'Book of memories...!'
Presepe hurriedly looked at the Book of Memories rolling on the ground, but it was already too late.
The flames ignited by Vidar were incomparably more powerful than Ivan's. It seemed capable of burning such a flimsy piece of paper to ashes without a second thought, leaving not even ash behind.
If the Book of Memories was really nothing more than such a simple book, perhaps it really was.
Not long after, the flames and the black mist subsided. Fenrir hurriedly hid Presepe behind his back, and Rick, also appearing frightened, sat on Presepe's shoulder and looked around cautiously.
"..."
Fenrir's red eyes glaring at Vidar were incredibly piercing.
He already expected it. That they would meet again like this. In a way, it would be a miracle that Presepe made it this far on her own.
...But something was strange.
Vidar, whom he had expected to lunge at him at any moment, showed no movement. Instead, biting his lip so hard that blood seeped out, he simply stared down at the smoke-filled ground.
'...Didn't it burn?'
Following Vidar's gaze, it finally came into view. The book of memories that had not burned even a little, despite the use of such immense power.
"..."
Countless emotions were evident in Vidar's eyes as he glared at the Book of Memories.
You're not going to hold my hand. In the end, you're just going to end up in Fenrik's arms.
You're going to abandon me again.
Then, wouldn't it be better to just get rid of all of these?
So, if I could be free from even this emotion?
No, perhaps I, too, wanted to prove it.
Even if such a setting doesn't exist, I love you just like Fenrir.
Every time I gaze at you, bearing the scent of Fenrir. So, this murderous intent that keeps rising so vividly even now—it is not my will at all...
However, the system seemed to mock Vidar's thoughts. Vidar glared at the perfectly intact Book of Memories with eyes shining menacingly like a madman.
"Vidar is hurt."
"... What?"
At Presepe's small voice, Fenrir paused slightly and looked at Vidar.
It was then that he finally caught sight of it. Far from regenerating, the wound on his collarbone looked as if it were burning black and gnawing away at his life.
'Presepe's Sword...!'
It was the very spot where she had stabbed with the sword she had given him someday.
- ...However, it must always be remembered that when he returns, even the one conceived in a magnificent legend cannot destroy him, nor can he be killed by a weapon entangled in a tearful tale, nor can he be put to sleep by the blessing of any god; thus, everything will begin with him and end with him.
The contents of the document that Siegfried had secretly taken from the church. Fenrir still remembered it clearly.
No one, and nothing, can kill. Especially not those whose ankles are bound by this thoroughly designed world.
The first emotion he felt after reading the document was a sense of despair. Really, he cannot be killed by anything? But Fenrir's thoughts did not stop there.
No god, no legend, and no folktale was needed.
If it is a person not bound to this world, and an object not bound to this world...
I wondered if I could kill Vidar.
And Fenrir's prediction turned out to be spot on.
Of course, whether he could really kill Vidar was another matter, but that sword... if it weren't for him, it wouldn't have been able to leave even a scratch on Vidar.
Maybe it was just luck. Maybe his ignorant thoughts clumsily aligned, so it might be difficult to actually kill him.
However, there were times when he had to stake his life on a very small possibility.
Like right now.
Fenrir very quickly checked to see if Presepe's sword, which he was carrying in his bosom, was in its proper place.
'Are you saying you intend to break the settings yourself, too? Like Grand Duke Fenrir?'
Presepe's eyes, staring at Vidar, clearly showed signs of bewilderment. Why? For what purpose?
If they really succeed in taking down the system like that, what happens?
In the past, her goal was to completely destroy the system. Since she couldn't find the real male protagonist, the Demon King, it felt like the only way to return to reality.
But what if the system collapses now?
The odds were half and half.
Do I still want to bring down the system? Do I want to go back to that? Presepe gazed at Fenrir's back with wavering eyes.
Even in this situation, where it would not be an exaggeration to say that the outcome of whether or not she could return to reality would soon be known, what completely captivated everyone's attention was the wound Fenrir had sustained from being bitten by a monster.
"Can't go back..."
What she had never dared to utter before. It flowed out as if spewed out—truth that had been weighed down deeper and deeper, constantly sinking into the heart. It came through the tightly closed lips.
"No..."
"... What?"
"I don't want to go back to reality..."
Grand Duke Fenrir isn't there, and I'm not.
There was only a stranger named Yoon Ju-yeon who couldn't remember anything.
I still haven't forgotten the fact that it is me.
But how can that be a reality for me? Without you?
Presepe's hand, gripping Fenrir's forearm, trembled.
"..."
Meanwhile, Vidar approached slowly with trudging steps. Then, he picked up the book of memories rolling on the ground.
"Sometimes..."
And he started muttering incomprehensible words.
"Because... of something like this......"
You don't trust me, and I can't use my heart as I please.
In that moment, it felt as if the anger I had been suppressing all this time was welling up inside me. It felt as though the thousands of years I had endured were flashing before my eyes.
Nevertheless, no matter how hard you struggle, you will never be able to escape that fate! The Book of Memories was mocking him.
Rage was clearly visible in Vidar's blue eyes as he glared at the Book of Memories. Power continued to flow from his pale hands, and blood gushed from his unhealed wounds.
However, no matter how hard he struggled and wrote, the Book of Memories did not suffer even the slightest blow.
As if still mocking Vidar.
And it was that moment.
From afar, someone's voice was heard.
"Grand Duke Fenrir is by the lake!"
'...Kevin?'
Presepe, having recognized the owner of the voice, immediately turned around. She saw a dark swarm of soldiers approaching. She also saw Kevin leading them from the front.
"We must defeat the Demon King and bring back Lady Presepe and the Grand Duke!"
[...Kevin, listen carefully to what I'm about to say.]
Just before finally leaving the barracks at Rick's urging, Fenrir told Kevin.
Just in case.
[I am going to the lakeside to the east. I'm not entirely sure, but I'm probably right. Considering how this monster has ruined the map.]
[Moving alone in this situation is extremely dangerous!!]
Kevin was right. Fenrir had absolutely no intention of splitting the ranks in the first place.
But what if he can't find Presepe even where he followed Rick? What if it's all a trap?
In that case, it would have been right to gamble with only one's own life.
[If there is no news from me even after an hour... ]
[Yes?]
[Tell Siegfried the truth. After all, he is the only one who knows the Forbidden Forest inside and out in this situation.]
[Grand Duke!]
[But I will continue to send signals every 30 minutes. If that signal continues for more than two hours without cutting off, and there is little time left until dawn...]
Chirp.
Whenever the distance between them widened a little, Rick urged Fenrir on. But it was unavoidable. Fenrir kept checking the time and sent signals at 30-minute intervals, just as he had promised Kevin. They were small flashbangs with a short duration.
[At that time, you must lead everyone to the eastern lakeside. It is highly likely that a standoff will be taking place.]
"It's the Demon King! There is the Demon King!"
The piercingly high voice belonged to one of the priests following Kevin. As the priest shouted, tension clearly began to show in the soldiers' eyes. However, they did not retreat and began to run straight toward where Fenrir was.
'This time, we have a chance. Definitely.'
Fenrir put down the long sword he was holding.
Then, from his pocket, he took out Vanessa's memento that Presepe had given him some time ago.
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