TIRS 44

CHAPTER 44:

 I Have Nothing to Lose

Night fell quickly, blanketing the surroundings in darkness.

Klaus went to clean up, and Ancelot had gone off to scout the area.

The forest night was a little chilly.

I sat by the campfire, soaking in its warmth.

“It really feels like I’m on a camping trip.”

It made my heart flutter a little—something I’d only ever seen on TV in my past life.

Back when I was living with my aunt’s family…

I don’t remember the exact time, but it must’ve been during my elementary school days.

I remember watching my aunt and uncle take their kids camping, leaving me behind to guard the house. I had secretly felt envious.

Then, not long after, there was a day when everyone went out to eat and left me home alone. I secretly dragged the tent stored in the utility room into my room and set it up.

The tent was so big it nearly filled my tiny room, and I played in it alone.

I’d planned to put it away before my aunt came back—but I accidentally fell asleep inside. That was the mistake.

I got scolded harshly and had to beg forgiveness, swearing never to touch anything in the house again without permission—until my aunt and uncle’s anger finally cooled.

“Maybe it’s because there are so many stars in the night sky…”

I found myself getting sentimental, remembering things from my past life that I hadn’t thought about in a long time.

I shook my head to chase the thoughts away.

“Is something wrong?”

Ancelot had returned at some point and draped a blanket over my shoulders as he asked.

“It’s nothing. But hey, Ancelot.”

I glanced toward the quest window that had been floating near me for a while.

[Main Quest: Forest of Illusions (2/3)]
Tonight, the forest mist will descend upon you and your party.
Beware the ambush of the night!

▶ Clear Condition: Repel the forest mist
▶ Reward upon success: EXP +17,000, Skill Points +10, Item:

“It says it’s happening tonight.”

“Yeah, I see that,” Ancelot nodded as he read the quest.

I figured the forest mist of Illei would attack us eventually, but it was earlier than I’d expected.

“Well, finishing a quest quickly isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

“Anyway, we need to be careful, Ancelot.”

Even though he rarely took me seriously, I warned him again.

“Got it. I won’t let you worry, Your Highness.”

To my surprise, Ancelot nodded earnestly.

As I glanced at his soft, curved eyes looking at me, I clutched the blanket he had placed on my shoulders.

“Time for bed,” Klaus said, returning after finishing the cleanup.

“I’ve prepared your sleeping area, Your Highness.”

He led me to the tent.

It was large enough to fit me, Ancelot, Klaus, and even Piya.

But when Ancelot tried to follow me inside, Klaus immediately grabbed him by the collar.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Surely… you don’t mean to share a tent with Her Highness?” Klaus asked firmly, clearly unwilling to allow it.

“What’s the problem?” Ancelot raised an eyebrow, visibly annoyed.

“There are plenty of problems,” Klaus retorted, tossing a sleeping bag at Ancelot—and another for himself right beside it.

Then he turned to me and bowed.

“I’ll keep watch outside with Iza, so please rest easy, Your Highness.”

“Thank you, Sir Klaus.”

Ancelot shot me a betrayed look, but I just waved cheerfully and slipped into the tent.

In the end, Ancelot had to give up on sleeping inside.

Once it was just the two of us inside the tent, Piya began chirping angrily.

—How could you, Lady Lulu! That was so mean!

She hadn’t said a word earlier, but now that Ancelot and Klaus were gone, she let her fury out.

—Those wicked human men were trying to eat Piya! And all Lady Lulu did was laugh while Piya’s life was in danger!

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Piya.”

Luibell smiled and tried to calm her down, but Piya turned her head away in a huff.

“Ancelot was probably just joking.”

—Did you see how that man looked at Piya?! Like he was going to throw me into a stew pot!

Convinced Luibell was defending Ancelot, Piya screeched louder.

“No, Ancelot isn’t like that.”

—How can you be so sure, Lady Lulu?

Seeing the little bird fume with indignation, Luibell suddenly felt like teasing her even more.

“Ancelot doesn’t like eating birds.”

—Pii? Piiik?

“Especially tiny ones that aren’t even a mouthful. He says they’re no fun to eat.”

FWEEEET!

Luibell grinned mischievously as Piya shrieked and flew around the tent in a rage.

She was a bird that was fun to tease.

“I’m kidding, Piya.”

—Lady Lulu, you’re the worst! Is teasing Piya that fun?

Well, yes—but saying that would only make her sulk more.

“I won’t tease you anymore.”

Luibell chuckled as she finally calmed the indignant Piya.

