TIRS 45

Episode 45.

 Ancelot Has Finally Gone Mad?!

“Do you know what my very first thought was the moment I died?”

Thwack!

“Why couldn’t I say anything?!”

Wham!

“If I’d known I’d die so pathetically—!”

Wham! Thud!

“I should’ve at least gotten one solid jab in before going!”

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Since they weren’t even human to begin with, she felt no guilt.

Luibel mercilessly beat up the illusions of her aunt, uncle, and cousins as they screamed and fled.

[SYSTEM] Your happiness has increased by 300! (Happiness: 499)
[SYSTEM] Your happiness has increased by 300! (Happiness: 799)
[SYSTEM] Your happiness has increased by 300! (Happiness: 999)
[SYSTEM] Your happiness exceeded the maximum value. Some of the increase could not be applied!

In an instant, her happiness stat shot through the roof.

[SYSTEM] Your happiness has reached the maximum level!
[SYSTEM] Your strength has temporarily surged!

Just like when her rage maxed out in the past due to Hezen, boosting her strength, now her maxed-out happiness had a similar effect.

Before she knew it, her uncle and cousins had vanished into black mist. Luibel landed a final blow on her aunt.

“Kyah!”

Even the last illusion burst into black mist and fled out of the tent.

Immediately, the distorted backdrop around her shifted, and the nightmare-like tent returned to the one she had fallen asleep in just a few hours ago.

Fweeet!

—Luluuuuu!

Piya flew into her arms.

“Are you okay, Piya?”

Fweeeeet…

—Piya almost couldn’t come back to Lulu, you know.

With its wings folded, Piya lowered its head sadly in Luibel’s palm.

Fweet, fweeeet…

—The bad fog tempted Piya. It said it would make Piya the king of all guide birds. So, Piya… hick…

Piya’s tiny body trembled as it sobbed.

“You did great, Piya. You overcame the fog. That’s amazing.”

Fweet!

Encouraged by Luibel’s praise, Piya nodded and sniffled less.

Luibel stepped out of the tent with Piya, looking for Ancelot and Klaus.

“Ancelot! Sir Klaus!”

“Your Highness! Are you alright?”

Klaus ran over, pale-faced. He, too, had just escaped the illusion.

“I’m fine. What about you?”

“I’m alrigh—…”

The moment Klaus met Luibel’s eyes, he trailed off and blushed furiously.

[SYSTEM] has entered a wary state.
[SYSTEM] ’s affection has decreased by 10. (Affection: 989)
[SYSTEM] has entered a confused state.
[SYSTEM] ’s affection has decreased by 10. (Affection: 979)

Guess he’s back to losing affection points just from hearing me breathe.

Luibel thought, watching Klaus’s affection drop.

Whatever he saw in the mist… No, let’s not even think about it.

She had a rough idea of what Klaus had seen in the hallucination.

The perfect knight’s one weakness—romance. He was probably seduced by some lovely ladies in there.

“But where’s Ancelot?”

Ancelot was nowhere to be seen. Luibel looked around the embers of the campfire and asked Klaus.

“Didn’t he sleep next to you?”

“He went out to scout the forest and hasn’t returned.”

A jolt of anxiety struck her.

By now, he should’ve come out of the mist with a flirtatious, “Were you worried, Princess?” and flashed his charming smile.

But even after Luibel, Piya, and Klaus had all escaped, Ancelot still hadn’t appeared.

A man who seemed invincible—but she kept thinking about that occasional lonely look in his eyes.

“I’m really good at waiting, you know.”

“All I want… is the death of the Light Dragon, Helheim.”

Those red eyes—always soft, but somehow dangerously fragile.

That deep, solitary sadness they held made her hesitate to pry further.

Remembering that, Luibel felt a surge of urgency.

“I have to find Ancelot.”

She quickly pulled up her minimap.

But Ancelot’s location wasn’t visible.

The minimap hadn’t been activated yet.

I should’ve unlocked the lantern earlier.

She bit her lip, glaring at the grayed-out sections of the map.

“This won’t do! I’ll search this side—Sir Klaus, you take the other!”

Luibel assigned directions and dashed into the forest.

Fweet! Tweet!

—Piya will help!

Piya shouted, flying after her.

[Side Quest: Show Piya Some Love!]
Please pet the head feathers of the world’s bravest and coolest baby bird, Piya!
▶ Reward for success: Lantern of the Forest of Illusions

At the sound of Piya’s chirp, a quest notification appeared with a sparkle.

