes, there was a trace of sorrow in his voice just now.
But why?
Before she could even explore that odd feeling, Elshuna’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Huh?”
Killian’s broad chest was suddenly way too close.
“If you really understood me, then you’d know what I think every time I see you, right?”
“…?”
“Every time I look into your blue eyes, every time your scent brushes past my nose… I…”
Killian’s red eyes, gazing down at her, were deeper and darker than usual.
Eyes redder and clearer than any rose she’d ever seen in summer now reflected the image of a pale, frozen Elshuna.
Her innocent face with eyes wide and lips slightly parted was mirrored in his gaze.
Just as she was about to regain her senses after seeing herself in his eyes—
BOOM—!
A deafening crash shook the world, and a blinding white light filled the room. Thunder followed by lightning.
THUD!
Right after, the slightly ajar window was blown open by the wind, and with a whoosh, the candlelight in the room was snuffed out.
From the pitch-dark room, she could hear Killian’s breathing just in front of her.
“…”
“…”
The slightly tense breathing soon faded, drowned out by the pouring rain.
Gulp.
Elshuna swallowed unconsciously. Then she opened her mouth slowly.
“Uh… It did seem like the weather was getting cloudy, and now it’s raining? Is it a shower?”
Her voice was faint, as if she didn’t believe it herself.
Awkwardly smiling, she took a step back from him.
CRACK!
Lightning again.
In the brief flash, she saw Killian staring holes through her.
Her shoulders twitched involuntarily.
It felt like prey in front of a predator—a rabbit in front of a lion. The unfamiliar sensation made her rub her arms and take another step back.
Then she bit her lip and thought,
‘Wait… Did he just try to say he wants to slice me up every time he sees me?’
She trembled all over and shook her head rapidly.
‘He’s definitely not in his right mind. Just look at those eyes.’
They looked like they’d devour her whole.
She forced herself to forget the strange sadness she’d sensed in his voice earlier.
“…That’s strange.”
“Huh? What is?”
She’d just been silently cursing him when she jumped at his sudden comment. But Killian had already turned his attention elsewhere.
“This doesn’t feel like natural rain.”
“Hmm?”
No way—is he suspecting me again?
Elshuna quickly plastered on an innocent look. She was feeling guilty, having lied to him so much already.
“…I should check it out.”
“You’re going out now?”
“Yeah.”
Killian moved away from her and lightly snapped his fingers. A small white orb appeared next to him.
He had condensed his divine power to use as a light source—something that normally wouldn’t be visible.
‘So his divine power’s fully recovered now.’
He was using it freely, like water.
Thanks to him, the room lit up brightly.
“If someone can manipulate the weather and not disturb my barrier… they’re at least as powerful as Ashray.”
Huh? Ashray?
Elshuna quickly lifted her head.
“Oh. You probably forgot who Ashray is.”
“Uh… Y-Yeah.”
“Well… He’s not someone you need to know.”
“Huh?”
“There’s no way that guy would be here. He shouldn’t be here.”
Killian tilted his head slightly as he said that.
‘Huh? Why does it sound like he really doesn’t like Ashray?’
They weren’t exactly on laughing-and-hugging terms before either…
But he hadn’t wrinkled his nose like this when talking about him before.
“Ahem. You and Ashray didn’t get along, huh?”
“…Not really.”
He said it like it was no big deal, but his expression said otherwise. He was clearly wearing the “something happened between us” face.
Elshuna suppressed her curiosity and tucked it away deep in her heart.
‘I’ll just ask Ashray about it when I meet him.’
Still… Ashray, huh.
Could it be…?
“Stay right here. I’ll bring Mikhail.”
“Okay.”
“If anything happens—”
“Don’t worry. I’ll touch the bracelet and call your name right away!”
“….”
She grinned, flashing her teeth, and saw Killian’s eyes waver slightly.
Oops. Almost upset him again.
‘Don’t forget. This guy’s gone insane after the female lead’s death.’
Letting her guard down could literally get her killed. And then all her plans would fall apart.
“Be safe, Killian.”
“…Yeah.”
Killian turned and strode out of her room.
But…
‘Wait, isn’t he forgetting his light?’
The glowing orb followed him out instead of staying. Elshuna pouted.
“Geez.”
She decided to light the candles again.
After waiting a bit for her eyes to adjust to the dark, she carefully felt her way along the wall to the candleholder.
There should be matches around here somewhere.
Feeling around the area, she finally found a matchbox.
“Alright, starting here—”
Then she heard a strange sound just as she was wandering around the room lighting candles.
…Tap, tap.
“…Hmm?”
Did she just hear something?
Elshuna tilted her head and looked around. Only the candles she had lit were casting any light.
…Tap, tap, tap.
“…?”
That was definitely a sound.
Holding the candle, Elshuna approached the window. Heavy raindrops pelted the glass like hail.
“This is kind of scary…”
The sound of rain echoed like thunder, and the view beyond the window, once vibrant with gardens and fountains, was now pitch black and ominous.
‘Eugh. Creepy.’
Elshuna hugged her shoulders and grabbed the window slightly.
‘I’m sure I heard something here… Huh?’
Whoosh—
Her face froze as she peered out the window.
“D-Did something just—mmph.”
Something just brushed past the window!
‘This is the third floor!’
It was like something out of an old school ghost story she heard ages ago, before coming to this world.
“N-No way. I must’ve imagined it.”
Haha.
She ignored the sweat trickling down her forehead and shut the already closed window tighter.
She had always hated horror.
Whether it was a school trip or a college retreat, if someone tried to tell scary stories late at night…
She’d be the one clamping both hands over their mouth and nearly passing out in panic.
All while crying because even the mention of the story scared her.
So for her to have opened the window just now was, for her, a heroic act of courage.
“If someone can manipulate the weather and not disturb my barrier… they’re at least as powerful as Ashray.”
That was the reason she thought—it might be Ashray.
And the moment she opened the window just a bit—
Whoosh!
“Eeek!”
A gust of wind blasted through the crack.
Caught directly in front of the window, Elshuna flailed as she stumbled backward.
“Ugh. What the heck?”
And then… she froze completely.
A figure with long hair covering its face was climbing up the window—upside down.
Just like watching a spider’s movement… in reverse.
