Birthday (7): The Reverse Eye
“Reverse Eye?”
Jet-black pupils. The ominous sensation emanating from those eyes made the hairs on his entire body stand on end.
“...You’re different from Ideal.”
The duke swallowed hard. The atmosphere was like a single, razor-sharp blade. This wasn’t Ideal. No, that thing, that monster, was something that merely resembled her. Instinct told him that any reckless movement wouldn’t end with just a scratch.
The heavy, settled air. The duke’s massive hand coiled around the sword hilt like a serpent.
“─.”
Ideal’s expressionless lips curved into a sly smile. A faint blush rising on her cheeks was breathtakingly alluring. Even with her dress torn in places, she exuded a sensuality like a living painting. The duke stared blankly for a moment before biting his lip and snapping back to reality.
She moved lightly, gripping the sword. She swung it experimentally through the air a few times─
Paang!!
With a sharp whoosh, she charged at him in an instant.
“Kuh!!”
Kaang!!
The duke barely managed to block with his sword. The numbing shock in his hand made the power sink in.
Gagagak!!
Sparks flew from the clashing blades as they pushed against each other with raw strength.
“Uaaah!!”
Along with the duke’s massive frame, Ideal’s sword began to slowly give way. Ideal tilted her head curiously, then withdrew her body with cat-like flexibility.
“...So you were hiding your true strength.”
The duke gnashed his teeth. She was stronger than anyone he’d ever faced. Perhaps even stronger than him.
...Why.
But why had she hidden her real power until now? Had she been toying with him? Even though she could have killed both him and Ashu whenever she wanted, had she just been playing the fool for amusement?
“So that bumbling act until now was all fake...?!!”
The duke spat dryly, his rage boiling over. His eyes turned bloodshot red. Crunch. The sword hilt groaned as if it might shatter, thick veins bulging on his hand. Kududuk. His feet dug into the ground. Every muscle in his body tensed like a drawn bowstring to its limit.
Paaang─!!!
His enormous body shot forward like a cannonball. In the blink of an eye, he closed in on Ideal and swung his sword down toward the earth like a massive hammer.
Kwaang!!
A devastating blow. A huge scar tore into the ground. The earth vomited up a cloud of dust thick enough to obscure vision, as if in agony.
...No presence.
As the duke readjusted his grip amid the rising dust─
Pushuk─!!
Something sharp grazed his face. That was the beginning.
“Kuh...!!”
Bullet-like strikes slashed at his limbs. Thin, thread-like wounds etched across the duke’s body.
...I can’t see it!!
The full-force strike he’d unleashed had backfired. The dust cloud blanketing the space acted like a smokescreen, hiding Ideal completely.
...Her speed’s increased too...!!
Movements he could track moments ago were now impossible to follow. A ghostly terror crawled up his spine.
“Uaaaaah!!!”
The duke roared, swinging his sword wildly. The gusts gradually cleared the dust.
“Hahk, hahk...”
He wiped his mouth, breathing raggedly. His pristine appearance was gone. Clothes shredded, body covered in wounds like he’d been doused in red paint.
“──”
Ahead, Ideal stood leisurely. Toying with him like a plaything. Creak. An unnaturally eerie smile turned toward him. Eyes that revealed nothing. A mouth dripping with viscous killing intent.
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
...I misjudged her.
That woman was insane. More than he’d thought.
When he heard Ideal was wanted, Baldamir had thought it was good news. Ex-soldiers were walking mental cases. Especially deserters who’d killed their superiors. As duke, he knew it well from experience. The north fought monsters daily. He’d seen plenty crack under stress. He figured Ideal was one of them. So he’d brought her in as a “master” to frame her for Ashu’s murder.
...But I was the one used.