Luibel paused in surprise and looked back at Piya.

“Piya…!”

Piya had used all of its precious in-game currency to create a side quest—just to help her.

It was a bit of a loophole, but offering special item rewards didn’t break any rules.

“Thank you, Piya.”

She patted the feathers on its head, and the quest success notice popped up—along with the reward, the Lantern of the Forest of Illusions.

With the minimap now active, Luibel located Ancelot and ran in his direction.

Before long, she found him.

“Ancelot!”

But something was wrong.

He kept walking in a daze, as if he couldn’t hear her.

“Ancelot! Where are you going?!”

She hurried after him.

Then stopped cold.

Ahead of Ancelot was a thick black mist.

The swirling fog slowly gathered, concentrating into a humanoid form.

It had no eyes, no nose, no mouth.

It was all just writhing, black smoke.

But the slender figure and long, flowing hair unmistakably mimicked a young woman—Luibel herself.

“…!”

For a brief moment, Luibel felt as though she’d made eye contact with the thing.

What… what is that…?

A shiver ran down her spine.

She was about to rush toward Ancelot—when the shadowy figure embraced him.

And Ancelot… embraced it back. Without resistance. He let his head fall on its shoulder.

Drip—

Tears slid down his cheek.

Ancelot was crying. In the arms of that black figure.

His white hair shimmered silver in the pale moonlight.
Those crimson eyes—like fire in the dark—were always fixed in one place.

You, with your pink hair fluttering in the spring breeze, laughing so brightly.

You were humanity’s hero. The one of prophecy. The agent of light.

The child foretold to grasp the heart of the Light Dragon who devoured the world.

You were the world’s only hope. And I… I loved you.

But as time passed, that love became a tragedy.

You, who were to steal my life. My breath. My everything.

The prophecy became fate. Fate became a sentence. You shattered me and tore my heart apart.

The ancient dragon’s fire consumed everything. I remained, a handful of ash in the ruins, remembering you.

For years. Decades. Centuries. In the same place.

For breaking the laws of nature, you became my eternal punishment.

The you I lost—so far away now, even longing feels like a sin.

You, whose name I can no longer claim.

If only… if only I can remember you with my soul, carved on my broken heart…

“Why do you look so sad?”

A cool fingertip brushes my cheek. I look down, and there you are—gazing at me with concern.

“Were you waiting for me?”

You ask with a clear, innocent laugh.

How strange.

Why… are you here, before me?

Laughing like that.

With not a trace of blame for someone who couldn’t even protect you.

Thunk.

I collapse into your arms, lowering my head onto the shoulder I failed to protect.

I cling to you, desperately.

…I’m sorry.
…I’m so sorry.
…Don’t go.
…Let’s stay together now.

Soaking my soul into that eternal sorrow, I beg. I plead.

And you smile at me, softly.

“Yes. We’ll be together, forever.”

You return the wish I longed for.

“Hel. My hell. My…”

“…I’m sorry.”

A faint whisper escaped Ancelot’s wet lips.

“…I’m so sorry.”

Hearing that voice made her heart feel like it was being squeezed.

He clutched the black figure tighter, pleading.

“…Don’t go. Let’s stay together.”

She never thought she’d see this man cry. And now, her chest churned with discomfort.

Before she knew it, her hand was gripping her sword.

The black mist began to creep into Ancelot’s body.

“No!”

She drew her sword and shouted.

The black figure turned slowly toward her.

Where its face should’ve been was just swirling black smoke. Goosebumps rose all over her.

She steadied her trembling hands and pointed her sword.

“Give Ancelot back!”

But it didn’t respond.

Just as she charged at it—

Clang!

A spear formed from pure white light blocked her strike.

Ancelot’s spear.

“Never again…”

Still embraced by the black figure, Ancelot looked at her and muttered.

“I won’t lose you again…”

A chill passed through his cloudy eyes.

White spheres of light swirled in the air—his magic.

He held the black mist even tighter, then stared at Luibel with a cold gaze.

The spheres all launched toward her.

BOOOOOM!

BOOM! BANG!

Amid the roaring explosions, Piya screamed.

Fweeeeeet!

—Lulu! Ancelot’s gone mad!

Fweeeeeeet!

—Look at those crazy eyes! Ancelot has finally lost it, Lulu!