Esa Promesa

By the time I had completed half of the tasks I had planned outside the palace, three hours had already passed.

I felt a renewed frustration at my inability to run because of my heart. Every time I finished one task, the anxiety of the remaining ones weighed heavier on me. Damn Diver. He claims to like me, yet he threatens me and then sleeps so soundly? I was the one who put him to sleep, but the thought of his peacefully resting face made my blood boil.

‘I’ve always been mad about you, Tei.’

At the same time, it felt as if a massive stone was pressing down on my chest.

I used to think I knew Diver well.

But only today did I realize how wrong I had been.

I don’t know Diver at all.

I never imagined he would boldly declare that he’d kill people just because of me.

From what I’ve learned through this ordeal, that bastard would probably resort to scattering leaflets across the entire world, declaring his intention to kill innocent citizens, just to drag me back if I ever managed to escape the palace using my last resort.

Diver knows full well that I detest the idea of someone dying because of me, so he’s bound to use human lives to threaten me further.

And unfortunately, I am highly likely to fall for such threats.

The truth is, I detest the thought of people dying. Perhaps it’s because my body is cursed to be reborn as a child and continue living after each death, but the lives of people who experience life only once have always seemed precious and noble to me.

Especially those who’ve crossed paths with me, those who’ve spoken with me and called my name. Their lives felt unparalleled in their sanctity and value. That’s why, whenever I faced death in the cradle, I would find myself longing for the people who had briefly touched my life.

The thought of Diver killing such people because of me brought more sorrow than anger. Diver himself was one of those people to me, which only made the sorrow even heavier.

Diver is truly a terrible person.

Why does that man insist on making my life so miserable?

When we were younger, he may have been annoying, but at least he acted human. Even when he spat out cruel words, the kind that made me want to press his lips shut with my fingers, he wasn’t the kind of person who would use human lives as a bargaining chip.

Have I failed in my role as his advisor?

“Welcome!”

“…Hello.”

A cheerful voice pulled me out of my thoughts. It was a clothing store, one of the places I had planned to visit today. A shop assistant, noticing my appearance, quickly approached me. I glanced around.

The store, specializing in children’s clothing, was located in the heart of the capital, so most of the items were extravagant. I preferred something simpler, and for a moment, I considered heading to a shop on the outskirts of the city. But no matter how I thought about it, there simply wasn’t enough time.

“Are you looking for something in particular? If you’d like, I can show you some of the latest styles trending in the capital.”

“I’m here to buy clothes for a five-year-old. You deliver, right?”

“Of course! We can deliver anywhere within the country. Please, follow me. Do you know the measurements?”

Of course, I knew. These were clothes for me, after all.

Following the shop assistant further inside, I saw displays of children’s clothing that were even more extravagant than what I’d noticed outside. The clothes were adorned with delicate decorations and colorful, pretty jewels. It was clear the store had meticulously considered children’s tastes, with outfits displayed at eye level that were bound to make kids tug at their parents’ sleeves.

“Do you like this one?”

“No, I don’t.”

The shop assistant misunderstood my gaze and seemed ready to bring out dozens of similar outfits, so I firmly cut her off. I turned toward the section with plain, undecorated clothing.

Recalling long-past memories, I bought several pieces, including trousers similar to the ones I’d torn when rolling down a hillside before leaving the cave in this life.

The cave, for now, was connected to a small house I had prepared in advance using spatial transference and preservation magic before losing my powers. However, it had no heating. So there was much to prepare, and I needed to layer as many clothes as possible.

As for heating supplies like firewood or fire-sustaining stones, the chimera would take care of those without my intervention. But clothes? Those, I had to prepare myself.

The chimera had bought clothes for me before, but they were always children’s outfits that my mental age would never willingly wear. For the sake of my mental health, it was better to choose my own.

“Thank you for shopping with us! Please visit again!”

The total cost was quite significant, but I didn’t care. Time was the only issue. After quickly completing the delivery paperwork, I stepped out of the store and immediately took out the pocket watch from my coat.

