The Dark Side of the Moon
"Frey, get under the desk."
"Serena, it's fine. Actually, I—"
"I know you're strong, so just hide."
Hearing the firm tone in Serena's voice, Frey hesitated. Watching him, Serena grabbed his arm and shoved him under the desk, speaking urgently.
"You're half-dead right now. No matter how strong you are, you'll get hurt in that state."
"No, still—"
"I'll protect you. So stay put."
Even then, Frey wouldn't let go of his sword, so Serena glared and smacked his hand with her fan.
"Ow."
"Don't worry. I've already calculated everything perfectly."
Hearing that, Frey crossed his arms with a sulky expression and quietly stared at the floor. Reading in his behavior the same pouty look he'd shown as a child whenever she'd gotten mad at his pranks, Serena smirked and unfurled her fan.
"Gugu!!"
Soon, the owl perched on her shoulder hooted and flew out the slightly open window. Watching it go, Serena closed her eyes and sank into thought.
...In five seconds, the window will shatter, and a man will burst in. His weapon will be a dagger, aiming for my left shoulder.
And in the next instant, the right window exploded inward as a masked man leaped into the room.
"Hah!!"
Realizing Serena was glaring at him, the man instantly assessed the situation and targeted her left shoulder with cold, terrifying precision—the kind honed from a lifetime of training as a killing machine in the Moonlight family.
"Right on target."
But Serena casually parried the attack with her fan, swiftly knocking the dagger aside before glancing at the door on the left side of the room.
Feeling the air currents seeping in from outside the door... There'll be one on each edge. Judging by their builds, heights, and stances, both are ranged specialists.
Having observed these people countless times since childhood—and in the previous timeline—Serena knew their strategies and tactics inside out. With just a bit of deduction on her part, she could predict their moves as if foreseeing the future.
So as soon as the door opens, the two at the edges will dive right and left, hurling daggers at me. In that case...
Finishing her calculation, Serena kicked the intruder's shin as he recoiled from his deflected dagger, then grabbed his collar and yanked him in front of her as a shield.
—Bang!!
At that moment, the door burst open, and two assassins hurled daggers at Serena before throwing themselves to opposite ends of the room.
"Kek!!"
But their blades struck the man Serena had already positioned as her shield.
Next, two will drop from the ceiling, stabbing down at me. At the same time, the ones at the room's ends will prepare follow-ups.
Twisting the neck of the rigid, dagger-pierced man with those thoughts in mind, Serena kicked a nearby chair to the right while grabbing the limp body and dashing left.
—Rumble!!
The ceiling collapsed right then, two assassins landing on the floor. Spotting Serena now far away—where they'd just tried to impale her—they began channeling sword energy into their blades.
"Guh!"
"Wh-what?!"
But one of the channeling assassins suddenly collapsed, his head pierced by a dagger. The chair Serena had kicked earlier had smashed into the man at the right end mid-throw, altering its trajectory.
"...Damn it!"
Meanwhile, the woman on the left, about to hurl shuriken, abandoned her ranged attack due to Serena's human shield and drew a dagger, readying for close combat.
Now the one below will target my feet soon? He always loves swooping in at the critical moment to steal the glory.
Judging that, Serena dropped the limp man and stepped atop him.
The woman in front of me lacks close-combat talent. So she'll stick to textbook moves, not improvised ones.
Recalling her fighting style, Serena smiled and swung her fan. Blocking escape routes with moon mana, she twisted her body to narrow the woman's attack range, then pondered briefly.
This leaves her with only thrusts.
"Haaah!!"
As expected, the woman—panicking at the moon mana encircling her—squeezed her eyes shut and thrust her dagger with all her might. Serena caught her arm and used the momentum to yank her forward.
—Crackle!!
Then the man behind unleashed his sword energy at Serena.
"Hup!"
Serena kicked the woman's back, shoving her into the path of the blast, then swung her fan wide.
—Slash!
The propelled woman was bisected by the sword energy and died instantly. With half their number gone in a flash, silence fell over the room.
—Crack!!
Breaking the quiet was a spear bursting through the flesh of the man Serena stood on.
"Hah!"
