Obsession Beyond Jealousy
It was obsession that had long since surpassed mere jealousy.
Lunaris could not hide her bewilderment or her shame. The countless jeers and curses pouring in from every side—probably even the kind of filthy obscenities that should never be spoken aloud—echoed relentlessly in her ears. She could not block them. She had never even heard of magic capable of sealing one’s hearing. At the same time, regret washed over her. It should never have come to this. If she had not approached him with nothing but money in her eyes from the very beginning, she would not have to endure this kind of treatment.
The shame that burned across her entire body like an unbearable itch was utterly revolting. A woman who only cared about money. A woman who tormented the hero. A woman so vicious that the hero had fled from her. The accusations piled up, one after another. Lunaris’s face flushed as red as a ripe apple. She pulled her robe tighter, trying to hide her face.
What expression was the hero making right now? Would he be angry? Furious? Or… would he at least spare her a single glance of pity?
She lifted her head just enough to sneak a look at his face, but—
“Pfft, hahaha.”
“...!”
He was laughing. Laughing with the most refreshing satisfaction in the world. And beside him stood a woman who did not even exist in Ragner’s memories. Still, Lunaris had seen her once before. Seria Lionblood’s personal maid—Isabel. She stood at his side with a perfectly blank expression.
That spot should have been hers.
“What the hell are you thinking? I told you to fuck off already.”
“Let’s change locations, Taesik. If I could just speak with you for a moment—”
“Still only listening to yourself, I see. Lunaris, I’ll say it one more time.”
Get lost.
Those words shattered the entire plan Lunaris had prepared. It cut off every possible action before she could even bang her head against the ground in apology. If she did not disappear from his sight immediately, he would draw his sword. His tone, his posture, and the look in his eyes all made that threat perfectly clear.
But she had already suffered too much humiliation to back down now. What was pride worth, anyway? If they could simply move to another place, she would kneel, slam her forehead to the floor, offer her body—anything at all. She just needed somewhere without people, but…
“I’m not going. Why should I? What makes you think I’d follow you?”
She had to be out of her mind. Taesik was not foolish enough to trust her words. After everything she had put him through, she expected him to let her back into the party? Above all, she was exactly the kind of woman Hel would favor. She had stood before Odin’s followers and dared to call herself a “prophet.” In doing so, she had earned the hatred of the gods themselves.
Even if Lunaris did not worship Odin, such an act was considered a grave sin in this world. She had impersonated a prophet before a crowd and possessed a clear record of trying to swindle the hero. During battles she had offered no help, instead sneering at him to finish quickly. Once the fighting ended, she had only coveted the treasures of the enemy commander. Such a materialistic woman now stood before him, shedding tears of shame.
“Hic… sob…”
She’s crying? Hey, are you actually crying? Puhahaha! She really is! It completely ruined his mood.
“Spouting bullshit while shitting yourself.”
“Hero, your language is rather crude.”
“She deserves every word.”
I gave Isabel a short reply and stepped directly in front of Lunaris. I yanked the robe away from her face and forced her to meet my eyes. She flinched and tried to retreat, but—
Thud.
“Huh…?”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
A wall of adventurers and warriors had already closed off every escape route. There was nowhere to run. She could have teleported away, but she had already walked too far down this path. It was humiliating and pathetic, yet she had no choice.
Thump.
Lunaris dropped to her knees and looked up at me. After staring for a long moment, she slowly clasped her hands together, placed them on the ground, and bowed her head.
“I-I’m sorry…”
“Hah.”
What the hell was this? If she thought something like this would make me happy, she was gravely mistaken. Bowing one’s head was an incredibly humiliating act—especially when it was done to apologize or beg for mercy. Even so, it did not change how I saw her. In my heart, Lunaris was still nothing but a money-sucking bitch.
“Hey, Lunaris.”
“...Yes.”
“Are my words not reaching you?”
Dogeza? What the hell was she doing? Did I ask her to do that? Why was she performing some emotional dogeza on her own and making me feel like absolute shit?
“Fucking get lost.”
I was even giving her a chance to end this nicely. Why did she always kick away the opportunity right in front of her? Had hanging around Ragner shrunk her brain? She used to be the smartest one here.
“B-but!”
“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”
“What does that mean…?”
“You people spread the rumor that I ran off with the Holy Sword.”
When I spoke forcefully, a small “Ah…” escaped Lunaris’s lips. Because of that rumor, I had been forced to sleep rough and caused trouble for Isabel. Because of your actions, someone else had suffered.
If you had truly wanted me to return, you would never have spread such nonsense. I wrapped my arm around Isabel’s waist, pulling her body flush against mine.
“...Um.”
Isabel’s voice shrank to almost nothing. She could not move. Ignoring her embarrassment, I continued speaking to Lunaris.
“Thanks to you, Isabel and I starved. We didn’t get proper rest for four whole days.”
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
“Are you really sorry? Then get lost. Why do you keep coming back to torment me?”
