Irid walked forward to keep Centra out of the fight. On the other side of the passage, something red was approaching.

 

The sounds of their footsteps echoed loudly until they stopped simultaneously.

 

Under dim lighting, the prince and the mercenary faced each other. Irid stood up straight, clutching his dagger.

 

Swish.

 

Lonya drew his longsword and placed it on his shoulder. His expression was filled with annoyance and anger. He spat out, “I had a bad feeling about you from the start. You had a face that brought bad luck.”

 

“You were a nuisance too, lowly mercenary.”

 

“Without that b*tch Centra picking you up, you’d still be a slave. What makes you think you can talk to me like that?”

 

“You talk too much. I don’t have time for this. If all you’re going to do is flap your lips, run away now. I won’t chase after you.”

 

“Who the hell do you think you’re calling a──!!”

 

Lonya gripped his longsword with both hands and charged. It was a move that Irid knew.

 

Despite having just a week to prepare, Irid practiced so desperately that his hands felt like they were going to burst.

 

I can handle this!

 

Clang-! Screech.

 

The weight of the longsword was too much for the dagger to handle. Irid’s body swayed violently as he clashed, twisted, and barely deflected each attack. However, he refused to fall.

 

One move, two moves.

 

The sound of metal scraping scraped against the walls of the secret passage and echoed ominously. Sparks flew in the darkness, and every time they did, it was as if the sparks were catching on.

 

Anger burned in Lonya’s eyes, and Irid’s determination grew stronger.

 

He blocked and deflected, but Lonya felt an unquenchable thirst in his throat. His attacks were blocked. No matter how much he swung, he couldn’t land a solid hit!

 

Time was on the prince’s side. If he couldn’t kill Centra and frame the ‘Kingdom Alliance,’ everything he had done to infiltrate the Resistance organization would fall apart.

 

Lonya’s movements became impatient and sloppy. Irid didn’t miss his chance. Between the silver streaks, he thrust his blade in.

 

Screech──!

 

Blood sprayed.

 

Lonya took two steps back in shock and looked down at his wounded arm. Blood was flowing. Bright red blood. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

 

Irid was panting. His lungs felt like they were shrinking, and he could barely feel his arms. He may not have been injured, but he was exhausted. He was sure that if it came down to a battle of stamina, he would eventually collapse.

 

At that moment, Ronya and Irid’s thoughts converged.

 

They needed a trump card to end this battle.

 

Ronya reached into his pocket and pulled out a black pill. Irid frowned. He knew what it was. It was a narcotic doping agent circulated on the black market and produced by a dark magician.

 

The pill slipped down Ronya’s throat. He coughed a few times, as if the taste was unbearable, then let out a faint chuckle.

 

“Heh, heh. This, this is, truly, something else…”

 

His muscles and veins pulged, black blood gradually began to flow from his bicep. The effects of the black pill’s doping varied from person to person, but on average, about 30 percent.

 

It was one of the worst possibilities discussed in the operation meeting. The first princess had cautiously predicted defeat. However, Irid saw a glimmer of hope.

 

Irid held his dagger in a backhand grip, calming his mind.

 

Mumbling only to himself, he tried to cut off any regrets.

 

“…I wanted to go on a date.”

 

“I wanted to sing together. I wanted to finish our unfinished story. I wanted to convey my true feelings… if I could.”

 

“But I think time will be short…”

 

The magician, no matter how insane he might be or if he was deceiving himself, did not lie. He said that the dimensional movement is absolutely safe.

 

In fact, there were no changes to Irid’s physical body despite the many persecutions he endured when he returned from his first dimensional movement at the future Crown Hole.

 

The physical body in-dimensional travel and the physical body in reality are separate.

 

So, what does death mean in a world of dimensional travel? Th answer was very close. Irid looked down at the clock tattoo on his wrist.

 

The clock tattoo, which starts to go from 1 to 0, had a lot of time left. Possibly between 1 and 0, he might just confess to Centra.

 

It was a time now left to imagination.

 

Growl. Groan. Ronya twisted his body in pain, spitting frothy saliva. He shifted his head a f

 

As expected, death didn’t come.

 

If one cannot die, death itself becomes the stake.

 

Irid reached out, clutching at Ronya’s nape, securing it tightly.

 

“…A final, embrace. I really… do not… like you at all.”

