Jealousy in the Blood Garden

The air of the abyss on the 4th floor trembled faintly. As Aria took a single step forward, the shadow beneath her feet split open, revealing a passageway. A rift like flickering black flames tore open long and wide, and beyond it lay the boundary of the 1st floor, shrouded in thick red mist.

Crunch. The moment she stepped inside, red and black butterflies filled the air. Their wings beat wildly as if sensing an intruder. But Aria didn't so much as blink. Overwhelmed by the aura emanating from her body, the swarm parted instantly, clearing a path.

The garden of the 1st floor. In the center of the space tangled with blood-red roses and black thorns, a woman turned slowly. It was Erisa.

Spotting Aria, she narrowed her eyes before bowing gracefully. "Guardian of the 4th floor, Lady Aria. Erisa, attendant of the 1st floor, greets you. What brings you all the way here?"

Aria furrowed her brow. That attitude. Impeccably polite, yet somehow grating on her nerves with its infuriating leisure.

"Master's business should be finished by now."

Erisa placed a butterfly on her fingertip and added quietly, "Is there... something else you wish to say?"

"...."

Aria didn't respond right away. Truth be told, she couldn't. She couldn't even explain to herself why she'd come here.

'I don't like you.'

'Don't you dare get close to Master, you sly fox.'

'Being called doesn't mean you've earned your place.'

The words welled up in her throat. But not a single one could pass her lips.

Aria bit her lip. "Don't get ahead of yourself. You think Master will give you the time of day, no matter what tricks you pull?"

As if reacting to her emotions, the dark red shadow at her feet rippled. The surrounding air grew heavy in an instant.

But Erisa didn't yield. Keeping her head bowed politely, she met Aria's gaze squarely with her crimson eyes. Her head was lowered, but those eyes didn't waver in the slightest—as if she had no intention of backing down even a step, despite the show of respect.

A strange smile played on Erisa's lips. An ambiguous expression that seemed like a smile or a sneer, needling Aria's nerves.

"I merely followed Master's will. How dare I aspire to his favor?" Erisa covered her mouth with her hand and let out a soft laugh. "Compared to you or Lady Crimson, I'm utterly insignificant. If I've offended you, I apologize, Lady Aria. However..."

Erisa cast her eyes downward briefly, as if choosing her words, took a short breath, then slowly raised her gaze again.

"I do have one curiosity. If Master has returned, why inform us only now?"

In ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that instant, the air in the garden ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠turned icy cold. Even the red and black butterflies halted their wings, the entire space falling deathly still.

"I was quite shocked myself when summoned by Master." Aria's eyes darkened.

But Erisa pressed on undeterred, her tone as composed as ever. "The remaining guardians have all entered long slumbers from exhaustion. Master's absence lasted far too long."

It was polite phrasing. But each word stabbed quietly at the heart—especially because it was irrefutably true.

"Yet you knew that fact alone."

Aria's fingertips tightened. She couldn't even tell what expression she wore now.

"That's..."

"I simply find it puzzling. You met Master first, learned of his return first, yet said nothing to the other guardians."

"......"

"Of course, I understand. You've waited alone for ages longer than any. You wanted to stand by his side first and foremost. A sentiment beyond my grasp."

Erisa bowed her head again. "But Master is not yours alone."

Those words sank deep.

"Lady Crimson, and the other guardians still slumbering... they've all waited for him all this time. How could I not be surprised that you kept his return to yourself?"

Her courtesy never faltered. That made it all the more irritating. Beneath the flawless demeanor lurked thorns that dug into the soul.

Dark red energy slowly spread around Aria. The garden floor rumbled lowly, and the butterflies filling the air scattered in panic.

"So... you're threatening me now?" Aria's voice was coldly sunken.

Erisa immediately bowed deeper. "Heavens, no."

The reply was instantaneous, without a hint of hesitation. "I merely find it regrettable. Had you informed us of Master's return, the slumbering guardians would have awakened gladly."

Aria's face hardened coldly. It was undeniable. That made it all the more unpleasant.

When she'd first reunited with Master, Aria hadn't wanted to tell the other guardians. An unbelievable reality. Joy ready to burst. She didn't want to voice these overwhelming emotions aloud just yet. Even for a moment, she wanted it all to herself. She wanted to monopolize Master's attention alone.

But Erisa saw right through her, continuing softly. "I know your loyalty to Master runs deeper than anyone's."

Erisa's lips curved upward. "But if that devotion turns to monopoly, wouldn't that be a problem?"

In that moment—

Crack.

The ground at Aria's feet split roughly. Dark red shadows surged like serpents, lunging toward Erisa's feet in an instant.

But Erisa didn't retreat a single step. Instead, swarms of red butterflies swirled around her, forming a solid barrier.

The two guardians' auras clashed head-on in midair. Of course, neither truly intended bloodshed despite the killing intent—it was the dungeon's absolute rule. Combat between guardians was the most strictly forbidden act.

"Even you know the rules, Lady Aria? Surely you're not thinking of defying Master's command."

"Tch..." Aria openly grimaced and clicked her tongue.

"If I've overstepped, my apologies. But someone had to address it."

"So. You'll blab to the other guardians after all?"

"Well, I'd love to right now, but..." A thick smile spread across Erisa's lips. One of the wildly fluttering red butterflies settled quietly on her fingertip. "Lady Crimson's awakening would make things quite noisy in many ways. I'd rather pass. I don't care to shatter this hard-earned leisure. So for the time being, I'll align with your wishes, Lady Aria."

"What...?"

Surprise flickered across Aria's face at the unexpected response. Seeing it, Erisa's lips slowly curved higher.

Eugene lay blankly on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Too much had happened in the last moments.

He'd summoned Erisa through the altar, and with a single scatter of her butterflies, she'd muddled the memories of everyone present. Thanks to that, the E-rank exam was outright invalidated.

It was the expected outcome, but it left a sour taste. Expecting everything to wrap up neatly after that chaos would have been the weird part.

Now he might have to retake the exam entirely.

'Do this crap all over again?'

Eugene rubbed his eyes. Exhausted from just once—repeating the whole process from scratch made him sigh.

And who knew? The same assholes might pop up again.

Right then—

Ring ring ring.

His phone, set on the side, suddenly blared. Seeing the name on the screen, Eugene's brow furrowed.

Hospital.

His heart plummeted. Had something happened to Sua?

He bolted upright and answered. Fortunately, the Shadow Mark showed no reaction. If it were truly dangerous, Aria would have alerted him first. No one had laid a hand on Sua.

So what the hell was it?

Eugene stared silently at the screen. A chill settled in his chest.

Anonymous. This timing. Large enough for the hospital to rush the call.

It should have been good news. Yet it felt anything but welcoming.

Considering everything he'd been through.

"Got it." Only after a while did he reply lowly. "I'm on my way."

Even after hanging up, he couldn't let go of the phone for ages. Eugene closed his eyes, then slowly opened them.

"...Who the hell is it."

Muttering under his breath, he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠got up at once. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Whoever had set this up clearly had an agenda.

The problem was figuring out who.