My head began to spin as I spoke. Damn, the back of my neck again. I might actually collapse at this rate.
“Because of the rumor you spread, every kingdom turned its back on us. If it hadn’t been for Tirgar, we would have become monster food by now.”
Besides, we met again in Ludrick Kingdom. So—
“You should experience that same pain yourself. Don’t you think?”
“Taesik, please, for my sake at least once—”
“What would I gain by looking at you? It only makes me angry.”
I no longer wanted to speak. Today was supposed to be the day we recruited new comrades. I had been looking forward to it so much, yet they had completely ruined the mood. Ah, my blood pressure. It shouldn’t be like this already… It must be that the two years I spent with those people had accelerated my aging.
“Get lost.”
Please let me live. I’m begging you.
“Just leave me alone already.”
I deserted the party because I didn’t want to see your faces.
“Why are you tormenting me?”
Please, just get lost. I’ll beg if I have to.
“Lunaris…”
“...Yes, Taesik.”
“You came here to apologize, right?”
“...Yes! That’s right!”
Her voice was desperate. But there had to be an ulterior motive. She probably planned to cling to me again and suck me dry like a mosquito. What a leech.
“There is only one way you can atone to me.”
“Yes! Just tell me! I’ll do anything! Please… please…!”
That way is—
“Just go. Get lost. Take the curses and leave.”
“...Huh?”
Just get lost already. Please.
No light entered the room at all. Inside the pitch-black space, a pair of eyes glowed faintly.
“...Wh-what is this?”
Lunaris slowly opened her eyes. Her body refused to move. She had definitely cast a teleportation spell out of disappointment at Taesik’s words. So why was she in this dark room?
She tried to move her hand to cast a spell.
Clank.
“...Huh?”
She could not move. The red threads binding her arms, legs, and torso were exactly like the unbreakable chains of myth. It was Gleipnir.
The Unbreakable Chain of Myth
Absolute restraint that can never be severed by ordinary means
The situation made no sense. Her memories were fragmented like a broken film, offering no explanation for how she had arrived here. At the same time the chains rattled, confirming this was reality. Fear suddenly gripped her.
“Is it you, Taesik?”
If this was revenge—if he intended to violate and defile her body—she had already steeled herself for it.
She traced her memories backward. Where had they been cut off? The pure white light that had enveloped her body. Following the traces of the teleportation spell, what she saw was… blood and lions?
“Damn it!”
She began to thrash wildly. She had to break free. This was not Taesik, nor even someone holding a personal grudge against her. It was Seria Lionblood. Her subordinates had transformed into shadows and kidnapped her the instant the teleport activated.
The moment she realized it, Lunaris’s fingertips began to tremble. That trembling became a real, icy chill racing down her spine.
Creeeeak.
The sound of the door opening brought light into the room. Where was this place? The fact that Seria’s subordinates had moved meant they were still somewhere near Taesik.
“Have you awakened?”
A soft, warm voice whispered beside her ear. At the same time, a sticky mixture of bloodlust and obsession pressed down on Lunaris like a heavy weight. She turned her head. There stood the silver-haired woman from her memories, chuckling softly.
“...Seria Lionblood.”
“It has been a while, mage. A full year, perhaps?”
“We… saw each other at the banquet, didn’t we? With Taesik—”
Slap!
“...If you dare utter his name with that filthy mouth one more time…!”
Her cheek burned. It hurt. The mark would probably linger for two days. Seria stared at her with ice-cold eyes. Of course she did. There was no way she would quietly allow the woman who had tormented him—mentally and physically—to simply run away.
Click. Click.
The sound of Seria’s heels echoed through the room. A private space for just the two of them. Perhaps that was why every sound felt so clear. Or perhaps her extreme terror had simply sharpened her senses.
“Hehe. Did you truly believe I would let you escape?”
“...Seria. Release me. While I am still asking nicely—”
“Where does a presumptuous bitch get the right to give orders? Does being the Magic Tower Master’s daughter make you special?”
She slapped her cheek again, lightly, then chuckled. Yet there was no life in her eyes—only a terrifying, murderous aura. She stepped closer, grabbed the bound Lunaris by the hair, and whispered.
“...Have you ever held any affection for the hero?”
The completely unexpected question left Lunaris speechless. It was an action that touched Seria’s nerves. They say silence is a form of affirmation. She elegantly covered her mouth, chuckled, and began to strangle her.
“Urk—ugh…!”
“Mages cannot cast spells if they cannot bring their hands together, after all.”
That was their greatest weakness. It was why they used staves—as a medium. But Lunaris, suppressed by some unknown power, could do nothing at all.
And within that pain, Lunaris remembered Kim Taesik, who had once been kind to her two years ago. If she liked him, then she liked him. No—she had even loved him once.
“...Taesik…”
She unconsciously called his name. The hero she had treated so cruelly. The hero she had tormented.
“Pfft.”
Lunaris laughed. The sight of her calling the hero’s name while in pain was simply too pitiful. “How pathetic. Especially when the hero despises you so thoroughly.”
