The Girl's Forgotten Past
Everyone's probably thought about this topic at least once. Chatting idly with friends or even total strangers online, maybe even getting serious about it. "What superpower would you want?"
When you're a clueless kid, you dream of simple stuff like controlling fire for flame fists or freezing the ocean. But as you grow up, you start craving higher-level powers like reality manipulation or concept alteration.
Of course, I was the same. But why bring up superpowers out of nowhere?
"Because... I've finally got my hands on the dream from my childhood!!"
You have randomly obtained one of Archonos's abilities as a reward for defeating him.
Time Stop
Can be used only once. Upon activation, the world stops for 10 seconds, allowing only you to move freely.
However, it cannot be used in conjunction with other abilities possessed by user 'Yoon Si-hyeon'.
Time stop!! The ultimate time-based power, a perennial champ in superpower debates, is finally mine!
It's one-time use and only 10 seconds long, but... still!!
Heh heh heh heh, with this, I can finally indulge those dark desires I've always fantasized about...
"Nah, nah, I've got plenty of cute girls who like me. No need to go that route."
I'll figure out how to use it later... For now, let's head home and crash. That Catastrophe-grade ghost story, whatever it was—Krahim or Crunch—totally drained me.
—Click.
I turned off the beginner package and stepped inside. It was well past midnight already. Since I got home later than expected, I figured Leah was asleep.
But then.
"Mmm... Si-hyun... You're finally back시다...?"
Leah was there at the entrance, rubbing her sleepy eyes and bundled in her blanket, waiting to greet me. Her purple eyes were only half-open with effort, and her slightly tousled red hair suggested she'd dozed off and on while waiting.
"Leah, you were still up?"
"Mmm. This body was waiting for Si-hyun시다..."
"If you were sleepy, you should've gone to bed first."
"Hehe, this body wanted to sleep with Si-hyun시다..."
—Squeeze.
Leah slipped gently into my arms, nuzzling her face against me.
"This body wanted to... say welcome home to Si-hyun시다."
"You remembered your greeting perfectly, my Leah."
"Mmm, this body is a smart knight, so of course시다..."
The girl's face lit up with a pleased smile, like she'd just aced something. She was so adorable I nearly pinched her cheeks without thinking.
'Leah used to be such a tomboy, but now she's just pure cuteness.'
—Pat pat.
I wrapped her up in the blanket right there in my arms and carried her to bed.
"Are you going to sleep right away시다...? This body wanted to hear what Si-hyun did today시다..."
Leah seemed like she wanted to play a bit more, but I tapped her cheek and shook my head. Her eyelids were trembling precariously.
"It's late today, so let's sleep. I'll tell you tomorrow."
"This body is still fine······."
"Your eyes are already half-closed, though?"
"Pbuu~ It's because Si-hyun came home so late시다..."
Leah pouted a little, looking slightly aggrieved as she stared up at me. I adjusted her pillow and whispered softly.
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. I didn't expect the road back to you to take this long."
"Si-hyun...?"
"Even so, will you forgive me for returning to your side?"
It was just playful acting to humor her self-proclaimed knight persona—like when I role-played as her escort on the honeymoon with Luna. Light fun.
But then.
Leah, who had looked drowsy and half-asleep, smiled and placed her hand on my face. Her small pink lips parted, and she replied in a voice laced with an eerie resonance.
"How could I ever resent the one who has come to my side like this...? The waiting, the tears—they all fade the moment I see you. This body is the fool for it..."
It wasn't her usual quirky speech. A completely different tone from the girl. Her smile was warm, but in those purple eyes, it felt like long-buried sorrow was faintly pooling—like an unconscious whisper slipping from beyond forgotten memories.
I was genuinely startled by Leah's sudden shift.
'Never expected Leah to play along with the acting.'
"Haha, Leah. Were you mimicking me?"
"Mmm...? Si-hyun, what are you talking about시다...?"
Back to her normal speech. Leah blinked a few times, her face blank as if she truly had no idea.
Did she not remember?
"Leah, do you remember what you just said?"
"Mmm... This body is too sleepy to know시다."
She must've mumbled it unconsciously in her half-asleep state.
'I talk nonsense in my sleep sometimes too.'
Ghost stories are just like people in that way—kinda fascinating. But since Leah's body is exactly like a normal girl's, maybe it's no surprise.
"Si-hyun, did this body say something weird시다...?"
"Haha, nah, nothing to worry about."
"...Then that's a relief시다..."
"Time to slee~p. You look beat, Leah."
"Mmm... Si-hyun, let's meet in our dreams시다..."
