It quickly grew dark all around.

Klaus went to clean up, and Anselot went to scout the surroundings.

The night in the forest was a bit chilly.

I sat in front of the campfire, basking in the warm heat.

‘It feels just like camping.’

I felt a little excited, as if I had come camping, which I had only seen on TV in my previous life.

When I was living with my aunt’s family in my previous life.

I don’t remember the exact time, but I recall it was around when I was in elementary school.

Watching my aunt and uncle leave for camping with only my cousins, I stayed home alone, secretly envious.

Then sometime later, on a day when everyone went out to eat and I was left alone at home. I secretly brought the tent stored in the utility room to my room and spread it out.

I played alone inside the huge tent that filled up my cramped room.

I planned to stay only until my aunt returned, but I accidentally fell asleep, which was a mistake.

I got scolded badly and had to beg, promising not to touch things in the house recklessly anymore. Until my aunt and uncle’s anger subsided.

“Maybe it’s because there are so many stars in the night sky…”

For some reason, I was feeling sentimental, and memories from my past life that I had forgotten came to mind.

I shook my head to shake off the thoughts.

“What’s wrong?”

Anselot, who had returned without me noticing, asked as he covered my shoulders with a blanket.

“It’s nothing. More importantly, Anselot.”

I gestured to the quest window that had been floating around for a while.

[Main Quest: Forest of Dreams (2/3)]

Tonight, the forest mist will engulf you and your party. Beware of the night’s attack!

▷Clear condition: Defeat the forest mist

▶Reward upon success: Experience +17000, Skill points +10, Item

“It says tonight.”

“Yes, it does.”

Anselot nodded as he read the quest.

I thought the mist of Ilei would soon engulf us, but it was faster than expected.

‘Well, it’s not bad if we can finish the quest quickly.’

“Anyway, be careful, Anselot.”

I advised once more, even though Anselot usually didn’t take my words seriously.

“Alright. I’ll make sure our princess doesn’t worry.”

For once, Anselot nodded obediently and replied.

I glanced at his rounded eyes looking at me, then tightly gripped the blanket he had wrapped around my shoulders.

“It’s bedtime.”

Klaus, who had finished cleaning up, returned after completing the sleeping arrangements.

“I’ve prepared your bed, Your Highness.”

Klaus guided me to the tent.

The tent was large enough to accommodate me, Anselot, Klaus, and Piya with room to spare.

However, Anselot, who was about to follow me into the tent, was immediately caught by the scruff of his neck by Klaus.

“What?”

“Were you planning to share a tent with Her Highness?”

When Klaus asked sternly, as if it was absolutely unacceptable, Anselot raised one eyebrow, showing his displeasure.

“Is there a problem with that?”

“Many problems, in fact.”

Klaus threw a sleeping bag at Anselot and tossed another one for himself next to it.

Then he bowed to me.

“I will guard outside with him, so please sleep comfortably without worry, Your Highness.”

“Thank you, sir.”

I saw Anselot giving me a look full of betrayal, but I waved my hand lightly and slipped into the tent.

In the end, Anselot had to give up on the tent.

[This is the timeline separator]

Once only the two of them were left in the tent, Piya chirped angrily.

―How could you do that, Miss Lulu! That’s too much!

She hadn’t said a word until just now, but once she was sure Anselot and Klaus wouldn’t appear anymore, she opened her mouth again.

―Those evil human men were trying to eat Piya! Miss Lulu just laughed while watching Piya being threatened!

“Sorry, sorry, Piya.”

Luibel laughed and tried to soothe her, but Piya turned her head away, completely sulking.

“Anselot was probably just joking.”

―Didn’t you see how that human man was looking at Piya? His eyes looked like he wanted to throw Piya into a stew pot right away!

Piya, thinking Luibel was taking Anselot’s side, exclaimed angrily.

“No, Anselot’s not like that.”

―How can Miss Lulu be so sure?

Seeing Piya puffing out angry breaths, Luibel somehow wanted to tease her more.

“Anselot doesn’t like bird meat.”

Peep, peep?

“He especially dislikes small birds that are barely a mouthful because they don’t taste good.”

Peeeeeeep!

At Luibel’s mischievous grin and additional comment, Piya started flying around angrily inside the tent.

She was fun to tease.

“I’m joking, Piya.”

―Miss Lulu, I hate you! Do you enjoy teasing Piya?

It was fun, but saying so honestly would make her even more upset.

“I won’t tease you anymore.”

Luibel chuckled and finally managed to soothe the sulking Piya.

And so the two people… no, one person and one bird got under the covers to sleep.

Luibel’s soft breathing and Piya’s peeping filled the quiet tent.

And after some time had passed.

Someone shook the sleeping Luibel’s body.

“Oh my, child.”

Luibel slowly lifted her eyelids.

And there were faces she had seen for a very long time, and then not seen for a very long time.

Startled.

