TMLLT 45

Chapter 45

“The Butterfly Effect”

“……”

The beautiful scene that had filled me with awe just minutes ago now felt entirely different.

Familiar, and yet… strangely foreign.

‘…Haa.’

I inhaled deeply.

My chest felt tight, as though something massive had just struck me from the inside.

Even though nothing had happened yet—
it felt like I was staring down some terrifying truth.

‘I chose Elche knowing everything.’

That was the truth.

I knew what happened to me in the original story.
I even knew that it would happen soon.

I thought I had accepted it.

But now that I knew today might be the day I died, a new fear took root.

‘Today? Then what do I do now…?’

The more I thought, the more tangled my thoughts became.

‘I have to stop it. But where do I start…?’

I took another deep breath—

Just then, someone grabbed me from behind.

“Serdin?”

It was Roitz. His worried face looked down at me.

‘Why does he look so concerned…?’

He didn’t know what was supposed to happen today—not yet.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Only then did I realize what my face must’ve looked like.

‘He’s worried. I must’ve looked really shaken.’

“…Roitz-sunbae.”

He gently held my shoulders and leaned closer.

Those same eyes I had stared into earlier—

Eyes like deep water, like the night sky before dawn.

Oddly enough, just looking into those eyes calmed me down…

Even though the person behind those eyes might be the one to kill me today.

“I’m fine.”

I spoke calmly now, forcing a neutral expression as I nodded.

“Did something happen? You looked… off.”

“Uh…”

I lifted the documents in my hand and waved them a little.

“Vice-leader Yurien asked me to bring these to the commander, but I can’t find him.”

He didn’t look convinced.

Roitz knew I wasn’t the kind of person to panic over something like that.

But still, he didn’t press further.

“Come with me.”

Roitz grabbed my arm and started walking. I let him lead.

As we passed under ornate decorations and past busy staff preparing for the event, I watched his strong back, felt his firm grip—

And I made up my mind again.

I was not going to die today.

Cheers rose from beyond the temple walls.

Back at my guard post, I perked up at the sounds coming from inside the sanctuary.

‘The ceremony must’ve started.’

That cheer must’ve come when the relic was revealed.

‘I have to go in.’

Sure, I could run away.

But that would be temporary. I’d have to face it someday.

Especially if Roitz’s monster, Necroquad, went out of control.

‘I have to stop the rampage itself from happening today.’

It wasn’t hard to leave the post.

I just furrowed my brow and said I needed to use the restroom.

“Go ahead.”

As soon as permission was given, I sprinted toward the temple.

Now that I’d calmed down a bit, things started to click in my mind.

‘My death in the original story happened because of a chain of events.’

It started with the High Priest’s death.

A crazed cultist went berserk out of grief and stabbed Roitz with a mana suppressor.
That triggered Necroquad’s rampage.
And that rampage is what killed me.

‘So if I can prevent the High Priest’s death, I can break the chain…’

I racked my memory—why did the High Priest die again?

Ah—right. A monster appeared.

‘How did a monster even get into a holy place like this…?’

Who knew. But it happened, just like in the original.

‘I need to get to the sanctuary where the High Priest is—fast.’

I rushed through the halls, urgency driving my every step.

Suddenly, I ran into Senior Knight Terrian.

“Serdin Bibi?”

“Te-Terrian sunbae…”

“Wasn’t your post outside?”

He usually smiled warmly, but now his expression turned sharp.

“I really had to use the bathroom.”

“…Alright, go quickly.”

Luckily, Elche respected basic human dignity—even if they were strict.

Once I was out of his line of sight, I veered straight for the sanctuary.

“The relic Grenensia was discovered in the northeastern desert…”

I arrived just as the High Priest began his solemn explanation.

People around him gasped in wonder at the radiant red glow of the relic.

I leaned against the rear wall, eyes scanning the scene.

The High Priest stood at the podium—surrounded by knights.

Roitz was among them.

Was the monster really going to attack now, with all of them guarding him?

I shook off the foolish comfort.

Even in the original story, the High Priest was guarded. And he still died.

‘Why? How?’

I tried to recall Roitz’s flashback in more detail.

Suddenly, I saw Deneb walk up and call Roitz away from the platform.

Roitz left the sanctuary.

‘Grenensia was used by Saint Rudric to draw holy water from the ancient temple…’

The High Priest kept speaking, the audience still mesmerized by the relic’s glow.

And there I stood, recalling every last detail I could.

‘Where did the monster come from…?’

If it came from the front, surely Ridge—stationed to the north—would’ve seen it.

From the back? No, there were three knights behind the High Priest.

Left side? Right?

As I anxiously scanned the room, a memory struck me.

“Ah.”

It came from beneath the platform.

No one expected anything to come from beneath the sanctuary.
No one had seen it coming.

“So, we will place this relic in the center of the temple, where all can see it.”

The High Priest concluded his speech.

Applause erupted.

All eyes turned to him and the relic.

‘Now. This is the moment.’

I dashed forward, pushing through the crowd at top speed.

Then I jumped onto the stage.

“What the—?!”
“What are you doing to the High Priest?!”

Gasps and shouts filled the sanctuary.

Without a second thought, I grabbed the High Priest and practically threw him over my shoulder to get him off the stage.

“High Priest!”

He might think I was being rude or reckless.

But there was no time to explain.

“Knight, what are you—”

Before he could finish his sentence—

A sharp, unnatural sound cut through the crowd.

And then—

A long claw burst up from beneath the platform—right where the High Priest had stood.

“……!”

The claws missed him—

But grazed the side of my neck instead.

A sharp pain tore through me.

But I didn’t care. My only focus was protecting the man in my arms.

“AHHH!”
“What is that thing?!”

Panic spread instantly.

Fear is contagious—and chaos is quick to follow.

My heart raced as the peaceful ceremony dissolved into full-blown disaster.

“Please evacuate this way! The creature has been subdued! You are safe!”

Elche’s knights responded immediately, restoring order with precision.

The monster was quickly eliminated.

“High Priest, are you alright?”

I was still disoriented.

I had to check that the High Priest was breathing, moving, alive.

‘Is he okay…?’

His eyes were open. No serious injuries. Limbs intact. Breathing fine.

…He’s alive.
Thank God.

“I’m fine. But you… knight, you’re hurt…”

At that moment, Terrian arrived, breathless.

“High Priest! Are you unharmed?”

He turned to me with wide eyes.

‘Why are you inside? Weren’t you going to the restroom?’

“Serdin Bibi, go get treatment. Now.”

He gently took the High Priest from me.

I wasn’t sure what I was even doing anymore, but I handed him over.

The chaos inside the sanctuary settled as quickly as it had come.

I stood there, dazed, blinking.

The High Priest survived.
And…

There was still one more thing I had to check.

I stepped off the stage—

And began searching for Roitz.