Auuuuhhhhh!!

The chains exploded outward with the light. As they untangled from their many loops, a rumbling spread through the ground. It grew into an earthquake, shaking even those standing on the surface.

Kai and the others on the ground were stunned. But the calm demeanor of Van made everyone around him believe Van was the one responsible for the tremors.

‘…The diversion worked out well.’

‘! Then, safely…’

‘Rescued. I’m leaving now. Meet up later.’

With that, Van vanished in a teleportation.

Only Kai remained standing in the plaza. The onlookers, unable to stand steady amid the quake, stared at him in disbelief.

‘S-s-s-s-super duper!!!’

One person shouted, and suddenly chaos erupted. Fellow students from the Knight Academy rushed over, surrounding Kai.

‘W-wait…’

Chaos erupted, everyone getting crushed in the frenzy.

I wanted to rush over to Elen, but if I moved, everyone else would follow—no way around it.

Kai endured the mauling, gritting his teeth. Van, I thought, might’ve planned this all along and slipped away. A tiny spark of resentment flickered—just enough to notice.

The royal attendants and teachers watching from afar were stunned, unable to believe what they’d just witnessed.

A record-breaking moment in the academy’s history. This moment would be etched into the annals.

“Ah… that spirit…?”

I’d never seen a spirit that large. The square was in complete uproar—no one could calm it down.

Gadiel and the others wore looks of envy.

If not for the curse, we’d all have been in that ceremony too.

The joy swelling in the square mirrored the quiet sorrow spreading through my chest—slow, heavy, inevitable.

Even though it was the royal family’s ancestors who started it all, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was utterly unfair.

(If only I could be with the spirits like that…)

Elen, the spirit, floated in my mind. I’d spoken to her a few times, but I’d only ever seen her watching me warily, as if she were afraid I’d come too close.

Get near her, and she’d vanish. Try to touch her, and she’d pull back. The only time I’d felt even a flicker of warmth was when she’d looked at Gadiel with worry in her eyes, feverish and trembling.

I couldn’t help but wonder—what if there were no feud with the royal family? What if there were no spirit curse?

(Just wishful thinking, I guess…)

Gadiel let out a heavy, restless sigh.

＊＊＊

The scene unfolding before him made Balph feel as though the problem that had kept him awake all night had just vanished into thin air.

The exhilaration bubbled up straight from his chest and burst out as laughter.

“Kuk… kuhaha ha ha…!!”

One of the ancestral legacy left behind was called the "Miracle of the Spirits."

It was a spell cast upon this academy's castle, said to aid communication with spirits and amplify the power of magic.

Academies with a high chance of forming contracts with spirits attracted many foreign students.

This situation would make for a perfect headline to elevate the academy's name. They might even be rewarded with a title. Surely, neighboring nations would take notice.

Balfar couldn't stop laughing.

As if to drown out that unnatural laughter, a single clap echoed from behind.

The applause somehow takes over my ears, pressing down on me. Without thinking, everyone there instinctively turns around—and there they are, as if they’d always been there: royal guards in black cloaks, the commander of the kingdom’s knight corps, and a whole line of them, standing in perfect formation. At the center, the king stands, calm as ever.

Armored from head to toe, the crimson mantle bearing the royal insignia—the highest rank—meant one would protect the king even if drenched in blood. The king’s mantle was white. White, easy to stain, meant one would risk their life to keep it clean. Crimson was reserved solely for Sauvel, the one who leads the unit.

The royal family members and the faculty on site paled at the king’s arrival, all bowing in unison as protocol demanded.

She waved a hand with a smirk, saying, "Relax, now."

Could he be the next great hero after Lovell? How delightful.

The crowd’s cheers wouldn’t stop—they were growing louder, wilder. The academy students, oblivious to the scene, were still buzzing with excitement. Probably didn’t even notice.

Balfar was sweating cold inside. Panic surged forward like a wave, overwhelming him.

Why was the Emperor here? How had he even gotten here? There’d been no warning, no heads-up—Balfar glanced around, but everyone looked just as stunned as he felt.

“Belundoor,” the Emperor said, voice like iron, “I have something to discuss. Come with me.”

No room for refusal. Balfar bowed his head and followed.

The knight commander walking just behind the Emperor’s step shot him a glare. Odd. Why him?

He was ushered away, surrounded by guards, like a prisoner at a parade.

The ones left behind could only stare, dazed, mouth open, still processing the sudden turn of events.

＊＊＊

“Your Majesty!!!”

I reach out toward Ark as he slowly falls to the floor, but my father stops me.

Mom catches Ark just before he crashes into the ground. Then, one after another, spirits surround him.

Led by Life’s Reven and Healing’s Clelen, they begin to heal Ark.

