“Me… meeting a butterfly was the dream of my life… I am so glad… that I can protect Lady Vanessa with my own hands.”
Dart’s eyes slowly closed.
Asha’s eyes glared at the moth, a few tears streaming down her face.
The moth did not attack but instead watched them with its black eyes, which seemed like black holes.
Then, arrows came flying from all directions.
At some point, it appeared that the Cactus Knights had arrived at the temple.
But ordinary arrows had no effect on the monstrous moth.
As the moth flapped its wings, the arrows were deflected back toward the knights, who quickly raised their shields to block them.
Meanwhile, Dart’s power waned, and Asha realized that the scale insect was now heading toward her.
Just as the scale insect was about to attack, someone swiftly decapitated it from behind.
A blond man stood there, his hair swaying as the scale insect fell, blood spraying.
It was Duran.
“….Are you alright, Lady Vanessa?”
“I’m fine! But Priest Dart…!”
He turned his gaze slightly and looked at Dart.
Dart lay on the ground, clearly in poor condition. It was clear that they needed to end the battle quickly.
Duran commanded the knights to subdue the monsters. The Cactus Knights were known for their exceptional combat abilities, unlike ordinary knights.
As Asha watched the battle turn in their favor, she quickly got up and raised her bow once again.
If ordinary arrows were useless against the moth hovering in the air, it seemed that she was the only one capable of defeating it.
Her blonde hair was tousled, fluttering in the wind. Her purple eyes gleamed with fierce determination.
“Pests must be eradicated. For the sake of the flowers.”
Her arrow once again flew to the same spot she had previously attacked.
This time, the impact was severe, and the moth immediately fell to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust. One of its wings seemed to be paralyzed.
It was a golden opportunity.
Asha immediately reached for her arrow barrel, but to her disbelief, it was empty. Her eyes widened in shock.
“Oh no…!”
As Asha rushed to pick up the fallen arrows, the moth seized the opportunity and swung its tail.
However, before it could strike Asha, a sharp sword sliced through the air and severed the tail.
“…… I was waiting for the butterfly to come back after she had her fun, but this moth is getting in the way… I’m not pleased.”
Asha was a little startled and looked at where the voice came from.
Karaf was standing there.
Then, when he saw Jackal in the distance, Karaf’s face hardened.
It appeared that “moth” was not just a reference to the monsters.
“…… What the hell is that bastard doing here?”
Jackal spoke calmly, rising to his feet.
“Well, bugs are attracted to flowers. When I heard that monsters had appeared in the capital, I couldn’t stay still because I was worried about Asha.”
He had returned his words to him: ‘If Asha is by your side, she will be in danger.’
Karaf frowned and glanced at the moth, which was still flapping its wings on the ground.
He thrust his sword into the moth’s neck, causing the other monsters to vanish into black ash.
It seemed that the moth was the host.
On the chaotic ground, the people of the temple and the knights breathed heavily.
Asha ran to the fallen Dart and hugged him.
But as something electric surged from Dart’s body, Asha was taken aback and pulled away.
“Vanessa!”
“Asha!”
Thinking that something had happened to Asha, Karaf and Jackal quickly drew their swords and rushed toward her.
Asha looked at Karaf helplessly.
“Priest Dart was injured trying to protect me.”
Karaf observed the unconscious priest, noting his pale complexion and the amount of blood he had lost.
“I should give him an award upon our return.”
“By the way, Your Majesty… Actually, this priest…”
Karaf looked at her again.
Realizing that many people were listening around her, Asha whispered into Karaf’s ear a little embarrassed.
Upon hearing Asha’s words, Karaf froze in place with widened eyes.
“He’s the second flower.”
* * * * *
On the day of the Month of Blossoms event, news of monsters appearing at the temple quickly spread throughout the empire.
The High Priest, a man with the greatest divine power in the temple, was now too old and his body was failing.
After preparing for the Month of Blossoms event for several days and worshiping all day long, they even subdued monsters, so it seemed that his weakened body could not withstand it.
Now, everyone in the empire was murmuring that even the high priest collapsed after participating in the battle, and perhaps God was angry.
Distrust of Karaf and Asha also grew increasingly, from saying that the two were not on good terms, to saying that the butterfly could not make flowers bloom.
Moreover, some were anxious that the long prophecy that the Black Rose would bring about the destruction of the empire might really come true, and those who doubted whether the butterfly really had the power of prophecy.
If she really could prophesize, why didn’t she predict this situation earlier?
Especially since the butterfly dance ceremony was held at the temple, their suspicions were strengthened by this incident.
The rumors that they had heard countless times in the past were repeated in this lifetime like chains.
