Chapter 116: Encounter (2)
"…P-Please, come in."
Leopold followed Astrid’s lead into what she called her home.
A home, she had said, but he could hardly believe it.
In his mind, a home should be a place where sunlight poured in, where air flowed freely, where rain could be kept out.
It should have enough space to rest one’s body comfortably and accommodate all necessities of life without hardship.
But the place Astrid led him to was the complete opposite of that vision.
"This… is your home?"
"It’s… humble, but yes. This is my home."
Astrid knew exactly what Leopold must be thinking.
In fact, she understood all too well.
Now that her memories had returned, even she sighed in exasperation when she saw this place.
Compared to the Miterien ducal estate—compared to the home where she had lived as Astrid—this was worlds apart.
The size of the room, the lack of sunlight filtering in through the half-basement windows, the tiny space divided only into a single room and a bathroom, with a kitchen crammed into the corner—everything about it was pitifully small.
Leopold, having stepped inside, found himself so stunned that he couldn’t even speak.
Could people truly live in such a place?
It was smaller than the cadet dormitories at the academy.
No, comparing them was an insult.
"Juice… It’s juice. Please, have some."
Astrid felt unbearably conflicted.
Memories of her life as a man tangled with memories of being Astrid, leaving her thoughts in chaos.
And now, with Leopold sitting right in front of her, everything felt even more overwhelming.
"Urk."
Leopold took a sip of the orange juice she had offered and immediately grimaced.
It wasn’t fresh-squeezed juice—it was a processed mix of various ingredients, far removed from anything he had ever tasted.
"Astie."
"…Yes."
With the tray holding their cups between them, the two sat facing each other.
Leopold looked at Astrid.
Astrid looked down at the tray.
"Let’s go back."
"……"
Go back.
She knew exactly what he meant.
"Veracien… Veracien said she was the one who sent you here, into this dream. She admitted it herself. And she said that if you wished to return, you could. So let’s go back. This isn’t where you belong."
"……"
But Astrid couldn’t answer.
She knew this wasn’t real.
She had to tell him everything.
But could she?
She didn’t know.
"Your Highness… You might not understand, but I… I’m not the real Astrid."
After a long hesitation, she finally spoke.
The one sitting here—this Astrid—wasn’t real.
If this was a dream, then waking up was the logical answer.
But waking up wouldn’t solve everything.
There was only one Astrid.
And the one here wasn’t her.
If she returned, it would mean once again sharing a single body with another Astrid.
"I know."
Astrid’s head snapped up in shock at Leopold’s unexpected response.
"I’ve heard that Astrid’s body housed… two souls, or should I say, two consciousnesses. And you… You are Astrid, too."
He called her Astrid, but she couldn’t accept it.
No, she wasn’t.
She knew she wasn’t.
She might look like Astrid—perhaps because this was a dream—but inside, she was entirely different.
She had been a man.
And if Leopold were to learn that…
‘…Is there any need to tell him?’
The thought struck her suddenly.
Was there really any reason to reveal that she had once been a man?
The real Astrid knew, of course, but she wasn’t the type to speak up about it first.
If she just returned…
If she found a way to go back to normal…
If she could go back…
Go back.
Go back…
Her thoughts tangled into chaos.
***
"They just keep coming, don’t they?"
Violet muttered as she flicked black blood off her sword.
The catastrophe that had begun in the middle of the academy had spread across the entire campus, and now, monsters were pouring out from the cracks in the earth.
In and of itself, this wasn’t an issue.
The academy was a training ground for future officers, meaning combat was an integral part of its curriculum.
Most cadets had already undergone extensive battle training within their noble houses before enrolling.
Furthermore, nearly all instructors and faculty—aside from some administrative staff—were seasoned knights.
Against mere monsters, the damage was minimal.
There hadn’t even been a single fatality.
But the real problem was—
"What are we supposed to do about that?"
"The instructors are working on it. They’ll figure something out soon."
Emilie, who had been fighting alongside Violet, followed her gaze skyward as she spoke.
A massive, dome-shaped blood-red barrier loomed over the entire academy.
It blocked anyone from leaving.
And it prevented anyone from entering.
They had already attempted countless methods to break it.
Emilie and the magic professors had unleashed high-tier spells against it, only to watch the energy dissipate like ink seeping into paper.
Even siege weapons had been deployed, launching massive wooden beams against the barrier—only for them to shatter into useless splinters upon impact.
And with that, any thoughts of breaching it by force had been abandoned.
"…It’ll be resolved."
Violet had rested enough.
Planting her sword into the ground, she used it as support to push herself up.
She was exhausted.
Days had passed—how many, she didn’t even know anymore.
The damned barrier made it impossible to tell day from night.
It stretched across the sky, glowing red, giving no sign of the sun’s movement.
"This constant red glow is making my eyes hurt."
"Tell me about it."
Emilie, normally composed, had begun voicing complaints more frequently these days.
For now, food and supplies within the academy remained plentiful.
Rations had been implemented to conserve resources, but even so, they would eventually run out.
They had to clear out the monsters before that happened.
Yet with the unending tide of creatures, the battle seemed endless.
"Would things have been different if Astrid were here?"
"Maybe."
"Oh? That’s rare."
"What is?"
Violet grinned, watching Emilie narrow her eyes at her.
"You actually admitted that Astrid would’ve made a difference. That’s unusual."
"…She’s a monster in combat."
Both Violet and Emilie had fought against Astrid before.
Even with divine blessings, Astrid had been strong.
So strong that, even without her blessings, she likely would’ve still been undefeatable.
Now, in their moment of need, her absence was felt more than ever.
***
"So, this is sorcery?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As they awaited the arrival of Wolfgang and Baizik, Emperor Kreutz von Einthafen stroked his beard while reviewing the reports.
Dozens of reports had already arrived concerning the academy’s crisis.
He had read each one carefully, but the only definitive finding so far was that the barrier surrounding the academy was caused by sorcery.
Nothing else had been uncovered.
"And yet no one noticed such large-scale sorcery being cast?"
"Details remain unclear, Your Majesty. However, there had been previous reports of strange occurrences within the academy. Investigations into the culprit were already underway."
The official bowed repeatedly, as though the failure was his own.
Kreutz, however, barely acknowledged him, too deep in thought.
It had been years since the Empire’s unification.
No external threats had emerged.
North, south, east, west—nothing had endangered the Empire’s stability.
There were still remnants of the northern barbarians, but Duke Miterien had kept them completely contained.
There had never been a need for concern.
Yet, despite being so close to the imperial capital, the academy—an institution dedicated to training the Empire’s future protectors—had been engulfed in large-scale sorcery, and no one had foreseen it.
This was unacceptable.
The Empire had not been built by mere chance.
It had been forged through blood, its foundation laid with bone and flesh, a kingdom born from endless war.
"…It is time to remind them of Einthafen’s strength. Confirm the whereabouts of Duke Miterien and Marquis Jorgien. Report back immediately."
"Understood, Your Majesty!"
The official rushed away in haste, leaving Kreutz to clench his battle-scarred hands into fists.
Though his body bore the marks of countless battles, he was still in his prime.
If necessary, he could return to the battlefield himself.
"…Whoever is behind this has gravely underestimated Einthafen’s might."