After I died, Everything Changed - Chapter 49

“Do we really have to go at night?”

Grand Duke Lahan’s voice was full of complaint.

“We’re sneaking in, so yes.”

“And why exactly do we have to sneak around?”

“Well…”

Just as I was about to answer, Solmon cut in.

“There’s only ever one reason to sneak around—you’ve got something to hide.”

“…Did you have to say it like that?”

“Why sugarcoat it? I’m tired of the way nobles talk in circles.”

“I haven’t even said anything yet,” I muttered, feeling a bit unfairly accused.

“Think about it, Your Grace. Abel’s already got this place locked down. If we show up late, who’s going to be happy to see us? And let’s be honest—our intentions aren’t exactly noble, are they? That’s why we’re creeping around like thieves in the night.”

He had a point—every word of it.

“Well, I guess I’ll let you handle the explaining then.”

I pulled my coat tighter for easier movement and took the lead.

“Just curious… Solmon, why are you even here?”

A bit late to ask, but I couldn’t help wondering why he was tagging along with the Grand Duke.

“I came to collect payment and got dragged into this mess.”

“I thought you were acting as His Grace’s guard.”

“Didn’t I say before? Despite how I look—”

“You’re great with a sword and skilled in martial arts. Yes, yes.”

“Exactly. Not a word wrong.”

Lahan nodded, clearly pleased.

The more I interacted with him, the more shameless he seemed.

“Let’s go. The guards I paid off are changing shifts right now.”

I nodded toward the distant movement of soldiers switching posts.

“Something about the word ‘paid off’ makes me feel strangely connected to you,” Solmon said.

Great. Now we were bonding.

“Anyway, we’re here to investigate the monsters. I need to confirm whether they can actually be used to craft weapons.”

“I’m the one paying for this and taking all the risk, yet you’re the most cautious one here.”

“…So you did read the contract closely.”

Truth be told, all those polished, professional-looking clauses were heavily in my favor.

Of course, if we managed to make weapons from monsters, we’d be equal partners.

“Let’s move.”

We slipped into the shadows and crossed the border of Hekla.

“The stars are really bright tonight,” Solmon said, practically lying on the ground, his tone oddly romantic.

“Are we sure just waiting here will make a monster appear?”

“If not tonight, we’ll just have to come back again.”

Monsters never showed up just because we wanted them to.

“If I’d known it would be this boring, I would’ve brought cards.”

I looked at Lahan—the one responsible for bringing this grumbler.

Sensing my gaze, Lahan grinned.

“Just think of him as a storyteller. Makes things more entertaining, doesn’t it?”

“Do you realize we’re in the middle of something dangerous?”

“Lady Mergen, snapping like that won’t make anything easier,” Solmon said, swinging his foot back and forth.

“Next time, bring packed lunches too.”

“Now that is a good suggestion,” Lahan said without shame.

“Do we even know what these monsters look like?”

“For now, they say they still look somewhat like animals. Some are even as tall as a person…”

Right in the middle of my sentence, I felt a sudden vibration in the ground.

And then—

—Watch out!

—Run!

Someone’s voice—urgent and sharp—rang in my ears.

Startled, I turned to Lahan.

His eyes were fixed in the distance.

“Is it… that one?”

He pointed toward something rushing toward us like a storm.

A massive whirlwind—like a sandstorm—was coming fast.

“This might be a bad time, but I have a confession.”

“What, a love confession?”

We had no choice but to shake off the casual mood and raise our guard.

“Honestly, I’m about as useful in a fight as that cactus over there.”

“That’s about what I expected,” Solmon replied coolly.

“So what I mean is—”

“Get down!”

Lahan pulled me close and pushed me out of the way.

“Next time, don’t bring me!”

Well, I had to admit, his enthusiasm was appreciated.

Checking on my own business in person is basic due diligence…
But maybe I should make a rule not to get physically involved next time.

“Ugh! Something’s coming out of the ground!”

The sandstorm-like whirlwind surrounded us in a sudden rush.

We were under attack by something without even a visible form.

“I thought they just looked like animals… I didn’t expect them to have strange abilities like this.”

No one had told us that monsters—magi—could possess powers like this.

“Watch out!”

Something shot up from the ground like an arrow.

Pfft!

It grazed Lahan’s arm, ripping through the fabric of his sleeve. Blood splattered as the fabric tore.

“Solmon, do you know anything about this?”

“I’ve been through plenty of battles… but this? This is new to me.”