And so, the two of them—no, one girl and one bird—crawled into bed together.

The sound of Luibell’s soft breathing and Piya’s faint squeaks filled the quiet tent.

Some time passed.

Then, someone began shaking Luibell’s sleeping body.

“Huh…?”

Luibell slowly opened her eyes.

And there they were—faces she had seen for so long, but hadn’t seen in forever.

Startled, she gasped.

She looked no older than 9 or 10. The young Luibell recoiled in shock.

Her aunt, uncle, and cousins were standing inside the tent, staring at her.

They had clearly returned from their dinner out.

“Why is the tent here…? Did you take it out of the utility room?”

Her heart sank.

“I—I’m sorry, Auntie! I’m really sorry!”

Like a long-ingrained habit, she dropped to the floor, hands over her head, begging.

This way, at least she could protect her head from the punches or kicks.

“I was just really curious… I only wanted to look at it for a moment and then put it back… sniff…”

Her jaw trembled, teeth chattering.

Tears streamed down her cheeks and hung from her chin, but she forced herself not to sob out loud.

She figured if she was going to be hit, better to get it over with quickly. But no matter how used to it she was, the fear never went away.

She saw her aunt’s legs moving toward her.

Just as she braced herself, eyes squeezed shut—

“Sena, dear.”

Her aunt knelt and pulled her into a tight embrace.

Luibell hiccupped in surprise.

“Oh my, our Sena’s tears won’t stop.”

“Honey, she must’ve been so frightened.”

Still teary-eyed, Luibell blinked.

Huh? Why aren’t they mad…?

“You poor thing… You’ve been lonely and hurting for so long, haven’t you?”

Then her uncle stepped in and embraced her too.

This warmth… It’s so comforting.

In that moment, her heart thudded.

“If you’re struggling, you can talk to us, Sena. We’re family.”

“That’s right, sis. We’re family.”

Even her cousins, who’d been watching from a distance, came forward to hug her.

Thump—

Luibell had always longed for a family.

Their warm embrace made her cry all over again.

“Ugh… h-huhuh…”

When she finally let the tears out, her cousins began crying too.

Her aunt gently patted her back, soothing her in a kind voice.

“Don’t cry, Sena.”

And then—

A voice she had missed so deeply overlapped it all.

“Don’t get hurt, Luibell.”

Luibell blinked slowly in their embrace.

Ah, right. I’m not Yoon Sena anymore. I’m Luibell now.

The moment she remembered that, Luibell realized she was trapped in an illusion conjured by the forest mist.

A cruel hallucination that preyed on one’s inner wounds.

“…Hah.”

How stupid.

After all that warning I gave Ancelot… and I end up falling into the mist’s trap myself?

“Ahaha! Hahahahaha!”

Luibell burst out laughing.

Her ‘family’ looked at her in alarm.

She stood up, taking a step back from them.

“Sena!”

Her aunt rushed toward her, but Luibell held up her hand to stop her.

“I’ve actually… been waiting for this.”

“Sena? What are you talking about?”

“Ever since I stepped into this forest, I think part of me hoped for it.”

Then she raised her head, twisting her lips into a crooked smile.

“I knew you’d show up.”

Luibell knew her own emotional void all too well.

So it wasn’t surprising that the forest mist had taken this form.

“If I ever met you again…”

She slowly reached for her waist.

There, suddenly appearing from nothing, was a sword sheath.

The greatsword she had received from her mother.

As she drew it, Yoon Sena’s black hair transformed into Luibell’s pink.

“S-Sena… Aaaah!”

WHACK!

“To take revenge!”

Her amber eyes gleamed as she swung the sheathed blade at her aunt.

“W-What are you—?!”

THUD!

At her uncle next.

“I—!”

THUD!

At Cousin 1, who used to hit her when adults weren’t looking.

“Actually—!”

THUD!

At Cousin 2, who always tattled on her while hiding their own misdeeds.

“I’ve been waiting for this!”

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Luibell swung with wild abandon.

“Kyaaa!”

“She’s lost her mind!”

“Waaah! Mom, Sena’s crazy!”

“Stay away!”

Every time the sword hit, the spot would dissolve into black mist—Illei’s mist.

These weren’t her real past-life family, just illusions.

But—

“If you’re going to copy their faces and voices perfectly… I might as well get some revenge.”

She remembered her helpless younger self, unable to speak up, and her anger surged.

“I’ve already died once and come back. I’ve got nothing left to lose.”

Luibell grinned coldly, her amber eyes gleaming—just like Ancelot.