Interlude

She had endured for so, so long…

And yet, the so-called light never came.

How she wished she could live like a normal person…

But that was nothing more than a fantasy.

“I understand.”

She had always understood.

The only thing she could do… was endure.

Endure until the day she no longer needed to endure—until she could smile freely.

She shrank into herself, constantly pretending, afraid that her weak side would be seen.

Back then, when she was “him,”

He had truly succeeded in that disguise.

With just a little self-suggestion, he could almost believe he had become someone else entirely.

But in truth—

She knew.

She was still that timid, fearful person.

In terms of appearance and intellect, she couldn’t compare to them.

She felt inferior.

Diligence could make up for weakness—

So she built stair after stair from books, just to lift her head and quietly look up at them…

Until one day—

She became the strongest among them.

And what she received…

Was the gaze reserved for monsters.

That was the look they gave her when she returned.

As if those who should have stood above all…

Had been humiliated by an unknown nobody.

…

“I’m not a monster… I’m not a monster… I’m not a monster…”

She still remembered those words.

They were her way of comforting herself—

A desperate hypnosis buried deep within her heart.

That madness…

Was supposed to be her tool for revenge.

“Keep enduring… endure until the day you no longer need to. Then you’ll be able to smile.”

The woman leaned closer, gently pressing her forehead against Arian’s nose.

“Don’t be afraid. The ending will surely be a happy one.”

She smiled meaningfully.

Arian’s thoughts drifted aimlessly.

Only when her nose was touched did she snap back to reality.

This fortune teller…

Was frighteningly accurate.

It even felt like she understood Arian better than Arian herself.

“The person I forgot… who is it?”

She finally asked the question she had been holding back.

“I should go.”

The woman replied abruptly, ignoring the question entirely.

“Wait…?”

Arian watched as she began packing up her tools.

“… ”

Amid the rustling sounds, she quickly gathered her belongings.

“She is someone forgotten by the world.”

At the moment she stepped out of the tent, she suddenly turned and said this.

“…What?” Arian asked, confused.

“The black-haired witch.”

She added.

Arian desperately searched her memory.

But no matter how hard she tried—

She couldn’t recall anyone with black hair.

Only a splitting headache followed.

“No need to think,” the woman said.

Then she turned and left.

The tent fell silent again.

Only the sound of Arian’s heartbeat and breathing remained.

She slowly walked out, feeling lost.

In the end—

She still didn’t know what she should do.

She untied her hair ribbon and quietly sat on the same bench from earlier.

“Caramel candy! Freshly made caramel candy!”

“Grilled fish! Fresh grilled fish from Felu Port!”

The bustling cries surrounded her.

Street lamps stood tall, and strings of lanterns stretched across the streets.

For a moment, it felt like a long glowing serpent connecting everything together.

In the distance, a towering magical distillation tower pierced the sky—

A relic left behind by alchemists.

Now it had merged with nature, vines crawling across its surface.

It had become nothing more than a scenic ruin.

That grand alchemical era had long ended.

And the woman who once stood beside Mana…

Had poured her entire life into that age.

What remained now was only its skeleton.

One day…

People too would grow old and fade.

She sighed softly.

Her life felt like an endless escape.

Her gaze drifted into the distance.

“Arian~!”

Luna called out cheerfully.

She gently rubbed Arian’s head.

Caught off guard, Arian flinched slightly.

That warm hand rested softly on her hair.

“… ”

Arian didn’t feel like speaking.

A strange gloom surrounded her.

“You’re not happy, are you…”

Luna immediately noticed and asked with concern.

She could clearly see the tear stains on Arian’s face—

The redness in her eyes couldn’t be hidden.

She didn’t know what had happened earlier.

“I’m fine…”

Arian finally responded.

She had to endure.

She wouldn’t cry.

Luna felt troubled.

Ever since Arian had gone out alone that afternoon, she had been like this.

Maybe it was because of Eugene’s wind projectile.

But now, Arian carried a heavy, sorrowful aura.

“It’s okay… Arian. Eugene didn’t mean it…”

She tried to comfort her—and quietly speak up for Eugene.

After all, she understood.

In that situation, being cautious wasn’t entirely wrong.

Though… maybe he had been overly cautious.

And perhaps a little too confident that the church would come after them.

Maybe it was because he had been imprisoned for too long.

“…Mm.”

Arian nodded.

After her earlier self-reflection, she felt a bit of strength returning.

She knew she had been acting childish.

She should forgive him.

After all—

In just three days, they had been through so much together.

They were already friends who could trust each other.

Even though three days ago, they were strangers from completely different worlds.

Yet fate had brought them together.

She still remembered that morning—

His reddened eyes…

His farewell…

Entrusting his manuscript to her…

That laughter echoing into the sky.

These three short days had been full of ups and downs.

Now, they were in the same boat.

All fugitives, hunted by the church.

They couldn’t afford conflict.

“Then let’s go~!”

Luna smiled brightly, her voice full of joy.

Her red beast ears, hidden in her hair, suddenly popped out—

Bouncing happily like two little flames.

“?!”

Arian widened her eyes.

“You’re… a beastkin?!”

“Eh?!”

Luna froze—

Her ears had popped out.

She quickly pressed them back into her hair, rubbing vigorously until they disappeared beneath her maple-red locks.

“Don’t mind it…” she said, turning away.

She kept smoothing her hair nervously.

“You… actually…”

Arian spoke softly.

Though the Duchy of Bordeaux didn’t openly discriminate against beastkin,

They were still tied to old religious prejudices.

During the age of divine wars, the church had completely rejected them.

Even now, that bias lingered.

In the central regions, beastkin were rare.

Most lived in forest border towns—their true homes.

“Shh~”

Luna winked and smiled helplessly.

She pressed a finger to Arian’s lips while raising another to signal silence.

“Mm mm…”

Arian nodded quickly, promising not to say anything.

Truthfully, Arian didn’t even know why she followed this red-haired girl so naturally.

It felt… right.

Whether it was escaping Eagle’s Nest—

Or the money along the way—

Luna had handled everything.

She had undeniable leadership.

Simply put—

Their entire escape, even being here at the festival…

Was all thanks to Luna.

And for some reason, Arian felt an inexplicable trust toward her.

It made her feel safe.

She knew she was weak and incapable.

She neither could nor dared to suspect Luna.

Even if Luna were a bad person—

She would accept it.

After all, even Alex couldn’t withstand her strength.

She still remembered—

Luna’s full-force kick had blasted a massive hole in the wall of Eagle’s Nest.

“Good~”

Luna grinned, making a playful face.

That expression—

Was ridiculous.

“Pfft…”

Arian tried to hold back her laughter.

It was supposed to be intimidating—

But it looked more like playful silliness.

She couldn’t hold it in.

“Is it that funny?!”

Luna puffed her cheeks, slightly annoyed.

“Hahaha—!”

Arian burst out laughing.

“Really… hahaha…”

She could barely catch her breath.

Even Luna didn’t realize how adorably silly she had looked.

“Done laughing?! Then let’s go!”

Luna said, pretending to be upset.

“Mm~”

They walked toward the distant sea of lanterns.

Like a glowing river stretching endlessly ahead.

But no one knew—

Except Luna herself—

That her silly expression earlier…

Was just to make Arian smile.

She had been worried about her all along.

Because no one understood Arian better than she did.

After all—

She had spent three years observing her.

Arian…

Had always been protected.

By a gardener.

A red-haired gardener under the full moon, tending flowers in a demonic castle.

Just like now—

She was quietly nurturing a fragile bloom.