MTM 78

“You…!”

Reina was so shocked that she shouted. At that moment, the sound of stone hitting something echoed outside the carriage.

Ser didn’t miss the opportunity. He sent a red energy into the door handle and muttered. A strange pattern rose in the air. It was the spell code of the barrier.

“You were a mage?”

“…Keep your voice down.”

Ser scolded her and started at the code. When he brushed it with his fingertip, the code scattered like smoke. Over the blurred space, he began drawing ancient numbers.

“When the door opens… hold your breath.”

“Yes.”

Right before he engraved the last number, Ser warned her and took a short breath, then he moved his fingertips in sync with the noise from outside. When the last glyph was completed, flames flared and turned to ash.

Clack.

The sound of the lock releasing rang out heavily.

“……!”

This time they couldn’t match the timing with the stone hitting sound, and both froze at the same time. Fortunately, the guards were still too absorbed in their bet to notice.

Ser sighed in relief and carefully turned the handle. The inner lock moved smoothly. It looked like they could get out.

Looking back, Reina’s face was a mixture of relief and joy. Ser nodded quietly and waited for the noise outside to grow louder. Soon, his chance arrived.

Tap!

…Creak.

Ser pushed open the carriage door with both hands, creating a crack just big enough for one person to squeeze through. Without hesitation, Reina lowered herself through the gap and stepped down gently. Fortunately, she wasn’t wearing shoes. Not even the sound of h er footsteps on the grass could be heard.

Ser also held his breath and quietly exited the door.

‘Which direction should we run…?’

Ser quickly scanned the surroundings. The side with many trees and thick brush looked safe, but it would be easy for them to get discovered at the start. They would be found immediately after entering the brush. If unlucky, they could be spotted by nearby hunters and die for nothing.

But walking on the main road was also dangerous. Their clothing was too distinctive, and more than that, Reina’s existence made it worse. She is a woman. And with Reina’s beauty, taking her around was no different from traveling with a target on their backs for bandits.

Ironically, Ser was seriously thinking, forgetting his own beauty.

‘I think crossing the mountain first is better…’

When he turned his head, he saw a mountain peak not far away. However, to get there, they had to pass by the guards stationed there. Fortunately, if they passed quietly while the guards were busy with something else, they might not be discovered.

Ser gestured to Reina, signaling that they should cross the mountain. Reina, perhaps aware that this time her life was at stake, nodded with her mouth firmly shut.

The two of them walked slowly, trying to keep their footsteps as quiet as possible.

Crack, crack…

The sound of stones hitting branches continued.

“Ahaha, Serdin! Is that really all you can do? Don’t throw with your wrist, use your arm muscles!”

“Ugh… I can’t do it anymore.”

Serdin tapped his shoulder and gave up.

“Hey, watch carefully. I’ll show you.”

The guards were still absorbed in their bet. Kailen, who had suggested the bet first, set his stance and threw a stone.

Tak!

The sharp stone grazed the tip of a tall tree’s branch and fell to the ground, splitting in two. When the winner was decided, Serdin clapped without interest and pulled out sausage and potatoes.

“Just give me the sausage.”

“The potatoes are good too… fine.”

Kailen gave him a biscuit after receiving the sausage. Only then did Serdin smirk. The two sat in the grass and shared their food.

After finishing the sausage quickly, Kailen spoke in a low voice.

“That Book of Prophecy…”

“The Book of Prophecy? You’re interested too?”

“No, I’m just saying because I heard something.”

“What is it?”

Serdin’s eyes lit up and he pulled the prophecy book and the interpretation notes from inside his clothes. Kailen threw a round stone up and caught it again while speaking.

“I heard every interpreter has a different explanation for the final Book of Prophecy. Some say the ‘blood soaked kingdom’ means the Regnovar Empire. Honestly, it fits, right? Even if you say it’s Regnovar, it doesn’t feel wrong at all.”

“Well… that’s true. Even the Regnovar knights can’t earn a single proper coin and only work themselves to death…”

Kailen nodded in agreement. After that, the two of them talked seriously.

‘So the prophecy had already spread…’

Harto, trapped in the glass bottle inside Reina’s pocket, was carefully listening to their conversation. He was surprised that the Book of Prophecy even existed, but he was even more surprised that there were multiple interpretations.

And he was shocked to hear that some people interpreted it as referring not to the fallen eastern kingdom, but to the Regnovar Empire.

‘How is Hartiros written in the Book of Prophecy…’

He knew the ending better than anyone, but he couldn’t help being curious.

“…There’s also this part. I thought it was strange. ‘On the day the flower plucked from the land of purification withers, a single radiant light will cut through the darkness.’ Isn’t that obviously talking about Princess Carseon?”

“Hey, the princess? Don’t say that out loud…”

“There’s no one listening here, so it’s fine, isn’t it?”

After Kailen’s warning, Serdin scanned the area and muttered quietly. Fortunately, Ser and Reina were moving carefully without being discovered.

Hearing Arcanis Carseon’s name here again was unexpected.

‘Yes, it makes sense that they’d be careful talking about her…’

Harto recalled Arcanis Carseon’s life that he read in the side story of the novel.

She was Ares Carseon’s mother and a woman who met a tragic fate. She was born as the princess of Carseon, the first holy kingdom blessed by the gods and spirits.

Unlike its neighbors, Carseon never achieved significant growth due to its extremely closed-off policies. Long ago, many coveted its land. Yet, no one dared to wage war and seize this beautiful and sacred place. It’s safe to say they never dared. Carseon was, in fact, the very domain of the gods.

Then one day, a new emperor ascended the Regnovar Empire’s throne. At sixteen, the young emperor wanted to establish achievements quickly and solidify his position.

“I will make the holy kingdom of Carseon my vassal.”

This somewhat shocking declaration drew concerns from surrounding empires, and even his ministers and close associates attempted to dissuade him. But no one could break his stubborn will. In the end, Carseon, which had weak military power, surrendered after several attempts at resistance.

The emperor was satisfied simply with taking the one place no empire had ever invaded. He even refused to receive a representative of peace. But when he saw Arcanis, the first princess of Carseon, he changed his mind.

It was unavoidable. Her beauty was so extraordinary, like the blood of gods and spirits was mixed in her veins, that she didn’t seem like someone of this world. The rumor that she had the extinct bloodline of elves among her distant ancestors didn’t feel exaggerated. She captivated the emperor at first sight.

The emperor took her by force to the Regnovar Empire. The wedding was held instantly, and she became the empire’s crown princess in one day.

“…The word ‘light’ comes up several times, right? I think this is pointing at Ares Carseon.”

“Ares Carseon? The seventh prince? He’s missing right now.”

“Well… yes.”

“He might be dead.”

“Yes…”

Serdin smiled bitterly at Kailen’s certain tone. He seemed to be one of Ares Carseon’s passionate followers.

‘I used to think so too. But…’

Harto thought. Ares Carseon probably wasn’t dead. There wasn’t clear evidence, but that was how he felt. Maybe he wanted to believe it because Ares was the one fated to end his own life.

“Whatever it is, the Book of Prophecy says the world will be destroyed. So what does any of that matter?”

Harto’s heart grew heavy at Kailen’s bitter comment.