But having sensed the faint vibration through her feet and predicted the spear's emergence, Serena dodged with a quick step and stomped its tip.
"Krrk!"
The poisoned spear tip flew forward. The sword-wielding man, seeing it, panicked and dove aside.
—Thud!
But that left the ranged assassin behind him exposed; the poisoned spear impaled her eye, and she collapsed.
"Cough cough! Guh!"
Simultaneously, the assassin lurking below inhaled the moon mana now filling the floor and collapsed, vomiting blood on his knees.
"...Damn it!"
The swordman, watching in stunned horror, bolted desperately for the window.
"Guguuu!!"
"Krahk!"
But just as he reached it, Serena's owl lunged, savagely clawing his eyes.
"Se-Serena! Mercy, please!"
Blinded and panicking, he flailed wildly before dropping to his knees and begging.
"You should've abandoned the mission when I gave you the chance."
"Pl-please! I beg—"
"Were you so eager to kill my husband?"
Coldly regarding him, Serena mercilessly snapped his neck and headed for the window.
The moment I try to close the window, the watcher will fire a poison needle. Dodge it, then hurl the hidden blade from my fan at his position...
About to execute her final calculated move, Serena suddenly screamed and collapsed as pain surged through her body.
"Ha... hahk...!"
A complex magic circle glowed on her skin.
—Whoosh!!
Seizing the opening, a poison needle shot toward her. Serena let out a hollow chuckle.
"See? I told you to hide under the desk."
"Raaah!!"
Frey burst from under the desk, batting the needle away with his sword.
"Husband, huh?"
Quietly gathering star mana in his hand, Frey asked Serena in a low voice.
"I've never had a wife."
With that, a silver beam shot from his fingers, piercing a distant tree.
"Guh!"
A short death rattle echoed from somewhere, and silence fell.
"...Marry me, Frey."
Breaking the brief quiet was Serena, her voice choked with sobs.
"Even if it's short... let's have a wedding, a honeymoon, kids, and live happily. Okay?"
"Serena... I'm fine, I told you."
"What's fine?! I already read your mind! You don't even believe you'll survive!"
Rising, she threw herself into Frey's arms and wept bitterly.
"Please. Marry me before it's too late. I beg you."
"Serena."
"I won't remarry. I'll raise your children forever. So please..."
"Idiot."
After her tantrum, Serena blinked wide-eyed at Frey's words.
"What did you just say?"
"Idiot."
He repeated it with a mischievous grin. Staring blankly, she murmured.
"Second time in my life I've been called an idiot."
"Yeah?"
"First time was you, too."
Beaming, she laughed. Frey sighed, helping her up.
"Anyway, I won't die. I'll survive for sure."
Serena's face darkened briefly before she forced a bright smile and nodded.
"Then, shall we go to our next date spot?"
"No, that's not happening."
As a chilling remark—laden with implications—slipped from her smiling lips, Frey shook his head firmly and scanned the room.
"We're in the capital, smack in the empire's heart. Not the back alleys—this is a normal dessert cafe."
"True."
"So we need to clean up fast. First... let's see how much money I have..."
Gazing seriously at the blood-soaked room, Frey rummaged through his pockets to check his funds—but
—Clap clap!
Serena clapped, and he looked at her in confusion.
"...Clean it up."
""Yes, ma'am.""
Moments later, dessert cafe staff entered, faces stern, moving efficiently at her command. Jaw dropping, Frey muttered.
"One of them said no animals allowed earlier?"
"To fool the enemy, first fool your allies."
"...This place was always like this?"
"But the desserts are delicious, right?"
Winking playfully, she drew a blank stare from Frey, who suddenly sweated looking at the staff.
"It's fine—they're so nearsighted without glasses they can't distinguish faces. Though they can make out outlines and colors..."
"...I surrender."
Cutting off her explanation with a voice of defeat, Frey quietly followed her out of the cafe.
It was an unusually bright moonlit night.
......
"Frey. Did you enjoy today?"
"...Yeah."
I'd been pretty shocked by the horror of the dessert cafe incident, but thankfully, the rest of the day had been fun. The play we saw after ages was great, shopping in the back alleys uncovered promising regular spots, and at the bar, I learned Serena's weakness was alcohol. If she hadn't sobered up with detox magic at the end, things would've gone south.
