Chapter 7
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Chapter 7
She gritted her teeth and folded the bundle away. By then, they had arrived at Echinacea's Private Bathroom.
"Wash up first, and I'll prepare your clothes. Should I bring breakfast to your room, or would you prefer to dine together in the Dining Hall?"
"Together? With whom?"
"Why, with the Master, the Mistress, and the Young Master, of course. Since Miss often sleeps in, I'll need to inform the Kitchen in advance if you wish to join them."
"The Master, the Mistress, and the Young Master... You mean my parents? My parents? And Lancel?"
"Do you have other parents? You seem rather strange today, Miss."
"My parents... you say."
"In any case, you'll be dining with them, yes? I'll go inform the Kitchen."
"Yes... of course."
As she responded blankly, Nora departed for the Kitchen. Echinacea entered the Bathroom with faltering steps. A large full-length mirror hung within. Her reflection stared back from its flawless surface, and she stopped in her tracks.
There stood twenty-year-old Echinacea Loaz—unblemished, untouched by blood, unmarred by wounds.
Nora, who had not died. Speaking of parents who had not died, of a younger brother who had not died. Asking so casually if she would take breakfast with them. That ordinary question struck her with overwhelming force. Her reflection in the mirror contorted as though about to weep.
"They're all alive. Truly alive."
My heart thundered as though it might shatter. I wanted to rush to my father at once and see his face, to be held in my mother's embrace. My entire body trembled violently. I could not remain standing and sank to the floor where I stood.
I had saved them. I had succeeded. Everything had changed—from the morning of March 17th that I had known, to a morning where everyone lived.
Six years of nightmare and nine years of gathering Bardegiosa without proper rest flooded back in disarray. Nightmares drenched in blood and stained black. Desperate struggles and vivid agony.
As the result stood before me, all those memories felt insignificant. Exultation and relief surged up, and I breathed deeply for a long while. My cheeks flushed crimson, and I rubbed them several times with my hands. Tears welled up, and I pressed my eyes firmly. If they saw traces of weeping, everyone would worry.
Worry about me—what a bittersweet reality that was. I had gone far too long without anyone to care for me. I had lost everyone, and then, like a miracle, I had gained one person back, only to watch him die by my own hand.
Yurien de Harden Kirie.
Those blue eyes that had gazed upon me so steadfastly. Eyes that never closed even as he died in my arms, their light fading into darkness.
'He must be alive now too.'
I want to see him. I want to meet him. I want to tell him that I have finally succeeded, that his choice was not wrong. But he will know nothing of this. That is fine. Some memories are better left unknown. No—given what I have done, he must never know.
Echinacea let out a soft groan and rubbed her face. Then the pattern on her palm caught her eye, and a chill ran down her spine. On the threshold of a new beginning, the greatest nightmare still remained.
'What am I to do about this?'
First, I had to hide the pattern from sight. Gloves would be the simplest solution. I washed quickly and emerged, finding thin silk gloves to slip on. Just then, Nora entered. She dressed me in a soft lavender gown—not for a party, but for everyday wear, though I had not worn a dress in what felt like an eternity.
Without thinking, I ran my fingers over the smooth fabric. I traced the delicate lace that wove like spider's silk. It was beautiful, soft, and elegant. I loved the way the hem fluttered as I moved. My spirits lifted. Everything truly felt as though it had returned to its rightful place.
As Nora and I made our way to the Dining Hall, she turned to look at me.
"You seem to be in good spirits, Miss. I was worried earlier—you seemed rather odd."
"Do I look happy?"
"Yes, you're smiling."
"I'm smiling?"
Echinacea touched the corners of her mouth. She felt her lips curled upward of their own accord. I could not remember the last time I had smiled. My joy was uncontainable. I laughed aloud.
"A lady does not laugh so carelessly, Echinacea."
A gentle voice came from behind. My steps froze. Nora bowed respectfully.
"Good morning, Master and Mistress."
"Good morning, Nora. Echinacea, you're up early?"
"It has been so long since we've had breakfast together with our daughter."
Count Loaz and his wife greeted me warmly and passed into the Dining Hall. Lancel, already present, bowed to his parents. Water still clung to his hair from washing after training. The Countess, strict in matters of etiquette, gently pointed this out, and Lancel bashfully covered his head.
The Count mentioned that Nicole would arrive at the Loaz Mansion around tomorrow. Nicole was a mage sponsored by the Loaz family, working at the Capital's Magic Tower while frequently staying at the Loaz Estate during her holidays. She was as close to Echinacea and Lancel as a sister would be.
Lancel laughed, saying he looked forward to seeing Nicole again after so long. The Countess and the Count wore smiles as well. Then, one by one, they turned their gaze toward Echinacea standing in the doorway.
"Sister, are you still half asleep?"
"Echinacea, what are you doing?"
"Come in, dear."
Morning sunlight poured through the Dining Hall's glass windows in abundance. Within that radiance, my living, breathing family called to me with laughter.