“S-save… me…”
Seria mocked her. It would be no fun if she died like this. She released her grip and chuckled again. Lunaris gasped for air. The pain must have been unbearable—saliva and tears mixed together, streaming down her neck.
“Haa… haa…”
To Seria, it was nothing but entertainment. When their eyes met, Lunaris’s expression hardened. She had no choice. An unbearably painful sensation pierced her entire body, and she was powerless to stop it.
“Why did you approach him?”
“...What?”
“Why did you approach the hero? Were you trying to win his heart again?”
“What are you—”
“Kyaaahaha!”
Seria could not help but laugh with genuine delight. Her unfocused, dull, sunken eyes frightened Lunaris. She slowly stroked her own belly.
“...In truth, the hero cannot embrace anyone. He wishes to return to his original world.”
If we followed him there, it would cause enormous problems. A child would tie him down. Honestly, she would like that, but she could not bear the thought of him being unhappy. She wanted both of them to be happy and share their love.
“Still, I received one promise. Before he leaves, I will receive proof of him.”
With a benevolent smile, she lovingly caressed her belly. It was the space that would one day hold his precious child. Every night she recalled those words and felt overwhelming happiness. Even now, the slightly damp sensation was ecstatic.
But—
“...Hehe. You will not do.”
The suddenly frigid atmosphere made Lunaris swallow hard.
“I can understand Isabel. It is frustrating, but the hero is clearly conscious of her.”
Riana? Honestly, she had no particular thoughts about that woman. She had been a target of vigilance until recently, but after seeing how she treated the giants the same way, those feelings had completely vanished.
“But you, Lunaris. You will not do.”
Of course she would not. Seria gazed at Lunaris with eyes full of hatred.
“When I first met the hero, he was an incredibly upright person. Before he met you, that is.”
Yet from some point onward he had gradually lost his light. The hero, who often drank with her father, began visiting the mansion more frequently. Because she had secretly watched him every day, he probably did not remember her. And two weeks ago, she had learned what they had done to him inside the hero’s party.
“You claim to admire the hero?”
Lies.
“You simply wish to use him again.”
To regain her status, her money, her fame, and once more take advantage of the “hero.”
“...You are nothing but a filthy rag.”
“N-no!”
“Hehe. Even if you deny it, I will not permit it.”
It was pure madness. The light in her blue eyes had died, sinking into deep darkness. Her love for him, her obsession, her desperate struggle not to be abandoned by anyone—Seria was now moving for the sake of “her” hero.
She whispered softly.
“If kneeling and bowing your head would not work, you planned to use your body instead, correct?”
“...Th-that—”
“Hehe. Did I strike the mark?”
She yanked her hair violently and slammed her head against the floor. Bang! Bang!
“Kyaa!”
Her brain rattled. It hurt. The dizziness and nausea that felt like they would split her skull made her try to cover her mouth, but the chains prevented any movement.
“...How dare you even think of touching my hero? You, who are nothing more than the daughter of the Magic Tower Master?”
She raged with thick madness and fury. To the man who stood as high as the sky—a man even she, the second daughter of a duke, could not obtain. To think she would dare approach him again without the slightest gratitude for the honor of having spent two years by his side.
This was an obsession that had long since surpassed jealousy.
“No…”
“What is ‘no’?”
“I love the hero, it’s not—”
She could not say the words. His face kept flickering before her eyes too vividly.
“Ah…”
She regretted her past actions. But someone had once told her: do not do things you will regret from the very beginning. Those words had been correct. So now she was receiving punishment for her sins.
“Can you not speak? Hehe, do not worry too much.”
“What exactly are you planning to do…?!”
“It will only hurt a little. Do not worry. I will make certain you can never approach the hero again.”
Seria laughed brightly, her eyes drenched in madness. Yet her expression was more benevolent than anyone else’s. She snapped her fingers, and the hidden servants of blood and lions appeared. They were members of the Lionblood family—those who obeyed her every word.
“It is fine. Because you will never be able to love him.”
“W-wait…! I was wrong! Don’t come near me! Don’t come—!”
But Seria’s ears did not register her screams.
“Hehe. I wonder what the hero is doing right now~”
She left the room. Behind the closed door, Lunaris’s screams of unimaginable agony rang out clearly.
How much time had passed?
A rumor began to spread through the forests of Alfrheim. The story of a woman who had lost all her memories and wandered without purpose. She was Lunaris, yet she was not Lunaris. She had become nothing more than an empty shell, a penniless vagrant drifting along the roads. She searched only for a strange, indescribable lump of emotion. Not even knowing what it was, she continued to wander.
She was unwelcome anywhere. She remembered nothing, yet people cursed her and kicked her. They called her a woman devoured by greed, a greedy whore.
“...Ah.”
Someone appeared. She changed direction, heading toward a place with few people. People frightened her. She was afraid they would torment and hurt her again. This, too, was probably punishment. Someone’s whisper had bound her like this, and today, as always, she wandered through Alfrheim.