TCMED 17

Chapter 17

Until Ethan, having received his knighthood, took his position behind the Crown Prince as if guarding him, I stood frozen like a stone.

Why did it feel as though Ethan had heard my inner wish for him to run away?

“The age of great monsters,” the Crown Prince said.

His low voice resonated through the banquet hall.

“Thanks to the outstanding talents of the imperial family who have stepped forward to the front lines in the current crisis, Baros has quickly regained stability. Lord Mitev’s appointed one for the empire has also arrived, so things couldn’t be better. For now.”

“……”

“However, according to the analysis of monsters by the Imperial Magic Research Institute, the rift incidents may become more severe in the future. No one can guarantee that the current stability will last forever.”

At those words, sounds of people swallowing could be heard from all around.

Among those currently living in the empire, how many could claim to be free from fear of the rifts?

In this moment when everyone’s minds were filled with their own despair—

The Crown Prince gripped the railing with both hands and declared:

“Thus, the imperial family has made a decision.”

As he said this, the Crown Prince was smiling—how should I put it…

“An emergency task force for the rift incident will soon be established, comprised of the Imperial Knights, the Imperial Magic Research Institute, the Temple, the Academy, and all other available personnel, to respond to the rifts more systematically than before.”

“……”

“I held this event, combined with the investiture ceremony, to give advance notice to those qualified.”

He was truly a born actor.

The inferiority complex and inexplicable compulsions I had glimpsed through text were completely undetectable now.

“Details will be sent via official document shortly. That is all—I still have much prepared, so please enjoy yourselves to the fullest.”

Having dropped his bombshell, the Crown Prince left the banquet hall like an actor whose role was finished.

The reactions to the major announcement of the new task force were divided.

Some felt a sense of mission, others ambition, others annoyance.

And some showed no reaction at all.

I rolled my eyes to look at those in the last category.

Ion, wearing that characteristic blank expression he adopted as the Saint, was receiving a report from Johan.

From the snippets of words like “Crown Prince,” “reception room,” and “waiting” coming from Johan, it seemed the Crown Prince had requested a private audience.

As Ion nodded, the Crown Prince’s attendant approached us and bowed.

“May the Star guide you. I will escort you to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Outside the banquet hall, it was deathly quiet. We passed through a long corridor and arrived at the reception room the Crown Prince had summoned them to.

The attendant knocked softly on the door.

“Your Highness, the Saint has arrived.”

“Let them in.”

At the permission, Rohan opened the door and entered in the order of Ion, Johan, and me.

“Tetis.”

No—I was about to enter.

But Johan stopped me at the threshold.

“Someone might come looking for the Saint outside, so it would be best for you to wait in the corridor for a moment.”

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

I nodded in agreement and stood in the corridor beside the door.

Soon, the reception room door closed, and the low murmur of conversation abruptly ceased.

The corridor fell into silence in an instant. So quiet that I felt even my breathing had to be careful.

*Tap.*

I was fidgeting awkwardly when I heard faint footsteps from where there had been no one.

“……Tetis.”

And the one who came calling my name was—

“Jun. No……”

“……”

“Ethan.”

It was Ethan.

The protagonist I had firmly believed was just a chance acquaintance from my travels about a month ago.

After learning his true identity, I had resolved so strongly that I would never meet him again.

Facing him now, I realized once more that I had ended up here, unable to maintain the peaceful daily life I had so desperately wished for.

“……”

We stood facing each other in silence for a while.

That affection I had never understood from the very first meeting was still present in those blue eyes.

And this time, one more emotion was added: a clear sense of guilt.

The guilt of having lied to me about his name and origins—it seemed to be preventing him from saying a single word, even after coming all this way.

I finally sighed and spoke first.

“Congratulations on your appointment.”

“Thank you.”

Ethan smiled bitterly.

“Tetis, have you come to work at the temple?”

“Somehow, yes.”

I answered briefly and clamped my mouth shut.

