Chapter 27
Omen
"-Ughhh-"
"-Gaaaargh-"
"Haaaargh-"
"……."
I did go a little overboard.
With an awkward expression, Aiden looked around at the knights groaning inhumanly.
Their limbs were bent at unnatural angles, ribs punctured lungs, and spines were twisted out of shape.
No matter the injury, it was beyond even a superhuman's capacity to endure.
'Wow.'
Honestly, I had been confident.
It wasn’t just anyone, but the Knight of Dawn, a hero of the continental sphere, who acknowledged that I could “at least pull my weight.”
Even though my supernatural power had weakened, I was sure I’d be able to keep fighting if someone like him vouched for me. But even I hadn’t imagined I’d be this overwhelming.
'…I have been trained.'
Now I deeply understood what he meant when he said that I had earned “spare lives” equal to the number of times I had died.
My body already knew that failing to act like this would bring unbearable pain, and it instinctively sought the most efficient movements.
Overlaying Meyer’s skill, which analyzed the opponent’s techniques in real time, I had crushed the enemy so thoroughly it felt like I was toying with them.
-System Message
▶ Combat actions have ended. Activation of ‘Skill: Analysis’ has concluded. Adjustments for opponent’s weakness analysis have ended.
▶ Adjustments for ‘Combat Form: Single Sword Strike’ have ended.
▶ Mastery of low-importance combat forms has increased.
▶ Cannot be copied as a skill. Points are accumulating.
▶ The ‘Points Shop’ will open soon. Just a bit more to go!
‘Nothing got copied… huh.’
Thanks to the analysis skill, I could mimic the movements of the knights’ techniques, but none had manifested into a new combat form.
As always, they were characters of “low importance” in the main scenario, so that must have been why.
Still, I didn’t feel particularly disappointed. I already had Noel’s combat form, which was far more efficient, and the opening of the points shop was right around the corner.
‘I don’t know what kind of amazing stuff they’re hiding to delay the shop opening this long, but…’
Just as Aiden scratched his cheek with that thought, a thunderous shout erupted nearby.
"Aiden!"
It was Noel’s voice. It hadn’t even been a few minutes since Aiden called for her support, but she had already rushed over again.
"Ah, Noel th-"
And as Aiden turned to greet her, his words were abruptly cut off.
The moment he saw Noel’s face as she ran toward him, Aiden instinctively realized something.
…She was angry.
Really, seriously angry.
Sure enough, the first thing Noel did as she rushed over was grab both of Aiden’s shoulders tightly.
It felt like an industrial vise had clamped down on him an overwhelming pressure gripped his shoulders.
It almost felt like he could see flames blazing in Noel’s eyes…
“What were you thinking, running off on your own without backup?!”
"……."
Aiden instinctively shrank back at the sound of her thunderous voice.
“What if you’d gotten hurt?! No—what if something really serious happened?!”
“I was afraid Katya might be in danger if I stayed put.”
“The odds of you dying are far, far higher than His Highness—!”
"……."
“Do you understand? You can never take a risk like this again! You should be the one thinking of running away, even if it means leaving me or His Highness behind—!”
…No.
Her tone was like a tiger about to pounce on its prey, but every word she said was filled with concern.
And to someone like that, Aiden felt sorry.
No—actually, it was because she was like that.
“No.”
Even if the other person was angry, some things had to be said.
Aiden blinked, but answered in a clear voice.
“I can’t do that.”
“What in the world—!”
“If you were in the same situation, I’d do the exact same thing.”
"……."
“What’s so wrong about helping when Katya or you are in danger?”
There’s a huge difference between living peacefully and living like a coward.
And Aiden, even if he wanted peace, was no coward.
Katya was his friend, and although things hadn’t started off great with Noel, she had always treated him kindly.
It wasn’t a stretch to call them close companions.
And if those within his circle were threatened, he would stand at the front and headbutt that danger. That’s how he had always lived and that’s how he would continue to live.
Even if he was the only one who knew what threats lay ahead, and even if saving the world an impossible burden for any one person had been thrust upon him, it still followed the same logic.
Whether that was even possible, Aiden didn’t know. He could very well fail miserably, die, and the world might end.
Even so, the reason he took on that burden was always the same small, but unmistakably clear.
“If I abandon the people I care about and just live for myself, what’s the point of living hard?”
What meaning was there in surviving alone? What joy, what purpose did that hold?
Even if it put him in danger, even if he had to take a loss it was fine.
If he could live together with the people he cared about, all gathered in one place, laughing and getting along peacefully—that alone would be enough.
Anyone who dared to disturb such an idyllic scene deserved to be crushed, no matter the cost.
Even though he had gotten entangled with incredible people and somehow ended up shouldering the fate of saving the world—
The trajectory of his life had never once veered from that simple course.
Family. Friends. A small citizen dreaming of a peaceful life with them.
And—
Someone prepared to do anything to protect that dream.
"……."
As she listened to those words, Noel’s grip on Aiden’s shoulders slowly loosened.
Her hands lowered, and she remained silent for a long time.
And the longer her silence stretched, the more the color drained from Aiden’s face.
‘I shouldn’t have talked back…!’
Wasn’t she on the verge of exploding?
Did I just provoke someone already angry and now I’m going to get chewed out even harder…?
I should’ve said it more gently even if I had to say it…
"…You really are a strange person, Aiden."
It was like—
Her eyes were about to cry.
“Why are you only firm at times like this? When usually, you just want to live like you’re invisible.”
…Oh.
Aiden blinked awkwardly.
Wait.
Why was the mood like this?
