“You think the future you experienced will unfold in exactly the same way in this life? Even you’ve changed so much.”

“……What are you talking about?”

“Rertium, you should consider yourself lucky I came today. Otherwise, you’d never see Pythons.”

Hickenka let out a short curse under his breath and released Liche’s shoulder.

“Follow me. That guy, he’ll die tonight.”

Ian often found himself leaving the dormitory at night without realizing it.

The first time he became aware of this was a month after enrollment.

He was sure he had fallen asleep in bed, but when he woke up, he was outside.

Such incidents occurred once or twice a month thereafter.

Some nights on the dormitory rooftop, others near a fountain, and others at the top of descending stairs.

Each time, Ian returned to his room without telling anyone.

Ian’s attendant, a mere servant formally assigned from his family, was unaware that he left and returned at night.

‘My body is weird. It feels like it wants to die.’

If he used his ability, he could identify the cause of this dreadful sleep disorder, but the indelible artifact made that impossible.

It felt deliberate—blinding him to the truth and slowly cornering him. Just like how it had been in the mansion where I grew up.

The suspicion turned into conviction in no time.

There was only one person around Ian who would set this up.

‘Father.’

Even though he knew who the culprit was, Ian did not feel despondent.

He knew what kind of person he was from the beginning; he had no expectations to shatter.

In the end, my father will kill me.

However.

It would be nice to say a final farewell to that child in the mirror.

“No one would care if I stayed alive.”

Three years ago, eight-year-old Ian spoke towards a child in the mirror, whom he couldn’t see.

The reason for saying this was that back then, Ian’s world was entirely limited to Count Gerwer’s mansion.

A world with only a father who treated him like a thief and mansion people who saw him as a nuisance.

“You?”

So he tried to live.

For a child whose face and name he didn’t even know.

He reduced the medication as the child advised and entered Hwanglip Academy.

Count Gerwer allowed his entry under the condition of wearing an artifact.

He felt healthier and breathed more freely after leaving the mansion.

‘I am alive.’

He wanted to tell the child quickly. Just like you said, I am alive. It feels like I’ve seen a slightly broader world.
Ian returned to the mansion for the holidays, only to be greeted by a shattered mirror.

“Your mother left something strange. A mirror embedded with half of a magic stone. The other half must be in another object. I broke it to prevent any spies hiding in the mansion from using it.”

Duke Gerwer spoke these words as he sorrowfully collected the broken mirror pieces, facing his son.

Ian lay face down in front of the shattered mirror, in despair.

I don’t even know who you are, and now everything’s over.

Then, Ian returned to the academy. Unlike before, when he briefly felt lively, he now felt completely empty.

He lost interest in everything. Yet.

‘Today was strange.’

Ian recalled the child he met today.

Tuariche Ludwick.

Seeing the face of the child, determined to become a knight, revived his senses.

Would he feel the same if they met again?

‘I want to see him again.’

Yet, his body grew heavier and heavier, as if being swallowed by a gigantic swamp.

Philip felt as if he was bewitched by a demon.

He was someone. Miss Liche’s sole knight. He couldn’t allow a single intruder to compromise Miss Liche’s safety.

So he’d fallen asleep on the sofa in preparation for intruders, but when he woke up, he was outside, walking with Miss Liche.

A starry night sky, a large full moon, the sound of insects, rustling leaves, a courtyard in the middle of the night.

“What?!”

“……?”

Philip stood upright, surprised. In the meantime, Liche, who had walked ahead, turned back.

Why is that? Hikanka.

…Or not?

“Philip?”

“It’s Philip.”

Then who am I?

Philip blinked. Both of his eyes were brown.

‘The possession must have worn off.’

Liche gestured towards Philip, and then walked through the bushes.

“Let’s go. We need to find Ian Dwayne.”

“Ian Dwayne? Duke Gerwer’s son?”

Why would Miss Liche be looking for that young master…?

For Philip, who didn’t know the circumstances, it was shocking news.

In the middle of the night, Miss Liche is looking for a male student.

The image of a shy Liche, hiding behind him, magnified in Philip’s mind.

Half of it was a joke when he was teasing Miss Liche.

‘Were you serious?!’

Chills ran down Philip’s spine.

‘This is bad.’

Bad indeed. Who? Himself.

Philip recalled the fools drooling over Miss Liche in the Ludwick mansion.

There was also someone sitting at the very top like a grand king.

Blake’s red eyes seemed to look at him.

Was that all? Even in that dormitory alone—

“……I admire you. Please save me, Master Deon.”

“……”

An involuntary vision of his grim future appeared.

The two pairs of red eyes from Ludwick were too harsh for him.

Philip abruptly lifted Liche.

“Why, what’s going on?”

“It can’t be.”

“What?”

“It can’t be! You’re only ten, you shouldn’t be doing this!”

“Be, be quiet……!”

Startled by Philip’s voice, Liche covered his mouth with both hands.

“……What are you saying? Philip?”

“Mmph Mmph (Absolutely not).”

Confused, Liche stared at Philip, who was shaking his head.

Splash!

Then they heard an unusual water sound.

Philip and Liche exchanged glances instantly.