 

“D-die-! Get… off-!!”

 

She raised the dagger held in reverse grip. Her own face faintly reflected on the lifted blade. Even with a pale countenance, she smiled pleasantly. There was no other choice—she had prevailed till the end.

 

Thud-! The dagger plunged into Ronya’s throat. Over and over again. Until the twitching body turned cold and lifeless. Ronya ceased moving.

 

Relaxing her grip, Ronya’s body slid to the ground. Irid, clutching the wound at her chest, staggered and then collapsed.

 

“Die, Emperor of Ruin… is that what you said? If that’s your wish, I’ll die for you as many times as needed.”

 

For there is no longer an Emperor of Ruin to bring down the empire.

 

Your eyelids grew heavy, and you struggled to lift them. It seemed to be raining.

 

And then you saw her, your beloved, crying so sorrowfully.

 

It was both heartbreaking and joyous. Despite the weight, you felt glad you had lifted your lids.

 

“Irid… Irid! Snap out of it, please…!!”

 

It’s okay. I’m just returning to my original world.

 

It’s not death I’m facing. I’m simply heading to a place a bit farther away… 100 years back in time.

 

Though your lips moved, no sound came out. How cruel.

 

You should be comforting her. This lovely woman suited laughter so well.

 

“Somebody, someone… please, anyone help! Somebody…!”

 

There was no chance someone would appear in the secret passage. Even if they did, your wound was a grave one, and besides… no one could turn back the flow of time.

 

Is there any part of me that can move? There’s something I need to convey.

 

Fortunately, your hand seemed to be able to move. Carefully, you raised it and wiped away Centra’s tears. It was futile. The rain kept falling.

 

In that case.

 

You took Centra’s hand. Just as she had led you, you wanted to lead her too. To share warmth, to offer joy rather than sorrow.

 

Perhaps your feelings got through. With a tear-streaked face, Centra forced a smile. Holding your lifeless hand dearly, she hugged you tightly, as if pleading for you to stay, and smiled.

 

“I love… I love you, Irid.”

 

Such delightful words you heard.

 

You had to respond. You had to express that you felt the same. You put strength into your hand. It was a light touch, barely enough to grasp a feather. But it seemed Centra understood.

 

“Because I love you…! Because I love you, please don’t leave. Stay by my side… Don’t die, you can’t, Irid…!!”

 

After finally sharing their love and confirming each other’s feelings, they had only just taken the first step in their romance. However, time was up… And they knew this step would be their last.

 

From Noble mtl dot com

 

If only we had a bit more time…

 

As you breathed your last breath,

 

Centra made a decision and tilted her head. Her long eyelashes, eyes red and swollen from crying, sparkling irises filled with sorrow, and her lips…

 

Centra pressed her lips to yours…

 

————-

 

“……….”

 

Second Prince Irid let out a hollow laugh, overcome with emptiness.

 

Lying within the magic circle, he felt a dizzying mix of disappointment, joy, and a myriad of other emotions. The heavens too were indifferent, to let time run out at such a crucial moment.

 

Three seconds… No, even one second more would have made the difference. If only.

 

But perhaps… it was better that Centra’s virtue was preserved. She would then meet another man, start a happy family, and live a fulfilling life. When he thought about it that way, missing out on that kiss wasn’t so significant.

 

No, it was still regrettable.

 

Irid rose from his spot, splashing water on his face as if trying to wash away the feelings. Around him, the crazed sorcerer was frantically ripping at his hair in torment, and the purple tower master was trying to console him.

 

Whatever the disaster, Irid had no capacity to care for others’ troubles. He had just bid farewell to his first love.

 

Leaving the two fantasy mages behind, he stepped out of the tower.

 

The first princess and the young knight were waiting for him. He had already informed the first princess about the teleportation magic. Princess Elaine asked cautiously.

 

“Did you save her?”

 

“Yes, I did. I worry about what lies ahead… but Centra will manage to get through it.”

 

“That’s good, really good…”

 

The ordeal was over. Now, in this time a hundred years ago, it was up to Centra to strive for the future she would live. Even now, he wished to demand another chance, to create one if there wasn’t any. But he saved that desperate plea for a time when he truly couldn’t endure.

 

For now, he took comfort in the fact that Centra was safe.

 

Irid, imagining the sensation of the kiss that never was, took a step toward the future.