Leah mumbled with her lips, her eyes slowly closing as she drifted into deep sleep.
"Sweet dreams, Leah."
I confirmed her breathing had evened out, then pulled out the small fragment of light I'd been holding.
Would you like to view the Story Fragment?
The clue from the auto-hunt on Ciel Merlin popped up via the notification window.
"Ninety percent chance it's about Leah."
—Squeeze.
My grip tightened unconsciously.
...I hope it's not a sad story.
This single fragment in my hand holds Leah's past. What if it's not just sadness, but some even more painful truth—?
I hesitated for a brief moment.
==========
Astrania Empire
The heart of the continent, the nation with the greatest power under the radiant golden sun. It was as if the sun god himself had touched it—intricate gold threads flowed over every wall and pillar. The palace corridors were picture-smooth, magical crystals floating in place of candles, casting soft light. The marble floors beneath were so polished you felt like you could see your reflection with every step.
Ruling this pinnacle of power and authority was a being beyond even the word "king"—the Knight King.
"...So what exactly is our Knight King doing right now?"
A girl with ruby-red eyes and snow-white hair hovered motionless against the night sky.
"Sis, enough with the sword practice this late. I'm sleepy."
Ciel Merlin, the Knight King's advisor and mage, yawned as she complained to the knight lying on the training ground floor.
"If you don't sleep, you won't grow. Wanna take responsibility, sis?"
"......"
—Swish.
The knight rose gracefully, listening to Ciel. Red hair gleaming in the moonlight, purple eyes shimmering. A beauty that could enchant people and swords alike—
"Huing... It's not like I wanna do this...! This body can't be weak, so I have to!"
Her appearance didn't match her utterly cute speech.
Bonk! Ciel tapped her head with her magic staff.
"Sis, I told you to change your speech! Use '~시다' or '~시냐!' to sound more high-class."
"Hing... But it doesn't stick. And changing speech won't make a big differ—"
"Differ...?"
"—difference시다... See! It keeps coming out weird! Hiiing..."
The red-haired girl drooped her head like a dejected kitten, grumbling.
The empire's pinnacle ruler, the Knight King, was actually this adorable girl. The subjects and other Twelve Knights would be shocked. She usually nailed the stern king act perfectly.
"Sigh... Anyway, sis, don't you think the Twelve Knights have been weird lately?"
Ciel adjusted her robe with a sigh.
"Third emblem change already. More no-shows at meetings... And private knight orders without reports."
"That's just... everyone being busy시다..."
"Lucifer oppa's investigating hard behind the scenes. How's the Knight King gonna slack like that?"
"That's why I said I don't wanna... I never wanted to be Knight King시다..."
She poked the ground with her sword tip. Then, trailing off, she stared blankly into space and spoke.
"If Lucifer's just by my side... that's enough for me."
"Again! Lucifer oppa this, Lucifer oppa that!"
Smack! Ciel whacked the redhead's crown again with her staff.
"Ow ow! Ciel, stop hitting...!"
"How can I not?! You're the empire's pinnacle! Quit the weak talk!"
"Hing... Ciel, you're so mean."
Tears welled from the pain, but she couldn't hide her smile. Like a girl smitten.
—Thud.
She plopped down, hugging her sheathed sword like a blanket and burying her face.
"Hey, Ciel. If I get really strong and mature... maybe he'll acknowledge me for real?"
"......"
"Maybe someday I can ditch the Knight King gig and travel the world with him...?"
"Sis..."
"Hehe, sorry sorry. Weak talk again? I'll be a cool king by morning... Just overlook tonight."
In this moment, the red-haired girl was no king or knight. Just a lonely girl yearning for one man.
'If I leave sis like this, she'll stay up all night yapping about Lucifer oppa. Gotta change the subject.'
Ciel descended and approached the huddled girl.
"Sis, anyway—you know tomorrow's schedule? The day the goddess bestows the Knight King's true name."
"Of course. The day Lucifer, knighted by the goddess, comes too!"
"Then get to bed. Oversleep and get some sleepyhead name—what then?"
"Hehe, Ciel—actually, the goddess hinted in my dream today? I already know~"
"Huh? For real? What is it, sis???"
The red-haired girl grinned mischievously, hugging Ciel tight.
"The true name the goddess gave me... is Pendragon."
"...Huh, she gave you a cool one for once. Mine was some grandpa name."
"Aw~ Merlin's cool too."
The red-haired girl's name was Leah. Leah Pendragon. That was the Knight King who ruled the Astrania Empire.