I had stopped breathing without realizing it. My eyes had ceased to blink. Then, as if a soul were entering a doll, my eyelids slowly descended. Even as darkness swept across them, my family's figures did not vanish. This was no illusion, no dream. It was reality. My throat tightened as I barely managed to answer.
"Yes."
I stepped forward into the landscape I had yearned for so desperately. My eyes drank in every detail of it. This was the world I had finally reclaimed—a life I would protect at any cost.
So I would never allow the Demonic Blade or anything else to destroy this life I had barely recovered. I clenched my right fist tightly as I walked. With each step, my family's faces drew closer. The tighter my chest grew. I found myself murmuring without realizing it.
"...I really... missed you. So very much..."
"Hmm? But you saw us yesterday."
"Sister woke up unusually early—are you still dreaming?"
"Did you have a bad dream, Echinacea?"
My parents and younger brother each offered a word. Echinacea smiled brightly, her eyes reddened.
"Yes, I suppose I must have had a bad dream."
* * *
I have no idea how the day passed. The literature tutor and dance instructor scolded me for my frequent mistakes today, yet I felt no displeasure whatsoever. To them, I was simply a student who had forgotten lessons taught days ago—they had every right to be upset. Of course, from my perspective, this was my first lesson in fifteen years, so I could hardly help it. Still, classes that had once bored me now brought me nothing but joy. Even their reproofs delighted me.
Thus ended my first day of return. After Nora extinguished the lamp and withdrew, I lay in bed. I closed my eyes and feigned sleep, listening carefully for any sound. Once I confirmed that Nora had completely left, I rose cautiously. There was no need to light the lamp. I opened the curtains to let in the moonlight. With even that much illumination, I could see my surroundings as clearly as in broad daylight.
I sat on the edge of the bed and examined my palm. I had worn gloves all day, but I could not wear them while sleeping, so I had taken great care to avoid Nora's notice.
I gazed at the black pattern-like mark, then extended my hand. From the marking rose a blade of crystalline transparency. A sword so immaculate and beautiful that one might suspect it to be merely decorative. Yet this was the Demonic Blade that had drunk the blood of countless thousands. I regarded it with cold eyes.
"Bardegiosa."
The Demonic Blade did not answer. I held the hilt firmly and laid the blade horizontally across my palm. I wrapped mana around my hand and struck the marking.
[Ow! Ow! Hey! Wake me gently!]
"You're awake."
I tossed the blade aside carelessly. Bardegiosa, who had been with me for nine years before the regression, was accustomed to rough treatment. The Demonic Blade grumbled.
[I'm exhausted to death, and all my master does is torment me...]
"Since you're talking, you seem to have your wits about you. Explain."
[Explain what.]
"Why you're still bound to me. Explain that."
[Obviously. Time has turned back, but your soul remains as it was. And I am Bardegiosa carved into your soul.]
"I collected ten Bardegiosa. What about the others besides you?"
[You collected them, sure, but you never awakened their consciousness. You only become a true master when you awaken their consciousness! Anyway, that's why only I am inscribed upon your soul, and if your soul remains unchanged, then naturally I remain unchanged too.]
Bardegiosa chattered on as if exasperated. My face grew increasingly distorted. The Demonic Blade continued without concern.
[Hey, the fact that you remember everything is because you're a Bardegiosa owner. Without me, you'd forget it all and be back to being that clueless twenty-year-old from before. Oh, then I might end up devouring you again.]
"Wait."
My complexion turned pale. If what it said was true, then surely...
"You're saying if I abandon you, I'll forget everything? All my memories from before the regression?"
[If there were another Bardegiosa, you'd retain them thanks to that one, but if there's none... you'd forget. ...But master, do you really want to abandon me?]
There was a hint of dejection in its tone. I let out a scoff at the Demonic Blade's attitude.
"By any means necessary."
[Heartless creature....]
Even if the shell that had driven her to slaughter differed from this consciousness, it was fundamentally the Demonic Blade. She had learned this painfully well during nine years of gathering Giosa.
Bardegiosa was a blade of carnage. A blacksmith had forged it from human malice and murderous intent as raw material. No matter how harmlessly it seemed to behave, one could never let their guard down. A moment's carelessness, and the blade's influence would seep into her very being, making her crave the death of others. She had made mistakes because of this—back before the regression, during those years of gathering Giosa.
It was a memory she despised recalling. Echinacea Loaz stared at the Demonic Blade with an expression of disgust. Whether or not she had awakened its consciousness, abandoning Giosa of her own volition was not difficult. She could have discarded it the moment she saw it. The only reason she still carried it was fear that throwing it anywhere carelessly might result in someone else falling under its control.
Yet now, an absolute reason had emerged that prevented her from abandoning it. The preservation of memory. The Demonic Blade might whine about wanting to kill, but it never lied.
"I can't discard it until I obtain another Giosa."
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org