"Look. The moon's so bright tonight."
"It's already waning."
"Just say it's bright."
Racing against time on our date, Serena and I lay on the playground floor—our old haunt—gazing at the sky.
"Won't you get in trouble for those dead assassins?"
"We'll call it accidents."
"Wasn't it a direct order from the elders?"
"I already planted a mole in the council. Don't worry."
Looking at her stargazing beside me, I said.
"Who's the mole?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Planning to wipe out the council. Can't go killing your mole too."
Serena burst out laughing.
"Heh heh... You? How?"
"Made some useful new friends lately. The council should be easy."
"Can I believe you?"
"Keep doubting, and I'll order you."
Frowning playfully, I spoke, and she smiled warmly.
"From now on, night talks by letter. I'll send my owl every evening."
"Uh... Might be tricky to receive sometimes."
"The owl will judge. It's as clever as me."
Nodding, curiosity struck, and I asked.
"How'd you figure all this out? And how'd you dodge the penalty at first?"
"Who knows~?"
Teasing with her old habit, she continued.
"Sorry, can't say yet."
Memories of her outsmarting me flooded back, irritation rising. Smiling, she said.
"When everything's certain, I'll tell you. Too much uncertainty now."
I stared at her intently.
"Why? Pouting?"
"Nah. You're just extra pretty today."
Praising her for all she'd done, she grinned mischievously.
"More than Kania?"
"Huh?"
"Is Kania more precious? Or me?"
Her words sparked a whirlwind of thoughts in an instant. Probably the only time my brain matched her processing speed.
"Kania's precious as my confidante, and you're precious as my fiancée."
No. Far from matching, she'd read my mind.
"See? You're in the palm of my hand."
"...Haha."
She mimicked my line with a cool smile, so I forced a laugh and looked back at the sky.
"One question."
"Yeah?"
Suddenly frowning sharply, she asked.
"...Whose handkerchief were you holding earlier?"
Pulling it from my pocket, I replied.
"My little sister's."
Listening intently, she peered into my eyes before smiling.
"Truth, huh?"
"Would I lie to your face? I'm not crazy."
As I tucked it away, she snatched it.
"Here."
"This is..."
A small moon emblem adorned the handkerchief now back in my hand.
"Oh, morning's coming."
Sensing the gentle, poison-free moon mana aura as I caressed it quietly, Serena frowned.
"I should go."
Rising, she paused as if remembering something.
"This exam? Clana teamed up with the Moonlight family."
"Knew it."
"But Isolet acted on her own and botched it."
"What?"
Frowning, I listened as she whispered.
"Isolet's solo decision changed each team's leader, derailing the plan. Get it?"
"...Assassin among the commoner students."
"Be careful, Frey."
Nodding gravely, she gazed worriedly.
"I'll share more via owl."
"Wait, don't go yet. Serena."
"Yes?"
Tilting her head, she waited as I whispered.
"Didn't you say if I don't take the antidote before dawn, I die? No antidote?"
"Ah..."
She pulled a vial from her pocket.
"This?"
"Wait, it was real?"
Asking just in case, but a real antidote appeared. Panicking, I reached—but
—Gulp gulp!
Serena uncorked it and downed the contents. Stunned, I watched.
"What are you—!"
About to yell, she grabbed me, flipping us to the ground. I ended up pinning her.
"...Ah-ye-yo (drink)."
Confused, I stared as she held the antidote in her mouth, smiling playfully.
"...Okay."
Can't die like this. No choice.
......
Some time later, as Frey headed back to the duke's mansion.
"Gugu!"
The owl, who'd tactfully left them alone, returned to Serena's shoulder and peered at her.
"You're back."
"Guguuu!"
Gently stroking it, Serena's face darkened utterly unlike before, murmuring.
"It was true. What was written there... was real. Then, then you ultimately..."
The owl pecked worriedly at her with its wing, but.
"My fault, Frey. I... I was wrong... so..."
Tears streaming, she whispered in a trembling voice.
"...Please never leave me again."
The sun began rising in the sky.