n

n

n

n

n

nIt was hard to believe that anyone could talk about assassination with such a bright and pure smile on their face.

nAnd yet here was Zoemi, grinning from ear to ear, he was so ecstatic that it seemed he was going to hug Aspakeony from sheer joy.

n”Wait! You know?! Stop! I said, stop! How do you know what happened?!”

nThe necromancer escaped from Zoemi’s grasp and hid behind her light magician puppet.

nShe straightened her clothes that got roughed up by the evasive maneuvers and send Zoemi a weird look, she seemed like she was angry that she managed to get away that easily and not at all that shocked that Zoemi knew some details even though she didn’t tell him anything.

n”It’s so amazing! I was so worried about that one but it just happened so naturally! The rest of the events will be a piece of cake! This one was supposed to be so unexpected that I was losing sleep over how to prevent it, but here we are! Such good news!”

nThis ending sure had to be weighing on Zoemi’s mind because he became so relieved he didn’t even care that he was speaking out loud.

nYet’ at the words ‘good news’ Aspakeony’s face crumpled in a bad expression and she clicked her tongue.

n”Better think twice before you start a party in the assassin’s honor. The one who fell victim was your brother-in-law. Little Grazio.”

n~~~~~~~~

n*********

n~~~~~~~~

n|Brother-in-law?! What in the world happened in that timeline?!|

nZoemi was in disbelief, staring dumbfounded at the screen as the events were playing out.

n~~~~~~~~

n*********

n~~~~~~~~

n”…!”

nZoemi froze in place as if he was hit with the ice spell.

nHe stopped grinning and slowly looked at Aspakeony with dead eyes.

n”Grazio…? Are you sure…?”

nThe black-haired boy uttered as his heart dropped.

nThis situation was something that he did not account for.

nBecause it was certainly shocking.

nOne of the capture targets from the game died before his route came to an end… and yet nothing happened…

nWhen the heroine died the presence instantly rewinds time and scolded Zoemi for trying to end the game too soon.

nWere the capture targets not important…?

nAnd if they are as important as the heroine, how come the presence just allowed one of them to be killed, there was a whole ending yet to happen! And it was supposed to be the burning alive caused by the now-deceased Grazio!

n…

nIt could be that the burning alive will still happen… but who will do the burning…?

nIt was easy for Zoemi to keep an eye on Grazio, but now…?

n”Sadly.”

nNecromancer sighed and nodded her head, she certainly didn’t take it well and it must have been something more than just feeling bad for one of her students passing away.

n”Ah… I see. His body was completely drained of mana. That’s why you said it’s too dangerous for you to hole up in the office and asked me about the spell.”

nZoemi nodded his head while dealing with the mess in his head.

n”But who did it… Haven’t you said that the Ghosts were done with gathering power?”

nHe asked and the necromancer shuddered.

n”They said they were, but how trustworthy is the word of traitors who killed the royal family they pledged to protect?”

nAspakeony hugged herself and shuddered.

n”…then we have a problem… Those so-called Ghosts threatened Miriette before… whether it’s them or…!”

nSuddenly Zoemi felt that his insides twisted into a giant knot.

nHe knew who did that, it fits all too perfectly with the game’s lore and everything…

nArisu.

n|No, it might not be him, there’s no actual evidence. It would be stupid to approach him and instead get ambushed by the Ghosts!|

nZoemi stopped himself before jumping to conclusions.

n|It may seem perfect from the perspective of the game, but in the game, Xeonith wasn’t a disgusting piece of **. But at the same time, it’s not impossible… I have to prepare for all possibilities…

nZoemi sighed internally.|

nFor some time Aspakeony was silently gazing at Zoemi, then all of a sudden her eyes lit up and she approached him vigorously.

n”You, you want to be stronger to protect your girl, right?”

nShe said visibly excited.

n”…?”

nZoemi glared at her.

nHe was conflicted about whether he should say that Miriette is his master or just go with Aspakeony’s flow and admit that he is together with Miriette.

nIn any case, up until now the necromancer only helped him and seemed trustworthy, her proposition, although suspicious, wasn’t that out of place.

nBesides, she spoke the magic words of protecting Miriette, Zoemi had a hard time just refusing a proposition regarding that subject without hearing it out first.

n”Miriette is the most important for me.”

nHe ended up agreeing.

nAspakeony smiled from ear to ear.

n”Come with me then.”

nShe grabbed both Zoemi and the light attribute corpse puppet and disappeared in a flash of golden light.

