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“Not only are you asking for trials for Wendy, but you also want me to accompany her? Where’s your shame?”

Michaela placed her hand on her hip, looking utterly baffled.

After finishing the conversation, we immediately returned to the bedroom. On the bed, Wendy was sound asleep, tightly hugging my pillow. She’s the type who wouldn’t wake up even if someone carried her away. I gently stroked her cheek as she slept.

“I’m her protector.”

“Protector, my foot. You’re just worried about sending your young fiancée off alone.”

“We’re not married yet.”

“Well, of course. Who else but a lolicon like you?”

“You’ve got some serious misconceptions, kid.”

Helga, who had been listening nearby, chimed in, wagging her finger.

“The Count isn’t a lolicon. He just has a preference for much younger women.”

“I knew it…!”

Michaela covered her chest and stepped back. Helga’s comment was bound to cause unnecessary misunderstandings again.

“Helga… You’d be perfect if you just kept your mouth shut. What a shame.”

“?! So, are you saying you’d marry me just for my body? How wicked! You’re planning to use me and throw me away…!”

“I could just throw you away. Michaela, so is it possible?”

“Hmph… I guess there’s no harm. But I’m especially uneasy about letting you accompany her.”

“What do you mean?”

Michaela sighed.

“You’ve experienced it, so you know. The trials I give often reflect the past that’s already gone. No matter what you do there, the future won’t change. Even if you bring someone back to life, they won’t return.”

I understood what she meant. During the first trial, I didn’t kill William Ruelberta. In the end, he committed suicide, but even if he had lived, the future wouldn’t have changed. The trials are just echoes of the past.

But Michaela clicked her tongue, seemingly dissatisfied.

“That’s how it should be… but you’re a bit strange.”

“Strange?”

“Remember when you gave Bella a teddy bear for her birthday?”

“……Dmitri?”

The teddy bear I gave to young Bella during the first trial. She still cherishes it, but for some reason, it’s turning into a ragged golem every time I see it.

Why bring that up now?

“Yes! That! Because of you, that teddy bear isn’t just a doll anymore! Ever since you touched it, it’s been resonating with you!”

“Can you explain that in a way I can understand?”

“After you came out of the trial, that doll started resonating with your soul.”

“Resonating…?”

“If you get hurt, the teddy bear gets hurt too. Does that make sense?”

“Huh…….”

It’s not some cursed doll, is it?

I thought it was just tattered because Bella handled it roughly, but it seems it’s because I’ve lived a rough life. Getting stabbed by Blanshe, losing an eye to Helga, falling into hell in Bella’s place… Thinking about all that, it’s no wonder it’s turned into a ragged golem. Even I feel sorry for Dmitri… though I guess I don’t need to.

“…So, you’re saying that if I enter the trial, it might have unknown effects on the future?”

“Hmph. Exactly. That’s why I’m reluctant. If something weird happens because of you, it’ll be a hassle.”

I couldn’t figure out why I had influenced the future during the trial. Maybe it’s because I’m Sora’s brother, or maybe it’s because I’m an anomaly in this world. Hmm… there are too many possibilities. But Michaela isn’t sure either, so she can’t outright blame me. In times like these, it’s best to just push forward shamelessly.

“Do you have any proof that Dmitri became like that because of me?”

“Huh? It’s because you touched Dmitri.”

“If Dmitri became like that just because I touched it, then why aren’t the other things I’ve touched like that? Explain that.”

“Ugh… that’s…”

“So, there’s no proof it’s my fault, just speculation. In that case, I have no choice but to accompany her. What if something happens to Wendy during the trial?”

“Huh? Are you saying there’s a problem with the trials I give?”

“I’m not blaming anyone. Didn’t you just say it yourself? No matter what happens in the trial, the future won’t change. I believe that.”

I stroked my chin and looked at Michaela.

“I don’t think a single teddy bear could change our future. Don’t you agree?”

“Uh… well… I guess…”

“It’ll be the same this time. So don’t worry and send me along.”

After saying that, I gently stroked Wendy’s cheek as she slept soundly. From now on, she’ll undergo Michaela’s trial.

Even though it’s a trial initiated by my command rather than her own will, there’s no other choice. She needs to gain a personality trait that can offset the ‘misfortune’ blocking her path.

‘I’m sorry.’

Even though it’s for Wendy’s future, this is something I’ve decided on my own. The reason I’m insisting on accompanying her isn’t just because I’m worried about her, but more because I feel responsible for bringing it up in the first place.

I tightly held Wendy’s hand and said to Michaela.

“Then let’s begin.”

*

What I saw wasn’t Wendy’s past, but her ancestors… the descendants of the first Hero.

I only saw fragments, so I couldn’t fully understand their lives, but the ones I saw were all unfortunate. They were righteous but lacked strength. They fell and despaired countless times in the face of a hopeless reality, but they never gave up on living.

Watching them from the side, I couldn’t help but think that the Bloodline of the Hero wasn’t just a title. Beings who never yield to any adversity. That’s what a Hero in this world truly is.

But I stumbled upon an unexpected backstory.

“Was Myohail here earlier?”

“Huh…?”

“No… I should say Wingfield.”

The Sage Myohail. Judging by the circumstances, he was Wingfield, the magician who was a companion of the first Hero, Grace. Who would’ve thought that the companion of the first Hero… the husband who left descendants of the Hero in this world, was right beside us all along.

In other words, I discovered the hidden backstory that Myohail is Wendy’s distant ancestor.

