Subliminal Wayfarer

The knights of House Valentine, running non-stop, were soon joined by the knights of the imperial guard. Thanks to the knights of Valentine marking each passage with handkerchiefs, they could join in directly without losing their way.

The atmosphere among the imperial knights was heavy and sharp. They, too, had confirmed the death of the imperial investigator and knights.

The case was significant: the monster incident, the kidnapping of two daughters of a duke, and the murder of the imperial investigator and knights.

Evidently, this was treason.

There was a possibility it might be a self-staged act by the ducal ladies, making it appear like a kidnapping.

But, considering the situation and evidence, it seemed unlikely.

Firstly, today’s visit by the investigator was kept strictly confidential and was quite spontaneous.

It was impossible for the ducal ladies to have noticed and planted people at the junctions in advance.

Moreover, before joining here, something strange occurred.

Several knights suddenly complained of headaches.

After the simultaneous headaches passed, those who suffered all said the same thing.

Daniel Freesia seemed suspicious.

That was not all. Shortly after the headache incident, a message from the imperial palace arrived.

Various nobles, citizens, and servants began to accuse Daniel Freesia:

—Daniel Freesia is suspicious.

—He hypnotized me.

—He made me spread rumors that Ducal Lady Valentine was behind the monster attacks.

The most shocking accusation was separate.

It was a report from poor citizens, stating that one day, a young handsome man with blue eyes took people away for work.

Strangely, those left behind couldn’t remember the ones who left.

The reporter had sent her son but then lived forgetting she ever had a son.

But suddenly, a few minutes ago, all memories returned.

The face of one monster seen in the capital a month ago… was identical to her long-forgotten son’s face.

 

“I… I think the man with blue eyes, he… he turned my son into a monster. Please help.”

 

* * *

 

“…Therefore, considering his use of unknown, peculiar sorcery to deceive people, the continual suspicion reports of being behind the monster crisis, and his leading role in the abduction of Rosetta Valentine! Given the various circumstances, Daniel Freesia is the most likely suspect of treason and will be urgently arrested!”

Even though there was a considerable distance, the shout of the imperial guard’s knight captain reached them.

A fierce sandstorm arose behind the relentlessly advancing group.

Watching the massive sandstorm, Daniel thought one thin.

‘The hypnosis must have completely worn off.’

It seemed as though the hypnosis he had cast on many people over time had unraveled in one single instant.

The reason was obvious.

When he poured all his strength into saving Rosetta earlier, even the power holding the brainwashing state had been completely exhausted.

Complaints must have flooded in. And that led to the current situation.

Daniel chuckled wryly and staggered to his feet.

Rosetta, giving him a brief glance, spoke in an emotionless voice.

“Just like before.”

Daniel paused.

His blue eyes blankly faced the approaching crowd.

“Indeed. It’s repeating.”

Over their eyes, scenes from their past lives overlaid.

The brainwashing spell breaking, people swarming the temple.

Dead bodies, scattered all around.

And the two of them at the center.

“What now? There’s no way out, why not just surrender? Unlike in the past life, now you don’t have the strength to face all those people.”

In response to Rosetta’s words, Daniel smiled brightly.

“Well, not really. But I do have one last resort prepared, just in case.”

Because I can’t give up on you.

I’ll resist to the end.

With those words, Daniel bit into the bracelet on his wrist.

And at the same time, a small mirror attached to the bracelet glinted brightly.

Rosetta shielded her eyes from the sudden light.

In the meantime, Daniel whispered into the light.

“Bring that woman with you and come over here right now.”

—What?

A voice came from across the light.

Momentarily blinded, Rosetta tried to open her eyes against the luminous intensity of that glint, but it was not easy to recover.

‘Darn it!’

However, she could still sense Daniel’s location through his presence.

Rosetta strained her hearing and reached her hand towards where she could hear Daniel’s breathing.

Eventually, when her hand firmly grasped the man’s arm.

“Stop talking and do as I say!”

With Daniel’s shout, the light flashed again.

Behind the light, a sandstorm erupted.

Just like when the black-cloaked group with Cassion arrived earlier.

Sensing that something was amiss, the approaching knights increased their speed.

Rosetta approached Cassion, who had collapsed, pushing Daniel aside.

After a while, the massive storm gradually subsided.

 

* * *

 

“…What’s going on here?”

The two people who appeared in the storm were Leo. And….

“Alicia!”

Alicia.

Upon hearing Rosetta’s call, Alicia, who had been trembling in fear, raised her head.

