“What do you mean by that?”

“That’s a spatial flaw. A distorted, misaligned spot can be used as a path. But first, you must be able to see the flaw.”

That meant the flaw was connected to the Forest of Discovery. The land of Growen was mystical, yet he had never expected such flaws to exist.

‘The original Yerpi lived confined within the castle all her life.’

Though her actions were self-driven, her information was reconstructed based on memories—so naturally, she didn’t know much about the outside world.

“Are there many places like this?”

“Rarely. There are likely many flaws still undiscovered. After all, only a very few can even perceive them.”

One could swiftly travel between distant locations by exploiting gaps in twisted space.

But conversely, without proper understanding of distorted space, one could easily get lost and die within. Without knowing what lay ahead, one might end up crossing into entirely the wrong place.

“You can see it too.”

This confirmed Yerpi was indeed one of the “Observers.” And it also meant Raymond was of the same kind.

As if reading her thoughts, he continued his explanation.

“All dragon-blooded individuals can read the gaps. Over generations, discovered flaws have been recorded and updated into maps. One ancestor claimed that all dragon-blooded people are intrinsically linked to Growen—both mentally and physically.”

Just as a person could sense and perceive their own bodily organs, so too could the dragon-blooded sense the gaps.

Therefore, someone without dragon blood who could still observe the flaws was exceedingly rare. And this implied that the Observers and the land of Growen shared a deep, intimate connection.

“It’s over there.”

Raymond pointed toward a gap shimmering with pink and pale green hues. This gap was deeper in color than the others and wider open.

Raymond led his unit toward the gap. The moment they reached it, instead of a cave, lush emerald greenery unfolded before their eyes.

‘So this is it.’

The sweet scent of spring sunlight and the vibrant green of newly sprouted leaves filled the air—an enchanting, primordial wonderland.

This was the entrance to the Forest of Discovery.

Yet within this treasure trove of life, grayish foreign matter was mixed in.

‘That’s…’

Part of the forest had turned gray. Over it, noise resembling static crackled and distorted the forest’s shape.

It was like staring at a malfunctioning monitor screen. The twisted space possessed a strange magical force. As Yerpi unconsciously took a step forward, Raymond pulled her back into his arms, retreating a few steps.

“Be careful not to touch it carelessly.”

Startled, Yerpi looked up. Raymond gave the warning with the calm demeanor of someone familiar with the phenomenon.

“I arrived earlier than expected, so I didn’t get the chance to mention it. The noise carries magic—stay alert and move cautiously. Most people lose consciousness, get swallowed by the noise, and end up losing their memories.”

The noise lured people with magic, indiscriminately consuming their memories before spitting them back out.

“So you’ve been here often, I assume.”

“Yes. The gap made it possible. Be careful not to get lured in.”

“Of course.”

She had mentally prepared for risks like this when volunteering for the survey team. Knowing it could be managed as long as she stayed focused, she felt somewhat relieved.

Opening her eyes wide, she noticed people already waiting near the noise.

Each wore deep blue robes, carefully collecting the noise into bottles carved from magic stones.

‘So there are magicians here.’

Magicians existed in the outside world too.

The difference between them and the magicians of Growen was this: outside magicians focused on combat and practical magic, while Growen’s magicians specialized in research and academia—studying ancient ruins and curses.

Though their focuses differed, both were skilled practitioners capable of manipulating magical energy.

Not as rare as the Observers, but still precious elites all the same.

Raymond spared no investment in magicians for Dante’s sake. The magicians continued their investigations, gathering clues and forming hypotheses, but so far, they had not found the cause.

‘It’s unprecedented, even among the bloodlines of Growen.’

But as always, Yerpi believed there was no secret that couldn’t eventually be uncovered.

Was Dante alright? The child she had reluctantly left behind that morning kept nagging at her thoughts.

Of course, the maids would take good care of him—but the child’s dependence on her was considerable.

‘But where is Pepe?’

She didn’t see Pepe, who had earlier been with Johan, crossing the crystal mines. But soon, she discovered Pepe’s whereabouts through the commotion.

“Give back my sister’s memories!”

It was Pepe’s voice. Startled, Yerpi turned to see Pepe sprinting toward the noise zone, wielding a branch she must have picked up somewhere.

‘Oh no.’

She had never seen the maid so agitated. Yerpi shouted, but Pepe showed no sign of hearing her.

“Pepe, stop!”

She had to save the maid, already entranced by the magic. She lunged forward as she cried out. She barely managed to grab Pepe’s waist, but couldn’t pull her back at all.

‘Why is she so strong…!’

A person under magical influence exerted far greater physical strength than usual.

Yerpi desperately pushed Pepe away. Knights were rushing toward the commotion, with Raymond leading the charge.

“Yerpi!”

She saw a hand reaching toward her. But his figure was tilting. No—it wasn’t him. Her own vision was sinking downward.

Zzziit.

She heard the crackling sound of writhing noise. The last thing she saw was Raymond’s face—then she was swallowed by a vast gray light.

When she opened her eyes again, she was inside a space filled entirely with gray.

‘Where…’

There was vegetation here too. But it had been stained by the noise, stripped of its color. This place was familiar to Yerpi.

‘It’s the forest I saw in my dreams.’

It didn’t take long for her to realize she was now at the forest’s center. Likely, the core of the forest had been consumed by the noise first.

Above all, the enormous deer standing before her eyes confirmed this place was real.

The King of Spring.

On the great stag’s antlers bloomed beautiful, glistening vines and fragrant flowers.

The King of Spring approached her, nuzzling her cheek as if delighted by her arrival. His head was so large that when she cautiously embraced it, her arms were completely filled.

In this world drained of all color, only the King of Spring and she herself retained their hues.

Their eyes met at close range. In the deer’s dark pupils, a mysterious cosmos dwelled. For a moment, she traced constellations with her gaze.

‘It’s gone.’

The stag that had filled her arms vanished, and all life in the world disappeared in an instant.

Before her now loomed a kind of enormous screen. On the blank surface, a video began to play.

‘…A person?’

On screen was a woman with black hair, black eyes, fair skin, and uniquely styled clothing.

Soon, she realized.

That woman was her past self.

In an instant, memories of her previous life—memories she had forgotten—flooded into Yerpi’s mind.

From her impoverished childhood in an orphanage to adulthood, every memory returned.

She had assumed it had been a lonely life.

But beside her, there had been two close friends.

‘Ah, I remember.’

She had been murdered by her closest friend.

Most strikingly, the truck accident she had thought was her first death, and later the poisoned juice—both were the work of the same perpetrator. Because—

‘Please just die already. Okay? If you’re gone, he’ll be mine.’

Even now, her friend’s voice flowed through the speaker, echoing into her ears.

Now it was certain.

Her past self had not died in an accident—she had been murdered. And after two attempts, at that.

The screen continued to show various memories.

Yet the face of her killer remained unidentifiable, as if a black hole had been punched through it.

To her, the faces of others—except her own—appeared as gaping black voids.

The only certainty was that the murderer had been a long-time friend. But her appearance, her name—nothing came to mind.

Instead of the killer, the face that surfaced was that of a beloved lover.

In her past life, she had a lover. A precious person she would have gladly given her life for.

Yerpi stared at the screen, her mouth hanging open in daze.

The face of the lover she had adored looked exactly like Raymond.