In the midst of this, Arnolt’s suggestion to go to the battlefield seemed somewhat appealing.

At least, there would be plenty of things to do and lives to end if he went there.

Maybe he could also relieve some of the emotions that couldn’t be erased with alcohol and sleeping pills.

If there was no proper way, it wouldn’t be so bad to just die here.

He thought that way.

But.

‘Here doesn’t seem much different either.’
Valtter roughly wiped the blood on his sword and nonchalantly thought as he pushed it back into the scabbard.

Killing people as a habit didn’t suppress his emotions.

No matter how much he resented, got angry, or blamed, it didn’t bring Odette back.

‘If she doesn’t forget, do I have to live like this forever?’

Does this life have any meaning, any worthwhile value?

Valtter paused, pondering as if in a daze.

And he swayed heavily.

Continuing the battle without properly staunching the bleeding, he unknowingly shed a lot of blood.

‘…I should find a place to avoid the wind.’

The darkness was gradually deepening.

Since he couldn’t roam around once it got completely dark, he needed to find a cave or something before that.

The moment Valtter took a few more unsteady steps.

“Ugh, Ugh… Die…!”

With a ripping sound, Valtter turned around.

Among the piled corpses, one that pretended to be dead lunged at Valtter with all its might.

However, Valtter detected the surprise attack and dodged it, causing the sword to miss his vital point.

But, due to Valtter’s already unfavorable condition, the sword tore through his side instead of completely evading it.

As the assailant realized the failure of the surprise attack, a sense of defeat rose above their face.

“Damn it…!”

“You’re doing something pointless.”

Valtter’s sword, with a slightly furrowed brow in pain, slashed at the opponent.

The opponent fell without leaving so much as a last word.

Whether the sound of blood boiling and dying could be considered a last word is debatable.

Valtter swiftly turned his body. Even if the condition was already not good and now with such a wound, it was not good to receive this kind of injury.

His already staggering steps became even more unstable, and to make matters worse, darkness was now approaching.

With a grip on his torn side, Valtter found a nearby cave and, as he stepped in, collapsed.

To avoid freezing to death, he needed to light a fire and staunch the bleeding, but he didn’t feel like doing anything.

‘Would it be easier if I closed my eyes here?’

Then I wouldn’t have to be tormented by that woman’s affairs anymore.

There was never any attachment to life.

Having lived without regret, he never had any regrets.

If there was one regret remaining…

‘…Odette.’

That he couldn’t save her was the only regret.

Even though they weren’t that close, why did her absence feel so significant?

Terribly, he missed Odette.

It was fine if she was foolish. It was fine if she repeatedly chose the path of unhappiness.

He would even be fine if she hated herself, he just wanted to see her once more.

Like the very first day he saw Odette, if he could see her smile just once…

“…?”

Valtter slowly raised his fallen body.

It was because he sensed something strange.
He took out the pendant hanging around his neck and held it in his hand.

This item, which didn’t seem to be made of expensive gems, was given to Valtter on the day Odette rejected his proposal in the past.

There might be a day when you need to use it… Someday, it will be helpful.

What is it for?

I can’t tell you. If you really need it, you’ll naturally find out, so I recommend carrying it with you at all times.

Even if Odette hadn’t said so, Valtter had thought so.

It was the only item he had received from Odette.

However, for some reason, the pendant was faintly vibrating.

‘What on earth could it be?’

He suspected that it wasn’t just a simple pendant.

It was revealed after Odette’s death that she had been assisting in magical research at the Belphor Academy.

Could it be a magical tool enchanted with nothing more than a simple detection or protection spell?

In fact, even with just that, it was something very difficult to obtain, but it didn’t excite Valtter.

But now, seeing the pendant in action, his body began to move as if compelled.

He still had a pale complexion, but he had a bit of energy left.

In this way, he staggered towards the inside of the cave.

To be precise, towards something emitting light inside the cave.

As he went further inside, the light became stronger, and Valtter could identify the source.

It was an altar.

No, strictly speaking, an old dagger placed on the altar.

The inscription on the handle of the dagger was emitting light.

‘Is it imbued with magic or something?’

Valtter picked up the dagger and slowly ran his fingertips over the inscription.

However.

‘…I don’t know.’

It seemed to be written in an unfamiliar language.

At least, it didn’t seem to be written in one of the six languages Valtter was familiar with.

Valtter frowned, then, with a skeptical mind, he brought the pendant close to the dagger.

Then.

!

As the light emanated, the old, rusted dagger instantly transformed into something brand new, as if conjured up.

And the inscription on it had also changed.

As if someone had interpreted that ambiguous inscription.