Even Solmon’s face was tight with tension.

“Do you think there’s a main body? Or are these little things all separate creatures?”

What was attacking us looked like black clumps the size of mice—small, but fast and aggressive.

“We’ll know once we tear them all apart,” Lahan said, gripping his sword tighter.

“Let me help.”

……

Both men glanced at me with the same unspoken message in their eyes.

“Fine. I’ll stay back.”

Only after I changed my words did they look away.

Chik!

Chaak!

Their blades sliced rapidly through the air.

As they fought, I scanned the surroundings.

—There! There, in the sand!
—It’s coming for you!
—Filthy creature!

The whispers were growing louder—trying to help me.

—Look over there. That red eye—find it!
—I saw it too!
—It’s watching you!

I focused on the voices, following them with my gaze, feeling through the shadows.

Patches of sand scattered in different directions—but one spot stood out.
It felt as though it was calling to me.

“Over there! That’s it! That’s the main body!”

I pointed and shouted to Lahan and Solmon.

Lahan immediately ran in that direction.

“It’s deep in the ground—stab your sword down, all the way!”

At my command, Lahan leapt and drove his blade into the sand.

It sank deep—cleanly, smoothly.

And then, something blasted him backward.

“Lahan!”

It all happened in an instant.

“That was… a totally new experience.”

Solmon shook his head as he shoved the monster’s remains into a sack.

All three of us were scratched, scraped, and bruised in various places.

“So monsters really are different from animals. They’re smarter too, clearly.”

Solmon looked oddly fascinated by the whole ordeal.

“At least no one seems seriously hurt.”

The worst injury was the cut Lahan had taken to his arm at the very beginning.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t have enough information. Next time, we’ll come back during the day—and bring soldiers.”

“It wasn’t so bad,” Lahan replied. “It’s been a while since I felt my blood run cold like that. Kind of refreshing, in a way.”

He was clearly saying it so I wouldn’t feel embarrassed.

“Please have the remains analyzed. If the monster’s corpse really holds power and potential, then this night won’t have been for nothing.”

“I’ll look into it.”

Though we spoke casually, I was sure we were both thinking the same thing.

It’s a relief we survived.

How does Abel face monsters like these time after time?

Was he never afraid?

Is he truly someone who can protect the land of Mergen?

But thoughts like that were meaningless.

What kind of fate he was born with… it wasn’t my place to decide.

“Let’s go back.”

Tonight, I walked away with two things: a hint of fear—and a strange sense of excitement about the power that had come to help me.

“I swear I heard something out here…”

The knight who had come with Abel looked around, convinced he’d heard noise earlier.

“I really thought it was a monster, but I guess not.”

He slumped slightly, disappointed.

Abel, however, was silently observing his surroundings.

There was still faint dust in the air, and the texture of the sand had been visibly disturbed.

“Someone was here.”

“Ah—you’re right! There’s blood over here!”

“And drag marks, too—like something heavy was pulled away in a sack.”

Abel slowly scanned the area, his gaze sweeping the perimeter.

A gust of wind stirred, and the scent of greenery drifted faintly through the air.

He stepped toward the patch of sand stained with monster blood.

His fingers brushed the greenish fluid.

It was still warm.

“…So the unease begins again.”

Abel exhaled softly. His breath settled into the sand, quiet but heavy.

His cool gaze drifted down to his hand, where the monster’s blood clung to his skin.

Oddly enough, it didn’t feel entirely repulsive.
It almost felt like it was… welcoming him.

It started that day.

From the moment I came face-to-face with that monster, I began to notice pale, shimmering forms hovering near me.

They would swirl slowly in wide circles or gather close together, moving in tune with my mood.

Are they spirits? Fairies?

It was just a guess—I couldn’t say for sure.

But one thing I was certain of:
They weren’t a threat.
I felt that clearly.

“My lady, the Lord is going out for an inspection this morning.”

Karlin stepped into the room, speaking in her usual calm tone.

“Do you know where he’s headed?”

“I believe he said he was going to the border of Hekla.”

“…”

Today, of all days?

He couldn’t possibly know what I stirred up out there last night… could he?

“Did he leave any other message?”

“No, my lady. That was all.”

“This whole situation just keeps making things worse for me.”

Not a good start to the day.

Was everything falling apart because I was rushing things too much?

“Oh, right—that’s not even the important part, my lady.”

“Then what is?”

“You need to prepare for a visit to the Imperial Palace.”

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