Chapter 18
## Episode 18
"Gasp! Th-there!"
The moment Iri tried to approach where the knights and Declan had gathered.
A sharp scream rang out near the castle walls.
"M-monster...!"
"It's an insect-type monster!"
Had it been stealthily hiding its presence until reaching the destination?
The monster undid its invisibility right by the castle walls and let out a massive roar.
It flew toward the backs of the knights who had just barely started removing their armor.
The monster, emanating a terrifying dark energy, tried to engulf the area near the castle walls.
The numerous servants backed away in fear.
At the monster's attack stance, the knights tensed and gripped their weapons.
Iri held her breath.
*'If everyone gets hurt, do I have to save them?'*
She was thinking that when.
Declan, who had been watching the situation from the castle walls with a bored expression, appeared right in front of the monster.
His form was sturdy, but his eyes held both resolve and fatigue.
His hand holding the Ego Sword trembled faintly, yet he stood firmly blocking the monster.
In sync with the monster's lunge, Declan's sword emitted a cold light as it sliced through the air.
The moment the sword energy clashed with the monster.
Everyone around held their breath all at once.
With Declan's single strike, the monster's body split in half in an instant.
The knights and servants who witnessed it couldn't hide their astonishment.
But at that moment, the magi bursting from the cleaved monster tried to envelop Declan.
"Gasp!"
Someone's short cry echoed through the castle walls.
Then, Declan's Ego Sword shone once more.
He swung it with one hand, slicing even the magi charging toward him right out of the air.
"C-can you slice magi with a sword?"
Whispers of shock came from all around.
Thanks to Grand Duke Ortejo dispatching the monster so effortlessly, the situation resolved quickly.
Most of the servants let out sighs of relief and chattered away.
"With Duke Your Highness here, Ortejo Castle is safe."
"Yeah, His Highness is always so steadfast."
"Even if monsters come right up to our noses, they just die. Lucky, right?"
The servants gathered on one side spotted Iri and bowed their heads in greeting.
Iri greeted them back in kind.
But unlike the bright, relieved atmosphere around her, Iri's expression wasn't great.
Iri knew now.
The people of Ortejo Castle relied enormously on the elder.
Was that why they couldn't see it?
Or was it because Iri was a hero that her eyes were sharp?
*'The elder looks a bit tired.'*
Moreover, some of the magi he'd sliced had been reabsorbed into his body.
Declan's expression remained steadfast without a waver.
But after silently slicing the magi, he thrust his sword into the ground and took a deep breath.
He was enduring it with difficulty.
Iri instinctively noticed.
The way he kept clenching his fists, how his brow furrowed ever so slightly now and then.
The discomfort etched on his face.
*'Super super suspicious.'*
Wanting to follow the elder and see what was wrong.
But Declan vanished with huge strides.
Then Cookie murmured quietly.
"That guy's been acting super weird ever since measuring your immunity."
"......"
"His condition isn't getting worse, is it?"
Iri stared at Declan's retreating back.
*'Should I go see him? I'm worried.'*
Then Cookie muttered.
"Looks like he's heading to his bedroom, so probably to rest."
At the word 'rest,' Iri suddenly recalled her past-life father.
On the day of a kindergarten field trip.
She had asked her father to go to the park in front of their house.
"I need to rest on weekends. Don't bother me when I'm resting. You're no help anyway."
Children who weren't helpful shouldn't bother adults during rest time. Otherwise, she'd never get close to the elder and might even get hated.
*'I'll say thanks and check on him tomorrow.'*
The elder needed rest, after all.
Iri maturely decided to return to her room.
But somehow, her steps toward the room slowed.
* * *
The next morning, and the morning after that, and the morning after that.
No sign of the elder anywhere.
In the meantime, she ate until her belly was bursting. Took naps coolly. Did Forms out of boredom. Wrote letters to Hammuni, strolled with the maids.
But...!
*'Super super worrying! Time's not passing!'*
Iri sighed deeply while looking around restlessly.
After seeing him dispatch the monster that day, the elder had vanished.
Even though her immunity was confirmed, the elder wouldn't meet Iri.
A sign reading [Iri Entry Forbidden] dangled from the firmly shut door.
*'I know the elder needs rest, but...'
In the end, her desire to give thanks won out.
And Iri Ortejo. True to a child who knew no giving up, she found a way.
*'Knock on the door and politely ask why entry is forbidden!'*
She sneaked back to Declan's bedroom.
Of course, she got caught red-handed by the Head Maid.
"Lady Iri, you're here to see Duke Your Highness, right?"
"Yes! I wanna see him!"
Seeing Iri stand tall, the Head Maid murmured quietly.
"I see......"
"Yes. But the elder won't meet me. So I'm gonna wait here like a good kid!"
"Ah......"
The Head Maid's eyes deepened.
She seemed to be pondering something.
Iri, respectful of adults, waited patiently for her response.
A moment later, the Head Maid spoke in a very low voice.
"Lady Iri."
"Yes?"
"In about 5 minutes, the back door for servants only will open very briefly."
"Yes......"
"Exactly 5 minutes. And just in case, we'll put you in a Magi Blocking Suit. 5 minutes should be fine. Just take a quick peek."
"B-but, if I do that, won't the elder hate it?"
That's right.
Aside from that one incident, Iri was still a very K-Confucian child.
And right then.
The Head Maid chuckled softly and said.
"No, I think he'll actually like it?"
"......"
The moment she saw her smile, Iri realized.
The Head Maid had mustered great courage.
They were sincerely eager to let Iri and the elder be together, unusually so.
Iri bowed her head deeply.
"Thank you!"
With a pounding heart, she changed clothes.
After 5 minutes, Iri slipped through a small passage into the slightly ajar door.
She saw the elder asleep on the sofa with eyes closed.
*'Gasp, he was just sleeping because he didn't wanna see me?'*
A twinge of betrayal welled up in her belly, but Iri held back.
And......
A strange feeling made Iri blink.
*'Dunno why, but hard to breathe.'*
Iri glanced around sharply.
She had to follow what adults said. So Iri didn't get too close to the sofa.
But......
Declan's voice came. Like he was searching for someone. Iri flinched and rolled her eyes.
*'She said 5 minutes is okay, so super super sneaking should be fine?'*
Iri cautiously drew nearer to him.
She always followed adults' words to the letter.
Yet like mesmerized, she kept inching toward the elder.
Then, Cookie in her pocket sent a telepathic message.
[Purify him? No. The magi is too strong for you. You're still a seed hero.]
As Cookie's worried words ended.
Iri glanced down at the much closer elder.
*'He's frowning, his eyes!'*
Seeing his deeply furrowed brow, Iri thought.
Was he having a sad dream?
*'I hope he's expressionless like usual, even if not smiling.'*
Iri was a child who never touched others' faces without permission.
Because her instructor said not to touch people carelessly.
But from some unknown impulse.
Iri's round, plump hand brushed the elder's jet-black hair.
Her fingertips stung, her heart swelled intensely.
At that instant, an illusion appeared like a pitch-black curtain draped around Declan.
And at the same time, Iri was flung to the floor with a massive shock.
