Chapter 20
What Was Seen from the Future
Herdin and the knights, who were scanning the front, still seemed unaware of it.
“Herd—”
But before anyone could even call out to him, a gigantic hand appeared and struck at the two of them.
KWAANG—!
With a deafening crash, the trees splintered, and the snow that had piled atop them scattered like a blizzard, obscuring vision.
“Blair!”
When Blair regained consciousness, the first thing she saw was Herdin, his face twisted as he checked her condition.
Just before the attack hit, Herdin had sensed something and, in a split second, grabbed Blair and rolled her to the ground. The horse had disappeared somewhere.
“Your Grace! My lady!”
Through the hazy, floating snow, the distant voices of the knights reached her ears.
Blinking herself awake, Blair instinctively checked on the sable marten she was holding. Wrapping it protectively in both hands, she realized the little creature was unharmed.
“Can you get up?”
Herdin asked. Blair, instead of answering, braced herself. Herdin lifted her, steadying her as she wobbled.
As the snow settled, the blurred scenery gradually became clear. Beyond it, a one-eyed giant appeared—a cyclopean humanoid beast.
Blair froze, locking eyes with the giant. The cyclops, having spotted them, stretched its hand out to attack.
Sensing this, Herdin strengthened his body with aura, lifted Blair, and leapt to dodge the attack. His agility far surpassed any human level.
At that moment, the knights who had located them fired arrows at the cyclops.
The swish of arrows cutting through the air echoed in succession. Yet, while it momentarily distracted the cyclops, it caused no significant damage.
Herdin used the opening to join the knights. The captain ran to them.
“Your Grace! My lady! Are you all right?”
“Fortunately, yes. Kyle, take the first squad and escort the lady out of the forest. The second squad will stay with me to hold off the beast.”
“Yes, sir.”
The captain hurried away to relay the orders to his subordinates.
Herdin removed his cloak and draped it over Blair.
“Hold onto this for now.”
Blair stared blankly at him. There was no fear in his expression. Having spent the war on the frontlines and the northern lands where beasts roamed freely, it was natural for him to remain calm.
But Blair wasn’t like that.
If things unfold as they did in the past, Herdin won’t be in danger… but…
The monster in front of her was terrifying, and the possibility of him getting hurt filled her with fear. Knowing that he survived in the future did little to calm the creeping dread.
She clutched Herdin’s arm as he moved toward the cyclops, feeling compelled to do something but unable to think of words.
All she could do was watch him.
Herdin, glancing between her frightened face and her hand gripping his, let out a small smile.
“Do you think I’m going to die?”
Handing Blair over to the captain who had approached, Herdin advanced toward the cyclops. Blue aura enveloped his body and sword.
“My lady, you must go.”
The captain urged Blair, who was staring blankly at Herdin’s retreating back. She knew he was right—staying would only be a burden—but her feet wouldn’t move, and her eyes wouldn’t look away.
Herdin leapt along the cyclops’ arm, rising high into the air. He immediately began chaining a series of spells. He felt his body was different at that moment.
The sword energy aimed at the cyclops’ neck was blocked by its hand. Normally, that strike would have cut through both the hand and the neck.
Mana…
The amount of usable mana was significantly lower than usual. Though still vastly more than most, his miscalculation created a flaw in his strategy.
“RAAAH!”
The cyclops, wounded on its hand, swung at Herdin in a rage.
Herdin hesitated briefly but quickly dodged, regaining his composure to plan his next move.
He slipped under the thrashing cyclops and cut its legs, preventing it from running and causing further damage.
Next, the arms.
Having severely cut the right arm instead of the neck, he now targeted the left.
But as he sliced through the cyclops’ left arm, the injured right arm clutched him, pressing down with immense force.
“Herdin…!”
Blair, about to leave with the captain, shouted at the sight.
At that moment, a red magic circle flickered between her neck and collarbone. Simultaneously, a fleeting memory flashed through Herdin’s mind—Blair, heavily pregnant, looking at him with tearful eyes.
What… is this…?
The previously depleted mana began returning. Herdin seized the opportunity, channeling mana to cast a spell. It tore through the cyclops’ hand.
He infused his sword with aura and manifested a massive magic circle. Blue light blades appeared in the air, raining down on the cyclops like torrential rain.
“RAAAGH!”
Herdin cut the cyclops’ neck. The beast collapsed, thrashing no more.
Wiping hot blood off his face with the back of his hand, Herdin finally felt the pain in his side, grimacing.
It seemed his ribs had been broken when the cyclops had grabbed him.
Why wasn’t my mana working properly earlier?
The past two months, preoccupied with wedding preparations, he had only done physical training, no mana exercises.
Though neglecting training could lower control, it couldn’t reduce the absolute amount of mana.
Unless some of his mana had disappeared briefly—but it wasn’t truly gone, as he could use it normally now. Mana doesn’t vanish and reappear that quickly. Strange.
“Herdin.”
Blair’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts. Seeing her worried gaze reminded him of the fleeting vision—the pregnant Blair.
What had that memory been about?
The sudden beast attack had interrupted the event.
Ivan summoned the royal gamekeeper for punishment and ordered the royal knights to investigate. The evening banquet planned at the palace was also canceled.
The nobles, previously excited for the New Year, were unsettled by the incident.
Still, the first New Year service of gratitude to the gods and ancestors could not be skipped, so it was delayed by a few hours but eventually held.
Herdin and Blair arrived at the temple, heading first to the annex to treat his broken rib.
But no priests were resting there. The priest who greeted them wore an apologetic expression.
“Oh my, what shall we do? The priests are all away at the moment…”
Only priests chosen by the gods can perform holy magic, so they were few and always busy.
“One of them should be in training. I’ll fetch him immediately.”
As the priest left, he turned back to Herdin.
“Your Grace, as you know, for internal injuries, it’s best to undress for proper treatment.”
Left alone, Herdin began removing his upper garments. Blair attempted to take them, but he placed them on a nearby chair instead.
Giving his clothes to a small woman would only bury her under them.
Unbuttoning his shirt, Herdin asked,
“Can you really see the future?”
Blair looked at him for a moment before replying.
“…You said you couldn’t believe it.”
Her voice was calm, but tinged with resentment.
“Even if it’s hard to believe at first, if something like today repeats, you’ll have to believe it, whether you want to or not.”
Herdin removed his shirt entirely. Seeing his well-toned, half-naked body, Blair quickly looked away.
He gently held her cheek to meet her gaze and said,
“Tell me. What did you see in the future?”
Blair stared at him. His eyes were still cold, but there was no trace of last night’s mockery.
Yet she could not tell him. Could he even believe that she had died, returned from the past, and that he might be the cause?
Moreover, the future he was curious about wasn’t this—it was likely about the fire in the empress’ palace. But she didn’t even know the truth, so she couldn’t tell him.
She decided to dismiss it as just a bad dream.
Then,
“Your Grace, my lady, the priest has arrived.”
The door opened, and they entered with the priest. Blair’s eyes casually followed, only to freeze as she saw the priest being followed by another figure.
“Hello, Your Grace, my lady.”
Miela Elias.
The woman who had been Herdin’s lover in a past life—and soon would be again.