When she spotted Rosetta, her pale face, which had been filled with dread, gradually twisted.

“Sister!”

With a cry mixed with tears, Alicia tried to take a step forward, but Leo firmly grabbed her.

Alicia whimpered softly and teared up.

“What are you doing? Let go of Alicia this instant!”

In response to Rosetta’s angry shout, Leo blinked.

He casually ignored Rosetta’s words and looked around.

Daniel, collapsed on the ground.

All of his subordinates, now lifeless corpses.

Cassion, in Rosetta’s arms.

And.

The knights of both the imperial guard and House Valentine, rushing towards them in anger.

“What’s going on here, Daniel.”

“A messed-up situation. That’s what it is.”

Daniel replied with a grin, and Leo frowned fiercely.

“So, in this messed-up situation, why exactly did you call me.”

“I can’t handle this on my own. Weren’t we comrades in our own way?”

“It’s not like I ever planned to join hands with someone like you from the start.”

Leo clicked his tongue.

During this time, the knights were getting closer.

‘Ruined. Everything’s ruined.’

Everything had gone terribly wrong.

Daniel never should have called out to him like this.

In this situation, where Alicia looked very clearly like a hostage as well, Leo’s life was inextricably linked to Daniel’s.

God damn it.

There was nothing else left to do but to curse.

“Since it seems like you’re already doomed, let’s not add one more crime. Hand Alicia over.”

Rosetta’s voice made Leo look at Alicia, trapped in his arms.

‘Handing her over like this….’

It was a bit regrettable.

She had been someone he had taken a liking to.

The first person he had ever desired this much.

It was the first time he had such a strong craving for someone.

But, as Rosetta said, to reduce the number of crimes, it was right to hand over Alicia.

However….

‘Is it worth it?’

Judging from the situation, it seemed like everything had already been exposed.

Everything Daniel had done until now.

And that included what he himself had done.

Leo already knew.

Their crime amounted to the worst offense—

‘Treason.’

However, as long as they didn’t get caught, it would be fine.

If they weren’t discovered, there would be no punishment.

But now…

‘In the end, it came to this.’

They were firmly trapped.

Reducing one crime now wouldn’t change the outcome.

Whether they suffered longer and died, or died quickly in one instant, the difference was minimal.

Daniel looked at Leo, who was lost in thought, and chuckled.

He had a clear idea of what Leo was thinking.

And his specialty was…

Subtly scraping at the vulnerabilities of people like him, leading them in the direction he wanted.

“Leo, it’s too late anyway. We know that we’re fated to be on the same boat. So, now that this happened…”

Rather than stopping at being Duke, how about aiming for something more?

At Daniel’s whisper, Leo’s eyes widened significantly.

He stared at Daniel for a moment, then nodded with a wry smile.

He already knew what Daniel wanted to say.

He had explained one last option to Leo before, that in the worst-case scenario…

 

“Just be killed, or… Wouldn’t you rather choose to become something more by swallowing that ring? Something beyond human capacity.”

“Beyond human capacity?”

“That’s right. If you swallow the gem in that ring, you’ll gain power that no human being could possibly possess. And with such immense power, you would not need to seek approval from anyone. You’ll stand at the pinnacle of all humanity—all on your own.”

 

It was quite a tempting offer.

Despite Daniel’s cunning words, Leo had tried to ignore it.

But now, in this situation, was there really any other choice?

He didn’t want to die.

So, he had to survive.

Leo laughed sardonically as he snapped the gem from the ring.

Then, he swallowed it.

Rosetta, carrying Cassion on her back, reached out her hand to Leo to try and stop him.

But due to Alicia being held hostage, she couldn’t attack freely.

“Rosetta! Alicia!”

“Damn it, Alicia!”

Soon, the duke and Damian arrived by Rosetta’s side, ahead of the knights. However, Rosetta didn’t turn to look back at them.

Because blue veins were rising on Leo’s body after swallowing the gem.

Thump. Thud.

With eerie sounds, Leo’s muscles grew abnormally large.

“Guhh… Guoohh…”

Groaning, blue saliva dripped from his lips.

After a while.

“AAARGH!”

With a loud scream, two wings sprouted from Leo’s back.

As the wings emerged and slowly moved, a sandstorm rose behind them, and leaves fluttered in the air.

“…A monster…?”

Alicia, trapped in Leo’s arms, murmured with a face that seemed like she might faint at any moment.

“Ahahaha! How do you like my final struggle, Rosetta?!”

Soon, Daniel’s laughter rang out.

Indeed, it was an extraordinary final act of desperation.