Since the day I learned that Jun was Ethan, I had often lost sleep at night.

I simply couldn’t understand why the protagonist had lied about his name to someone like me, why he had been so uncharacteristically sweet to me.

The confusion, the resentment, and the slight sense of betrayal I had forgotten came rushing back.

“Why did you lie to me?”

“At the time, I didn’t know we would meet again like this.”

“……What kind of answer is that?”

I’m proud of myself for not calling it nonsense.

As I glared at him in protest, Ethan calmly made his excuse.

“I’m sorry, Tetis. I know you won’t understand what I’m saying. But I can’t tell you right now.”

“Then when can you tell me?”

“In about two months?”

“……”

Is this an embargo?

To say such a specific timeframe out of nowhere left me momentarily speechless.

“What if I said I don’t plan to see Ethan for two months?”

“You heard the Crown Prince today about establishing the task force, didn’t you? We’ll keep running into each other from now on.”

His crinkling eyes were utterly sly.

“……Can you at least tell me why it has to be two months?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“In two months, I think I’ll be mentally prepared.”

Ethan said something utterly nonsensical and smiled brightly.

I suddenly realized I had forgotten one crucial fact.

*’Right, this guy is insane……’*

Given Ethan’s circumstances, it was impossible to be sane and survive in this world anyway.

As several of his insane actions from the novel came to mind, my fighting spirit naturally deflated.

“Tetis, I really am sorry for hiding my name.”

“Alright.”

Since things had already come to this, I graciously accepted his apology.

Confirming that my mood had lightened—or rather, that I had resigned myself—Ethan stepped closer.

“And I happen to have something to give you.”

“What is it?”

Ethan, with his hands behind his back, leaned slightly toward me.

“A while ago, my younger sibling once snuck out of Mapel and came back with a pouch full of something, saying someone had given it to them.”

I blinked blankly, not understanding what he meant, when a memory suddenly flashed.

Once, when I had gone to town with Fel, I had secretly given a pouch full of various items to a child from Mapel.

“There was a notebook inside with ‘Tetis’ written on it.”

And in the novel, Ethan was the guardian of the Mapel children. In other words, the child I had met was the connection between us that I hadn’t known about.

“I didn’t know we’d meet like this, so I didn’t bring it today. Next time we meet, I’ll definitely return it to you.”

I had considered it as good as lost, and now it was coming back to me like this.

After receiving it as a gift from Uncle Fel, I had written all sorts of things in it. As memories associated with the notebook came flooding back, I wanted to get it back as soon as possible.

After all, isn’t it fun to look at an old diary you used to write in?

My lips naturally began to curl upward.

*’……No, wait a moment.’*

But a sudden thought made my smile freeze.

“Ethan.”

“Yes.”

“By any chance, did you read the contents?”

At my question, Ethan wordlessly broke into a wide grin. My face practically crumpled into a grimace.

“……How much?”

“Your writing skills are really excellent.”

Damn it. I squeezed my eyes shut.

Is there a reader whose protagonist read their diary?

*’Should I count myself lucky that I wrote about my past life and the original story in Korean, when I was most emotional……’*

I could feel my face burning red without needing a mirror.

I hadn’t wanted to learn the reason for Ethan’s familiarity with me this way.

“Tetis, are you hot?”

Would I be blushing like this just from the heat? Look at him asking knowingly.

I was about to step closer to the one laughing out loud, ready to warn him not to tease me—

That was when.

“……Tetis?”

Whether the audience had ended, the reception room door opened.

The temple group, looking between me and Ethan standing close together, showed signs of bewilderment.

And so the silence lingered.

“I greet the Saint. May the Star guide you.”

Amidst it all, Ethan alone remained composed and greeted properly.

Ion didn’t respond immediately, instead staring at Ethan, only offering a greeting after Johan poked him in the side.

“……May the Star guide you.”

But Ion’s expression as he looked at Ethan was unusual. I was genuinely flustered.

*Friend, why are your eyes so wide open……?*