“That old man really fooled me all this time…”

He must’ve been overjoyed to find that his descendants, whom he thought were lost forever, were still alive. Thinking about it, everything made sense. No wonder he doted on Wendy so much—not just because she was a cute disciple, but because she was his own blood.

I almost didn’t recognize him because of the robe, but it was definitely Myohail. The face peeking out from under the robe was different from now, but I could tell. It was fortunate that I had seen him in human form not too long ago. Otherwise, I might’ve mistaken him for a bandit approaching Sylvia.

I watched the two from a distance and eavesdropped on their conversation. I almost got caught by Myohail, but luckily, there was a Sand Worm not far away, so I managed to avoid detection.

“Ah, you’re… the magician who saved Grandma Molly, right?”

Sylvia looked up at me with wide eyes. Like Molly, she looked exactly like Wendy. Blood really does tell… or maybe it’s because Wendy’s consciousness is possessing Sylvia right now. That might be why they look so similar.

Still, I chuckled and patted Sylvia’s head.

“Did Molly tell you? But aren’t I too young to be called that?”

“Magicians live long and don’t age, right…?”

“Magicians are all different. The magician you met earlier might be like that, but I’m not.”

“Th-thank you…”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Wendy… no, Sylvia, bowed her head deeply.

“Grandma Molly said… you’re her life’s savior… She wanted me to thank you if I ever met you…”

“……That’s……”

I was about to say there was no need to thank me, but I stopped. I took a moment to choose my words.

“…Even if I hadn’t stepped in, Molly would’ve survived. She would’ve lived on and left descendants. It was already decided.”

“Huh…?”

“Similarly, even if it wasn’t me, Sylvia, you would’ve survived. Someone would’ve saved you, or you would’ve found a way to survive on your own.”

Honestly, I’m not needed here. Wendy would’ve managed without my interference.

“But the reason I came is…”

I looked into Sylvia’s eyes. Those golden, shimmering eyes, so much like Wendy’s, and I spoke.

“Because I couldn’t leave you alone.”

“Huh……?”

“It’s meddling… no, just self-satisfaction.”

With that, I quickly drew the sword at my waist and slashed through the air.

*Clang!*

The sound of metal clashing echoed in the darkness. Sylvia recognized the object that fell weakly at her feet.

“An… arrow?!”

“Desert lizards… Lizardmen. They’re planning to massacre the humans around here and establish their own kingdom in the desert.”

Where I pointed, the darkness writhed as they approached. Realizing their identity, Sylvia trembled in fear.

“Wh-what do we do? Wh-what about Mom and Dad…?”

“Your parents are safe.”

“Huh?”

“The rock forest to the west. All the survivors are hiding there. Your parents are hiding there too. And I… was asked by them to save you.”

“My parents?!”

The last part was a lie. It’s true that her parents were hiding there, but they hadn’t asked me. They were injured and unconscious from the battle with the Lizardmen. They didn’t have the strength to come save Sylvia.

Originally, Sylvia would’ve been attacked by the Lizardmen and fled. After a chase that lasted until morning, she would’ve been captured, but luckily, a passing mercenary group would’ve saved her. Well, calling it luck is a stretch.

The nameless mercenaries who tried to save Sylvia would’ve been killed by the Lizardmen right after helping her escape.

‘What a strange feeling.’

It’s hard to explain, but I could vaguely sense that’s how it would’ve played out. It wasn’t exactly foreseeing the future. It was more like knowing a future I’d never seen before.

The protagonist of this trial is Wendy. And I’m the supporting character. I look like Tristan, but I’m someone else now. I have the memories of the supporting character I’m playing, and I can vaguely sense the near future.

‘Maybe this is my role to fulfill.’

If I were an actor, the future given to me would be like a script. From now on, I’ll just act according to the script. Of course, there might be some… or quite a bit of ‘ad-libbing.’

If you think I’m just an actor following a script, you’re mistaken. The fact that I left the mercenary group and came here alone was my own whim… an ad-lib.

The Lizardmen were getting closer. There’s no time left.

“Sylvia. You go to the rock forest and hide there. In about a week, the militia and the extermination squad will wipe out the Lizardmen. Just hold out until then.”

“Huh?! Mister?!”

I put Sylvia on the horse I had ridden. She tried to resist, but I tied her firmly to the saddle with a rope.

“N-no! Let me go!”

“You’ve lived in the desert, so you know how to ride a horse, right?”

“Wait!”

“No matter what happens, don’t give up.”

“I-I can fight too!”

As if sensing the farewell, Sylvia grabbed my collar tightly and shook her head.

“Mister, you can’t fight them alone…! I-I’ll stay and fight too!”

“Your courage is admirable, but…”

I laughed mid-sentence. It was the same thing Wendy had said when she insisted on taking punishment not long ago.

“Sniff… Why… why are you doing this for me…?”

Finally, Sylvia started to cry. The more I looked at her, the more she resembled Wendy. I couldn’t tell if this was Sylvia’s real personality or if it was influenced by Wendy.

But seeing her cry like that softened my heart.

“Mister…! Your name…! At least tell me your name…!”

“I am……”

For a moment, I felt the urge to tell her my name. But I couldn’t.

Saying it would be an NG. I instinctively knew it was a mistake that couldn’t be allowed, even as an ad-lib.

In the end, what came out of my dry lips was something entirely different.

“……A nameless mercenary who fought the Lizardmen to save you. That’s who I am ‘now.’ Take care.”

I slapped the horse’s rear, and it started to gallop away. Sylvia, tied to the saddle, reached out toward me.

“Mister!!”

I reassured her tear-streaked face.

“I’ll be waiting in the future.”

 

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