“So, how does it feel to see me after such a long time?”
“This… this is impossible. How can you still be alive…?!”
Vitian shook his head in disbelief.
“You were undoubtedly the princess of Promian.”
“That’s right.”
“B-But how… how can you be Sherina?”
“Just as you see.”
I kindly explained to the bewildered Vitian.
“The truth is, the princess of Promian was the reincarnation of the Archmage Sherina. That’s all there is to it.”
“…..…!”
Even after realizing who I was, he still looked confused.
In fact, he wasn’t the only one struggling to comprehend my identity here—everyone in the room, though silent, was clearly taken aback.
“…Ugh.”
A groan came from Delight.
I glanced back slightly to see Delight had completely lost consciousness.
That was actually convenient.
With him out cold, dealing with Vitian would be much easier.
“I hid it well all this time, but thanks to you, I’ve been exposed like this.”
As I took a step forward—
Rumble!
The ground trembled, and the pillars began to shake.
“Ugh…!”
“The ground is shaking!”
Anyone who had their feet on the ground collapsed helplessly.
At that moment, I extended my hand.
Delight, who was lying unconscious, as well as the shocked Blueny, Serdin, and Zaire behind him—
I cast a protective barrier to shield them from the effects of my magic.
“Do you think anything will change just because you appeared now?! Even if you really are Sherina, you’re just a trapped rat here!”
I let out a small chuckle.
It was genuinely amusing.
“Time really is terrifying.”
“What nonsense are you spouting now?!”
Vitian looked irritated by my reaction.
But wasn’t it funny?
“It’s only been a few decades, and yet your memory has become so distorted.”
When something is right before your eyes, it appears larger than life.
And when it’s gone, it seems insignificant.
Memories make people believe they can take me on and win.
“In that case, it doesn’t matter who I am, does it?”
I spoke with ease, locking eyes with him.
“So what if this is the heart of the Ilnord imperial palace?”
Vitian tilted his head as if he truly couldn’t understand.
“If I wanted to, I could snap your neck this very instant.”
“Ha. Do you really think you can?”
“And why wouldn’t I be able to?”
“Then that thing you cherish will die here as well!”
“…….”
“Hah! I knew it! You can’t bring yourself to kill him, can you?”
Vitian smirked confidently.
He seemed convinced that he had hit a nerve when I remained silent.
He really hasn’t changed.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
There was no need to listen to him any longer.
“The only reason I even entertained your words was out of sheer curiosity.”
“……?”
“If I spared you, would you let Delight go without resistance? Of course not.”
Which meant there was no reason to be swayed by Vitian’s threats.
After all, there was only one way to protect everyone here and escape safely.
“So rather than waste my time, I might as well kill you and vent my frustration. Don’t you think?”
If I had to hold someone’s life in my hands, it might as well be his.
That was the only way out of here.
“Do you remember what I told you before I died?”
I stared coldly at him and spoke.
“If you fail to kill me properly… then next time, you will be the one to die.”
My words were a sentence.
And at that moment, Vitian’s throat was in my grasp.
“Ugh… What is this? Why… why can’t I move…?”
My binding magic had frozen his entire body in place.
“C-Cold….”
“The longer it lasts, the more you’ll feel the chill seep in. Your body temperature will drop.”
If he wanted to survive, he’d better start thinking fast.
“P-Please… Spare me.”
Vitian pleaded desperately, his face pale with fear.
“And if I do?”
“I’ll let you go without harming anyone.”
He glanced at Delight, who lay unconscious.
He thought I had no choice but to accept his offer.
But the more he believed that, the more my lips curled in amusement.
As if I would ever obediently comply with his wishes.
“And how do I believe you?”
“You have to!”
“Then prove it.”
I took a step closer.
“…I’ll give you the crown prince as a hostage! Just release me when you leave!”
His voice trembled in terror as he blurted out whatever he could.
I turned my gaze to the emperor.