Trying to deduce the time Diver would wake up based on the amount he drank and my limited knowledge gave me a headache.

At least now, only Asyan’s request remained. All that was left was to meet the High Priest. According to the information Asyan gave me yesterday, the High Priest was supposed to visit the temple in the capital.

I knew the High Priest wasn’t someone I could simply meet at will, but I had to at least try.

*

As expected, I couldn’t meet the High Priest.

In fact, I couldn’t even enter the last remaining temple in the capital, as its doors were firmly shut. A notice posted outside explained that today was a special occasion, so the temple was closed.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. Now that I thought about it, considering this was the High Priest’s first visit to Ramanov today, it was inevitable. Even though I had no particular interest in religion, failing to anticipate something so simple and making this futile trip felt utterly foolish.

Since waiting wouldn’t make the temple doors open, I retraced my steps without hesitation. There was still some time before Diver woke up, so I decided to secretly buy him some of his favorite snacks.

As I made this plan, a man who looked like he had just arrived from the countryside approached me.

“Excuse me. May I ask you for directions?”

“Of course. Where are you headed?”

“This place here. Do you know where it is?”

The man tilted a map toward me. As I looked at it, I cursed internally. What I initially thought was a map turned out to be a piece of paper with incomprehensible patterns drawn on it. The patterns seemed to writhe as if alive.

I knew exactly what this was.

It was a magic scroll. Judging by the faint light emanating from the patterns, it was currently active.

“I mean no harm to you. However, let me warn you in advance: if I tear this scroll, your body will be engulfed in flames that will burn until you die. Even an ignorant Emarian like yourself should be able to recognize that this is a magic scroll.”

If I had been an ordinary person with no knowledge of such things, I might have been terrified. However, I was once a mage. There was no way I couldn’t identify such a low-tier spell. This was nothing more than a basic binding spell designed to restrain an average person, not one that would summon fire or cause any real harm.

But I didn’t let it show. If I revealed that I understood the workings of this spell, I’d lose any advantage to exploit his weakness.

“…Who are you?”

“I am the sword forged by the Black King.”

“And I fail to understand why the Thorn of Remable is skulking around in Emar.”

I already knew they had infiltrated the country. But I never imagined they would show up in front of me so openly, either with bare faces or expertly crafted leather disguises.

“Follow me.”

At those words, I pretended to hesitate, glancing around. Thankfully or perhaps not a single soul was in sight. In the distance, I could see the guards, but their gazes were fixed far away, entirely unaware of the situation unfolding here. Perfect.

The Thorn led me to a secluded alley where no one could see us. Even if someone had been tailing me, this alley was a cleverly hidden blind spot that would make it nearly impossible to notice us without getting very close.

“Forgive my rudeness. We had no choice but to wait for you to leave the palace, Lady Teian.”

I felt a brief surge of annoyance at the supposedly apologetic look on their face but managed to suppress it. Thorns were notoriously elusive, so capturing one that had come to me of its own accord might make for a fine gift to deliver to Diver.

“What is it that you want from me?”

As Diver’s advisor and knight, I’d faced countless attempts at persuasion. But none of them had ever come from Remable. I couldn’t fathom why they would approach me now. Remable was a group infamous for being filled with crazed maniacs obsessed with magic.

“I’m here to deliver a warning.”

“A warning, is it…”

I forced a mocking smile, doing my best to appear as though I already knew everything.

In truth, I didn’t.

While I was aware of Diver’s various dealings with Remable, there were so many that I couldn’t begin to guess what this warning might pertain to.

“If your king does not return what he has taken to its rightful place, all the Thorns and swords of Remable will turn their blades toward you. Ensure it is returned within a fortnight.”

A wave of frustration surged through me, and I barely stopped myself from grabbing the Thorn by the collar.

What in the world had that damned king of mine done this time?

It seemed Diver had brazenly stolen something from Remable in his typically cunning and underhanded way, something important enough for their king to send a Thorn to threaten me. And yet, this was the first I’d heard of it.