Treating him right here instead of taking him straight to the Spirit World means it’s urgent—really urgent.

Ark’s already drained from the spirit ritual; they must’ve decided he won’t last if we don’t act now.

I look up at my father, wanting to go to Ark’s side, and he gives me a nod—no interfering with the healing.

I rush to Mom, who’s kneeling beside Ark, her hand gently stroking his hair. She beckons me closer.

“Thanks to you, Elen-chan, this child’s going to be alright. Thank you.”

My mother’s smile made tears well up again. This time, they were tears of joy. The realization sank in—really sank in—like warmth spreading through my chest. It was overwhelming.

“Good….”

I couldn’t stop the tears, wiping at them with both hands, when suddenly my mother pulled me close. We both kept our eyes shut, staring at Ark together.

I remembered the moment he’d been chained. It was almost exactly like the vision the royal curse had shown me. The spirit’s cry—“Help me!”—still echoed in my ears, stuck there like a splinter.

Ark hadn’t called for help. But I’d still been so desperate to save him, as if I were the one being dragged down.

My mother had said the fallen spirit’s soul couldn’t be saved by me. I knew that. Still, I couldn’t just stand there doing nothing.

Everything kept piling up, crowding my thoughts. This wasn’t right. I wiped my eyes again.

“Ark-sama….”

I gently stroke Ark’s cheek. The pale color of Ark’s face, so ghostly just moments ago, slowly returns to life, blooming back with warmth.

I want you to open your eyes. I can’t help but think it—just need to make sure you’re alright.

“………っ”

At the exact moment it feels like a miracle, Ark’s eyelids tremble. The air around us instantly floods with joy. Ark’s eyes, barely cracked open, stare blankly, reflecting the spirits surrounding me.

“m…e…ga…mi…?”

“Sleepyhead. …… I looked for you.”

Mother’s voice cracks, a tear slipping down her cheek. I can’t hold back either—sobbing, choking on my own tears.

“tiny… me… ga… mi… again… crying…?”

Ark’s hand lifts, brushing away my tears.

I can’t stop. I collapse into Ark’s chest and bawl like a child.

Ark slowly pushes himself up, pulling me into a tight embrace. He whispers, “Don’t cry, you’re making a mess of things,” his voice soft, his expression faintly exasperated.

“Arc, you helped my daughter, didn’t you? Thank you.”

“…m-mom?…”

“Yes. I married Lovell.”

Origin beams, and Lovell—summoned by her—bows slightly, murmuring thanks for saving her daughter.

“…n-no way…”

“That little one bawling over there? She’s mine and Lovell’s daughter. Isn’t she precious? She fought hard to save you.”

Lovell gives a wry smile at Origin’s cheerful face. “Well, this isn’t the place for this. How about we head back to the Spirit World first?”

“M-mom… little… tiny… mom…”

Arc presses both my tear-streaked cheeks between his hands and kisses my forehead.

I flinch—startled—and the tears stop.

I blink rapidly. Arc grins.

“M-marriage… let’s… my… little… mom…”

The room goes utterly silent. Everyone stares.

I stare wide-eyed, and before I can stop myself, I scream.

"OUTTAOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

＊＊＊

My tears stop instantly, and I’m scolding Arc like a madwoman.

"Listen! Me and Arc-sama are basically siblings by blood! We can't get married!!"

"...How... come?"

Arc tilts his head slightly, and I find myself thinking, just for a second, that he looks kinda cute.

No, no, no—shake my head. If I don’t snap him out of this, he won’t make it back to the Spirit World. Mostly because of Dad.

"Huh? W-WHAT?!!"

Dad’s thrashing wildly, and the other spirits are desperately trying to calm him down, pinning him to the ground.

"Stay away from my Elen!!"

I sigh, watching Dad rage. Mom’s doubled over, laughing so hard she’s clutching her stomach.

What the hell is even happening right now?

"My daughter isn’t getting married!!"

Dad’s voice echoes through the great hall.

"Lord Ark is my lord!!"

"My lord? Me? I'm... my lord?"

"Yes! I'm your little sister!!"

"Is that so..."

"Yes!!"

"Then, when the little goddess grows up, we'll get married."

"But I'm your sister!!"

The conversation had completely spiraled out of control.

Mother was crying from laughing too hard, Father’s furious expression was terrifying, and I had no idea what to do.

But then—suddenly—the air around us filled with joy, flooding in from sadness. The spirits were laughing.

Amidst that, a familiar presence made itself known. We all turned our gaze to the entrance of the great hall—the stairs.

A wave of tension swept through the spirits instantly.

I knew that presence. Why was he here?

"...Your Majesty."

I muttered without thinking as the figure descended the stairs. The King looked over at me and smiled warmly.