“I didn’t expect this.”
Honestly, this surprised me. I hadn’t thought he’d offer up his own son as proof of his sincerity.
“But, well…”
I had no reason to refuse.
“Fine. Let’s do it.”
“W-What are you all waiting for?! Bring the crown prince! Now!”
Vitian shouted at the knights, barely able to move.
And soon, the crown prince was in my hands.
“…Your Majesty! How could you do this to me?!”
Dragged in without fully understanding the situation, the crown prince only realized too late that he was being offered as a hostage in place of the emperor.
“T-This isn’t right! There must be another way…!”
The empress, who had come along, desperately clung to the crown prince’s arm, trying to persuade the emperor.
But—
“If you are truly my son, why are you not stepping forward to save me?!”
The crown prince’s face twisted with horror and disbelief.
Yet, in the end, he had no choice but to obey his father’s command.
“What a beautiful sight.”
A father who would sacrifice his child to save himself.
“Delight would never have sent me off as a hostage.”
The contrast was striking.
Not that I felt any sympathy for the crown prince.
As soon as he was in my grasp, Emperor Vitian stepped back.
Relief washed over his face, while humiliation and terror clouded the prince’s.
“Are you really that Archmage?”
The crown prince, now my hostage, asked in a sharp, agitated tone.
“Was the Archmage Sherina always this cowardly?”
Even while in my grasp, he resisted.
“Why? Did you expect me to be noble, righteous, and merciful?”
An Archmage. A hero.
Once, I was a symbol of protection for the Ilnord Empire.
And so, people often made the mistake of assuming things about me.
“Did you think I was some kind of saint?”
That all great beings must be good and just.
It had been a while since I last heard such a misconception, and it was almost amusing.
“I lived my life on countless battlefields. My reputation was forged in war.”
Only those who didn’t truly understand what that meant made such assumptions.
And now, even this foolish and pitiful crown prince had fallen into the same illusion.
“Did that sound like a fairy tale to you?”
No matter how much time passed, I could still vividly remember those days.
Even if more years went by, I would never forget.
“On the battlefield, no matter how great you are, you can die in an instant. If you don’t want that to happen…”
I tightened my grip on the crown prince and murmured in a chilling voice.
“You must abandon all sense of morality and act like a demon to win.”
Yes.
That was how I became the Archmage.
Having infinite mana and being a genius certainly helped, but that wasn’t everything.
“And yet, you call me a coward for taking you hostage?”
His reaction was laughable.
“If I truly wanted to be cowardly.”
I said in a deliberately low and menacing tone.
“I wouldn’t let you go before I leave. I would kill you right here.”
“…Ugh!”
“That wouldn’t be such a bad idea, would it?”
“H-Hiiik!”
My words struck him hard.
I could feel the prince trembling in fear.
To think he was this terrified over just a bit of intimidation.
He was nothing compared to Serdin.
“L-Let me go! Let me go right now!”
The crown prince struggled desperately for his life, yet his fear kept his body frozen in place.
“Stay still. If you behave, I might just let you live.”
He had already lost the courage to resist.
With that settled, I used my free hand to create a massive magic circle.
It would consume an enormous amount of mana and leave a trace.
But since my cover had already been blown, there was no reason not to use the most efficient method.
“Step onto the magic circle. I’ll send you all directly to the Promian palace.”
Through teleportation, Zaire was the first to carry Delight across.
Then came Blueny and Hiel.
Finally, Luciel took Serdin with him.
And now, the last thing left—
“What should I do with you?”
“…….”
“If you become the emperor of Ilnord one day, it’ll be troublesome. Maybe I should deal with you now.”
“…Ack!”
At that moment—
Thud!
I kicked the crown prince away.
“Watching Ilnord collapse because of you might be entertaining, so I’ll let you live for now.”
I flashed him a bright smile.
Then, stepping onto the magic circle one last time, I said—
“See you again.”