Yet Ideal’s actions exceeded imagination. Unlike the rumors. She cared for Ashu Kan Hart like her own child. Far from the “Eastern Front maniac,” she seemed utterly dim-witted. That had made the duke impatient. That damned chick that devoured its mother. The enemy who killed his beloved wife. He couldn’t hand the dukedom to Ashu Kan Hart. But the bloodline rested solely in that boy. Sihan Kan Hart faced too much elder opposition. So the sure way was to kill Ashu. That’s why he’d orchestrated this absurdity.
“...Ha. What a complete miscalculation.”
The duke let out a hollow laugh. From the moment he brought Ideal into the family, it was already over.
Those ominous eyes turned murkily toward him.
“I never should have brought you here.”
Clack, clack. The sharp click of heels grew closer. Ideal approached slowly, sword in hand. It felt like facing the reaper from the underworld.
That’s when it happened.
“Ideal...!!”
A young boy’s voice echoed from afar. Blurry, but familiar. The duke squinted, and the figure sharpened.
“...Ashu Kan Hart?”
Ashu Kan Hart limped forward, leaning on the prince.
The clicking heels stopped. Ahead, Ideal stared at Ashu as if entranced.
“Ugh...!!”
Then, with a groan, she clutched her head in pain.
...Chance.
Now, he could kill her. Any longer, and he’d be at a disadvantage. With her distracted, it was time to end it. And with Ashu here, a chance for one clean sweep.
“I’ll sever your limbs and kill Ashu Kan Hart right before your eyes!!”
The duke bellowed, charging at Ideal with his massive bulk.
Ideal was visible in the distance. The battle’s aftermath had turned the area into a wreck. Her clothes were torn, exposing most of her pale skin, covered in wounds. She barely covered vital spots, but her aura felt strangely different from usual.
“...Ideal!!”
As Ashu shouted, Ideal’s head snapped toward him mechanically. An eerie chill prickled his skin, goosebumps rising on his arms.
“...Hey, brat. Something’s off, right?”
Not just him─Byrn swallowed dryly. Too far to grasp fully, but clearly not good.
“...?”
Then, Ideal, who’d been staring, suddenly clutched her head in agony.
“Ideal!!”
Ashu shoved Byrn aside, sprinting toward her, ignoring his own pain.
“You idiot─!! Hey, brat!!”
Byrn yelled, chasing after.
“I’ll sever your limbs and kill Ashu Kan Hart right before your eyes!!”
In the distance, the duke exploited the opening, lunging at Ideal. She hadn’t noticed, still gripping her head.
“No─!!”
Ashu reached out, screaming almost in a wail. This way, Ideal would die. The duke’s immense strength would crush her. Horrific visions flooded Ashu’s mind.
No. Ideal can’t die.
The only one in this cursed dukedom who treated him like a person. The most precious woman in the world to him. For her to die─right in front of him.
No!!
As Ashu bit his lip and poured every ounce of strength into running─
Pushuk─!
A piercing sound rang through the air. Simultaneously, the roaring duke’s body halted abruptly. His rigid form turned to stone.
“─Kuhk.”
The duke clutched his chest, vomiting blood. Then, his massive body collapsed powerless to the ground.
Clangrur.
The masterless sword rolled across the dirt.
“What...”
Ashu muttered blankly, unable to believe the scene. Ideal, now fine, shook her sword in the air. Blood splattered like paint.
...She killed him? Ideal did?
She sheathed her sword casually, like a wax doll. An uncanny discomfort froze Ashu.
“Ideal, is that you?”
Clack. Clack.
The heels answered, growing louder. Her eyes, always closed, were open. ...Black eyes?
Her ever-smiling lips were now level, like staring at the horizon. Her gentle gaze was cold, like trash by the roadside.
The opposite of her usual dim, foolish self.
“...Ideal?”
Ideal stopped right in front of him, face like she’d found something intriguing.
“Hey, brat─!!”
Byrn’s voice called from behind.
“Dodge─!!”
“─What?”
He looked up. Ideal’s hand was raised high. The blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
“Damn, crazy...!!”
Too late to evade. Ashu squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for pain.
Whiiieek─!!
The sound of tearing wind rang in his ears.