nAt the same time, Miriette took her ear off the door and stood up while biting her hand both angry and extremely worried.

n”That idiot necromancer! Presence’s scenario is falling apart and she tries to improvise!? ARGH! If something happens to my Zoemi I will kill them all!”

nIt was impressive how Miriette could hold back from absolutely exploding in rage.

nShe wanted to step up but she was in too deep.

nIf she told Zoemi everything she knew now… she was too afraid of what would he do…

n~~~~~~~~

n*********

n~~~~~~~~

n|…it sure does look like Miriette from that timeline was involved in something problematic… Not to mention that I am a pure shadow magician – so many things don’t match already…|

n|Seems like it. But let’s continue watching – if this was the end of what Bellcephora wanted to show you, she would have let you know.|

nZoemi thought with concern, and the original personality responded in an indifferent voice.

n~~~~~~~~

n*********

n~~~~~~~~

nThe group of both living and dead appeared out of the blinding light right into the neatly clean corridor.

nZoemi looked around carefully, he somewhat recognized the interior design, the exotic and expensive wood carved into delicate but somewhat pompous decorations couldn’t be mistaken by anyone who has seen them before.

nStill, Zoemi, in particular, was sure that he had never actually been to this part of the royal castle.

nYes, Aspakeony apparently had some sort of a plan and it demanded them to get into the Bellcephora’s palace.

n|This dumb little…!|

nZoemi bit his lip and almost grabbed the necromancer by the throat.

nAlmost.

nHis hand stopped less than half an inch from the delicate neck of the millennia-old girl.

nThe black-haired boy wasn’t stopped by anyone since he acted faster than anyone else could react, he just decided it was better to give the necromancer a chance to explain.

n”Why…?”

nHe hissed, his eyes cold and dead from the abhorrent amount of furry.

n”I-I…! Wh-what are you doing? I did nothing wrong?!”

nAspakeony gasped and shoot him a terrified lamb-like gaze.

n|She’s… not lying…?|

nZoemi clicked his tongue and sighed.

n”Why did you teleport us into the most secure place in the whole kingdom? You surely know what kind of punishment is deemed appropriate for anyone who’s not from the royal family and still dares to teleport here?!”

nHe felt indignant having to explain something so obvious, he even started worrying that the girl’s actual age was acting up clouding her judgment.

n”Eh? Are you stupid or something?”

nAspakeony groaned and deflated completely dispirited.

n”I was the one who forced this rule into existence! Of course, I am the one responsible for executing it! Aren’t you supposed to be smarter?”

n…!

nZoemi froze for an instant and then suddenly blushed and removed his hand.

n”Ah…I… I see… Please forgive me…”

nHe actually bowed his head apologetically.

n”It’s just… Even though there’s Teo, and also your other puppets, that are supposed to guard Miriette, I can’t shake off this uneasy feeling… I should be the one protecting her.”

nHis voice was full of worry, Aspakeony made a complicated expression, something between a smile and a frown, and ended up patting the conveniently located head of the apologetic attendant.

n”Yes, yes, I know, you must protect your precious master…”

nShe bobbed her head up and down with an understanding smile.

nAt that moment Zoemi felt a sudden chill…!

nSomething about that situation…!

nSomething was…!

nThere was something way too familiar about this exact situation!

nWithout thinking Zoemi grabbed Aspakeony’s wrist and raised his head to look her in the eyes.

nHis own eyes were pitch-black completely devoid of any sort of reflected light and seemingly unable to perceive light on their own.

nThose weren’t the eyes of someone alive.

nAt the same time, a scene was playing over and over again in Zoemi’s head.

n——–

nAspakeony, yes, it couldn’t be a mistake, Aspakeony looking the same as always was bending over him with a warm smile and patting his head caringly.

n”I seriously don’t understand why this brat begged me to do something with his daughter’s nightmares! Could you believe it, my little Zoemi? Me, a necromancer, playing a godmother for a child!”

nShe giggled.

n”That said, I can’t wait for the two of you to finally meet! Though I’m worried that little Miriette will be afraid of your eyes…”

nShe made a worried expression for a moment but then was all smiles again and her patting intensified.

n”Well, if she wouldn’t want you, you can always stay with me, pretty boy!”

nAspakeony laughed and leaned so close to him that their noses touched.

n…

nBut it was all wrong! All completely wrong! With that scale, Aspakeony would have to be a towering giant! Or he, Zoemi, would have to be a toddler at that time, it was just…!

n———-

n