“……. ”

It was a very familiar face. However, the gaze directed at me was not. They eyed Delina with a wary stance, as if considering her a stranger intruder.

‘They really came back. The ones who were in the burning square at that time…’

Although I recognized it in my head, there was a corner of my heart that hadn’t given up hope. So, seeing the two people really not recognizing her, Delina’s body relaxed with relief.

‘Yeah. They didn’t know me back then.’

At that time, they had no reason to know me, living in the attic of the marquis’s mansion. That’s why they were so cautious, thinking of her as a stranger.

“Who sent you.”

As if acknowledging Delina’s unexpected skills for the first time, Calix’s mouth opened. Yet, while doing so, he glared at her with eyes that promised immediate death if she dared to make a false move.

“…It wasn’t someone who sent me. I came on my own.”

“Why.”

“To take you guys.”

At the mention of taking them, Zen and Calix furrowed their brows. As if there was no need to listen any further, Zen quickly jumped forward towards Delina.

Delina narrowly rolled her body to avoid it. However, she couldn’t completely evade it. Although it just grazed her, Delina’s arm was already swelling with a red color.

“Ugh…!”

But before Delina could examine her arm, Calix also joined the fray. Although Delina hastily blocked Calix’s sword with her dagger, it was too forceful. Delina quickly reached for her waist and raised the gun, pulling the trigger.

“!”

Seeing the flames spew from the barrel, Calix quickly retreated. Delina, holding a sword in one hand and a gun in the other, twisted her body, struggling to stand up.

‘This is not a joke.’

Delina often sparred with these two in the Grand Duchy. However, real combat was different. The difference in strength was tremendous. Once again, Delina realized how much Zen and Calix had taken it easy on her during their sparring.

‘Even with knowing their movements roughly…’

As time passed, she became more and more disadvantaged. Delina wanted to use her ability, but it was clear that if she showed even a small opening, she would be torn apart.

‘Run?’

She even thought about hiding her body, but it seemed that Zen had already read that plan; the surroundings were already surrounded by wild beasts. In front of her were Calix and Zen, and behind her were fierce beasts. It was truly the worst situation.

“…Well, I didn’t expect this kind of situation.”

Delina, seeming to have half given up, chuckled and muttered. Then, once again, she grasped the weapons in her hands with force. In a terrifying manner, Zen leaped towards her.

“!”

Delina flew her body faster than before to avoid Zen’s fist. Unfortunately, she failed to land properly. Caught on a rock behind her, Delina staggered, and without missing that moment, Zen grabbed Delina’s neck, lifting her up.

“……!”
At the same time, Zen pushed Delina towards the tree. A strong impact was felt on her back. Delina, suspended in the air with her neck tight from Zen’s grip, dropped the weapons she had been holding due to Zen’s powerful strength.

‘Breath, I can’t breathe…….’

It was an immense force. Delina couldn’t breathe properly, and her face gradually turned pale. At that moment, Zen’s face approached closely. As if sensing the end, Delina closed her eyes tightly, and a low voice echoed in her ears.

“Strange.”

It was Zen’s voice. Delina felt the strength gradually leaving Zen’s hands, which were gripping her neck while mumbling.

“Surely, Celine told me to kill them all.”

“…….”

“Why do I dislike it?”

Her breath gradually opened up. Delina opened her eyes and looked directly at Zen in front of her. He seemed somewhat confused.

“Zen……. ”

As Delina struggled to call his name, his pupils shook. Even though her throat hurt, Delina slowly spoke.

“You… don’t… remember… me?”

“…….”

“Now, you… the scarf you’re… wearing… I gave it to you.”

Upon hearing this, Zen touched the scarf hanging around his neck. As if not understanding why he was doing this, Zen untied the scarf, holding it in his hand and alternating his gaze between Delina and the scarf. At the same time, the hand that had been holding Delina’s neck was released.

“Kek, kek!”

Delina coughed as she took in a deep breath. However, she hadn’t escaped from Zen. He still stood in front of Delina.

“You gave me this?”

“Yeah.”

“This, this……”

Zen frowned. At that moment, words floated above Zen’s head.

‘!’

While it was the same black veil, Delina noticed that the black veil characters were shaking as if about to break. Delina harbored hope again.

‘I can come back again.’

In the first crisis, the characters shook like that and disappeared, resolving the situation. If it happened again, it would be similar. And to make those characters disappear……

‘I must be involved.’