No More Regrets, Just K*ll Me

 

“…What.”

Carlothian responded briefly, indicating that he was somewhat surprised by the change in their behavior but soon showed disinterest as he descended the stairs and extended his hand to me.

For some reason, his eyes looked dark. I wondered if he hadn’t slept well due to too much work.

I took his hand and asked as we went down the stairs,

“We’re going to the temple today, right?”

“Yes.”

Once we stepped outside the lodging, I could see a crowd heading toward the temple. The long line of people climbing the stairs was already exhausting to look at.

“Wow, so many people are coming to see the temple.”

“It’s a place that attracts crowds even in winter, so it’s even busier in pleasant weather like this.”

Carlothian and I, along with a few knights and servants, began to head toward the temple stairs.

The lodging wasn’t far from the stairs. As we approached, I noticed some nearby cafés.

Noble ladies were sitting in the second-floor cafés, gently fanning themselves. I looked up at them.

Then I looked back up the stairs and noticed something strange.

“Why are all the people going up men?”

“There aren’t any specific rules about it.”

“Then why?”

Carlothian pointed to the temple at the top of the stairs.

“It’s said to be the most sacred place on this land, aside from the temple. There’s a saying that if you don’t climb it yourself, you won’t receive a blessing.”

“Really?”

“It’s just a rumor.”

I glanced back and forth between the café and the stairs, then asked Carlothian,

“So the ladies in high heels sit in the café and just watch while the men go up the stairs?”

“Besides that.”

“Besides that?”

“They hand out flowers in front of the temple.”

“Flowers? What kind of flowers?”

“Just ordinary white flowers. The kind you see in the wild.”

“And what’s the point of those flowers?”

“They are said to carry a sacred essence and bestow a small blessing on those who receive them.”

“Oh.”

“It’s a marketing strategy.”

“A marketing strategy, huh?”

My excitement had been building up, but now it had suddenly died down.

Carlothian, who had been quietly looking down at me, spoke up.

“So, typically, ladies wait below for their knights or fiancés to bring them the flowers.”

“Oh, is that how it is?”

“So, are you going to wait below?”

“Of course not.”

I knew how to climb the stairs, and I had come in a simple dress and comfortable shoes.

I placed my foot on the first step and pointed upwards.

“Did I ever tell you that I used to hike a lot back in the day?”

“When did you ever do that?”

Don’t you know? I have a vague memory of climbing the mountain at dawn to sing, hoping to get a drink.

“Well, it happened. Let’s go!”

But I had overlooked one thing: my current body was that of a scrawny Ariadeline.

Five minutes, ten minutes, twenty minutes. Thirty minutes. This is ridiculous. My body started to pant heavily.

Even at this level, I was considered to have decent stamina for a noble lady.

“Haah, huff.”

“Tsk.”

Carlothian and the knights watched as I struggled, nearly crawling, while the servants were merely sweating a bit.

“…Crazy.”

I felt my dress sticking to me with sweat and shook the fabric at my chest. I was hot, tired, and sweaty, and I just wanted to jump up and down.

“Eh.”

At that moment, Carlothian suddenly took off his outer coat and threw it at me. Bewildered, I looked at him with a questioning gaze.

“I’m not cold.”

“Just put it on.”

“I said I’m not cold—ugh!”

Carlothian quickly came down the stairs and lifted me up effortlessly.

No! What is he doing now?

“What are you doing?!”

“It’s hard to watch you like this.”

With that, Carlothian started to ascend the stairs while carrying me. In surprise, I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“Are you sure this is okay?”

“What?”

“I must be heavy…”

He raised one eyebrow and looked at me with a displeased expression. What? Did I say something I shouldn’t have?

“Do I look that weak to you?”

“No, that’s not it, but it’s a difficult climb even for one person.”

“That’s only by your standards.”

He started to stride up the stairs, carrying me in front of the knights. I clung tightly to his neck, trying to calm my oddly racing heart.

‘How am I supposed to deal with his habit of unintentionally making people flustered?’

I asked him casually, “But you said it’s meaningless if you don’t climb it yourself?”

“It’s all just a made-up story.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course.”

With that, he silently continued up the stairs. It was impressive how he maintained steady breathing, even though the knights following us were beginning to gasp for air.

‘Seriously, how does someone who just sits around looking at paperwork have this much stamina?’

The stairs seemed to stretch on forever. I held onto the coat Carlothian had thrown to me, nestled in his arms, until we reached the top.

Hah, I’ll be the first one here who didn’t climb it on my own.

Carlothian set me down without showing any signs of fatigue.

Wow, how good is his stamina?

“Are you really not tired?”

He raised an eyebrow again, just like before.

“Our family is a warrior.”

“I see.”

After all, he was the strongest swordsman in the world. Being skilled with a sword naturally means having the stamina to support it.

“But what about those people?”

I pointed to the servants who had barely made it up the stairs and the knights who were panting.

“Lack of training.”

“I see.”

Poor knights. They didn’t seem to be lacking in training at all.

I turned to face the temple and gaped. Wow, it’s really huge.

“The scale is truly impressive!”

It looked big from a distance, but up close, the grandeur of the temple was undeniable. Each of the pillars supporting the temple seemed like it could fit three people around it.

I was busy admiring the sight when Carlothian approached and offered me something.

“Oh, what’s this?”

Looking down at his hand, I saw a long-stemmed small flower. I blinked in surprise.

“Oh, this is that, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

‘Is he concerned because I couldn’t climb up on my own?’

I carefully accepted the flower. It looked smaller in Carlothian’s hand, but it was actually quite large. It gave me a strangely ticklish feeling.

“Th-thank you.”

“Not a big deal.”

I held the flower with both hands, smiled, and then tucked it beside my ear. Suddenly, everyone watching me had a subtly stiffened expression.

What? Why? What’s wrong?

“…It doesn’t look bad, but…”

Carlothian began to show a hint of unease. I looked at him and smiled brightly.

“Hehe.”

Then I immediately dashed into the temple.

“Miss Ariadeline!”

“What are you doing?!”

It seems that the saying about someone being crazy for wearing a flower in their hair applies in this world too.

I started running through the crowd toward the center of the temple.

The sunlight filtering through the pillars looked divine. The ceiling, covered in mysterious murals, exuded grandeur, and the people walking cautiously appeared noble.

But in the middle of all that, there was me running like a crazy person.

“Miss Ariadeline!”

I could hear the exhausted voices of the servants behind me, but I didn’t stop; I kept running, turning my head from side to side.

The relic was called the “Stone of God,” which ultimately resembled a rock.

There’s no way it would be placed in such an easily accessible spot.

‘I feel like it might be related to the mountaintop.’

I didn’t think it would be hidden in a vague place like the bottom or halfway up the mountain.

I believed that the Stone of God would be close to this temple.

Of course, everyone else probably thought the same.

‘Maybe it’s in a place so familiar that it’s easy to overlook.’

After running for a while, I stopped, panting heavily. My hair was a mess.

I noticed the people around me gradually distancing themselves.

Feeling my ear, I found the flower was still securely in place.

As I passed by, the crowd parted like the Red Sea.

‘Hmm, is there anything unusual around here?’

While scanning the area, I spotted a gathering of people and suddenly saw a statue popping out in the middle of them.

“Wow, what’s that?”