The Dagger of Rest

The next day, after exacting my revenge, I woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed. I'd expected to be bedridden for days, maybe even weeks. It seemed Diana's devoted nursing had worked wonders.

I rose slowly, ate the light lunch that had been prepared, and was just finishing when Merlin arrived. She'd come with a single piece of news.

"Your former fiancée left for the Holy See yesterday morning."

Isabelle had gone to the Holy See.

The moment I heard it, her voice echoed in my ears like a hallucination.

Yes. The Holy Solvent. Isabelle must have left for the Holy See to obtain it for me. To earn my forgiveness. And to prove her love.

It probably wouldn't take long. Her purification ability was the most perfect proof of divine miracles the Holy See could ask for. Besides, she was a regressor too. With knowledge of the future, negotiating with the Holy See shouldn't be too difficult.

"..."

Once the Holy Solvent was in my hands, the Elixir would be complete. After that, only one thing remained: the Holy Blood.

But that wouldn't be easy. It was obvious that the all-powerful Duke Winfred would be guarding the vault with fire in his eyes. So what method could possibly break through that ironclad security?

As I fell deep into thought, Merlin offered a suggestion in a bored voice.

"How about using your half-sister?"

It was a reasonable proposal. Rather than trying to rob the duke's vault in Kyle's body, it would be far more feasible for Luna Winfred, the eldest daughter of House Winfred, to do it.

But there was a problem. The item to be stolen was none other than the Holy Blood. If she were caught, even Luna Winfred couldn't guarantee her life.

Would Luna really accept such an absurd request without complaint?

'...It might actually be possible.'

Honestly, it seemed likely. From what I'd seen of her this time around, she looked dangerously obsessed, as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠if she'd do anything for Kyle.

'I'll have to visit the duke's estate at least once.'

The thought of facing Luna again, of having to return even briefly to that damned ducal mansion, didn't appeal to me at all. But what choice did I have? I'd have to endure that much.

At that moment, Merlin spoke again.

"However, Luna Winfred left the ducal estate yesterday. To be precise, yesterday evening."

What? She left the mansion?

It hadn't been that long since she'd returned from the Imperial Palace to the estate, and now she was gone again?

"Where did she go?"

"I'm not sure about that."

"You're saying it's not just a short outing?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"She told the butler not to look for her because she'd be away from the mansion for a while."

"...And how exactly do you know all this?"

Merlin shrugged as if it were nothing special. She took a sip of tea and added,

"Did you forget? My main occupation is information broker."

Clack—

Merlin placed an obviously expensive dagger on the table. I recognized it immediately.

"The moment the system interferes with your fate, if you infuse the dagger with mana, it will react to your mental image and manifest an intangible blade."

"..."

"Touching that blade guarantees instant death. But it can only be used once, so remember that."

The Dagger of Rest quite literally granted its target perfect rest. The manifested blade separated only the body and soul, so no pain was felt at all. At least you wouldn't have to worry about suffering when you died.

"If you drink the Holy Blood, your soul's rank will rise by one level. Then even if your body dies, your soul will linger near it. Like a living being with its own will."

"After that, I just need to find the right moment to resurrect you with the Elixir."

"Exactly. If you successfully come back to life, from that point on you'll be completely free from the system."

My heart pounded. The hope of escaping this damned world was finally within reach.

It was then that—

Knock knock—

Two light knocks echoed through the room.

"My lord, it's Diana."

When I opened the door, Diana entered the drawing room with careful steps.

"I have something to report."

"What is it?"

"A guest has arrived."

"A guest? Who?"

"She says her name is Estdel from the Alchemist Association."

***

Creak—

With a loud scraping sound, the carriage came to a stop.

"We've arrived, Lady Isabelle."

Isabelle lifted her bowed head. Her widened field of vision caught sight of an outer wall so white it was almost pure. It looked less like a church and more like a castle.

The carriage door slid open. The coachman offered his hand, but Isabelle ignored it and stepped down on her own.

"Hmm."

