I swallowed my original intent for coming here.

“Aileen?”

“Ah, I got lost in thought. It’s not really a request, just something I wanted to ask.”

“Huh? Now you’ve made me even more curious.”

Frizia’s eyes twinkled as she smiled.

“We’ll talk when we’re closer, right?”

“Of course.”

“Great, that’s wonderful!”

As I nodded, Frizia hummed in delight.

Floating in the air, the contract danced to her melody.

“What shall we do with the business contract?”

Frizia looked at me as she asked.

The contract was impeccable. If I stamped it, it would be finalized.

Still, I hesitated and eventually apologized.

“Could I think about it until you send someone over?”

“Of course. There’s no need to apologize. This is a big deal, after all. I might be greedy, but I understand the need for caution.”

‘Greed.’

Why did that word resonate so sharply in my ears?

“Now, to commemorate our friendship, I’ll give you this.”

What Frizia gave me was a crystal ball.

Similar to a direct communication network, now we could converse whenever through the crystal ball.

“I accept it gratefully. By the way, can you get ahold of something like this?”

At the sudden thought, I asked, and Frizia curled her lip in a smile.

“There’s nothing I can’t get.”

It was the confidence that befit Elbitor’s top merchant.

I glanced at Rudvion.

He had been standing immobile behind me, as if he hadn’t heard anything.

“So.”

I took Frizia aside and whispered to her quietly.

“I happen to have one.”

“Really?”

I hadn’t expected she’d have it right away.

When I asked with wide eyes, Frizia abruptly turned around.

“Just wait a moment!”

Then one of the bookshelves opened like a door and closed again.

Soon after, Frizia appeared holding an old tome.

“Here. Pay me next time we meet.”

I took the tome into my arms.

“Thank you.”

“Use it wisely.”

Even though the market was rife with fakes, I could trust this since it came from Frizia.

Finally, all matters were settled.

Frizia, who escorted us to the front of the pub, waved her hand energetically.

“Be careful; it becomes lawless at night. Let’s meet again soon!”

It was a moment of bonding with a lively and somewhat scary princess.

‘The sun is about to set.’

The sunset seeped between the buildings.

Rudvion and I headed for the carriage waiting area.

“There’s a shortcut here.”

It was quite dark, but it seemed we could quickly reach the place where the carriage was if we passed through.

“I’ll lead the way.”

Rudvion was about to lead down the alley.

On impulse, I grabbed his arm.

“Knight Rudvion, wait a moment.”
Ludvion hesitated in his place.

I handed him the ancient book I was holding.

“A gift. Also a bribe to keep a secret.”

“……What is this.”

“A book detailing how to summon spirits.”

His eyes trembled noticeably at my words.

In the distant past, even pure humans could control spirits.

But now, only those with elf blood or beings from the special tribes of Shireus 5 could do it.

“I don’t know much about this.”

Ludvion quickly hid his emotions.

He was someone who lived in silence, aware of his own origins.

‘Because he has memories of failing when he was young.’

His mother had once taught Ludvion spirit magic.

However, the young Ludvion couldn’t meet her expectations, and she left him in Lihart and headed alone to Shireus.

‘It must have left some sort of trauma.’

Still, Ludvion had inquired about how to summon spirits.

Without even the confidence that he could do it.

“You surely can. Um, I mean, I feel really good energy coming from you!”

It was like a sales pitch, but I had no other words to offer.

Ludvion stood silently holding the book.

In that tangled emotional moment, Ludvion hugged me.

“Ludvion?”

“Stay behind me.”

Goonies appearing from both sides of the dark alley were approaching us.

“Oh my, knight. You are quickwitted!”

“You’re sharp, so you must know what we’re about to say.”

Hand it all over.

The intent was clear.

‘…There really is a thief guild in the back alley. And why are they so diverse?’

Swords, axes, daggers, even maces.

The weapons they held were incredibly diverse.

I was reminded of Freesia’s warning at that moment.

‘It becomes lawless after dark…’

I hadn’t heard that it started the moment the sun set!

The front and back were chaotic, but there were too many of them. There was also no way out.

‘I shouldn’t have come this way!’

I had forgotten the essential rule that taking shortcuts leads to accidents.

As Ludvion drew his sword, jeers erupted around us.

Starting with the guy holding the mace, they began rushing at us.

“First, hand over the necklace… ugh—!”

A silver blade severed the goon’s mace.

Ludvion’s sword didn’t stop; he cut down one enemy after another.

‘He’s fast.’

Though unable to control spirits, he was strong enough.

However, the problem was the mobs flooding from both entrances.

‘What do I do?’

The thought crossed my mind that Ludvion might get seriously injured.

‘Should I just hand over everything? The necklace is from Kashar…!’

As I was fretting, holding the necklace,

“That’s the most expensive thing!”

A goon’s sword flew towards me.

“Your Highness!”

Ludvion, fighting another enemy, shouted.

But the sword tip had already reached close.

I closed my eyes.

‘A worthless supporting role in life.’

Right before dying, they say your life flashes before your eyes.

I thought of Kashar.

But then something strange happened.

A bright light enveloped us as confusion ate at me.

Snap—!

The sound of a sword breaking echoed. Yet, I felt no pain.

‘What… what’s going on…’

I slowly opened my eyes.

All I saw were fallen goons.

“It’s dangerous outside, I told you.”

I was in Kashar’s arms.

‘Is this a delusion?’

I had been thinking about Kashar all day, was I now seeing hallucinations?

His warm embrace felt secure.

The moment our eyes met, I realized it was reality.

‘It’s the real Kashar.’

The man I most wanted to see appeared at the most dangerous moment.

‘I thought this only happened to main characters.’

Otherwise, you’d have to be extremely beautiful and special.

In the moment when I thought I was going to die, even a side character like me experienced a miracle.

‘It wasn’t just my heart racing because I saw a handsome man.’
He wasn’t attractive simply because of his good looks, or because of the brilliant accomplishments of the original character.

‘I like this person.’

I’ve only just realized my feelings.