In the imperial palace, where the atmosphere had calmed down, Jackal had a face-to-face meeting with the water spirit.
Together, they headed to the outdoor bath where Nek was.
Nek, who was casually enjoying a bath, not knowing what kind of commotion was going on outside, looked back at them.
As soon as Jackal and Nek’s eyes met, their eyes widened at the same time, as if they recognized each other, and both Karaf’s and Asha’s eyes widened at Nek’s masculine appearance.
“Master is here…!”
Karaf scowled and quickly covered Asha’s eyes as Nek emerged from the water completely naked.
“….. This spirit runs naked out of touch with reality. Just like someone I know.”
Karaf gave Jackal a disapproving look, and Jackal glared back at him.
“Let me get dressed for a moment.”
Nek, who noticed them, put on the clothes he had taken off outside and tied his mysterious blue hair up.
He then cleared his throat and said solemnly.
“Are you the one who woke me up?”
Now, at this point, Asha bit her lip and turned her head, feeling out of place.
Jackal replied.
“Yes, I didn’t know the water spirit was the dagger I had until now…”
Nek stood effortlessly on the water’s surface, seemingly unaffected by gravity. He spoke leisurely to Jackal.
“If you wish to form a contract with me, Master must enter the water in your true form.”
Jackal began to undress but suddenly became aware of Asha’s presence.
“Could you turn around for a moment?”
“S-sure.”
Asha’s face flushed red, then she turned away as Jackal stripped off his clothes.
Nek whistled to annoy them both, but Karaf glared at him to shut him up.
Looking at Jackal’s hunter clothes, Karaf twisted his lips and said.
“…… This musty smell stings my nostrils. It’s rude to see Vanessa smelling like that all the time. Are you such a savage that you don’t even know it’s rude?”
Jackal looked at him and answered calmly.
“Didn’t you know? Asha loves the way I smell.”
At those words, Karaf and Asha flinched.
Remembering that Asha had told him earlier that his body smelled strongly of roses, Karaf felt anger well up inside her.
But he didn’t have anything to say in response.
Body odor was a complex issue for him.
Jackal was smiling like a winner in front of him.
Karaf said, looking to the side with a sharp grin.
“…beast. I should have shaved off all of his fur.”
Then Jackal turned into a horse and began to walk towards the water.
As his body half submerged, Nek gently touched his face and smiled softly.
Sheppy’s charismatic eyes were fixed on Nek.
Nek hugged him and sank into his chest.
Jackal watched in amazement as the water spirit was sucked into his chest.
[…Wow, I went in!]
Jackal was speechless as Nek’s voice sounded excited, like that of a child.
A blue light began to flow through his body.
Asha asked carefully.
“How are you feeling, Jackal?”
Back in his human form, Jackal put on his clothes and replied.
“Not bad. It feels like energy is bursting out of my body.”
[Of course! I am the source of life. I am brimming with energy….]
“Then, can I use your power freely?”
Jackal interrupted, but Nek spoke innocently.
[Energy?]
“…….”
He was completely dumbfounded and wondered where this crazy spirit came from.
Karaf rubbed his forehead wearily as if he was tired.
Noticing the strange atmosphere, Nek quickly changed the subject.
[Of course, since we made a contract, you can freely use the power of water!]
“… I see, that’s enough. So can you show me the memory of your former master, Cylon?”
Jackal’s question made Karaf nervous.
[Sure! Of course! I have made a contract with the heir of the Kelpie clan who has telepathic abilities. I can show the memories to both of you. Everyone, place your hands on Master’s body.]
Karaf exchanged glances with Asha and then placed one hand on each of Jackal’s shoulders.
At that moment, the three of them widened their eyes as they witnessed a vivid scene unfolding before them.
They were standing in front of a sheer cliff, with a deep gorge rushing between them.
A gray-haired man sat on the edge of the gorge, throwing stones into the water with a troubled look.
It was Cylon.
Suddenly, a person floated down in the water from afar like a dead body.
His eyes grew bigger and he jumped up.
A black-haired boy, either unconscious or dead, was being swept away by the strong current.
Asha recognized immediately that it was Karaf.
Without hesitation, Cylon stripped off his clothing and plunged into the stream.
Although it was not easy to swim against the strong current, he swam very flexibly and finally reached Karaf.
Karaf had lost considerable blood, and his lips were turning blue.
Cylon carefully carried him, braving the strong current as he made his way to the shore.
Karaf’s body was covered in cuts, and his black clothes were torn and dripping with blood.
Cylon didn’t know what to do, so he resorted to slapping Karaf in the face and yelling at him to come to his senses.
However, Karaf remained unconscious.
Cylon put his ear to his chest and his eyes went wide.
His heart wasn’t beating.