The young Luibel, barely 9 or 10 years old, flinched in shock.

Her aunt, uncle, and cousins were looking at Luibel, who had fallen asleep playing alone in the tent.

Clearly, her aunt’s family, who had said they were going out to eat, had returned.

“Why is the tent here… Did you take it out from the utility room?”

For a moment, her heart sank.

“I’m sorry, aunt! I’m really sorry!”

Luibel prostrated herself on the ground, raising her hands above her head and begging, a long-ingrained habit.

This way, at least her head could be protected when punches or kicks came flying.

“I was just so curious… So I was only going to look for a very short time, really just a moment, and then put it back in its place… *sniff*…”

Her chin trembled, and her upper and lower teeth clashed.

Tears flowed down her cheeks and hung from the tip of her chin, but Luibel had to swallow her sobs as much as possible, not letting them out.

Thinking that if she was going to be hit anyway, it would be better to get it over with quickly, but no matter how used to it she was, the fear of corporal punishment never diminished, and she was scared.

She saw her aunt’s legs stepping closer to her.

Just as she was about to squeeze her eyes shut, anticipating the coming pain.

“Child, Sena.”

Her aunt crouched down and hugged her tightly.

Luibel hiccupped in surprise for a moment.

“Oh dear. Our Sena, your tears won’t stop.”

“Honey, I think Sena was really startled.”

With tears still welling up in her eyes, Luibel blinked.

Huh? Why aren’t her aunt and uncle angry…

“Poor child, you must have been so lonely and had a hard time?”

Then her uncle came over and hugged her too.

‘What’s this. This embrace is so warm.’

The moment she realized this, her heart skipped a beat.

“Sena, if you have any troubles, tell your aunt and uncle. We’re family, aren’t we?”

“Yes, elder sister. We’re family.”

Even her cousins, who had been watching from a distance, came over and hugged Luibel tightly.

A lump formed in her throat―

Luibel had always wanted a family.

The warmth of her family members’ embrace, holding her preciously, was so warm that tears came to her eyes again.

“Uu, *sniff*, *sob*…”

Finally unable to hold back, she burst into tears, and her cousins started crying along with her.

Her aunt patted her back and soothed her in a gentle voice.

“Don’t cry, Sena.”

It was at this moment.

Suddenly, one nostalgic voice overlapped in her mind.

‘Don’t get hurt, Luibel.’

Luibel blinked slowly in her family’s embrace.

‘Ah, that’s right. I’m no longer Yoon Sena, but Luibel.’

The moment she realized this, Luibel became aware that she was trapped in the forest’s illusion.

It was a malicious fantasy that sought out and exploited her inner weaknesses to tempt her.

“Haha…”

How foolish.

After warning Anselot so much to be careful. And she herself fell for the mist’s trap.

“Ahaha! Hahahahaha!”

Luibel burst out laughing.

The family members hugging her were bewildered.

Luibel stood up and took a step back from her family.

“Sena!”

Her aunt, surprised to see her staggering, tried to approach, but Luibel raised her hand to stop her.

“Actually… I’ve been waiting all this time.”

“Sena? What do you mean?”

“I think I was a little excited from the moment I set foot in this forest.”

Finally raising her head, Luibel twisted her lips into a crooked smile.

“Because I thought you would appear.”

Luibel knew her own deficiencies all too well.

That’s why she thought, perhaps, the forest mist would appear again in their form.

“If I met you again…”

Luibel slowly moved her hand to her waist.

Then, where there was nothing just a moment ago, a scabbard appeared in her grasp.

It was the Azester greatsword she had received from her mother.

The moment she drew it out with the scabbard, Yoon Sena’s black hair gradually turned into Luibel’s pink hair.

“Se-Sena… Kyaa!”

Whack!

“I was going to take revenge!”

Luibel swung the scabbard towards her aunt, her amber eyes flashing sharply.

“You, what are you…”

Thwack!

She swung at her uncle too.

“I!”

Thwack!

She swung at Cousin 1, who used to hit and bully her behind the adults’ backs.

“Actually!”

Thwack!

She swung at Cousin 2, who always tattled on her faults to the adults while hiding their own, getting her scolded.

“Have been waiting for this!”

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Luibel swung mercilessly.

“Kyaa!”

“Y-You crazy thing…!”

“Waaah, Mom, elder sister Sena has gone mad!”

“Aaah, g-get away!”

Every time the family members were hit by the scabbard, that part of their body turned into black mist and dissipated.

It was the mist of Ilei.

The people before her eyes were illusions created by the mist, clearly different entities from the family of her past life that had troubled her so much.

But…

‘If you copy their faces and voices so perfectly, it makes me want to take revenge on your behalf!’

She felt a surge of emotion remembering the days of her youth when she suffered silently.

“I’ve died once and been reborn, so I’ve got nothing to lose now.”

Luibel laughed eerily, her amber eyes flashing wildly. Just like Anselot.