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“The Iron Bar Knight, Ray. Don’t you have any questions for me?”

Ray stared coldly at his master seated in front of him, his expression unchanging.

As expected of a noble’s second daughter. She looked as plump as a stuffed pig.

Somehow, not only did she know his background, but she was also the woman harboring the secret deep enough to provide the Status Window with a dangling Quest.

Despite being a slave and servant who always bowed in obedience, he found it hard to suppress his rising curiosity.

“You seem to be deep in thought. Don’t be afraid; you can ask me anything comfortably.”

“However, how could someone of my lowly status…”

“I clearly told you that I allow it.”

“…Then I will take the liberty to ask.”

Only then did a sharp glint begin to shine in Ray’s eyes.

“Do you remember what we talked about when we first met?”

“Of course. There’s no way I’d forget in such a short time.”

“Then, if I may be so bold to ask, how did you come to know of that judicial name—”

As Ray’s words continued, Shione’s smile grew even more substantial at the corners of her mouth.

It was a mix of satisfaction because he acted just as she expected, and excitement that the curtain was rising on the play of reincarnators and those who had lived before.

She was grinning at the thought of having him read the title of the book by her bed, How She Survives as a Reincarnator.

However, Ray’s unexpected comment shattered her smile.

“At the end, you asked for my origin, and instead of a place name, you used that curse. What did you mean by that?”

“What…? Did you just say I cursed?”

Did I actually curse…?

I couldn’t remember saying anything profane—

Oh.

“Are you telling me that the word ‘damn’ is considered a curse?”

“…Did you not know its meaning?”

Shione’s expression crumpled as she let out a sigh.

In situations that seemed precarious or when facing urgent troubles, Ray would utter those two syllables with a heavy tone, praying in his own way.

Believing that it was merely a wish for the safety of himself and everyone else…

“Hah…”

It seemed Ray had a rougher tongue than she had anticipated.

There was a reason the spirits spoke up when she asked about it.

*

The story slowly unfolded.

After clearing up the misunderstanding regarding the curse and sharing some serious topics, Ray found himself holding a book of his own. He stared at the title intently.

“So, you are saying that in the previous world, you and I had a close relationship… as reincarnators, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“So, it was you who pulled me from the iron bars to verify my archery skills…”

Ray quietly nodded as he organized his thoughts.

As their conversation progressed, he gradually began to understand the situation and carefully inquired once more.

“Then, even after reincarnating, the fact that you sought me out again means that I must play a role in your past and future that you will go through, correct?”

Why would the reincarnator seek him out?

The reason was obvious. According to the Quest that had arisen, it mentioned that the fate of this world would be determined by her.

Ultimately, she couldn’t prevent the catastrophe by her own strength and ended up using the means of reincarnation as a last resort.

Among those who helped her the most was himself, meaning that she needed him to overcome the hardships yet to come.

Shione nodded silently, affirming his words.

Ray was merely reciting the answer he had already decided on.

“…Then I shall once again accompany you, Princess Shione.”

After all, in a world where the end was foreseen, having knowledge of the future was more beneficial than a curse.

The fact that he had shared stories about himself with her proved more than enough to build trust.

Once imbued with the weight of his words—

Knock knock—

Someone knocked on Shione’s door.

“Princess Shione, I will be coming in.”

The owner of the voice was Herrel.

With her arrival, the deepening conversation between Shione and Ray abruptly ended.

As time flowed by, Ray whispered quietly to Shione.

“Ah, it’s Herrel. She holds you in such high regard. When I mentioned that I would become your servant, I couldn’t even count the praises she heaped upon you.”

“…?”

“However, it seems those around her regard her with some disfavor.”

“Could you elaborate on that a bit more—”

“It seems she appeared rather precarious… It might be a good idea for you to make time to discuss with Herrel later on.”

Shione seemed to have more to say, but there was nothing further she could express.

After all, the subject of their conversation had just entered the room.

Even Herrel, who hadn’t awakened her Mana, could easily hear even the smallest whisper in this silence.

“Oh, it seems both Princess Shione and Ray are here.”

Shione managed to hide her smile at Herrel’s beaming face.

“With one more servant starting today, I suppose I will have slightly fewer tasks.”

Ray’s previous words were rather bothersome.

*

Time passed swiftly.

These events should have happened after meeting Ray, but…

For instance, Ray defending her alone among the other servants, or strolling together in the mansion’s garden, disappointingly never took place.

Or rather, even if they had occurred, it was always like someone was watching.

Herrel seemed to ensure that they were never allowed a moment to converse separately, causing countless incidents to pass by without resolution.

Moreover, a persistent dark mist plagued her mind, making things even more difficult.

‘…He did mention it seemed precarious.’

As she stepped outside the room and began to observe Herrel, the fragments of the unfolding events finally began to appear.

The demon they needed to find was nowhere to be seen.

While already tangled in disregard, remnants of the past began to unravel again in ways she couldn’t have anticipated.

Unable to turn away from these shards of truth, she found herself intrigued.

‘Treated as if I don’t even exist.’

Herrel was treated as though she were invisible.

No other servant acknowledged her unless it was related to very basic duties or business.

‘And—’

Then there were suddenly those words Ray had let slip before.

There were whispers among the servants about adverse remarks regarding Herrel.

‘…That continues to bother me.’

What Ray suggested about arranging a meeting might be worth considering.

Lying alone on her bed, resting her body, the moment Herrel left at Ainel’s call, Ray, who had been assigned to clean her room, suddenly sparkled with excitement.

“…What’s this?”

A notebook filled with Shione’s hasty scrawl lay open before her desk. Ray, captivated, began to read through her memories left behind.

A sequence of events described in excessive detail, the rules of this place, and a summary of everything so far.

The phrases that couldn’t definitively be declared fictitious were overwhelmingly provocative, and it wasn’t difficult for him to grasp her experiences and understand the truth about the origin of this world.

He placed down the cleaning tools and, after pondering thoughtfully, stood before the lying Shione.

“You mentioned before, Princess Shione, that our past connection was close enough that I could ask simple questions freely.”

“That’s right, I indeed said that.”

Upon hearing those words, she, who had been gazing aimlessly at the ceiling, raised her body and looked at Ray.

He radiated a chilling atmosphere that she hadn’t expected.

Shione decided to regain her composure and address him.

“Are you bringing that up now because… perhaps there are questions you wish to ask me when Herrel is not around?”

“Yes. I would like to ask you a simple question, but… may I?”

“Of course.”

Shione nodded eagerly.

For some reason, whenever she intended to have conversations that wouldn’t be of much benefit if shared with others, Herrel appeared, so if she didn’t talk now, she didn’t know when she could speak so openly again.

Thus, the dialogue took shape.

Ray began to look at her just as he had when he once delivered the most important words while looking down at her, who had been lazily lounging on the bed in the past.

“So… taking this opportunity to ask.”

He delicately raised a short yet significant question.

“When do you plan to find and behead the demon?”

 

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