Who is that child…?
It was definitely my first time seeing them, yet they felt strangely familiar.
Was it because of that shimmering silver hair?
No. Compared to Cedric’s dark silver hair, that child’s hair was exceptionally pure and translucent. It was beautiful, as if stardust had been ground and sprinkled upon it. I stood there, momentarily losing myself, staring blankly at the child.
“Please… save me, please…”
‘…!’
At the words that suddenly escaped their lips, my eyes widened.
Save them?
I barely had time to process my confusion before my surroundings came back into focus. A scene of utter devastation, as if bombed into oblivion. A child who seemed to be the sole survivor.
Given the circumstances, it was natural for them to cling to me. Yet, I unconsciously took a step back.
In my past life, it might have been different, but right now, I was just a child myself. No—just from a glance, that boy looked much older than Claudia.
‘But then, why is he asking me for help…? Huh…?’
Perplexed, I glanced down at my hands.
What I saw was a palm much larger than usual. Hands as big as those from my previous life.
‘Why…?’
It was only then that I vaguely realized—I wasn’t in Claudia’s body anymore.
I was in the body of my past self.
How did this happen?
Overwhelmed, I turned my gaze back to the child. But his figure was starting to blur.
“Save me, please…”
‘Wait…!’
I couldn’t go yet. There were too many things I needed to ask.
But the child drifted further and further away. His desperate voice echoed in my ears.
“Dia!”
“Gasp…!”
I jolted awake.
The moment I opened my eyes, I was greeted by a familiar ceiling.
As I blinked, sweat dripped from my forehead, sliding down my temple.
“Dia, are you okay?”
“Uh… mom.”
I turned my head to see Veronica looking down at me, her face filled with worry. I opened my lips slightly.
“Yes, it’s Mom. I’m right here beside you.”
“…”
But Veronica’s face seemed a little blurry.
As I instinctively blinked, my vision grew even hazier from the tears welling up.
“Mom, I…”
“It’s okay. My little Dia, you’re just feeling a bit cold and unwell. You’ll be fine soon.”
“…”
It was only then that I realized—I was sick.
That explained the sweat, the heaviness in my body. Now that I paid attention, I could tell I had a fever as well.
A heavy sigh escaped my lips.
“Haa…”
“Dia, can you try sitting up for a bit? Hmm? You need to eat something and take your medicine.”
“Mm…”
With Veronica’s help, I barely managed to sit up.
Sofia offered to assist, but Veronica firmly refused.
Under her care, I ate some thin soup before taking my medicine.
Ugh, bitter.
Even in this world, medicine still tasted awful.
I grimaced and lay back down.
“Dia must have had a nightmare…”
“But if she doesn’t sleep, she won’t recover quickly…”
“…”
With my eyes closed, I could hear Veronica and Sofia talking.
A nightmare. Was the dream I had truly just a nightmare?
I recalled the boy from my dream.
“Please… save me, please…”
His desperate expression was still vividly imprinted in my mind.
A boy, left alone in the ruins. His long, silver hair gleaming like starlight.
I hadn’t been able to place him in the dream, but now, I was certain.
‘If I were to think of a character from the novel…’
Nathaniel. The ultimate weapon secretly raised in the temple.
It was definitely him.
I recalled the original novel.
On the surface, the temple seemed like a benevolent institution, but in reality, it was far from it.
Currently, the temple was divided into two major factions: the radicals, who sought to expand their influence, and the moderates, who wished to maintain the status quo.
Nathaniel was the ultimate weapon created by the radical faction, who poured immense divine power into him.
His mission was to destroy the Duke of Winston, who had made a pact with the Archdemon.
The radicals’ primary goal was to eradicate demonic forces from the continent completely—so that the temple’s power would grow even further.
Most of those who sided with the Empress Dowager were also part of the radical faction. They had been the greatest force behind the protagonists. It was they who ultimately brought about the downfall of the Duke of Winston.
Nathaniel’s role in the novel wasn’t long.
By the time he appeared, the Duke’s family had already been accused of treason and was in a precarious situation.
They couldn’t communicate with the imperial family because the Empress Dowager controlled the palace. Yet, if they actually raised an army, it would solidify their guilt as traitors.
However, since the Duke of Winston had a Sword Master, no one could easily attack them.
Even with the Empress Dowager’s power, she couldn’t forcefully drag out the Duke and his direct descendants from behind their locked doors.
So, the temple’s radical faction sent Nathaniel to the north—pushing him into a state of near-madness.
“…”
From the moment he appeared in the novel, Nathaniel behaved like a lifeless puppet.
The radical faction had completely stripped him of his will.
When he arrived in the north, he lost control and destroyed the Duke’s household.
Though the Duke and his direct descendants barely survived, they suffered devastating losses and were unable to resist when they were taken to the capital.
And then, alongside Veronica, they were executed—after a hasty trial.
‘I had forgotten about Nathaniel.’
He was one of the key figures responsible for the Duke of Winston’s downfall.
How could I only remember him now?
I had been too complacent.
I bit my lip.
‘But why did he suddenly appear in my dream?’
Something about it unsettled me.
It wasn’t just a memory of the original story—an actual character had appeared in my dream.
And he had asked me for help.
Nathaniel had lost all emotions and was nothing more than a puppet for the temple.
He had even died in the north after going berserk.
He was an extra, just like Claudia, who had died before the main story even began.
‘No matter how I think about it, something feels off.’
Even with my fevered mind, I kept agonizing over the meaning of the dream.
What did it signify?
What should I do next?
Just then, Veronica’s voice, tinged with worry, reached me.
“Dia, are you in a lot of pain?”
“Huh? N-no, Dia is okay…”
Because of my fever, my words came out sluggishly.
I quickly shook my head and shut my eyes, hoping to sleep before Veronica fussed over me any further.
[Tsk, tsk.]
“…”
[Why did you have to be so greedy and make contracts with two demons? Of course, you’re going to be sick.]
“…”
Seriously.
Perched on my bedside, Desmond clicked his tongue and spoke.
I scrunched my face in irritation, my eyes still closed.
‘Can you be quiet?’
[I’d recommend waiting at least ten years before making another contract, Master.]
‘What? Ten years?’
By then, the Duke’s household would already be destroyed, the tyrant defeated, and the protagonists would be happily living their lives!
I grumbled inwardly, grinding my teeth.
‘Ugh…’
But Desmond had a point.
Claudia’s body was too weak for another contract.
She was still young, with barely any stored mana.
Just contracting with a second demon had left me like this—who knew what another contract would do?
[I cannot afford to lose my first master in 500 years! Do you understand?]
‘…’
Five hundred years.
It had been that long since demons last formed a contract with the Duke’s direct bloodline.
No wonder they were all so desperate.
I sighed deeply.
‘Ten years is too long. I have too many enemies to take down.’
[In that case, there’s another way.]
‘A way? What is it?’
Curious, I listened.
Desmond’s voice rang in my head.
[You can create subordinates to form contracts in your place.]