He thought he was going to get scolded for talking back, but somehow…
‘Did I trigger some kind of trauma?’
Actually, the atmosphere was similar to when he had accidentally asked why she was called the Butcher.
Listening to him speak, it was like something had caught her off guard.
As if she was overlaying something she didn’t want to remember onto him.
Soon, Noel pulled her hat low over her face. It was something she often did when she didn’t want her expression to be seen.
“Let’s return to headquarters with His Highness. I’ll take care of things here.”
"……."
But unlike before—
This time, it seemed even hearing an explanation would be impossible.
▣
“He’s the real deal, that guy.”
With his hands tied behind his back, Sir Levant let out a dry laugh.
“You’ve snagged yourself a decent man, Noel. Seems you’ve got a good eye for people.”
"……."
“That’s why I get it even more. Why you’re keeping your distance from him.”
"……."
“He’s a different gender, but he’s a lot like Teresa, isn’t he?”
“…Sir Levant.”
Noel paused briefly before speaking.
“Why did you do this?”
“I didn’t think we were in the kind of relationship where we worry about each other.”
“We were comrades during the Allied War.”
“We were—until Teresa died because of you.”
"……."
Sir Levant slowly dropped the words toward Noel, who had frozen in place.
"Noel Astrea Simus. Listen closely."
His voice wasn't just accusatory—it carried regret and sorrow.
"It should’ve been you who stayed behind that day, not Teresa. The one who returned home as a hero should’ve been the Warden of the Realm, not you."
"……."
Noel didn’t reply. She only moved her hands, binding them in silence. As if to say that this was a burden she had to bear.
Watching her quietly carry out the restraints, Sir Levant let out another bitter laugh and continued.
"You’ve changed, Lionhearted."
"In what way?"
"Back then, just hearing Teresa’s name would make you lose your mind. You seem a lot calmer now."
"……."
Noel gave a faint, bitter smile at Levant’s words.
Well.
It was true, up until recently.
But why?
"Guess married life is really working for you?"
"……."
"Newlyweds usually can’t keep their hands off each other—maybe a scandalous affair would spice things up a bit—"
Instead of answering, Noel struck him in the back of the neck, knocking him unconscious.
…It was a ruthless blow.
▣
It had been a long and eventful day.
Upon returning to headquarters, Katya had gone straight to her room, seemingly deep in thought, and Aiden had flopped face-first onto his bed, exhausted from everything.
‘Those knights—’
They were to be taken to trial immediately. That was the message left by Noel after securing them.
They’d likely face severe punishment.
"……."
There was no physical evidence pointing to who orchestrated it all.
But the circumstantial evidence was clear.
-Skill Info
◈ Weaver of Fate
⧾ Arden Brimstone Lionel
* Malice: Stage 1
* Can mimic 1 skill.
※ This target cannot form a 'Bond'. Skill effects will differ from the original!
He was the only one openly marked with "Malice".
The attack had no goal other than to cause trouble for Aiden.
‘…If that’s the case.’
Aiden narrowed his eyes at the screen.
If the other side planned to act openly hostile, he wasn’t going to just sit back and take it.
He needed to prepare countermeasures.
Though, more urgently—there was something else coming first.
-Quest Info
♠ Main Quest
◈ Act I, <Imperial Capital Fracture>
▶ Chapter 1 will commence soon!
▶ A related event is approaching. (D-1)
◈ Fake Marriage
* You have been chosen as Sir Noel’s spouse. Maintain the contract with your partner until the end!
* A related event will occur soon. (D-1)
“-Hmm.”
Aiden’s eyes narrowed even further as he stared at the window that appeared in front of him—so much so that wrinkles began to bunch around them.
Just one day left.
The main quest had already been noted, so that wasn’t surprising. But for something related to Noel to overlap with it—what was going on?
‘I’ve prepared thoroughly.’
He had no idea what was going to happen, but he didn’t feel embarrassed saying that much.
It was disappointing that the points shop hadn’t opened yet, but he had already copied more than enough skills. Based on the difficulty level of the original story he remembered, this should be more than enough to handle whatever came next.
However, he couldn’t relax—because of one rule that had always held true until now.
‘Nothing has ever followed the original story.’
This was a world without its protagonist. Assuming everything would proceed according to the original timeline was absurd.
Something unexpected was bound to happen.
And if so, he at least needed to set up some kind of “insurance.”
Aside from conserving strength, there was at least one direct action he could take that might help with the upcoming event.
“Hmph.”
Letting out a short sigh, Aiden walked straight into the hallway.
Most people—Noel included, despite being a workaholic—had already gone home, but there was always one person who stayed later.
When Aiden arrived at his destination, he knocked on the office door.
“Come in.”
Hearing the exhausted voice, Aiden quietly opened the door and stepped inside.
Despite the heavy workload, Sir Stella was still typing away at her typewriter with mechanical precision.
“Aiden? What brings you here at this hour?”
They had almost never interacted privately, so Stella raised her eyebrows in a round arc as she asked.
It did feel strange. What he was about to say would only make it stranger.
“Sir Stella.”
“Yes. What is it?”
“Would you like to come out with me?”
"……."
Stella frowned and looked out the window.
It had been dark for a long time. The pitch-black early morning hours.
…No matter how you looked at it, it was a strange request to make to a woman at this hour.
“…It does seem quite late for going out, doesn’t it…?”
“It does, right?”
“I’m glad you’re aware. If it’s urgent, perhaps you should report it to Sir Noel and have her assign someone appropriate—”
“No, it has to be you.”
"……."
“I’d prefer if it were just the two of us.”
Stella spat out the coffee she had been drinking in a spectacular spray.