She turned in a slow circle, taking in the Holy See with both eyes. It was a majestic sight familiar to her. After all, House Ustia had always maintained an extremely close relationship with the Holy See, and before her regression, the Holy See had been a place of rest she visited whenever her body and mind grew weary.

A short while later, the knights who had arrived in the following carriage approached her.

"Please follow me."

Isabelle nodded indifferently and began walking. As she moved along in a daze, she suddenly let out a sharp little laugh. The memory of encountering Kyle at the Imperial Palace a few days ago had surfaced.

'Kyle... he looked so shocked...'

When she'd knelt and begged him to punish her, his eyes had been filled with thick contempt. It hurt, yet the fact that she still remained in his memory filled her with an almost violent joy.

Isabelle knew how repulsive she was. But she had decided not to care about such trivial things anymore. Because right now, at least, Kyle needed her.

Yes. That alone was enough. Just that one fact sent shivers of ecstasy through Isabelle's entire body.

"This way."

After winding through several paths, they arrived before the main gate. Creak— The door opened, and as if he'd been waiting, a boy in pure white priest robes burst out to guide her.

Step, step—

The Holy See at noon was quite deserted. How long had they walked? When she came back to her senses, she found herself in the garden located at the center of the Holy See. The garden was completely empty. It seemed she'd arrived far earlier than the appointed time.

"I hope you have a comfortable stay."

"Thank you for your consideration."

The boy who had guided her bowed and left.

"..."

Isabelle slowly looked around the garden. The Holy See's garden was more like a passageway. Located at the center of the castle, it connected every space within the Holy See.

'Kyle…'

Even their engagement ceremony had been held here. The image of Kyle, dressed to the nines on the day of the ceremony, flickered before her eyes. Back then, Kyle had been more splendid than anyone else in the empire.

Ah, she missed him. What was Kyle doing right now? Even for just a single second, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she wished he would think of her.

The chirping of insects scattered through the air. The fresh scent of grass tickled her nose. As she walked, lost in such delusions—

"Isabelle?"

A familiar voice flew toward her from behind. Without hesitation, Isabelle turned toward the source of the voice.

"Isabelle? It's you, right?"

It was a man. But not Kyle.

"Why is it so hard to see your face these days?"

Who was he again? Her memory was hazy. The man took one step after another toward her. Unconcealable joy bloomed across his face.

"Isabelle? Why aren't you saying anything?"

"..."

"What's wrong? Oh, don't tell me you don't remember who I am?"

The man smiled slyly. It was unpleasant. So unpleasant that she wanted to rush over and slap him across the face right then and there.

It was then that he spoke.

"It's me, Ludwig."

Ludwig.

Those three letters drove into her mind like a stake. At the same time, fragments of memory flashed through her head.

Ah. She remembered now. Yes. That's right. That's the kind of man he was.

"You've grown quite a bit since I last saw you, haven't you? Haha, no one recognizes me these days."

His sly voice stabbed at her eardrums like tinnitus. Isabelle took one step after another toward Ludwig.

"Still, it's a little disappointing. I thought you'd recognize me."

Shut up. I've erased a bastard like you from my mind a long time ago.

"I… heard the story… about your broken engagement…?"

The surging murderous intent began to devour Isabelle's reason. At the same time, a bright yellow glow gathered in her right hand. Holy power compressed to its limit let out a low, ominous hum.

"I-Isabelle…?"

Ludwig slowly backed away. Isabelle narrowed her eyes and smiled. At the same time, her right hand, radiating brilliant yellow light, rose into the air.

And then—

Thwack—!!

Isabelle's right hand slammed into Ludwig's left cheek. A heavy, dull impact rang out. It sounded like a thick wooden carving being split in half.

Boom—!!

Ludwig was sent flying and tumbled across the ground for a long ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time. Dust kicked up in the direction he'd been thrown.

"Ugh… ughhh…"

Ludwig clutched his swollen, bright red left cheek and barely managed to stand. The excruciating pain radiating from his cheek made it impossible for him to speak properly. Soon after, something pure white spilled from the corner of his mouth in a shower.

"Y-you… you…!"

Ludwig's teeth sparkled in the light.