Chapter 100
***
The incident happened when we were about to head back home after buying Alex’s gift.
A hawk flew in, heading straight to Callie.
It was a messenger hawk owned by the Cerberus mercenaries, and there was a small note tied to its leg.
Just one short sentence.
Callie’s face turned pale as she read it.
[Emergency. Three heads.]
She explained that this was Cerberus’ secret code for an extreme emergency.
We immediately made the carriage run at full speed back home, and there we met two mercenaries guarding the front of the mansion—Jack and Rudy.
“Boss! A monster has appeared in the western forest!”
…What?
“It’s a special-class monster. Judging by its appearance, it seems to be ‘Ratan,’ the one that’s wanted for extermination all across the continent.”
“What? Ratan? Why would it be here…?”
Even Callie, who hardly ever looked shocked, was stunned.
By then… my mind had already gone completely blank.
“Could you two handle it on your own?”
“Yes, for now. Mr. Rivan’s weapon has high attack power. And… Ratan’s movements are strange. It charges out of the forest but then suddenly runs back inside. It’ll try to attack, then just freeze in place for no reason.”
…That must mean it’s clashing with Marchen’s consciousness.
“How are the people positioned?”
Callie quickly strapped on the hunting gear Jack handed her while confirming the situation.
“We have two people stationed in pairs at two points along the path from the forest to the mansion, so they can block it if it breaks through the first line. The rest are holding it off right now.”
“You think you can kill it?”
“Probably not. We should request outside support right away.”
“No. Leave it. We can handle this ourselves.”
Rudy’s report ended there, because Ryan firmly shook his head and looked straight at me.
I hadn’t expected this, but I forced myself to stay calm.
‘This is actually good.’
To tame Ratan, we’d have to confront it eventually anyway.
We ran straight toward the forest.
As we got closer, the sound of the monster’s voice grew louder.
The moment I spotted Ratan, I bound its legs.
〈Eye of the Mirror – Shackles of Binding〉
Once I got closer, I could see the situation clearly.
The massive monster was covering its head with its arms, bleeding from several wounds.
Its skin was like steel—normally impossible to pierce—but the mercenaries were armed with Rivan’s modified guns.
Thick wires were wrapped around its limbs to restrict movement. Those wires were also Rivan’s creations, upgraded with magic stones.
Unbelievable.
I already knew Rivan’s weapons were deadly and that the Cerberus mercenaries were skilled, but…
They’re actually holding off a special-class monster.
Usually only supernaturals could fight one. Normal humans would have been dead long ago.
Even if Marchen’s mind was suppressing Ratan to some extent, it was still impressive.
“Any casualties?!”
“None, boss!”
But several were lying on the ground, injured and bleeding.
“Then everyone stops attacking and falls back! No need to kill it anymore! Treat the wounded first!”
Thanks to my earlier message, Callie immediately began organizing the battlefield.
“Callie, tell everyone to hold on a little longer.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“And everyone—cover your ears!”
I shouted.
Then I walked up to Ratan, who was still bound and looking confused.
Stay calm.
As long as no one has died, there’s no need to rewind time.
No—not ‘no need.’ I must not rewind time.
Last time Mario came, I had already subdued Ratan once. But because I rewound time afterwards, that entire event was erased, and the monster had no memory of losing to me.
If I wanted it to remember my fear, I had to deal with it without using time magic.
This was the perfect opportunity—unlike the big city disaster before, we were in remote Belzer with only family and trusted mercenaries watching.
“We will meet again.”
—What?
“I’m about to give you pain so bad you’ll wish you were dead. If you can hold back your screams, I’ll stop.”
—What are you—
〈Eye of the Mirror – Fountain of Purification〉
—Gyaaaaaaa!!!
As before, I touched its leg and poured my power into it. The monster’s scream shook the forest.
He must have deliberately come here to avoid harming anyone.
Thinking of Marchen made my chest ache.
—Urgh…!
Ratan bit its own tongue hard, blood dripping, trying to suppress the scream.
“Hurts that much, huh?”
I stopped the skill, letting it breathe.
“Listen carefully.”
—Who… what are you…?
“You won’t remember the other times you’ve asked that, but you’d better remember this one. My name is Bania Belzer. From today, I am your ‘master.’ Never forget it.”
—What…
I touched its leg again, and it shouted immediately.
—Got it!!!
Still, I wasn’t satisfied.
〈Eye of the Mirror – Fountain of Purification〉
—Urghhh!!!
It fought to keep quiet, but the pain was intense.
“No shouting, and speak respectfully. If you talk down to me, I’ll make you hurt every sentence.”
—…
“Answer.”
—Y-yes…
“That all?”
—…Yes, master.
“Good. You’ve been running wild, hurting people while leeching off someone’s body. Time to pay for it.”
—…
“If the prince gets hurt and you come out, fine—I’ll allow that. But if you do come out, go right back in.”
—…
“Answer.”
—…Yes, master.
“Every time a human gets hurt because of you, whether you wanted it or not, I’ll ‘train’ you for an hour.”
It went quiet for a moment, then…
—Yes…
“Don’t kill or eat anyone. Even if I’m not there when you come out, remember this—I live with your host, so I’ll always know what you do.”
〈Eye of the Mirror – Fountain of Purification〉
—Urghhh…!
It bit down hard, refusing to scream.
“Understand?”
—Yes… please, stop…
“Then get back inside.”
Once I released the bindings, Ratan vanished, leaving Marchen collapsed on the ground. Callie rushed to cover him with a cloak.
The mercenaries were staring at me with their mouths open.
“Let’s clean the wounds.”
〈Eye of the Mirror – Light’s Restoration〉
I healed the nearest injured mercenary, surprising everyone again. They quickly began bringing the wounded to me.
…Wait.
Where was Ryan?
Scanning the area, I found him deeper in the forest, crouched over someone.
Past where Ratan had been fighting, far inside the woods…
“Ah—Alex!!!”
Why? Why was he there?
I ran without thinking.
He was unconscious, but didn’t seem to have been attacked by Ratan—his body was fine.
But his head… was bleeding badly.
With trembling hands, I placed them over the wound.
Warm, sticky blood.
〈Eye of the Mirror – Light’s Restoration〉
The wound closed instantly. Alex looked peaceful, eyes still shut.
“Ha…”
I collapsed to my knees and looked at Ryan.
He was silent for a moment, then—
“Rewind.”
He held out his hand.
“…What?”
“Rewind to before we left Belzer.”
“What are you—”
Then I realized.
I touched Alex’s nose. No breath.
I pressed my hand to his chest. No heartbeat.
“Ah… ah…”
My mind went blank.
“If you keep staring, you’ll break down. Take my hand. Rewind. Now.”
He urged me, but I just stared at Alex.
‘Why am I the only one without powers? I feel so useless…’
Tears filled my eyes.
‘Even if it’s not a top-class blessing like Father’s, I want something… anything…’
What… What should I do for you?
“Damn it, why are you just standing there?! Rewind! Hurry!!!”
Even with no reason to hesitate, I was hesitating. Ryan, terrified, yelled at me.
My thoughts spun wildly.
“Bania!!!”
I just stared into his eyes as he shouted in desperation.
my babyyy